#i felt so intimidated by the other artists who i felt were “famous” with thousands of followers

[humans-are-tasty]

my spread for @opdilfzine

#sir crocodile #dracule mihawk #donquixote doflamingo #jinbei #jinbe #jimbei #shichibukai #one piece #opdilfzine #finally can post this. i finished this last OCTOBER..? i think. thankfully it didnt age too horribly #my art #this was my first fanzine which i applied to last year may...? june? i didnt even know fanzines were a thing till this lol #i think i had like 400 followers on twitter at the time #i felt so intimidated by the other artists who i felt were “famous” with thousands of followers #lol

[readingsbylibramc]

karmic reading for @neptunianwaterofdream

hello! welcome to your reading. I'm going to give you a quick overview of what I'm going to talk about in this karmic reading: I'm going to analyze in-depth your south and north node in your birth chart, with all the aspects they make. in addition, I'm going to analyze every major aspect that represents a karmic debt, as well as easier aspects that represent what you have mastered in your previous life time. I will also analyze the placements of your planets in your chart to determine your soul's age, and hence whether you're an old soul or a new soul. last but not least, I'm also going to talk about your life purpose, what you need to put aside in this lifetime to focus on something bigger that will help you nurture your soul. let's get started!

🌕 Moon

pisces moon in the 1st house: in a karmic reading, your moon indicates something you’ve mastered in a previous life of yours, and that hence comes natural and automatic to you. in fact, there’s a theory that states that your moon sign in this life used to be your sun sign in a previous existence of yours! with moon being in the sign of pisces, I feel like it probably comes natural to you to detach from the real world to get in touch with your higher self. you've always been a highly spiritual person, even if you didn't realize it at first. you probably have a strong manifestation game, you have a very vivid imagination and with positive thoughts you're able to attract everything you want. you're the creator of your own reality. you used to be a very stable person in your past life, especially economically. yet, there was probably something in your past life that you bring with you in this lifetime as well. perhaps, since you also have neptune in the 12th house, you used to have some sort of addiction, perhaps to alcohol or drugs that didn't allow you to live live your life to the fullest. hence, in this lifetime, you feel like you have thousands of ideas, of talents... your soul probably recalls them from a past life of yours, but with the instability of your pisces moon it could be hard to take action to work for your goals. you are probably quite insecure, and you're afraid to take the wrong step. my advice would be to start meditating, find ways to increase your confidence. security comes from confidence, so once you've mastered that you'll be halfway through.

pisces moon conjunct pisces jupiter: in your past life, you were probably very successful. you were very lucky, it was as if the universe constantly had your back. your life was overall very positive, you were definitely someone extremely wealthy back then. perhaps, since this square involves the moon, it could even be that you were rich thanks to your family. it could even be that you were a famous celebrity, such an artist, an actor, etc. since your moon is placed in leo. or at least, even if you weren't famous, you had a lot of support from your peers, you were popular among them. you probably had lots of friends, you were an extrovert, it was rare for you to have a boring day. yet, in this lifetime, this positive energy may project differently with this conjunction. in fact, you could have the tendency to take what you have for granted. you could be very, maybe too optimistic, you're certain that everything you wish will come true if it's meant to be. while this obviously makes you positive, it could also make you a bit superficial. in addition, this placement could also indicate that you tend to over-indulge into material things like shopping, eating... you struggle with balance, and you may enjoy luxury way too much. I'd be careful and have a schedule. keep track of your finances, start being picky, set your own boundaries and remember to always be grateful for what you have.

pisces moon square sagittarius pluto: with this placement I get the feeling that you also used to have some scorpio placements in your past life, or perhaps you had planets in your 8th house. you used to embody scorpio energy: you were very secretive, you liked being in control, especially with capricorn being in your 12th house's cusp. you could have been even too controlling in a certain sense, especially of people. I feel like you used to be someone in charge of something, maybe of a business, and hence you had a lot of influence on other people. perhaps, you took advantage of the influence you had on other people, and hence people felt restricted from you. you could have been a very demanding boss, or perhaps an extremely possessive lover. as a result, in this lifetime it’s like you’re meant to experience the hardships that those people you hurt in your past existence had to endure. for instance, you may often attract potentially dangerous lovers, possessive people just like you used to be. you could easily feel overwhelmed by others, or even by your own feelings. as a result you’re not able to properly handle your emotions, as they’re quite intense. you feel out of control, and therefore you’re not 100% confident of yourself either as you don’t feel stable, secure.

🌙 Lunar nodes

aquarius south node in the 1st house: this is another placement that indicates that your past life was surely very busy! you most likely used to thrive in social events, you liked being surrounded by people and you most likely used to work in a field that required teamwork and social interactions. again, this is also another placement that indicates that you could have been a celebrity in one of your past lives. you were someone who liked being in the spotlight, but not just to be praised, but also to prove the world who you were. it could also be that you liked helping people, and hence you had a reputation for being particularly kind with your peers, you loved being acknowledged for your passions. yet, sometimes you probably came off as a know-it-all, especially with your south node being in the first house. in fact, while you geniuinely liked helping others, you preferred doing it for your own success and reputation. for instance, you could be the leader of your group during a teamwork, and you'd be the leader only to show the teacher you studied hard instead of just leading your mates. in your previous life, you also were very fiery. you were sometimes quite impulsive and hard-to-handle, but overall you were most likely a reliable person.

leo north node in the 7th house: due to your aquarius south node, you could still feel the need to be around people. you may need constant approval for instance, you care a lot about what others' think of you. you could be prone to teamwork and collaboration, as it is your comfort-zone, but your leo north node wants you to step out of it to be independent. you need to be that one star that doesn't need other stars to shine, you have to stand up for yourself without needing others' reassurance. that doesn't mean that you shouldn't be sociable or have friends of course, but you need to stand up for yourself, without caring about what others think. especially since your north node is placed in the 7th house, I feel like you're particularly lucky when it comes to the people you meet, and that's very helpful in your chart. you feel the need to be around others, and it's completely fine to surround yourself with people you love, just make sure that you don't feel repressed. you shouldn't depend on others. if you don't acknowledge your indipendence, you'll never have a stable relationship with someone else, not necessarily a friend but even a partner, as you'll start depending too much on them and you'd lose your individuality.

🪐 Saturn

aries saturn in the 3rd house: your saturn being in aries basically confirms what I’ve said above. from a karmic point of view, saturn represents what you’are afraid of in this lifetime, probably because you handled those matters in an unhealthy way during your past life. in your case, aries represents action, violence, your idea of self. as I’ve already mentioned above, you probably had loads of power in your hand in your past existence, but you probably took advantage of it. you were most likely arrogant and self-centered, you didn’t care about others’ feelings, and your behaviour most likely brought you tons of conflicts. as a result, in this lifetime you’re actually afraid of confrontation. you most likely repress your emotions and your ambitions, you probably feel as if they’re too much for you to handle and it’s not worth it. you could also be deeply scared of physical violence, even though you may somehow feel intrigued by horrors and this type of stuff due to your scorpio energy. in fact, many people with their saturn in aries probably had to see blood at a certain point in their past existences. you could have been killed, or perhaps you killed someone. you could have been a soldier, or maybe just someone who experienced lots of extremes challenges throughout their life. now, you just want your soul to rest. you probably feel very spiritual, and you want to care about nurturing your inner self rather than making new experiences in the world.

aries saturn opposite scorpio sun: this placement actually has a similar effect to your moon square pluto aspect. in fact, you most likely feel as if the whole world is against you. you feel restricted as if you constantly need to improve yourself. you’re insecure, and therefore it’s extremely hard for you to think highly of yourself. since your saturn is in aries, you feel restricted to take action to achieve your goals, most likely because you feel undeserving to be successful. connected to your past life, you probably used to have so much influence on others that you could have made others insecure. maybe you did it on purpose, maybe you were just intimidating, but many people gave up on their dreams because they didn’t feel enough. today, you’re experiencing the same. this karmic debt indicates that you’re supposed to treat others how you’d like to be treated. being private and keeping everything for yourself won’t lead you anywhere, so if you have something to say, especially if it’s something kind or positive for others, don’t be afraid to express your thoughts. if you start taking new paths and decisions you’ll finally start feeling more in control of your feelings, of your life, and with more control you’ll also get to feel more confident about your abilities.

aries saturn opposite scorpio venus: with this aries saturn of yours, you most likely have the tendency to be a loner, you don’t like being with other people. with this prominent opposition to venus, your introversion is probably even stronger. as a result, you could actually fear love and commitment. you may tame relationships in general, or perhaps you don’t want to waste your time and energy on connections that are lacking of love and feelings. I don’t see you being a player in your past life, though. actually, I imagine it’s quite the opposite; you were someone who was very career-oriented, you had tons of responsibilities to take care of and hence you weren’t really interested in relationships. you could have been a bit emotionally cold and insensitive, and hence you could have broken a heart or two. because of that, you may ironically find yourself being more attracted to people that aren’t ready for the healthy connection you want, and as a result you either end up with controlling partners or you experience a few rejections. perhaps, you could even be the one to block people from loving you just because you don’t feel worthy of love, you probably feel as if you’re not good at relationships. remember that karmic debts are made to be paid, not to be ignored; you’re not supposed to run away from love, or you’re never going to learn from your mistakes. take advantage of your knowledge of astrology to learn more about yourself, in this way you’ll be more in control of your feelings and you’ll know how to act. even if you fall and experience loss in love, it’s just for your personal growth.

☔️ Retrograde planets

pisces jupiter retrograde: jupiter retrograde certainly means that you used to have lots of material success in your past life. you don’t have to be a multi-millionare in the past, but you certainly weren’t poor either. as a result, your attention was focused towards material matters, you probably used to spend a lot ot money and your ultimate goal was becoming wealthy. therefore, we could say that you were quite superficial. I don’t know why, but I’m keeping to see five in my head, so probably it could be that you had some fifth house or leo placements. in this lifetime, jupiter teaches you about spirituality, about your higher self. you’re more inclined on learning about your inner self than socializing, exploring the world. you want to become a master for yourself, not for others. this placement is also quite tricky, though; in fact, jupiter is the planet of abundance, of luck and success, not necessarily material. when this planet is retrograde, it means that its energy is directed inwards, and hence you may constantly feel unlucky. this is not true, of course, but your karma certainly won’t allow you to get everything easily. in fact, luck comes from self-analysis. if you don’t work on yourself, on your confidence, you’ll never be able to achieve the success you want.

aries saturn retrograde: saturn retrograde brings a sense of insecurity, a lack of stability. you most likely feel ignored, you feel that it’s almost useless to work hard beacuse you don’t get recognized for it, you may often come second, or perhaps you don’t receive enough recognition as you’d like. you are your worst critic, you’re constantly judging yourself and you’re very pessimistic. probably, in your past life you were someone who experienced some traumas with authoritative figures. perhaps, you were mistreated by your boss, by your co-workers, or maybe even by another relevant figure in your life such as your parents, you were forced to hide yourself, to limit your choices as you were forced to do what they wanted you to do. maybe, you couldn’t choose what career path you wanted to pursue for instance, and hence you weren't in control of your life. in this lifetime, you're hence afraid of taking action, of standing up for yourself. you may not have big aspirations, as you're afraid of going too far from your comfort-zone. as a result, you just end up being full of regrets by yourself. I feel like it would be efficient of you to start understanding what matters for you in your life and work hard on it. whether it's love, family, career, it doesn't matter. take advantage of your ability to get to know yourself in-depth and dedicate yourself to what you truly like. in this way, your soul will finally feel accomplished.

🏔 Hard aspects

scorpio sun square aquarius uranus: just like I've already said above, during your past life you were forced to depend on something or someone else. maybe, since you also have neptune, the planet of addictions, in the 12th house, the house that symbolizes past lives in a birth chart, you actually used to struggle with drugs and/or alcohol addiction, which obviously restricted you from achieving great success, or at least the success that you desired. as a result, in this lifetime you feel a strong urge to be independent. you can't stand having others telling you what to do, you're quite stubborn, especially with your prominent scorpio dominance. you don't want to be tied down, as you feel different from others, and as a result you may often feel alone, as if no one understands. combined with your saturn aries retrograde, you end up having this strong sense of rebellion stuck inside of you, as you can't seem to find a way to let this tempest you have in yourself out. you are hard to pin down, you could change your mind often, and hence you may struggle to find a stability in your life, whether it's in a person or in something material like a job. I feel like your karma wants you to stop being so self-centered and individualistic. I assume that teamwork would do wonders for you, you'd certainly discover a new part of yourself. I am quite sure that in your previous lives it was always hard for you to be sociable, you didn't enjoy people's company, and it's something that the universe is trying to make you understand.

🌈 Easy aspects

scorpio mercury sextile capricorn neptune: this easy aspect indicates that you're very in tune with your higher self in this lifetime. first of all, you're very intuitive and psychic, especially since your mercury is in the sign of scorpio. because of that, you should definitely try to do a past life regression if you want to know more in-depth who you used to be in the past, I'm sure that you'd be able to get a lot of info through your intuition. you may also experience frequent deja-vus, or perhaps you could dream moments of a past life of yours while you sleep. it's a very powerful placement that makes you highly spiritual.

🏡 12th house

12th house cusp in capricorn: in a karmic reading, the 12th house indicates the higher part of yourself, your soul. because of that, it's usually associated with your previous lives, your karma and your previous identity before coming into this world. since your 12th house cusp lies in the sign of capricorn, I imagine that you were some sort of authority in your past existence. you probably were some sort of leader or boss, and because of that you obviously had a lot of responisibilities that made your life feel a little bit dull. you used to think so much about your duties that you didn't dedicate much time to yourself, to your mental health. you could have been so work-oriented that you didn't enjoy fun, youth, amusement, love... you could have been a career-oriented person, and since chiron is also placed in the 10th house, I get the feeling that you could have lots of unsolved karma from your previous existence. you were a very authoritative and logical person, you probably weren't a much spiritual person back then. same goes for your career, you probably didn't have a creative job. you could have had an ordinary job in a bank, an office, etc. something very practical that didn't really need mental stimulation. this placement can as well indicate that you were wealthy in your previous lifetime, but you probably had troubles handling all of your finances. because of that, you probably struggle with excess and impulsive shopping as your pisces moon being conjunct your jupiter suggests, you may be a bit materialistic. talking about your soul's age, I think you're an old soul. you're a very secretive and private person who has lots of knowledge, but you prefer staying by yourself. you don't need to show off, as your attention is directed inwards to find out who you truly are in this world.

capricorn neptune in the 12th house: in your past life you were associated with neptunian matters. since the house cusp falls in the rational sign of capricorn, I don't really believe you used to be a poet or an artist, nor a spiritual person. as I've already said above, I feel like you had some sort of enemy that restricted you from being 100% satisfied with your life, as if something was lacking. it could even be that you suffered from an addiction or, in the worst case, you were murdered, but I'd suggest you to do a past life regression to find out something more specific than this. it could also be that you weren't mentally stable, perhaps you could have been stuck in some sort of asylum, and hence you couldn't really make the most out of your past life, I see a lot of regrets and missed opportunities.

this is the end! thank you again for booking a reading, let me know if you have any questions :) - libramc xx

- not corrected yet -

#astrology

[dweemeister]

The count goes on...

I scarcely noticed it, but last evening with the publication of my write-up on Fanchon, the Cricket (1915), I hit 750 full-length film write-ups on this blog. As you may know, the write-ups are tagged “My Movie Odyssey”. You can access every single write-up via the blog’s index. Some years ago, when I was putting out these write-ups and watching movies at a faster pace than I do now, I jokingly put a target of 1,000 write-ups for myself.

As I approach nine years on this site, this blog is now three-quarters of the way to that coveted century mark, hitting baseball hall of fame numbers if that number was counted as home runs. It would not have been possible without the support - through likes, reblogs, shares, comments, and simple reading the write-ups - of my followers present and past, and of course family and friends off of tumblr. For every write-up you have interacted with, I hope you were introduced to new ideas and perspectives, the filmmaking process, and how each of those films fit (or may someday fit) in the grander context of the history of one of the youngest artforms.

I admit that, if this year-long lockdown was good for anything, it has inspired a run of some of my best write-ups here on tumblr. Very few of these were on 2020 films, as I felt sorta liberated from the pressures from watching the newest releases (who has that much money for all those streaming services?). If you’ve missed them, here are a few highlights from some of my “COVID write-ups” so to speak...

Movie Odyssey Retrospectives on the Walt Disney Animation Studios canon: A long planned-for project that never got off the ground until last spring (and thanks to a friend sharing their Disney+ account). Reviews have included Disney’s Golden Age films like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937; this was write-up #700); Pinocchio (1940); Fantasia (1940); and Bambi (1942)... (1941′s Dumbo was written on a few years ago). Cinderella (1950) was published last month; this series continues hopefully this weekend with Alice in Wonderland (1951).

A Letter to Three Wives (1949): One of the finest pieces of feminist Americana I’ve ever seen, all thanks to Joseph L. Mankiewicz’s directing/writing and the stupendous performances from the three leads.

Diego Maradona (2019, United Kingdom): It is not often I feature soccer on this blog anymore. But when it comes along in the form of a write-up? I could never be more excited. This is Asif Kapadia’s documentary on the mercurial, controversial, and inflammatory late footballing genius of Diego Maradona. I wish it covered more time, but one can’t argue its effectiveness.

Ordet (1955, Denmark): As someone who was raised in a Buddhist family but was not raised with religion, I have always been fascinated by but nevertheless perplexed by narrative art that delves deeply into religious faith - especially in terms of the Abrahamic faiths (Christianity, Islam, Judaism). Probably one of my best efforts on a movie surrounding faith.

Once Upon a Time in America (1984): Epic-length gangster films are intimidating to write on. They hail from a place and time that I am very removed from - and I wish to stayed far removed from - and are so often celebratory of the “necessary” violence that they depict. Not this movie. This gangster epic is filled to the seams with regret. And I hope I conveyed that as effectively as I ever could.

Kaagaz Ke Phool (1959, India): Some of my best writing has come from write-ups of films that were deeply personal, if not fatefully biographical, for the filmmaker involved. You got that with Guru Dutt in his final film - a Bollywood box office failure but now largely considered one of the greatest examples of classic Hindi cinema. And, for those in the know, this film did pretty damn well in 2020′s MOABOS.

Tokyo Olympiad (1965, Japan): Another sports documentary? Well, this is not your typical sports documentary. This is an official film of the Olympic Games. And, other than Leni Riefenstahl’s propagandistic Olympia (1938, Germany), this is the most artistically accomplished of them all. And perhaps among the most important. I contextualize this film as essentially marking the beginning of Japan’s reintroduction to the world - perhaps not cinematically, but in the realms of politics, sport, and broader culture,

Flower Drum Song (1961): Before The Joy Luck Club (1993), the most recent film with an almost all-Asian cast was this. An adaptation of a famous Rodgers and Hammerstein musical that is never performed anymore (various reasons), it was a revelation to see so many actors of Asian descent that I had seen in bit roles in other movies or television star in this production. Even if that meant the film was not terribly culturally specific or accurate.

Wolfwalkers (2020): Another visual and thematic triumph from the folks at Cartoon Saloon in Ireland. There’s more to animation than just the major American studios and anime, as I hope many of you will learn if you haven’t already. Multinational European productions and Latin America are coming to the fore - and bringing ideas and visuals that the aforementioned American and Japanese studios could never produce.

The Cave of the Yellow Dog (2005, Mongolia): One of the gentlest films I’ve seen in the longest time. It plays like a fable, and - critically - like a lesson in learning how Mongolian nomads live without ever feeling like a university lecture. Wonderful performances from the non-professional actors, and an ideal watch for children.

Yi Yi (2000, Taiwan): A gorgeous portrait of a middle-class Taiwanese family as they navigate life’s messy current at the turn of the twentieth to twenty-first centuries. A pleasure to reflect on, however difficult actually writing this review was.

Thank you for your goodwill, support, and good humor for the first three quarters of this journey to a thousand Movie Odyssey write-ups. The fourth and final quarter begins. Onward.

[secret-kkh-fics]

History Repeats | Chapter 15

Due to this not being posted anywhere else yet, please like but DON’T REBLOG my fics.

Chapter Summary:

Once again in Van Statten’s underground bunker, Rose must make a terrible decision when she comes face to face with the Dalek once more. How will she be able to stop the massive slaughter ahead?

Dalek

The Lone Dalek

“What’s that, then?!” the Doctor said in surprise. He was leaning in, squinting at the console screen in confusion. There was a persistent beeping sound, almost like a warning.

“What is it?” Rose asked him, attempting to look too. As usual, she couldn’t understand a thing, since the writing was all in Gallifreyan, but the screen was flashing red. “That doesn’t look good, yeah?”

“I don’t know. Maybe we should take a look.” Immediately, he began to race around the console, hitting buttons and flicking switches. Pausing with one hand on a lever, he looked up at her curiously. “What do you think it is?”

She looked back up at the screen. “Um… I don’t know. It’s not a problem with the TARDIS, is it?”

“No, it’s from outside,” he told her.

“Some sort of distress signal?” she guessed.

“Could be. Let’s find out.” As he spoke, the TARDIS gave one final lurch, and they landed. He took one last look at the screen before instantly headed for the door and she followed him out.

“So, what is it? What’s wrong?” she asked. “Is it a distress signal?”

“I don’t know, but it’s certainly some kind of signal, drawing the TARDIS off course…”

He began to look about, and Rose’s stomach lurched as she did the same. She knew this place. It was Van Statten’s Museum. Oh god, the Dalek. She didn’t know if she was ready for this. She didn’t know if she was ready to face a Dalek again. Or if she could even stop the devastation this one Dalek caused.

She felt sick.

“What is this place?” she asked, despite the nausea. “Where are we?”

“Earth, Utah, North America. About half a mile underground.”

“Right, underground base. Not ominous at all,” she muttered. “And when are we?”

“2012.”

“That’s so close,” she said. “That’s… what, only seven years away? I should be…” She tried to do the maths in her head. She was twenty-three, so it would make her 30. No! No, she was nineteen! Biological time. Why was her age so confusing now? “Twenty-six.”

Still looking around as she spoke, the Doctor found a light switch and turned it on, flooding the halls with light and illuminating the sick, alien museum. Many glass cabinets were spaced throughout the enormous room.

“Blimey, this place is huge!” she exclaimed. “Look at this stuff. Is that alien?”

“Yeah. A big old alien museum. Someone’s got a hobby.” They began to walk down the row, looking in the cases. “They must’ve spent a fortune on this. Chunks of meteorite, moon dust… That’s the milometer from the Rosewell Spaceship.”

“Look! That’s a Slitheen arm!” she cried, pointing it out. “That’s from a Raxocorocofalipatorian! Look at it, it’s been stuffed! How on earth did they even get it? Do you think it’s from when we bombed Downing Street?”

“Most likely,” the Doctor said. Then something else grabbed his attention and he quickly approached the case. “Oh, look at you!” he said to it.

Rose followed him over, staying a step behind him as she looked at the case he was. Inside was the head of a Cyberman. Her heart began to beat rapidly in fear as she gazed at it. This had been the first place she had ever seen a Cyberman. At the time, she could never fully comprehend just how terrible they were. Looking at it, it almost looked a little silly. The design was different to they Cybermen she knew. The head rounder and skinnier, the ‘handles’ on the side were thicker and ribbed. It didn’t look as aggressive and intimidating as the ones from the other dimension, but she knew that they were probably just as deadly.

“I don’t like that thing…” she found herself saying.

“Mmm, with good reason,” he said quietly. “This is an old friend of mine… Well, enemy. The stuff of nightmares reduced to an exhibit. I’m getting old.”

“Well, yeah. That kind of happens when you’re 900 years old and jump about time willy-nilly.”

“Oi! I’m actually still pretty young for my species, thank you very much. Time Lords can live for thousands and thousands of years! Well, if they’re carful, which most of them are… were.”

Sensing his mood dropping as he thought of his people, Rose went with her favourite tactic of distraction. “So, where do you think the signal is coming from?”

“I’m not sure,” he said, still staring at the Cyberman head. “Everything here looks like it’s well and truly dead. The signal’s alive. Something’s reaching out… Calling for help.” He gently reached up, and before Rose could say anything to caution him, he tapped the glass.

Instantly, alarms went off and men with guns ran into the room so fast she’s surprised they hadn’t come in earlier simply from just hearing them talk. There were at least a dozen of them, and within a few seconds, they were completely surrounded, guns pointing directly at them.

“If someone’s collecting aliens, that makes you Exhibit A,” she commented. The Doctor just gave them a tight-lipped smile as if to say ‘oops’. Rose frowned. “No, really. I don’t trust this place. Might be a good idea to not let them know…”

Knowing what Van Statten was like, knowing what he was doing to that Dalek as they spoke, she could just imagine what he would do if he ever found out that the Doctor was alien when they weren’t in the middle of a crisis. She could practically see the Doctor strapped to an angled, upright table, his shirt stripped off and writhing in pain as they tortured and experimented on him.

Again, she felt so worried that it made her feel sick. She wanted out of this place as soon as possible. Taking the Doctor’s hand, the attempted to calm herself, telling her self that she was over reacting and imagining things. The Doctor would be fine. He was last time.

She just had to deal with the Dalek, and everything would be okay.

Everything was okay.

One of the armed men grabbed a radio and spoke to someone. “Sir, we have two intruders on Level Sub 53. One male, one female. They look like civilians, but we’re not sure how they got down here undetected. Can’t see anything on them.”

After a moment’s pause, the radio made a static sound as a reply came through. “Alright, check them. I’ll make sure the boss is informed.”

“Yes, Sir.” He turned to a couple of the other men. “Search them.”

The two men came over to them, instructing them to hold their hands over their head and began to pat them down. Rose was reluctant to let go of the Doctor’s hand, but complied. She would be worried that they would find the alien tech that the Doctor carried on him, like the sonic screwdriver and more, but this had happened enough times in her past that she knew by now that anything in his trans-dimensional pockets wouldn’t be felt or picked up on any scans. The only thing they found in Rose’s pockets was her phone, which, after a brief glance at her messages, was handed back to her.

“People still have these?” the man who’d grabbed it asked, staring at it like it was an old relic.

“I miss those things,” another guy commented. “Trusty old phones, like bricks. I used to have a Noikia, my wife accidentally backed over it with the car. Perfectly fine! These days you drop your phone on the ground and it’s unusable!”

“I got my dad a new phone,” someone else said. “Fell out of his back pocket into the toilet. Won’t work anymore and he’s sitting there wondering why.”

“Humans,” the Doctor sighed quietly. “Make something better and you’re still not happy with it. Still, that’s how you evolve.”

Rose smirked, but her attention was diverted by someone’s radio going off.

“Attention all personnel. Bad Wolf One, descending. Bad Wolf One, descending.”

“What’s that, then?” she asked. “What’s Bad Wolf?”

“It’s one of our choppers,” the man replied. “The big boss’s chopper. He’s just arrived. He’s the one who’s going to decide what to do with you.”

“Right… and he named his helicopter after a fairytale?” She knew that they were her words, and she realised that she was probably the one to put the words in his head, but it was Van Statten, and she felt that wanker deserved all the teasing he could get.

“I wouldn’t make light of him, if I were you,” the man warned her. “He’s got a short temper. I heard that when he fires people, he has their memories erased and just leaves them out on the street in a random place around the country, and they’re just left there with nothing and no clue who they are.”

“Charming,” the Doctor grumbled sarcastically.

“Palmer, come in,” a voice crackled through the radio, cutting off any more conversation.

“Palmer here,” the man in charge answered.

“Bring the intruders to Mr Van Statten’s office. He wants to see them.”

“Yes, sir.” He looked up at them. “Right you two, follow us. And no funny business.”

“Funny business? Me?” the Doctor said innocently. Rose could only grin and shake her head.

 Silently, they were led from the museum and into a lift, only a couple of the guards with them now. The lift went up ten or so floors before they were led out, down the corridor. Van Statten’s PA met them outside and escorted them into the lavish office. On the back wall was a large painting of Van Statten, she instantly recognised the style of a famous contemporary painter but couldn’t for the life of her put a name to the artist. It was clearly a recreation of one of the lady’s most famous paintings. And sitting at his desk in front of the gaudy, self-gratuitous painting was the man himself, taking an alien artefact from Adam.

“…Paid $800,000 for it,” he was saying.

“What does it do?” Van Statten asked, taking it from him.

“W-well, you see, the tubes on the side must be to channel something. I think maybe fuel-”

“I really wouldn’t hold it like that,” the Doctor said, cutting him off.

“Shut it,” the PA commanded harshly.

“Really, though. That’s wrong,” he continued.

“Is it dangerous?” Adam asked.

“No. Just looks silly.” He leaned forward to put his hand out for the item, but paused when they heard the sound of multiple guns cocking. Van Statten held up a and to stay them, then cautiously handed it over. The Doctor looked pleased as he lay it out flat on his palm and brought his other hand up to stroke the top. “You just need to be…” As he ran his fingers over it, it lit up and sounds came from it, like someone running their finger around a wine glass. “…delicate.”

Everyone looked impressed by his talent, and he just looked smug.

“Oh, that’s beautiful,” Rose said. “Can I…?”

Before anyone could protest, the Doctor handed it over to her. She hadn’t gotten the chance to play one quite like this, but the Doctor had taken her somewhere where she’d played something similar. With the most gentle of touches, she ran her fingers over the top, going through the scales. And then she began to play a tune. It was an easy, beautiful tune. One that she had heard almost every day for years. The song of the TARDIS. Even when she was no longer with them, the song stayed in her heart and she would often wake up in the morning with the tune dancing through her head.

She was so engrossed in playing the instrument, she didn’t see the Doctor’s brow furrow.

“It’s a musical instrument!” Van Statten said in wonder.

The Doctor nodded. “And it’s a long way from home.”

“Here, let me,” he said. He held out his hand and Rose handed the instrument back, trying to hide a pout of disappointment. Unfortunately, it was his.

She wondered if she could convince the Doctor to come back for it for her.

They watched as he took the instrument and odd, static-like sounds came out as he pressed too hard.

“I did say ‘delicate’,” the Doctor told him. “It reacts to the smallest fingerprint. It needs precision.” Van Statten listened to the Doctor’s advice and soon a few ringing notes came from it. “Very good,” he congratulated him. “Quite the expert.”

“As are you.” He suddenly callously tossed the instrument behind him and all eyes followed it as it clattered to the ground. Rose could tell by the look in the Doctor’s eyes that this was the exact moment he decided he did not like this man. “Who exactly are you?”

“I’m the Doctor. And who are you?”

“Like you don’t know,” Van Statten snarked. “We’re hidden away with the most valuable collection of extra-terrestrial artefacts in the world and you just stumbled in by mistake.

“Pretty much sums me up, yeah.”

“You’d be surprised by how often it happens,” Rose put in.

“Question is, how did you get in?” He walked around the desk, so he was standing closer to them. “53 floors down with your little cat burglar accomplice.” He leered down at her and Rose scowled. “Quite the collector yourself, she’s rather pretty.”

“She has a name, you know,” she snapped at him. “It’s Rose, and she’s gonna slap you if you don’t use it.”

“Ooh, and she’s spunky too. I like her. Hey, little Lord Fauntleroy, we might have found you a little English girlfriend.”

“Yeah, no thanks,” she muttered, shooting a glare at Adam. The Doctor looked between them with raised eyebrows, looking highly amused.

“Ah, this is Mr Henry Van Statten,” Adam introduced the smug man.

“What, and he can’t introduce himself?” she snarked. “And who’s he when he’s at home anyway? Other than some smug, rich twat with a hobby as weird as stamp collecting?”

Adam frowned in surprise at her comment, but soldiered on regardless. “Mr Van Statten owns the internet.”

“Oh, I see… That would be impressive if that was how the internet actually worked. No one can own the internet.”

“And let’s just keep the whole world thinking that way, right kids?” Van Statten said. Rose just rolled her eyes.

“So, you’re an expert on just about everything except the things in your museum,” the Doctor observed. “Anything you don’t understand, you lock up.”

“And you claim greater knowledge?”

“I don’t need to make claims, I know how good I am.”

“And yet, I captured you,” Van Statten said smugly. “Right next to the Cage. What were you doing down there?”

“You tell me.”

“The cage contains my one living specimen.”

“And what’s that?”

“Like you don’t know.”

“Show me”

“You wanna see it?”

The exchange was so quick, each man rapidly coming back with their reply in a way that reminded Rose of men showing off their toys.

“Blimey, just whip them out and measure them already!” she huffed jokingly.

“Rose!” the Doctor said, aghast.

“What, we both know you’d win,” she said to him with a smirk. “He’s clearly compensating for something.” This drew a small guffaw from the Doctor and Van Statten glared at her. Oh, she had hit the nail on the head.

“Goddard, inform the cage. We’re heading down,” Van Statten said to his assistant. He turned to Adam. “You, English. Look after the girl. Canoodle or spoon or whatever it is you British do.”

“No, thanks!”

“And you, doctor with no name…” He nodded towards the lift. “Come and see my pet.”

“Yeah, I don’t think so,” Rose said. “I’m going with him.”

“Nope. You’re staying up here. I don’t just let anyone see my pet, and he’s the expert. So, the mouthy teen stays here.”

“Aww, but you said you liked me,” she pouted teasingly as they walked out the door.

The Doctor grinned, enjoying it probably more than he should. “Behave, you.”

“Never.”

He shot her one last brilliant grin before he turned and climbed into the elevator with the others, leaving just her and Adam in the room. She turned to face him expectantly, and for a moment, Adam just stood there, awkwardly hitting a fist into the palm of his hand. The expression he wore was clearly one of someone who had no clue what to do or say.

“Blimey, you’re a clever one, aren’t ya?”

“Oh, thank you!” he said, brightening up.

“That was sarcasm, Mate. Come on, you’re babysitting me. What are we going to do for entertainment?”

“I… Um, how-how about I show you my workroom?” he asked. “It’s no museum or Metaltron, but there’s some pretty cool things in there.”

“Metaltron?”

“It’s what Mr Van Statten has called his living specimen. See, no one knows what it is, and since we can’t get it to communicate we have no way of knowing. The alien seems to be a living creature, but it’s encased in this large, metal structure. So… Metaltron.”

“Ah, I see,” she said, trying not to laugh imagining a Dalek’s reaction to being called a Metaltron.

“Anyway, it’s ah… this way.” He led her out of the office into the hall, and into another elevator, making a belated introduction and small talk. They went down a few floors, along another few corridors, and finally into his small, cluttered workspace. “Sorry about the mess,” he said. “Mr Van Statten sort of lets me do my own thing, so long as I deliver the goods…”

Rose looked about the space, taking in all the objects around the room. She was quite pleased to find that she recognised a lot of them or could at least roughly identify what most of them were. She could also see quite a few objects she was sure were from Earth, and even something she knew was from the 51st century. She wasn’t sure if it fell through a rift, or if it had been dropped by a Time Agent, but she knew exactly what it was… and she should probably get it out of the hands of this greedy, arrogant git.

“What do you think this is?”

His voice caught her attention, and she turned around to see him holding something out to her. As she took it off him, she could see it in his eyes. That look that was practically begging her to ask him what it was so he could explain his ‘amazing’ theories to her and show off just how smart he was. She remembered how last time, even though she hadn’t had a clue what half of this stuff was, she had still played ignorant so he could show off. It was something she had sometimes done with the Doctor, just so she could listen to the sound of his voice and see how excited he got while explaining things. She had wanted to see Adam get that excited and passionate about something he clearly loved. But this time, she knew better. She knew what he was really like, and she had later realised that he had been rather condescending to her, just because she wasn’t ‘smart’. Well, she wasn’t going to let that happen again.

“Hmm….” She studied the chunk of metal carefully. “It’s porous, which would make it lighter than it would be if it where solid… Naturally occurring. But it’s been shaped. These bits are clearly broken and torn,” she traced her fingers around the edges, “but this part is smoothed flat, like it’s been worked. It’s an odd metal… definitely not from Earth. The colour is off from anything we have, and the pattern in the metal is an effect we’ve only seen on meteorites. Actually, there isn’t a metal like this in our entire galaxy, so it’s from somewhere beyond the Milky Way. It’s undoubtedly from a spacecraft of some kind, but I’m not sure which bit. The lightness of the material would definitely be good for flight, but probably not sturdy enough for the hull.”

“You-you don’t think it’s from a hull of a spacecraft?” he asked, baffled.

“No. Spacecraft, definitely. Hull… probably not. Then again… if they crashed, might be why.” She gently placed it back down on his desk.

“Oh.” He seemed quite put out, not only that he hadn’t been able to explain what it was, but also that she seemed to know more than he had about it. It brought a small smile to her lips. “You, ah… you seem to know a lot about… well, this stuff. Usually I have to try and convince people that aliens are real and that I’m not just a crazy person.”

“Are you kidding me?” she said. “After everything that happened back home? Aliens crashing into Big Ben, the Christmas spaceship, Cybermen and Daleks in the streets?!” She wondered if he would pick up on the memory of the Daleks and realise what it was Van Statten was hiding down in his basement, but he didn’t react at all. Still, that was all six or seven years ago for him, there had to be something more recent he would remember. Oh! It was 2012! “Everyone disappearing into thin air at the Olympics?!”

“In Bejing?”

“No, the London Olympics!”

“…Th-the Olympics haven’t happened yet. They’re a few months away.”

“Right. Right, yeah. They are, aren’t they. Still, how could you not know about all these things?!”

“Seems America missed the memo,” he said, rolling his eyes. “They didn’t get a lot of what we did back home. And they thought the Cybermen were a big practical joke, like a flashmob or terrorist group or something. I was actually on a plane to Japan for a foreign exchange programme. Totally missed it… But I was there that first Christmas, that one with the spaceship. One moment there’s aliens on TV, the next I’m waking up, standing on the edge of the roof with my mum and no idea how we got there.” Rose nodded. “What about you? Where were you that Christmas?”

“Oh, I was on the ship. So was the Doctor. He fought single combat to get them to leave Earth and won.”

“I… wow. Okay. Are-are you and he…”

“Yep,” she replied, nodding enthusiastically.

She knew what he was asking. If they were involved. And they may not be yet, but they hopefully would be in the future. And she was most definitely emotionally involved with him. And she was going to stop that boy’s train of thought right there.

He was obviously perplexed by this idea and a little put out to have his attempts of possible flirting shut down. She just continued to glance around the room.

“So, how did you end up here anyway? Doing a job like this?”

“Van Statten has agents all over the world looking for geniuses to recruit.”

“Oh, okay. So, you’re a genius?”

“Sorry, but yeah. Can’t help it. I was born clever.”

See. Smug, arrogant, condescending git. The Doctor was incredibly intelligent, but he didn’t rub it in everyone’s faces quite like that. It made her want to knock him down a peg.

“Why does a genius have a hairdryer in with a crate of guns?”

“What?”

“That one,” she said, pointing to the device that very clearly was not a gun. “I’m pretty sure that one’s a hairdryer.”

His brow furrowed. “How can you tell?”

She went over and pulled the crate out, grabbing it for a closer inspection. “Well, for one thing, this is a switch, not a trigger. These dials here are for temperature and pressure. And both sides are covered with vents and grates… It’s clearly not meant to have something fired out of it, and wants to prevent anything getting in. Plus, it just… generally looks like a hairdryer…”

“Oh.” Being shown up was making him at a loss for words, and Rose was loving it. She enjoyed watching as he looked about, practically searching for a way to try and one-up her. “You wanted to be down there looking at the alien with your doctor friend, right? Well, if you’re a genius, it doesn’t take long to patch in on the comms system.”

Trying not to roll her eyes, Rose smiled and relented. “Oh, alright then. Let’s have a look.” She came around to stand beside him at the desk, watching over his shoulder as he tapped at the keys and hacked into the camera down in the ‘cage’.

“To be honest, it doesn’t really do much. The alien. It’s weird. It’s kind of… useless. It’s just like this… great big pepper pot.”

The feed flicked up and despite herself, Rose felt herself tense up at the sight on the screen. In the middle of the room, chained up, was a Dalek. Just one regular Dalek. The first she had ever seen. Back then, she had been so naïve and had no kind of clue what creature Van Statten had imprisoned in his basement. But now she did. She had seen the horrors they had caused. The people this one would kill if she let it out. The billions of people they had killed over the course of 90 years on Satellite Five. Canary Wharf…

She despised this thing for what it was. For the things she knew it would do.

It could stay down there and rot for all she cared.

She didn’t care that that horrible man was torturing it. She didn’t. It deserved it. It deserved whatever was happening to it for all the pain it had and would cause. She didn’t care. She didn’t. It deserved it. It did…

It-it could rot here forever for all she cared… She wasn’t going near it this time.

Suddenly, she was no longer in Adam’s workroom. She was down in the cage, looking at the Dalek as time passed rapidly around her. She watched as days and months of torture was inflicted upon it. She watched as Van Statten shouted at it, demanding it talk to him and be a good pet. She watched as it screamed in agony, its hatred for mankind growing even stronger than it had already been. She watched as it bided its time. As a terrible storm raged, destroying the levels above ground and sending a powerful lightning strike right down through the bunker’s electrical system, giving the Dalek enough of a boost to recharge its systems and heal itself. It wasn’t perfect, still damaged and broken from years’ worth of torture and experiments, but its gun worked, and it was strong enough to break free. She watched as the Dalek moved its way through the bunker, killing everyone in sight. As it found its way up to the surface and out into the world. She watched as it made its way across Utah, across South Western America, killing billions before the military were able to bring it down with a nuke. So much of America decimated, the land radiated and uninhabitable for decades to come. All because of one brutal creature. All because she didn’t show it the compassion and mercy she should would almost anything else.

Rose gasped as she came back to herself, leaning heavily on the desk, her eyes fixed on the screen.

“We have to go!” she gasped. “We have to get down there!”

“We’re not supposed to-”

“They’re torturing it! I don’t care if it’s a Dalek or not! It’s wrong and we have to stop it!”

“Wait, that’s a Dalek?!” he cried as she ran from the room.

  “Hold it right there!” a guard said firmly as Rose charged into the room, Adam jogging in after her, trying to keep up.

“Level three access,” he panted, flashing his ID. “Special clearance from Mr Van Statten.”

He walked past her and led her into the cage. On their way, they passed Simmons. After seeing the possible timeline where he spent years upon years torturing that Dalek, she felt herself fill with rage, and before she could stop herself, she lashed out and slapped him.

“Fucking sadistic tosser!” she hissed at him. Immediately, every guard in the room was up in arms, heading towards her with their guns drawn. Thankfully, they were stayed by Adam, who held up his hand to stop them. He looked at Rose questioningly, his expression almost screaming for her to apologise. Instead, she just looked back at Simmons. “You’re worse than that creature in there,” she told him. And then she turned and pushed past Adam into the cage.

“What was all that about?” he asked as the door closed.

“I don’t condone torture,” she said shortly. “No matter how vial the victim is.”

Adam wisely said nothing, and she turned around to face the Dalek. Her heart pounded in fear, her mind racing with all the times she had gone up against them. What she knew they could do. What she knew this one would and could do. Still, she faced the chained creature and smiled sympathetically. It really looked roughed up, many of it’s domes crushed in and one of its panels pryed open. Thick chains surrounded it, keeping it teathered to four posts.

“Hello,” she said. “Are you alright? Are you in pain?” The Dalek just stared at her. She had no idea what it was feeling, with its unexpressive casing, or if it was even feeling anything at all. “My name’s Rose. Rose Tyler. I’m going to help you. Okay? My friend and I, we’re going to help you.”

“YES,” it said.

“Good. Then let’s get you out.”

“Rose, I don’t think-”

“YES… I AM IN PAIN,” the Dalek cut Adam off. “THEY TORTURED ME. BUT THEY STILL FEAR ME. DO YOU FEAR ME?”

Hesitantly, she looked it up and down, then shook her head. “Not right now.”

The Dalek lowered its eyestalk pathetically, really putting on a show. “I AM DYING.”

It almost made her laugh. Last time she met this Dalek, she had no idea what it was, nor how dangerous it was. It had played innocent and she had lapped it up in her naivety. She never realised just how much the Dalek was putting it on.

“No, don’t be silly,” she said playing along. “We can help.”

“I WELCOME DEATH. BUT I AM GLAD… THAT BEFORE I DIE… I MET A HUMAN WHO WAS NOT AFRAID…”

It was at this point, that Rose could no longer hold in her laughter. Adam balked at her reaction, too stunned to know what to do as she doubled over.

“Sorry, sorry. I’m sorry,” she said, gasping for air. “I couldn’t hold it in any longer.”

“I don’t get it…” Adam said, looking entirely lost. It was clear it was something he didn’t like feeling.

“It was just putting on the ‘poor little me’ act so strong, I couldn’t keep a straight face,” she said with a grin. Then she turned back to the Dalek. “I’m not like these other humans. I know what you are. I know what your species has done. What you do. I know that your lot commits genocide everywhere you go because you think you’re superior. But I have seen all of your existence before. I’ve wiped you from existence before. Daleks are monsters… but you don’t deserve this. Nothing deserves this. So, I’m going to get you out of here.” She began looking about for some controls or some way to let it out. “My friend and I will take you somewhere you can’t hurt anyone. Somewhere you can build a life and do… whatever it is Daleks do when they aren’t planning or committing invasions and genocide.”

“THAT IS MY PURPOSE!”

“Yeah, well, not anymore. You know there’s no more Daleks left, right? Not anywhere else in the universe!” She wasn’t entirely sure if it was true, but she knew that the Doctor had once been utterly convinced of it. “You don’t have any higher authority. You have no objective. And no weaponry. But you have your life. So, I suggest you take it.” When she couldn’t see any controls nearby, she walked over to one of the pillars chaining it up and started looking over it. “Okay, how do I get you out of here…?” She tug on the chains, looking about for a lock or some kind of release switch. “Adam, can you do something? I can’t touch it, or it will be able to repair itself, including its weapons and probably go on a killing spree.”

“Rose, I don’t think this is such a good id-”

“What do you think you’re doing?” The door burst open, and the horrible torturer guy rushed in, glaring at her.

“Getting this Dalek away from you!” she growled. “It might be one of the most instinctively evil creatures I know of, but it still deserves better than what you’ve done to it!”

“Get away from there!” he ordered her, stalking over to her in a few strides and grabbing her wrist away from the chains.

“Let go of me!” she hissed, trying to pull away from him. She tugged as hard as she could, and he let her go, sending her flying backwards… right into the Dalek. She could feel the cool metal under her hand heat up to the point of burning, and she jumped back, looking at it in panic. “Shit!”

“GENETIC MATERIAL EXTRAPOLATED,”  it said. “INITIATE CELLULAR RECONSTRUCTION!”

Right before them, the Dalek began to repair itself, gaining strength enough to burst out of the chains like it was no more than silly string, sparks flying around the room, making Rose scoot back as far as she could until she hit Adam’s legs. He grabbed her hand and pulled her to her feet, eyes still glued to the Dalek.

“What the hell have you done?!” the horrible guy cried.

“That was your fault!” She shouted back. “I said I couldn’t let it touch me! Now everyone is in danger, you fucking moron!”

The Dalek moved over to the man, its plunger extended out threateningly.

The man scoffed. “Watcha gonna go? Sucker me to death?” In the next instant, the plunger shot out, encompassing the man’s nose and mouth, almost sucking it in and the sounds of the man’s muffled screams and crunching bones filled the room. Rose couldn’t even bring herself to pretend he deserved that fate.

She grabbed Adam by the arm and pulled him out of the room. “It’s killing him!” she shouted at the men in the outer room. “Do something!” Someone immediately closed and locked the door behind her and Adam, and she rushed over to the man at the intercom.

“Condition red!” he called into it. “Repeat, condition red! This is not a drill!”

“What’s happening, Bywater?” Van Statten responded.

“Metaltron has broken loose. It’s killed Simmons.”

“Do whatever you can to keep it contained, we’ll video through soon.”

Rose paced anxiously as the Bywater began hurriedly tapping and keys and flicking switches. It was minutes later that the video flickered to life and she heard the Doctor’s voice, making her rush to the screen.

“You’ve got to keep it in that cell,” he ordered.

“I’m sorry, Doctor. It was my fault. I didn’t mean to touch it, but he pushed me and I fell on it. And then it said it was absorbing genetic something or other and then it was breaking loose!”

“Rose, it’s fine. That wasn’t your fault,” he assured her. “What’s important is making sure that thing doesn’t get out.”

“I’ve sealed the compartment,” Bywater said, sliding up beside her. “It can’t get out. That lock’s got a billion combinations.”

“The Dalek’s a genius. It can calculate a thousand billion combinations in one second flat.”

A quick glance at the screen showed them that the Dalek was on its way over to the entry pad and she turned back to the screen.

“Van Staten, you need to evacuate this base, right now! Get everyone out!” she told him firmly.

“She’s right,” the Doctor said.

Van Staten shook his head. “We need all essential manpower to keep it contained.”

“God damn it, you can do that without everyone here!” she shouted. “That thing is going to kill everyone! No amount of ‘manpower’ is going to stop it. It’s gonna cut through everyone like butter! If you don’t evacuate now, they are all going to die.”

Van Sataten just snorted. “I think my men can handle it.”

“No, they can’t. I’ve seen these creatures almost completely domninate many species – including you humans - countless times throughout history. My own people didn’t even truly beat them, and by the end of the war, we were experts in killing Daleks!”

“This facility is-”

“Van Staten,” she cut over top of him. “What are you going to do? Listen to the advice of some who’s battled these deadly things and actually knows what they’re talking about, or  are you going to put billions of people in danger because you’re a spoilt, rich manchild who can’t tell an alien blaster from a hairdryer and don’t want to admit how dangerous your precious little alien ‘toys’ are? No? Didn’t think so. So shut the fuck up and evacuate this entire damn base right now!”

Van Staten stared at her, offended and dumbfounded, while the Doctor full on beamed at her and Van Staten’s assistant attempted to hide a snigger.

At that moment, though, the Dalek found the right code and the door opened. The milliary personel lined up to shoot and she scooted back to the exit with them.

“Open fire!” Bywater commanded. Together, he and the woman who went with them last time began shooting at the Dalek.

“Alright! Alright! Get everyone out!” they heard Van Staten order. “Just don’t shoot it!”

“Everyone, come on!” she called to them.

“Rose, get out of there!” the Doctor told her.

“Don’t bother trying to hold it off, it won’t work! Just run, damn it!” She grabbed the two soldiers by the sleeves, tugging them with her.

“De Maggio, make sure that the civilians get out alive. That’s your job, got that?”

De Maggio nodded. “You two, make sure you stick with me!”

Right then, a voice came over the speakers. ‘Emergency evacuation – please exit the base! Emergency evacuation – please exit the base!’ The halls began to fill with the sound of footsteps as people made their way to the nearest exit.

Rose smiled even as the power failed around them and the alarm stopped. Because this time as she ran, several people ran along to safety beside her.

Chapter Index  |  First Chapter  |  << Previous Chapter  |  Next Chapter >>

#history repeats #doctor who

[theydontknowaboutusimagines]

A Week of Harry One Shots #1

Request: Harry and Y/N were best childhood friends and each other’s first loves. However, between his shot to fame and you perusing your own career, you two lost touch over the years. One day, you attend his concert in your city and he instantly recognizes you. He invites you backstage and you two quickly realize, your feelings for the other never went away. 

**

Harry sat opposite of you on his mother’s couch. You two were having a Lord of the Rings marathon, something you could have lived without honestly, but it was Harry’s birthday weekend and that’s what he wanted. So, as his best friend, you obliged. By the time you reached the last movie, you were beyond bored. You grabbed the bowl of half eaten popcorn, grabbed a few pieces and threw them at Harry. 

He ignored you for a bit, but you kept chucking popcorn at him. 

“Really?” He laughed brushing the popcorn off of him. “Mum’s gonna kill you for getting popcorn on her floor.” 

“Technically, it’s on your side, so why would I be the one getting in trouble?” You smirked. 

He rolled his eyes, pausing the movie, and turning to you. “You’re bored aren’t you?” 

“I was bored about five hours ago,” you pointed out. 

“You didn’t have to do this,” he said. 

“No, I didn’t,” you said. “But you’re my best friend, it’s your birthday, so I did.” 

He smiled, “Thank you.” 

“You’re welcome,” you smiled. “Now, can we at least take a break and go get so fresh air?” 

He laughed, “Come on,” he said pulling you up from the couch. 

**

You were in the audience with his family as they announced that One Direction would not be the winners of X Factor. As soon as you could, you all went in search for him. When he saw you, he walked over, wrapping his arms around you as you held him tightly. 

“I really thought we had this,” he sniffled. 

“We all did,” you sighed. “But this isn’t going to be the end. I just know it.” 

“I want to believe that,” he whispered. 

“Then believe, Styles,” you smiled wiping his tears. “Just... when it does happen, don’t forget about me, yeah?” 

“I could never,” he whispered. “You’re my best friend.” 

“And you’re mine” you smiled kissing his cheek and wrapping your arms around him. 

**

Over the next few years, you two kept your promise. You talked mostly everyday whenever he had a chance and you even joined him on tour with Gemma. But then, your life changed. You got a new job, moved to a new city, and had your own life. Everyday texting or phone conversations, turned into every few days, then to every few weeks, then months, then to not even at all. 

There were times, you’d stare at his name on your phone, willing yourself to call him, but after so much time had passed by, you didn’t know what you would even say. It also didn’t help when you constantly saw him in the tabloids being linked to all these famous women as his rumored love interests. You were pretty successful in your career, and you were also beautiful, but there was just something more intimidating seeing your quirky best friend dating models. 

Models who were considered “perfect” in society. You were sure that some of them were just simply rumors because you did see Gemma from time to time whenever you were in London for work. She would mention Harry to you and you knew that she’d mention you to him the next time she spoke with him, but still neither one of you made the effort to contact the other. 

Regardless of who Harry was dating or had dated in the past, you also had some relationships since the two of you lost touch. Speaking of relationships, you and Harry had an interesting one. The two of you were always best friends, but as the two of you got older, you became more than friends. Essentially, you two were boyfriend and girlfriend, even during his early One Direction days, but you two never really put a label on it. You weren’t exactly friends with benefits, but you were officially boyfriend and girlfriend either. 

You two acted like it and never really saw anyone else during those years, but it was just something that sort of happened naturally. There was never this big question of will you be my girlfriend or boyfriend... or either of asking the other if you two were officially a couple. 

It just was. 

Until it wasn’t. 

Maybe if you two had put a label on it, then maybe there would have been more of a closure or attempts to stay in touch between the two of you. Anyway, it had been well over two, maybe almost three years, since you’ve seen or spoken to Harry. Any time you had gone back home to visit your family, he wasn’t home or he would be there, but you wouldn’t be. 

Thinking about it though, this isn’t exactly an uncommon thing. People grow up and move on, but it didn’t mean you wanted it to happen. 

**

You were currently at work looking over the upcoming projects you would be getting ready for. You worked in the music business, sort of. You worked for a company that was in charge of booking musical acts in local venues and making sure everything was set up and went smoothly. It was a non-stop job, for sure, but one of the biggest perks was getting to meet the artists and attend the shows. 

As you looked through the list, adding them to your schedule, one name jumped out at you. 

Harry Styles. 

Shit. 

Your heart fluttered while your stomach sank seeing his name. You never really told anyone you work with about your relationship with Harry, so it was interesting how you, out of everyone in the company, would be taking care of Harry’s show. Your palms grew sweaty at the thought. Would you run into him? 

I mean, you didn’t have to meet the artist. You could just fly under the radar and make sure you were always busy. Or you could just hand it over to a co-worker. 

Except, you couldn’t. 

This was supposed to happen. 

This was your chance to finally see him again. 

Reconnect with him again. 

You just hoped he wanted the same thing. 

**

Harry was heading to the venue of his show for the night. He knew the city he was playing in was where you had moved. He thought about reaching out, inviting you to the show, but he wasn’t sure how you would feel about it. It had been so longer since either of you had spoken, and he knew he wouldn’t have much time to see you anyway, seeing as how he had to fly out early tomorrow morning. 

But it would be something. He would give anything just to see you again, to hear your voice. He shook his head. He needed to focus on the show, not you, especially on the off chance that you weren’t even there. Hell, you could be there, but in thousands of people unless you were in the front rows he wouldn’t even find you. 

When his car arrived to the venue, he got out and went inside making sure to wave a few fans that were waiting already. It always amazed him how long fans would wait outside just for the hope of seeing him. Once inside, he headed straight to the stage for soundcheck. He grabbed his guitar, messing around a little bit on it, before starting once his band was all set. 

During rehearsals, he saw a familiar hair color towards the back of the venue where near the playback area. He quickly looked up, squinting his eyes. Something looked super familiar about the girl, but her back was facing him, so he couldn’t tell. When she started walking away, he mentally begged her to turn around, but she never did. 

He didn’t know for sure who it was, but his heart fluttered at the sight. 

**

The entire day you were hidden away making sure everything was working properly and taken care of. You almost lost it when you ended up in the main stage area while Harry was rehearsing. That was the first time you had heard his voice in person in years. Your knees about buckled when you heard in him through the microphone. You had to get out of there quickly before you recognized him. 

Yes, you wanted to see him and talk to him, but that moment wasn’t the time. 

A few hours passed by and it was officially time for Harry to go onstage. You still tried to stay clear of him, which wasn’t all that difficult seeing as how there was a bit of an issue you had to deal with that took quite a bit of time. Anyway, you grabbed a drink and headed to your company’s seats, which were side stage away from the crowd. Part of you hoped that Harry wouldn’t see you, while the other part hoped and prayed that he did. 

The lights went down and the audience screamed with excitement. While you're excited as well, you couldn’t help but feel nauseous at seeing him again. As soon as the screen lifted up and he was standing there, you felt the flutter in your heart again. A smile grew across your face as he danced around on stage, having the time of his life, and it was only just the first song. 

He was making his away around the entire stage, both sides and the middle. It was only a matter of time before he would be standing in front of you. You sucked in a breath as he stood at your side of the stage, waving to the crowd, before glancing down. 

Right at you. 

He stood there, frozen in shock, gazing into your eyes. He had missed his cue for Only Angel, but the band continued playing until he snapped out of it and made his way back over to the microphone. Throughout the show, you noticed he would glance in your direction, but also keep himself moving. You weren’t sure if that was a good sign or a bad one. 

**

Before Harry came out for his encore, someone from his team approached you. 

“Excuse me,” she smiled. “Are you, Y/N?” 

“I am,” you nodded nervously. 

“Harry asked me to ask you if you would like to come backstage after the show,” she said. 

“Oh, um... sure,” you said. 

“Perfect. Just head on back after Kiwi and I’ll take you to his dressing room,” she told you. 

“Oo-okay,” you nodded. 

She smiled walking away. 

The sick to your stomach feeling came flooding back to you as you waited for the next few minutes to end. This was finally happening. You were finally going to see him again. 

Would he be angry with you? 

Would he want to hug you? 

Would it be awkward? 

Your mind was taking you some place and it wasn’t helping your nervousness one bit. 

**

The lights of the venue came back on as soon as Harry was off the stage. The audience began grabbing their things and headed out, while you were striking up the courage to head backstage. You weren’t exactly sure how it happened, but your feet starting walking in that direction. The same lady who came up to you, smiled when she saw you and took straight back to his dressing room. 

You wondered if he was there yet or if he would be meeting you in there in a bit. Well, you were about to find out because you were at his door. You opened the door and noticed it was empty. 

But not for long. 

“It is you,” Harry whispered from behind you. 

You quickly turned out, blushing, “Um.. Hi,” you whispered. 

**

#One Direction Imagines #Harry Styles Imagines #Harry Styles One Shots #A Week of Harry One Shots

[channy-mae]

BTS reaction to you’re insecure about your social equality

Jin-

Jin wouldn’t know exactly what to say when you started crying after he told you about their 6th win for Fake Love. He took you into his arms thinking you may have been shedding happy tears but you pushed back a little signally you wanted him to let go. “How are you just satisfied with me?” you whimper through your tears. “What do you mean Jagi?” Jin puts his hands on your shoulders leaning down to be at eye level with you. “I’m not as successful as you and you’re only getting more famous. I’ll never be as good as you need me to be.” You break eye contact preferring to look at the ground in shame. Jin cups your face in his hands and softly kisses your forehead, “Jagi, I don’t care about any of that! In my eyes you’re the most successful person ever, and even if I didn’t think that I love you for you. Not for how many people know of you.” He finishes with a sweet smile.

Suga-

Min Yoongi listed as one of 5 idols that make thousands from copyright on their music. You sit back and stare at the title, not even bothering to open the article and read it. Yoongi did always get you lavish gifts and spoil you on dates, you couldn’t do as much for him since your income didn’t allow it. You felt beneath him and guilty, you couldn’t spoil him as much as he did you. When Yoongi gets to your apartment he brought you the newest purse to celebrate. “Jagi! Are you sleeping?” He comes into your room and flicks on the light, waving the purse in your face to show it off to you. You scowl at him and swat it away, “Take it back, I don’t want it.” you deadpan and turn away. You didn’t want to admit how you felt, you didn’t want him to make you feel stupid, even though you knew he’d never do that to you. “Wha- what’s wrong with you?” He stutters out surprised at your actions. “Nothing, I just don’t want you to keep spending money on me.” You mumble into the pillow. “After all I can’t pay you back or give you the same expensive stuff. I don’t make as much as you after all.” You huff out not wanting to continue the conversation. You feel he start to poke you, then he starts tickling you, “Yah! Stop!” you giggle out trying to swat his hands away. You flip over to hold his hands away from you, “How much money you make or don’t make is pointless. We are in a relationship giving gifts isn’t important, but I like giving you things that may make you happy. Other than me of course. I’m happy with you just being with me! Don’t put our relationship over money ever again jagi.” Yoongi frees his hands and hugs you.

J-Hope-

“And then we saw Nicki Minaj perform and it was beyond amazing! There were so many different artist and so many reporters who wanted to talk to us!” Hoseok has been going on about the Bbma’s over the phone with you ever since their performance ended. You were happy with his growing stardom but you felt..left behind. Like he was advancing in life without you, he was going and performing at so many different cool places and being acknowledged by famous people, and here you were an ordinary office worker who can barely work the copy machine. “Wow really!” you say without much feeling, you weren’t really listening to him anymore. You were too busy thinking about whether you were even good enough to date someone of Hoseok’s status now. “Y/N are you listening?” You could hear the pout in his voice when he says this. You hum a yes, too scared to speak in case you break down and cry over your thoughts. Hoseok hangs up and facetimes you not even a minute later. You take a deep breath and answer smiling. “Yah! What’s up with that fake smile! You weren’t listening to me at all were you!” He accuses. Tears start up and you start to cry, “I’m sorry, I just was thinking about how you’re doing more in life. I feel like I’m never going to be as good as you are and I’ll only hold you back.” you hiccup wiping your tears as quickly as you could. “Y/N what is that nonsense?! You’re my lucky charm, ever since you entered my life I’ve been getting better! Plus what is a me without you?! You’re time will come when you explode in life, and I’ll be there to congratulate you when it happens!”

RapMonster-

You’ve been feeling like a burden on your relationship with Namjoon for a while now. It made you work harder to earn more and advance in your company, but at the same time put stress on your relationship. You wanted to be equal to him, financially, and socially but whenever you get what you assume is close, the gap widens again. “Then they call and mispronounced my name! Can you believe that jagi?” he turned to look at you staring at your computer, not paying him any mind. “Did you hear anything I said?” He laughs a little and tries to wrap an arm around you. “I’m a bit busy, sorry.” you brush him away to focus more on your work. Namjoon leans over knocks your fingers out of the way knocking the laptop off the table onto the floor in the process. You jump up and shriek in shock, “NAMJOON!” You whip your head in his direction furious. “Whoa, I’m sorry Y/N I didn’t think-” he starts to apologize. An exasperated noise comes out of your mouth, “Listen it’s fine I’ll replace it!” He smiles. “Of course you can! You could replace anything you break! Even me if you wanted to!” You throw your hands in the air. “Where is this coming from?” Namjoon says calmly as to not upset you further. “I...I just” You start and can’t get anything out before you’re crying. He takes you in his arms, “Listen, you know how important you are to me. If this is an income thing and that’s why you’re working yourself to the bone don’t. You can just be you, and I’ll just be me. Our worth is measured in our love for each other not in zeros in a bank.”

V-

He’s always wearing the latest gucci and other expensive clothes, clothes that you can’t wear everyday due to work and your income. You never felt particularly insecure about anything, but whenever Tae unknowingly flaunts his wealth in your face you couldn’t help it. “Y/N, guess who got the newest-” you hung up on him before he could finish what he was saying. It was rude you admit, but you just didn’t feel like giving a fake reaction. He calls you back over and over, everytime you simply send him to voicemail avoiding him. It was around 11:30 pm when you heard a banging on your front door, opening it reveals a not very happy Taehyung. He nudges you aside and enters your apartment. He looks good as always, his fashion not failing him even in this situation. “Why are you avoiding me y/n?” he crosses his arms in an attempt to look intimidating. You simply shrug in response, “That’s not an answer!” he grunts and sits on the couch. “Don’t you have to go back to the dorm?” he ignores that and stares and the TV, even though it isn’t even on. “Taehyung, listen. I’ve been thinking and-” he shoots up and wraps you in a surprise hug before you could continue. “No! No thinking! I won’t let you think!” he squeezes you tighter, limiting your breaths. You push back enough to speak, “I hate keeping my feelings from you, so let me talk.” you push back a bit more. “I’ve been feeling lesser than you lately, I don’t wanna say it but I’m a bit insecure about my standing in our relationship. I mean you make a lot of mon-” Taehyung covers your mouth with his hand stopping you mid-sentence. “Like I said, no thinking. There’s no need for you to feel anything but happiness and love in our relationship. If you need me to verify that then I’ll do that anyway you’d like. If I have to wear a cardboard box to make you feel better I will. I love you y/n”

Jimin-

You hated their dorm, it was so big. Especially after they became so big in America and was earning more money, so you hated going over to their dorm and then going home to your small apartment. So you chose never to go over to the dorm anymore, you also hated when Jimin would come over to your apartment. He had to come over to a small place different than that of where he lived, so you never wanted him over. Instead the two of you went undercover for dates late at night after his practice. Or what your preferred method of talking on the phone. “No, chim I don’t feel well today.” you lie to him over the phone. You fake a cough for good measure, “Then I should definitely come over to take care of you! I can’t let you be sick alone!” he says in a way that is non debatable and hangs up. You have a mini panic attack before you toss your phone on the couch and rush to clean your apartment. Jimin gets there just as you finish and you open the door for him forgetting that you were supposed to be ‘sick’. “Yah! I brought all sorts of stuff to treat you and you don’t look sick at all!” he accuses. You shift over allowing him in, “I’m sorry I simply didn’t want you to come over and be uncomfortable is all.” You sigh and take a seat on your couch. “Uncomfortable? Y/n I adore being alone with you, I’m not uncomfortable when i’m with you anywhere” he smiles at you. “No..like, it’s just..ugh!” you cry out frustrated with yourself and your feelings. “I mean, you’re over here when you could be back at your dorm and all. I’m not as-” you gesture towards him, “as you are, you know. My place is small and I’m not rich or anything.” you’re frustrations slowly morphing into insecurity as you come clean to him. “Y/n, jagi..we all start from somewhere don’t we? I wasn’t always superstar, lady killer Jimin.” he winks at you. “Don’t think that since this is where you are now that this is where you’ll stay. Plus with me you’re always successful, since how many girls get to say they get to kiss the Park Jimin?”

Jungkook-

You told Jungkook how you felt before, all your insecurities about stuff. After that one time no one brought it up again, granted he was half sleep and you were as well, you thought getting those feelings off your chest would result in less of those feelings. But it just seemed to get worse, since neither of you acknowledged that it happened. “Yeah Kookie I saw your latest interview on T.V.” you say bored. You really didn’t watch it, sick of seeing him on tv, feeling less than him. It was tiring if you were being completely honest, “Yes, I see the stupid cell phone commercial you and the guys are in.” you didn’t mean to say stupid. “What, stupid? Why is it stupid? Hyung and I got to play with the dog they brought in cause they knew we liked dogs!” his voice was excited remembering the dog. You could practically see the smile on is face, “I bet, they wanted to appease the new celebrity after all.” you mutter the last part of the sentence. “Wow y/n what’s wrong with you today?” Jungkook snaps sick of what you’ve been spewing since he called you. You take a deep breath, “I’ve just been feeling a bit, insecure and if I’m being honest jealous of you and your fame. I’m after all, ordinary. Nothing worth wild and important. My company could fire me tomorrow and have me replaced in an hour. They can’t do that do you cause of your worth. I told you all of this.” you weren’t crying, though your voice sounded like you were about to. “Y/n, you’re important as well. I remember you telling me how you felt, do you remember what I told you in response?” you whisper no. “No matter what the world says, no matter how much you have or make, as long as you feel you’re worth something then you are. Your personality is priceless, you are worth more than all the money in the world.” he pauses. “Don’t make yourself believe you are lesser than anyone based on importance, or money, because none of that can buy your happiness. None of that can replace the love we share for each other. I love you y/n.”

#kpop #bts scenarios #channy #kpop scenarios #kpop angst #kpop reactions #bts #bts angst #bts fluff #bts reactions #kpop fluff

[taeyongluvs-blog]

fallingforyou

SUMMARY: Jaehyun knew that falling for you was forbidden. He was an idol and he had rules to follow but no one ever said he couldn’t love you from afar.

GENRE: Angst

PAIRING: Jaehyun and Reader

NOTE(S): Thank you for reading and enjoy!

GIF IS NOT MINE. CREDITS TO THE OWNER.

JAEHYUN knew that falling for you was forbidden. He was an idol and he had rules to follow but no one ever said he couldn’t love you from afar. He knew it was foolish and he should stop because there was no way, in this lifetime, that he could ever be with you even though he wanted too. He tried, really, he did. He avoided eating at the company’s restaurant, blocked your social media accounts from his accounts, your number and acted very cold towards you. But he could only do that act for so long.

It was Saturday evening, around 10 pm and the members of NCT 127 was still at the company, busy practicing for their latest comeback. “Everyone, let’s take a break. We haven’t had dinner.” The leader, Taeyong, announced as he stopped the music and grabbed his towel.

“What? Really? I didn’t even realize we haven’t eaten.” Haechan said with a chuckle as Mark handed him a bottle of water and his towel.

“Alright, let’s go eat at the restaurant.” Johnny said and everyone agreed but Jaehyun.

“You guys go on ahead, I’ll stay here. I made plenty mistakes.” Jaehyun said, taking his cap off to run his fingers through his hair.

“Sure?” Taeyong asked as he eyed his dongsaeng in disbelief.

Jaehyun nodded, placing his cap back on as he walked towards the sound system and he played their new song once more. His members sighed.

“It’s okay, we’ll just send him food. Come on, let’s eat.” Taeil assured the younger members before ushering them out of the practice room.

YOU had always looked at Jaehyun as someone who was unattainable. Someone like a god who was untouchable by a mere mortal but you couldn’t help but to fall for him just like majority of the ladies (even the gentlemen) in the company. Not only because of his killer visuals but also for his personality and his talent. 

The first time you met Jaehyun was during your first day at the famous SM restaurant. You were really having financial troubles and needed another job in order to pay not only your tuition but also your little brother’s. By some miracle, you were accepted as the restaurant’s new cashier out of the thousands of applicants wanting to get in. Your first day was really nervewracking not only because it was your first day but also because you were going to meet several SM artists you never, in a million years, thought would ever meet. You had always been a fan of NCT, though, so you were most nervous to meet them. Especially your bias, Jaehyun. 

It was during lunch time when the members of NCT came into the restaurant. They were really loud since they were a huge group and you felt intimidated as you readied yourself on taking their orders. Your co-worker whispered, “Fighting!” at you when she noticed your nervousness and you thanked her in response before taking a deep breath and facing none other than your bias. 

“H-Hello, what can I get for you?” you stuttered out, blushing deep red in embarrassment. 

Jaehyun smiled at you, his dimples showing. “Hello, I haven’t seen you here before. Are you new?” 

You nodded. “Y-Yes, it’s my first day.” you replied, mentally smacking yourself for being so damn nervous. 

“Hey, it’s okay. You’re doing great. I’m Jaehyun, by the way.” he introduced himself, reaching out his hand for you to shake. 

You couldn’t hold his hand. “I know who you are.” you said in barely a whisper. 

“What?” he asked, leaning forward. 

You lowered your head, blushing mad now. “Your order, sir?” you asked, clearing your throat. 

“Hyung! Hurry up, we’re hungry!” Haechan exclaimed as the younger members rallied behind him. 

“Alright, alright, (Y/N)-ah, it’ll be quite an order so I hope you’re ready.” Jaehyun said which made you laugh lightly. 

“It’s okay, what can I get you guys?” 

Ever since then, Jaehyun would take his time to visit you when it was your shift. He would start up conversations, even staying up with you until he was needed for recording and practicing. You knew it was a risky situation for the both of you however as much as you wanted to stop, to tell Jaehyun to leave you alone—you couldn’t. You were really enjoying his company. He was kind, humble and funny. Sometimes, when you had a test to study for, you would bring your review materials to study during breaks and Jaehyun would help you studying. It was these moments that made you fall for him even more only now, not just as his fan but as a girl who was falling for a boy. 

But then, things changed. Jaehyun stopped stopping by. When he did cross paths with you, he wouldn’t acknowledge you. He was rude, to say the least. He acted like he never knew you. 

It was painful, heartbreaking but what else did you expect? It was too good to be true anyways. 

A familiar face appeared in front of you. It was Taeyong and a smile was etched on his handsome face. You smiled back, straightening your posture. “Hello, what can I get you?” 

“Can you send Jaehyun some food, (Y/N)? That kid is practicing so hard that he’s skipping meals.” Taeyong told you with a disappointed yet worried look on his face. 

You furrowed your eyebrows in worry. “Really? What does he want to eat?” you asked. 

“Carbonara? Maybe a cake for desert?” Taeyong suggested as you nodded, punching in the order. “Here, use my card. Also, he’s at practice room 5A. You can just go in; it’s not locked.” 

You nodded as you swiped Taeyong’s card then went to prepare Jaehyun’s food. You were nervous, not gonna lie. It would be the first time that you’ll be seeing him after things got awry between the two of you. Even though you were hesitant to deliver this meal to him; he was still your friend once upon a time and you were worried about his neglecting his health. Once finished, you made your way to the practice room Taeyong told you about. 

It didn’t take long and soon, you found yourself in front of the practice room. You took a deep breath before entering the room where the blasting sound of a song you didn’t recognize bounced off the wall. You saw Jaehyun immediately; dancing to the beat, not missing even one. You were in awe. He was truly a performer. You were in trance as you watched him move that when he turned and twisted his ankle, you were immediately on your way to his aid. He fell to the floor, groaning in pain. 

“Jaehyun!” you exclaimed, surprising him. 

“(Y/N)? What’re you—fuck, this hurts!” Jaehyun hissed in pain as you panicked, looking around for something to ease the pain.   

“Wait, wait, I’ll get ice!” you told him, rushing out of the room.

You ran back to the kitchen, grabbing a bucket and filling it with ice. Then, you grabbed the first aid kit and rushed back to the practice room. You were never a physically fit kind of person but the adrenaline was kicking in and all you could think about was Jaehyun. 

Once you arrived back, you placed some ice cubes inside the ice pack and gently placed it on Jaehyun’s ankle. He hissed at the contact. “It’s okay, it’s okay.” you comforted him. 

Fifteen minutes later, you removed the ice pack and grabbed the elastic bandage from the first aid kit. You gently wrapped his ankle, not too tight. Then, you faced him. He had been watching you the whole time. Sweat covered his face and you took off his hat, seeing his drenched hair. “You work too hard, you know?” you said, shaking your head. 

You sat down, propping his ankle on your lap. There weren’t anything else to use as elevation. 

“What are you doing here?” Jaehyun asked after a moment of silence. 

“Taeyong oppa said to bring you food... Why are you skipping meals? You shouldn’t be skipping meals now that you have a comeback coming up. You should be healthy.” you couldn’t help but to nag at him. You were really worked up with worry. 

“And why are you still here? It’s your finals, right? You should be studying.” Jaehyun retorted. 

You looked at him, surprised that he still remembered. He tilted his head to the side, avoiding your gaze. “I don’t even know if I could take my finals; I haven’t paid yet. I paid for Jiwoo’s tuition first.” 

Jaehyun slowly placed his gaze back on you. “How’s... how’s Jiwoo?” 

“Still the same. That brat got into a fight last week.” you said, scoffing at the memory. 

“Why?” Jaehyun asked. 

“Some stupid guys talked bad about me and—,” you started to say however Jaehyun cut you off. 

“What? Who? What did they say?” he asked, eyebrows furrowed and was clearly upset. 

You blinked your eyes at him. “It doesn’t matter,” you said, shaking your head. 

“It does. It’s a good thing Jiwoo had your back.” Jaehyun stated. 

“No, it’s not. He should have just walked away.” you argued. 

“I didn’t teach him that. It’s a good thing he stood up for you because I would too.” 

You shook your head as you lowered it. “Don’t be a liar, Jaehyun.” 

“(Y/N), look, I know I’ve been a dick to you. There was no denying that but I didn’t want to... I needed to.” Jaehyun said then he scoffed and shook his head. “It was dumb, really. I shouldn’t have treated you badly.”

“So why did you?” 

“It was you or my career.” Jaehyun said, narrowing his gaze at you. “I wish I chose you.” 

“Why didn’t you?” you asked, feeling your heart swell in pain. 

“I... I don’t know. I just debuted. What can I do?” 

You nodded, blinking away the tears forming in your eyes. “I’ll make sure to tell Taeyong oppa about your injury. He’ll know what to do. Until then, please take care of yourself, Jae... I’ll go now.” 

“Don’t,” Jaehyun grabbed your hand. “Don’t go.” 

“You expect me to stay?” you asked him as you looked at, your tears rolling down your cheeks. 

“Don’t you feel the same way?” he asked. “(Y/N), I’m so fucking in love with you.” 

“I love you too,” you told him. “But, this, us, we—we don’t belong together. That’s just how it is.” 

“Don’t say good bye. (Y/N), wait for me. I know it’s selfish but please...” 

You shook your head, yanking your hand from his. “I’ll cheer for you until the end. Good bye, Jaehyun-ah. Thank you.”   

#nct #nct2018 #nct127 #nctu #jaehyun #jung jaehyun #jaehyun angst #jaehyun scenario #jaehyun x reader

[cervamater]

A good deal. {ShibiYosh}

Thief AU meets Gang AU. A smol gift for @aburamechan /@tenefix because I love the dorklord and the tiny tyrant. Hope you enjoy! 💓

Air was soft and crispy on his face as he watched outside his office, nature was still frozen but close to blossoming, he was toying with one of the few pens within grasp in the meanwhile. His back was turned on a student of his: an efficient boy gifted with a clever mind and an incredible talent; a great addition to his group, he was proud. “Should I put this over here, Shibi-san?” he was referring to a pile of papers containing his newest work, a market survey the leader had asked for some time prior. Not a thing pertaining to the Head Professor of Sciences, for sure, but that was perfectly convenient to his second nature. “That would be lovely, Muta-kun, thank you. Please, make sure to close the door when you leave.” The older man saw the bow Muta offered to him reflected on the window glass, then the younger man went out of his office and left him alone. A peace that was unlikely to last, just like weather during such a fleeting season. “You should definitely find some other things to do” she stated, he didn’t need to look at her to tell she was standing arms-crossed on his threshold, one foot further forward than the other. Obviously, Muta didn’t even notice her sneaking in… her ability to blend in with shadows was upsetting. However, it was not like someone like her would ever go unnoticed in a sunny day. “Staring moodily outside doesn’t make you any attractive.” “It is not supposed to enrapture poor hearts” he corrected her with a sigh, resigned to go though her visit. “It’s only purpose is relaxation for a busy mind. But I guess you already know plenty of double lives, don’t you?” She smiled down at him as he sat into his expensive swivel chair, his arms were placed on rests by his side. “What do you want, Yoshino?” She puckered her lips out in a pretend of offense. “So rude and straightforward. Couldn’t I be here to visit an old friend of mine?” He glared at her from beneath his shades, unimpressed. “No, not you.” That reply pulled a smirk out of her, one finger tapping against her cheek while the rest of them wrapped around her chin loosely. A malicious attitude about her and the way those plump, red-coated lips were curved up: troubles were incoming. And he was already neck-deep into them.

“Fair enough” the woman clicked her tongue with a soft sound, “are you up for some business talking, mr. Big Shot?” Shibi shifted a little to adjust on his seat, then crossed his long legs, head held high so that he could hear her better. “I am always up for business talking.” Yoshino seemed enticed by his sharp answer because the wavy hem of her scandalously short miniskirt bounced twice as she reached the large, rotating blackboard. “You know what Keitaro rubies are, right?” Of course he did. One of Japan’s greatest treasures, Keitaro rubies were, formally, a Crown’s belonging: a handful of tiny, round, perfect gemstones with a beautiful roseate tint. Truth be honest, they weren’t exactly rubies, but pink sapphires; a deceptive mistake made by their discoverer, Sasaki Keitaro, that history never healed over. Still, that wasn’t the point. “Yes, I do.” “Well then” she started with shrill and bright voice, “in a few days, the famous Keitaro rubies will be moved from the underground vault they are currently locked into to a new display case in Kanto,  at Tokyo National Museum. Something like this has never happened once in four decades. It’s needless to say not even such an amazing artist of deceit as me could rob a super-protected building like that one.” She had the most adorable sparkle in her hazel orbs as she talked about robbing one of the most prized Japanese collection. “And what’s your solution?” he questioned her, his digits intertwined on the lucid, cherry wooden desk. “Stealing them right before they get locked away the second time” she explained with a gleaming beam, “I’ve studied all the blueprints I could get my hands on and even made some by myself when I visited the structure, and then I made sure to reveal all the possible routes for armoured vans to travel from and to TNM. Security would be impossible to breach during the transfer and once the rubies will be positioned under that glass shield I will have 0 chances to bring them with me. The only way I have to snatch those astonishing rosy stones out of their filthy hands is in the brief span between delivery and custody.” By the time she was done talking her cheeks were crimson in color, she was so flushed that her eyes looked like two honey-brown topaz fragments. So unbelievably cute. He sprawled into his chair, plastic squeaking as the backrest was stretched backward. The man pondered her with a smug-ish expression on his face, he loved keeping her on the edge like that, that puppy look she gave him while she was silently pleading for a little appreciation. “But you do need my help, nonetheless” he reminded her with an amused chuckle. That elicited a gasp out of Yoshino, the woman realizing all of a sudden she still had to actually get him to accept any deal. “Yes” the thief replied with decision. She walked on her black, velvety, high-heeled court shoes up to his luxury desk and leaned against it. “A particular kind of help, truth to be told: a loan.” Shibi was puzzled. It was unlikely of that fierce woman to ask for something so venal: one thing was alluring him for jewels, a different one was requesting money.  Of course, that was no problem for him, he had plenty of financial means but still he didn’t like seeing them wasted into incautious projects. “And what amount shall I be up to lend you?”  he played along, turning a chip to the left. He was wearing a smirk, but she didn’t let that intimidate her. “Ten thousand-ish” she shrugged, trying to make it sound like a trifle. It wasn’t exactly so and both were aware of it. “Cash, I suppose.” “Most definitely, yes.” The Aburame shook his head in an incredulous gesture. “That’s folly and you know it. I will never do this.” “Oh, you would never?” she played with some bangs on her face, now it was her turn to be playful and jest with him, “not even if I told you this little investment of yours would get you to make five times as much?” “I’m all ears.” “Oh, now you are all ears, aren’t ya?” she teased him as she lifted her weight on lean arms to sit on his desk. “What a money-grabber you are, big boss.” “Without money I couldn’t buy you those lovely jewelry pieces you are exhibiting in this very moment” he retorted with no rush, dragging his chair closer to the desk. He could feel the warmth her body was radiating although their skins were so distant from one another. That made him smile for a single instant, before he would suffocate it mercilessly. “That’s true, mr. Big Shot. Money buys jewels, but jewels definitely can buy money.” “Speaking of which” Shibi urged her back to business affairs, “you were about to tell me how could my… investment… return me such a great amount.” “It’s easy” Yoshino didn’t sound very interested in sharing details, “I need that loan to get more advanced equipment for the heist. Now, if I really get to rob the rubies, there’s no way I can keep them for myself, unfortunately. I already contacted a potential purchaser who is going to pay me a hella big load for those lovely gems. I get you a thirty percent.” “But what if you didn’t manage to steal Keitaro rubies, mh?” the professor wondered, lacing both his hands together before his mouth. “I lose my ten thousand and you will probably end up in shackles. Those lovely wrists… I can’t imagine how terribly damaged they would become.” “You worry about my wrists, big boss?” the woman taunted him with a sly grin, stretching her arms up to show more of her ridiculous body. That dried his mouth, so he swallowed quietly to wet his tongue. “You should be more  worried about the information I’ve got my hands on. I mean… your little organization would not be pleased if one of its most valued collaborator got banged up, mh?” “Are you threatening me, miss?” he motioned a ‘no’ with his head, “not nice. Behave, mistress, that is not the way a lady is supposed to talk.” She smiled mischievously like a cat would for a share more of food, a second later she was straddling him, sitting on his lap, white arms encircling his neck as she bit down her lower lip, too close to his face. The man held his breath: he was not expecting such a move, but he had to admit it was typical of his company. “Then stop being a jinx and just tell me yes already, big boss” she was almost speaking on his lips, she was that close, “I don’t have all day for you, you know.” “I am no bird of ill omen” he replied with a sharp attitude, forcing himself not to get his fingers driven on her hips as his instinct was suggesting him. “I am rather being pragmatic. Very pragmatic.” “Yeah, I know” she whispered back with a foxy grimace, burying her face into his neck. “But I know you are tempted as well. Making this much of money without moving a single finger must be so winsome for a man who has always been lusting after power.” “I do not lust after power nor money, you know it better than most” the other responded firmly, his eyes shutting as he felt the lightest kiss pressed against his crazily pulsing jugular. She was not playing fair, not at all. “I do what I must for the sake of my clan.” “Isn’t this favorable enough for you, big boss?” and now she was nibbling at his earlobe. Damn it, how could she be so cruel in making fun of his male nature? “I get to do all the dirty work and you just have to sit in your chair, minding your business and waiting for me to come back with a suitcase full of bills. Everyone wins.” “It’s risky” his voice had become incredibly low and hoarse, but he still succeeded in keeping his self-control. A quality to appreciate in a man. “Do not tell me you can’t see it.” “Nothing ventured, nothing gained” she moved from one ear to the other while gently murmuring her most beloved saying, a mantra for her life, “don’t you agree, big boss?” Shibi sighed, exasperated. “Fine, fine, you win. But I want something in return.” The woman straightened her back to listen to him, her arms came loose as she moved them down his thorax. She had to like the fresh feeling of his cotton shirt, because she erupted into an enticed laugh --- or maybe she was just joyful because she had won. Again. “A pledge from you” he clarified, “pawn something to me. This loan is not going to be free, you know: I demand interests on it.” “What interests?” Yoshino didn’t seem to like the new arrangement. Good. “Come on, big shot, it’s already pretty flattering for you, I can’t give you anything more. It’s business, you taught me.” “I don’t have economical aims, if that’s what you were suggesting” he said, “I know for personal experience once you have acquired what you want, you disappear, and I can’t find you for my life. I want you to stay a little more with me.” “Oh, that’s so sentimental” she pretended to be sulky, but he could feel the way she was tugging at the ends of his jacket to pull him closer. “You are definitely losing your mind on me, big boss. It’s praising.” “Perhaps that’s true” he ran his digits along the magnificent curve of her dove-like neck, grazing it with his smooth fingertips. She moaned with her lips clenched as she tried to arch away from his touch, but eventually she was still there, still with him. She could not escape. She would not escape. “Perhaps I’m getting sentimental over you tiny, wicked, little woman. This only means I have one more unwanted desire to satisfy.” The thief raised her hands to his mouth, pressing her fingers against it to steal a kiss. He watched closely the way she squirmed as he kept brushing her neck up and down, his lips disclosing a little for the attention she was drawing from him. She was lost in bliss, her cheeks were getting pink again as well as all her skin: it was time to make his move. A single movement of his nails against the clip of her necklace and it fell off her chest. It took him an instant to pocket it discreetly. When Yoshino realized he had stopped massaging her, she fluttered her eyes open, confused: “w-wha…?” She had to be feeling way lighter without her golden lace because she immediately reached for her throat and pulled an angry face as soon as she got aware her small diamond was missing. “You’re such a bastard, Shibi” he spat at him, she tried to sound menacing but her voice was still trembling, as much as her hands, “that’s not fair. Give it back.” “I’ve just played your very same game” he retorted with a smirk, “do you think you are the only one who knows how to seduce masterfully? You sure are a good tease, but I am as well. Haven’t I showed you enough?” She gritted her teeth, frustrated for both having been outsmarted and having not been satisfied, more than likely. Seconds after she grabbed his jaw and kissed him with force, her tongue working its way inside his warm, dampened entrance. She seized his shoulders in a frenzy, soughing in the moment he clung to her hips and pulled her closer. Her knees pressed against his sides as she stood on them, she took advantage of her momentarily taller posture to get a better position. He emitted a rough sound from the back of his throat when she captured his lips into a small bite, his hands slowly slid down her body into a sensual stroke, she giggled in excitement as she felt his touch under her miniskirt squeezing handful of her body, then gliding down her thighs. One last smooch and she was back away from him, an enthusiastic grin triumphed on her porcelain visage. No genius needed to tell she was way less frustrated right then… at least, Shibi could tell. She was still teasing him, enticing him, beguiling him with her lovecraft and he was a fiend for that talent of hers. He could pretend not to be a man with whoever he wanted to, but not with her. Her smell, the texture of her skin, the sensation of her smooth, silky hair pressed against his chest when she slept hugging him… a constant reminder he had fallen for the one who loved the shadows, and was loved by them in return. “Next Tuesday, 8 o’clock, that French restaurant in Ginza” he offered to her with little to no voice, “I will return you your necklace.” “Next Tuesday?” Yoshino’s voice was just as husky, “on Valentine’s day? Oh my, you’re so lame, big boss.” An insistent knock on his door. He has completely forgotten he was still at work, there still was a world around them and he still had a long list of meeting from that moment to that night. “Yes or no?” he pressured her, holding her tighter, “I demand an answer.” “Meet me there” she laughed obnoxiously, robbing another kiss, “I want my necklace back. And another one.” “Do not be worried about that” he smirked as he let her go, “I will make sure to surprise you. It’s my nature.” “I’m coming in, Shibs!” Kumoko’s voice. Ah, that little pest! But at least she had helped him to rip a date off the thief’s secured lips. He owed her plenty that time. “Shoo” he chased her away with a rare, full smile… Yoshino pecked him again. She couldn’t resist him when he smiled like that. “Go, go” he whispered inaudibly, he was so irritated but he knew she could not be caught there in that moment, “we’ll have time for this. Plethora of time.” Her hazel eyes looked dithering as she moved her gaze back and forth between him and the door, but eventually she just unlatched herself from him. “Plethora?” “Plethora” he confirmed, kissing one of her knuckles like a real gentleman. That made her smile. “Ready or not, here I come!” Kumoko burst out, slamming the door open. She seemed deluded: the only thing she could see was that nerd professor sitting in his pricey, bossy chair reading some paperwork with his shirt creased. She was sure she had heard a woman’s voice! “Kumoko. I’m sorry, I haven’t heard you calling, I was focused on other task. Did you want anything from me?” “Oh, damn it all, Shibs!” the bulky girl crossed her arms into a vexed pose, “were is she hiding?” “She?” Shibi sounded confused. “I regret to tell you this, but you are misleading me.” “She, she!” Kumoko exploded with rage, “there was a woman here, I can smell her perfume on you and… fuck, you have lipstick on that stupid face of yours! Tell me where she is, I want to know her!” “Regrettably enough, I am still disoriented about what you are insinuating” the man commented. He stood up and observed his own reflex on the window: Kumoko was right, his clothes were a mess and Yoshino’s red lipstick was on his neck, on his mouth, everywhere eyes could scope. He killed a smirk springing on his face. “If there really was a woman here, do you think she could just… vanish like this? None can blend in with shadows.” Kumoko munched the inside of her cheek. She hated it when he was right. “Yeah, that’s true.” ‘None but the Shadow Mistress’ that thought made him laugh. He had signed a life-long sentence which would send him straight to Hell. Nonetheless, Hell was so damn good.

#writings #au/v; magpie. (THIEVESS) #shibiyosh #( you put honey on my lips ; that was the one true medicine ) SHIBIYOSH. #st valentine's shenanigans