#holly does uni

[alphabetboyluvr]

the curious lifespan of migrating monarchs - jjk

THE CURIOUS LIFESPAN OF MIGRATING MONARCHS (& other aurelian affairs)

pairing: streamer!jk x international student!female oc (s2l)

warnings: strangers to lovers, clubbing, foul language, alcohol, vaping lol, jungkook is kinda famous, the oc is oblivious, the oc is also a foreign student who has very recently arrived in Korea!! (pls note - while i've been in korean uni dorms, i've never been in yonsei dorms specifically so don't shout at me if it isn't supeeeerr accurate), jaykay is speaking in eng for like 90% of this!!, i've also never watched a gaming streamer and had to do so for research lmao so there's a lot of guesswork going awwwn <3, the oc has tattoos, they bond over this, cute nicknames (tokki and nabi <3), one bed trope?? kinda, jaykay lives w/ yoongi and tae (they are streamers too (and dj?? (tae is a bit unhinged))), jungkook wears calvins!, a singular appearance of yoongi in his boxers!!, tipsy hookup, fingering, protected sex (woo!), desk sex, oral (m receiving), girliepop swallows <3, brief mentions of jungkook's starry eyes, lots of kisses, bunny ears, (1) mention of cross-fit

wordcount: 13011

note from holly: this was a commission done for the lovely Michelle over on my kofi page!! i don't open commissions often, but when I do I'm very lucky that the requests are so much fun. this actually ended up being way longer than it was supposed to be lol and is also available on wattpad!! also fun facts for you - I imagine the boys apartment (and jks room!) to be same as jk + jimins place in BD, just a little bigger lmao

minors dni // cross posted to wattpad

CLUB SUNDOWN WAUSAN-RO, HONGDAE SATURDAY 02:24

Time ceases to exist after the sun goes down in Seoul. It could be two, or it could be five. The only thing that really clues you in on the actual time is the DJ schedule that lights up behind the decks: 02:00-03:00, Blu-Tae.

It's some guy you've never heard of. Looks no older than you. Probably a student, just like the rest of the crowd.

His hair is as blue as his namesake, which does make you smile, and his choices aren't bad either (even if somewhat questionable). You've never heard a jazz remix of Darude's Sandstorm before, and you doubt you ever will again.

Club Sundown is just as rogue as the rest of the city after the sun goes down. Hidden in the basement—like all the best places in Seoul are—the small room is packed to the absolute brim.

Who cares for views and sunsets offered by rooftop bars when you could lose yourself in the debauchery of an eternal midnight, instead?

Drinks are spilt on strangers, and dances have lost the grandeur of old-fashioned waltzes. It's not like you could dance properly, even if you wanted to. There's just simply no space.

Like Alice, you're down the rabbit hole—and oh, how you prefer it to being in the real world. In the shadows, you can be anyone you like.

If you were sober, you'd know this is also the case for daily life. You're in a new country with no ties to your former self. Who you are is who you choose to be.

But the shadows aren't all that dark. The red lights of the club bleed into the cracks, painting everyone in the same subtle hue of danger.

They shine a little light on the identifiers of you; the thin black lines of your patchwork tattoos. Trailing up your arm, they're memories of your past selves, and an indicator of who you hope to become.

"Down this," you say to your dormmate, Rae, handing back over the drink you've just ordered from the bar. "Cloakroom, then dance."

Still carrying your winter coats, you'd wanted to check the place out before committing to it. Entry is free, but the cloakroom is the same price as a drink. It would only be worth putting your coats away if you knew you wanted to stay—and given the fact the DJ was playing O-Zone's Dragostea Din Tei as you entered, you know it's a no-brainer. While his stage name might make you roll your eyes a little, Blu-Tae certainly does cater to your tastes. When you're drunk, and music vibrates through you, it's empyrean. No place you'd rather be.

"Oh, Jesus," Rae gags as she sips the drink you've just handed her. Despite her disgust, she's laughing. Head to toe in black, dark hair loose around her shoulders, she's been your ride-or-die since you arrived in Seoul. Both international students in the same dorm, there's no one you'd rather get up to no good with. "Vodka?!"

You beam at her like you're from the heavens above, wrongfully relegated to the depths of sin. Pretend like you love vodka. It's totally not like you panicked when you saw the menu was all in Korean.

Vodka-coke is a universally understood delicacy—the easiest thing for you to order without making a tit of yourself or butchering the pronunciation. When the bartender ignored your botched attempt at ordering in Korean and answered in fluent English, you'd wanted to melt into the floor. So embarrassing.

You're here, like most foreign students, for a language course. Semester is yet to start, and as much as you've studied and practised hard, it's always different when putting it into practice.

"I'm sorry," you laugh. "It's fine—you can order next time!"

But Rae has the exact same predicament as you. If anything, your language skills are better than hers, so you really have no hope. It's vodka-cokes for the evening, or maybe highballs. Once your tipsy brain manages to compute hangul cocktail names, you'll be golden, but that won't be for another few weeks, yet.

You'll look back at this time of your life fondly, realising how simple it all was, even if it feels incredibly overwhelming right now.

Funnily enough, hope is exactly what you have: for the semester ahead, for this new life you're forging, for the opportunities that may come your way.

In fact, by the time you're on your third vodka coke, you've managed to convince yourself you actually like it. You also can't taste it, thanks to the bartender freepouring a 60-40 ratio of vodka to coke in the first drink. Your tastebuds were wiped out pretty much instantly.

Coats in the cloakroom, you're glad to be wearing thin layers. The room is stuffy; your skin sweaty. While meeting new friends had been the goal, you keep to yourself. Dance like nobody is watching. Hold Rae's hands to stay close and ward off weirdos. Quickly realise that clubs back home are slightly different. Pay it no mind. Ignore the intrusions of hands on waists, because men, disappointingly, are no different.

Or at least most of them aren't.

But most of them don't look like the man in the corner booth, laughing with his friends.

Though he is tall, he's eclipsed by his demeanour. Shoulders broad, he's in a dark T-shirt and pair of jeans. Nothing special. Nothing that warrants such a perplexed stare from you - but he's familiar. You can't place him, but he's got the kind of face you swear you've seen before.

Rae doesn't notice the change in your poise, nor how you're desperately trying to work out where you know him from. Perhaps you've seen him around your university? It's only been a couple of weeks, but people are steadily moving in. Maybe he works at the convenience store you constantly find yourself in? Or mans the front desk of the noraebang you and Rae visit pretty much every other evening?

Impossible, you think. If you'd seen him before, you wouldn't have forgotten him, or the way he constantly toys with his lip rings. Plural. There are signs up around the place stating bar rules. NO SMOKING is rule number three. You've seen his friends pass him over a vape a handful of times. Anyone else, and you'd think it was cringe. Embarrassing.

But in the midst of his laughter settling, and a fresh toke being inhaled, his eyes flicker towards yours.

Perhaps it's just because you're drunk, but you don't avert your gaze. Show no shame. The smile on his lips sinks into a smirk as he exhales. An acknowledgement. A 'hello, trouble'.

Again, any other man, you'd find the vape smoke repugnant. Nasty. Now? Watching the way he flicks his tongue against his lip rings?

You wanna know how it tastes.

Black ink weaves an intricate outline of who he is up his arms. Where he's been. Who he's been. A map, if you will, of his soul.

Much like your own tattoos, he's got thick black lines, and little else. Simple, you assume. A man of convenience. Efficiency.

You wonder if he does everything in life with the precision to match his tattoos, and as your lips wrap around the straw of your vodka-coke, you decide you'd quite like to find out.

Interrupted by Rae pulling you deeper into the crowd, your night is spent in and out of shadows. Attempt subtlety. Try not to make your occasional glances to the corner booth noticeable, just checking if his eyes are still on you. More often than not, they aren't—but sometimes they are, and that's enough to fuel your little flirt.

It's not until the sign behind the DJ booth changes from 03:00-04:00, GLOSS into some other guy that you notice your staring contest opponent has slipped into the shadows himself. The booth is void of both him and his friends. Gone.

"GLOSS has a set at another club," Rae all but yells in your ear, and even then, you barely hear her. "All the hotties left when he did. Let's go."

"Where to?!" You laugh, empty cup in hand. Admittedly, the new guy who's stepped into the DJ booth is just not doing it for you. Blu-Tae was just the right amount of unhinged with classics, whereas GLOSS was definitely cooler, but still fun. Had the club yelling curse words over trap remixes just for the fun of it. This new guy, whose name you don't care to remember, takes himself too seriously, you think.

"It's, like, two blocks down," she yells back, tugging on your wrist to drag you to the stairwell that leads you back up to the streets of Seoul. The hustle and bustle of people trying to go in different directions in the tight place forces you apart, but you figure you'll catch up with her, or that she'll be waiting at the top.

You don't know the roads well enough yet to make it to whichever club it's at alone, and quickly realise when you nearly tumble into the side of a waiting taxi that you're far drunker than expected. Knew the bartender was freepouring, but didn't realise just how free those pours really were.

"Woah, easy trouble," a deep voice sounds from behind you as you're steadied to a more stable position.

"I'm good, I'm good!" You insist, shaking off the hands of your 'saviour'. Have no interest in being a damsel in distress, or some sober guy trying to take advantage of you.

Looking down to check your laces are tied properly, you check over your shoulder to make sure the guy isn't creepily waiting for a thank you that he can turn into an intrusive game of 21 questions—'are you open-minded?' or 'do you live alone?'—but when you glance in his direction, you regret it. Notice the tattoos immediately. Recognise the eyes. Want to die.

"Oh."

"Oh," he says back with a smile, imitating you. Suddenly, the confidence you'd had earlier when looking at him from afar dissolves into nothingness, just like the alcohol in your bloodstream. You feel rather sober, but your body would definitely disagree. "You okay?"

"Yeah, yeah," you nod, suddenly a little stuck for words, desperately trying to play things cool. "Are you okay?"

The pouting of his lips as his tongue runs along the inside of his cheek only serves to make you internally cringe. Men who look like him have no business being on streets like this. Should be in a museum. Strung up on the walls with the other masterpieces. Admired by everyone who looks his way.

In a way you don't yet realise, he is.

Though he's not in galleries, he's often burning into people's laptop screens. Is the background of a fair few thousand lock screens. Indeed, he is admired by everyone who looks his way, just not in the traditional sense.

"I'm not the one who just fell into a car," he reminds you, as if you could forget your embarrassment so quickly.

"Was just seeing if you'd catch me," you bullshit, the confidence you usually have returning tenfold. Was just a momentary blip. He's just a man, after all.

"Oh?" He chirps, decidedly curious. "So you fell for me?"

"Stumbled."

"Semantics."

His fluency, and the fact he just said 'semantics' so casually in conversation, clues you in on the fact he might be a language student, too. 

Could be useful study partners for each other, you think, then mentally berate yourself for already masterminding ways to see him again.

"So, where you going?" He asks, not caring to downplay his curiosity. The bartenders were free-pouring his drinks just as severely as they poured yours. The only difference is that his were on the house—'cause you were right. He does have a recognisable face. "Should probably go with you. Make sure you don't fall into the road."

"Stumble," you insist, a little pleased with the boldness of his suggestion, but not wanting to blindly agree. "My friend," you say glancing around, only to find yourself completely alone. "She wanted to go catch the next GLOSS set. So, I guess that's where we're going."

"Just down the road," he says, knowing the schedule like the back of his hand. Bounces from club to club supporting his friends, just like they would for him. If he wanted, he could get a slot up there, too. He doesn't care for it. "I'll walk with you, if you want? My friends are heading there anyway."

It's not a bad offer.

In fact, it's probably the best offer you'll get all night.

"C'mon," he nods his head to the side, encouraging you to follow him. Checks his phone for the time. "Starts in five."

If there's one thing you've indulged in since moving to Seoul, it's how safe you always feel. Security cameras are on every corner, and you've walked home countless times without any issues, even late into the night. While the place isn't perfect, it's far safer than your home country.

Still, you're not a complete idiot.

"It's not wise to follow strange men down dark alleys," you tell him.

He holds out his hand. Waits for you to shake it. Cocks a brow when you hesitate, so introduces himself.

"Jungkook. Nice to meet you. Now, can we please hurry up? I promised I'd be there."

Narrowing your eyes, you don't shake his hand. Arms folded over your chest, there is ice to your exterior, and given how warm his eyes are, you doubt it'll last for very long. May as well keep up this hard-to-get act while you still can.

Walking on past him, you call back, "Alright then. Lead the way."

In the domed mirror meant for reversing cars at the end of a tight alley, you see him laugh. "Wrong way, idiot."

Pausing, you scrunch your face up. Don't turn to face him for at least a second or so—but when you do, you're surprised to see him walking towards you. Hooking his arm around your waist, he carries on walking in the 'wrong' direction, taking you with him.

"Was just fucking with you," he grins. Nods towards a sign by another basement entrance, listing both Blu-Tae and GLOSS.

By the door, Rae is looking around like a mother duck who's just lost some of her ducklings when crossing the road. Breathes a sigh of relief when she spots you.

"C'mon," she grins, then realises who you're with. Says nothing of it, 'cause she doesn't want to be weird, but she recognises him, too. Decides she's just had a little too much to drink. There's no way it's him. Holds out her hand for you.

Reaching out for her, you're let go from Jungkook's grip, ready to get lost in the lights once more.

HAEJANG24 WAUSAN-RO, HONGDAE SATURDAY 05:53

Seoul is a city for the nocturnal. The restaurants and bars are open until the last men are standing. Given how much you've had to drink, you're surprised you still are.

Rae had dipped an hour or so ago. Had hit it off with Mr Blu-Tae himself. Seduced him with the suggestion that their couple name would be Blu-Rae. He'd said they should go to a DVD-bang. Would be fitting. See what Blu-rays were on file.

Naturally, you'd looked on with mild disgust and also admiration for how quickly she'd worked her magic. Everyone knows what goes down in DVD-bangs. Small private rooms, often with projector screens and the world's least comfortable futons, they're somewhere you hope to never end up—but also can't wait to hear all the details the next morning when Rae comes to your room for a debrief.

You'd been left under the surveillance of Jungkook.

"Look after her," Rae had instructed, then narrowed her eyes. "Or I'll destroy your reputation with a single twitter thread, Tokki."

It's a threat he's taken seriously. Knows how the internet works, and even though he's never done anything worthy of a cancellation, he also doesn't intend on starting now. The fact you seem to have no idea who he is during the daylight hours intrigues him. It's a rarity on streets like these.

Even when a few people asked for pictures with him on your walk to the hangover soup place, you didn't clock it as weird. Figured they were friends passing by, wanting to document their chance run-in. Just another memory of the night. The way Jungkook had greeted them was full of warmth, and kindness. Why wouldn't you assume they were mates?

You were also still incredibly drunk at the time, so didn't think to question it. Was keen for food, and Jungkook had insisted on hangover soup, and so that's where you are. Dishes nearly empty, far more of it eaten by him than you, you're laughing about nothing and everything all at once.

"Right," Jungkook declares, deciding he cannot hold in a question that's been tickling at his brain for the entire meal. "What the fuck is that?"

Coat left in the cloakroom, long forgotten about, your tattoos are on full display for him, just like his are for you. Up your arm they trail; a patchwork of teeny tiny identifiers. Latin phrases around skulls, birth flowers of the people you hold close, butterflies and stars. There's an ode to your favourite musician and your favourite Shakespeare quote, too. The fabric of you etched into your skin. There's no reinventing yourself, even half the world away from home.

You know precisely which tattoo Jungkook is asking about. You've asked yourself the same question a few times.

"Fuck off," you laugh.

While most of your tattoos are gorgeous, there's one that was done by a rogue artist on a girlie holiday a few years ago. What was supposed to be a seashell now looks like... well, nothing really. It's just a blob, thanks to the artist being absolutely terrible. The only solace you find in it is that your two best friends have an equally awful permanent reminder of that holiday on their bodies, too.

"It doesn't look how it's supposed to," you explain with a little pout. "I got royally screwed over."

He cocks a brow. You still haven't told him what it is. He isn't gonna ask you twice.

With a grumble, you feebly admit, "A shell."

And then he's laughing. Really laughing. Laughing so hard you think he might piss himself—which you'd actually prefer, because then he could be the embarrassed one, instead.

"I'm calling you Shelly from now on," he says with a broad smile. Has had his fair share of tattoo blunders, and knows you must've developed an affection towards how shitty it is. Would have gotten it covered up, otherwise. "That's incredible."

"You're calling me so such thing," you assure him, but you also can't help but laugh.

"I am," he tells you, then really solidifies it. "Shelly."

"Fuck off," you whine, doubling down. Scanning his arms, you try and pick out anything you can use against him, too. "If I'm Shelly, then you're Mike."

"Mike?!" He protests.

"Yeah," you insist, pointing towards the microphone on his forearm. "Mike."

"You are not calling me Mike. Do I look like a Mike?!"

"Do I look like a Shelly?!"

You've got a point. It's not the name he would have first associated with you - but it is cute, he thinks. Cute how mortified you seem. Cute how you can't help but smile.

After a little bit of back and forth, it's decided that neither of you look like your namesakes.

"Y'know, we kinda have matching tattoos," he says, holding out his arm for you to study. "Or at least, the placements."

And sure enough, below his elbow lives the outline of a bunny sitting on a crescent moon. Holding your own arm out next to his, below your elbow is a butterfly. Above it, is a teeny tiny moon.

Like Jungkook's moon, it's a crescent. Was supposed to symbolise new beginnings. You wonder what his means, but don't ask. Instead, you marvel at the coincidence of it all.

He presses his index finger against the butterfly on the inside of your forearm. The echoing chatter of the restaurant fades softly into nothingness as he says, "Nabi."

You nod. Even if you have spoken with him in English this entire time, it's nice to hear him speak in his mother tongue, no matter how minimal - so you reciprocate. Press your index finger against his bunny. Smile. Say, "Tokki."

It further confirms to Jungkook that you have no idea who he is. Has been a while since he's met a girl in a circumstance like this where that's the case. Likes the anonymity of it all. Is hiding his identity from you, and yet hasn't felt such vulnerability for years.

"Daltokki, right?" You continue, not wanting the silence to linger for too long. "The rabbit in the moon?"

You're not wrong, but you're also not entirely right.

"Yeah," he smiles regardless. "That's it."

JUNGKOOK'S APARTMENT ITAEWON-DONG, YONGSAN-GU SATURDAY 07:12

"Shhh," Jungkook quietly laughs. 

His hand is over your mouth and the other is on your hip as he guides you into his apartment. With your back to his chest, you've both been giggling for the entire ride to his place.

He had insisted that he should walk you home, and was surprised by the offense you seemed to have taken by this. You then told him that he absolutely could not seduce you, and that it was very gender-role-conforming for him to think that you were incapable of getting home by yourself.

"Maybe I should be the one to make sure you get home safely," you had said with a false sense of concern, which had made him laugh quite considerably.

In all reality, you didn't mind him offering to get you home. You just hadn't tidied your room. Didn't really expect to be taking a boy back to your place, much less one that looks like him.

Together, you'd caught the early morning bus over to Itaewon instead of a taxi, 'cause you're still on a student budget and Jungkook wasn't quite ready to blow his cover just yet.

You've been teasing him—questioning his status as a potential International Super Spy—ever since he took your hand and guided you into one of the flashiest apartment complexes you've ever been in. There was security. Doormen. A passcode for the elevator—not to mention that he was heading up to the seventh floor once you were in it. Might not sound like much, but when there are only seven floors to the entire building, it makes it the penthouse by default.

"It's not a penthouse," he'd insisted. "Plus, I live with friends. Only pay a third of the rent."

But a third of his rent is more money than you'll probably see in three months of post-grad work. You're drunk, but you're not stupid. You also know that the rental market here differs significantly from your home country. Monthly rent is cheap, but the deposits are extortionate. Sure, he'll get it back when he leaves, but to have the initial money needed for a place like this? He's not a regular student, if one at all, that much is sure.

"Not sure who's home," Jungkook whispers as you both kick your shoes off in the entryway. Given the looks of the other shoes, it's clear that this is a guys-only living situation. You're proven right when he continues, "Betcha Tae's still in that damn DVD-bang, but Yoongi might be back."

"Yoongi?" You question.

"GLOSS," Jungkook says, remembering how oblivious you are to who he is. Reaching down to grab your shoes, he isn't gonna leave them by the door. Will take them to his room. Doesn't want the boys asking questions, if they are in. Knows they'll just use it as an excuse to publicly roast him whenever they're next online together.

Given that a stream is scheduled for Sunday night, he doesn't want to tempt fate.

Their current choice of wind-up, which the viewers have been eating up, is the joke that Jungkook is a virgin. He's not, but he never knows how to defend himself without sounding like a tool, so always gets a little awkward. A lot of their viewers love it. Join in on the joke. Some take it seriously. He doesn't care.

Next month, Taehyung will do something dumb, and he'll become the favourite joke for a while. Maybe Yoongi. But for now, it's Jungkook.

None of them take it to heart. They're just a group of friends who share their gaming hangouts online, and accidentally made it to the top of the ranks.

They aren't particularly good at gaming, but that's part of the charm. Crescent Collective is how they're known: Blu-Tae, GLOSS and Tokki.

After a bet went wrong, and they all lost, they ended up with moon tattoos and their respective 'symbols'. Jungkook's is a rabbit, Tae's is a blu-ray DVD disk (because he really is committed to the bit), and Yoongi's is stars to symbolise the shine of fresh gloss. Jungkook's makes the most sense. Yoongi's is pretty decent. Taehyung's is just... Well, it's very him.

Sliding open the door into the main living area, Jungkook has to cover your mouth again when you gasp at the sheer size of the place.

"I thought butterflies were supposed to be silent?" He teases. "Quiet for me, Nabi."

His place is bigger than your family home, you think. Hushing you again, he's laughing—and then he's cursing at the sight of a half-naked Yoongi by the kitchen counter.

In his boxers, with half a clementine slice hanging from his lips, he's just as shocked to see Jungkook with you. Gets over it pretty quickly.

"Don't mind me," he says, chewing down on the fruit with a smirk. Looks towards you. "Apologies for the lack of clothes."

With your shoes hooked on his fingers, Jungkook's other large hand is still over your mouth. You're not sure you can form any words as it is, but you do notice the crescent moon and stars on Yoongi's ribs.

"Not a word to Tae," is all Jungkook says. Knows that he'll be in for a world of teasing tomorrow if he gets wind of it. "I mean it."

Holding his hands up, Yoongi's still smirking, but he is backing away into a room just off the kitchen. "My lips are sealed."

Watching as he closes the door, you wonder how much truth is in his words. Jungkook knows it's absolute bullshit. Chooses not to dwell on it. Loosens his grip on you and heads towards his own room. Turns back to check you're following him, and can't help but smile when he knows that you are.

Tossing your shoes just inside the door, Jungkook is quick to pick up a pair of jeans he'd left on the floor, before chucking them over his desk chair. He tweaks his bedding. Straightens it out. Looks a little shy as he turns to face you.

"Made it home safe," he says quietly, as you close the door behind you.

You nod. Keep a little distance. Say, "It's dangerous to sleep after drinking. Make sure you build a tower of pillows in the middle of your bed so you don't roll onto your back."

Both of you are far more sober than you were earlier. There's no need to worry about anything like that.

And yet he nods, now. Says, "You're probably right. You can always stay, though. Just to check I don't die in my sleep, or whatever."

"It'd be the responsible thing to do," you nod, wondering if he can tell just how fast your heart is beating. "But I don't have any pyjamas."

Jungkook swallows. The way he looks at you now is entirely different to how he'd looked at you in the club. Back then, he'd been bold. Flirtatious.

Now, he seems vulnerable. Needy.

"I sleep in my underwear," he tells you, unsure if you'll actually be sleeping. While he likes the idea of fucking you, part of him doesn't want to. Fears it'll ruin the magic of the unknown. The way he throbs at the mere thought of it would suggest that his hopes outweigh his fears. "I don't mind, if you don't."

The clothes Jungkook's wearing are baggy. You've seen nothing of his figure.

Reaching for the nape of his neck, he tugs on the fabric of his T-shirt. Pulls it over his head and discards it in one swift movement. The sound of it crumpling on the floor is abrasive in how it makes you feel. Raw. Unrefined. You suppose it's just a natural consequence of seeing the toned muscles of his chest. How his waist defies what you thought was possible for masculine builds, and how broad his chest is. The indent of his collarbones, and the lines of his pelvis that draw your eyes downwards.

A pair of Calvins peek just above the waistband of his jeans, and a silver chain rests around his neck. Light from the city filters in, and LED lights around his impressive computer set-up paint him in a hue of violet.

"No," you manage to reply, which is a miracle, you think. "I don't mind."

And then you reciprocate. Reach for the hem of your shirt and pull it over your head, letting the fabric fall to the floor. Seeing him swallow back his nerves, or maybe his desires, makes you feel far bolder than you should.

"It's really uncomfortable to sleep in jeans," you tell him.

He nods. Agrees. Threads the button of his trousers through its loop. Doesn't take them off yet. Waits for you to do the same. Keeps his eyes firmly locked on yours. Doesn't let his gaze wander, no matter how much he has to fight all his instincts not to fully take you in. Is still pretending like he doesn't want you in the most indecent of ways.

The room you're in right now is known worldwide. 

People set it as their zoom backgrounds. It's on Pinterest. There are YouTube videos attempting to recreate the set-up. If he were to power up his computer—which, in all fairness, is only on standby—and go live, there'd be a thousand viewers within minutes. Doesn't matter what he plays, or who he's with. He doesn't give it much thought anymore. Is just life.

Sometimes, he regrets not being a faceless streamer, but he also knows that it's part of the appeal. Connection, and the fantasy that comes with this almost dystopian, parasocial idea of it.

After all, the meeting of his eyes with yours across a busy club led you to this point. Human connection in the simplest of ways, that he thinks could culminate in the most complex of ways, too.

"Okay," he says. "So take them off."

"You want me to?" You ask just to tease a little bit, and when a smile flickers onto his seemingly nervous lips, you're glad you did.

"You think we'd be here right now if I didn't?" He says with a tweak of his brows.

"You've got a point."

With that, you push your jeans down and reveal the matching set of black underwear you're in. It's nothing special. In fact, it's not really a set, but it's close enough that it'd fool anyone who didn't know.

Jungkook, in this moment, is indeed a beautiful fool.

There's a lopsided grin on his face as he lets his eyes rake down your body. Is shameless as he indulges in you. Nods, as he bites down on his bottom lip.

"It's cold," you tell him, urging him along a little bit.

"Shit," he says without much thought. "Sorry. Was just... Yeah. Shit."

It's both endearing and wholly confusing how Jungkook flips from confident to cute. A man of duality. It makes you giggle, and then you're the one biting down on your bottom lip. Are both a little bashful. A little shy.

"I'm only here to make sure you don't die in your sleep," you remind him before it goes any further.

Looking at him now, knowing you want him in the worst of ways, it's testing all of your willpower not to just cut to the chase.

Thing is, you liked his company tonight. Want it again. Want to give him a reason to seek you out once more. Want him thinking about you in clubs, and looking for you in crowded bars. Pining. Yearning. Needy.

"It's already gone seven," he tells you, walking towards his bed. Knocks his head to the side. Silently tells you to follow suit. "Will probably only get a couple hours in."

"Better than nothing. Plus, you're actually really irritating," you bullshit as you get into bed with him. Are adamant you won't fuck him, but you do let him pull you in closer.

"Oh, yeah?" He grins.

"Mhmm," you nod, pretending as if you aren't looking at his lips. "You'll be less annoying when you're asleep."

"I'm never gonna sleep again," he assures you. "Will annoy you forever."

"I know where the front door is," you say as you stroke a few of his loose, wavy hairs back behind his ears. They fall freely almost right away, but it just gives you another excuse to play with it "I can just leave. I'm only here to make sure you don't die in your sleep. Pointless if you're awake."

"So I have to be asleep for you to stay?"

"Mhmm," you hum.

He immediately loosens his grip on you and flops into an overdramatic sleeping position. Fake snores. Gets you giggling. Can't hide his smile, either. Laughs through the god-awful noises he's making.

But it is late, and you're both tired. As much as he'd like to stay awake with you, the pull of sleep is just too tempting now that you're beneath his sheets. It's not like he doesn't wanna fuck you. His semi is very much present, but neither of you mention it.

"Y'know what's sad about butterflies?" Jungkook mumbles after the laughter dies down. He carefully begins to trace the lines of your tattoo, eyes entirely focused on the tip of his finger.

You purr a response before you fully vocalise one. "Tell me."

He glances up at you only very momentarily. Looks back down. Is quiet when he says, "How quickly they die. Spend over half their lifespan growing into these beautiful creatures, and then they have, what—A week? Two? Three, tops—and then they're gone. It's like the cherry blossoms in spring. Beautiful, and then—" He clicks his fingers. "—gone."

Stroking back some loose strands of his hair, you wonder if he's thinking about you. About this chance encounter. Beautiful, then gone.

"Just means you have to appreciate them while they're still around," you say softly. "Cherish them, because you know you only have them for a moment."

His gaze lifts to meet yours. The reflection of his LED lights makes it seem like butterflies are floating around in his deep, dark eyes, too.

There are stories he could tell you of ancient folklore; about human souls taking the form of butterflies. Of justice, and peace, and spirits. Of back in time, when tigers still smoked. He could tell you of his favourite butterflies. Of the black butterflies that are as large as his hands in the summer. Of the huge display in a museum downtown that would transfix him as a child.

Instead, he gently presses his lips against the lines of your butterfly tattoo.

The rate at which your heart is beating multiplies. Like a swarm of butterflies chasing through your veins, you've no control over the way you're feeling. He's brought your artwork to life; set the souls inside of your butterfly free, only for it to be apparent that the souls belonged to the both of you, anyway.

You know that this is one of those moments; a butterfly passing on by through your lives. Here, and then gone. Beautiful, but fleeting.

There's a shyness to Jungkook now, as he rolls onto his back. A reluctance to get things wrong. He doesn't look at you, just nibbles on his bottom lip and pretends as if the empty white ceiling ahead of him is the most interesting thing he's seen all night.

It's not.

You are.

You, and those eyes that make him feel like the butterfly on your arm is tickling at his tummy. He finds himself jealous when he faces you again and begins tracing the thin lines of your butterfly once more. Wants to embed himself into you like the ink that's carved out a home in your skin.

"Sorry," he mumbles, seemingly regretful of the tender kiss he'd pressed against your arm just a short moment ago. "Don't know why I did that."

"It's okay," you reply without much thought. Like him, you're letting the way you feel dictate the words you say. Care not for playing coy. "I liked it."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

Jungkook wants to stop his mouth from letting his desires escape. The issue is, he drank a little too much tonight and his lips are a little too loose. Too bad. Can't help himself from asking, "Can I do it again?"

You're just as bad.

"Yeah," you whisper. "Please."

The way his lashes splay against his cheeks as he presses another kiss to your arm is nothing short of celestial. Like that damn moon on his arm, he's got a beauty about him that's hard to capture in words. Ethereal feels too fantastical, but gorgeous feels too dense. He resides in a realm somewhere between the two. Somewhere you'd like to stay forever.

Forever, sadly, only lasts a few hours. You've brunch plans with new friends you can't bail on yet for fear of running a friendship before it's even begun.

You see yourself out. Jungkook's still asleep. Not quite 10AM, you've a dozen missed calls from Rae, and a cold can of coke waiting for you in your fridge. Funnily enough, though, you don't really feel hungover. Must have gotten it all out of your system the night before.

It's only fitting, when you think about Jungkook on the subway home, and how soberingly drunk the idea of him makes you feel. 

YONSEI UNIVERSITY DORMS DAESIN-DONG, SEODAEMUN-GU SUNDAY 21:39

Brunch had, predictably, been a yawn-fest.

The people were perfectly nice, but you spent the entire time thinking about Jungkook; how you'd left him in a pretty slumber, the LEDs behind his computer still glowing, with not even so much as a note to say thank you.

It's not like he had any paper on his desk, and you weren't about to start rummaging around his room. You also didn't want to wake him. Part of it was because you knew you'd be saying goodbye, and the concept of that was one that you didn't like all that much.

And so your subway ride back to your dorm had been spent searching his name. He didn't take long to find. 

From the club's Instagram, you found GLOSS and quickly discovered that there was far more to both him and Blu-Tae than just being DJs. Their follower counts were wild. Numbers you know you'll never see on your own account. Verification check marks accented their display names. 

Who are you? You'd thought to yourself, incredibly perplexed by it all.

Jungkook was littered all over their pages, and yet it still took a while for you to click through to his account. You're not sure why, but think that perhaps the unknown was a nice place to reside within. Safer. 

CR3SC3NT_T0KK1 was his username—and curiously, Tokki was also his display name. Brows furrowed, you'd almost dropped your phone when you saw his follower count. It eclipsed both of his friends. 

Filled with gaming set-ups, merch drops, and general life dumps, it was pretty clear that whoever Jungkook had made himself out to be the night before was not who he was in real life. 

Equal parts offended and intrigued, you were only more confused when you saw that Rae was already following him—but not following Taehyung.

"What?" she'd beamed when you'd asked her about it after you'd arrived home from brunch, a scoop of hangover ice cream being waved around in the air with her flamboyant gestures. "He's, like, one of the biggest streamers in the country—and if I want to keep Tae obsessed with me, we need as many connections as possible. Jungkook's a frog to me, baby, not a prince. Don't you worry your little cotton socks. I'm not after him."

"I wouldn't care if you were," you'd blatantly lied in response, and then you'd giggled together at how ridiculous you were both being over boys you didn't really know.

Hovering over the bright purple 'JOIN STREAM' button later that evening, part of you holds back. Think it'd be weird. Strange. That he'd somehow know it was you.

Dipping your mouse, you tick the checkbox to join as an anonymous viewer. Take a breath. Think fuck it. Watch with bated breath as the loading wheel turns—and then he's there.

Jeon Jungkook has the kind of beauty that transcends shitty quality streams. Smiling as he jokes with one of his friends through a headset with a pair of black bunny ears affixed to the top of them, you hear a voice you almost recognise. Notice the friend he's streaming with in the top corner. Realise you do know him, too.

Hair as blue as the trees are green, Tae has just as much boyish charm as Jungkook, but also an incredibly large hickey that seems to match the ones on Rae's neck.

"Nah, can we get an L in the chat for Kook," he's teasing. Sure enough, the chat begins to explode with the letter, and Jungkook looks so pretty when he protests.

"It's not an L!"

"It is!" Tae insists. "Should have seen him, guys. Was following this girl around like a lovesick puppy—"

"No, I wasn't!"

"And she didn't even give him her number. Not even her name!"

"That's not true!" Jungkook whines. He switches between Korean and English with ease, sometimes just single words, other times whole sentences. "I have a name."

"What is it?"

"Not telling you."

"Cause you don't have one!"

"No, because you'll all make my life a living hell," Jungkook laughs—and then notices a bright blue comment lighting up in the chat. His eyes widen. "Fuck."

GLOSS: Was calling her Nabi when he got home last night Almost shit his pants when he saw me

"Yoongi, I'm gonna shave your eyebrows off in your sleep," Jungkook growls—only for the chat to start spamming butterfly emojis. Closing his eyes, he leans back in his chair, the still paused video game long forgotten about, now. Thousands of people are in their chat, and even more are watching the stream.

"Guys, get it trending," Taehyung goads. "Tweet, I dunno, bunny and butterfly emojis."

"Don't do that!"

"Hashtag find Jungkook's butterfly."

"Do NOT do that!"

"I'm like a modern-day cupid," Taehyung beams.

"I'm shaving your eyebrows, too."

Closing the stream, you sit for a moment, mouth ajar, unable to process what on earth you've just witnessed. Part of you feels as if it must have an incredibly vivid daydream; a projection of your heart's desire.

And you know you shouldn't, but when you get home from running errands the following day, you join the stream again. Blush when you notice the chat is still teasing Jungkook.

"I'm gonna block you all," he threatens them with a grin, which only encourages them to send even more butterfly emojis.

The next day is no different, nor the day after that.

He is, though. Has been letting it all play on his mind. Doesn't have much of a filter when it comes to streaming.

"What if she didn't even like me, guys," he whines to the chat. "And sees this and is like... mortified. I think I'd punch myself in the face if she ever saw any of this."

You toy with the idea of sending a comment into the chat. Something that only he'd realise was you. Thing is, you feel bad for intruding. As if you shouldn't be prying. As if you're eavesdropping on him chatting with friends, and not on the stream he's broadcasting live around the world.

Typing out a message, you deliberate your choice.

Punch urself in the face pls, tokki x the message reads. 

Simple. Effective. To the point.

But everyone calls him that, you stupidly realise, now.

And so you change the name to 'Mike'. 

Before you can even really realise what you've done, you've pressed send.

The message flitters into the chat feed. He's about to resume his game. Doesn't notice it at first.

Gives the chat one final glance, and then his eyes widen. He sits up taller. Straighter. "Mike?"

You close the lid of your laptop immediately.

"Fuck."

THE STREETS WAUSAN-RO, HONGDAE FRIDAY 23:51

"Tae is on in five," Rae squeals, dragging you down the road at lightning speed. 

You'd spent far too long at dinner, and also had far too much to drink with your food, so have been forced to make an undignified sprint to the club in an attempt to make it in before the place reaches capacity.

There's already a queue. You can see it from a mile away.

Realistically, Rae could have gotten Taehyung to add her to the guest list. He'd offered. She didn't wanna look needy, so had played it coy about her plans for the evening. 

After a single beer and soju, she'd decided that the idea of him hooking up with anyone but her simply wouldn't do.

"Shit," she sighs in defeat, looking at the queue. The direction you've come from means that you reach the entrance before you reach the queue, but even then, you can tell it goes around the block. "Are there no other clubs these people can go to?!"

There are—but this club is rammed tonight for the same reason Club Sundown was rammed the week before. People want to see the Crescent Collective. 

You didn't realise it at the time, but you'd bypassed the queue of the second club last weekend because Jungkook had been with you.

And as if by a stroke of luck, or perhaps a twist of fate, the same tattooed hand that had held you as you slept last weekend is now putting out a cigarette just a few steps away.

Eyes landing on yours, he looks away again, almost immediately. Feels embarrassed. Stupid. For the way you left him, and also for the way he knows you must know who he is, now.

Behind a red rope, he's away from the general crowd. It's sort of obnoxious, you think—but also know Jungkook is anything but.

"They're with me," Jungkook says to the bouncer, not really looking at you, but nodding in your general direction. Is deliberately keeping a little distance. Instead, he says to Rae, "Tae wouldn't want you waiting in line."

Nodding, the security guard makes way for you, stamping the backs of your hands with UV-activated ink as you walk past.

"Thank you!" Rae beams.

"No worries," Jungkook smiles right back. "He's about to start. Was just getting air. You're lucky you arrived when you did."

"Angel," she praises. "I'll get you a drink while we're in there."

You know her well enough now to know that she absolutely will not, but you don't say anything. Instead, you fold your arms over your chest as you walk, suddenly feeling all awkward in Jungkook's presence.

"Nabi," he curtly greets you as you head down the stairs.

"Tokki," you greet him back just as formally. Consider calling him 'Mike' instead, but you chicken out.

Face scrunching up, Jungkook tries his best not to cringe at himself. Doesn't know if you're addressing him by his tattoo moniker, or just calling him Tokki because you know it's his identifier online.

"How have you been?" He asks, not wanting to let it simmer.

"Alright," you say, aware of how awkward this all feels, as you descend the stairs and into the club. The music is getting louder, and soon you won't be able to hear him talk unless you're in each other's ears. "And you?"

"Alright."

Just as quickly as he appeared, Jungkook is lost to the crowd. 

He doesn't care to stick around if he's just going to be hung out to dry by you again. He tells himself that he only made sure you got in to keep Rae happy for Taehyung's sake—yet as he rejoins his friends in their booth, he finds himself desperately seeking you out again.

It takes him a while, but he eventually spots you by the bar in conversation with Rae. He can't make out what you're saying, but notices how your eyes are flickering around the room. Seems as if you're hunting for something. 

Deep down, even if he pretends like he doesn't, he hopes it's for him.

Pulled away from your search by the bartender passing over drinks to the pair of you, Jungkook feels bad. Knows the drinks are pricey in this place. Also knows, from the conversations you've already had, that you're on a tight budget. Had said that once the semester starts, you'll stop going to parties. Are seemingly unaware of the fact the parties never stop in this city. You'll learn.

When your eyes finally land on his a little while later, you're surprised by his intense gaze—intrigued by his lack of shame for being caught out. He doesn't look away or appear embarrassed. If anything, it's quite the opposite.

Girls are vying for his attention all around him, yet you receive all of it. Half the room away, hundreds of people create a sea between you both. Jungkook thinks he'd swim through it, no matter how choppy the water, if it meant he could have you right now.

You're the one who left, though. 

It's up to you to come back.

Part of you doesn't want to, but then you see another girl making advances, and Rae's horror over other girls trying it on with Taehyung seems to have rubbed off on you. The idea of it makes your skin crawl. You're drunk, and a little reactive, but Jungkook likes playing with fire.

As you work your way through the crowd towards him, he tries his best not to grin. Finds himself vindicated in his desire to be close to you, 'cause it seems like you want it, too.

Sliding in between Jungkook and the girl, you turn and apologise.

"Just need to borrow him for a second," you smile, clutching at his shirt and pulling him away from the booth before she even has a chance to protest.

With an ever-so-satisfied smirk, Jungkook shrugs towards the other girl, and lets you drag him wherever you want. He's putty in your hands, a little tipsy and desperately in need of attention from you. 

For the past week, he's played scenario over scenario over scenario in his head about this moment, and now that it's happening, he's glad he let you seek him out. Is so pleased that you actively want him just as much as he wants you.

In the middle of the crowd, you're hidden from prying eyes. It's too dark to notice any discerning features of the people around you, yet somehow, Jungkook seems like a vibrant golden light to you. Impossible to miss. Unable to ignore.

You wanna talk. Ask him about who the fuck he is. Explain that you didn't mean to leave so heartlessly.

Taehyung's set is so overwhelmingly loud, though. Can barely even hear yourself think.

As soon as he'd spotted Rae in the crowd, Taehyung had sent the bar coordinator to go and get her. She's sitting pretty up in the DJ booth, incredibly pleased with herself. Notices you and Jungkook almost immediately. Knows it'll be on Twitter in the next few hours, especially if that damn butterfly tattoo of yours is noticed.

Bunnies and butterflies have been trending for days.

Jungkook speaks, but you can't hear him.

"Huh?" You ask, getting on your tippy toes, but it's fruitless. Even as his hand drops to your waist to steady you and keep you in place, you can barely make out his words. "I can't hear you!"

He can't hear jack shit, either. Frowns. Looks around. Spots Yoongi by the booth and gestures towards the side of the room. When Yoongi nods back, it's Jungkook who drags you through the crowd, now. Just beyond the DJ booth is a little black door that Yoongi meets you by. Taps in the code. Nods in your direction.

"A pleasure," he says with a knowing smirk. Miraculously, you can hear him, but ultimately, it's because you're not in the direct line of the speakers now.

You don't get a chance to respond before Jungkook gets you into what can only described as a dark hole as quickly as he can. Romance, you think to yourself, but you also are very aware of the fact Jungkook doesn't let go of your hand, even when he's searching for the light switch. It takes him a second, but he manages to recall the approximate location quickly enough.

Dingy yellow light floods into the room. Small and boxy, it's a 3-in-1 storage room, bathroom, and dressing room for 'talent'. It's why Yoongi had the code, but you can't imagine anyone with any shred of self-respect actually using this place. The walls are the same grey tiles as the floor, and the light bulb hangs from a wire without a shade. The tap on the sink drips, and you're pretty sure there's a leak in the far corner by the mirror.

None of that matters, though. All you can focus on is the man in front of you. Though not soundproof, the room does offer a far more muted version of Taehyung's set. More importantly, it provides you with privacy.

It's been a week since you last saw him, face to face.

Though you have, admittedly, seen him what feels like a million times on low-quality streams from his bedroom.

Realistically, it's been about three times, but you think about it almost constantly.

"You left," is all he says, a little pout on his lips.

It's cute, you think, that he is so outwardly offended by such an act. You would have thought that a man of his position would have a habit of leaving, himself. Then again, you didn't know of his status when you left him in bed that morning.

"And you didn't die," you reply with a teasing smile, trying not to make it sound so severe. "You were fine without me."

"I'm not joking," he says, even if he can't help but smile at the recollection of how stupid the conversation before bed had been. "You left. It was rude."

"I had brunch plans," you tell him, reaching your hands out for his. He wants to resist. Fails. Lets you pull him closer. Incredibly close, in fact. So close that you begin to notice all sorts of things. His freckles. A small scar on his cheek. A tiny fleck of glitter on his skin, no doubt from one of the girls who had been desperate for his attention earlier. "You'd only had a few hours sleep. I didn't want to disturb you."

"Could have left a note," he says, still pouty but far quieter. You can smell the Jack on his breath. Have always hated the taste, but think you could grow to like it. "Your number. Something, at least."

"I could've," you admit, edging even closer. Closing the gap. Nudging your nose against his. But then you smile. Pull back. Tease, "And you could have warned me that I'd become a trending topic on Twitter."

Just like that, Jungkook's pout snaps into the prettiest smile. His face scrunches up, lines creasing on his nose. Beneath his closed eyes reside the sweetest little puffs. He's got the kind of face that is impossible not to like.

"Ah," he cringes.

"Yeah," you laugh at the stupidity of it all. What did he expect? That you wouldn't find out? "Ah."

"In my defence," he holds his hands up, eyes wide and innocent. "You called me Tokki. How was I to know you didn't know?"

"Oh, give over," you laugh, as he reaches for your hands once again. Pulls you closer. "You know I didn't know."

Truthfully, he does know this, but it was nice to be unknown for a little while. Nice to not second guess your intentions. Even now, knowing that you know, he feels like none of it matters. 

"Look," he begins, toying with the hem of your cropped shirt. Lets his fingertips graze your bare skin. Tries his best not to think about what you look like half-naked. Fails. "I only came out tonight 'cause I hoped I'd see you. I don't care about staying out till ass-o'clock, again."

"Think I've only just caught up on sleep," you hum, angling your chin up and giving him the perfect opportunity to make a move that goes beyond flirtatious touches.

"Exactly," he smiles, letting his hand squeeze the side of your waist. Pulls you closer. "And I've not drunk half as much tonight, but I think I could do with you making sure I don't die, again."

"Yeah?"

Nodding as he nudges his nose against yours, Jungkook is all smiles. Lets his lips line up against your pout.

"Yeah," he mumbles—then lets the word get lost in your lips.

Sinking into what it feels like to kiss you, Jungkook can't help but feel satisfaction. Has finally caught the damn butterfly he's been after all week. 

He's played a lot of games. Won a lot of battles.

And yet victory has never tasted so sweet.

JUNGKOOK'S APARTMENT ITAEWON-DONG, YONGSAN-GU SATURDAY 02:07

You retrace your steps. Get a taxi to his place, 'cause there's no point pretending like he can't afford it. Not anymore.

You're not giggling like you were the first time you were in his elevator, but it's kind of impossible to do so when your back is to the wall and Jungkook's tongue is in your mouth.

Your hands roam his body—waist, ass. If you can squeeze it, you will. Just makes him deepen the kisses. If his large hands weren't cupping your jaw, keeping you close, they'd be doing the exact same thing as yours.

The ding of the elevator pulls you apart just for a second, and then you're the one pulling him down to the corridor to his place.

He doesn't open the door. Just kisses you again. 

Finally understands what it means to get butterflies, 'cause he's got you, now, and he never wants to lose it.

Hooking his hands beneath your ass, he hoists you up. Gets your legs wrapped around him. Could go in, but where's the fun in that? There's a slight danger of getting caught. He knows the hallway security cameras will definitely pick this up. The threat that it could get leaked online, and the simple fact that he couldn't give a shit if it does, is kind of hot.

"I'm not fucking you out here," you tell him through a hushed giggle, when he rests his forehead against yours.

"Woah," he jokes. "Who said anything about fucking?"

"I can literally feel your boner, Jungkook."

"Touché."

He doesn't even attempt to downplay it. He puts you down. Gets you through the threshold of his apartment. Shoes off by the door, there's no need to be quiet. Yoongi and Taehyung are still out, and will be for hours. He could take his time if he really wanted.

But what he wants is you. Doesn't waste time. Gets you in his room. Kinda feels like you never left. Jungkook still wishes you hadn't, but doesn't mind the idea of you making it up to him now.

"So," you hum, trailing your fingertips across his desk. "This is where the magic happens?"

He smiles a little bashfully, head dropping for a moment before his eyes are on yours again. "Yeah. You could say that."

Now that you're back in his space, it's a little embarrassing just how many clues there were. A headset rests on the desk—black, robust, with his signature bunny ears secured on top—and a mic is hooked up by the monitor. The webcam doesn't look special, but the keyboard subtly glows in his darkened room. Violet, like the LEDs behind his screen.

A laptop covered in vinyl stickers is closed next to the set-up. He uses it when he's not streaming on his desktop. At least three of the stickers are of the Crescent Collective's logo.

Turning to fully face him, you rest your palms behind yourself and perch on the edge of the desk.

He gets a little kick out of seeing you so flippantly disregard the domain in which he dominates. Gives him a point to prove. Gets him closing the space between you, hands on your waist, dipping to your ass to leverage further back on his desk. Knows it's sturdy, 'cause he built it himself, but has never tested out quite how strong it really is. Thinks now's as good a time as any to find out.

Your legs wrap around his body with no thought, just the innate understanding that you want him in a way you're sure thousands of people have only dreamt of: in his room, on his desk, that damn 'Go Live' button just a few short clicks away.

Reaching beside you, there's a smirk on your lips as you retrieve his headset. Put it on him. Say, "The ears are cute, Tokki."

He rolls his eyes. Is fighting a smile, and currently losing. He's seen some lewd shit during his time on the internet and is well aware of the fanart that includes the ears and little else. Always found it kinda funny, before.

Now? He's so hard it almost hurts, and he thinks he could grow to like it.

As your arms drape over his shoulders, he takes them off. Puts them on you, instead. Adjusts the sizing. Gets them just right for you. Is attentive, like that. Pulls his head back a little, and then realises what a problem you're gonna be for him.

It's not so much the addition of animal ears that's getting him insatiable, but seeing you adorned with a crown that is so inherently his that does it.

Jungkook's no saint. He's had his fair share of one-nighters. A couple hours of fun never to be spoken of again. Since the group of them signed to their management agency, they've been repeatedly told how important it is to get NDA's signed. Something about it always feels so icky to Jungkook. Cruel, almost. Has only had a couple hook-ups since then, both with flings he's known for a good couple of years, with no fear of them spilling the beans on how prettily he whines when he cums.

You're the first new girl in a long time. He knows he should really pause things before you cut to the chase—but then your hand is trailing down his thick forearm, delicately stroking his rabbit moon with a curious smile. Decides he doesn't care.

"The ears are cute," he replies. Teasingly adds, "Nabi."

The position of your arms over his shoulders ensures the tattoos he'd traced the week before are fully displayed for him. As his eyes drop to your butterfly, you're curiously smitten by the way his lips move to press a kiss against it again.

"Suit me?"

"Mhmm," he hums, eyes flickering back up to yours. "Should also get you a pair of butterfly wings, or something."

"I'd make you wear them," you tell him with a cheeky glint in your eye. "Turn you into a butterfly, yourself. Your girlies in the chat would love that."

Jungkook knows without a shadow of a doubt he'd let you. Not for the girlies in the chat, but for you.

Ghosting his lips against yours, he's waiting for you to press down. Is letting you take the lead.

Your kisses are sweet. Tepid. Reserved.

You're feeling; his hands on your waist, the pressure of his lip rings, the presence of his nose.

And then he's feeling; your bare skin as his large hands slip beneath the fabric of your shirt, the way your legs wrap around him, the vibration of a small groan against his lips.

The skirt you're in is bunched around your hips, and the positioning is just right for you to feel how hard he is against your underwear. It's a little undignified, you'll admit, but you're impatient, so you take control. Reposition his hand between your legs. Encourage him to take things further.

"Yeah?" He checks.

Nodding into a needy kiss, you mumble, "Please."

It might've been a while, but Jungkook's muscle memory is enviable. He's the best player on the team for that very reason.

As he hooks your underwear to the side, he's pleased to be greeted with indications of your arousal. Smirks into the kisses he's giving you, as his fingertips graze against your clit. Trails his lips to your neck. Wants to hear the way you gasp as he pushes his thick middle finger inside you.

"Fuck," you sigh at the welcome intrusion. Nod, as he curls his finger almost immediately. He's got a lot to thank those damn video games for, that's for sure.

Softly moaning, just how he hoped you would, there's an arch to your back as he picks up a pace. The need to perform, almost.

Head tipping back as Jungkook fucks another finger into you, you're unable to think too cognitively. Can only think about the way he feels. The smell of his hair as he presses kisses against your neck, and how prominent his collarbones are as your nails trail up his toned torso.

"Feels so good," you tell him. Move the hand of yours that's been resting on his shoulder to his hair. Tug on it a little. Elicit the prettiest of whines from him.

There's something to be said for making a man—especially one of such strength, stature, status—so weak. Gets you all giggly. Jungkook can feel the satisfaction ripple through your entire body, and it just makes him groan against your neck even more.

"You're so wet," he praises, pulling back to study your face as he plays with you. Lets his thumb stroke up against your clit ever so gently. Revels in the way you get a little shaky. Twitchy. With those damn bunny ears, you really are like a little rabbit. Jungkook finally understands why the fan artists choose to draw him in such a way. It is hot. "You're making me so fuckin' hard."

And then you're giggling again.

"Is it a joke to you, huh?" He smirks. Looks down at your pussy, all swollen and sopping wet for him, in the hazy violet light of his room. Knows that his throbbing cock is gonna stuff you so fuckin' full that laughing won't be an option. Is desperate for it. "How badly I want you is just a big joke to you, huh, bunny?"

The way he groups you in with his moniker is too damn hot.

"Dunno," you rasp, desperately trying to hold off the orgasm that's building inside you. "Fuck me and find out."

Reaching for the button of his trousers, you're quick as you wrestle his jeans down over his ass. Don't bother pushing them down entirely. Just enough to get his boxers exposed, and in turn, his thick cock. Hard and engorged, his desperation for you is evident. A small patch of precum seeps through the fabric of his boxers. He curses as your thumb strokes against it.

"Condom?" You ask, knowing you've got none on you.

"Hold that thought," he says, regretfully pulling away from you.

Watching on as he pushes down his jeans, and strips himself of his shirt, you're at a loss for words. You've seen him like this before, but it's so much hotter knowing that he's gonna be fucking himself into you as soon as he possibly can.

Jungkook could very easily lead you to his bed. Get you comfy. Reach to his bedside cabinet for a condom. Fuck you how he likes—doggy-style, minimal face-to-face contact—and be done with it all very quickly.

Instead, he says, "Stay here."

Doing as you're told, you watch on as he walks to the cabinet, and retrieves a condom. Admire his back, and his broad shoulders. The valley of his spine, and the hard work he's put into crafting his physique. Smirk to yourself as he dips into his boxers. Strokes himself. Once, twice. Tears the packet open with his teeth, just like you were always taught not to do, and rolls the latex down his thick shaft.

"What?" he smirks as he walks back, realising your eyes are transfixed on his cock.

You say nothing. Smile. Hold your hands out for Jungkook to take, just so you can pull him back even quicker.

Lips pressing into yours as he closes the gap, Jungkook is all smiles. Rubs the head of his cock against your pussy, gathering up your arousal all over his tip. Lines himself up with your entrance. Waits for you to give him the go-ahead.

Hand on his ass, you pull him closer. Edge the crown of his cock into you. Whimper. Beg. "Please."

Sinking into you with a laboured grunt, he's surprised with how much tighter you are around his cock than you were with his fingers. Wet and warm, there's an undeniable pleasure that sparks through his body as he gets familiar with the way you feel.

Slowly, his hips begin to pick up a pace. As his tongue strokes into your mouth, there's no dignity to the way he's taking you. The increased pace means heightened moans, and it's not just you—it's him, too.

"Shit, yeah," he grits. "So fuckin' tight, aren't you?"

Whining, you nod into his kisses. Are at his entire disposal as he grips your waist, proving exactly why Tokki is the perfect nickname for him.

As much as he likes the ears, he's a little worried that he might fuck you so hard they fall off. Doesn't wanna break them, and definitely doesn't wanna think about the story the boys would make up when they go live tomorrow to tease him—but also really wants to fuck you harder.

Which is funny, cause the way he tugs them off with such desperation and tosses them down, you'd be forgiven for thinking he couldn't care less about breaking them. Doesn't give you a chance to say anything, 'cause his big hands are cradling your face, bringing you in for desperate kisses once more.

There's a lewdness to the sounds you make together, but Jungkook knows that if he was an entirely different kind of streamer, you'd make bank together. Wonders about the way it would look on camera. Worries. Pauses.

"You good?" You check a little breathlessly as he reaches behind you, just to tug the wire to his webcam from the plus.

"Yeah," he nods, still fiddling around behind you. Smiles in the hedonistic haze as your lips find a new home on his neck. Strokes your hair gently, and presses a kiss to the side of your head. Quietly says, "Just making sure there's no way in hell I accidentally start streaming."

You hum, all purry and pliant. "People would pay good money to see it."

While he agrees, and has had the same thought process, he doesn't care. "You saying I should be charging you for this?"

"Oh, no," you say all very sweetly. "You should be paying me."

"I'll pay you with orgasms," he promises, knowing that it's a rare currency for one-night strands.

You smirk. Pat the top of his head. "Sure you will."

If there's one thing Jungkook loves, it's a challenge.

Pulling back, he turns you around. Gets you bent over his desk with zero opposition from you. Rubs himself against your soaked cunt, then asks, "Yeah?"

"Yeah," you smirk, and then settle into a sigh as he pushes into you. The feeling of fullness from Jungkook is one that's hard to compare. So thick, and fat, and heavy, his cock really is just as impressive as he is.

With one hand hooked at the crease of your thigh, the other holds the top of your shoulder. Gets you pushed down onto his cock as far as you possibly can be. There's a slight reflection in his streaming plaque beside the monitor, and you're pleased to see just how intensely focused he is on you, brows furrowed, pretty pink lips resting ajar. The silver of his lip rings and chain catch in the light, and you find you can't look at him for too long. He's too hot.

But then he's reaching down for your clit as he fucks into you. Has your legs shaking. The waves of a familiar sensation begin to lap against the shores of your pleasure.

"Fuck," you whine. "Feels good. Keep it like that."

Jungkook knows better than to ignore your requests. Does as he's told, the pressure of his fingers on your clit only deepening. Rubbing calculated circles against you, he knows just how to work you up. Gets you whining. Mewling. Moaning.

"Gonna cum, aren't you?" he smirks, as his own high builds.

"Fuck—"

"C'mon," he husks, feeling your walls tighten around him. He doesn't stop his relentless chase. Will win your orgasms fair and square. Continues pounding into you. Pace fast, strokes deep, he's everything you could ever want and more—and then he's slowing. Keeping you plugged, nice and deep, but focusing on the way he's toying with your clit. "You know you wanna cream for me. All over my cock, pretty Nabi. C'mon—"

"I'm close," you all but whimper. "So—fuck. So close."

"Yeah, you are," he tells you—and then your legs are shaking, pussy tightly clamping around his cock, one hand tense against his desk while the other grabs at his wrist. Uncontrollable, is the way you whine for him. It's so needy—so desperate and pathetic—that it's almost a sob. Jungkook doesn't ease up. In fact, his hips gain a little pace again as your orgasm shatters around you both. He's breathless, but manages to choke out, "Flithy fuckin' cunt. Feels so fuckin' good. Fuck."

The frail limpness of your body as the orgasm smokes away is cute. Jungkook loves it. You're so weak for him. He fucks into you still, chasing his own high, and your whines only get louder. It's overwhelming, but you never want to lose the feeling.

It doesn't take much. Just a minute or so of your tight cunt, and Jungkook is pulling out. Even though he doesn't ask you to, you get to your knees as he tears the condom off.

"In my mouth," you beg, and who is he to reject such an offer?

Jerking himself to completion, Jungkook is all pretty and pathetic when he cums, too. Looks at you with eyes so starry you'd been forgiven for thinking he was a descendant of the constellations.

He milks the final few spurts of himself onto your wet tongue, and curses when you press dainty kisses to his tip. Stroking your tongue against him, you don't want to waste a drop. Look up at him and find that his eyes are resting shut from the pleasure of it all.

Silence surrounds you both, just your beating hearts and laboured breaths filling to the room. He helps you up. Holds you tight. Hugs you for a little while, then presses a kiss to the side of your head. "Thanks."

"My pleasure," you giggle - and then he's smiling, too. Feels vindicated by his irrational thoughts about you over the last few days. He pays no mind to the fact you're still technically dressed, and he's basically naked.

As he sorts himself out, you perch back up on his desk and languidly swing your legs. Enjoy the thought of memories plaguing him whenever he tried to play his little games over the next few days.

"You wanna grab a shower?" he offers. "Food, too? Dunno about you, but I'm fuckin' starving."

"Same," you nod, biting down on your bottom lip. "I'll go wash up, you sort food? Are places still open for delivery?"

Checking his phone for the time, Jungkook is surprised that it's closer to midnight than it is to his morning alarm. Only a handful of places will offer delivery at this time, but that's enough.

"Works for me," he says with a yawn, then opens what you had assumed was the closet door. Reveals an en-suite and knocks his head to the side. "Get your shower. Gimmie a shout if you need anything."

Tiles large and grey, it's the perfect counterpart to his bedroom. A little dark, but it's only because Jungkook hates using the big light. Always flicks the small light switches instead. There's a window overlooking the city, and even though you're only seven floors up, the hills of Yongsan-gu mean that he's got a view you could only dream of.

You're about to start the shower up when he calls through. "Is pizza good?"

"Pizza's good," you call back with a smile. Look yourself in the mirror and wonder how the fuck you ended up in the bathroom of arguably the most famous person you've ever met. Decide it's better not to question it.

The shower begins to cascade down, even if your sins are washed way, you know you won't be able to forget the feeling of Jungkook so easily.

Truth be told, you won't even try.

YONSEI UNIVERSITY DORMS DAESIN-DONG, SEODAEMUN-GU SUNDAY 21:13

"L in the chat," booms the voice of Taehyung through your laptop speakers. His trademark grin rests on his face as he teases Jungkook.

You've only just opened the stream. Instantly, you focus on the prettily lopsided smirk of Jungkook's lips. You've learned it's an almost permanent fixture on his boyish face. Shaking his head, he's adjusting his headset. Making it a little looser so that it'll fit him properly.

No one is questioning it.

What they are questioning, is where the fuck that pretty purple bruise on his neck has come from.

"Cross-fit," Jungkook just shrugs, knowing that it's the colloquial term for suspicious bruises after some idol used the same excuse. Blatant horseshit. Jungkook doesn't care.

"I've never done cross-fit, but I know you're bullshitting," Taehyung snorts.

The chat seems to agree with him.

"Thought I was a virgin?" Jungkook states a little cheekily, making reference to Taehyung's usual banter. "How else would I get one?"

Taehyung knows better than the retort. Knows that Jungkook could very easily slip something about Rae into the conversation.

Virgin? You type through a message on a private discord chat with Jungkook. He'd set it up the day before. Has already sent you, like, a thousand messages. Is what can only be described as obsessed—but it's mutual. Could have fooled me.

As his eyes glance down to his laptop screen, he fails to hide his smile. Had opened your chat on there, cause he didn't wanna accidentally broadcast the messages onto his stream. Despite this, he doesn't care that there are nearly 10,000 people in his stream merely minutes into it. Is far more interested in his chat thread with you. Replies immediately.

Stop distracting meI'm working</3

Giggling as the message pings through to you, there's a giddy quality to the way Jungkook makes you feel.

He'd spent the day in bed with you after your night together. Had wanted you to stay when he started streaming that evening. Said he'd only be an hour or so, and was incredibly pouty when you did leave.

It had just been him on last night's stream—headset off 'cause he didn't wanna adjust it back yet, hoodie on to hide his neck. The other boys were nursing hangovers, so he could do what he liked.

What he did do had you incredibly curious. Was just chatting. Talking to the comment section. Sleepily reeling off facts he'd recently learned about butterflies. Debating over their lifespan.

You're not naive to the fact that Jungkook does this streaming stuff as a profession, and are aware that the more people talking about his stream on other platforms, the more viewers he'll get.

Made sense for him to add fuel to the butterfly-related fire by talking about them.

Had sent you a message earlier that evening to ask what kind of butterfly you had on your skin.

A Monarch, you'd told him.

"See, the thing is," Jungkook had rambled to his viewers a little later on. "Most butterflies have super short lifespans—Monarch's included."

Eyes all starry, lights in his bedroom purple as per usual, he'd looked cosy. You wished you'd have stayed.

"But there's a specific kind. Migrating Monarchs. They're the last of their generation—the final butterflies of the year," he marvelled at the magic of it all.

His facts were a little hazy, but he knew enough. Had been down a you-shaped rabbit hole all afternoon.

"And they migrate, right? Move away from home—somewhere warmer—and then it just extends their lifespan. 180 days. Not 30. That's six months. Six months. It's a long time. It's not fleeting. Not in the slightest."

It's also, curiously, exactly how long you're scheduled to stay in Korea for.

"I dunno," Jungkook had just sighed, a little forlorn, trying to make sense of his thoughts.

He bit down on his bottom lip, stroking his thumb against the hard plastic ears of his headset, then focused on the camera again. Wondered if you were watching. 

He simply shrugged. Said, "Counts for something, though, right?"

#byholly #jungkook fanfic #jungkook fanfiction #jungkook angst #jungkook smut #jungkook ff #jk ff #jungkook x reader #jungkook imagine #bangtan fic #jungkook fluff #streamer!jungkook #non idol au #bts fanfic #bangtan ff #jungkook fic #jeon jungkook x reader

[sparkbeast20]

I also think that we missed something in the comic when Satan helps protagonist with angel. Or I just didn't see it being talked about ��

While reading Testament of Solomon angles are used to help invoke the demons, for example the line 11th and 12th part.

So it kind of makes sense that Satan shows up right after the annoying Holly bum does try to hurt us.

Also the start of the the unholyc school. Asmodeus shows up with no summoning, no random half made marks of his, just puff and here he is in his half naked glory.

It can be reference to part of Geotia where author does meet the Asmodeus and the bastard decides to "troll" the poor human by nearly crashing him with his hoof while the human stays in protective circle.

It is also said that higher demon prices/kings CAN show up with no invocations or summoning circles just on a whim.

I will send the reference later cause I'm on my way to Uni XD

Interesting. Also to added, when Satan saved us from Gabriel. He mention that we are connected to Solomon thus, it would suggest that he was sent there or both the angels side and devils side found out about MC and it was a race to get to them.

#spark's answer #hi azzza1808 :3 #whb ask

[limetimo]

RAB fics I read 25-16 april

Downfall by Lunarde the black brothers trying to survive Walburga's parenting and insane abuse from other family members, like holly f the thing with Reg and the well was sooo inspired* (* fucked up beyond recognition in frish and exciting ways)

the deadly seven by remusjlupin1981 so regulus has a son, Apollo, whom he drops off at grimmauld place before going off to die in the cave (but it's tagged Regulus Lives AU, sooo...). Apollo gets raised first by wally then by the Malfoys and is a stone cold hard bitch who adores his younger cousin Draco and has a weird obsession with Harry Potter. Also Sirius is out of azkaban early

Misadventures' of Lily Evans and her three dipshit boys by Koten_Bliss jegulus asks Lily to surrogate for them. the formatting needs work (not quite a block of text but there needs to be more space between paragraphs) but I'll just feed it to a text-to-speech thing and we'll be golden

Ron and Harrys immortal Times. by CUM_Monster12 ron and harry reincarnate all over the place and end up being Orion and walburga firstborn twins

Tale As Old As Time by xojosten james interrupts regulus as reg is messing with a time turner in the room of requirement and poof, they end up in 1998, when Golden trio is having their eight year. James is a himbo and I need more Draco and Regulus interactions ♥

Vows by MorlayWritings regulus getting closer withxenophilius lovegood (romantically)

Party games and plaid PJ's by redhairedPadfoot everyone's a gay disaster, jegulus wolfstar the works, cute

For here you are, standing there, loving me (whether or not you should) by OptimisticDinosaur Sound of Music wolfstar AU, it's just, soooo goooood. and Regulus is a cutie patootie side character that's secretly a main character, just doing his best to protect his brother, his brother's 9 adopted kids, and his brother's new boyfriend

The Beginning Of An End And The Start Of a Story (One-shots) by StarRatzz various one shots, i only read a few so far but the writing is good

Strikers (takes two) by aureusprongs muggle uni football trans regulus slowburn jegulus ♥♥♥♥♥ im loving it

Pirates, Parrots, and Pining (oh my) by OptimisticDinosaur sirius faked his death, run of to the sea to join the pirates, and can't stop flirting with a fellow captain remus lupin. mastermind matchmaker Peter. james is living his best life. regulus has a cute little role of "OMFG SIRI WE FAKED YOUR DEATH STOP USING YOUR REAL NAME FFS". def check it out.

Whatever happened to the young, young lovers? by georgia_sk regulus so bamf he went insane, first he ended voldy and now he's cooming for Dumbledore because dumbles is a little warmongering bitch. also slow repairing of his relationship with sirius, tonnes of trauma, slowburn jegulus, wolfstar and rosekiller getting their shit together.

Basilisks, Boggarts and Boyfriends (oh my) by OptimisticDinosaur sirius has custody of little harry and needs his house clean of all critters and dark magic. only, the exterminator, Remus, is fucken CUTE and harry adores him. Really, what other choice does sirius have than to smuggle various creatures back inside grimmauld place so that remus has to come back? CUTE AF

Lead Me Into the Light by third_crow regulus needs to get rid of a creepy ex, scores a new boyfriend in the process. jegulus

SUGAR HIGH by IvyCore RICH JAMES (RICH) SUGAR BABY REGULUS I REPEAT JAMES PAYS BIG BUCKS FOR REGULUS TO BE MEAN TO HIM AND THEY FALLIN LOVE AND HAVE TO DEAL WITH THEIR PREVIOUS RELATIONSHIP TRAUMAS TO FIGHT FOR THEIR LOVE

Pretty by rsbarelle Regulus' boyfried is pretty. the first year said so

#fic rec #regulus black

[merveiilles]

// Does anyone want a SMALL starter? probably gonna be one or two sentences. But first call since I’m feeling better. Probablyyyy? wont cap it, but I probably should. Hoping that since they’re small starters it wont be so bad. MUTUALS ONLY pleaseeee and thank you~ *** friendly reminder i do have a clause in place. If I have made you starters in the past and you have not responded to them, i will not make you another. Sorry, I dont want to be putting effort into making a bunch of starters just for them to go unheard. If you have a problem with said starter, I can edit/change it.***

[desktop muse selection here!]

Mobile selection under the break!;;

Original Characters;; - ewan mckenzie (fc: liam.neeson) - emily karlen (fc: grace.phipps) - merrick bently (fc: johnny.depp) - elijah (fc: matt.bomer) - utaki mizukawa (fc: shion.kamiya) - emmet lewis (fc: colin.farrell)

Anime / Manga;; - alala (mermaid melody) - hanon hosho (mermaid melody) - mimi (mermaid melody) - hayate gekko (naruto) - hinata hyuga (naruto.) *genin only. sorry i’m bias. - temari (naruto) - kojiro (pokemon) - reika aoki / cure beauty (pretty cure 2012) - bel (pretty cure 2013) - rikka hishikawa / cure diamond (pretty cure 2013) - raquel (pretty cure 2013) - chiyu sawaizumi / cure fontaine (pretty cure 2020) - pegitan (pretty cure 2020) - shindoine (pretty cure 2020) - asuka takizawa / cure flamingo (pretty cure 2021) - kokone fuwa / cure spicy (pretty cure 2022) - pam-pam (pretty cure 2022) - souseiseki (rozen maiden) - ami mizuno / sailor mercury (sailor moon) - miki (shugo chara) - torii mifuyu (shugo chara) - mint aizawa / mew mint (tokyo mew mew)

Avatar (Bryke);; - opal beifong

Chicago Med;; - dr. ethan choi usnr - monique lawson rn

Cookie Run;; - blackberry cookie - frost queen cookie - knight cookie - werewolf cookie - oyster cookie

Detective Comics;; - garth of shayeris (aqualad/tempest) - ravenna renda (raven) *civilian re-named - lt. col. slade wilson (deathstroke)

Di$ney;; - denahi (brother bear) - lord milori (fairires) - spike (fairies) - kalabar (halloweentown) - shan yu (mulan) - princess su (mulan ii) - princess snow white (snow white at7d) - irma lair (w.i.t.c.h.) - xion (kingdom hearts)

FBI;; - ian lim

Fortnite;; - halley - shade - the order - the scientist

Frotnier;; - sokanon

Harry Potter;; - garrick ollivander - nymphadora tonks - rolanda hooch - rubeus hagrid

Marvel Cinematic/Tv Uni.;; - loki laufeyson (no correlation to tv show.. sorry.) - mantis - peter parker / spider-man (fc: tobey maguire) - samuel chung / blindspot

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children;; - claire densmore (no fc) - jack “caul” bentham

Netflix;; - nick jakoby (bright)

Nintendo;; - princess mipha (the legend of zelda) - purah (the legend of zelda)

Power Rangers;; - jamie gilmore (comics #20) - kelsey winslow (lightspeed rescue) - trip regis (time force) - lt. taylor earhardt (wild force) - kaylee bishop (dino charge) *surname hc - calvin maxwell (ninja steel)

Seasonal - Christmas;; - buddy hobbs (elf) - marv merchants (home alone) - the grinch (the grinch 2000) - mrs. holly claus (the christmas chronicles.) *name hc - jojo (the christmas chronicles) - st. nicholas claus (the christmas chronicles.) - hobo (the polar express) - dr. niel miller (the santa clause trilogy)

Shrek;; - prince charming fortuna

Supernatural;; - sam winchester

The Beatles Cinematic Uni. (ONLY CINEMATIC. NOT IRL);; - ringo starr

The Covenant;; - reid garwin

The Nevers;; - augustus bidlow

The Twilight Saga;; - alice cullen // cullen coven (est. 2008) –formerly on ning. formerly a couple tumblr urls i no longer remember. - alistair // nomad (est. 2010) –formerly on ning, and tumblr falkenar - amun // egyptian coven (est. 2012) –formerly amunofegypt - charlotte // nomad (est. 2013) –formerly on ning - embry call // wolf pack (est. 2011) –formerly on ning - james // nomad (est. 2012) –formerly on ning and tumblr url i can no longer remember. - mike newton // human. (est. 2012?) formerly a tumblr url i can no longer remember. - liam // irish coven (est. 2013) –formerly a tumblr url i can no longer remember. - petey // wolf pack (est. 2012) – formerly xpeteyx

The Vampire Diaries;; - kol mikaelson (seasons 3-5 of tvd only) (Fc: thomas.hayes) - rose-marie

The Walking Dead;; - jerry westerlund (surname hc) - kal zhou (surname hc)

9-1-1;; - kevin lee

#:☆: random babbling ( out of character ) #:☆: we’re gonna do some writing today! ( starter / plotting calls )

[deliahscrush2003]

~ ONE WANDERING ASK ~

A solitary ask is now in your box!

Favourite author(s)?

"Hi there, my dear @summer-time 😊 You know, everytime I think of you, I think of the song "Summertime" by Orville Peck. Just a random thought. I apologize for not answer this ask sooner, you'll have to forgive me, I've been distracted by a great number of things. I am going to use this ask to also tell you how I am because I noticed another ask in my inbox asking me that very same question."

I am proud to say that I found a job. Just a casual one, but it was better than being locked in my house stuck with my thoughts.

I have finished uni for the year, just handed in my last assingment for the term a few hours ago. I had only started it from scratch today, but the power of anxiety and spotify playlist does wonders on poor procrastinating me.

I have seen clips (not the entire episode yet unfortunately) of the latest episode of House of Dragons and I am reluctant to admit that I have another OC in my Onenotes. Guilty, I know, considering I have a Game of Thrones fic on hiatus that my lovely readers are constantly telling me to continue.

I have been making pinterest boards for my original characters for a story I created when I was only a small child called the Infernal Heirs, so if you would like to drop any asks about them, I'm happy to answer any questions.

I am also on the look out for new beta readers for my Narnia fic, so if you know anyone who is interested, please let me know!

TW: spoilers for some books!

Favourite Author or more like My Favourite Author because of their books

|| Holly Black ||

Author of the Folk of Air series, featuring:

The bullprint to what I actually consider an accomplished enemies to lovers series.

An intriguing plot that doesn't full revolve around the romantic relationship of the leads but rather the protagonist, Jude Duarte's navigation of the political playground in Elfhame.

Interesting worldbuilding that doesn't overwhelm but makes it maintains the otherworldly feel of being in Faerieland.

I've seen a lot of complaints by people who were recommended the book for the enemies to lovers aspect and were disappointed when the first book was literally establishing the enemies part and that's one of the reasons why I think Holly Black did an actual good job of writing enemies to lovers because of that very reaction.

Just like with every relationship I like to read or write, I believe that there needs to be strong foundation of an emotion or connection that is not inherently romantic and I think that people have gotten used to reading enemies to lovers where the enemies part was so heavily influenced by secret lust, love, unrequited feelings, ulterior motives that redeem the enemies that it may as well just be a book about how they started being emotionally kinky with each other before they got into an offical relationship.

As demonstrated by Black, Jude hates and envies everything that Carden represents that she believes she lacks; he's beautiful, he's cruel and he has the power to get away with it. Carden hates everything Jude represents because its everything he lacks; she's defiant, she's strong in the face of adversity and she's brave. And because of these projected feelings, they immediately do whatever they can to put the other in their place.

Even when Carden "lusts" over Jude, he hates it vehemently. And even when Jude admits that she feels something other than hate for him, her actions a lot of the time are not lovey-dovey and are on the direct opposite end of the spectrum, keeping us second guessing on how they feel for each other versus how they actually act towards one another.

#about me

[druidx]

Doing a little rubber-ducking on WTF is going on in the Cryptid Series universe at the time of the new Untitled Changeling novel. This got long so I'll pop the more rambling bit under a cut.

The Skinwalker starts out with Kathy as the victim - she's being stalked by the titular creature, the cops are next to useless. Then she has her run-in with the Hunters, Alex and Luke, who ultimately save her life.

Skip forward 6 (or so) months. During, Igazinyoka, Kathy's been moved to a quieter position because she's started getting 'visual migraines' around too many people. She meets a woman who tells her she's developing magic¹. Luke calls and asks for Kathy's help in locating Alex.

The ending of Igazinyoka causes Kathy to quit her position in Hampshire Constabulary. The epilog has her jobless and dossing in someone's spare room when she gets a summons on behalf of the Danish Crown. There she meets Agent Skou and is reunited with Alex and Luke.

In The Blue Lamb, it's implied² that Kathy, Alex and Luke have some kind of little cryptid-finding business going on which she's taking a holiday from. Also Kathy and Agent Skou are now an item? - at least for duration of that novel. The titular lamb turns out to be a cursed Princess of the Icelandic Little Folk, who is being hunted by the one who cursed her and has chosen Kathy to be her Knight.

--

Since The Blue Lamb never got a proper ending I'm not sure where things stand by the time of Untitled Changeling.

Is Agent Skou still around? It would make for a convenient reason for them to be at Loch Ness. But at the same time, having your lover killed a few months ago by some Fair Folk would also give an interesting subplot... (I'm quite partial to killing the Agent off for the Angst. But he also is a good Handler. So I am torn.)

I am quite attached to the idea that Kathly, Luke and Alex form a weird little unacknowledged/ coerced-by-circumstance branch of the Danish (or other?) government. Like the X-Files meets MIB but less willing. Giving them a Man In The Chair would also be a reason to have them show up in Fort Augustus - they've been ordered there.

Maybe I should give them some co-workers? I can either resurrect Holly and 'Zeke from The Skinwalker, or give them some new ones. As of Igazinyoka, 'Zeke had a good job in Emeryville doing something computer related; and Holly had gone to University. I might bring back Holly. She and Kathy never really got on, but the nepotism of it amuses me. Someone bright and sunshiny should be the 5th team-member. (to aggressively counter the seriousness of the other four)

What's going on in Alex's & Luke's lives? Maybe one of them's got a partner. Alex, probably. He's the more charismatic of the two, after all. The partner isn't 100% sure what Alex does. Alex studied for a degree in accountancy (I think) but never became w/e the USA equivalent of Chartered is. Actually I don't think he ever finished. Maybe he has his partner convinced that's what he's running around the world doing. Did we ever see if they have parents/ siblings/ other family? I know FA about either of these two, tbh...

As for why they're there - orders notwithstanding - I thought I might bright back another old character. In Igazinyoka Kathy and Luke call up a Profesor from the Uni of Nairobi, called Kgosi Babatunde, for help on what the Igazinyoka might be. Since he specialises in water cryptids, it might be fun to also have him show up and recognise Kathy. Did he ask for them, or is he pleasantly surprised...?

None of this helps me with an overarching plot, but it has helped brainstorm the current state of affairs in their lives.

--

¹ This universe is using very low magic stakes; no wild mage battles here.

² I never got further than the first act of The Blue Lamb, so a lot of what happens in-'verse during that is ~vibes~

#meta writing #oc kathy scott #oc luke granger #oc alex moore #wip 'untitled changeling' #the cryptid series #original character #original fiction #nanowrimo #nanowrimo 2023 #meta wandering words #oc holly scarlett #oc Kgosi Babatunde #oc agent skou #(no agent skou's first name isn't agent but I can't find it...)

[hollyfishlockcind3510]

🎤 More interviews 🎤

Project development:

We conducted our second interview this week! We met at The House at Callaghan campus to talk to Sam Farey. Sam has been at the University of Newcastle since 2015 and has switched degrees multiple times. 

We started setting up at 9am, and Sam would arrive at 10am. Peter was able to pick up the equipment last night. 

We asked Sam multiple questions on how university life has changed, and how his HECs debt has affected his decisions. Some of the key questions are listed below:

Tell us about your journey towards uni. What made you decide to come along? Go back to 2015. Take us back to where it all began.

How has uni or university life changed over the years? 

Back when you started, what were you told about HECS debt? 

Talk me through the degrees/programs you’ve studied from 2015 onwards and how they’ve led to you studying your current program? 

Throughout your degree (and degree changes) was your HECS debt ever a consideration? 

From your experience, do you think that the current HECS system is a fair one? 

How much has indexation impacted your HECS debt? 

Are you more worried about it? Has your attitude changed? 

If you don’t mind us asking, where does your HECS debt currently sit at? (the reveal) would you mind logging in to mygov and checking it out? 

We had a short issue during our interview, as another student was trying to get our attention through the door. They were knocking, but thankfully the knocking isn’t audible in the recording. After we finished, we packed up and discussed Sam’s answers while I uploaded the footage to my hard drive. 

A short highlights video is linked below:

https://uoneduau-my.sharepoint.com/:v:/g/personal/c3399291_uon_edu_au/EVNPqXNws6RMl2-Jl7WOHW8B6A_kfpBvFTcTBY5E32SUDQ?e=rlryP8&nav=eyJyZWZlcnJhbEluZm8iOnsicmVmZXJyYWxBcHAiOiJTdHJlYW1XZWJBcHAiLCJyZWZlcnJhbFZpZXciOiJTaGFyZURpYWxvZyIsInJlZmVycmFsQXBwUGxhdGZvcm0iOiJXZWIiLCJyZWZlcnJhbE1vZGUiOiJ2aWV3In19

Personal responsibility:

During the interview, I was able to help set up the equipment. I learned how to properly frame an interview during previous classes, so I could bring that knowledge to the group for interviews. I also properly set up the SD cards. I then edited the short highlights video that is linked above. 

Communication and Problem Solving

We didn’t face that many issues this week. One of our group members, Zali, hasn’t contributed much in the last couple of weeks. However, this is because she has experienced some private issues recently, and we haven’t put pressure on her to get anything done.

Next week, we will organise a time to meet with Gemma.

Holly Fishlock c3398018

[isaac-morey]

NAME: Avery Irving Morey

AGE: 20

MAGICK STATUS: Sea elf (Out) 

OCCUPATION: Student at PrideU (second year, undecided major) and employee at R2F

BUSINESS DESCRIPTION: N/A

CURRENT LOCATION: Swynlake (lives on campus) 

RELATIONSHIP STATUS (IF APPLICABLE): Single

CHILDREN (IF APPLICABLE): N/A

FC: Levi Miller

BIOGRAPHY: 

Avery Morey has absolutely no idea what to do with himself. 

He wasn't very old when Eva came along but he knew once she had his family became their family, because she needed them. And that was fine with Avery, having a little sister had never occurred to him but from the moment she was there, uncertain and cautious, Avery had decided he would never let anything hurt her again. 

It only made sense anyway; dad had lots of brothers and of course he came from a place himself where communities were very large, it was practically instinctive.

Eva spends more time with Safira these days than him, and he adores Hollis but knows pretty soon the little Faun will grow out of thinking hanging out with their big brother is cool too; he just hopes it's not too soon.  

A lot of things were; he gravitated to helping the new arrivals that showed up at the house as foster kids over the years as he grew up, because for him it was easy to see the best in things and most of them really needed somebody to help them smile.  

Sometimes the saddest part was seeing them get adopted because saying goodbye was never something he was good at; it had taken him a long time to realize not everyone could stay. 

Otherwise? He's pretty laid back about things, he rolls with the tides in life.

He hasn't figured how to tell his parents that he's always been very responsible and he just…doesn't want to be for a while? He wants to help people, he wants to look after his siblings, and he really wants to pick a major in uni that actually sticks. He does! 

But all those things come in time, and he's got a lot of that. 

Nevermind the fact that his magic is a little…unpredictable lately. 

He'll be fine, he's sure; speaking over ten languages fluently, having grown up with his dad telling him the easiest way to make things better is to really try to listen and his adar cautioning him to make sure he's thinking a few steps ahead of everyone else? He should be ready for practically anything. 

And mostly he just wants to hang out anyway, see the beach again, paint, just feel the water and shake off that confined sensation of being landlocked for so long. Isn't that what sea elves are supposed to do?

Cousins Riley and Sorrel are coming back for the Gala and that might be just the chance he didn't know he's been waiting for; dad and adar are bound to understand how hard it is to make big decisions before you've barely even lived much. He's sure they will, because they've always understood everything. They're going to understand that maybe uni can wait a while, Avery is convinced. 

Adar was a traveler before, dad left home for a while; he's heard the stories of their lives. They must know how it feels to be restless even when you're happy where you are, just not sure where to go next. 

He's not a kid anymore, he doesn't reallyneed permission, but he should probably at least ask what they think, right?

#happily ever after #swynlake event #colorwild kids

[applied-soup]

The real universal dark academia experience is spending an hour scrolling through aesthetic pictures without doing any fucking work

#dark academia #ffs holly your reading is right there #just #just do the work #shut up holly #holly does uni #holly doesn’t do uni well

[opalinesim]

when paige matthews posted an ad at darby’s den seeking a couple of housemates to stay in the house she recently inherited from her grandmother, she’d never have expected to get so many responses - or her inability to turn away any of them.  now, she’s living with a whopping six other students and the vain hope that there won’t be any drama among them.

#paige having six housemates brought to you by me originally planning to make four sims and then getting carried away #also not pictured but mar does have a cat <3 #ts4 university #simblr #new simblr #uni* #gameplay* #* #more info on everyone coming soon etc etc #need to go into cas and do portraits for everyone #ts4 gameplay #david* #holly* #madison* #alec* #julian* #marlene* #paige* #TS4

[einstetic]

[ 09.11.2018 ]

this day in a nutshell:

finished my first assignment for jurisprudence

read a chapter in one of my textbooks for my political science course(why is one chapter like 50 pages) and wrote some notes

read the 3rd chapter in one of my textbooks for social psychology

managed to do half of my first social psychology module which is based on the chapter above

looked through and revised the slides for a political science lecture i had yesterday

i also tried to study for an exam i have next week but as you probably guessed it didn't quite work out and the same goes for a group project i had planned to start work on but actively studying and working on long assignments for 8 hours with great success isn't that bad, right? please tell me this isn't what uni life is like all the time

#studyblr #einstetic #mine #athenastudying #intellectys #phoebe does #studyspo #uni life #study motivation #studyvan #lookalina #heylondonotes #narglestudies #moonshinestudies #scholasticus medicinae #heypat #ruby granger #holly gabrielle #unjaded jade #eve bennett

[annathesillyfriend]

Anna's May Fic Recs Part II

Welcome to my May fic recommendations masterpost (part II)!! Once again I was overwhalmed with how many amazing stories I was able to read the past two weeks. The amount of talented authors on this hellsite is just mindblowing 🤯🤯

To all the writers - I love you and I appreciate you so much! To all the readers - please, share the fics you read and love. The reblog really makes the change! It’s the least we can do to show our gratitude.

MARVEL

✨Steve Rogers✨

Good girl @syntheticavenger

one-shot, 18+, trucker!steve

Underwater by @sweetlyscared

one-shot, 18+, endgame!steve 😠

Recording by @/jurassicbarnes

one-shot, 18+, i think you can guess by the title 😉

Code blue by @bonky-n-steeb

one-shot, 18+, oof 🥵

✨Bucky Barnes✨

Milestone by @itsapeterthing

one-shot, avenger!reader

Say yes by @/itsapeterthing

one-shot, 1940's!bucky x rogers!reader

Night hours by @sinner-as-saint

one-shot, 18+, mob!au

The midnight coconuts by @bitsandbobsandstuff

one-shot, late night grocery runs with buck

Peaches and cream by @river-soul

one-shot, 18+ (no actual smut but a lot of induendos), this is so fun!!

Point of view by @forever-rogue

one-shot, it's just ✨so lovely✨

Play pretend (part 2) by @wkemeup

two-shot, 18+, first part sex pollen, over all mutual pining,

Wine and dine by @witchysoldier

one-shot, 18+, roommate!bucky

Nobody does it like you do by @/ritesofreverie

one-shot, 18+, divorced!dilf!bucky, onlyfans!reader but also neighbour!reader

No other shade of blue by @sventeen-daybreak

one-shot, tfatws!bucky, so much angst but just so beautiful

Take me seaside (for my health) by @/sventeen-daybreak

one-shot, tfatws!bucky, friends to lovers, buck takes care of sick reader

Sweetest downfall by @xbuchananbarnes

one-shot, memory loss, a lot of heartache on my side but so worth it!

Winter and hope by @jobean12-blog

one-shot, this is so sweet you guys 🥺🥺

Moving day by @/jobean12-blog

one-shot, 18+, moving in with buck 😌😌

Language barier by @galaxy-barnes

one-shot from Nothing but trouble universe, 18+, absolutely wonderful OFC

Dreamland by @blissfullybarnes

series, avenger!reader, get your tissues!

Trilogy by @buckycuddlebuddy

series, 18+, fuckboy!bucky, college!au, if you want to have you heart ripped out then this one's for you :')

✨Stucky✨

Turn the light down low by @slyyywriting

one-shot, 18+, bucky x reader x steve, some limousine action 😏

✨Sam Wilson✨

The whole Sammy sunday tag by @ritesofreverie

collection of all thing Sam, each one better than the last

✨Helmut Zemo✨

Twice by @mypoisonedvine

series, 18+, professor!zemo

✨Peter Parker✨

FBI agent by @hollandcrush

one-shot, 18+, onlyfans!reader

Challenge accepted by @stuckonspidey

one-shot, 18+, 🥵

Just friends - collaboration between @emmastarz and @cherrytholland

two-shot (part two in the making), the big three: best friend!peter, friends to lovers, ANGST :)))

✨Joaquin Torres✨

Chasing pavements by @mischiefmanaged71

one-shot, slowburn, stark!reader

Doodles by @anna-phora

one-shot, soulmate!au 🥺🥺

Wrong house, right time by @hairringtonsteve

one-shot, our boy comes to the rescue in the times of trouble

✨Wanda Maximoff✨

Mine by @buckybarnesplumwhore

one-shot, 18+, black!reader, jealous!wanda

HOLLAND & Co.

✨Tom Holland✨

Birthday, interrupted by @worldoftom

one-shot, 18+, uni!tom x uni!reader, oh man, i hope you have the fire house on speed dial bc this is pure 🔥🔥

Hooked on your feelings by @heyhihellowhatsup0

series, 18+, neighbour!tom, friends to lovers, fwb, so much angst *chef's kiss*

A royal convenience by @poetrcy

series, prince!tom x princess!reader, might be my favourite royal!au I've ever read

The way home by @hollandsmoose

one-shot, best friends to lovers

Supercluster by @wizkiddx

one-shot, best friends to lovers

Mornings in Italy by @heavenlyholland

one-shot, morning, Italy and Tom just belong in one sentence 😌

Dirty reflection by @wazzupmrstark

one-shot, 18+, mirror mirror on the wall, who's the naughtiest of them all? (it's y/n and tom)

Who would've thought by @multiholland

one-shot, frat!tom

Crash course by @greenorangevioletgrass

one-shot, 18+, bi!musician!reader, childhood friends to lovers

Stuck with(out) you by @duskholland

one-shot, follow up to Settle, 18+, mob!tom, pregnant!reader, the best mob!au fic ever!!

Long distance by @sunshinehollandd

one-shot, just 🥺🥺

Jinkies (part 2) by @madmadmilk

two-shot, 18+ in part two, this is so wholesome, please just read it

Night changes by @spideyspeaches

one-shot, 18+, fwb, fake dating, all the fun stuff, there's part two in the making!!!

Midnight kisses by @/mcumendes

one-shot, best friends to lovers!!! 😌

✨Harry Holland✨

This fic by @peterplanet

one-shot, 18+, just yes

Cabin fever by @hazofmyheart

one-shot, 18+, friends to lovers 😫😫 so good

Roll with the feeling by @unsaidholland

one-shot, rich kid!harry

✨Harrison Osterfield✨

Fevers and tea by @thegirlintheswivelchair

one-shot, friends to lovers, taking care of sick haz 🥺🥺 so adorable

Between tulips and blue eyes by @mcumendes

one-shot, flower shop!au 🌷🌷

Lucky strike by @soft-haz

one-shot, rich kid!harrison x rich kid!reader

OTHERS

✨Harry Styles✨

Bright and Blooming by @havethetimeofyourstyles

one-shot, 18+, best friends to lovers

✨Ransom Drysdale✨

Pledge Week by @the-iceni-bitch

series, 18+, Ransom and his girl are celebrating his birthday week 🎉

✨Andy Barber✨

Yes, Mrs Barber by @jurassicbarnes

one-shot, 18+, husband!andy

Holly by @uncafeavecbarnes

one-shot, 18+, domestic bliss 😌

Sundress season by @jurassicbarnes

one-shot, 18+, ex!husband andy 🥵

#bucky barnes x reader #steve rogers x reader #sam wilson x reader #joaquin torres x reader #peter parker x reader #tom holland x reader #harrison osterfield x reader #harry holland x reader #andy barber x reader #anna's fic rec #fic recs #may fic recs

[footballxposts]

The Rest Of Our Lives - Mason Mount Series 🦋 (Chapter One) Nostalgia

Warnings: none yet

Recommended listening as always: Our Song by Niall Horan and Anne-Marie (Slowed).

——————————————————————————

I sat on the end of my bed sighing heavily at the phone rested on my knee. As I began to take out my earrings, another text from my best friend Hollie appeared on the screen, begging me once again to go out with her for the night. Despite it finally being the weekend, I had just finished an exhausting week in work and all I wanted to do was chill out, eat some chocolate, drink some cheap Tesco’s wine and snuggle up on the sofa to watch reruns of Greys Anatomy. But she was being persistent. Standing up to put the jewellery that was now loose in my hand on my dressing table, I felt a sustained vibration coming from the device. She was now calling, and because she was my best friend, I couldn’t not pick up.

“I’m still not taking no for answer,” she protested in a firm tone.

Rolling my eyes and chuckling, I exhaled loudly again. “Girl I really don’t feel like going out, I’m so drained,” I replied. “Besides I having nothing to wear. You keep robbing all my clothes! You have half my wardrobe at this stage!”

“I do not!” she asserted, raising her voice at the end like she usually does when she’s telling a white lie. “I just, borrow them sometimes and…forget to give them back.” Now that both of us were laughing, I thought I had distracted her and got away with it, but she resumed her pleading. “Please Soph. We haven’t been out in ages and it would be good for us to spend some girl time together, just the two of us. You know what it’s like when we go out with the others. There’s so much bitchiness and I really can’t deal with it anymore. Let’s just go get some dinner, drink a few glasses of some fancy shit we can’t pronounce properly and have a dance. Come on it’ll be fun! I’ll even ask the DJ to play Rihanna for you.” she whined. I could almost visualise the puppy dog eyes through the phone. Agreeing, she squealed nearly bursting my eardrums.

“Okay, okay. Fine.” I mumbled. “Yours or mine for pre-drinks then?”

“Hmm.. yours!” she exclaimed. “Your apartment is much nicer than mine, you know?..better lighting for photos and all that.”

Disagreeing but accepting her decision, we said goodbye and hung up. I placed the phone back down on my chest of drawers and began to search through my wardrobe for something to wear. Deciding on a black bodysuit with a leather jacket, a pair of skinny ripped jeans, a Gucci belt that I had spent half my rent money on and a pair of red heels, I started getting ready. Before I knew it, Hollie was stood at my front door ringing the buzzer with a bottle of Pinot and a cheeky grin.

“Guess who’s here!” she beamed as I opened it to greet her.

“We’re you ready to go out the whole time I was on the phone to you?” I questioned raising my eyebrows at her and letting her in.

“Well duh! Of course I was silly! I knew you’d say yes.” She laughed, humming as she entered my kitchen. I shook my head. She was right though, I always give in to her and never say no to her nights out. Pouring us both an alcoholic beverage, she followed me back down to my bedroom.

“I have my hair curled I just have to finish putting it up.” I announced and she nodded. Once done, I applied some red lipstick, grabbed my matching red bag, downed another glass and we made our way out.

—

Arriving at our first destination, we stepped out of our Uber and thanked the driver. I closed my door and Hollie made her way around to me. “Hols, what are we doing outside Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant? We can’t afford to eat here.” I asked confused at her dining choice.

“Oh don’t get your hopes up, we’re not having food here sweetheart. Our restaurants down the road. Cheap and cheerful as ever.” She reassured me with a wink. You’d think after getting ourselves decent jobs after finishing Uni at age 22 we’d be loaded and well able to afford nice things. But instead, the reality of it was that we were still paying off student loans that helped cover our fees over the previous five years.

“Jesus! I was about to say. Thought you were gonna tell me you’d won the lottery or something and you were about to spoil me to an expensive night out. Only thing close to a romantic date that I’d be getting these days!” I chuckled as did she.

“Come on.” She replied, linking my arm as we began to make our way down the street. Not paying attention as I was too busy laughing at something on Hollie’s phone, I accidentally bumped into someone walking by. Refusing to make eye contact upon initial encounter as it was right outside the restaurant we had just been making jokes about, I knew it would probably be someone who was far better off and would probably make their utter distress known to me.

“Oh shit I am so sorry I honestly didn’t mean that, I wasn’t looking where I was goi-,” I began, but was cut off as my eyes came up to meet them.

“No it’s alright I’m sorry, it’s my fault I was too busy looking at my phone-…” they commented trailing off, noticing who I was. My heart began racing even more than it already was. Palms becoming sweaty. Legs getting shakey and unstable. A dryness forming in the back of my throat almost like a lump. Shock and sadness filling my heart. It was him. My first love. My first kiss. My secondary school formal date. My childhood bestie. The first person who had ever truly broken my heart without realising it. Mason Mount. Or as I knew him, Mase.

Breaking the eye contact, I turned my head down and bit my lip nervously. I wanted to make a run for it. You’d think after six years of not seeing the person you’d spent most of your life with, you’d want to stay and chat. Catch up. Talk about how life is going whether it be good or bad. But not when they’ve hurt you in the past without any explanation, and especially not when they’re a well-known international footballer who probably doesn’t even recognise you anymore. Closing my eyes and taking a deep breath so that I didn’t have a panic attack there and then, he parted his lips and began to speak again. “Soph?..” he whispered, realising it was me. Amazed, I turned my head back up, looking at him and gulping. Every memory I’ve ever had with him began resurfacing in my mind.

“Wait- you know this guy?,” Hollie piped up beside me. Trying to form a sentence whilst holding myself together, I just nodded, tears welling in my eyes.

“Soph I- I can’t even begin to explain how sorry I am, you have no ide-,” he began, a saddened look coming over his face, but I found the courage to cut him off.

“Don’t.” I whimpered. “Just don’t.” I repeated, shaking my head. With that two friendly faces known as Ben Chilwell and Billy Gilmour appeared beside him, the former putting his arm on Mason’s shoulder.

“Who’s this?.” He asked in a laid-back tone, looking at Mase and then back at Hollie and me.

“I’m..nobody.” I croaked giving a very wry smile. “Just someone your friend Mason Mount here knew a long time ago.” Mase furrowed his eyebrows. I never used his full name growing up. Never. It was always ‘Mase’, or ‘Masey’ when I was really small. I only ever used his full name when I was mad at him which was rarely ever or when I needed his attention. Needed him to listen to me; understand me. They all remained quiet. “Come on Hols, we’re going.” I said, turning away and walking a bit. He went to grab my arm and pull me back.

“Soph, please.” he cried, now gulping himself and shaking his own head. Turning around rather swiftly to face him, I was now right up against him. His eyes looking down on me, mine looking up at his eyes. I wanted to bite his head off.

“Oh so now England’s sweetheart wants to remember who I am?.” I scoffed, tears trickling down my heated cheeks. “I bet you thought you’d never have to see me again huh? Just when you think I’m gone out of your life for good, boom six years later we meet again. I mean that’s what you wanted at the end of the day wasn’t it? Me out of your life for good? Thinking you’d never have to see me to explain why you didn’t explain anything? You will never ever understand the pain I went through because of you.” I whispered. I hated to be so cruel. But he wasn’t the same person anymore. Not to me. I wanted to believe he was still the kindest soul with the purest heart just like he was growing up. And maybe he was to everyone else, but just not to me. I just couldn’t forgive him for what he did. Staying silent, I walked away again. This time only turning back to say one last thing further down the road. “Oh and by the way, it’s Sophie to you now. Not that you’re going to need to say my name to me ever again.” I said, referring to the fact he was calling me the shortened version of my name like he used to; the only other person to use it before him and Hollie being my dad. Letting my tears spill as Hollie put her arm around me, we took off, Mason now watching in the distance with tears down his own face.

After explaining to Sophie in the bathroom of the restaurant and over dinner in very brief detail the past I had with Mason, her knowing I didn’t want to talk about it any further than I already had, we stood back outside in the cold air.

“We don’t have to go anywhere else tonight if you’re not feeling up to it.” She half smiled.

“No no it’s fine. I want to. Let’s just go, a few more drinks and maybe a few shots and I’ll hopefully have forgotten about it for the rest of the night. And by the morning I’ll probably be nursing that much of hangover I won’t even have any energy to think about it.” I voiced, reassuring her.

“Okay, well if you’re sure.” She said unconfidently, as we tugged at our jackets and folded our arms to keep ourselves warm.

We made our way towards our favourite nightclub. It wasn’t an exactly cheap one but wasn’t too expensive either, so I knew the chances of running in to him again were very slim. I couldn’t wait to just drink and try to forget, maybe having a bit of dance on the dancefloor too. About an hour in, I was actually having some sort of a good time. Well, as best as I could anyways. There was no sign of him. Not for the past six years until earlier that night, and hopefully not for another six after it. It wasn’t that I didn’t miss him. I did, with my entire heart. With every fibre of my being. But I also hated him at the same time. Or at least I wanted to anyways.

Finishing off a shot of tequila and making a sour face at the bar, I let Hollie continue her flirtatious conversation with the bartender who had just served us and told her I was going to the bathroom. Walking down the stairs towards the door labelled ‘ladies’, I noticed my vision start to get a little blurry, but quickly regained enough focus to concentrate on the pair of eyes watching me as they ascended the steps.

Once again, it was him. This time, both of us on our own.

——————————————————————————-

A/N: Even tho am sick and ma brain is like mush at the moment, a couldn’t wait to get started oan this and post something fer you guys. Let me know whit you think he did 👀 H x

#chelsea fc #mason mount #mason mount x reader #Mount #ben chilwell #footballer #jack grealish #premier league #soccer #blurb #champions league #euros 2020 #euros21 #England #england national football team #english nt #england nt #football blurb #chelsea football club #footballer x reader #footballers #football imagine #billy gilmour #reece james #kai havertz #SoundCloud

[florbelles]

WIP TAG

 tagged in the past week by @tommymillers, @lilwritingraven, @gamerpurgatory, @adelaidedrubman & @scungilliwoman, thank you loves!! tagging @consumedkings, @amistrio, @chyrstis, @blissfulalchemist, @strafethesesinners​ & anyone else xx

once again jumping to fcnd-era excerpts because my more imminent wips are just short of being sorted enough to post ( hopefully in the next week or two as uni routine settles ).

content warning for lyra-typical violence & body horror ( recalled only, no live ritual blindings or disembowelments here, but alluded to nonetheless ). much much rougher than usual since i scrounged this up from my archaic notes :’’)

She hasn’t spoken to her, not really, not since she saw her die. Not since she saw her fall. Not since she restored herself to her former home, stripped it of its furnishings and replaced it with her own, not since she adorned the rafters with banners emblazoned with the cross of Eden. Not since. Well.

Lyra is a difficult woman to catch alone.

And she needs her. Alone.

She finds her lingering over the bookshelves, hips swaying; Marilyn’s disembodied voice laments the river from the newly-produced Victrola, presumably one of the remnants of the old world that Lyra has seen fit to reinstate from her personal collection.

Magenta haze. Water drips. She can feel her pulse in her eyes. The fog is clearing, slowly, slowly; her hands are chained above her head. The woman faces away from her, rusty hair spilling over her hips. The head lifts. “This is a forsaken place.”

Lyra turns at her approach. She has traded the white linens of New Eden for blush silk, her dirtied bare feet for red soles.

A faded photograph in a dust-coated desk. “Never mind them, darling. They’re gone.”

“Imagine my relief,” Lyra is saying, lifting her hand to indicate the shelf, “Your Meat is Neat survived Armageddon.”

The strip of frayed lace is still at her throat, yellowed with age and stained with something darker; Poppy imagines that it covers an open neck, a bleeding gash. She imagines she unravels it and decapitates the wearer.

Not water dripping, now, only blood, blood from their empty eyes and gaping mouths and gaping —

“We need to talk,” she blurts.

Lyra smiles, the corner of her mouth sloping upwards, the scar that splits her face fixing her with a perpetual smirk. Or perhaps it was already there. “Rather ominous, aren’t we?”

They are strung up by their insides.

“No,” Kim’s voice cuts in. She is advancing towards the mantel, a shaking finger thrust at the offending banner. “No. No. Take that fucking thing down.”

They’re alive, Jesus Christ, they’re still fucking alive.

Holly follows at her heels, attempts to reach for her. “Kim, look —”

“Release me.”

“No. No. Don’t fucking touch me.” She wrenches her arm away and rounds on Lyra, eyes blazing. “Not this. Not here.”

Lyra leans towards Poppy, conspiratorial. “Twice, I restore her husband to her, and this is how she thanks me.”

“What’s next?” Foam does not, in fact, fly from Kim’s mouth, but it might have. “You want to staple skin to the fucking walls?”

“I have shown you what I am.” A palm cradling her face. “Do you know who you truly are?”

“Do not mistake me for my husband, Kim.” Lyra says lightly, lips quirking. “He was always far softer than I.”

Breath on her neck.

“Release me.”

Nails, gnarled, mangled, digging into her flesh, piercing her throat.

Persephone.

Know your purpose.

“Darling.”

Lyra is watching her, head inclined slightly. “Are you alright?”

Poppy blinks. She does not say, I saw you die. 

She does not say, You were there, in the silo.

She does not say, You lashed them by their fucking intestines.

“Release me.”

I saw. You die.

“Does anyone feel like telling me what the fuck is going on?” she asks instead.

#wip tag #or 'again afuckinggain nothing new nothing changed' apocalypse edition

[svu-ncis-criminalminds]

History

For the anon who requested : I was wondering if you'd be interested in doing a crossover thing with the reader's ex being either Sonny or Spencer and now she is starting to date the other? You can make it angsty or fluff or whatever you'd like. I love both of them so much.

You woke up with arms tightly wrapped around you and the sound of your alarm blaring next to you. The body behind you groaned and pulled you even closer. 

“Turn it off.” He begged and you rolled your eyes smiling as you reached out a hand from your cocoon of blankets, grabbing your phone and turning the alarm off. You tried to get out of the bed but the arms kept you from moving. 

“Hey.” You chuckled, patting Sonny’s arm, “We gotta go, love. If we’re both late. Again. People are gonna start noticing.” Sonny kissed the back of your neck a few times and sighed into the crook of your neck. 

“They already notice.” He murmured and you shook your head, finally succeeding in getting out of the bed. 

“I’ll shower first, then you can get in.” Sonny sat up in bed, blankets falling down to his waist so his bare chest was visible. 

“How about we shower together?” He asked, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively. You pointed at him. 

“Shower. Just shower.” He leapt naked from the bed coming at you with his hands out. 

“Oh sure,” He reached you, hands gently tickling your sides as you pulled away from him, walking backwards towards the man’s bathroom. 

“I’m serious Sonny!” You laughed, “Showering! That’s it!” He nodded, continuing to devour you with his eyes. 

“Scouts honor!” He grinned and you giggled before turning to run from him towards the shower, the man a half a step behind you the entire way.

-----

You were late. Again. 

“Y/L/N, Carisi.” Your boss, Benson greeted you. The squadroom was in a flurry. 

“Sarg.” You greeted with a smile, “Sorry we’re late Sonny didn’t text me when he got to my place.” You lied. She shook her head but didn’t press the issue. 

“FBI is on their way.” She informed and you raised both of your eyebrows as Sonny went to his desk. Rollins and Fin were nowhere to be seen. 

“Why?” You asked. You were only fifteen minutes late, what could you possibly have missed? 

“Five bodies. All the same M.O. Just dug up in a field on the lower East side. M.O. was already in the database for some cases out in Virginia. FBI thinks we have a serial killer on our hands, one who is escalating. They’re sending out the BAU.” You felt yourself pale. 

“BAU?” You questioned, following Olivia as she walked towards her office, “Don’t they think we can do our job? We don’t need the feds breathing down our necks.” You tried to argue, she stopped you once you were in her office, with a stern look. 

“This is out of my control. We all need to play nice, alright?” You stood there awkwardly before nodding your head and stepping back with your hands raised. 

“Alright.” Olivia looked at you for a minute. 

“Is there something I need to know?” She asked. 

“No. I’m fine. Where do you want me?” The BAU had multiple units, maybe they were sending another group of esteemed profilers. A girl could pray. 

-----

You and Sonny got back from questioning witnesses sometime around dinner time, and the office was just as busy if not busier then when you left. 

“Holy crap,” Sonny breathed to you and you nodded in agreement. 

“Holly crap indeed, come on.” You walked into the flurry of people buzzing around the room, going straight to your desk. Sonny stopped at his desk directly next to yours, chatting with your about something. You were smiling, despite all the horror you had seen that day, Sonny always made you smile. 

“Y/N?” The smile fell, before you turned to face the source of the voice you managed a small one again. 

“Spencer, hi.” You greeted, he stood there in front of you for the first time since you had left D.C. He looked good, much better than the last night you had seen him. Since you broke up. “It’s good to see you.” He smiled at you and nodded eagerly. 

“It’s good to see you too. You look good.” You felt your cheeks redden slightly and involuntarily looked over at Sonny who was peering at you both, trying to figure out the situation. He never would, you barely did. 

“This is my partner, Sonny Carisi, this is Spencer Reid. BAU.” Spencer turned to the man, and they seemed to briefly size each other. You wanted to crawl under your desk and scream, you were feeling a lot of feelings currently but guilt was at the forefront. You and Spencer hadn’t left things on what you would have considered good terms. Your relationship had started good, close to perfect. Things had really fallen apart after Spencer’s kidnapping. He never really quite shook the habit, and you couldn’t handle loving someone else with an addiction, you learned your lesson from your parents. So you had left him. When things got to be too much, at his arguably lowest point you had left him. And that guilt you felt never truly subsided. And now he was here in front of you, looking healthy and you felt bad. You looked at Sonny again. But things had changed. Life had moved on, obviously for both of you. And now you had perfection with a man whom you loved to death. 

“Nice to meet you Sonny.” He greeted. Sonny nodded his head in return before gesturing. 

“Yous worked together in the FBI I assume?” You both nodded. Spencer looked at you, something was behind his eyes you couldn’t read. Maybe that’s why you hadn’t cut it as a profiler. 

“Are you still an expert at geological profiles? Maybe you can help us Y/N.” 

“I.. I don’t.” You floundered. Sonny walked past you, patting your elbow as you went with a smile. 

“Go help, I’ll fill Olivia in and grab ya if I need ya, doll.” He let the little sentiment fall from his lips with almost a smirk. You could have gaped at him but you managed not to, just merely smiled tensely. He was marking his territory and you knew it, he knew it. And most of all, Spencer knew it. Once Sonny was gone, Spencer looked at you with raised eyebrows. 

“New catchphrase of his.” You joked, “You should see him use it on defendants.” Spencer smiled slightly and nodded before gesturing towards the room BAU had commandeered for the case. 

-----

The next morning Spencer was already there when you and Sonny got there, this time early. The case was in full swing and you had cut out sometime early that morning to try and catch some sleep. 

“Morning!” He greeted cheerfully, two coffees already in hand. “Still take yours black with two sugars?” He asked. Sonny cut him off, his own voice sickenly cheerful. 

“She takes it with almond milk now.” He informed the other man, and Spencer’s smile faltered slightly. 

“I can get you some almond milk,” He assured. Sonny glared slightly and you sent him a sharp look of your own before taking the coffee from Spencer. 

“Thank you, I got it.” You assured before turning to go to the little kitchenette. Sonny followed you closely and you could feel his presence behind you. “Yes detective?” You asked brushing past a few unis as they left. 

“What’s that guys deal?” Sonny asked, dropping his voice low. You shrugged your shoulders grabbing the almond milk from the fridge to pour into your coffee. 

“It’s not work talk.” You murmured back. Sonny huffed and crossed his arms leaning on the counter as he stared at you. 

“And why not?” He asked. 

“It’s personal.” 

“Like how we’re personal?” Sonny asked. You stopped and turned to the man, glancing around before leaning up for the world's quickest kiss. You pulled back and Sonny relaxed his face slightly. 

“Yes.” You admitted, turning back to stir the drink in front of you, making sure it was cool before taking a sip, “We... dated.” You admitted shrugging, “For a while. Things didn’t end perfectly. I think he’s just trying to be nice.” Sonny frowned again. 

“For how long?” He asked, “He’s trying to chat you up Y/N. He obviously still cares for you.” You shrugged again. 

“Does it matter how long?” You asked. “That part of my life was over before I even met you, I promise Sonny. Just let him be nice. If I feel like he’s going too far I’ll shut him down, you need to trust me.” Sonny nodded before turning to leave the room. He paused in the doorway.

“I trust you.” 

-----

The case was over, but not without taking two more lives with it. The doer was in custody, and you were wrapping up some paperwork; looking forward to going home with Sonny to get some takeout and fall into bed. You were lost in your thoughts of Chinese food and cuddles when someone stopped next to your desk. 

“Good work this week.” You looked up and smiled. 

“You too, Spencer.” 

“The BAU misses you, you know.” From the corner of your eyes you could see Sonny was listening into the conversation. 

“The bureau doesn’t.” You smirked and Spencer laughed, before rubbing the back of his head awkwardly. You watched him, waiting for him to continue, hoping he didn’t ask you something you didn’t have the answer to. 

“We don’t leave until tomorrow.” Spencer glanced at Sonny who had the decency to at least try and pretend like he wasn’t eavesdropping. “Could we get a drink? Maybe talk?” You sighed. 

“Spencer...” You trailed off before standing up, you glanced at Sonny who smiled slightly at you. You nodded towards one of the interview rooms and the man followed behind you as you walked. Once inside you leaned on the table, crossing your arms and frowning. 

“I’m sorry. I overstepped.” You shook your head. 

“I should be the one apologizing, Spencer.” You informed him and he looked confused. “I’m... I’m sorry, for everything.” Briefly his eyes lit up and it killed you that you had to do this, but you were the happiest you had been... well, ever. “I’m sorry I left you how I did, there’s not a day that goes by where I don’t feel guilty about it. But that was a lifetime ago.” His face fell and your heart felt broken all over again. “I’ve moved on...” You finished, “I need you to too.” Spencer nodded slightly, hanging his head and turning from you before he turned back. 

“Is it Carisi?” He asked and you nodded, playing with the pendent on your necklace. 

“Yes.” Spencer nodded again and rubbed a hand over his face. 

“Good.” 

“Good?” 

“He loves you a lot, call it profiler intuition.” You smiled slightly and looked down. 

“I love him a lot too.” Spencer stepped towards you and patted your arm, making you look at him.

“For what it’s worth, I never blamed you. Not for one second. Okay, Y/N?” You patted the hand on your arm and smiled gently. 

“Thank you, Spence.”

#law and order #law and order svu #law and order special victims unit #svu x reader #svu x y/n #law and order svu x reader #svu x you #criminal minds #criminal minds x reader #criminal minds x you #criminal minds x y/n #sonny carisi #sonny carisi imagine #sonny carisi x reader #sonny carisi x y/n #sonny carisi x you #spencer reid #spencer reid imagine #spencer reid x reader #spencer reid x you #spencer reid x y/n

[tomtenadia]

Island Dreams - Chapter 23

Finally I made and chapter 23 has landed. We are not too far off from the final staged of the fic. This one is a mammoth and I hop that 8k words will keep you busy for a bit. I have an horrendous uni assignment due next week and work as well which means chapter 24 won't arrive until probably the beginning of next week.

The only thing I want to add about the chapter is the initial part where they talk about Christmas. Rowan's reaction might seem a little extreme but i based it on my own personal experience. I am pagan. I do not celebrate Christmas in any shape or form but I do celebrate the solstice. And what Rowan says to Aelin is what usually happens to me.

That's the only comment I'll make on the chapter.

Enjoy <3

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

“You are not putting that Christmas tree in our house.” Was Rowan’s outburst when he saw the image on her phone. It was the beginning of December and Aelin was showing Rowan the tree she wanted for the house and all the decorations she wanted to buy. “It’s December Rowan. Christmas will be here soon and everyone is decorating apart from us. Stop being such a spoilsport.” He stood and began pacing around the living room. “It’s a stupid holiday.” And he realised he had gone too far when her expression morphed into one full of hurt. Rowan’s hand brushed his hair in frustration.

“So it’s just my traditions that are stupid? Did I ever made fun of you with all of yours?” Aelin was now in front of him and she was fuming. “No.” Was the only thing he could manage. “I came with you at the summer solstice. I listened to your beliefs and never made fun of you and now I ask something and I can’t get it? I thought this was a relationship of equals.” She was getting irritated. “It is.” He added, turning his back at her and staring outside. “It doesn’t seem like.” He heard her walk away and sighed heavily. His head leaned against the cold window. When he turned around, she had left the room. A bit later he heard the main door open and close and he guessed she had left the house. He sat back on the sofa, leaned his head back into the sofa and closed his eyes. His communication skills had, as always, been lacking.

It was an hour later when she came back. She had gone out, probably to let out some steam. He stood to go to her but she ignored him and it hurt. They had small fights but this was one was more serious than the others and he had to fix it. “Aelin…” he moved to her. Aelin went to their room and slammed the door in his face. He groaned and started pacing around the living room nervously, then went back to the door of their room and banged at it “Will you come out so that we can talk?” The door flew open and his hand was still in the air. “What? Talk about what? That you are behaving like a selfish asshole?” Aelin knew she had gone too far. Rowan so far had been everything but an asshole and from his reactions he knew she had hurt him just now. “Selfish?” He roared and moved away from her “You know what? Decorate the house. Do whatever the fuck you want. I don’t care.” He moved all the way back to the window and Aelin knew he was mad. He had cursed and that was not something he did. She heard him use the F word only once and it was during a much happier moment. “Ro, I am sorry. I didn’t mean…” He sighed and Aelin moved another step to him. That distance between them was too much and she did not like fighting with him. For the first time she was in an healthy relationship and she had no intention of ruining everything. He turned abruptly and looked at her “I have never celebrated Christmas. I am 38 and I never did.” He started, finally looking at her “My parents followed the old ways and growing up I did the same. I grew up with kids making fun of me because I did not believe in Santa and because my family did not celebrate Christmas. When I was with Lyria I was forced to endless Christmas parties and people made fun of me when I told them I was going to Callanish for the winter solstice.” He ran his hands through his hair. Aelin moved to him and hugged him “I am sorry…” she felt tears well in her eyes. Rowan sighed and his hands went on her back and kissed her head “Don’t. I am not mad at you.” She squeezed closer “tell me what you do. Tell me how you celebrate.” She looked up at him and his eyes looked sad. He turned her in his arms and pulled her closer against his chest. His mouth close to her ear “I add holly around the house. It’s a symbol of hope, it’s meant to ward off spirits.” He explained kissing her neck He felt her relax. He had not liked their fight “I usually have a tree. A real one, that is kept healthy and then replanted at the end of the holidays. Not those plastic monstrosities.” He gave her a squeeze around her waist “It’s the Tree of Life and it’s a very important symbol, that’s why you don’t put baubles and garlands on it. I usually decorate it with pinecones, berries and other stuff, but always natural elements.” She leaned deeper against him. What he was describing it wasn’t too bad at all. “And finally the yule log.” He kissed the top of her ear “it’s the only time I lit my fireplace. The log has to be from oak. According to the ancient lore it keeps the spirits from entering the house.” He grabbed her hand and kissed her palm “I hang a wreath on my door with some bells and I have plenty of fabric elves that I use to decorate the rest of the house.” “What do the elves do?” “Well, the ancients believed that the spirits that created the Sun inhabited the realm of elves. So by adding elves you are assuring their assistance and also the return of the sun after all the dark days.” He explained trying not to sound like a lunatic. She was the first person he had truly explained his beliefs to. Lyria had never accepted it fully and he had to pretend he liked Christmas with her. “I have mistletoe too. It’s a symbol of life in the dark winter months.” She turned to face him “are we allowed to kiss under it?” He looked down at her “Of course.” She hugged him. “And I make some incredible gingerbread biscuits.” He felt her grin against his chest and knew that somehow their fight was over and finally started to relax again. “It does sound a lot like Christmas to me.” He kissed her head “It’s because when christianity took over, they incorporated some of the traditions into theirs. But the roots of the holiday are basically pagan.” “I like it.” “I didn’t mean to—“ but she stopped him with a kiss. “I always had a horrible relationship with Christmas.” He confessed “I hate the way it’s forced on everyone. It’s everywhere. And you can’t even celebrate Samhain in peace that this holiday is shoved down your throat. And don’t get me started on the consumeristic aspect. It has become a holiday for the shops to make more money. And if I even try to voice my opinion I get called a grinch and a grumpy old man. And people tend to ridicule my beliefs.” “You are my grumpy old man.” And she gave him a kiss, gentle and brief. “I have never made fun of other people for what they celebrate, but the world seems to have a problem with me because I do not follow the masses.” He sighed heavily. “I like what you described. A lot.” “We don’t have…” She shushed him again with another kiss “But I want to. We can make it our own holiday. With our own traditions. And screw the rest of the world.” “I’d love that very much.” He said, finally smiling again “we can add holiday sex in front of the fire.” “That is a tradition I would subscribe to immediately.” “We can have some of your lights outside on the door.” He offered “It’s our house so it’s only fair that we follow your traditions too. I need to stop being stubborn.” “And snowflakes decals on the windows?” He kissed her head “of course.” “Can I have hot chocolate too?” “As if I could stop you. You always cheat on me with chocolate.” And he pouted, but Aelin removed his pout with a kiss. “We can exchange gifts.” He added and her smile became brighter. “On one conditions.” She added, pushing him to the sofa where she made him sit down and straddled him “Only one each. I agree with your rant about consumerism. Lysandra and I had the same rule. We started when we were skint interns and never stopped. Just one gift each and not too expensive. It has to be meaningful.” Rowan kissed her “I really love your plan.” Her hands twined in his silver hair “And we are not celebrating on the 25th. You and I are celebrating on the winter solstice.” She decreed and he smiled back at her. “Are you sure?” He asked, closing his eyes, enjoying the feel of her hands in his hair. Aelin nodded “Which bring me to my next question: can I please invite Lysandra and Aedion? Lysandra and I have all our traditions and this year will be the first Christmas we are not together. Can we celebrate the 25th with them? And don’t worry, Aedion is a massive grinch and hates the holiday. It’s more the idea of being together with the people I love.” “Of course, mo chridhe, they can come and stay here with us and use your old room. We will celebrate your way too.” “You are not working on the 25th?” “I am doing the night shift on the 24th and finishing on the 25th around noon. Malcolm is doing the rest of the day. He is not bothered. And I am off early on the 21st because again I come off the night shift so we can celebrate together.” And Rowan grinned wildly at that admission of hers “Good, because I have plans to take my wonderful woman to the best winter solstice ever.” “What plans?” She asked grinding gently against him. “If I tell you, I’d have to kill you And I’d rather not do that.” And he kissed her deeply and a moan left her mouth. “I have an elf pyjama for the holidays.” She admitted as her hand started to move in a sensual way around his body. “You definitely are my elf who brought back sun in my life.” Aelin groaned “Too cheesy. Now I need to punish you.” And her mouth crashed against his. Her hand landed on his crotch and she found him ready for her “someone is needy.” “Very…” he kissed her neck “very…” another one “very needy.” She stood and he groaned and the loss of contact with her body. She started to undress in front of him “I guess you can start unwrap your first present.” Then she stopped and started laughing “It sounded so much better in my head. It made me cringe.” Rowan stood and walked to her, his hand went behind her head and dragged her closer for a kiss that made her legs go jelly “Tell me another one of your fantasies…” he whispered in her ear. She whispered back “Blindfold me and tie my hands to the head of the bed and do your worst.” He looked at her wickedly “As you wish, mo chridhe.” He lifted her in his arms and quickly walked to their room, ready to start their own celebrations.

It was the winter solstice and Aelin and Rowan were at Callanish to celebrate the shortest day of the year. It was a very crispy night and Rowan had told her that according to his app there were chances to see the Northern Lights again. She was excited, she had seen then during their break and was looking forward to see them again. And in a place like Callanish the idea was beyond amazing. She was glad she had listened to him and covered herself in layers. It was quite cold. As they walked to the site Aelin lifted her head and saw the sky ablaze with stars. She was in awe. His hands touched her lower back and she looked at him. Rowan had a strange glow in his eyes. He had been like that all day and she could have guessed that he was giddy and excited about something. If it wasn’t that her boyfriend was famous for his composure. Damn, the man was grinning. In silence they walked to the stone circle and the stopped in the centre near the chamber. He turned her to him and kissed her “Happy solstice.” With the passing of the months she had slowly learned all about his being pagan. She had been fascinated by all of it and enjoyed his way of celebrating the holidays. After their fight about Christmas she had taken her time to listen to him and discover what being pagan meant for him. Rowan was basically a tree hugger, who loved nature, followed ancient festivals deeply rooted in the ancient traditions of people who followed Earth’s cycles and celebrated the passing of the seasons. He had explained to her that the winter solstice had a powerful meaning of regeneration and renewal. Slowly light was taking over the night. He had also added that that year was more important than usual because they had been each other’s solstice. They both were in a deep dark night before they met. And slowly they brought the sun back in their lives, together. And she loved the symbolism. She was busy with her thoughts when she felt his arms wound around her, his chin on her head, and she had come to love that position. She fitted perfectly under him. “When I was younger, I used to come out here with my telescope and look at the stars and the planets.” He confessed and Aelin smiled at the idea of a younger Rowan looking up at the sky in admiration. He grabbed her hand and pointed to a specific pattern in the sky “See that? That’s Orion the hunter.” “How can you tell?” He guided her hand across the air “This… is his bow.” Then moved the hand lower and horizontally “this is his belt.” And then down vertically “and this is his sword.” Then up again “and his body.” Aelin was amazed at him and all of a sudden she wanted to know more. Then he moved her hand again to another point “That W shaped pattern? That’s Cassiopeia. And if we move a bit…” and his body turned her and he pointed again “That’s the plough or the Little Bear and if you follow his tail all the way up you find what?” “Polaris.” Answered Aelin with a smug face for actually remembering something from High school. He kissed her neck as a reward and she closed her eyes to enjoy the moment. Then a second later she felt him move away from her. She turned to ask him what was his deal when he noticed him on one knee. She gasped and brought a hand to her mouth in surprise “Holy shit.” Definitely not the most romantic comment. “Aelin, my Queen, I have little to give you if not my love, my loyalty and myself. But I swear it will be my mission, for the rest of my existence, to make you happy. To cherish you and walk at your side through every peril and difficulty life throws at us. Aelin Galathynius, will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?” Aelin sobbed. He had used the line from one of their favourite books where the lowly warrior falls for the Queen and they end up together. She looked at him on his knees with a box in his hands and a wedding band in it. Her heart raced and she felt her hands shake. She finally unfroze and moved a step toward him and ran a hand through his hair “Rowan Whitethorn, my King, I will happily accept to share my life with you. To whatever end.” He stood and kissed and she felt him shake as well. “For a moment I feared you were going to say no.” Aelin let out a wet laugh “I was too busy trying to breath.” He laughed and he finally put the ring on her finger “It’s not your usual engagement ring. It’s a Celtic ring, I had it made from a local woman who does jewellery and it has some Celtic symbols connected with love engraved on. And it’s white gold. I find normal gold too tacky.” And he kissed her again and when he pulled away Aelin lifted her left hand and looked at the ring. It was simple but gorgeous. And she could totally tell it was handmade. It was unique and her heart had swelled with love for him “It’s beautiful.” “I wanted something special, but simple as well. It’s my gift and we agreed to be meaningful and well…” She kissed him “It’s perfect and now it makes my gift look pathetic.” “Whatever you gave me, it will be perfect.” Aelin hugged him and took a notice of their surroundings “Does it have some sort of meaning that we are in the middle of the circle of stones?” “Not for a proposal, but during a Celtic wedding, the couple tie their hands in what is called the hand-fasting ritual and the guests form a ring around the couple. I loved the symbolism.” She kissed him deeply “I love it so much.” He sat down with his back against one of the stones and pulled her down to him and she took her spot between his legs while his hands wrapped themselves around her waist. “I want a Celtic style wedding. You know pagan… I had the whole white gown traditional super expensive hoopla. I don’t care for it.” He kissed her behind her ear “A pagan hand-fasting it originally has two ceremonies. The first one that is meant to last one year and one day and then the second one for the rest of the couple’s life. But some people do just the one and go for all their life option.” He explained and she lifted their twined hands to her mouth “I want the traditional. I love the idea of renewing our vows after a year and a day.” She admitted. “Will you be wearing a kilt?” She asked curiously. The idea of seeing him in traditional Scottish attire gave her fuzzy feelings. “Yes, I have one with my clan colours.” “Can I have something similar? I don’t want another boring white gown. Am I allowed to wear your colours?” He nodded “You can have a lovely tartan wedding gown matching my kilt.” “Ro?” “Yes, Fireheart.” “Can we please get married here at Callanish?” “We can do it at Beltaine if you accept to wait for a bit. It’s a fire festival. It marks mid way to the Summer Solstice. It has the meaning of rebirth as the short dark nights give way to the long summer days. In ancient days it was a great time for celebrating and gathering and people would lit bonfires. It is also connected with fertility. Earth is becoming alive again and its fertile energy is celebrated as well.” “Will it mean a lot to you if we chose Beltaine?” He shook his head “We choose whatever you prefer. You don’t have to feel the need to follow my beliefs.” Aelin turned, kneeling in front of him “But I want to Ro, all you said so far seems to have a beautiful meaning connected to love and life. All you said so far just feels beautiful and I want all of it.” She kissed him deeply “It would make me very happy.” She kissed him again and his arms pulled her closer and desire bled through her. “It’s a shame it’s cold. The idea of having sex on such a powerful site is very exciting.” Rowan laughed and pulled her down on top of him until she straddled him and went back kissing him. Rowan opened his eyes for a moment and stopped kissing her. “What?” She said pulling away from him. Rowan turned her and pointed at the sky. A beautiful green and blue with a light tinge of red was dancing in the night. “Yes!”shouted Aelin in celebration when she looked at the sky. The first time she saw the Northern Lights it was during their holiday, when they took their last step in their relationship. And now they appeared again on the night he proposed. She loved the connection. Aelin sat back and Rowan held her “They are so beautiful I want to cry.” Then she grabbed her bag and pulled out his gift, feeling almost embarrassed. “This is for you and please don’t laugh. I am not a big fan of buying presents and I had no idea what to give you.” He held her close and grabbed the present and slowly unwrapped it. Soft fabric appeared in front of him and in the middle he felt the hardness of a book. “That’s two presents.” He smiled at her and grabbed the fabric noticing it was a gorgeous scarf as green as his eyes and it was soft “Aelin, this is gorgeous.” “I saw it in a shop and I just thought it was perfect. It’s a lousy gift but it’s useful.” Rowan wrapped the scarf around his neck “I adore it. And I really needed a new one, I swear. I just couldn’t be bothered to go and get it.” He leaned forward and kissed her, then he started unwrapping the book and his grin grew bigger. It was one of the books he had eyes since it arrived in the shop. “I saw you put it aside a while ago and I kept an eye on it. You never bought it so I did it for you.” “Thanks. I had already overshoot my monthly budget for books so I was just waiting for the new month.” “I knew that.” She kissed his nose “I think it’s cute that you have a book budget.” “Well, if I didn’t I would not be able run the shop, pay bills and eat.” She straddled him “That’s what a girlfriend on big bucks is for.” And kissed him again. He pulled her down and she lay down snuggling against him and went back staring at the Northern Lights in the sky.

The following day Rowan was at the airport to pick up Lysandra and Aedion. Aelin could not get off her shift so he offered to pick up the couple. “Hi guys,” he greeted them when they came out of the restricted area. “Rowan.” Said Lysandra hugging him “Thank you for picking us up.” “Aelin could not get out of her shift, but we are going to the hospital so we can have lunch together.” He explained, grabbing the suitcase from the woman. Aelin had made Rowan promise that he would not reveal their news to Lysandra. Aelin wanted to do that. So he kept his grin at ease and walked the couple to the car. They reached the hospital not long after and they walked to the A&E. “This looks so different,” commented Lysandra at seeing the smaller place compared to what she was used to. Rowan tried to phone Aelin but she did not respond then he spotted Malcolm. “Hi man,” said the man greeting Rowan with a big smile. “Hi Malcolm, is Aelin about?” “She is dealing with a patient. I’ll let her know that you are here.”

Twenty minutes later Rowan heard a squeal and saw Aelin running to Lysandra. The two women embraced and jumped and gave the entire A&E a big show. Malcolm came back a moment later “A bit higher and you’d reach ultrasound level.” “Mal, these are my friends Lysandra. She is a kick ass doctor in London.” Then she turned to Aedion, “this is her boyfriend Aedion.” “Guys,” Aelin then turned to her friends “This is Malcolm and he is my second and he awesome.” And she put an arm around his waist. The first time she did she was afraid Rowan might not appreciate the gesture, but when she explained him that Malcolm was just a super great friend and definitely not interested in her he was okay. Mal shook their hands “Nice meeting you all.” Then his pager went off. He winked at Aedion and left waving at the group. “I gotta go, some of us actually have to work.” And gave Aelin a big grin. “Did he just wink at me?” Asked Aedion. “Oh yeah, Mal likes guys. He has a major crush on Rowan and I got a feeling you might be his type too.” Explained Aelin. “He is hot.” Admitted Lysandra, watching Mal walk away.“I wish I had such a sexy second. I am so jealous right now…” Aedion coughed. Lysandra turned her head “I still love you.” “Just checking.” Then Aelin grabbed Lysandra’s hand “let’s go to the cafeteria, I am starving.” Once at the cafeteria they ordered food and sat down at the table. Lysandra was about to tackle her lunch when she noticed the ring on Aelin’s left hand. “No way.” She grabbed the hand “When did it happen?” She admired the ring on her fourth finger. “I proposed last night.” Replied Rowan, allowing Aelin to eat. “Tell me everything.” Lysandra dropped the hand and was now in full gossip mode. Aelin was eating and since Rowan knew she had limited time he told Lysandra the story “I asked her last night at Callanish. It was the winter solstice. I have been planning it for a while. The night was special and the site too.” Rowan extended his arm to brush her head “And when she saw me on my knees, her first comment was ‘Holy Shit’” Aelin laughed “I was not expecting that. One moment you were telling me all about constellations, the next you were on one knee.” She blew him a kiss “It was awesome, though” Said Aelin “and it was so romantic. He used the quote of our favourite book.” She took another bite of her food. She was about to add something else when her pager went off. She groaned and finished off her food very quickly. “I gotta go.” She stood and kissed Rowan “Love you.” Then hugged Lysandra and Aedion. “I will see you all tonight at home.” And after that she ran away. “She seems happy.” Commented Lysandra eating her lunch. “She is. She is enjoying her job. The first month has been a bit rough, but she loves her team.” Explained Rowan and Lysandra noticed the pride beaming from the man. “I don’t think I have ever seen this happy. Whatever magic you are using, it’s working. And I am grateful.” Lysandra took Rowan’s hand “before she came here she was in a very dark place. So thank you.” Rowan nodded “To be honest, she helped me too.” He saw the woman smile. “We haven’t told Aelin yet, I will tell her tonight, but Aedion and I are thinking about moving here. I can work at the hospital if an opening comes up and he is a pilot and an aircraft engineer, he will find something.” Rowan was stunned “Really?” “Yes,” it was Aedion this time “we have been talking about it since the first trip we made. We both fell in love with the islands and we decided that when we will have a family, this is the kind of environment we want our kids to grow up.” Aedion took Lysandra’s hand “we know it’s a very big change, but it feels right.” “Aelin will be delighted. She misses you a lot.” Rowan looked at both of them “Are you sure? Island life has its challenges. I was afraid that Aelin was going to struggle. Going from living in a place like London where you have everything at your fingertip to live here, it is a massive jump.” Lysandra nodded “we discussed it extensively and we both want it.” Rowan nodded and smiled. They finished their lunch and he took them home so they could get settled and relax a bit while they waiter for Aelin to come back home.

It was much later that night when Aelin got back home. She had to stay behind a bit longer to organise a few things with Malcolm about the interns. She was now ready to collapse on the sofa and catch up with Lys. Once inside she noticed the three of them in the living room, chatting happily. She was very glad that Rowan got along well with them, especially with Aedion. “Old habits die hard?” Lysandra’s voice met her as soon as she entered the living room. “Mal and I had a few things to deal with. We were not planning to finish this late.” She went to Rowan and kissed his head “I’ll take a shower and I’ll be back.” “I got dinner aside for you as well.” He stood “I’ll go and warm it up.” When he passed beside her, Aelin gently pinched his butt “I am such a lucky woman,” and disappeared away to their bedroom.

After her shower she joined the rest to the living room and Rowan had her meal ready on the coffee table for her. It looked so appetising and she was starving. “Did you dry your hair properly?” He brushed her hair to check. “Yes, my lord and master.” Rowan laughed “Good.” Aelin tackled her food when Lysandra spoke up. “Ae, Aedion and I have something to tell you.” Aelin looked up and felt worry. Lysandra’s tone seemed serious. Aedion took his girlfriend’s hand “Lysandra and I are thinking about moving up here.” The fork stopped halfway between plate and mouth. She was staring at the couple with a weird expression. “Say something, please.” Asked Lysandra with worry in her voice. “Are you sure?” Aedion nodded “we have been discussing the issue for a while. You were not the only one who was not happy in London.” He confessed “Lys and I need a fresh start as well and well, we kinda fell in love with this place the first time we came to visit and we have been talking about it ever since.” “Aedion and I have been looking for jobs already. He has a couple of possible options at the airport as an engineer.” Aelin stood and ran to hug Lysandra, so fiercely they almost fell off the chair “I would love that very much. I missed you like crazy. Gossiping with Rowan is no fun.” Rowan coughed in response to the jab. Aelin sat on Lysandra’s lap, her arms still around the woman, and turned to him “Yes you, you never know any gossip in town. I always need to go to your aunt.” Aelin went back to her seat and continued her dinner before it became cold again. “It might take a while but we’ll do it.” “I can listen at the hospital if I hear any opening that might be good for you.” Lysandra smiled “That would be so amazing.” Then she took a sip of her beer “Have you and Rowan discussed about what to do for the wedding? I know you got engaged last night…” Aelin and Rowan exchanged a glance “We actually did.” He answered for her “We are going to have a pagan hand-fastening at Callanish on Beltaine.” Both Lysandra and Aedion looked puzzled. “It’s still a wedding but your hands get tied together with a ribbon as a symbol of the union.” “Sounds cool. And original.” Commented Lysandra. “And Rowan is going to wear a kilt.” Aelin looked at Lysandra and the two women exchanged an understanding glance “And I will have a nice tartan gown with his clan colours.” “What are his colours?” Aelin grabbed her phone and showed Lysandra a picture she had downloaded. “Oh, that’s going to be a gorgeous pattern.” “We haven’t decided the fine details just yet, but of course you two are coming.” Lysandra squealed in delight “Let me know if you want to have another bachelorette party. We can surely top the one you had for officer asshole.” Aelin flinched “I am not sure there is a point.” She drank a bit of water “Speaking of the asshole, I don’t think I told you that he came here.” “No fucking way.” “Yeah, he came here to take me back to London. He told me he wanted to try again and have a while together and then get married again because he missed me.” Aedion growled “Apologies for the language ladies, but what the fuck was he thinking? He was an asshole. He screwed the bitch for over a year and lied to you. He treated you like shit and he has the guts to come and beg to go back to him?” Aelin laughed, Aedion had always been very protective of her and Lysandra and he had been very vocal about his hatred for Chaol. “Don’t worry, Rowan punched him.” And she took Rowan’s hand and smiled at him. “Of that, I am very grateful. I just wished I had been the one to do it. I should have done it last year when he forgot your birthday and came home drunk and ruined the party at your place and kicked us all out.” Aelin had removed that horrible night from memory. He had been horrible to every one. Once they left he had tried to force himself on her but she had pushed him away. She had given him the divorce papers only the previous day and he was still furious with her. She had slept in the guest room that night. The following day she had told Aedion and Lysandra what happened and they helped her pack and move out of the house. She had been glad that Chaol was not at home because Aedion would have reduced him to a pulp. She had never seen him that mad. “Can we just change topic, please?” Aelin felt sick just thinking about it. Rowan noticed her distress, he put an arm around her shoulder and pulled her to him “I have a day off in two days. We can do something together. Until then you two are on your won unfortunately.” “Don’t worry about that. Aedion and I have ideas of what to do. We will be fine. We hired a car while we are here so we can be independent.” Then she turned to Aedion “But he is driving.” “I told Rowan that you and I celebrate on the 25th with our own traditions and we can have the whole day the two of us. Rowan doesn’t do Christmas and Aedion, well we know where he stands.” “Oh yeah, Rowan told me. I asked him why the Christmas tree without decorations and he explained me his version of the holiday.” “I promised Aelin she could have the 25th whatever way she wanted. We already exchanged gifts on the solstice and celebrated. So go ahead and have fun.” “Am I allowed to put Aelin’s present under the tree?” Rowan smiled “of course you can.” “I won’t be able to sleep with you though. I have a night shift on the 24th and I am not off until noon on the 25th so our morning traditions will have to wait.” Rowan had a curious expression on his face “what do you mean sleep with?” “Oh, Lys and Aelin always shared the bed on the 24th and woke up on the 25th together. They have breakfast in bed and then exchange their gifts.” Explained Aedion “Then they wear their silly ugly jumpers, drink hot chocolate all day, camp on the sofa with blankets, junk food and more hot chocolate and watch cheesy Christmas movies until they collapse exhausted on the sofa.” “You two could join us.” Commented Lysandra staring at the two men. “There is no way I am going to wear those obscene jumpers.” Complained Aedion. “You don’t have to. We can just be all the four of us together. Cozy under the blankets, eat drink and watch movies. We can even let you chose one.” Aedion looked at Rowan and the two men nodded at each other. “Fine. We’ll join the festivities,” Rowan conceded “But I will cook. We are going to have a nice meal. You won’t be able to get junk food on the 25th. This is not London remember?” She snuggled against him “I have the best fiancée in the universe.” Rowan chuckled “and I agree with Aedion. Us boys, we are not wearing any jumpers.” “Spoilsport.”

Christmas Day had finally arrived and Aelin was looking forward to go back home and start celebrating. She was exhausted. The nights shift had been crazier than she expected. Apparently some people had celebrated a bit too much. They also had an emergency in the middle of the night when a serious patient had been airlifted to the hospital from Benbecula. The guy had been in bad conditions when he came in, but was now stable. She was finishing off with her last patient for the day when she noticed Malcolm enter the pit. “Your saviour is here.” He walked to the changing room and Aelin followed him and stood on the door while he changed. “How was the night?” “It started off nice and quiet. Then we had a few people who have celebrated a bit too much and got themselves into trouble. A guy who almost got himself into a coma for how much he was drunk. I got vomited on five times, by a family who was brought in with food poisoning. And finally we had a man airlifted from Benbecula after a car accident. He was in really bad shape but he is stable but still in the ICU for now.” “Sounds like you had a fun night.” She sat down on the bench “I am so tired, I just want to sleep for a week.” “Are you sure you are okay?” He put on the top of his scrubs and grabbed his stuff from the locker and they left. “Which interns do I have with me today?” Aelin smiled wickedly “I gave you Lauren and James.” Malcolm swore. James had been the weakest of the interns. They had decided to try and give him a second chance for a little while longer, but Malcolm had very little patience with him. Although he had been out of the military for a while, he still followed some of his strict military regime he had when he was a medical officer. He had structure and she loved him for that. He also loved things done in a certain way and James had been struggling to adapt to Malcolm’s way of doing things. They were both working on it but where it was almost impossible to make Mal nervous, James was the opposite and became a mess around the man. “Be nice to him, please.” “I am always nice.” He said with a warm smile. “I know you are, but when you have your Captain mask on, you are a bit terrifying.” She laughed. She actually liked his Captain mask. It was no shit Malcolm. He would get things done with efficiency. She always wondered why he never took her job. The A&E would run like a super perfect clockwork in his hands.” “Mal?” She was curious “Can I ask you something?” They were almost back at the emergency room. He had stopped for coffee before starting his shift. “Go ahead.” “Why they didn’t offer you directly my position? You’d be amazing.” Malcolm stopped and sighed “Because I did not apply.” Aelin stopped as well and looked at him. “PTSD. I will tell you the story one day. After I retired from the Navy I took time off.” He sat on one of the chairs in a corridor “Once I was better I decided to try again to be a doctor. But I decided that I was going to remain in the position I was offered. I could not handle again the whole being in charge at all. Too much stress and it was not what I needed in order to heal. So when the position came up I just kept wishing we would get a very competent person in charge and it seems my wishes got answered.” Aelin had no idea what to say “For what it’s worth, I believe you’d have been amazing.” “Thanks, but taking orders for once it’s not too bad.” And he smiled at her “now go home, relax and celebrate with Lysandra. It’s my turn to get vomited on.” She hugged him tenderly “I will see you tomorrow night.” She stood “Nurse Jackie has baked a few cakes for all of us.”

When she finally parked the car in front of the house she relaxed. She had texted Rowan letting him know she was on her way back. He had replied saying he was finishing to prepare lunch and that the house was ready for celebrations. A part of her was excited, but another side just wanted to take a shower and sleep until it was time to go back to work again. Rowan was in front of her when she stepped in the house. He turned her around and covered her eyes with his hands. “What are you doing?” “Shhh.” He gently nudged her and she started walking. Then they stopped and he freed her eyes and Aelin gasped in surprise. The whole living room had been decorated with fairy lights. The coffee table had been moved and the floor had been covered in heavy blankets and pillows and then she laughed when she noticed Rowan and Aedion. They were wearing what looked like matching flannel pyjamas with elves on. She laughed. “The pyjamas were my idea,” confessed Lysandra “I bought them in London. And this morning I convinced them to wear them. As soon as I mentioned to Rowan that it would mean a lot to you, well, he was sold and convinced Aedion as well.” Aelin hugged Lysandra and then went to Rowan and hugged him as well and almost ended up crying. What was wrong with her? “I love it and you both look so very dashing.” She said with a flat voice and Rowan noticed that. “Are you okay?” He brushed his hand on her back while holding her. “Tired, so damn tired.” “Aelin we don’t have to—“ Aelin stopped Lysandra “Yes we do. I will be better after a shower.” “How was the puke count?” “Five.” “Not bad.” Replied the other woman “Nothing can beat the 20 of four years ago.” “Hell no.” Rowan looked between the two women as if missing the meaning of what they were talking about. “I’ll tell you after lunch.” She kissed him and went to the bathroom. Rowan was about to excuse himself but Lysandra preceded him “Go to her. She looks like hell. She needs you just now.” Rowan nodded and silently thanked the woman. He reached Aelin in the bathroom and noticed she was already in the shower. He quickly removed his clothes and joined her. “What are you doing?” He did not reply. He pulled her to his chest and hugged her tight. In that moment Aelin started crying. “Hey…” “I am sorry…” her arms went around his waist “I just feel like crying.” “Shhh let it go. I am here. Let it all out.” And she did. She cried until she felt spent in his arms. He washed her hair and tenderly washed her body as well. There was nothing sexual in his touches. He was just taking care of her and she almost cried again. While he was on his knees washing her legs she fisted her hands in his hair “I love you.” She kissed his silver hair “You don’t celebrate Christmas but still accepted to decorate the house and wear a silly pyjama.”she was sobbing again “You are amazing and I think I must have done something right in my life to have you chose me and allow me to be at your side.” She blubbered “That was cheesy. I am sorry.” He stood and pulled her back into an embrace “I didn’t allow anything. You stormed into my life and made camp in it. And I am glad you did. I meant it last night when I said I will do everything to make you happy. Even wear a silly pyjama or decorate the house with fairy lights.” His hands cupped her face “we are going to have a fun day, relax and enjoy time together with the people who matter to us.” She kissed him deeply and he pinned her against the wall. “What are you doing? We have guests.” She said against his mouth. “Lysandra told me to come and get you and that you needed me right now. I am just fulfilling my role as dutiful fiancée.” “Do your worst, Whitethorn.”

It was twenty minutes later when they left the shower and walked back into the living room. Lysandra and Aedion were snuggled on the floor with a blanket around them and were talking quietly. “Sorry guys,” apologised Aelin joining them “Rowan went to get the food.” “Are you oaky?” Aelin sighed “I think so.” “That bad last night?” Aelin shook her head “No. Not really. I had so much worse. No, I just feel exhausted.” “Come here,” Lysandra hugged her and pulled her close “Aedion and I were looking at houses out of curiosity. We thought that if we move here we could just buy a house.” Aelin turned her head “That means that you two are really serious about each other.” Lysandra nodded “It took us a while, but yeah.” And Aedion nodded. Rowan arrived five minutes later with plates full of food. Aedion helped him to move back the coffee table and he sat the food down. “I got some booze as well.” “I’ll take a beer if you have it,” said Aedion. “Do you have wine?” “Of course, m’lady.” Rowan replied with a bow and Lysandra giggled. “I’ll just have water. I don’t feel like drinking.” When Rowan got back they finally settled down. The pillows were against the sofa and they had a blanket for each couple. Aelin snuggled against Rowan and brought the plate toward her. They had set her laptop on the table and they were ready for the movie marathon “What do we start with?” “Love Actually, of course. It’s the tradition.” Aedion sighed “Babe, you girls have seen that movie a million times. Something new?” “Shh…” she placed a finger on his lips “It’s what the tradition dictates.” When the movie finished a couple of hours later, Lysandra was snuggled against Aedion but Aelin had fallen asleep in Rowan’s arms. “She is completely out.” He said. The three of them kept watching movies but Aelin never woke up or even moved. Once it was late, they decided to call it a night and everyone went back to their room. Rowan lifted Aelin in his arms and took her to bed. He deposited her gently and she woke up. “Shhh go back to sleep. I just put you in bed.” “What time is it?” She asked sleepily. “It’s almost eleven. Everyone went to bed.” “Did I sleep the whole day?” Rowan nodded. “I am horrible.” He joined her in bed, pulled her in his arms and lay down with her covering them with their duvet “No, you were not. You were tired. You worked all night. They both know. No one was mad.” “Did you watch many movies?” “A few. Aedion and I introduced Lysandra to Star Wars.” “Finally, I tried for years.” “Now go back to sleep. You are woking again tomorrow.” Aelin nodded and snuggled tightly against him. “Good night, Buzzard.” “Good night, Fireheart.”

#rowan whitethorn #aelin galythinius #rowaelin #rowan x aelin #fanfic #throne of glass series #fluff #aedion x lysandra