#i still have to wear one (of four previously) but literally the area where the adhesive was on yesterdays bandage

[oldbutnotyetwise]

The View From Where I Sit

     My perspective has changed over the last year, both literally and figuratively.  A year ago I was walking around, albeit with a slight limp, with no idea what was waiting up ahead for me.  Now, less than a year later, I am confined to a wheelchair.  I assure you, it is a pretty drastic perspective shift.

     One of the definitions of perspective is “a point of view”.  My point of view has changed from someone who stood around 6’2” to someone who now is always seated and views life from somewhere around 4’.  I’m not sure, looking at life from 4’, was that where I was in Grade 4 or 5?  One of my few attractive traits to the opposite sex over the years was my height, it allowed my date to wear high heels if she chose to, and I would still be taller than her.  Just another box that I no longer would receive a check mark in.

     Previously when we went out shopping together and would part ways, my wife just had to stand still and look around and she would see my head wandering in one of the aisles.  Now when she loses sight of me she has to walk along the ends of aisles to see where I have rolled myself to.  This is further aggravated by the fact my dear sweet wife is a worrier if she hasn’t seen me for a few minutes there is a panic that arises in her similar to a mother who has lost a four year old toddler in a Super Store.  This also applies to loud noises around the condo, any bang, bump or crash brings her running from the other room, as she enters her eyes sweep the floor expecting to see me sprawled out and helpless.  What she normally sees is me looking down at whatever I have dropped, perhaps using some inappropriate language while I ponder if I really needed whatever it is that is now laying on the floor out of my reach. 

     My need to be in a wheelchair also brings with it a constant condition of dehydration.  You see if I need to pee it is a big deal, I can’t just pop into a nearby restaurant or even just go and pee behind a tree.  More often than not the restaurant will not be accessible, or if it is, the washroom won’t be.  Do you know how many restaurants I look at enviably wishing I could try them out, but the step, or steps at the front door may as well be the Berlin Wall.  So the point being, I limit my liquid intake so when I go out I won’t be in a urinary crisis.  We walk our dogs three or four times a day, I can almost hear them snickering at me as they casually squat and pee wherever and whenever they want to go.  I’ve even had to forgo my treasured after lunch tea for fear it will interfere with the afternoon dog walk. 

     When we lived up north we had our go to restaurant, Match, at the North Bay Casino.  It had good food, good service, decent prices and was totally accessible with an accessible washroom.  We haven’t found a comparable place in the Cambridge area yet.  We recently took my wife’s daughter out for her birthday dinner.  The call was made ahead of time to the restaurant and they said yes they were “Accessible”.  We arrive and roll up to the front door, no automatic door opener.  The door gets held open but there is a ridge at the front door that the wheelchair can’t get over.  A fellow customer is kind enough to help get me and the chair through the door with me feeling like the spectacle I very much have become.  We have our dinner, and everything goes smoothly but then I need the washroom before we go.  I go to the accessible washroom but it is locked, I wait and wait and things are approaching Crisis Level and I am desperate enough to try to get myself into the regular washroom when the Accessible washroom door opens and out walks our able-bodied waiter who has just had the dump of the century.  He can’t even look at me, and I am seriously angry because I had already paid the bill and given him a good tip which I wish I could now take back.   

My wife’s favourite restaurant is Swiss Chalet, as you approach you will see the friendly wheelchair sticker in the window, they even have the buttons to open the front door, so can someone explain to me why there is no automatic door opener on the washroom? Just picture for a second me in my manual wheelchair, I need both hands on the wheels, having only one hand on the wheel you will just be going around in circles, so if both hands are on the wheels how am I going to open the heavy bathroom door, especially on the way back out when the door opens in?

     You see places call themselves accessible, stick the handicapped sticker up at the front of their establishment, but they really aren’t and to the best of my knowledge there are no set standards that are enforced as to what “accessible” really is.  So I will be that dehydrated guy sitting in the corner the restaurant that has no stairs, but I will be sulking because I can’t have a beer because ….. well we all know that as quickly beer goes in, it comes out.

     When we had to leave our northern home I wanted to go somewhere else where no one knew me.  I didn’t want my old friends and coworkers seeing this retired detective, runner, hiker, dog walker rolling around in a wheelchair.  I am in a new city, I’m just that guy in a wheelchair that is often seen out walking, I use this term very loosely, with his dogs, wife and/or daughter.  No one knows me and I kind of like that anonymity as more and more of my body stops working.  

     A very dear friend has loaned me her old electric wheelchair as she has a new one.  First thing you need to know is that these things are the cost of a small car, they tend to run from $25,000 - $45,000.  They are 400 pound monsters capable of doing much damage if you are not careful.  Within about thirty seconds of trying it out for the first time I ripped the end piece off the kitchen island in our new condo because I hadn’t noticed one of the foot rests had turned out.  So far I have managed not to drive it through any of the glass doors in our Condo building.   Now all those nice sloped sidewalks that look like they are designed for wheelchairs, not all of them are.  I am constantly scraping the bottom of the wheelchair or getting myself stuck when trying to cross streets.  These are things I never would have noticed until I was actually using a wheelchair.  The manual wheelchair which we often use when going out is even worse, the front wheels hit a ridge on the sidewalk or doorway and it is almost like an eject button has been hit as the wheelchair suddenly stops but I’m still going forward.  More often than not I have to go through the doors backwards.  

     I’ve always been quite happy in my role as a wallflower, the guy who isn’t really noticed and who just sits back and watches everything that is going on.  Well those days are gone, there is nothing at all discreet about a 6’2” guy sitting on a 400 pound power wheelchair.  There is no getting around it, I am now a spectacle.  One day as my wife was helping me into my wheelchair she spotted someone on the restaurant patio who appeared to be taking our picture.  I was tempted to go up and offer to pose for him if he was so interested in taking my picture but chose instead to just ignore it.  I tend to be a pretty observant person so I see the looks when people think I don’t notice.  Now I admit I have no idea what they are thinking when they look at me, is it pity, curiosity, compassion or perhaps discomfort at being so close to the disabled person.  The point is, I miss the anonymity of blending in and not being noticed.

     I will tell you about a recent visit to an Ikea store, a place that I mistakenly presumed would be “accessible” because they are such a forward thinking store.  I attempted to use two of their Accessible washrooms, neither was big enough for me to get off my wheelchair and use the toilet.  One of them had such a sharp turn going into the washroom I managed to get myself lodged in the doorway because besides the sharp turn, I was also trying to hold the door open as there were no automatic door opener.  Yes I was making a scene, jammed in the bathroom door, trying to dislodge myself while people were standing there waiting to get in.  The other thing I was constantly was turning down aisles only to find them blocked by merchandise on skids causing me to have to back out because there isn’t room for me to turn around.  I don’t know that I will return to an Ikea store anytime soon.  I emailed Ikea to tell them of my experience when I visited their store, but never received a reply.

     Our new Condo is right beside a rather large theatre that would appear to have some good shows coming up.  My dear wife is working so hard I thought it would be nice to take her to the upcoming show but there aren’t many seats left, and there certainly aren’t any “accessible” seats left.  In the old days I would have just bought those tickets even if the seats were in the middle of the row, that’s not possible anymore.  Lyle Lovett is coming to the next town over soon, I’ve always wanted to see him perform in person, but to be honest, the thought of being in a wheelchair, surrounded by hundreds if not thousands of people makes me pretty uncomfortable.  So once again I will be staying home.

     Now those are some of the negative things I have encountered so far, but I have also experienced much kindness from friends but also from strangers. The truck driver that sees me waiting to cross a busy street and pulls his truck across two lanes to block traffic so I can get across.  The cars in the long stream of traffic that stop, again blocking traffic so I can cross.  These aren’t one time things, these are things that happen frequently.  The people who hold the doors open for me, or hold the elevator, yes maybe they would do that even if I wasn’t in a wheelchair but I think I am shown more kindness because of the wheelchair.  All the incredible kind, caring people involved with the  Sunnybook Hospital, ALS Society, all the care people that have looked after me so well up until this point.  So many amazing people I would have never met if not on this challenging journey.

     Some former work colleagues and friends came and we all went out for lunch wandering downtown (they wandered, I rolled).  We were enjoying our visit and not paying attention as the sky turned dark and a torrential downpour started.  Now normally you would call an Uber or Cab, and they could have, I even encouraged them to, but they refused because they didn’t want to leave me racing through the rain in the wheelchair on my own.  One friend got a large garbage bag to help keep my seat dry and then we rushed back to the Condo and upon arrival we were all drenched…but we were also laughing and I was grateful, these three friends know how important it is to stand by your friend, through thick and thin, wet and dry.

     A rather sad note, travelling in the power wheelchair does not fool my iPhone into thinking that I am walking.  For the guy who once would average around 10,000 steps in a day, my average over this last week is 54 steps a day, and I assure you each one of those steps was exhausting.

     So I am adapting to life at this new lower perspective, and although there are many, many challenges that come with living your life while seated, there are also many good things if you take the time to look for them.  Life is just as beautiful from 4’ as it is at 6’.  Perspective is your point of view, both where you see the world from, as well as how you chose to see the world.

     What goes through your head when you drive or walk by someone in a wheelchair?  Do you ever stop to ponder what your life would be like if you were the one in the wheelchair? 

#wheelchair Perspective ALS

[milkweedman]

Almost done with the second sock (started the cuff) and having to restrain myself from just going to see about the hap situation before the socks are even done. Also started thinking maybe i could mix some of my finer handspun in there just to make it softer (one of the colors is very soft, one is middling, and the rest are pretty rough). Of course at that point i might as well just call ot a shawl, and the effort of finding a well suited breed, overpaying for enough to make a hap with, and then dyeing it to get specific hap colors, would then be totally pointless. So im gonna restrain myself, but its making me think maybe i should knit some shawls. They're probably not something id wear much, and theyd have to be the thicker, somewhat clumsier looking type but *shrug* idk how else i would use up most of the yarn i spin

#i just always spin too small of amounts for most stuff #i guess because either im spinning for projects (in which case its usually a LOT) or im spinning to take a break from projects #in which case its just something experimental and colorful #idk where i was going with that #dislocated my hip spinning again today lads. also i think ive developed an allergy to these fucking bandages #i still have to wear one (of four previously) but literally the area where the adhesive was on yesterdays bandage #is bright red and has burned all day >:/ ive been using that type for a few days now and they were fine before this #and actually stuck to my skin ! almost nothing is sticking there anymore and my skin in that area is very angry #its not the worst thing on earth obviously but just very annoying #anyway so i took a very early edible to deal with my agonies and my brain is at about 10% efficiency right now id say

[tennessoui]

this is probably too many prompts lol but uhhh obikin: #6 meeting at a coffee shop au; #24 literally bumping into each other au; #40 exes meeting again after not speaking for years au (i'm a sucker for breaking up and getting back together again lol); #42 star-crossed lovers au; #48 meeting again at a high school reunion au

hi!! you probably forgot you sent this at all and I wouldn't blame you in the slightest. I'm pretty sure someone else already asked for 24, 40, and 42, so I wrote #6 instead! warnings for this one: bittersweet in that both anakin and obi-wan are sad, also the author is sad, also this takes place in the midwest in america (this is the first fic that is obviously set in america!!! wow!!)

6. Meeting At A Coffee Shop Diner AU (1.9k)

“Have a seat anywhere you want,” the hostess tells Obi-Wan without looking up from her phone.

Obi-Wan blinks and then looks around the deserted seating area. “Thank you, uh.” She’s not wearing a name tag.

“Angel’ll bring you the menu and take care of you, thanks for coming in,” she says, glancing up at him and then away.

Well then. Obi-Wan reminds himself that customer service isn’t everyone’s strong suit, that she might have had a rough day, that he’s here for the quick food on his way through town, that his ego isn’t fragile enough that he needs to be led to a table with a smile.

The restaurant is almost completely deserted. There’s two truckers eating their weight in bacon and eggs at the counter, and a family of four seated around a table, resolutely picking at their food instead of talking to each other. And then there’s Obi-Wan.

He chooses a booth by the window, one that overlooks the absolute nothingness of midwestern American scenery. If he cranes his neck, he can probably see corn.

God, Obi-Wan’s sick of seeing corn, and he’s only been in this part of the country for a few hours. He needs to go right through most of it to get where he’s headed. He’s not sure how he won’t die of boredom.

The thought sends a pang through his chest. It’s too soon to think of death even in an offhand way. He taps his fingers on the cover of his leather journal, before a line of dark brown under one of them catches his eye. He studies his hand critically.

It’s been two days since the funeral. Surely he wouldn’t still have grave dirt under his nails. Surely things like that wash away eventually.

“Hey,” a voice says from in front of him. A man is turned around and kneeling up in the booth in front of Obi-Wan’s, leaning over the garishly red vinyl of the empty seat with a menu clutched in one hand. His hair is short and dark blond, an undercut with a long fringe settling over his forehead. He has a nice sort of smile, one that looks genuine but doesn’t touch his eyes. Obi-Wan notices how long the man’s neck is and how predominant his collarbones appear in the loose white shirt he’s wearing, before he forces himself to focus only on his face. “I’m Angel,” the guy says, passing over the menu. “Can I get you anything to drink?”

Obi-Wan accepts it gingerly. It looks like something that’s perpetually sticky. “Water is fine,” he says politely. “Thank you.”

“Will do,” Angel salutes him and ambles away. Obi-Wan watches him go before shaking his head to rid himself of any sort of thought, and opening the menu.

It’s standard food fare, of course. Breakfast options served all day if anyone were to come in and request them. Lunch and dinner options are also served all day, probably for the same reason: a diner like this can’t afford to turn anyone away, even if they want a hamburger at nine in the morning.

A glass of water clinks down onto the table next to him, making him look up at Angel, who’s looking at him curiously.

“You ready to order?” he asks, even though Obi-Wan is still very much looking at the menu and it’s also only been a few minutes at most since Angel gave it to him in the first place.

“Do you have any suggestions?” Obi-Wan asks politely. “I’ve never been here before. What’s good?”

“The water,” Angel says and then laughs like he’s said something funny. Obi-Wan finds his own mouth curling up at the sound. Sometimes people’s laughter is contagious, like a yawn.

And then Angel says, “You’re not from around here, are you?”

“No,” Obi-Wan admits. “North of Boston.”

Angel whistles, like Obi-Wan has said something impressive. “Boston, huh? What are you doing all the way out here?”

The pit in his stomach intensifies. He does his best not to look at his nails and the grave dirt that might still be under them. “Driving,” he finally says. “And are you...from around here?”

Angel’s eyes grow distant for a second, and when he focuses again on Obi-Wan, they’re cold. “Born and raised,” he tells him flatly. “Never got out.”

“Oh,” Obi-Wan doesn’t know what to do with the sort of bitterness in Angel’s tone. It complements his own well enough.

“If you like eggs, I’ll put you in for the house special omelette,” Angel declares suddenly, all business again. “It’s four eggs, tomatoes, peppers, cheese. The usual.”

“What makes it special?” Obi-Wan asks, closing his menu and setting it down on the table in front of him.

“For you?” Angel drawls, “I’ll watch the cook to make sure he doesn’t get any egg shells in it,” and then he winks, holding out his hand.

Naturally, Obi-Wan shakes it. Naturally, Obi-Wan realizes a second after feeling Angel’s warm, calloused rough palm against his own that the man had meant to take the menu from Obi-Wan.

He can’t remember the last time he’s blushed this red, but he is absolutely regretting everything about this road trip. God, he’d pay money just to be able to leave now.

He should get in his car and drive back to Boston. It had been a stupid idea to come out here anyway, a result of stir-craziness and a desire to outrun the death of his father.

And now look what he’s doing. Shaking hands with his handsome waiter, as if he isn’t thirty-nine and perfectly aware of social norms.

Thankfully, miraculously, Angel laughs and this time it sounds real. “It’s okay,” he tells him, reaching out to pick up the menu.

Luckily for everyone involved, Obi-Wan finds it very easy to laugh at himself. “Well. It’s nice to meet you, Angel, I’m Obi-Wan.”

“I’ll go put the order in,” Angel says, “Obi-Wan.”

He’s back within five minutes, sliding into the seat across from Obi-Wan. So much for no eggshells in his omelette, but he can’t bring himself to be disappointed. There’s something magnetically fascinating about Angel. He’d like to know more.

“So you’re driving?” Angel asks, picking up a thread of conversation from several minutes ago. “Where are you going?”

“I was thinking of Alaska,” Obi-Wan says. “I’ve--I’ve always wanted to go.”

“You’re driving from Boston to Alaska?” Angel whistles, raising his eyebrows in shock. “I think the gas money alone would cost me two months of work.”

Obi-Wan shrugs. It’s not like he makes much himself as a teacher in Massachusetts. “My father was a lifelong gambler,” he discloses without really knowing why he’s telling this to a stranger. “He came into a bit of luck near the end. A bit of a fortune as well. And when he...died, I inherited it and his house.”

Angel touches his hand softly. “I’m sorry,” he says. “When did he pass?”

Obi-Wan huffs out what might be a chuckle. “A week ago, actually. It’s summer break in Massachusetts--I’m a teacher--and I suddenly had nothing to stay for, for a bit. It was either leave for Alaska or find some other way to cope.”

He runs a hand--his free hand, the one Angel isn’t touching--over his beard as he gives the man a rueful smile. “Dad always wanted me to see more of the world.”

“My mom was the same way,” Angel leans forward to tell him, as if it’s a secret. Obi-Wan feels like it is a secret, that there’s something delicate and fragile in the air. Something that matches whatever emotion is filling up Angel’s eyes. “Always telling me to leave, go get famous, go get happy, come back and tell her about it.”

“You didn’t?” Obi-Wan asks, his chest tightening at the thought that the man before him could be unhappy.

“I couldn’t,” Angel sneers, looking out the window and propping his chin on his hand. Some things must be too close to the heart to tell someone to their face. “Mom got sick. I wanted to get out, I was so close. Graduated high school, packed my stuff. I was going to go to California. To Los Angeles, really make it big.” He rolls his eyes and scoffs, as if there’s something inherently funny about the dreams he must have cherished for so long.

“Then mom collapsed going down the stairs. Just passed out in the middle of the day. Doctors told us she was sick. Then life became all about treatment plans and monitoring symptoms and getting the money for the medicines and I never left. Got a job here when I was eighteen years old, right before I graduated high school. It’s all I’ve ever known, I guess.”

“And your mother?” Obi-Wan asks, mouth dry and heart all tangled up in itself for this stranger man, for Angel with the hard, sad eyes.

“Died a year and a half ago or so,” Angel says flatly like he’s repeated the words so often in his head that the truth digs no barbs into his flesh. Obi-Wan knows that voice is a lie. How often has he looked in the mirror this past week and told himself, ‘Qui-Gon Jinn is dead’? He can’t imagine a year and a half would make the pain go away.

“I’m sorry,” Obi-Wan says seriously, reaching across the table to touch Angel’s hand this time.

Angel shrugs but doesn’t pull away. “Is what it is, I guess,” he says. “I’ve made my peace with it. And the fact that I’ll never leave this godforsaken town.”

“You could,” Obi-Wan points out hesitantly. “You could leave tomorrow.”

For a second, a wild and previously undiscovered part of Obi-Wan wonders what it would be like, if Angel did leave tomorrow--with him. If they got into the same car and headed to Alaska together and Obi-Wan wasn’t alone at the wheel and Angel wasn’t alone in this town. If Obi-Wan could look over at the man in the passenger seat, asleep against the doorway as they crossed into Canada.

Obi-Wan wonders. Obi-Wan aches.

“I could,” Angel says, laughing once. “I guess I could. I guess I just can’t think of a good enough reason to.”

There’s a call of his name from the kitchen, and Angel stands and stretches, checking the time on his watch. “That’ll be your omelette, sir, which is perfect timing considering I’m off shift as of five minutes ago.”

“Thank you then,” Obi-Wan replies, ignoring the pang in his gut at the knowledge he won’t be able to keep talking to him. “It was nice meeting you, Angel.”

Angel’s face grows dark for a second as his jaw clenches. “That’s not my name,” he finally says, scratching at his neck with one hand. “That’s just what they called me when I started working here. Angel, like Los Angeles. Cause I told everyone for weeks this was a temporary thing, you know? I’d be going to California soon as mom got better. Guess they knew better than I did.”

Obi-Wan has never wanted to kidnap a grown man away from a place more, so he hides his hands under the table instead. “Would you tell me your name then?” he asks, wondering if he’s overstepping but needing to know too much to censor himself.

“It’s Anakin,” his waiter says, sticking his hand out, no menu to grab.

Obi-Wan takes it gently, turns it over, and cradles it between both of his hands. “Then it’s nice to meet you, Anakin.”

Maybe, he thinks as he picks at his omelette and watches Anakin shoulder his way through the front doors of the diner before disappearing down the street, maybe he can stay a day in this nowhere town. Just an extra day.

Yes, he thinks, taking a sip of his water. He’ll try the pancakes next.

#asks #my fics #not me writing this and thinking about a roadtrip fic novel length #called the summer of wound picking #where obi-wan does kidnap angel anakin/meets up with him before he goes on shift and he's like 'hey leave with me #lets go to alaska together' #and anakin is just crazy enough to accept #he leaves one of his dogs threepio with a friend #but takes artoo with them because hes littler and better trained #and they just go to alaska on a road trip #because the author really really really is craving a roadtrip to find herself right about now #obikin #wish fulfillment #pay no attention to the author trying to test out writing styles behind the screen #prompt fill

[sunflowerstache]

Lifespan

A/N: Hello! This is very different from most of my writing, not only because its an OC, but because the storyline is just something out of my comfort zone. But I really hope you enjoy it(: I got the inspiration from a ad I saw on Facebook a long time ago lmao but yeah, come say hi once you’ve read it and tell me what you think! It’s much appreciated! I love you all so very much! Also hugeeeee shoutout to @devil-in-bw-the-sheets​ for spending like six months reading and re-reading this every single time I rewrote it and changed things and encouraging me each time! And @emotionally-imbruised​ for beta reading it for me!💛💛

Word Count: 7.3k

“Doll?”

The fog that seemed to have settled over your mind instantly melted away upon hearing the barista’s voice, her sweet drawl grounding your focus back on her. She was an older woman, probably nearing her sixties based on the collection of grey hairs scattered throughout her small ponytail. But still so incredibly full of life. She had red glasses perched atop her nose - which perfectly completed the red polka dots covering her black dress - a beaded chain dangling from the end to the front of the frame, a pair of silver peace sign studs resided in her ears, and the anatomically correct symbol for caffeine dangled in necklace form on her chest.

“What? I’m sorry.”

“Just asked if you wanted the cream on that.” She smiled, thin lines spreading out and away from the sides of her eyes as her mouth widened. Upon glancing down quickly, you took notice of her clearly hand drawn name tag filled with swirling letters - different then when you stopped by earlier in the week when she had used stickers to spell out “Rita”.

“Oh, um yeah sure. Why not.”

“My husband always says that during weather like this, the calories don’t count. That they disappear with your shivering. Can I just have your name, dear?”

“Georgie. And your husband sounds like a very smart man.”

“Oh, he is.” A dreamy look took over Rita’s features, like just thinking about the man made her heart race. “Been together for forty-two years and he still teaches me new things.”

Your heart ached with each word; the fog slowly started to creep back through your mind while you watched her grin fondly. The hope and excitement for the future that was always so very clear in people’s eyes was what made it so hard not to explain everything you knew, every secret you held. However, as much as you wanted to urge everyone to live the life they’ve always wanted, you knew there was a natural balance to life, and opening your mouth would undoubtedly throw that balance off. So instead, you grinned and nodded your head.

“He sounds wonderful.”

“My best friend. Counting down the minutes until the end of my shift. We’re heading up to see our grandbabies for the week.” It was like she knew exactly what kind of secret you were keeping and made sure to hit you where it hurt each time she opened her mouth. As if her being impossibly sweet didn’t hurt enough.

“That sounds nice.” Digging around in your bag for your wallet made it much easier not to focus on the ticking time bomb in front of you. “How much do I owe you?”

“Oh my! I’m sorry, I know I can’t talk forever if no one stops me.” her laugh was soft, inviting, one you would love to listen to while storytelling. “It’s four pounds.”

“You can keep the change.” You said when handing her some cash, but stopped yourself before you turned to walk away. Even if you weren’t ever going to outright explain anything to anyone, slipping in tiny, reassuring comments made you feel at least a little better before parting ways. “Have an amazing night with your family Rita.”

The coffee shop was relatively empty at the hours you stopped by. Other than the same group of men that were there every morning, chatting over the newspaper and a black coffee and a young nurse who was just getting off of her night shift, only customers on their way to work stopped by. But that was just how you preferred it. It was much easier to avoid running into people when the sun had barely just peeked over the morning horizon. You suppose the city isn’t exactly the best place to reside when you’re on a mission not to get close to anyone, but you’d much preferred the hustle and bustle of the city than the silence of the countryside. At least here you were able to escape your thoughts when they got to be too much, out there you were left to drown in the weights you held.

Rita was right when she said the weather would bring shivering. The moment you stepped through the café doors, all sense of warmth you previously had was sucked out of you, leaving the tips of your fingers tingling against the warm cup. You hadn’t ever really gotten to know the woman behind the counter, a few kind greetings every now and again, but she seemed to be someone who brought a lot of joy to those around her. And she always put extra chocolate curls on your drink. You made a mental note to send some flowers to her family within the coming days.

It was a car horn that initially took your attention off of the pavement, turning to look for who was in such a rush at 5:30am, but the hard torso smacking into her shoulder is what brought your attention back. Followed by the searing heat of your hot chocolate spilling down your front.

“Oh fuck!” you yelled, immediately dropping the paper cup and trying to pull your shirt away from your body to decrease the chance of a burn. There goes your chance to get home and drive right to work without any issue.

“Oh my god! Oh shit!” the man that had ran into you gasped, stopping in his tracks and grabbing onto your elbow to steady your wild movements.

Even though his words were quite loud on the empty street, his voice was still husky, almost like he wasn’t awake yet and still had some left over sleep in his throat. And when you turned to look at who had ruined your shirt, your own voice got stuck in your throat. He was tall, which made sense considering your head had bounced right off of his chest. He was wearing black basketball shorts with tall white socks and a light grey hoodie, which was pulled up to cover the dark grey beanie resting on his head. With one hand he was holding a water bottle with ease, while the other was frantically pulling the airpod from his ear. But apart from his sheer stature, you couldn’t ignore how beautiful this man was. How even the worry lines littering his face were perfectly accenting his features. Or how the green of his eyes seemed to sparkle in the dim light of the Whole Foods you had been stopped in front of.

“I’m so sorry! Shit are you okay?” he quickly asked, shaking his head before you could even respond. “Obviously not, that was probably hot. Oh god I’m so sorry!”

Finally getting your bearings back, you couldn’t help but nod. “Yeah it was pretty hot.”

“Shit, I don’t even know how that happened. I must’ve taken my eyes off the pavement for one second. I’m so sorry.”

“So you’ve said.” You chuckled, bending down to pick up your now empty cup at your feet and tossing it in the bin by your side. “Don’t worry about it. Really it’s fine.”

“It’s not, I’ve ruined your shirt.” If the disappointment in his voice wasn’t evident enough, the small pout on his lips definitely was. He looked absolutely distraught at the sight of what he’d done. “Let me at least get you a new drink. It’s the least I could do.”

“Oh, um, that’s alright.” You’d always known it was rude to speak to someone and not give them eye contact, it was something your father had drilled into you as a child, but you just couldn’t bring yourself to do it. Looking someone in the eyes meant seeing above their head, and that was an area you actively tried to avoid looking. But there was something about him that drew you in, and you couldn’t help glancing up at him quickly again. “I actually have to be getting to work. Thanks though.”

“Are you sure? I feel terrible.”

“Positive. Have a good morning.” Your touch was soft on his arm as you made your way past him, leaving the mystery man standing on the pavement staring as you walked towards your flat.

You didn’t mean to be so short with him, but it’s just how you’d grown accustomed to living life. It was the easiest way you found not to get close to many people, which meant less hurt in the end. And you’d been around enough hurt in your short twenty three years. It may be a lonely life, but you were happy with your cat, comically named Lucifer, and living a simple life. Sure, there were times you wished you could live the carefree life everyone around you got to experience, your only issues being stresses of work or relationship drama, but that wasn’t who you were. After living the life you did, there’d be no way you could live a normal life.

“Don’t give me that look, Luci.” you grumbled when walking through your front door, your cat perched on the dining table just watching as you moved through the living room, ripping your destroyed shirt from your body. “This wasn’t my fault.”

You’re sure that you looked like a crazy person if anyone was watching on, talking to your cat while walking around your flat in nothing but a pair of black slacks and a bra. But you didn’t care, because this was your normal. You ranted to her after a long day at work or a particularly draining day, and she always sat and listened. Mostly because she was a cat.

“He just ran right into me, like he literally couldn’t see me. How odd, right?” you stopped briefly while searching your closet for a new shirt. “God Luci, he was cute though. So cute. And tall.”

Just because you secluded yourself in the world didn’t mean you didn’t enjoy taking a peak at what it had to offer. It was the forming relationships that put you off, not because there was a level of uncertainty - nothing was uncertain to you - but because you always knew the timeline of said relationships. It was always the same. So why put yourself through it? But also, why not? What if that was just what you needed to make such a painful existence a little more bearable?

“I didn’t even get his name. Maybe I’ll see him around the cafe sometime.” you hummed, throwing the new peach colored blouse over your head and peeking your face out of the hole. “No. No Georgie, don’t go there. Who are we kidding, it’s not like anything could ever happen anyway.”

Lucifer meows loudly at your comment., making you turn around to glare at her. Obviously she didn’t know what was actually going on, but it was nice to entertain the idea of someone listening to your problems and helping you talk them out. You were a secluded young woman, not crazy.

“What? Like I’m wrong? It’s not something I’d be able to keep from a boyfriend forever. And It’s not like I’d be able to just flat out tell them.”

She meowed again, jumping off the table and prancing her way to your feet, rubbing her side against your ankles.

“What would I even say? Hey, I was born with this thing where I can see a floating clock above everyone’s head that literally counts down to the day you die? Yeah because that won’t get me sent to the looney bin.”

From the start of time, there has always been a beginning and an end to everything. No matter if it was an Oscar award winning film, delicate relationships, or even life itself, it all ended. People come, and they go, but the world continues on; taking care of those who stay to see another day. And on a daily basis, the idea of the end rarely floats through anyone’s mind. Except for you.

For you, it was impossible not to think about when it was quite literally staring you in the face. For as long as you could remember, you walked through life with a different outlook on the end than most other people.It wasn’t because you had some near death experience, but due to a gift. Or at least what some people in the world would consider a gift, because in no way would you call being able to see the exact day someone is going to die, a gift.

It was something that over the years you had grown to ignore, trying not to look too far away from people’s eyes and never thinking too hard about the ticking numbers.They weren’t obnoxious or flashy signs hanging above everyone’s heads - like you had seen some films try and depict - but instead, just a simple, faint, white clock just above the tops of everyone’s head, showing each individual’s lifespan. No matter how many hours you sat down and tried to rationalize why you were able to see this, there was never any answer. No one else in your family carried the burden, and because of that, you never mentioned it to anyone in fear of sounding crazy. But you knew you weren’t crazy, not when you prayed night after night for those numbers to disappear or for someone’s clock to be wrong, only to be let down.

You knew you weren’t crazy when you finally saw your favorite florist Don after he spent some time away, and his clock suddenly read 3 years, 20 days, 6 hours, 42 minutes, and 6 seconds instead of the 27 years you had grown used to seeing on him every day before he left. It didn’t take long for you to find out he was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer and treatments had stopped working.

You knew you weren’t crazy when you got to watch Kim’s clock - the very sweet receptionist at your job - begin to slow down the more she adjusted to a healthy lifestyle of eating right and taking care of her body. What was once a ticking time of a measly 21 years adjusted what would be a long and fulfilled 59 years more.

And you knew you weren’t crazy when at only seventeen years old, you watched as your best friend’s clock suddenly dwindled down to zero’s across the board like a slot machine while laying on the bathroom floor of a house party. The drugs in her system being too much for her young body to handle and completely consuming the 72 years she once had left.

You weren’t crazy, you just carried a burden no one should ever have. And because of it, you made sure not to get close to anyone in fear of watching yet another clock strike zero.

So you moved on with your life, forgetting all about the tall man who had spilled your drink and run into your mind, making you think things you hadn’t in so long, and instead, focused solely on getting through your days at work and getting back home. It was an easy routine, one you hadn’t strayed from much since moving to the city six years ago; wake up, feed Luci, get coffee, go to work, go home, shower, watch tv, go to bed. And as happy as you were that life wasn’t so painful these days, boring would be the only word good enough to describe your life.

Until your neighbors moved in.

You were standing in the kitchen, lifting the collar up to your mouth to try and quickly lick the hot sauce off the old, ratty Elton John Tour shirt you were wearing before it left a stain, wearing nothing else but some shorts, a nice pair of cheetah print slippers to cover your chilly toes, and one of the two hundred paper face masks you’d ordered off of Amazon in an attempt to clear your skin, when the loud bang on your front door startled you. Not only did your family not live in town, but your neighbors knew that you weren’t a people person. Ever since you made that very clear to them upon moving in, they hadn’t tried to contact you, so you just assumed whoever it was had gotten the wrong flat number.

But the knocking persisted.

Lucifer’s head had picked up from her lap upon hearing the first knock, now watching as you made our way closer to the front door. “What do I do?” but the only response you received was her head tilting to the right, like she was saying ‘Really? Answer it you idiot.’

You wanted to be angry, you really did, because you were nearly ready to be completely settled in for the night after a terribly long day and you just wanted to watch some bad tv with Luci, but the moment you twisted the door knob and peered into the hallway, any anger you had felt, completely washed away.

“Hey! Sorry, my mates and I-” he abruptly stopped mid sentence once his eyes landed on you, like his train of thought literally face planted into a brick wall. A look of realization flashed across his face quickly, and in a matter of milliseconds, what was once stress turned into a look of excitement. “Hey! It’s you!” he smiled.

“It’s me.” something about him made it very difficult for you not to mirror his smile, but that desire was overpowered by the confusion coursing through your mind.

“I didn’t think I’d ever see you again! I still feel terrible about what happened, are you sure you were alright? You didn’t burn yourself, did you?” The man was incredible at changing his emotions at the drop of a dime, for now his eyes were laced with concern where excitement had just lived. “Or I guess I should say I didn’t burn you, did I?”

He was much more put together this time, the workout attire you had last seen him in was traded in for a pair of light red slacks that looked to be a crushed velvet material paired with a plain white t-shirt and a pair of black vans. He looked like any university boy you’d see walking the streets, but at the same time, like nothing you had ever seen before. Something about him standing in your doorway brought you a sense of calm, like just his presence was enough to wash away the stresses of your day.

“I mean I can’t say that it felt particularly good, but I didn’t get burned, no.”

“Oh good. That’s good.” he nodded, and you made the mistake of following his hand with your eyes as he lifted it up to his curls to fix the glasses perched on his head. You didn’t want to know, didn’t want to see what kind of fate the universe had in store for him because the peace he had brought to you in the few moments he’d been standing there felt better than anything had in the past few years. But you were never that lucky.

Your eyes quickly casted back down, looking back at the white of his shirt while you cleared your throat. “Did you need something….” you dragged out the end of the word to indicate that you didn’t know what to call him since he hadn’t bothered to mention his name.

“Oh, right. ‘M Harry.”

“Georgie.

“Hello Georgie.” if possible, the grin on his face doubled in size, causing two dimples to appear at the corners and the air in your chest to feel as though it was tightening.

The two of you stood in your doorway without saying anything for another moment before you spoke up; “So did you need something or…”

“Fuck, yeah.” his voice was breathy when he responded, standing up straighter, “My mates and I just saw you come home and we’re in desperate need of a needle and thread. You’ve got one?”

It only took a second for him to realize his words and that surprised look from when you first opened the door was back. His eyes widened and his hands raised in front of him as a way to stop you before you could respond.

“Not in a creepy way! We weren’t like watching you or summat, swear! My mates Niall and Louis just moved in across the hall.” using his thumb he pointed to the open door across the hall where you could see two other guys watching yours and Harry’s interaction. Upon realizing they were spotted, they raised their hands in a small wave. “We heard you come in. Not that we were actively listening! Just - ‘m sorry. I swear we aren’t creeps.”

“Good. Thought I’d have to sic my monster of a dog on you.” you replied, turning to dig through the small table in what could barely be considered an entryway. The table had started out as a place to keep your keys and mail, but like most did, quickly turned into a junk drawer. An abyss to put any and everything only to never see it again.

Harry’s eyes frantically looked behind you like some crazy monster was about to lunge at him for bothering you at night, even going as far as taking a small step back when the door opened a bit wider while you were looking for the tool. You laughed when glancing up quickly at the movement. It was obvious he was panicking at the new information of potentially getting mauled by a massive dog while simply asking for thread. So you put him out of his misery.

“There’s no dog. I’m just joking…”

As if on cue, Lucifer waltzed up to see what was going on at the front door, her small body weaving between your legs to get a nice scratch while checking out the never before seen man. “Oh! A cat! I love cats!”

“Yeah she’s pretty great.” you nodded, closing the drawer and holding your hand out to Harry. “Here you go. Um, not sure what colour you need so you can just take the whole bag.”

“You’re a lifesaver, thank you! Niall has a date in ten minutes and he’s split his only good pair of trousers.” he turned his head to look over his shoulder at the boys inside the other flat, trying to seem like they weren’t listening to the conversation, but very obviously doing just that. “Have to sew him in like ‘m some sort of tailor.” he chuckled, turning back to face you.

“Sounds like an exciting night.”

“Oh riveting. I would ask if you’d like to join but you look very busy-” the corners of his lips were trying hard not to curl upwards with the light sarcasm, wobbling a bit as he continued speaking, “-so I wouldn’t want to interrupt anymore than I already have. I’m sure I’ll see you again, I practically live with these two idiots.”

“‘M sure I will.” Luci hadn’t left your side since joining you at the door, instead, she began meowing quite loudly, so you bent down to scoop her into your arms.

You liked Harry, not only because he was a very obviously a good looking man, but because he seemed to pick up on your social cues fairly quickly. He didn’t linger and try to get as much out of you as possible or make the fact that you clearly didn’t have much interest in talking uncomfortable. And it was the first time in a long time that you felt content being around someone. Not fearing what the future brought.

Harry halted his movements halfway between flats and spun back around quickly. He didn’t say anything at first, just watched you press kisses to Lucifer’s head while standing in the doorway. Something you gathered from the very brief times you’d shared an encounter was that Harry was not very good at hiding his emotions. It was almost like he had no control of his mouth, because you could see him try to stop the smile from spreading, but it was no use. The dimples popped out in full force.

“I still owe you for that coffee.”

“Oh, um not a coffee.”  you tried not to be loud enough for him to hear, noting that the fact that it wasn’t a coffee was not really that important, but he heard you anyway.

“Pardon?”

“Just um, it wasn’t a coffee. More of a hot chocolate drinker actually.”

He didn’t respond right away, instead just continued watching you with fond eyes and a now very prominent smile. You felt as though he could sense how out of touch with relationships you had begun to get over the years. What other explanation could he have for being so soft with someone he had just met and barely even known

“Right, well keep your schedule open so I can take you out for that replacement cocoa.”

Your door swiftly closed the second he turned back around, not leaving any extra seconds for him to turn around and look at you again. And the second she heard the click of the lock, Luci leaped out of your arms and made her way over to the sofa, meowing her entire journey.

“Yes that was him.” another meow. “I told you he was cute, and I also told you nothing would be happening there.”

Harry wasn’t lying when he said you’d be seeing him again. It seemed as though every day when you got back to your flat, he was there. Sometimes on his way out, other times just standing outside the door waiting for the other boys. And despite how at peace being around Harry had made you feel that day he came knocking at your door, you never put in much more effort than a “hello” here and there. He and the others had tried quite a few times to get you to join them on their night out, but each time you came up with a different excuse. Even if they were comforting, what was the point in forming that friendship when you knew you’d just isolate yourself again eventually. You had made it this long without getting too close to anyone else, and you weren’t going to start just because two attractive lads moved in across the hall who happened to have a very fit, very inviting, friend.

It wasn’t until nearly a month later that you actually had a full conversation with Harry again.

Typically you tried not to go to the coffee shop by your flat any later than lunchtime because it just got too busy. There were too many people for you to fully avoid them all and seeing too many clocks dampened your mood significantly. But you had already had a shitty morning and needed something to give you a boost.

The place had felt very melancholy since Rita’s unfortunate passing last month, she’d passed peacefully in her sleep while spending time with her family. You’d sent the family flowers as remembered, and also made sure to drop a few bills in the jar on the counter each time you’d been in the shop. Other employees were setting up a fund for Rita’s family since she was such a loved member of the community just with the joy she brought from behind the counter.

“Just a large hot chocolate for me, please.”

“For here or take away?”

“Take away please.”

“Actually she’ll have that for here, please.” a familiar voice behind you spoke up as you were digging through your bag for your wallet. You could see him out of the corner of your eye move from his spot behind you, to gradually standing next to you, looking directly at the barista behind the counter.

“Um..” you felt bad for the young kid, he couldn’t be any older than eighteen and all he wanted to do was get to work and get out. But here you were making his day more stressful than it needed to be. “So… for here then?”

“Harry I -”

“Come on Georgie. Please.” never in your life had you seen a grown man bat his eyelashes, but here he was, trying to lure you in with his breathtaking green eyes.

“Fine.” your voice came out soft and you rolled your eyes, but on the inside you felt giddy, like what you remember life to feel like before you started isolating yourself. “Um, sorry. I’ll have it for here I suppose.”

“Do you want the cream?”

“Sure. Thank you.”

“Anything else?”

“Yes, I’ll have a -” Harry’s profile was something you could get lost in. How the tip of his nose seemed to bounce with every word he said, how it looked as if his lips were made to form the words falling from between them, or how no matter how many times he tried to get it to stay back, one of his curls would continue to break loose from the rest and fall past his forehead. From what little you’ve seen of it, Harry had a great sense of fashion. Comfortable. A brown teddy bear jumper was covering his upper body, sleeves long enough to gather just past his hands and torso short enough that you could see his white shirt peeking out from underneath, ripped black jeans, a pair of black chelsea boots, and  those same tortoise shell glasses perched on his nose completed his look.  

“Ready?”

“Huh?”

“You ready? ‘ve got a table back by the door.”

The two of you made your move to walk back towards the front of the shop, but you halted in your tracks when you saw that yes, he in fact did have a table waiting for him, but it was also being inhabited by the two boys you had seen behind him when he came to ask for thread. Neal and Liam? And a girl was sitting between the two as they chatted amongst themselves.

“Harry I don’t -”

“Come on, I promise we don’t bite.” Apparently you still didn’t look convinced because he leaned down to be at your eye level and stuck his lip out in a pout. “One drink. Please? I owe you remember?”

“Yes and you’ve already bought me a new one, thank you by the way, so you don’t owe me anything else.”

“I know.” the apples of his cheeks began getting pinker the longer he stared at you, “But I’d very much like to spend some time with you.”

Just like he did when he knocked on your door, his eyes widened and immediately seemed to want to backtrack what he had said. “Wait no, not in that way. In like a ‘hey I think you’re cute -’ no fuck that’s not -”

“Harry.”

“Yes?”

“One drink.”

The relief was instant on his features, his shoulders sagging and eyebrows un-furrowing at your words. “Good. Afraid my mates were going to start thinking I made you up.”

“I live across the hall, they’ve seen me.”

“Well yeah, but I talk about you so much they thi- I - fuck.”

You couldn’t help the laugh that fell from between your lips. You may not have had many friendships or relationships of any kind, but you did know excessive rattling wasn't generally how people spoke to one another.  “You babble a lot.”

“Only when ‘m nervous.”

“Why are you nervous?”

Harry wasted no time in his response, taking a quick glance over to you. “Because I finally get to spend time with the pretty girl across the hall.”

The heat rushing to your cheeks had become something of a common occurrence when speaking with Harry. It wasn’t obvious if he knew what he was doing or not, but you couldn’t imagine someone like Harry not knowing how to flirt. Thankfully, however, someone from the table spoke up before you could dwell on his comment longer than necessary.

“Finally!” the man sitting at the end of the booth spoke. He was dressed very similar to Harry in color - a tan quilted shirt was hidden beneath a cream colored teddy bear jacket, and pleated brown trousers. The light facial hair stubbled along his cheeks made him look slightly older than Harry, but his complete baby face counteracted that.

Harry looked at you briefly, raising his eyebrows with a ‘what did I tell you?’ kind of look as he bent down to slide into the booth next to the other man. His style was much different than the other two, more streetwear. He was wearing black trackies and an old gray band tee under a denim jacket, baseball hat and the very apparent smell of cigarettes finishing off the outfit. Another difference with him was that he had a girl with him. What you assumed to be his girlfriend by the way her head was resting on his shoulder and his hand fell on her knee. She was beautiful, long brown hair fell loose around her shoulders, only kept back by the fragile looking sunnies that rested at the top of her head. She was wearing a simple white top and a pair of white,black, and brown plaid trousers, both of which were overshadowed by the beautiful black Balenciaga jacket hanging off of her shoulders.

“Was starting to think you’d been lying about actually knowing her, Haz.” the one closest to Harry spoke, earning a light slap to his chest from the girl on his shoulder.

Harry disregarded all of their antics and turned to pat the seat next to him, indicating he wanted you to sit down, and he gave you a reassuring nod when you nibbled your lower lip between your teeth.

It was subtle acts like Harry letting you sit on the outside of the booth so you could make a quick getaway if needed that reminded you how easily he seemed to pick up on your social cues - even if you didn’t realize you did them. It made your chest tickle that even just from the two substantial conversations you’d had with him, Harry picked up on things you did.

“Piss off.” Harry chuckled, reminding you a lot of friendships you’d seen on tv where they all take the piss but it was easy to see that they all cared for one another. It was something you’d always been envious of while watching the world from the sidelines. “Georgie, this is Niall, Louis, and Louis’ girlfriend Eleanor. Everyone, this is Georgie.”

You were met with a chorus of hellos and you would’ve loved to just jump right into their conversation about the best places to get guacamole, just so that they knew you weren’t intentionally being rude to them. But not only were you not good at this conversation thing, but you also were still on edge about forming any sort of connection with these people. Apparently you should get used to Harry and his all knowing mind, because before you could excuse yourself from the awkwardness, he spoke up.

“So, how long have you lived in the building?”

Unprepared for the question, you froze for a second. “Oh, um going on six years now.”

“Impossible! What are you, like twenty? No way you’ve lived there that long!” Eleanor asked, her head no longer on Louis’ shoulder, instead she was sitting upright and looking directly at you. Of course, over the span of the years, you had gotten quite good at looking at people without really paying any attention to what was only visible to you above their heads, but it still made you uneasy. The best solution was just not to look at them at all. But these people, people who had no idea who you were a mere ten minutes ago yet were now welcoming you into their lives, made you want to work on avoiding the numbers. Because this was the most alive you’d felt in years.

“‘M twenty three. Be twenty four next Friday.”

“No shit! Alright well I’m coming over so you can teach me your skincare routine because you look flawless.” she gleamed, leaning forward on the table to jot down her phone number on one of the many spare napkins littering the tabletop.

“As much as I love a good skincare routine, let’s not skip over the more important part of that sentence. Your birthday is next week?” Harry asked, gently shoving his shoulder against yours and offering a kind smile when you glanced up at him.

“Oh, it’s not a big deal. I haven’t really celebrated my birthday since I turned like eleven.” your parents used to throw you a party every year while growing up, a lavish over the top kind of party where all of your classmates were invited and family you had never even heard of pinched your cheeks. But as time went on and you didn’t give up your ‘ridiculous fantasy’ as your mother so kindly put it, they began to stop throwing the party. Now, you were lucky if they sent you a card on the day. Plus, celebrating your birthday alone is kind of a downer.

“You haven’t celebrated your birthday in over a decade?” Niall’s mouth hung open like that was the craziest thing he’d ever heard.

“Nope.”

“Well that just won’t do.” you may not know very much about the people seated around you, but the smirk on Louis’ face told you everything you needed to know. “We’re having a party.”

“Um, thank you. Really. But parties aren’t really my thing. Plus I’m working that day so…”

“Oh, where do you work?” Harry asked, thoroughly interested in where you spend most of your days.

“Good Samaritan.”

“The nursing home down on Adams?”

“That’s the one. I’m a caregiver.” when you first applied for the position, you thought you were crazy. For someone who doesn’t want to get close to anyone in fear of their untimely demise, you definitely went for a job exactly the opposite. But that was the appeal to you. Sure, it was terribly sad to see one of your patients pass, but in the time leading up to it, you knew exactly who needed a little extra love. It was nice to be able to remind their loved ones to visit while making routine phone calls, and to do things to make them smile in what only you knew were their last days. It was the only time you thought what you were born with was some kind of gift. The tiniest most unwelcomed gift.

“That’s wonderful.” Harry’s voice was gently next to you, like he was hanging on to every short word that you said.

“Well, we’ll just have a party once you’re done with work.” Louis shrugged, but held his hands up when you opened your mouth to remind him you didn’t want anything. “Not a party, a friendly get together with friendly neighbors and alcohol.”

That day in the cafe was the beginning to a new start for you.

Obviously Lucifer had to hear about everything that happened that afternoon, but she was there to experience it first hand when Eleanor came knocking on your door the following day. She got to watch as you bent over in genuine laughter at your shared banter. She watched from the kitchen counter as Harry came by with food one night, saying he just happened to order extra lo mein and heard you come home. And as the two of you sat in the living room watching Big Brother, talking about everything from your favorite color to why he majored in physical therapy in university. Luci got to watch you break out of the shell you’d worked so hard on forming around you, and even though you knew she couldn’t understand what was happening, you liked to think her frequent meows were those of encouragement.

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY!” The yells came from all corners of the room when you walked into Louis’s flat the following Friday, making your eyes widen and shoulders straighten. As much progress as you’d been making in your life, with branching out and slowly losing your fear of connection, it would take more than a week to crack down those barriers you’d built so high for so long.

“Thank you.” you laughed, putting down the bottle of wine you’d brought just in time for everyone to start surrounding you in hugs.

“Happy Birthday, love.” Harry’s voice was soothing in your ear, like a sense of relief in the overstimulation the other three had given you. You didn’t regret their company like you would have only a month ago, instead you welcomed the foriegn feelings. But it was still nice to have a moment of calm to fully process everything.

“Thank you Harry.”

“I hope it’s not too much. I told them to cool it on the balloons and confetti - especially since we all know I’ll be the one to pick it up in the morning.” he laughed, offering you a glass of wine that everyone else seemed to already be enjoying.

“No, no, it’s great. A nice segway from doing nothing every year.”

“Still can’t believe you haven’t celebrated your birthday in so long! That’s a day that should be celebrated by everyone!”that same look you’d grown to quite enjoy flashed over his features, his momentary distress as he realized he said something he wasn’t planning on sharing. But the look disappeared when he saw your knowing smile. “Don’t start.”

As promised, there was no party, per say. Everyone was just scattered around Louis’ living room telling stories about absolutely nothing that had everyone in stitches. It was the kind of party you’d always been envious of, one where mates could hang out and lose themselves in the company of each other. It was the first time you didn’t have a single thought about impending doom for more than an hour, a feit you would be sure not to forget.

Niall was laid out on the floor under the windows, a half empty bottle of rum in his hand and the other rested on his stomach, occasionally itching an invisible nuisance. Louis was seated in the arm chair directly across from Niall, a very buzzed Eleanor draped across his lap and the more the night went on, the less chances you had of seeing their faces separated. And Harry was seated next to you on the sofa, his arm hung on the back of the cushion in such a way that everyone so often you would feel the very tips of his fingers skim the exposed skin on your shoulder.

You wished you could freeze this moment in time, because a photograph or video would never do it justice. It was almost as if you were watching the night play out in front of you like a movie, not really in your body but watching from afar. Watching as the girl who hid herself from the world began to hatch, slowly cracking the hard exterior surrounding her. And you would do anything to bottle the feeling of pride that swelled in your chest knowing you had achieved that.

“Literally right in the face mate. No joke.” Niall cackled, his laugh a contrast in that moment; escaping his mouth loudly but carrying throughout the room softly. Taking off like a leaf blowing through the fall breeze.

“Georgie.” your name slipped from between Harry’s lips beautifully, like he was created for the sole purpose of saying your name over and over again; forever. “Alright?”

And sitting in the living room of Louis’ flat, listening to your friends’ wine induced giggles, looking at the most captivating pair of green eyes and curly hair that only whatever magical being that was above could’ve created, you were alright. You were so alright that the minuscule ticks of the clocks of your new and only friends, ticks you tried so hard to avoid paying attention to, almost seemed to disappear completely. Almost.

71 years, 2 months, 10 days, 3 hours, 16 minutes, 55 seconds. 68 years, 11 months, 3 days, 19 hours, 43 minutes, 2 seconds. 68 years, 7 months, 21 days, 1 hour, 58 minutes, 33 seconds. 62 years, 8 months, 9 days, 11 hours, 12 minutes, 2 seconds. 2 years, 1 month, 30 days, 23 hours, 34 minutes, 56 seconds.

#harry styles imagine #harry styles blurb #harry styles one shot #harry styles fanfiction #harry styles fluff #harry styles angst #harry styles x reader #harry styles x oc #harry styles x you

[nostalgiahan]

Still Into You

genre: songfic, fluff, smut

pairing: graffiti artist!changbin x afab!reader (gender-neutral language)

word count: 2k

warnings: drug use (cannabis,) trespassing, oral sex (f,) car sex, little dialogue, changbin and reader run from the cops lol

a/n: i was listening to still into you by paramore and this just kinda. came into existence. it’s also very song focused so if you’ve never listened to 2000s alt rock... i’m sorry lmao. the sugarmill in the story is also a real place that my friends and i used to visit and smoke take pictures at, although the cops never found us there haha. anyways enjoy folks.

Your nails had been tapping on the windowsill enough to wear them down to nubs by the time Changbin pulled up in front of your house. When his beat up Subaru pulled up next to the curb, you just about jumped out of your skin from excitement. Today was your fourth anniversary, as well as Valentine’s Day, and the adrenaline rushing through your blood was a sign that you were more than looking forward to whatever fun plans he had up his sleeve.

Compared to most couples on Valentine’s day, your outfit was pretty plain and not at all glamorous. Practical boots, jeans, an old band hoodie and Changbin’s dark green parka were your clothes of choice, but you knew that your boyfriend wasn’t going to take you to some fancy restaurant. No, you two were going adventuring.

As soon as you hop in the passenger seat of the car, shoving a couple of receipts into the foot well, Changbin reaches into his hoodie pocket and gives you a card. It’s crude, made of a folded sheet of printer paper and hastily scribbled on in pen but it’s very fitting for him.

“You better enjoy the card,” he says with a smirk, “because it came to me in a dream. This is pure, undiluted Changbin, packaged for your enjoyment and convenience.”

Giggling, you open the card. Inside is a barely legible “i love you so much y/n” surrounded by hearts, and in the corner is a drawing of a cow dressed in a lab coat and holding a beaker labeled “Moorie Curie.” It’s perfect, but what else did you expect from him?

“Happy anniversary, my love.” When you look up at Changbin, he has the widest smile on his face, cheeks dotted with flecks of paint and eyes crinkled up into little crescents. He’s dressed similarly to you, hair sitting in a pile on top of his head, clearly not having been paid attention to before leaving the house. It doesn’t matter, though, since the both of you will be wearing hoods over your heads anyways. You lean over the center console to give him a quick kiss, although it takes a couple of tries to get his lips since you’re both smiling so hard.

Changbin kicks his old car into gear as he sets off towards his destination. He’s explaining where you’re going, but you can barely hear him over the car speakers blasting Simple Plan and Green Day.

“So yeah, it’s this sugarmill that caught on fire in, like, 1910, and they never renovated it. There’s a bunch of cool abandoned shit around there, too. I think there’s, like, three fucked up couches.”

As you listen to him talk, you stick your fingers through the gap at the top of the side window. It’s permanently cracked open like that, and you have vivid memories of trying to throw cigarette butts through the gap when the two of you were bored.

After a while of listening to pop punk and playing with Changbin’s fingers over the gear shift, you arrive at your destination. Several charred brick buildings sit in the middle of a field, dead trees framing an open area in the center where someone has set up some logs and rocks to form a makeshift circle. Your boyfriend’s eyes scan the landscape, looking for his next canvas. Eventually, he tugs your arm and leads you towards one of the buildings, smiling back at you. “C’mon, let’s go explore this place.”

The two of you wander for a while, over rickety walkways and up staircases, taking pictures with your Polaroid and holding hands the whole time. Eventually, Changbin finds a stretch of wall big enough to start his work. Setting his duffel bag on the ground, he beckons you over and crouches down, inviting you to hop onto his back.

He pulls out a can of white spray paint, shaking it and popping the cap with his thumb. As he starts to paint, making large, sweeping motions with his arms, you really wished he had worn something sleeveless, however impractical. After lighting a slightly crushed joint you’d fished out of your pocket, you nestled your nose into his shoulder, holding the joint up to Changbin’s lips. He takes a few pulls as he works, the previously bland wall turning into a beautiful blend of blues, purples, and whites. It’s always fascinating to see how he works, seemingly not thinking before laying down a line of paint, yet each stroke seems to perfectly fit in with the others.

As he’s switching colors, Changbin lets you off his back, settling his hands on your sides. He stares at you for a bit, trying to study every bit of your face that isn’t covered by the oversized hood of his jacket. After a while, he smiles, pulling you close and kissing your forehead. Changbin always called you his muse, but you never expected him to take it as literally as he did, often staring at you or asking unrelated questions when he was stuck with a piece. He sways gently back and forth, pressing little kisses to your head, as Good Charlotte emanates from the tiny phone speaker in his back pocket. Occasionally, he’ll pull back just a tiny bit to really study your face, kissing you softly and muttering something along the lines of “i really can’t believe how fucking incredible you are” or “i love you so much it’s unreal.”

It’s not until a few more songs have ended that he pulls away, inviting you back onto his back as you light another joint. The piece is almost done, the tag “SPEARB” painted in blobby letters, shining artificially. All he has left is the outline, but his work is cut short when you hear the faint sound of sirens approaching and the light creeping in from the broken windows flashes a faint red and blue.

What happens next is like clockwork. You hop off of Changbin’s back, putting out the joint on the wall and throwing it into his duffel bag along with the other cans of paint he’s left out. What you’re supposed to do next is grab the bag and run, but Changbin is trying his best to finish a really specific detail and the more time he has that can in his hand, the less time you guys have to get the fuck out. After what seems like an eternity of whisper-yelling and (gently) stomping your foot at him, he caps the can and throws it into the bag. Finally, the two of you are off. As he’s picking up the bag, however, you notice what he was taking so long to finish. In tiny lettering, in the bottom corner of the piece, 4 words. “fuck cops” on one line, and “for y/n” on another.

As the two of you clamber over wooden planks and piping, pulling your hoods over your heads and your masks over your faces to hide your identities, Changbin grabs your hand and squeezes. He lets go almost as quickly as he grabbed it but the sentiment is still there; i’m here, i’m gonna keep us safe. It’s a welcome sentiment when shouts of “police,” and “show yourselves” echo through the abandoned hall.

Fifteen minutes of running and one chain link fence climb later, you’re back at the car, cops nowhere in sight. You’re panting heavily as you throw off the parka and throw it into the backseat, and Changbin doesn’t look any better as he’s gulping water and fanning his face. Right as you’re about to climb in, he grabs your arm and spins you so you’re pressed between him and the car, holding your cheeks in his hands and grinning at you.

“God. Fuck. Wow. You’re unreal. I love you so much.”

You’re unable to do anything but nod. The two of you are still breathless and in that moment you realize that’s what your love was like. In the four years of you dating, your love never went stale, you never settled into a routine. You were always doing new things, like going on spur of the moment road trips or fucking around at playgrounds in the early hours of the morning. You never thought about the future, just did your best to enjoy your time in the present and bask in the glow of each other’s affection. You expected that after such a long time together you’d at least feel a little duller, but everything still feels as fresh and new as when you were teenagers and sneaking out to make out on park benches when no one was looking.

As you’re lost in thought, Changbin pulls you impossibly closer and presses his lips to yours, hard. Music is still playing from his phone as the kiss becomes more heated, and you make sure to add 1985 by Bowling for Soup to your “running from the cops” playlist later. Almost every memory you have with Changbin is attached to a song, and this one is no exception.

Changbin pulls away to wrench open the back seat door, guiding you to sit and kneeling on the dirty floor. He heaves the duffel bag on the seat next to you and you dig through it, searching for the joint you threw into it earlier. Once you’ve gotten to My Own Worst Enemy, you’ve lit it and Changbin has gotten your jeans halfway down your legs and your thighs over his shoulders.

Your boyfriend wastes no time in burying his face in your heat, licking hot stripes up and down and moaning loudly into your core. He pulls away to rest his head on your thigh and take a few puffs of the joint, and in that moment you remember your Polaroid exists and manage to snap a picture of him blowing out smoke, with your hand in his hair and his face squished between your legs.

Changbin pays it no mind and gets straight back to work, sucking on your clit and easing his tongue into your hole. Your grip on his hair tightens and you arch into his mouth, fucking yourself back on his tongue. Picking up on this, he hooks his arms under your thighs and pulls your towards him, close enough that you’re afraid he’s going to suffocate himself trying to pleasure you.

It’s hot and sticky and perfect, and the atmosphere combined with the weed and the fact that Seo fucking Changbin is eating you out is too much for you and you cum all over his tongue, which eagerly laps up your release, taking long, languid strokes to make sure he gets every drop. As you come down, Changbin is stroking your thighs and sucking hickeys into the soft flesh, and you register that Misery Business needs to be added to your “dirty car sex” playlist.

After basking in the yellow glow of the car’s overhead light and the thrilling afterglow of just having done something you shouldn’t have for a while, lazily finishing off the rest of your joint, the two of you get your things in order and begin the journey to Changbin’s apartment, speeding down the highway with the windows cracked the whole way. He carries you into the building like he always does, setting you down gently on the couch before heading off to the kitchen so you can make some blueberry muffins together. You do, and they’re terrible, so you heat up leftovers instead and watch reruns of old James Bond movies, cuddling on the couch. The night ends with Chasing Cars and you laying on Changbin’s chest, naked and sweaty and anticipating lots of aches in the morning, whispering tiny i love yous into each others’ skin and it’s perfect. But everything is always perfect with him. What else could you possibly expect?

please let me know if you guys enjoyed this!! feel free to send an ask, i always love receiving them🤌🏻🤌🏻

#stray kids imagines #changbin imagines #changbin x reader #stray kids fluff #stray kids smut #changbin fluff #changbin smut #stray kids x reader #skz imagines #skz fluff #skz smut #skz #stray kids #stray kids fanfic #skz x reader #changbin #can u guys tell i miss hanging out with my friends 😔

[thoughts-on-bangtan]

Just read your post and agree with everything, esp about bad ship theories. One thing you said, kinda stuck out. The voting argument where Jimin went without JK, so therefore they seem to live in different areas. Then does this mean you think Vmin live in different areas? I mean, if they have been together for years, why would they not be living together? IDK, I just always kinda felt Vmin low key live together this whole time, but now your answer has me doubting that. You don't think Vmin do?

Admin 2: Hello anon,

In my reply I will try to convey to you my personal point of view in regard to Vmin and their relationship and in this case, how I see the question of them of living together.

The fact that four BTS members voted at the polling stations of their district shows that not all of them are registered in Hannam in their shared dorm.

We know, and it is no secret, that Taehyung bought an apartment in autumn 2019 in which, as you can see, he also seems to be registered. We know that Hobi and Jungkook bought their apartments at the end of 2018 in the same building and supposedly even on the same floor. Taehyung has posted photos from what looks like his apartment more than once and it is no secret that he owns and stays in this apartment. During some program on TV, one of his Wooga squad friends talked to Taehyung on FaceTime, who seemed to be at home in his apartment and wondered what he should eat.

Of course, there is more information from illegal sources, but we will not touch any of that.

It is known about Jimin and his living situation that his apartments (building) are under renovation.

Ok that's official facts of things we know. However, we do not know what the actual living situation of the individual members looks like.

Actually, all options are theoretically possible, but based on some logical considerations, some arrangements can be deduced. The fact that Taehyung is not registered in the dorm does not mean that he does not live there, or at least that he does not stay for a long time.

Jimin likely being officially registered as living at the dorm does not deny that he could also spend some time at Taehyung’s apartment. Do you understand what I'm going for? However, I exclude that officially Vmin or any couple could officially be live together. We have heard more than once about the obsessiveness of fans, about the stalking of the saessangs, about them occupying whatever buildings BTS are staying at, about the way they even go after the members families to get their hands on any kind of information’s.

Therefore, the best solution for Vmin is that they have access to Taehyung’s apartment. I think that in the dorm, and anywhere else (except for their bedrooms within the dorm), it would be impossible to lead any kind of relationship in peace.

There are all sorts of people at the dorm, their staff (like their managers) have success to the dorm and could just walk in at any time. The mere fact that Vmin (we assume they are a romantic couple) is in a fragile relationship and therefore any kind of leak, so to speak, would lead to a catastrophe. Antis and alike are just waiting for such "interesting" details from the private lives of the BTS members.

I believe that it is not possible to have any romantic relationship in a classic way within the group, and it is completely impossible for two members suspected of a romance to live together. (The same applies to J/k/ok etc.)

However, I am personally convinced that Vmin spends a lot of time together, even if only because they study together for their now master’s degree. I suspect they stay a lot together because Jimin wears Taehyung's clothes (especially his oversized boots) because even after work he was supposed to go to Tae (or Tae to Jimin) during the Billboard H100 # 1 night. We have screenshots of conversations with fans during games where Tae said he had to stop because Jimin had just made ramen, some other time he’d mentioned he was planning on doing something with Jimin the next day etc. Jimin said during Vlive in April 2020 that him and Tae like to go driving at night and many other things.

"Someday, when these cheers die down, stay hey

Stay with me by my side"

And that is also my opinion: A normal relationship will only be possible for Vmin when they are no longer the most famous musicians in the world living in a very conservative Korea, especially since they (and other members as well) still have to go to their military service in the VERY conservative Korean Army. Actual suspicions of a queer relationship within the group could and likely would only endanger the members during their service, just like I previously mentioned in my reply to an ask about Jin’s reaction to Taehyung’s “Jiminah I like you the most”.

I would also like to add some observations and thoughts to members speaking about their situation in life.

I have a strong impression that it doesn't matter so much to the fans whether Namjoon or Yoongi or even Jin live at the dorm or anywhere else.

What obsessive fans care about is where and with whom the maknaes live.

Therefore, I often get the impression that some dialogues, some scenes in RUN or interviews or other shows are shown in such a way that there is some confusion about who with who and confusion about where the maknaes live and whether they live together or not. I may be delulu, but I often get such an impression, especially when it comes to Jimin, that he deliberately says certain things in a way that can be interpreted in multiples ways, or like they mean something, even though likely it doesn’t mean anything at all.

We know Jimin is very private and doesn’t readily share private information’s, so it just seems like he “feeds” obsessive shippers, of whom I’m sure he’s well aware they are listening and just waiting for it, something that really is empty just so they have something to do, like JK saying he wants to make pizza at the end of some RUN episode to which Jimin asked “at home?” which was asked (or at least translated by weverse/vlive) in such a manner that shippers spent the next two weeks discussing what home he meant and if that means they do live together. Because of that, really, Jungkook can keep his privacy, as can vmin, since shippers will hold on to those empty phrases (fanservice) while the members can do whatever they want away from the cameras. Does that make sense? So, in the end, even if it seems like Jimin shared some insight into their living arrangements, we really still know nothing at all about where the maknaes live and with whom. It’s very smart PR and fits with the media training Idols in general seem to receive.

Edit: I read your comments and I want to clarify what I meant with the above part about Jimin, since I really didn’t mean to shift the blame for bad shipper behavior on him in any kind of way: 

I’m sure we’ve all seen bad shippers make the argument that the members that are part of their ship supposedly purposefully say certain things to send them “secret/hidden messages” or “hints” that “only they will understand” which in turn are meant to prove their ships. That’s what I meant by “seems to “feed””, not that he’s purposefully “lying” in their favor or feeding into their weird fantasies, but rather that the vague things he sometimes says, or his occasionally cheeky/teasing comments made in good fun with the other members, are taken by shippers and interpreted in ways to fit their narratives, even if what Jimin says has nothing to do with ships at all, he’s obviously just joking/teasing, or it’s just a vague “empty”/deflective statement to keep private info private. 

In all those cases the blame is on shippers and their bad behavioral habits of twisting the members words instead of listening properly and realizing that Jimin is joking or that what he said isn’t a hint or anything at all.

After all, Jimin said so much, supposedly, and yet we know nothing, not even about him and Taehyung studying together, which was quite literally never mentioned by them. Not even once in passing.

Of course, everything I've written is just my personal opinion and point of view. I could of course be totally wrong.

From anon: I agree that "Feeding the Schipers" isn't the happiest phrase, but I get what is going on. I think what J/m says and how he says it is like fodder for ships. I don't think he's doing it on purpose, however. Definitely not. J/m has this style of teasing, joking and shippers buying it as "secret confessions or notices" but a cool comment in general.

Admin 1: I’d like to quote myself from my asks post yesterday as reply to this ask, since it fits here as well:

Besides, at the end of the day, their living arrangements are not something we are privy to and that we shouldn’t try to figure out either. The members say they still live at the dorm, and if that’s the version they want us to believe, that’s the one I’ll stick to, unless they tell me otherwise.

#BTS #vmin #Jimin #Taehyung #answered ask

[lunarastrobabe]

Leon Kennedy x F!Reader: The Missing Piece (Pt 1)

(No Warnings, Fluff & Angst) 

Heartbreak. Pain. Sadness. Regret. Those four words circled your head, you were currently on a mission with Leon and Helena after an outbreak of the C-Virus. During one of the battles against a mutated Simmons, You and Ada were trying to fend him off by shooting an enormous amount of bullets into him, so Helena and Leon could find better ground. You reloaded your handgun with another clip and before you could shoot at Simmons again, he knocked both you and Ada out. Your gun flew out of your hand and you slid off the top of the long hallway that connected between the two towers. Your hand immediately grabbed the edge before you could fall to your death that lingered below. 

“Leon!” You shouted, trying your best to find the strength to pull yourself up, you watched as your handgun slid off the and fell into the abyss. Blood dripped from your forehead, your jacket was slashed from when you were attacked by Simmons once before during another fight. You desperately needed Leon to help you, but the sounds of fire and explosions were too loud for him to hear you. You took in a deep breath and finally pulled yourself up rolling onto your back, turning your head to the left, you watched Leon jump down onto the building where you and Ada were, you expected him to run after you, as he always did whenever you were hurt or needed his help. But, no. You felt your heart ache, your chest feeling a sharp pain as he kneeled down next to Ada, holding her in his arms. A tear rolled down your cheek, hitting your scratches and grazes that were on your soft skin, the stinging sensation not bothering you as much as the pain you were feeling watching your boyfriend, your partner, comforting and protecting Ada instead of you. 

After this mission had successfully finished, that was the last time he ever saw you. You knew you deserved better and as much as you hated to admit it, you knew he wasn’t going to change, especially his feelings towards Ada. The way he would look at her was different to how he would look at you. It broke your heart. You had never felt this way before, you were deeply, madly in love with Leon, you had been together for years, Leon was the one who saved you countless times from being attacked by G and the hoards of zombies back in Raccoon City. 

Once returning home from the mission, you went back to you and Leon’s shared apartment and packed up all of your belongings, clothing, photo albums, everything that belonged to you and left. You were relieved that Leon hadn’t come through the front door to see you abandoning him. You tried to shake away the guilt, the guilt of leaving him in a vulnerable state, he would most certainly go back to the nights of whiskey drinking and being late for work. You couldn’t let the guilt beat you, you needed to leave, you deserved better, you needed somebody who had eyes for you and ONLY you. Someone to protect you and bring you to your feet when you were kicked down, literally and figuratively. 

Tears stung in your eyes, zipping up your black large suitcase and grabbing your handbag, you set them next to the front door. You walked to the kitchen, your heels clicking against the cold tiles, it felt so bare, knowing you were leaving this house seemed empty and cold even before you got out the door. You took a sticky note and wrote down on it as a ‘farewell’ to Leon for when he returned home. 

It read: 

Leon, I’m sorry. I can’t do this anymore, I have to leave.

(Y/N)

You didn’t dare leave an explanation, you felt like he didn’t deserve one. You placed the sticky note on his whiskey bottle as you knew he would notice it straight away, along with your key to the apartment. You took one last look around, remembering all the happy memories you shared with Leon, it felt like home. You felt a tug at your heart strings, letting out a shaky breath sniffling you knew it was time to go. He would be home any minute. You walked from the kitchen to the coat closet, took out your black leather jacket, slipped it on over your knitted sweater and grabbed the handle of your suitcase. You put your handbag to rest over your elbow and walked out the door, feeling the sharp icy cold air hit you in the face. You put your bags into the trunk of your car and got in. You were uneasy, anxious even, you brought yourself to turn the ignition on and pull out of the driveway and drove away from the love you had to leave behind. 

Leon had just returned home, he rubbed his face with his hands feeling exhausted, he just wanted to go to bed and sleep. He felt happy coming home to you, hoping to see you waiting for him and bringing in the take out you’d order together, candles lit and a movie on the tv.

“(Y/N)?” He said through the darkly lit apartment, all the lights were turned off, everything was in place just as you left it. He furrowed his brows in confusion, you never left the lights off unless you both went to bed or were out for the night. He took off his jacket and slung it in the coat closet. He slowly walked through the living room to the kitchen and switched on the light. The brightness blinding his eyes. He noticed his whiskey bottle had the sticky note on it that you left on there forty-five minutes earlier. He sat down at the kitchen table and slowly read the note. His eyes filled with tears ready to fall, he felt, abandoned, alone, cold, empty, just like the apartment had felt when you left. He felt his world was caving in, as if nothing could save him. He took off the lid and instead of getting a glass, he drank from the bottle till he passed out. 

6 months later

Six months had passed since you left Leon, you had recently started entering the dating world again, you couldn’t get him off your mind so you needed to find comfort in somebody who could helped you forget him. You had been going on multiple solo missions during that time which helped you focus on more important things in your life and your career as a DSO agent. You hadn’t seen Leon since you were last together fighting Simmons. He called every morning, late at night and texted constantly saying how much he missed you and how much his love for you was getting stronger. The phone calls and texts had stopped a month ago, you were relieved but you still had this yearning feeling for him, your heart was pulling you towards him, you missed him, more than you thought you ever would. Even with this time apart, you seemed to love him more and more as each day went by. 

You had moved back to your old apartment further downtown from where you previously lived with Leon and Claire was a frequent visitor. Claire being the closest friend in your friendship circle, rented a movie and some take out food for you two to enjoy together. You got dressed into your comfy white sweatpants and put on a sweater, sitting on your soft black couch, the fireplace crackling. It felt cozy, but it never felt like home. 

“What movie did you rent?” You asked quietly, sipping the hot cocoa in your hands, hugging the mug with your fingers. 

“I rented a rom-com, I thought it might help cheer you up.” She smiled, holding a dvd case with the movie ‘Clueless’ plastered on the front cover. She was always a happy person, she knew exactly how to be there for you in times of need. 

You set your mug down on a coaster on the oak coffee table and just as you were getting comfortable, the doorbell rang. You sighed, “I got it.” Standing up from your spot you dragged your feet to the front door, opening it you didn’t expect to see him standing there. 

“Hel-, Leon?” You asked, taken aback at his appearance and how this was the first time you had seen him in six months. Your heart fluttered, those butterflies you hadn’t felt for so long started to return in your stomach, your cheeks flushing red. Claire’s eyes widened as she was watching from the couch, she hadn’t expected him to turn up but Leon knew your old apartment location from before so she honestly wasn’t surprised that he had turned up out of the blue.  

“I’ll give you two some space.” She said before getting up and making her way upstairs to give you both some privacy. 

You nodded at her and then turned back to Leon. He was admiring your features, staring at your (H/C) that was tied back in a high ponytail, the way your eyelashes fluttered every time you blinked. To him, you were an angel, you didn’t know that you were the only woman he ever deeply thought about. He missed holding you close at night, during thunderstorms, during the nightmares you’d both experience, the low days, the high days and even through the arguments you two would have, he’d still always apologise and desperately hold you and not let go. He missed everything about you. 

“Uh- come in.” You said clearing your throat, stepping aside as he walked in, you closed the door behind him. His blue eyes were now empty, his blonde hair dishevelled, the stubble on his chin and his jaw were starting to grow quite thick, it looked as if he hadn’t slept in those six months, which without your knowledge, he didn’t, all he did was drink and drink until he felt numb. He was wearing a grey shirt, a black leather jacket and dark blue jeans. 

“Take a seat, excuse the mess.” You said motioning for him to sit on the couch, the area around it was covered in candy wrappers and two Chinese takeout boxes sat on the coffee table, two knitted blankets, one blue and one red. 

He slowly sat down on the couch, sinking into the cushioning fabric. You twiddled with your thumbs, too afraid to speak up first. He leaned his head back and turned it to look over at you. You felt his gaze burning into your soul. You felt guilty for leaving but you did it for the best, right?

“(Y/N)?” He spoke up, his voice cracking a little. 

You lifted your head and looked at him, your eyes making contact with his icy blue ones. 

“How have you been?” He asked sitting up comfortably. He wanted to touch you, feel your soft skin in the palm of his hands, he wanted to wrap his arms around your small frame and never let you go. 

You sniffled, trying not to let any tears fall, you needed to be strong, you needed to be brave. “The same old,” You let out a fake chuckle. “.. I’m okay. Um, what about you?” You wiped your eyes quickly before he had a chance to notice. 

“That’s good.” He said smiling a small yet sad smile. He scratched the back of his neck, something he usually did when he was nervous, especially when he was around you. 

Silence filled the room, all that was heard was the fire crackling and popping, you stared over at the fire for a few seconds before turning back to him, snapping out of the trance. 

“Have you been seeing anyone, recently?” You asked, afraid to know the answer, expecting him to have ran back to Ada. 

“No, I haven’t. Have you?” He said to your surprise. You shrugged, “I tried to, but it never became anything.” You looked down at your lap trying to avoid his gaze, twiddling with the rings on your fingers. You noticed his hand slowly make its way to you and rest on your knee. You felt your heart skip a beat once he touched you, you craved his touch, you missed everything about him, to you, he was your soulmate, the man you’d never stop loving. You hesitated at first but rested your shaky hand over his, your fingers sliding in between his. His hands left scars from previous missions, you wanted to protect him, just as much as he did for you. 

“Why did you leave me?” He asked softly, unknown to you, he never felt this much heartbreak in his life, he felt like his heart was torn out of his chest. He loved you, he loved you more than anything in this fucked up, broken world. The truth was all he wanted from you.

“I left because .. You cared more for Ada than you ever did for me. The way you look at her, I just- .. You never looked at me the same way you did to her. I know you have a history with her but you have a history with me too, and I thought you loved me. I thought you wanted to be with me, just like you told me all those years ago. I couldn’t take it, I felt like I was being lied to everyday of being with you.” You started, you needed to vent this out to him, he needed to hear everything you wished you had said before. 

You took a deep breath to calm down. “(Y/N), I- ..” He chimed in but you interrupted him. 

“Leon, you left me to die back in that hell hole of a mission, I was hanging off the side of a building and I called out for you, but you went to protect Ada .. instead of me.” Your eyes filled with tears once again, you didn’t want to break but you couldn’t hold back the feeling anymore. You broke down crying, covering your face with your hands, afraid of him to see you this way. His heart sank, he never realised how much it hurt you, how much you thought he loved her more than you. He pulled his hand back from where it was on your knee and grabbed your wrists gently, pulling you into his arms. You curled up in a ball and put your feet into his lap, your knees resting against his chest and burying your face in his shoulder. 

“I’m- I’m so sorry (Y/N), I didn’t even realise, I didn’t know.” He said, wrapping his strong arms tightly around your body. Tears fell from his eyes, watching you break down like this, it made him realise how hurt you were, how much his history with Ada deeply affected you. He pressed his lips to your head, lingering there for just a moment. The aroma of whiskey and beer flooded your nose, but you didn’t care, you felt safe in his arms. 

“You belong with me, you are the only woman I have ever seen myself having a future with. You are the missing piece to my puzzled life.” He whispered, hoping to calm you down with his words and his husky voice.

You lifted your head and looked up at him, unsure of what you thought you heard him say. “You see a future with me? With us?” You asked, sniffling, your eyes bloodshot. He smiled a small smile, moving a strand of your hair and running his thumb across your cheek. 

“I always have .. I just never want to make those mistakes again that I have made in the past. I will never abandon you.” He wiped away a few stray tears that sat on your skin. Hearing those words had given you the reassurance you needed. You trusted him, you realised it, listening to him, he was telling the truth. 

“Leon I’m so sorry for leaving you. I love you so much.” You lifted your arms and swung them around his neck, smothering his face in multiple kisses. He let out a small chuckle, which was music to your ears. 

“I love you even more, sweetheart.” He responded, letting you give him all the love and comfort that you had both needed from each other.  

#leon s kennedy #leon kennedy x reader #x reader #resident evil #resident evil 6 #re6

[dailybeastarsthings]

Chapter 7 - Lunch Date With My Victim 7.1. Eden's Errand Boy

It was awfully quiet. Haru and the boys looked each other straight in the eye but no one said a single word. The wind was gently blowing, mixing the fragrance of the thousand blossoms into the air, gently caressing the animals’ noses. Finally, Haru broke the silence…

‘I don’t usually have visitors in the Gardening Club, so this is really a pleasant surprise’ she said.

The other two were still speechless, sunken deep in thought. Haru was pacing them with her eyes, waiting for them to say anything.

‘My word, they are helpless’ she thought. ‘I wonder what they might be thinking.’

Both boys were uncomfortable with the situation. Legoshi could feel his stomach shake. He just wanted to leave this mess, never to come back.

‘It’s the girl from that night! I didn’t think she’d be so small… I must leave… now!’ he thought. ‘But what excuse do I make…? Stomachache or perhaps emergency bathroom break? How about »I just remembered, I’ve got some errands to take care of!«? Yeah… I think that might work.’

‘Oh, umm… I…’ Legoshi tried to say but Kibi was faster.

‘Oh, I just remembered some errands I have to take care of!”

Legoshi was devastated. Just when he came up with the perfect excuse, it was used against him to leave him in the stickiest of situations. He sent a shocked and angry look towards Kibi. If looks could kill, Kibi would’ve died right then and there. Legoshi crouched down to him.

‘Wait, why are you leaving?’ he whispered.

‘Sorry, I’ll buy you an ant shake, but please don’t try to stop me’ Kibi replied. ‘I’ll leave the rest to you – I owe you one.’ And with that, he said his goodbyes to Haru and left through the rusty green door.

As Haru watched them fight, she thought of two possible reasons, why the other two acted like this. One, they were seriously afraid of girls. Two, this was some sort of act on their sides – perhaps a prank of the Drama Club.

‘I thought you came here to get some flowers for the New Student Welcome Event’ she said, momentarily breaking the tension. ‘Am I wrong?’

‘No, of course not!’ Kibi replied to her. ‘We’re gonna need your flowers… It’s just that I really need to take care of some errands. This friendly wolf knows everything you need to know’ he said with a forced smile from the other side of the entrance. Legoshi sent some devastating glares towards him. He tried his best to make Kibi stay, but all was in vain.

‘Look, I’m really sorry about this’ Kibi said. ‘You need to do this for the Drama Club, okay?’

He could finally gather enough strength and slammed the door on Legoshi, almost jamming his fingers in the process.

There was at least a good half minute of awkward silence before anyone said anything.

‘We’re alone’ Legoshi thought.

‘Well, your friend’s gone’ Haru said, while dusting off her uniform. There was some mud on it from watering the flowerbeds at the back of the club previously. ‘It’s always the bad rumors that spread the fastest. I probably scared him off.’ Haru sighed.

Legoshi was still afraid to say a word.

‘Well, all boys are scared of girls in some respect, so it doesn’t really bother me’ Haru said while putting her hands on her waist. ‘Are you different?’ she asked Legoshi with a soft smile on her face.

‘No… not really’ Legoshi responded – his ears drooped.

‘This can’t be happening right now’ he thought. ‘I literally tried to eat you! Of course I’m scared of talking to you! I don’t have the right to talk to you!’

‘Every club gets busy every year, trying to do something big for the event. What club are you in?’ Haru asked, trying to finally break the ice.

‘The Drama Club…’ Legoshi answered. He really just wanted to get this over with. ‘I’m a stagehand and I really need flowers to decorate the assembly hall.’

He handed Dom’s plans to Haru about the decoration. She inspected them thoroughly.

‘I see. So you want to decorate with roses, huh? Well, you shouldn’t decorate the entire hall with pure red roses. They are very poisonous.’

‘Oh, I see…’

‘I’ve got many other roses of many different colors. I’ll show them to you.’

‘Thank you.’

Haru took the lead from then on and they walked to a huge flowerbed, covered densely in roses of all colors. The rabbit girl was not kidding; every color of the rainbow was there, proudly blooming in the golden rays of sunshine, emitting their incredible fragrance in the air for everyone to smell. It was a sight to behold and a scent to enjoy. But Legoshi still couldn’t escape his thoughts.

‘Her head is so far away from mine. I bet she sees the world in a much different way than I do. This may be the first time I’ve ever talked to a small animal.’

‘See, here they are’ Haru said. ‘You can take as many as you want… On one condition.’

‘What condition?’ Legoshi asked nervously. ‘Damn, I can’t look her in the eye!’ he thought.

‘Well, these plants are like my children and I won’t give them away for free. Could you take those plants over to that other flowerbed? I’ll be perfectly honest, I really care about these children, but a girl can only do so much by herself’ she said while pointing towards a dozen of potted plants.

Legoshi sent a kind of confused look towards Haru, but he still agreed to help.

‘It’s settled then’ Haru said, while grabbing Legoshi’s tail. She squeezed it under his suspenders. The situation was definitely shocking for the shy wolf.

‘What are you doing?’ he asked.

‘I can’t just have you break my plants with this big monster tail of yours. Don’t worry, I won’t chop it off’ Haru giggled.

‘She... touched me…’ Legoshi thought.

Legoshi had never seen a small animal touch a large-breed carnivore before, but to experience it himself was something he would’ve never even imagined in his life. After all was settled, Legoshi picked up one of the pots Haru instructed him to and carried it to its new place: next to the club’s fence.

‘I’m a third year student by the way’ Haru said. ‘Which year are you in?’

‘I’m a second year.’

There were quite many of the pots Legoshi had to carry but it was not a task he couldn’t manage. He actually began to enjoy himself and started to become more open towards Haru.

‘Are there any other members in this club?’ he asked.

‘You don’t have to be so formal. There were two older students before but they graduated four years ago. No one joined ever since.’

Legoshi was surprised and amazed. ‘Wow! She’s been taking care of all these plants for four years all by herself? What’s this if not dedication?’

After putting the last pot at the designated area, he picked up a notepad he found nearby. On it, he found a calendar, on which besides the weather, there was a detailed list of the days’ achievements, and how the plants were progressing.

‘It must be rough to do all this work alone’ Legoshi said.

‘Well, it’s not easy for sure, but there are other events where clubs need my flowers so it all works out’ Haru said, while watering some of the flowers nearby. After finishing, she picked up a pot with a beautiful lotus inside it and proceeded to put it to a place with more sun.

‘These plants are like my children: they need me. And I need them. Perhaps a wolf like you wouldn’t understand, but weak creatures need to live by depending on each other. Acting brave doesn’t do me any favors. Sometimes it could be fatal’ she said with a soft smile on her face.

These words sent Legoshi’s mind running to the events of that night. How he hunted down the rabbit girl, how he caused her injury and how she wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Zoe to break him away from his feral side. He looked at Haru’s arm and gulped. Seeing her wearing all those bandages was a painful sight for Legoshi, knowing it was because of him. ‘Don’t say a word’ he thought. But he couldn’t help himself.

‘What happened to your arm?’ he asked. ‘I know exactly. It was me! It was all me! I’m so cruel!’

‘Well... to be honest, I don’t know’ Haru said. Legoshi raised his eyebrows in surprise.

‘I wonder what it was though’ Haru continued. ‘I know it hurt a lot but I don’t have a clear memory of what happened.’

‘You don’t?’ Legoshi asked in disbelief.

‘Nope. Anyway, I’m sorry if I scared you or anything. I know it’s creepy for a small animal like me to be wearing a bandage now of all times, but I’m doing fine. I’m sure it was just a nightmare’ she said with a wide smile on her face.

Legoshi couldn’t believe what he just heard. Does he tell her, or keep it a secret forever? It would’ve ended horribly anyway – never seeing this rabbit again. He finally decided not to say anything else.

‘I bought some scarlet sage seeds by the way. Would you like to plant some with me?’ Haru asked.

‘Sure!’ Legoshi nodded. ‘Her words don’t fill me with salvation or guilt. I just can’t stop looking at her. I enjoy talking to her so much. I usually rarely enjoy getting to know others… I want to become her friend.’

The work was soon done with all the seeds planted and watered in just a couple of minutes. Gardening, of course however, is a dirty job so it’s no wonder both their hands were covered in mud and dirt.

‘We should probably go to the club room to wash our hands’ Haru said. Legoshi nodded in acceptance. The club room was only a few steps away. When they arrived there, they washed their hands with warm water.

The room was filled with furniture and books mostly. There was a bed in the corner with a desk next to it. A table full of pots and watering cans. Underneath the table were pesticides and on the walls, there were gardening tools neatly placed. Even though it felt quite crowded, Legoshi felt cozy in that environment.

‘Thank you so much for moving all those heavy plants for me! They haven’t been feeling well at all, but now they can recover and have flowers, too. Let me give you a reward. What kind of food do you like?’

Legoshi was surprised by the question. Did that rabbit really just ask him about his favorite foods? Does she actually want to spend more time with him?

‘Well, honestly, I’m not really hungry right now’ Legoshi said. ‘But I’m in the mood for some ant shakes. What do you think?’

Haru nodded in agreement and together, they headed for the cafeteria for their late afternoon snacks: shakes.

#beastars #beastars fanfiction

[begrudginglytumbling]

Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four,  Part Five, Part Six

Part Three!

...or I suppose technically it’s part two of Part Two since this one will finish up what the other one started.

Shall we return to Grow Up?

(This’ll be long even though I managed to be a little ruthless and cut some of the images.)

We’ll start with the staffroom and finish with the dorm rooms.

I am only assuming it’s a staffroom. For all I know it could be some kind of common room. But they spend a damned lot of time there. They eat. They hangout. They study. And it’s not just the students, so I’m calling it a staffroom.

Anyway! This breakfast bar thing props up a fair amount of leaning, from general side leans.

To the favoured elbow hook lean.

What I find funny about this particular surface is that Bai Yu’s legs are so long that he actually can’t sit ‘properly’ at it. If he sits straight, then he has to lean forward, since his knees are knocking into it. And when he does sit close (his feet aren’t on the floor, since he’s on a stool, so he can sit properly), he has to spread his legs in some form of obscene manspreading fashion that made me cackle and that I apparently managed to not get a screenshot of (and annoyingly I can’t remember which episode it was in).

Right then, on to the table.

Literally.

On to the table.

Because, clearly, Bai Yu can’t resist sitting on a tabletop.

I made a post about it a while ago, but I’m still not over it so, just as a quick break from the sitting - that outfit is certainly a choice of the wardrobe department.

I mean just look at it, with it’s mustard trousers paired with that top, and a lime green tie. It’s like someone threw the 70s at him or something and went with whatever stuck. I feel like it shouldn’t work. But why does it? Is it a Bai Yu thing?

I mean I know he can pull off some slightly questionable fashion choices - that denim on denim look he has as Zhao Yunlan is something I’d normally say isn’t a good idea, but he looks damn good in it. There is also the jacket with the buttons on the back that I’m still questioning to this day. And the time they apparently rolled him in glitter. And, ok, I happily admit that I don’t tend to understand fashion, and I understand even less of Chinese fashion, but, just, how did this choice come about? Pretty much everyone else in this show seems to wear ‘normal’ sedate clothes. Then there’s this guy. With his bright colours, his polka dots on polka dots, and his cravats. Honestly, mixing his outfit choices with his sitting preferences and relationships, I’m becoming convinced that this is just another example of Bai Yu giving his character Disaster Bi energy. The dude ain’t straight, and the dude ain’t gay. I’d say this dude is a Certified Disaster Bi.

Ok, back to the table and Bai Yu’s leaning back in an almost draw-me-like-one-of-your-French-girls manner.

And, like, there is a chair right there.

But nope.

The unpadded table is apparently more appealing for this man’s relatively flat arse than the padded chair that is right there.

I mean, yeah, he makes an appealing picture that’s visually different from everything else going on, but that does not negate the fact he ignored the empty chair that’s right next to him in favour of draping himself over the table.

And look, he can sit at the table as opposed to on it. There’s quite a few instances where he’s sitting at the table in a chair like a proper person. Granted, in pretty much every instance he’s sitting with his legs crossed, because god forbid he have both feet touching the floor.

But of course this table also sees moments where he’s doing something different to the others. Like here. Everyone is standing, he’s sitting.

I think he’s sulking a bit in this one, but still. Different position, different aura, still not supporting his own meagre weight.

And here with his gay little scout-esque neckerchief/scarf thing, leaning back, not sitting properly.

He does this lean back on the sofa too.

The shot is only a couple of seconds long, then he’s standing up, just like in Part Two, where he’s the only one sitting when the Teacher Doctor guy opens the door, and I touched on this a little in the previous part. But I’m really starting to think it might be a deliberate thing that’s quite clever in drawing the eye.

I should probably preface this with saying I know basically nothing about the processes that go into acting and film making. I am however technically a historian by degree and, therefore, fully capable of pulling theories out of my arse which I will then scrabble around to find sources to back them up.

So! The theory is that movement naturally draws the human eye, and if everyone is the same then a scene can fall flat. Sameness is boring, your eyes can flit over it and not take in any details.

Bai Yu?

Bai Yu is a fidget (seriously go watch his livestream videos, he fidgets, fiddles, and wriggles), this movement can be used to his advantage in drawing the eye. That scene up there? He’s not just leaning back, he’s also shifting about. He’s not in focus, but you can be damned sure that movement made my eyes focus on him before I even knew it was him.

And for combating the sameness? Look at the examples above - he’s lounging on the table, different posture to everyone else - he’s sitting while everyone else is standing -  in the previous part he’s standing while everyone else is sitting. I thought at first my eyes were drawn because it’s Bai Yu and, well, he’s a favourite of mine so why wouldn’t my eyes be drawn. But then I realised they would’ve been, regardless, because he’s different. He breaks up the sameness, he stops it being flat. It reminded me of a scene in Pride and Prejudice, where the Bennett girls turn one way, but Mrs. Bennett turns the other. I remember watching or reading a commentary about it, the move being praised. I don’t remember exactly what was said, just that it was praised for being different and adding something to the scene, and it made me wonder if Bai Yu makes similar decisions?

Ok, onto the seating area proper.

He was actually sitting on an armchair properly before this, with both feet on the floor and everything...he looked so uncomfortable. Then he moved to sit on the arm of the sofa, because of course he did.

Y’know, pillows get hugged a lot in this programme, mainly by Bai Yu, but by others too sometimes.

And why sit normally when there’s a perfectly good coffee table in front of you to rest your foot on and make some viewers wince because why is your ankle bending that way? How is that even comfortable?

Just look at it. Barely resting on the table with his other foot adding weight to it.

You make my joints ache, sir.

Ok so technically I probably could’ve cut this one, since he’s just sitting on the sofa, nothing fancy, legs crossed, arm slung over the back as he pulls faces while she’s playing a game - she’s training to be a doctor but has a fear of blood so to get her use to it his character gets her to play fighting games(?) and someone else puts red dye on her hands - but this ends up leading to...

...this.

And just...what? How...?

That can’t be comfortable, surely.

I don’t even...are your joints even real, sir?

If your own joints are twinging in sympathy pain, this is your chance to go give your arms a shake and your body a wiggle before we head to the last section of the dorm rooms. Make sure everything is where it should be to remind yourself that you’re not the broken marionette doll Bai Yu can apparently become.

Right. All shook out? Good.

First stop the girls’ dorms, last stop the boys’.

There’s not much in the main girls’ room, really, just his usual sitting with his legs crossed because obviously the floor is lava and can’t be trusted with both feet.

I’m not sure how much he can be blamed for this one, as he’s technically been thrown into the chair by the little doctor trainee whose character reminds me a bit of Wen Qing.

As a side note, when you’re watching something that you don’t understand the language of, scenes like this can really throw you, because you’re just sitting there minding your own business, when suddenly they’re alone in the room together and Bai Yu’s character is taking off his tie, before striping off his shirt and tossing it on the sofa, and then you’re sitting there like wait, what? When did...? I thought...? What? But then he just gets tossed into the chair and some kind of conversation happens that makes you relax because, yeah, from your vague understanding of the characters, that makes more sense.

Even though he was tossed down, he didn’t actually need to keep his feet on the chair, but of course that didn’t stop him.

He is actually capable of looking comfortable sitting in this particular chair, he even gets to hug a pillow while doing it.

Now then, the boys’ dorm.

He came in, he saw them, he plopped down on the coffee table.

He could’ve sat on the sofa, he could’ve pulled up a chair, but nope. Coffee table.

Obviously, as previously mentioned, the floor is lava, so at the first opportunity he lifted both feet on the table and happily sat on it like an indulgent cat or something.

The sofa.

This sofa is not big enough for a full Bai Yu stretch out, but he can happily curl up on either end.

You could turn him into Bai Yu themed bookends.

Now, from watching Guardian we are all aware that this man is fully capable of embodying the spirit of a cat.

I, however, raise you the spirit of a Great Dane.

I see no difference between these two images.

Also not even this character’s mother can get him to sit properly. She prods him up and shuffles him over, and the first thing he does is pull up a knee.

Y’know how people starfish in bed? Well Bai Yu can apparently starfish in an armchair. He just plops down and flings his limbs out.

I almost didn’t catch this one, it’s part of some studying montage thing, and I thought he was sitting properly since he’s leaning forward, and I can clearly see his slippers.

Then I had a ‘wait, hold up’ moment, went back, and looked properly.

There are no feet in those slippers.

There are no legs attached to them.

So even when you think he’s sitting properly. He isn’t because he is kneeling. And I almost missed this ridiculousness!

Yes, Bai Yu, sit on a bed post that is clearly not meant to be sat on.

This is a moment where he could’ve leant against the wall, but evidently saw even the smallest flat surface as an invitation to sit.

Is that post migrating to places a bed post shouldn’t be migrating to?

Should’ve thought of that before you went and sat on it.

Not only does illness and subsequent surgery give him an excuse to lay on a gurney, it also gives him an excuse to lay in bed!

Apparently being tucked in by other men is also something not entirely unique to Bai Yu’s Zhao Yunlan. That bloke, the roommate that he went on a not-date-but-looked-like-a-date-with-wine-and-everything, seems like an absolute sweetheart and I’m still pissed at what they did in the last episode. It was uncalled for, script writers, uncalled for!

Although, I suppose, in regards to this project, it is kinda ironic that by the end, of the three men in their 'friendship group' of seven, Bai Yu’s character is the last one standing.

If I was a ‘they were roommates. Oh god they were roommates’ kinda writer these beds would be a bloody godsend. Just look at the watching and pining potential if top bunk guy was mooning over bottom bunk guy, while top bunk was doing work at his desk, and bottom bunk was sleeping.

The potential, people, the potential.

So that’s it. Grow Up is all done, and I can confidently put this in the column of Bai Yu quirks that become character quirks.

If you want to watch it, it’s available on Youtube, but there aren’t any subtitles. It’s on Dramacool too, but, again, no subtitles and the quality is horrid compared to Youtube.

Considering I couldn’t care less about the main storyline, it’s not actually a bad little drama.

Part One, Part Two , Part Three, Part Four, Part Five, Part Six

#Bai Yu #Bai Yu Sitting Project #Grow Up #Xie Nanxiang

[thegoodprincess]

Together We Are Apart, but Apart We Are Together | KTH Ch. 3

Author: thegoodprincess

Pairing: Kim Taehyung | Original Female Character

Genre: romance, fantasy, action, forbidden love, human KTH | angel of death OC, supernatural au

Word Count: 1.7k [series, ongoing]

Rating: Mature

Warnings: Mentions of blood

Summary: After admiring a handsome boy from afar, an Angel of Death reluctantly rescues him from his own demise. As a result of going against her better judgment she inadvertently invites him into her world.

Author’s note: A character named Malachi appears in this chapter. His dialogue is italicized for the purpose of demonstrating that he has the ability to telepathically communicate with the main female OC. Just thought I’d point that out. 😉

Together We Are Apart, but Apart We Are Together

Chapter 3. Rescue

'Cause all I need is the love you breathe. Put your lips on me and I can live. — Mika

In an instant I was completely submerged with a few feet of water above my head. I was met with the piercing feeling of the water right away. It was so severely cold that I was sent into a brief state of shock from the almost unbearable pain. Every muscle in my body simultaneously tensed, my throat felt as though I was being asphyxiated, and my eyes burned.

As ironic as it sounds, I took a few moments to ground myself. I tried as best I could to endure being suspended in the water. All four of my other senses were completely numbed out, forcing me to feel the full extent of the water.

Willing myself to focus on something else, literally anything that would momentarily distract me from the pain that had activated my fight or flight response, was when I noticed how eerily silent it was underwater. It was so much more strikingly different than it was on land.

The silence above the surface felt like being alone; blissful, refreshing, and introspective. But underneath the water it was lonely; pressurized, desolate, and suffocating.

Being beneath the darkness of the ice only amplified the absence of sound. This in turn made it seem as though the frantic thoughts in my head were the only thing I heard; they were deafening.

Once the initial shock wore off, I identified the pain as being equivalent to repeatedly being stabbed by a million extremely sharp blades all at once. The pain only intensified as I moved through the water. Every stroke of my arms and kick of my legs transformed each penetrating stab into an agonizing slice that tore deep along my skin from what felt like the inside out. Although I could not die, the sensation was excruciating as it traveled through every nerve ending of my body. I couldn’t imagine what it felt like for him.

Fighting through my discomfort, I adjusted my eyes in the dark water so that I could search for him. I spotted him slowing sinking further and further down, making no effort to swim. His eyes were closed and his face was serene as if he were sleeping. The water surrounding him was tinted scarlet from the blood oozing out his wound. It was safe to assume that he blacked out on impact from shock. If I didn’t get to him quickly enough, he was going to drown.

Using all the force I could muster I aggressively swam to him and was able to grab ahold of his wrist. After tugging him towards me, I did the only thing I could think of that would save his life. I kissed him, giving him my breath. Upon my lips meeting his, a blindingly bright light was emitted and my wings came around him engulfing him in a bubble of my aura. I closed my eyes and we ascended upwards near the surface of the water. Both of our heads broke to the surface. I took a big gulp of air, but he remained unconscious. Tucking my arms under his and gripping him tightly to keep his head above water, I swam to the edge of the river. Once I reached the edge I hauled the both of us up out of the water.

I dragged his limp body back to the cold pavement. I tried as best I could to find an area that wasn’t coated in a copious amount of snow and gently laid him down on his back. In an instant my lips were back on his to breathe life back into him. I then pressed his chest to push out any water that he may have swallowed into his lungs. Immediately he began coughing up water, sputtering out between choked breaths. He was just barely conscious. His eyes flicked rapidly beneath his heavy eyelids. He barely managed to open them after I gently slapped at his face, but he only looked at me with a glassy stare. He wasn’t fully aware of what was going on or of my presence. His body was only instinctually taking in oxygen to fight for survival.

Taking a moment to assess his state, it was the first time I was able to fully take in his appearance. His skin was pale white, it almost looked translucent. His lips were already tinged blue and ice was beginning to form on his eyelashes. His hair was completely drenched and sticking in clumps to his face and scalp. I moved his bangs off his forehead.

He was shivering. I placed my hand on his cheek. His skin was ice cold to the touch. The water had gone through every fiber of his clothes despite the layers, throughly soaking his body down to the bone. The air around him only intensified the heat loss, bitting viscously at him. He was softly moaning and whining in pain.

It was then that I noticed the snow that was near his shoulder was beginning to stain crimson. Anxiously I brought my hands from where his collarbones were up to my face. The opaque ruby fluid clung to my skin thickly coating my fingers. His clothes were not only soaked with freezing cold water but an excessive amount of his blood. The wound was bleeding at a rapid rate now.

The odds of him surviving were stacked highly against him. Even though I had saved him from drowning, my efforts were going to be in vain. If I didn’t act soon he would imminently die in my arms from either hemorrhaging or hypothermia.

Taking two fingers I palpated his neck to check his pulse. It was sluggish, indicating his health was rapidly declining. His breathing was slow and labored. He was beginning to slip in and out of consciousness.

I used up a lot of my aura already saving him under the water, but had enough to temporarily mend the wound. However, it came with a catch. On the condition that I did heal him, it would result in me not having enough energy to teleport us back to my home where I could finish reviving him. Going on foot would take too long as it would surely run the risk of him dying before we even reached half way there. And on the off chance he did survive the journey, I’d first have to restore my own spirit before I could properly attend to him. Time was of the essence.

Weighing my options I decided to tackle one task at a time, that being to heal his wound, then worry about effectively warming him up after. Placing the palm of my hand gently against his shoulder, I closed my eyes concentrating, willing the golden light energy to flow out of me and into him. In my mind I could see the threads of his being fixing themselves, my aura weaving together the broken pieces. Thankfully his bleeding stopped, but he was still shivering. I felt weaker but it was important that I stay focused. Now I needed to call for help.

“Malachi!!!” I screamed using a little more of my aura to reach out to him, summoning his aid.

Suddenly the shadows that surrounded us quickly came together rising up from the ground and morphed into an intimidating silhouette that towered over us. Before us stood a figure shrouded in what could only be described as the shadows of darkness. They wore a oversized hood that covered a majority of their face. Using their blacken fingers, they removed the garment allowing me a clear look at their face. A boy’s daunting face was revealed.

He had ashen skin that looked as though he rubbed soot into it. Despite the gray coloring of his skin his face was handsome with sharp angular features like his nose, cheekbones, and jawline. All made him appear traditionally masculine. His chin-length hair was straight and the color of the midnight sky missing the glimmer of the moonlight. It fell haphazardly over one of his pale gray eyes, one of his only “light” features. Long billowy black silk robes cascaded down his lean frame further cloaking him in the shadows. Some may have easily mistaken him for the grim reaper, but he wasn’t such a being. He looked at us bemusedly stunned trying to assess the situation. Pity swam in his usually aloof abalone irises. His eyes nervously moved between the two of us as I laid embracing the mysterious boy’s body.

“Please Malachi, I don’t have enough energy. You have to get us home so I can help him. Hurry, he’s dying,” I yelled panicking.

Malachi looked at me confused. His hauntingly beautiful voice echoed in my head. “Mistress you are not allowed to get involved in human ordeals such as their death. It is against our nature.” He cautioned, but his warning was laced faintly with sympathy.

“I know but he wasn’t supposed to die tonight. Death was meant for another. He just so happened to get involved,” I defended hastily. The longer we spent discussing the events that unfolded tonight, the more this boy’s life force ebbed further away.

“Then that is his doing, we must not concern ourselves—,” Malachi argued coldly before I abruptly cut him off.

“Malachi! I beg you. Please.” I groveled in distress at his feet. I don’t know what convinced Malachi. It may have been the way my voice had cracked at the end of my plea, the continuous tears that brimmed over my eyes obscuring my vision and left trails down my cheeks, or how my body curled in anguish as I desperately clung to the boy in my arms, but he reluctantly succumbed.

“Fine. But if there are to be repercussions, you are to take responsibility,” Malachi negotiated bluntly, void of almost all emotion. Wearing a somber expression he knelt down, encircling us both in his arms. The shadows that had previously flowed around him had stretched out towards us. Swiftly they began to envelop us, shielding us from the scene of the river before us. With that we were transported home.

#taehyung fanfiction #taehyung fanfic #kim taehyung #taehyung x oc #bts supernatural au #bts fanfiction #bts fanfic #bts army #taehyung #my writing

[p-jiminaa]

Play Date (Part 3)

Park Jimin and You.

Summary: It’s all started with a WhatsApp status.

Genre: Fluff, fluff, fluff, and little angst towards the end.

Gif is not mine, credit to the owner.

Masterlist

| Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 |

You wanted to say 'no' out loud. You ached to tell him that you did not do anything with Jungkook but your mind was clouded by the possibility of him leaving you, without listening to your explanation since he caught you with his friend and what worse than that is he act as if he didn't see you back there. So without saying anything you walk to him and pull him to you while wrapping your arm around his body and burst into tears. "I am sorry." You say in a broken voice. "I just... I wanted to see you last night but seeing you with girls made me so mad that I wanted to leave but caught by Jungkook at the door. We didn't do anything last night. I swear."

You feel Jimin's arm envelop your body. "No No. Y/n. I didn't mean to make you feel bad. I know you guys didn't do anything." He tightens his arm around you while placing a kiss onto the top of your head.

"I don't want to lose you Jimin." For real, you don't want to lose him. He's the only person you trust right now.

"Who says about losing me? Hmm?"

"Because you look so mad." You weep.

"I am not mad at you. I am mad at Jungkook. Least he could do is notifying me about you."

"You were busy." At this, you suddenly feel his body stiffens. Slowly he detached himself from you.

He lifted your gazed to meet his eyes. "Just so you know, they are no one. Okay?"

Stupidly enough, without asking him to elaborate more you nodded your head. You should ask him more. Why is he with that girl? Did the message he sent mean nothing?

"Let me send you home."

"Are you sure? I mean is you're about to go somewhere." You remember the conversation you have with Jungkook. He's going somewhere to meet someone and you're pretty sure that someone is not you.

"No, it's fine. I still have time."

"Are you going to meet Cassie?" Your mouth is faster than your thought and you don't even regret your question.

"And if it's her, are you jealous?" He asks, brows raised.

"Just making sure that my boyfriend is not meeting another girl other than his girlfriend."

"It's kinda hot seeing you jealous." You recognized that teasing tone.

You rolled your eyes to his statement. "Yeah, whatever. I am going home."

"Wait seriously?"

"Yeah. Of course." You say as you open up the car's door.

You're about to get in the car when he catches your arm. "You seem off. Tell me."

It's not that you seem off. You literally off right now. People called it paranoid but you called it 'woman instinct'. You just feel a bad hunch especially since he didn't deny your statement earlier. So is that correct then? That he's meeting Cassie. But why? It's Sunday.

"Jimin, I am just tired. I'll see you tomorrow?"

"You know what... come here..." He catches your hand and brought you to his car. But before he opens the door for you, you catch his hand to have his attention. "Where are we going?"

"To get rid of all those bad thoughts of yours." Wait for what? Does he know? But how?

He chortles seeing your face. "I can feel it Y/n. Now come on in..." he says as he opens the door for you and you slide in. Closing the door, he then slides into the driver sits and drives away from the areas.

"Are you kidnapping me?"

"I am Princess."

Your face scrunched hearing the name. "Eww..." He laughs at your response. "Jimin I am serious where are we going?"

"To meet my family." He says as if that a normal thing. Well, it is normal for him but not for you. You're meeting his family for the very first time. Well, you look ahead to meeting his family as he has been telling about them to you but not like this. You've come to meet them unprepared. And what would you introduce yourself to them? Hai, I am Y/n. I decided to date your son because I need someone to play with my heart. That doesn't sound cool.

"Hey Y/n, it's fine. They don't bite." He says reassuring you who looks so nervous. He then moves his hand to hold yours and placed it on his thigh, a gesture that you did not expect at all.

Heaving a long breath to calm yourself down before you ask him again. "Am I not intruding your family time?"

"Y/n... they wanted to see you for a long time. So no, you're not intruding."

You glance at Jimin whose eyes already on you with a smile painted on his lips and nodded his head to assure you before he moves his gaze moved back to the road. Your eyes then trail down to your entangled hands. This makes you both look like a real couple though all of this just a 'playdate'.

"Fine. But Jimin, I have practice later."

He let out a smirk. "I know. But missing practice for a day would not kill, right?"

"Yeah. If I am not caught."

"Then I will make sure you're safe." He lifted your hand, planted a kiss on the back of your hand before he placed it back on his thigh with his attention still on the road. You feel your heart jump because of his action. Just how lucky are you having this man as your boyfriend.

***

When Jimin stop the car, you were beyond surprised seeing several cars parked in front of the bungalow. Why there are so many! "J-Jimin..." you barely able to let out a word due to your nervousness.

Chuckling, he gets off the car and ran to your side, opening the door for you. "I thought there's only your family." By family, you mean his parents and brother.

"Today is my parent's wedding anniversary so there's a celebration." He says as he took your hand, helping you get off the car.

"But..."

"Relax. It's only the close one. The car belongs to my cousin since they live separately with their parents."

If him telling you that he's bringing you to meet his family shock you, this shock you more. "Jimin, I am wearing my last night outfits!" You yell at him, well not out loud but enough for him to understand that you're angry. "And it's still early. Why are all your family is here already."

"My parent is going to Paris after this celebration for their super late honeymoon." He says with a smile on his lips.

"But..."

"No but." He rests his hand on the small back of yours as you walk to the house. "They will be happy to see you Y/n. Plus I wanted to introduce them to you for a long time." He says again.

Jimin did not even knock on the door rather he punch in the passcode on the door. You forgot that this is his home.

When Jimin push opens the door, almost all the head turns to the door. "Jimin!" Everyone's yell in unison. You can see that most of the seats are taken on the couch while some standing near the big glass.

"What’s up everyone!"

When Jimin talks to almost everyone in the room he never forgets to introduce you to them. This is Y/n, my girlfriend. And what you did not expect is that most of them already know you. Now, you really wanted to know what kind of story did Jimin tell them. Plus how can he tell his cousins about you? There are at least fifteen peoples in the room and most of them know you.

"You're the owner of this house yet you're the latest to come." A girl's voice emanates from behind.  When you swirl around, a girl with a long hair followed by two other girls who sat with her previously on the couch is walking to both of you. "You must be Y/n." Again! You're quite famous in this family.

In dazed, you turned to him. "I told you they wanted to meet you."

"Yeah. I am Y/n." You introduce yourself to them.

"I am Shera and these are Eva and Kaia." She gestured to the other two younger girls standing beside her.

"Pleasure to meet you."

"We heard a lot about you," Eva said with a teasing smile and you can only smile to her teasing. Now, you're beyond curious about what Jimin told them about you.

"I hope that a good thing."

"Yes, it is. And if you need something to blackmail him. You can text us." Kaia says haughtily.

"Seriously? The first time I brought a girl home, you're already giving her idea to go against me." Jimin whines. Ohhh... so you're the first girl he brought home. That's a good thing to hear.

"Girl will always side with a girl, Jimin," Eva says smugly to which Jimin rolls his eyes, annoyed.

"Finally today is the day I meeting the famous Y/n." A broad shoulder guy says as he walks to you.

"This is Steph. My brother." Eva explained.

"Yeah as if she would believe you."

Wait, what? Confused you turn to Jimin. "They are actually husband and wife." Unable to hide your shock all of them laugh at you.

"Wait you actually believe in her words?" Steph asks in disbelieve.

"Sorry! It's just Jimin told me all of the attendees are his cousin."

"Well, Jimin's father is my Mom's brother so that makes me and Jimin cousin and my husband as his cousin in law. If the terms exist though." Eva explained. Ah okay. You got it now. Stupid you to think that all of his cousins are unmarried. Of course, some of them are married.

"So why are you late?" Steph asks Jimin.

"It's Sunday night what do you expect." You rolled your eyes to his statement. Did he just proudly tell this man that he spent last night partying.

"Wooooo..." You heard four of them woo-ing. Wait did I miss something.

"And I thought Jimin got no jams." Someone from behind says. You see three men sitting but their gazed or attention is on the tv screen except for the guy who interrupted just now.

"That Mino, Eva's brother, and sitting beside him is my brother and Daniel, Kaia's brother."

But you're still confused and then it's hit you. Wait... are they all thinking about that... Turning to Jimin, you hit his body playfully.

"Aww! Babe!"

"We actually did nothing last night." You explained to them fast.

"Aww Y/n. Relax! Although Jimin is considered the youngest among us excluding his brother we understand." Eva says, wiggling her eyebrows.

"But..."

"You need not try to explain it to them because the more you explained, the more worst their imagination is," Jimin whispers at your ears.

"I hate you!"

"Where are the elders?" Jimin asks.

"Dining room. They have so much to discuss." They? You looked at Jimin the same time he turned his gaze to you. They? You mouthed.

His lips quirked into a smile. “Let’s meet them.” He took your hand leading the way. You both stopped at a door and you heard a commotion from inside.

“Hey, turns that frown upside down. It’s just my uncles and aunties.”

“How many?”

“Four.”

“Persons?”

"Couple." Your eyes are wide in disbelieve.

“Aish come on. I’ll introduce you to them.”

Jimin knocked on the door before he opens the door. There you see four women and a man sitting in front of a round table. The first lady in the turquoise dress stood up and walks to you.

"You're late!" She walks closer to Jimin.

"Blame her." Jimin pointed at you. You turn to him and shot your eyes at him. Did he just blame you!

The woman who is not older than fifty turns to you. You feel her eyes scanning you from head to toe. "You must be Y/n." Not a question but rather a statement.

Your eyes blink a few times, shock again that everyone recognized you in this house. "I- I am."

She smiles and hugs you. "It's nice to finally able to meet you, my Dear. Come, I'll introduce you to everyone." She took your hand and introduce you to everyone in the room. To cut it short, the other three couples are either Jimin's mother of father sibling and the one who hugs you just now is none other than Jimin's mother.

Finishing introducing to everyone, she brought you outside and you turn to Jimin, asking for help but he shrugged his shoulder and let his mother bring you to the kitchen, a place where no one is here.

She asks you to sit on the stool when she makes tea for you. She put the glass in front of you before she sits next to you. This is awkward! Nervous, you sip on the hot tea. "Aww..."

"Oh My God! It's hot!" She took the glass from you. "Are you okay?" She asks as she put the glass on the table.

You nodded your head though you can still feel the hotness of the tea on your lips. She stood up, pouring out cold water for you. "Here. It can lessen the pain."

"Thank you." Honestly, it's been a long time since someone cares for you. Well, it's been a long time since mother care for you like this. The last time you remember your mother talking to you, she hits you.

"Is Jimin treating you well?" The water you drank, you almost pour it out hearing the sudden question from Jimin's mother.

"He is."

"That good to hear." She smiles. "Listen, if he ever bully you, come here and I'll teach him a lesson."

Hearing her said that you let out a smile and nodded your head. It's really good when a grown-up took your side. This kind of treatment, you never get it from your complicated family. You both continue talking and you never feel so good and happy talking with Jimin's mother and your tete-a-tete was interrupted when Jimin's dad walks into the kitchen to where you both are sitting.

"You both are talking as if there's no one outside." He says, standing behind Jimin's mother stool.

"I forgot Hun." She says as she turns and meets his gaze. You love it when their eyes lock. That small lovely gesture you hope you'll be able to feel it one day even when you're old and have wrinkles and others.

"Now, I know you're happy meeting Y/n. But everyone is waiting for us outside." He says as he helps her to stand up. "Oh Y/n... come with us." He says again. You followed them closely from behind and as you went out of the kitchen there's a large cake in the middle of the room. Wait... when did they even set that up? Jimin came to your side with his parents standing in front of us.

"What did Mom talks about?" He asks in a whisper.

"I am not telling."

He brought up his hands before he pinches your cheek, playfully of course. "Jimin!" You whisper shout and unfortunately, it was heard by his parent who swirls to your direction. He let go of your cheek once he realized he had been caught red-handed. His Dad shook his head before he turns back while Jimin's Mom is shooting his eyes at him, warning him to behave. She looks over to you, smiling and sending you a wink before she turns back to the front.

"I can't believe that My Mom is on your side." He says with a pout.

You look over at him and shrugged your shoulder. It's not like you can do anything about it. It's all his fault for telling them about you and of course, a woman will always side with another woman.

***

The party ended during lunchtime because they have a flight to catch at 3 PM and Jimin brought you to the airport to send his parents. His mother again, reminding you to tell him if his son ever hurt you or misbehave to which you agreed happily.

"Thank you for today." You say as Jimin stops in front of their frat house.

"It's worth your absent right?" You nodded your head. The time you spent with his family is so precious especially after you meet his mother.

"I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Sure. Text me up once you reached home." You nodded your head. You unbuckle the seat belt and you got off the car. You slide into your seat, starting up the car before he knocked on the glass. He crouched down to meet your eyes and you feel your heart goes crazy seeing him up close. And why would he do this! This kind of thing only happens in a movie or drama. "Don't forget to shower." And just like that your dream of having a little romantic moment crashed! Rolling your eyes, you closed the window before he moved his head and no, you're not that evil so you stop. Your previous act was just to scare him and he did scared!

"Are you trying to kill me?!"

"Whatever. I'll see you tomorrow." You drive off before you hear his response because you know whatever replies he's about to say, it is to annoy you.

It feels different in the morning when the first call you received today is not from Jimin rather it's from his mother reminding you not to forget about your breakfast and asking you about the classes you'll have today. Although it's only for a few minutes, it just feels great knowing that now somebody, a mother figure is concerned about you.

You drive to college with a big smile today but you didn't see him. Not at the car park, not at their usual hang out spot nor at his class. You do remember what class he's having on Monday morning but surprised when you see the class empty. You walk to your first class and you never feel so happy seeing Jungkook sitting in the last row of the class.

"Jimin is here right?" You ask instantly, sitting on the empty spot next to him. Furrowing his eyebrows as he did not expect you to talk him because not going to lie, it's very for both of you to talk unless there's need for it and honestly, that Sunday night is the longest you had ever converse with him.

"Of course. We come together every day."

"But his class is empty." You heaved a sigh.

"Why don't you call him. We are not living in an era where we have to find a payphone to call someone."

"Saying something with a sarcastic tone doesn't make someone sound smart you know. And I tried calling but there's no answer." You lean against the chair.

"Fine. I'll try to ask others." He then let out his phone. A few moments later he put turn his phone and showed the screen to you. A text message from Namjoon. One word.

Library.

Your lips quirked into a smile. You stand up and was about to go out before Jungkook called up your name making you stop on your tracks.

"Miss Y/n, you do know that our class will start in five minutes."

You shrugged your shoulder. "I know. I just need to see my boyfriend" You say without waiting for his reply. Wait did you just said, boyfriend? Wow, this is a kind of new side of you. You can feel your smile on your face. Is this how couples usually feel? Happy when they're about to meet their other half. If this is the case then you don't want to feel out of love.

Entering the library you were shocked when you see most of Jimin's classmates there. Maybe their class is canceled or their class is held in the library today. But whatever the case, you just need to find him because you have limited time now. So you walk upstairs since one of his friends recognized you and pointed upstairs. You mouthed a 'thank you' and walks to the stairs. When your feet on the last step of the stairs, your head turns instantly to the voice you yearn so much but your smiles drop when you see him not alone.

Casie.

They were busy giggling that they did not realize your presence. Letting out an airy chuckle you walk down and meet his friend who helps you just now. "Did you find him? Our class got canceled today and our lecturer asks us to finish our presentation." He explained. But they did not look like someone who is discussing.

"I have to rush to class so no. Thank you again." You say and stalked out of the room fast.

It was during lunchtime when Jimin finally reply to your text. You left in on 'read' because you're on a mission right now.

You watch Casie is on her way to your side. You're actually waiting for her since ten minutes ago by waiting at her locker.

"Casie?" She smiles.

"Yeah."

"Can I talk to you?"

Although she seems shocked, she agreed anyway. You walk towards the soccer field, the only empty area at the moment.

"What is this all about?" She asked, sounding scared and confused. You swirl around to face her.

"Jimin is my boyfriend, I hope whenever you're with him you know your limits." You said it firmly.

"What?"

"Didn't I made myself clear?"

"But we were just doing our presentation."

"Doesn't look like it." You replied with a tone laced with anger.

"If you're having a problem with your boyfriend you should have talked to him not attacking me."

"But you're the root of this."

Heaving a sigh, she nodded her head. "Fine! I'll keep that in mind." She says angrily before she walks away from you.

It was after the meeting with her that Jimin started calling you. You kind of expect her to report about your meeting to Jimin but wow, this is so quick.

Your car, now.

He sent you a text when you keep on ignoring his call and you have no choice other than to meet him.

You saw how angry his expression are. You saw how he watched your every step until you reached him.

"What did you say to Casie?"

"I am just trying to remind her."

"You need not remind her. She knows her place!" He yells, eyes piercing at you. This attracts unwanted attention from the student who sat at the bench near the car park.

"Jimin, let's discuss it anywhere but here." You tried to hold his arm but he shrugged your hand away.

"Until you realized what your mistakes are, don't ever try to call me." He left and walk to his car and drove away, leaving you on the car park with people whispering whatever they just witness.

You went back to your class taking your bag with you and went home only to be greeted by another problem when your Dad throws a bag at your face once you step in your home. Now, you really have nowhere to go.

#bts #park jimin #bangtan #bts jimin #jimin au #jimin serie #jimin imagine #jimin fanfic #jimin x you #jimin x reader #jimin x y/n #bts imagines #bts series #jimin #fluff #angst #sad #bts army #army #byNaa #PD3

[bigskydreaming]

When you settle down, take a look at Teen Titans and the new solicit for Tec.

Did you mean a solicit for Dec? Cuz I looked and didn’t see one out yet but don’t know what else you might mean by Tec....

As far as what’s going on in Teen Titans, I’m guessing you mean Damian going after KGBeast to kill him in revenge for shooting Dick. I’m.....not a fan.

Like....I do like that they’re finally having SOMEBODY seem to give a damn about what happened to him, of course, but honestly, a year after the fact, it feels more like just an excuse to give Damian another target.

And I’m super not a fan of them regressing to acting like Damian’s entire personality is just “Will I do the murder today? Y/N.”

This is kinda what I was talking about the other day when I mentioned why I wasn’t really a fan of anything they were doing with the Batfam, because they’ve had Damian on this path for awhile now, and the problem is....

They already did this story.

This was his ORIGIN story.

And then he evolved, his character ALREADY developed PAST this.

I understand the idea of backsliding or having a character regress due to extreme circumstances or new tragedy or trauma, but honestly? This isn’t that, IMO. Its more just indicative of them not being able to think of anything else to do with Damian, because DC, like a lot of fans, seem fixated on the idea that each Robin needs to be their own distinct archetype easily summed up in one word. “Cheerful Robin,” “Angry Robin,” “Intellectual Robin,” “Will Stab You With Both Words and Knives Robin.”

Like....yawn.

Its no wonder they keep running into problems thinking of what to do with these characters when they like, INVENT these boxes to confine these four specific characters in and limit the ways or directions they’re even allowed to be taken, because they’re so afraid of overlapping or whatever.....even though that SHOULD be their narrative strength! They’re brothers! They all bear or bore the same mantle! They don’t NEED to have their own one-word niche to be distinct, they just need to each be well-developed characters in their own right, and who CARES if they overlap in some areas. It absolutely makes sense that they WOULD, that there would be commonalities in traits and experiences that led to each of them ending up a Robin and part of the Wayne family, and like....

Highlander has been off the air for thirty years and most people won’t even get that reference, that’s how low-impact we’re talking, so enough with the “There Can Only Be One” approach to characters. Having common ground is not like.....character Kryptonite.

So I’m just....super unimpressed with them taking Damian in this direction yet again, as though his entire narrative arc is forever destined to be a closed loop, with him just sliding back and forth between “Murder Time? Yes!” and “Murder Time? No!” 

And even though its like, nice in one sense to have someone trying to avenge Dick, and having it be Damian with respect to how close a bond they have.....I’m not actually in favor of sacrificing another character’s stories just to make that happen. Especially when it doesn’t even have to happen at all. But honestly, like I mentioned at the top....given the extreme gap between the start of the Ric Grayson arc and this, I don’t actually believe this really has anything to do with them wanting to build off of or do anything new in regards to Damian’s feelings about his brother, like....it really just feels like an excuse to put another warm body in the way of Damian and his bungee jump back into this latest Dark Dami arc.

Also its just, bottom line....not realistic given their ACTUAL stories to date, IMO? Because Dick is literally the character who got Damian to see the value in life in the first place, and in addition, the first character who got Damian to see that his life didn’t have to follow a pre-charted course, that he could CHOOSE who and what he wanted to be. That, more than anything else, is why Damian loves his brother so fiercely, I feel - because of the fact that Dick was the first person in Damian’s life to look at him and just see a PERSON rather than what they already expected to see before they looked at him. 

And so its not even that I don’t think Damian would ever try and kill KGBeast because he believes Dick wouldn’t want anyone killing in his name, its that Damian more than anyone else would know how much Dick would never want HIM to kill someone and claim he was doing it for his older brother....because of how much it meant to BOTH of them that it was because of their bond, their partnership, their brotherhood, that Damian became a hero instead of staying an assassin at all....that Damian found another path for himself, because before Dick, he didn’t even know to LOOK for one, or imagine that it was even a real possibility. 

Dick introduced Damian to opportunities. To options. To having more directions he could go from any given situation beyond just the one that would end with more dead bodies.

And I can’t imagine Damian ever being so willful as to repay that with the same one choice, one direction, that Dick once helped him find alternatives to in the first place.

Nah, if they actually wanted to do something with Damian’s feelings about what happened to Dick? They should have written a story where Damian goes to Bludhaven to confront these strangers wearing his brother’s costumes and using his name. Damian has always held mantles and legacies in high regard, moreso than just about any other character I would argue.....and its always been portrayed as being hugely impactful on him, the fact that Dick actually made Damian Robin himself.

And added in that Damian likely knows how much Dick values his own mantles himself, how much OF himself he puts into them.....Damian would LOATHE these ‘pretenders’ from the moment he learned of them, IMO.

Like, remember when Damian went around trying to challenge each of his brothers or take something from them to prove he was the ‘worthiest’ Robin?

Imagine how powerful it could’ve been to have a story arc where Damian similarly challenged each of these new Nightwings from the shadows, setting up ‘tests’ that were intended to prove their unworthiness to claim his brother’s mantle, expose them as the frauds he would likely view them as.

Because that would be a direct callback to that previous story where he did something similar.....but it would show how far he’s come, even though he’s still very hot-tempered and prideful and etc.....because the juxtaposition of the two stories would highlight the fact that THIS time, Damian wouldn’t be doing this for himself, but for someone else, someone he values as much as he once valued his own prestige. And more than that, he’d do it according to standards or methods he knows Dick would be okay with, like, nothing lethal like he would have in the past, but stuff that was intended to make Damian’s point but not be anything that would make Dick feel guilty about having done in his name, once his memories return.

And then, just imagine his reaction too when he finally comes face to face with Ric, who seems to be HELPING these pretenders, and like....think about how much that would force him to confront and work through in regards to how he feels about Dick’s current state of existence/non-existence and his fears he’ll never get the man he views as his actual brother back. 

Like, I could see him attacking Ric himself, furious that he thinks he even has the ‘right’ to give tacit permission or endorsement of these amateurs, because Ric ISN’T his brother, he’s no more the real Nightwing than any of these, and thus allowing them the use of his name and mantle isn’t a choice that’s actually Ric’s to make, in Damian’s eyes.

But then as they fight and Ric calls upon the muscle memory that’s ingrained into him still, and they start to fall into familiar rhythms and its more a spar than an actual fight, one that BOTH of them are startled by how....right it feels, like, that more than anything IMO would be what has Damian start realizing there’s more of his brother in this ‘Ric’ identity than he’d previously realized, and that deep down they are still inherently the same person, he still KNOWS this man, he just....needs to get to know him again. 

And then there’d still be the matter of the other Nightwings, but now Damian’s reaction or attitude towards them and Ric would likely be one of confusion, like trying to understand WHY Ric would allow this instead of stopping it....because with the realization Damian has that the brother he knows is still somewhere in this man in front of him would come the baffling contradiction that he’s seemingly fine with something Damian KNOWS he would never normally be okay with.

And maybe it ends with the realization, the awareness in both brothers that things AREN’T normal, there’s nothing normal about this situation so the old rules and the preconceptions have to go out the window. Maybe Ric explains he can’t be who everyone wants him to be when he doesn’t even know for himself who and what he wants to be, what that even looks like...and thus maybe its okay that none of these other Nightwings are like him, like he’d been as Nightwing. 

Maybe that’s even part of the point for Ric, that by watching and interacting with four different versions of the him everyone claims he used to be, Ric can start to at least figure out what he’s NOT, what doesn’t feel or look right, and from there maybe have a better chance of heading in the right direction, the one that will take him some place where he actually feels like he fits in his own skin again, like he can look in a mirror and recognize the person staring back at him as at least BEING him, whether that’s Dick or Ric or some amalgamation in between.

THAT story would feel like something Damian might ACTUALLY do, and be productive and work towards the betterment of both brothers’ characterizations.....

But nah. Let’s have Damian go chop off some heads on a regressive revenge road trip because that’s all he knows how to do, apparently, that’s his default setting and always will be because how else will people recognize that he’s the “Bad Robin,” he’s the “’My Middle Name is Violence and My First Name is Actually Excessive’ Robin.”

That’s much better.

[unbelievableholland]

Season of Reunions Part 1:  Happy New Year

<<Previously   Next>>

Pairings: Mob!Hollands x sister!Reader

Warnings: Mentions of death and murder. Use of guns. Lil' bit of angst. A few swear words. Let me know if I missed anything😊

Words: 2,935

A/N: Wohoo! I completed part 1! If there's anything wrong with the story or there's some errors, please let me know. It's like, 4 am where I live and I JUST finished this fic. I read it about 5 times but I'm still unsure whether I missed anything or not 😅😂

Song recs/songs involved in this fic:

Grow As We Go - by: Ben Platt

Summary: You, Y/N L/N, were adopted by 2 mysterious agents. You knew you were adopted and you never thought about your original family. Being content with the life your parents gave you, why would you? That was, until your parents are killed and you're left to fend for yourself and with a lot of questions unanswered.

(Moodboard and digitally written quote made by me. Pictures found on Pinterest. Credits to the original owners ❤️)

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This was NOT how you expected your day to go. One moment you were eating a burger relaxing on a park bench and then the next, you’re running through the forest getting shot at, food forgotten. To hell with that burger. You swear to God if you trip right now, you’re dead.

Through the trees and the shrubs, you saw a clearing where you can maybe lose whoever is fucking shooting at you. Even though you’re not sure whether they’ll catch you or not, you are sure of one thing. You sure as hell won’t die tonight.

You keep running until you made it to the small clearing and turn a hard left. Left, right, left, right. You don’t really know what you are doing or where you are headed, but as long as they lose your trail, you can figure everything out afterwards. You saw a group of thick trees where you are headed and decided to go run towards the shade provided by the trees. You are lucky it was even dark enough so that they couldn’t see you.

Hiding behind one of the thick trees, you look slightly behind you and the tree, eyes straining to adjust to the darkness. You are careful though so that they wouldn’t see you.

As you predicted, they don’t know where you are. You heard talking but not enough to hear full sentences. You tried your best to listen anyway. Maybe you could even get some info about…anything at this point.

You are sure you heard the word “mob” and your name. Now, you are more scared and probably even more screwed. A fucking mob is after you?!

Yes, you knew people were trying to catch you, heck, maybe even kill you! You think, maybe a few rivals of your parents? Maybe even a hitman? but not a freaking mob!

If a mob really is after you, you’re really going to have to up your game. They’re clever, and they work mercilessly. They don’t just blindly attack. If you want to fight off a mob, you’re going to have to outsmart them. Hopefully, they are only after you to catch you or rob you. Not kill you.

What they want from you though, that’s a different question. You don’t even know why they’re after you. It’s not like you have any relation to any mobs or an asset to them, right? I mean, yeah, you’ve heard your parents talk about them before, but never because they were after you or because they were after them. Maybe that’s one of the things they kept secret? Whatever it is, you have a feeling that you’re going to find out soon.

For now, you just shake the thought out of your head. You can worry about that later, but now, you have to find your way out of the forest. Yes, you’ve gone through this forest before but not this particular part of the woods. You’ve never gone this far.

Would it be a good idea to just camp out here until it’s morning? No. Definitely not. What if the people who were just trying to shoot you came back?

With that, you start trying to retrace your steps. Turning around to check the dirt for any shoe prints.

Fortunately, the boots you are wearing had a unique print at the bottom of it. Looking at the ground, you see the trail your boots left while you were trying to run for your life. You follow it to; hopefully; get out of these woods. Wimbledon forests aren’t that vast anyway. You just haven’t explored all of it often enough to remember.

Walking back was a nightmare. It took about half an hour due to your shoe prints getting covered by twigs and leaves. You got back safely though. Now, you just have to figure out how to get back to your place without getting noticed by anyone who looks like one of the guys who were chasing after you. The streets are more crowded now after all. Mostly because of the fireworks. So, they may not attack, but they might follow you.

There are now two options. Either, you go back to the house your parents left for you, or you go somewhere else before going back to the house so anyone who might be following you, could lose your track.

You scan the area. At the moment, you are in a pretty secluded part of Wimbledon. You try to remember the way to your house as best as you can since you’ve never really been to this part of town often before. Wanting to get home as soon as you can, you start walking to wherever seems familiar. At the same time, thinking about moving somewhere else instead of staying in London.

Living where you are now, is difficult. Especially with the people surrounding you. You think that you would have gotten used to the lonely life you have. Living alone in a huge ass mansion certainly gets boring after a while.

You see, you know that your parents left you with a lot of material things, but that notebook is the only thing you have from them that you remember being given to you personally by your parents. Basically, the only sentimental thing you have from them.

Judging by how they lived before, you can assume that they prepared some things for you to continue living as normally as you can if something ever happens to them.

They knew a lot of people and they had a lot of friends. For example, your auntie Jo. She isn’t really your aunt, but you called her that because she was the person who you cared about the most and who cared for you just as much in return. She is also the person who gives you the things your parents told her to give and provide for you. You are pretty sure that if your parents trusted her enough for that, you definitely could too.

That’s how you got your house and practically everything you owned. Your parents apparently bought it for you in case things got dangerous and they were forced to send you somewhere else for your own well-being. This is usually the part when you think, were they expecting something to happen to them? So much so that they practically have everything prepared for you in case they died or in case you got left alone?

You originally lived in New York, but you got sent here by Jo when they heard about your parents getting murdered. They found you crying on the park bench near your house. They introduced themselves to you as quickly as they could and took you immediately to the airport while they collected your things from your former house. Once you got to your current house, they explained to you what happened and what will happen. How your life was going to be from then on.

But as to who “they” are, you’re still not sure.

Jo is the only person you know here. She is the one who teaches you since you’re homeschooled, and the one who checks on you on a regular basis. She’s like a second mom to you.

That’s basically how it started, and now you’re here. Walking back with your clothes dirty to a place where you know no one will be waiting for you.

Yes, you have Jo, but she’s only there in the morning to teach you and to leave you with some extra money. Sometimes she visits so you can have some bonding time. That rarely happens though. You can tell that she’s a busy person.

When she leaves at night, you never know when or if she’ll come back because of how dangerous you know just being around you is. You trust her enough to protect herself though.

Stepping into your house, you look around and turn the lights on. This place is huge. One big bedroom for you with a king-sized bed, a big ass guest room with four twin beds (not like you’ll ever need it), a training room/gym, a home theatre, and a lot more. Even though you’ve been here for five years, you’re still not used to it.

You live in the luxurious part of Wimbledon. It’s pretty quiet here. There’s a lot of guards outside though. They guard the house, but they don’t really care about you. They’re just doing it for the salary. I mean, at least you don’t have personal bodyguards. That would be annoying. It’s mostly because you convinced Jo that you don’t need them. Well, more like showed.

You showed her your skills by letting her watch you train in your personal training room inside the house. She was surprised because, even though she knew you have been training all your life, she didn’t expect you to be this good.

After turning on the lights in your living room, you went straight to the kitchen to grab some sandwiches to take to your bed room. Climbing up the stairs, very tiredly since, you literally just walked an hour and a half through a forest and probably another hour trying to find your way back home. You could’ve just called Jo to send someone to pick you up, but you didn’t want to bother her.

The moment you stepped in your room, you collapsed onto your bed. The sandwiches landing softly beside you. Yes, you are dirty but you couldn’t bring yourself to care since you are exhausted. You can just change the sheets later anyway.

You are just about to fall asleep when you remembered that you should probably text Jo to tell her you got home safe from the park. Of course, leaving out the “dudes trying to shoot you” part. You wouldn’t want her to worry.

You grabbed your phone and texted her a quick:

“I’m home, and I’m fine. Love u”

You set your phone down, but before you take your eyes off the screen you see that Jo replied.

“That’s good. Stay safe and remember to take care of yourself. Love you too”

Every time you see a message like that, your heart swells. It’s a nice reminder that a person actually loves you and is there for you whether you need them or not.

You lay down on your bed, staring at the ceiling and wonder. Why? Why are the people surrounding you act like you’re some princess they need to take extra care of? Even the guards outside are very strict with you sometimes. Even if they don’t personally care, it’s like, it’s their job to keep you as overly protected as possible. You get to go out, but you have to tell Jo to tell the guards that you can. You don’t know why your parents had so many people to watch over you, but it’s something that you just learned to accept. Your life is already complicated enough. Didn’t stop your brain from thinking of possible explanations though.

You might think having almost everything would make you happy, but you would trade the entire house just to have someone to always be with you. Just to have one best friend. Except for Jo of course. Well technically, you do have many people around you.

The only one of them you know though, is Jo, but sometimes, when Jo’s busy, she sends some random adult to watch over you. It’s even more suspicious because those people usually wear suits. Like it’s their uniform or something.

You’re not even sure if your parents were actually government agents. Probably more like, agents from a different or even a secret organization. They did pretty shady stuff. Something that you don’t think the government would even do.

They didn’t tell you that though. You just saw some files about people they were “tracking”. You saw those cork boards with yarns and pictures of different people and different places. It was when you were about seven years old when you went inside their room to take a look inside. Your parents didn’t know of course.

You were always a curious kid. A smart curious kid. Some people would even go as far as to say that you are a genius. A prodigy. You choose not to dwell on that topic though. Wouldn’t want to turn into a big-headed prick.

However, no matter what you do, no matter how many times you try to distract yourself, you just can’t forget about that stupid notebook. The one that was hidden in your drawer. The one your mother gave to you. The notebook that you don’t even think Jo knows about, and that’s saying a lot since she knows everything. Well, almost everything.

If it’s just a regular notebook, you probably wouldn’t think much of it, but mostly, it’s the letters engraved on the leather cover of the notebook.

For Y/N

You know that it isn’t just a regular notebook your parents would probably buy as a gift for their child.

It was and is for you.

And the fact that it appears to be a few years old and used, makes it seem more like something was written in there specifically for you to read. Like it’s very important.

You sit up on the bed. Thinking carefully about your next move.

You decide to stand up and walk towards the drawer. Getting the key from the jewelry box you have on the table next to it, so you can open the small locked dresser attached to your door desk.

When you finally open it, you immediately see the notebook.

Your heart beats faster. Your breathing quickens. The palm of your hands starts to get sweaty.

This is really not the time to have a fucking panic attack.

Closing your eyes, you try to calm yourself down so you can prevent past traumas from resurfacing.

Fuck.

Still, you don’t calm down. You decide that it’s probably not the time to read the notebook. You quickly walk to your bed, not before grabbing your guitar on the side of your bedroom door though. Maybe singing or even just strumming a tune on your guitar might help you calm down.

Breath in, breath out.

Placing your fingers gently on the strings, you strum one of the songs you remember Jo singing so you can calm down during these impending anxiety attacks.

You take a deep breath, as you strum one of the songs Jo introduced you to. Closing your eyes to imagine that, instead of yourself, it was your mom singing the famous Ben Platt song.

You say there’s so much you don’t know

You need to go and find yourself

Memories of the time spent with your mom and dad are played like an old movie inside your head.

You say you’d rather be alone

‘Cause you think you won’t find it tied to someone else.

Smiling to yourself. You thought this song is perfect because your parents never wanted you to be alone. They would want you to grow up with someone. To grow up like a normal kid.

Ooh, who said it’s true?

That the growing only happens on your own?

They don’t know me and you.

I don’t think you have to leave

If to change is what you need

You can change right next to me

It’s funny how things can turn out. Your parents didn’t want you to be alone, didn’t want you to grow up as a person who didn’t trust anyone.

Couldn’t trust anyone.

When you’re high I’ll take the lows

You can ebb and I can flow

And we’ll take it slow

And grow as we go, grow as we go.

You slowly stop singing and gently fade out the chords to the song. As you open your eyes, you realize that your breathing has gone back to normal, and your heart rate slowed down.

You know, deep down, that your mother was telling you something when she gave you that notebook. That she wanted you to know something. Something you just had…have to know.

It’s been 5 years; almost six; and you still haven’t opened it.

Would it really be that bad?

You have to open it. You have to know what it was your parents were trying to tell you.

But do you really?

No, no you do not. Would it really hurt to just, live without knowing? To forget about what could possibly hold the answers to your bazaar life? You know the answer though.

So, without thinking, you stood up and ran to your dresser. Fumbling with the notebook with how fast you got it since you didn’t close the dresser. You open it, and you see, taped at the back of the cover, is a black ring, with a chain looped through it, making it a necklace.

You are about to detach it but your phone rings. Startling you and almost dropping the notebook. You figure it’s Jo calling, so you set the notebook down. Momentarily forgetting about the matte black ring to go and answer the phone call.

Hearing a very cheery Jo speak through the phone,

“HAPPY NEW YEAR!”

Oh right.

You almost forgot that Jo wasn’t here all day because she went to spend time with some people. You didn’t know them. Maybe her family? At least it sounds like she is having fun.

How could you even forget that it was New Year’s Eve? Especially when you went to the park specifically to watch the fireworks show the town had set up.

You sigh.

“Happy New Year Jo”.

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Tag List:

@spideylovin

#tom holland x reader #tom holland and you #tom holland au #harry holland x you #sam holland x reader #paddy holland #Tom Holland x sister!Reader #Sam Holland x sister!Reader #Harry Holland x sister!Reader #Paddy Holland x sister! Reader #harrison osterfield #harrison osterfeild x reader #tom holland imagine #sam holland imagine #harry holland imagine #Paddy Holland imagine #harrison osterfeild imagine #mob!tom #mob!harrison #mob!au #mob!haz #Mob!Sam #Mob!Harry #tom holland angst #harry holland angst #Sam Holland angst #Harrison Osterfeild angst #tom holland x you #harry holland x y/n #thomas stanley holland

[chey-fey-ma]

Some of the events I’m about to address will be extremely triggering for some people. Please proceed with caution. This has to deal with the protests and police brutality.

I was arrested.

I was arrested violently. I was pushed to the ground and arrested with my hands behind my back and guns pointed at my face. My boyfriend and good friend, both of whom are men of color were also pushed to the ground with guns in their faces and not a single right was read to us.

To emphasize my point, the three of us weren’t anywhere NEAR a protest. We had heard screaming and calls for help and sirens down the street and knowing that people we all loved and cared about could be in danger, we decided to suit up and brace ourselves to offer medical supplies and a place to stay for anyone that was hurt by the awful acts of brutality by police that we had been witnessing for the past couple nights. For the past year Brady Street had been my home. It was where I went to get a latte at Rochambo and tell jokes and draw pictures with friends and family alike. But last night, it was the most unfamiliar place I had ever been to.

As we were making our way back down the street to go into our house that was less than 15 feet away, we were ambushed by an all black cop car taking us from our left flank. We knew we were caught but we didn’t expect to be in trouble for being right outside our own home, the same home my boyfriend had for the past 5 years without a single problem. Four cops come out with guns in their hands and ready to shoot. It was in that instant I felt that my life was over. Everything I had dreamed or ever wanted was out of my reach. I would never perform on Broadway. I would never move back to NYC. I would never get married or raise a family with the man I love, even if I was to not get shot, he still could have and that dream would still be out the window in a blink of an eye. Without a second thought, a person— another HUMAN could decide that my dreams were unattainable and take my boyfriend away from me for the rest of my life; however long that could be since I have no clue how I could recover since he is my lifeline and has my soul.

In an instant our lives could be deemed worthless only because of a curfew that was haphazardly placed on a day to day basis; and for a moment, we were deemed as worthless. In total there were well over 50 police officers all in squad cars and even the SWAT team pulled up to the scene. All for three peaceful people trying to get home from making sure no one was hurt. As they saw me lay helpless on the ground, crying with fluid draining from my nose, they pulled out their cellphones and took pictures and recorded. “Oh this ones going to Ashley” I heard one say and talk about how they were going to send it to a family member or friend.

While I was thinking these moments could be the last time I ever saw my boyfriend alive, these cops patted themselves on the back for a job well done and circle jerked to a young woman crying thinking that she would never get to say goodbye to the man she loved or to her mother and brother.

After being arrested and our possessions taken forcefully from us, we were separated. My friend and boyfriend in one car and I in another. There I was paraded around the city as I cried not for myself but for the fear of losing my loved ones. Finally I was taken to a dark area under one of the freeway bridges were about 60 other police officers were standing around waiting for something to happen. After about an hour of doing nothing, I was finally put in the back of a high security bus all by myself and three armed cops driving the bus.

I opened my eyes and I was suddenly in a new place with people I have never seen before. All the people being detained looked at me and suddenly I felt a sense of comradery I had never experienced before. I was finally able to stop crying as I realized almost all the people held here looked like they were just trying to get home. One by one I listened to their stories and I realized this was the most disgusting act of power I had ever seen. I felt violated and like I was suddenly non human by the way we were being treated.

What I witnessed was illegal and breaches human decency on every level imaginable. There were two healthcare workers in scrubs being detained with me who were literally on their way home from their clinic that was 45 minutes away. They were arrested at about 9:45. Just from coming home from potentially saving lives. There was a new mother who just had a cesarean section only less than 2 weeks previously. There was an expecting mother with her arms tied behind her back who looked like she could pass out at any moment. The new mother actually did at one point pass out after throwing up and an ambulance was called about two hours later. TWO. HOURS. LATER.

Outside of the Milwaukee section 2 prison facility I was stored in there were military personal with loaded machine guns who kept staring at us like we were nothing more than vermin on our way to be exterminated. As if we were bred for the slaughter of their injustice.

I was taken in at about 10:45 with a lot of my colleagues taken in at around 9. One by one slowly they took us in the back to book us. I can not stress enough how unprofessional and how awful most of the cops were, with many of them admitting they had no idea what was going on or what they were doing. One cop taunted us asking if we learned our lesson. “Yeah” I said. “I’ve learned to never trust cops again and that all you guys are pigs” I muttered, a stance I hadn’t taken before this night. It really was all or nothing, and if I was going to be treated with no regard, why should I care for a second about a cop’s life. They clearly didn’t care about ours. Mine. My friends. My boyfriends. People I love and care about.

Slowly I watched my new friends disappear and finally taken to a holding cell for the information on them to be processed. I was going to be one of the last ones and the officers admitted they were taking a long time on purpose. I mean, they’re getting paid TAX DOLLARS to sit on their asses all day, so I suppose they were trying to milk out that few extra dollars by tormenting and traumatizing us.

For 14 hours I was never read my rights, never given anything to eat, never got to make a phone call, never told I had access to a lawyer, and only reluctantly given water because some of the people I was with threatened to sue. They told us because it was a temporary facility that it didn’t count as being normally arrested and so none of our rights were actually ours. Once again, everyone that was detained with me were ALL heading home. No exceptions. Some people were driving home when they had their tires blown out by police. One woman told me her boyfriend (who is black) was tased for stepping out of his car once his tires were blown up. It was only when she begged them not to shoot that they put down their weapons.

At about 7 hours in, I was exhausted and sweating profoundly and I started to cry from anger and once again wondering if my friends were safe. I kept saying that over and over again. That I just want to know if they are okay. One girl stood up and yelled at a cop asking if they cared that I was sobbing begging to make sure my boyfriend was alive. We were all met with shrugs and a woman officer (she was medium built and blonde with her colleague being another woman officer with dark brown hair with the last name of Sanchez) telling us that she didn’t care. The two woman officers just gossiped and looked at us with disgusting faces. Perhaps they were just doing their job. But that just speaks even more about what kind of job being a police officer really is. Apparently to do your job right you have to have no regard for human life and for the actual safe keeping of the city. As long as you get the arrest numbers, you’re golden to keep terrorizing marginalized communities and people.

There was one point in the night that I had a trans man and another non-binary individual (like me) being detained with the group. After he told them that he was trans, he was brought to the back to be berated and made sure that he REALLY was trans and not just trying to get attention. I don't know what happened to him behind those closed doors since I never saw him again, but I can't imagine it was anything short of horrific.

The rest of the night was a blur and I was labeled as a rioter and my possessions labeled as riot gear. This was my only offense. I had on a helmet and some padded protection on my body since if there WERE shots fired, I wanted to try to lessen the impact. The woman took out my piercings and my hair ties and Bobby pins. I was left only wearing my oversized Star Wars t-shirt and some athletic leggings. In a cruel act of irony, one of the officers pointed to my shirt and said “looks like we got another fan”. I just stared at him and he said “smile it's a good thing”. This was already 10 hours in. I grunted and spat back, “one would think, right”. I’ve never talked back to a police officer in my life, but I was tired, angry, upset, and in pain. I was fighting for the resistance. They were on the side of the Sith.

We were then placed in individual cells for holding. It was unsanitary and period blood filled the toilet I was given as well as urine from whoever was there before me. At this point I needed to pee and I told everyone to look away. They did as I, as safely as possible, hovered over the toilet seat to finish my business. I wasn’t given toilet paper or anything of the sort; instead I used my sock that had been on my foot this whole time. It was actually one of my boyfriend's nice fuzzy black socks. Male cops were able to walk in and out as they pleased and could see females trying to relieve themselves. It was the most dehumanizing experience I have ever had.

Finally I could hear freedom ringing in my ears as I was approached and told that I was free to go. I tried to thank the officer but I couldn’t find the words after being treated so horribly. I was given my stuff back in a large bag and then thrusted out into the sunlight after being held for again, 14 hours (need I remind you this was all for just a ticket too). My eyes began to tear up as I realized I had no idea where I was or how I was going to get home. I looked around, and since we were thrown out the back, I didn’t see a single person. I cried as I picked up my ALMOST dead phone and saw my boyfriend tried to call me several times. For the first time the entire night, I was extremely relieved to see that he was alive and well. I saw his messages saying he and our friend were alright and got out and the only way they were alright was all thanks to the neighbor who saw the WHOLE thing and recorded it too. He saved our lives. Full stop, HE is a hero. He was recording and on our side and trying to get us home safely. Our neighbor picked up my boyfriend and friend from section 4 where the men were held. For those who don’t know, it's right in a super dangerous neighborhood and we live on the East side.

Once I called my boyfriend he told me he was out front and I shakily told him that I thought I was on the side of the building but I would head that way. Finally I saw him and he saw me and it was as if we were the only two people on the planet. Yes, it is just like in the movies when you have someone really love and care about you. He first waved to me and I hung up the phone to make my way towards him. He started running and then finally we were in each other’s arms hugging on for dear life. He placed his hands on my head and looked me up and down while saying that he was sorry over and over and over again. But I wasn’t even a tiny bit angry with him, I was the most relieved and content I had ever been in my entire 21 years of living. After our tearfilled reunion, I got the names of some of the other people that were with me and I gave them my contact information as well.

I have a lot to say… A lot more to say about what I felt and what I still feel. The 700 dollar fine is almost nothing compared to the emotional trauma that I felt and went through. All for just being a decent human being and making sure people were alright from protests that were happening. We were arrested for caring and arrested for essentially the color of our skin. Well, not so much me, but it was the fact that I was with two males of color— the most gentle and kind males anyone could ever hope to encounter. I know it was this because I saw other white people walking around and they didn’t get arrested, just told to go home. My stance is now clear to me. There ARE no good cops. There never were. They hold up an institution of racism and fear. That same racism and fear that was so very real to me and not just a concept like you are likely to be reading about just now. Please know I am very angry and heartbroken, but we are safe and right now I’m just thanking my lucky stars that we weren’t slaughtered like George Floyd. It is a predicament that no one should have to experience and no one with a human heart should perpetuate.

#blacklivesalwaysmatter #blacklivesmatter #support blm #blm movement #protest #politics #fuckthepolice #fuckthefeds #police #police brutality #black lives matter #fuck cops #fuck 12

[midnight-hotel]

My OC

Original sketches. Ears are slightly pointed but not as exaggerated as in the first image. Ends of hair are splotched with a natural blue and red that mixes in places to make purple. She has a mostly human appearance aside from her ears and red and yellow eyes. Her appearance can change however. She developed claws, teeth become sharp and ears become a little pointier.

//Forgive me, this is a bit all over the place.

Preferred Name: Candy

Full Name: Courtney Hatchwood

Nickname/s: The Storm Demon, Candy (When she was alive)

D.O.B: April 1989

D.O.D: November 2017

Cause of Death: Crushed by an unstable building during a cyclone

Age: 28

Gender: Female

Sexual Orientation: Straight

Family:

- Alexa Hatchwood (Mother/Alive)

- Steven Hatchwood (Father/Alive)

- Lydia Hatchwood (Little sister/Alive)

- Christopher Stone (‘Adopted’ Son/Alive) – Candy doesn’t know he’s alive

- Adam Stone (‘Adopted’ Son/Alive) – Candy doesn’t know he’s alive

Friends:

- Ray (Sister’s OC)

- Niffty

- Angel Dust

- Charlie

- Tom

Frenemies:

- Alastor

- Husk

- Vaggie

- Sir Pentious

Enemies:

- Katie Killjoy

- Cherri

- Valentino (After learning of how he treats Angel)

- Jasmine Stone (Old Friend/Mother of ‘sons’/Deceased/26)

Power: Candy, in a sense, is able to control the weather. Not completely, however. She can summon clouds and control their density. She mainly uses this as a weapon, summoning clouds around a demon’s head and increasing the density, suffocating/drowning them. This power lashes out with her emotions a little, however. If she’s incredibly angry/scared/sad, it will typically become rainy/stormy in the area. A quirk about this ability though, is when she’s grumpy, a literal cloud appears above her head.

Personality: Candy, despite how she may come off at first, is very reserved. She doesn’t like telling people about herself, out of fear of being used in some way. This being said, she doesn’t tell people her real name, what her life was like when alive and certainly not where she currently lives. She has trust issues, so she can’t bring herself to stay at the hotel, instead making the long trip home at the end of the day. Shoving this aside however, she is a very dedicated and protective person, defending those who she has managed to come close to. She’s also naturally protective of children and easily becomes upset at the mention of her ‘sons’ and seeing children in hell. She has trouble hiding her emotions, feeling strongly about a lot of things that tends to throw her powers off a bit.

She can also be quite manipulative, putting people down or twisting their thoughts as much as she can to get her way. She becomes a lil grumpy when she doesn’t get her way.

Hobbies: Baking, cooking

Likes: Sweets, singing, dancing, reading, old music and rock and roll, children

Dislikes: Being bossed around, sexism, bitter food, tea and coffee (She’s the type to drink hot chocolate).

Strengths: She’s quite intelligent due to her natural curiosity

Weaknesses: Children, sometimes she comes off as rude/condescending when she talks to new people

Fears: Despite her powers, Candy is dead scared of storms. (I headcanon that hell has seasons but they’re extreme. So, storms are really bad.)

Habits: Swears a lot when she’s angry or on edge, always subconsciously reaching for candy in her pocket despite not having any a lot of the time

Nationality: Australian

Occupation: Weather reporter (Previously and currently)

Height: 6’

Glasses or Contacts: She wears glasses for reading but absolutely refuses to wear them in front of anyone. This leads to her squinting and leaning in a lot to try read something.

Backstory: Courtney Hatchwood lived a relatively normal life from childhood to the beginning of adulthood. She had a large network of friends and a great bond with her family. Her friends gave her the nickname ‘Candy’ because she was always pulling sweets out of her pocket, no matter where they were or what they were doing. Her best friend Jasmine was always by her side. They were two peas in a pod and didn’t often do anything without the other. Despite being a relatively good pair, Jasmin got pregnant at 16 and ended up with Christopher who Courtney grew attached to very quickly. Two years later, to the same guy, despite Courtney’s disapproval, Jasmine had Adam. Shortly after, the young woman’s boyfriend left her, so Courtney stepped up to the plate to help take care of the boys. The two got an apartment together when they were 21, with the support of their parents of course, and did what they could to live comfortable lives.

It was when she was 24, that the boys were left to her so Jasmine could attend an event for a couple days. She packed a suitcase and left. A week later, she still hadn’t come back and upon further inspection, Courtney discovered that she had stolen their jar of money and took several valuables, including her own jewellery. It was around this time that Courtney killed someone for the first time. The kids were safe at home and she was out for the night, getting a couple drinks with some friends to unwind. It was on her way home, that she received some… unsavoury, sexist comments from a rando on the street. She beat him to death out of pure rage, everything having piled together and being taken out on that one guy. She was almost caught, but from there, she took more care. Over the next four years, she rid the town of people who deemed themselves better than the other sex. She had discovered a whole new hatred towards sexist people, without a clue of where it came from.

November 2017, there was a severe cyclone and she was on the run. A close friend of hers suspected her for the missing/dead people and police were on her tail. The storm wasn’t too bad at the time, she found somewhere to hide and prayed that her ‘boys’ would be okay. That’s when the cyclone really hit, and the building came down on top of her.

Now in hell, she doesn’t know if her boys are alive and has no idea that her old friend, who died two years before she had, was down in hell with her.

#hazbin hotel #oc #candy #admin

[starr-fall-knight-rise]

Humans are Space Orcs “Venomous Saliva?”

From the Intergalactic Journal of Biology and Mechanics

During the solar cycle of 14456 a replication study was conducted by our scientists on the Intergalactic Congress Laboratory. The study attempted to replicate an experiment from a previously published human study. The results were a conclusive replication indicating that the human mouth contains up to 200 species of microorganisms at a concentration of 1,000 to 1 billion on each dental protrusion (tooth).

Despite their out world classification as a class A-1 predator, on their own planet they meet a low classification of a D-8 predator or a B-2 when factoring in their intelligence. For this reason, on their own planet, the humans are not considered to be venomous despite the need for immediate hospitalization upon receiving a bite from their own species.

Off planet their nature as an A-1 apex predator gives them a subclass of a G-6 venom predator. Though their saliva is not dangerous when in contact with open skin or carapace, immediate medical attention is required if bitten or spit on. Areas of danger include the eyes nose mouth, or any other orifice that allows access to the nervous system.

Additional literature on the subject indicates that bacterial presence is used as a catalyst for breaking down food in the mouth. Other bacteria exists within the gut to help with food processing. Without bacterial assistance, food processing would be almost impossible for a human. The nature of this mutualism inoculates the human against most off-world diseases.

A cautionary note: Species from the Gamma four sector are advised to keep clear of humans all together as they are particularly susceptible to human venom*.

*All non-human species are advised to avoid calling humans “Venomous” as it may be seen as an insult. Humans do not see themselves as a particular danger to others in this way.

 At any other time, Krill might have been worried about their present predicament, but after months of shenanigans with the humans including almost dying more than once, the situation they were in now was almost laughable.

Once again human reckless stupidity had brought them to their knees before an angry group of Burg. Perhaps they would have made it out alive if the “sass” of the Captain hadn’t inadvertently offended the leader of the ship; an offence, which punishment was immediate execution.

On their knees, the humans were almost as tall as the Burg, though of course the Burg were Octapeds, and would likely tower over the humans if they stood on their back-most set of legs.

“Ready yourself for your demise, Human.” The Burg commander clicked through his quadra-segment mouth a sheen of base slime glittering over his body

The Captain raised an eyebrow, “Come on, I didn’t mean it like that. In fact ugly scorpion is a term of endearment on my planet.”

With a roar, the Burg commander scuttled closer pincers clicking right in front of the humans face shining points ominously close to his one remaining eye. The human blinked and leaned back in a very unsettled sort of way. Despite this, Krill still saw the reaction as understated. He had death literally two inches from his face and he seemed more disturbed by the thing’s segmented mouth than his own eminent doom.

“Ready the weapons!” the Burg called out. Beneath him a light dusting of slime glistened in the low lighting. The entire ship smelled painfully sterile. Out of the corner of his eye, Krill could see the humans wincing as the smell assaulted their noses.

“I don’t think you want to do that.” The captain interjected as plasma rays were aimed towards his head.

The Burg gave a clicking laugh, “You are hardly in a place to be making threats.”

“Oh really,” Krill had spent enough time with the humans to know when they were bluffing, and the Captain was getting ready for a big whopper of a lie. Why he thought that would work mystified Krill, but he said nothing content with watching the horror unfold from a distance.

“Do you even know what a human is?” The man asked ominously

The commander laughed, “I do not care.”

“Well you should.” The human shot back, “If you knew what we were capable of you would run screaming from this place.”

“And why is that?” The creature asked in amusement

“Because, if I chose to, I could snap these chains with my bare hands and throttle you with them.”

The creature laughed, but Krill kept silent. He sort of doubted that claim, but it honestly wouldn’t surprise him if that was true.

“Than do it. If you can break the chains than do it, and take your freedom.” When nothing happened, the creature gave a chuckle mandibles clicking in amusement.

“I am going to enjoy this, and once you’re dead, I’m going to take my time with the rest of your crew. I am going to rip them to pieces bit by bit and sing along with their screams of agony.

Mistake.

Krill winced shrinking back as he watched the human’s eyes narrow in rage.

The creature let off another clicking laugh, and then a terrible scream. Krill yelped in horror unsure what was happening as the group of creatures rushed in to help their commander who was on the ground underneath the captain’s knees.

The man’s teeth had torn a piece of carapace from the creature’s shoulder.

As he was pulled away saliva and slime coated his chin and neck.

Where the saliva and slime made contact steam fizzed into the air.

The Commander once silent was now crying out in pain scratching at his torn carapace with terrified fervor. Steam blasted from the slime-producing pours under his carapace as the slightly acidic human saliva met the base slime of the creature.

“IT BURNS!” He screamed. The steam was fading away now, and the spot was beginning to turn red.

Even the captain seemed surprised as the creature thrashed around on the floor its pinkish flesh growing redder and redder by the moment.

Whatever it was, it was spreading.

Even the Captain looked slightly surprised as the creature thrashed before him.

In acts of anger, the rest of the crew turned to face them weapons leveled. They kept at a distance. Whatever the human had done, it couldn’t reach them here.

In an act of what must have been defiance or sheer dumb luck, one of the humans spit at the closest soldiers. Whatever it was, it happened to be a pretty good shot striking the creature in the face who immediately reared back roaring in pain as steam rolled off his carapace.

Looking back down at the commander, the redness had spread under his other plates which were even now beginning to wilt and blacken. Steam rose from his skin.

The captain backed away in shock eyes wide.

One of the other humans had appropriated a plasma weapon from the thrashing commander and shot the chains loose releasing the humans who, made a point of growling at anyone who got to close retreating from the ship quickly.

 The virulent reaction of the saliva was enough of a concern that, once the Intergalactic Assembly had caught wind, they demanded the humans be placed into quarantine as the ICDC examined the site. While conclusions were still being formed about what had happened, the running theory was that, the slightly acidic nature of the human’s saliva had reacted with the basic nature of the protective slime rendering it functionless as a protective agent. The bacteria were then able to slip in through the pores under the creature’s armor and spread rapidly through its nervous system. It was unknown at this point why the bacteria had been so fast acting, but it was theorized the structures of the humans verses the Burg somehow accommodated the spread of bacterial infection.

The eyes, requiring the basic slime to function had had their functioning burned away and allowed infections to set straight into the brain.

The Intergalactic council ruled the incident self-defense, and mitigated other charges as the human had not known what the reaction would be.

However, from that day on, a law was set in place determining that a human spitting at someone to be a class one Felony charge, or in certain cases, attempted murder, while other precautions were put in place forcing human inmates to wear spit shields when placed into custody.

Despite themselves, the humans found the entire thing funny, never had they assumed another species would consider them venomous.

It was only bacteria after all, and venom and bacteria aren’t the same thing.

#humans are space orcs #humans are weird #earth is space australia