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#kinda lost track of my point but it’s ok the thoughts gotta go somewhere
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Oozelle’s basic diary
Cover: read my diary and I break your leg!
September 1st.
Crap, the track team’s first practice is in two weeks. Ya want me to wait that long!? The entire point is to go fast and ya want me to wait!? Heck, the skateboard club’s first meeting is in one week, according to Aviya! It’s not fair, not fair, not fair! What am I supposed to do in all that time, study??? Learn yoga??? Steal a book of puns??? Audition for a different sport- wait. That one’s actually a good idea! Thanks diary, ya are really cool!
September 2nd.
Nevermind, that was a bad idea. Thanks a lot, diary >:(! Apparently, ya can only be in one sport, for time reasons. They changed it from last year, since ya know, back then ya could be in two sports. This one girl, Commandra or whatever, told me. She had to drop one of her sports (basketball). She also said I probably shouldn’t be on the track team anyway???
“It’s not fair to anyone else, you can teleport!”
Which… no? This doesn’t affect my ability to run track at all???
Ok, first of all, I can’t teleport, I can walk through walls. There’s a difference. Second of all, I run through walls the same way I run through air! This doesn’t change anything, let alone speed. There aren’t any walls, and that’s cheating. I’m a track star, fair and square. She’s probably just joining the track team, and is afraid of me.
But hey, I found a reason to wait and stay on the track team, driving Commandra crazy!
September 15th.
Track team meeting was… almost good. Turns out Commandra lied. Ya can still have two sports, and she dropped basketball to join track. Never should’ve trusted a demon. But eh, she plays fair. And good. Gotta give her that.
Oh, also: I noticed that the gym’s ceiling isn’t made of glass anymore. Can’t tell what it’s made of now, but it’s painted to look like the sky. Health concerns, apparently. That made me realize, there’s no windows in here. Now, I know this school’s a pocket dimension and all that, but there’s gotta be some kind of outside. That’s how we entered. And again, the ceiling was made of glass, at first. There was a sky. Clouds moved. It rained and snowed and all that jazz.
I’m gonna go try to see the outside, just a little. Got nothin better to do.
September 15th (continued).
There’s a lot more hallways in here than I thought. I’ve just been walking through hallways, looking into empty classrooms. I think I’m lost.
But hey, I know there’s an exit around here somewhere. I got in. I left in the summer, and then I came back.
Trying to avoid walking through a wall, cuz like, Imma not supposed to do that. I don’t wanna get in trouble over this. Marked a door though, painted a little goop heart. They wouldn’t get mad over a goop heart, it’s not in their hearts to do that! Get it, get it?
I’ve passed the goop heart like three times, and I never went in the same direction. Not once, I swear. There’s no other direction to go. Am I trapped? Should I even try going back, like, would that even work? What kinda school is this? …Screw it, I’m going back.
Four times. I passed the goop heart trying to go back like three times.
It doesn’t even look like I just painted it, it looks like it's always been there. It’s just a black heart.
I just wanted to go outside, what is this crap?
Imma sitting down, gonna try to have some big idea on how to get out. Still not gonna walk through a wall, like, if all this happened cuz I tried to leave, I don’t wanna know what’ll happen if I break an actual rule.
September 16th.
Ok so, I got out, didn’t update when I got out cuz I was tired from all that running, so basically, here’s what happened, cuz like, I don’t know what else to do right now, ya know.
Basically, going back the way I came wasn’t working, so I panicked and ran into the goop heart room, which was the gym, somehow? I’m not in the mood to question that right now, or much else really, I’ll have my weirdness epiphany later. And Commandra was practicing, just, running laps over and over again. She stopped to drink some water, and I confronted her about the lie.
She apologized, and admitted she was just worried that there wouldn’t be enough room on the track team for her. And yes, she did like my speed. But also I was the only person she had a reason she could come up with to like, leave.
Admittedly, she was a little mean about it,and it a stupid excuse, but it was an apology, and I was a little mentally worn out, so I accepted it. We ran a few laps, and I’ll give it to her, she’s genuinely really good. Didn’t notice her cheating anywhere.
Somehow, I was back in my dorm.
Aviya asked if I could help with her math, and I was like, hey, you think I am better at math than you, and she said that some extra eyes was all she needed. She was right,
Anyways, after that I passed out, and then woke up the next morning. Tried to pass the day thinking it was all some bizarre dream, but Commandra asked if we could race again tonight (I panicked and said no). This book just confirms it all happened.
I’m not sure if I want to ask anymore questions about this though. I’m no smart one, I’m not the one who finds answers. I’m not sure if I could find an answer. And like, who would even believe me? I’m a trackstar, not a weirdness scientist! Track…
I’m gonna tell Commandra I changed my mind. I do like track. Might as well have fun this year, even with this weird environment.
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tngrace · 3 years
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hello! For the 4 words prompts list, can I request “This was never right.” thanks 💛
Thank you @sixringss for the prompt. Sorry it took me a minute to get something out. Just had to wait for the right inspiration. Hope you like it. Coda/slight canon divergence for 2.04- big brother Judd is really taking over everything these days. 🤷🏻‍♀️ and this really got away from me 🙈
4 word prompt Masterlist
I have one left to write. I promise I haven't forgotten you @immortalstrand just trying to find the right inspiration for the prompt. Hopefully will be out soon 🙏🏻
As always thanks @moviegeek03 for helping nail down the idea. 😘
TK had been so excited when he realized he was finally gonna get to meet Carlos's parents. That is until Carlos had introduced him as a friend. He'd done his best not to let it show, but he know Carlos had picked up on his silence on the way home. The fight they'd just had wasn't his finer moment either. He knew he shouldn't have walked out; he knew Carlos was hiding something just from the pain in his eyes, but he'd been too hurt to care.
He grimaces as he recalls his words about making more space in Carlos's closet. That hadn't been fair. Carlos had put up with so much of his crap in the beginning, and here he was leaving again. Oh well. It was done and now he had to find somewhere to go to lick his wounds.
He didn't really wanna go home; his parents on his nerves between the lovey dovey and their new weirdness he'd picked up on at the station the other day. Marjan was out with her fiancé, and he didn't want to call Paul, knowing he'd get a lecture. Mateo's energy would be too much for him right now, so that just left Judd.
He let out a sigh at the realization. Judd would let him crash no questions asked. But TK wasn't sure he wanted Judd's big brother routine. He let out another sigh knowing he didn't have a choice unless he wanted to deal with his parents. He sent Judd a text asking if he could come over before ordering an Uber.
Upon arrival, TK let out another sigh as he stood on the Ryder's front porch. He wasn't sure if Grace was home or if he'd be interrupting anything, so he stood there for the longest biting at his lip even though Judd had replied an affirmative to his text. By the time he'd worked up the nerve to go knock, the door swung up with Judd propped in the doorway. "You just gonna stand there all night pretty boy or you gonna get your ass in here?" Judd asked not picking up TK's nervous energy yet.
"Juddson Ryder, that is no way to talk to a guest," Grace said lightly slapping him with a towel as she joined him at the door.
"Ah it's just TK Gracie," he laughed before looking at TK's face now that he was closer.
"Ah hell," he sighed noticing the bitten lip and the bag. "Get in here little bother," he said pulling TK inside.
"I didn't... I hope I'm not interrupting," he says this to Grace, the bottom lip still between his teeth. "I just.... I didn't know where else to go," he says quietly looking down.
Judd takes his bag wondering what in the hell had caused this as Grace reassured TK with a hug he wasn't interrupting anything and was always welcome. "Thanks, Grace," TK tells her quietly as Grace leads him to the couch with Judd following. Judd sits down across from TK in a chair as TK wrings his hands. Grace sends Judd a worried look before he gives her a reassuring smile.
"I'm gonna get us some tea," she annouces giving TK's shoulder a squeeze as she walks by.
"Thanks darling," Judd smiles. Once Grace is in the kitchen getting the tea, Judd debates waiting TK out or point blanking asking him what's up. The longer he watches TK sit in anxiety, he decides he can't stand watching it so he's just gonna ask.
"Something happen with your parents?" Judd asks him. At TK's shake of the head no, Judd let's out a soft sigh. "Alright. Carlos then?" He asks as Grace returns with the tea. She takes up a spot by TK on the couch ready to offer him the comfort he so apparently needs. Judd can't stand the kicked puppy look TK pulls at his question about it being about Carlos.
"Sweetie, you don't have to tell us anything you don't want to," Grace says before Judd can disagree. "We're here for you no matter what. You wanna talk, we'll listen," she says sending Judd a pointed look. "You just wanna sleep, we'll get you in bed. Whatever you need TK no conditions," Grace says before relaxing into the couch and sipping her tea.
TK sends her a grateful look before the kicked puppy look returns. "Carlos and I had a fight," he says softly. "And I didn't want to deal with my parents yet. They're just.... yea," he says trailing off.
Grace hums having heard from Judd how insufferable Owen and Gwyn have been for TK.
"We ran into Carlos's parents at the farmers market. I've been dying to meet them, and he's been avoiding it. He introduced me as his friend," TK says trying not to break down on his friends.
"Like hell he did," Judd growls before Grace sends him another pointed look with a quiet "Juddson."
TK is still ringing his hands and Grace lays a comforting hand on his back. "Did he explain why?" Grace asks him when the silences stretches on for a minute too long. "Because anyone with eyes can see how in love you two are. So it doesn't make sense, he'd back track without some reason."
"Is he not out to them," Judd asks leaning closer to TK's space to try and calm him down as well. He's seen first hand what happens when TK works himself up with his anxiety.
"He said he is," TK says finally meeting Judd's eyes.
"Grace is right," Judd declares. "Anyone with eyes can see how in love you two are. It's sickening," he teases making TK chuckle finally.
"Yea well.... this was never right..." he sighs. "He's met my parents but any time I brought up meeting his, he avoided it."
Judd and Grace share a look before deciding with their eyes that Judd would take the lead. "TK, I know you're hurt. Hell I'm pissed for you. But you gotta remember too that Carlos grew up here. It might not have always been as easy for him as it was for you," Judd says treading as carefully as he can.
"Yea... he said something about my parents similar to that," TK sighs softly.
Judd and Grace both hum with nods. "That boy is crazy for you. God only knows why," Judd teases making TK roll his eyes. "Maybe his parents are traditionalist," Judd hedges. "Maybe you only meet them when you know you're in it for life. Carlos could be protecting you, not wanting to make you run," Judd says watching as his words sink in even though he's trying to be gentle with TK. TK looks even more down knowing all the crap he put Carlos through in the beginning.
"Or maybe it's something totally different," Judd amends hating TK's perfected kicked puppy look. "Look you're more than welcome to stay here, you know that," Judd says. "But you're gonna be restless. You need to talk to him TK. Yea it hurt when he called you a friend, and you got mad, and you both probably said things you regret now. He made you feel insecure by calling you a friend, and you paid him back by leaving and probably making him feel just as insecure."
TK is looking at Judd with tearfilled eyes and it kills him to see his little brother hurting, but there's nothing he can do to fix it and he needs TK to hear truths and not just platitudes. "You're right," TK murmurs after a minute. "Could you," TK doesn't even finish before Judd is up and getting his keys.
TK thanks Grace once again giving her a hug as she reassures him everything is gonna work out. Judd has his bag, and then they're getting in his truck heading back towards Carlos.
"Thanks Judd," TK says in between chewing on his hoodie string.
"No thanks needed T. That's what brothers do," Judd says shooting him a half smile. "Besides you know who will give it to ya straight when you're being an idiot," he laughs as TK grunts and rolls his eyes once more.
They're at Carlos's before TK even knows it. "Just talk to him. It'll be fine. And if it's not call me and I'll kill him," Judd promises.
"That won't be necessary," TK says with a laugh before grabbing his bag and getting out. "Thanks again Judd. I appreciate it."
"I know. Now get on in there," Judd says. He makes sure TK gets to the door and then he's off.
TK stares at the front door for the longest just like he did at Judd's. His poor lip is bitten raw at this point. He debates using his key, but decides against it since he's not sure how Carlos is feeling at this point. He knocks on the door still biting his lip as he sees Carlos looking thru the window before the door opens with a quiet hey.
He can tell Carlos is being guarded and TK doesn't blame him. He said some awful things and just left earlier. "Hi. Can I come in?" TK hedges and he knows he's still radiating just as much nervous energy as he was at Judd's.
"You got a key," Carlos says the indifference and confusion rolling off him in waves.
"Yea I thought maybe you might want that back," TK says biting his bottom lip once more.
"Why are we breaking up? Or did that already happen because it kinda felt like it did." There's not any venom in Carlos's voice, more like he's resigned to the fact he just lost one of the best things he's ever had.
"No," TK quickly reassures before he remembers Carlos might have a different opinion after today. "I mean I hope not."
Carlos let's out a breath and steps aside opening the door wider. "Come in," he says.
TK goes in dropping his bag at the door and he knows Carlos catches it but doesn't say anything. He's ringing his hands and pacing a little before turning to look at Carlos who is still by the door. "Ok, look. I know I was a little bitch.."
"No you weren't," Carlos says pained that TK could still think so little of himself.
"Yes I was," TK insists because he knows he was out of line earlier and Carlos is gonna listen. "And I just wanted to say I'm not sorry." He let's out a breath but barrels on despite Carlos's are you serious look. "I'm not sorry Carlos. I know I made it seem like your relationship with your parents was about me, but really it's about us." Carlos still isn't saying anything and TK is worried. "Do you know what I mean?" He asks.
"Not really," Carlos says confused. TK hums before turning and walking to sit because he knows if he keeps standing he's going to pace and he wants Carlos to have his full attention for this conversation.
He remembers Judd's words of advice and tries to better explain himself. "When you didn't tell your parents that I was your boyfriend, it made me feel insecure about our relationship and what I mean to you."
He can see Carlos's heart breaking once more and he hates he's the cause of his pain, but TK knows he has to be truthful.
"That kills me," Carlos says and TK knows it's true just from looking at him as Carlos finally moves closer. He sits down across from TK, and TK can feel and see Carlos's nerves, his hands ringing just like TK's had done earlier. "Which is exactly why I was avoiding introducing you because I didn't want that to happen and I knew it would."
"Yea but didn't it have to? I mean they knew you were gay," TK says trying to understand his boyfriend.
"They know, yes," Carlos says his eyes filled with tears which just makes TK hurt all the more. Carlos can't stop ringing his hands, and now TK understands how everyone feels around him when he's worked up. He just wants to comfort Carlos but first he needs to understand.
"I came out to them when I was seventeen, and they were shocked," Carlos can't meet his eyes and TK doesn't try to make him. "I... I... I... knew it rocked their world, but they hugged me, told me they loved me, and that was that." Carlos took a deep breath as TK laid his hands over Carlos's to still them.
TK knew Carlos wasn't done so he kept quiet to let him finish. "It got brought up a few times over the years, but there's also an understanding in our family that you only bring someone home to meet the parents once you're sure someone is going to be your life partner. They didn't meet my brother in law until Gabriella wanted him to propose. I just.... I didn't want to freak you out. Because I know we love each other, TK I love you more than anything, but I couldn't.... I wasn't ready to take that chance and have you freak out on me," Carlos finishes his eyes down cast and the unsaid "I didn't want you to leave me" hanging between them.
TK slowly tilts Carlos's chin up so they can see each other. "You could've told me that instead of avoiding the entire conversation. It makes perfect sense Carlos."
Carlos nods knowing he should've just told TK. "I was too afraid of losing you, and I almost did anyways."
TK squeezes Carlos's hands catching his eyes once more. He can't let Carlos drown in self hate any longer. "You haven't lost me. I'm not giving up on us that easily. As Judd said anyone can see how much we love each other to the point it's sickening, as if he's one to talk," TK chuckles.
"Judd huh?" Carlos finally laughs a little.
"Yea," TK nods with a bashful smile. "He uh.... he's the reason I'm here. He told me I was being an idiot and that I never considered how insecure you might feel in all of this. And for that I am sorry," TK says softly.
Carlos tries to cut him off, but TK doesn't let him. "No Judd was right. I felt insecure so I tried to hurt you the same way. I left just like you thought I would; I said things I shouldn't have. It wasn't my best moment."
"Wasn't mine either," Carlos murmurs.
TK nods. "But Carlos, I'm all in," TK murmurs leaning in close as he squeezes Carlos's hands once more. "However much time you need. I'm not gonna run, I'm not gonna leave. Whenever you want me to meet them as your other half, I'll be ready," TK says with the softest of smiles. "Because I love you and I'm sure about you."
TK reaches up and wipes the tear from Carlos's cheeks. "I love you too TK," Carlos whispers as their lips meet for a soft kiss. Things might not always be perfect or right, but they would overcome them together because their love never fails.
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tellywoodtrash · 3 years
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immj2 01.04.21 lb
lmao, guess i'm back on my bs.🤷🏽‍♀️🤷🏽‍♀️🤷🏽‍♀️
vansh don't know shit about "his" riddhima, if he thinks she'd “bina soche-samjhe pee jaati” esp. after that paralyzing crap he pulled. she should tell him that and prove it's the real her.
can he stop answering every question with another question?????? so annoying.
this whole scene is so fucking dumb. anyone with a brain cell can tell it's obviously truth serum, coz he can't kill her and needs the truth.
“tum pregnant nahi ho kyunki tum riddhima nahi ho.” coz................. only one woman on the planet can be pregnant at a time? amazeballs logic, sir.
gotta say i love R 2.0 and her completeeeeee refusal to abide by V's fuckery.
WHAT THE FUCK HE JUST TACKLED HER TO THE GROUND JFC MAN EVEN IF SHE’S NOT PREGNANT THAT CAN’T BE HEALTHY FOR HER BONES
hahahahaha she's like "you want riddhima? i'll give you riddhima, bitch" and JUST plants one on him.
ofc he's the kinda weirdo who keeps his eyes open while being kissed.
lmaoooooooooo he lost himself in it. riddhima’s got a magic tongue huh? that proves her identity like some kinda biometric, but also soothes angry husbands into submission.
lollllllllllllllll he's having a real crisis of faith. coz if this is riddhima, man has he fucked up BIG TIMEEEEEEEE. if it isn't riddhima, he's still fucked up big time, by letting humshakal girl tongue-kiss him into oblivion.
he's so fucking stupid, why won't he just get a DNA test...................... WHY WON'T ANYONE IN THIS SHOW GET DNA TESTS WHEN PPL WHO LOOK LIKE OTHER PPL SHOW THE FUCK UP OUTTA NOWHERE ACTING FUNNY???
oh wait. does he think this is riddhima after all? coz he's ranting about dhoka and all............ if she's a doppelganger then kaahe ka dhoka???? 
ofc, aryan walked by and heard the rant. abbe yaaaaaaaar.
WHO THE FUCKKKKKKKKKKKKKK DOESN'T LOCK THEIR LAPTOP WHEN THEY WALK AWAY????? VANSH-I-WANT-ALL-MY-SECRETS-KEPT-FOREVER-RAISINGHANIA THAT'S WHO. MAIN TOH SUSU KARNE BHI NA JAAOON WITHOUT LOCKING MY COMPUTER. I’M NOT LEAVING MY SHAMEFUL INTERNET HISTORY OUT THERE FOR THE WORLD TO SEE.
oh ghar mein naya siyaapa yeh hai ki siya went off somewhere, despite vansh locking her up in her room. man, wtf he's really turning into some 90s movie villain dad.
ishani happy and vansh realllllllll unhappy about siya joining ishani's ranks of being a “bitch” (which is what this show calls all women who have a mind of their own............)
anupriya, you shoulda saved all this momming for the shitty boys you raised, instead of pushing patriarchal bs on the girls.
“siya vansh raisinghania ki behen hai, koi uska baal bhi baanka nahi kar sakta!!!!!!!!!” uh...............................
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ppl would wanna murder her PURELY for the reason that she’s YOUR sister, dumbass. 
ugh this sasta!vansh and his ganda saxophone playing (always the same irritating tune). nahiiiiiiiiiiii chahiyeee humeinnn. mujhe mera kabirrrrrr do wapassssssssssss!!!!!!!
siya has taken vihaan bhai's “taadna is free of cost” motto to heart and is drinking the shirtlessness in. i'd be all for it if it was literally anyone else other than her own brother-dad's clone.
he’s like does your mom know you’re here, does your family know you’re here? she’s a fucking grownass woman, vyom. a dumb bitch who shouldn’t be out here unsupervised, but........ she grown.
OMFGGGGGGGGGGGGHE KEEPS SAYING “CHERRY” AND I LEGIT THOUGHT THAT WAS FAKE!RIDDHIMA’S NAME TILL NOW.................... I JUST GOT IT IN THIS SCENE, THAT HE WAS ACTUALLY SAYING THE THE FRENCH WORD “CHÉRI” AND THAT’S HOW HE REFERS TO ALL WOMEN.
her parvati bani poo parivartan is khaali looks mein haan, she still calling him AAP and talking like a coy little baby.
LMAO EMBARRASSED FOR WHAT???????? HAVING A TINYASS UNNOTICEABLE RIP IN HER THICKKKKK DENIM JACKET?????
yeh banda shirt hamesha paas rakhta hai, par pehnta nahi. it’s like his version of a fire extinguisher. if it’s being used, things have gonna hella wrong.
alskdjalskjdlaskjdlaksjlk he’s made a new saxophone dhun named after her. height of romance!!!!!!!!!!!!!! vansh bhai, kuch seekho. nahi, aapko toh hamesha biwi ko paralytics ya zeher ya truth serum pilaana hai, ya baat baat par goli maarni hai.
ishani is right, siya really needs to get out more, coz if she’s falling for this kinda basiccccccccccc bullshit..............
aryan has brought dadi to see riddhima waala proof. it doesn’t need to be April 1st to know that iska bohut bada popat banne waala hai.
yup vansh is here to dunk on him nice and good. oh aryan......... idk why you even try.
sassy vansh is the ONLY tolerable vansh.
oh daaaaaaaang aryan real mad, calling him bastard and all. show OTT pe aane ko wait kar raha tha aryan, taaki asli gaali bulaa sake.
dadi: “kisi par ilzaam lagaane se pehle dus baar soch liya karo.” coz............. that’s what YOU did, before you put everything that was happening in this house on riddhima’s head? even though you had zero proof???? i really think vansh needs to take dadi for a MRI or some shit coz her behaviour is just bizarre these days.
ofc he’s gonna answer it like WOH ZINDA HAI, MERE DILLLLLLLLLL MEIN.............
ok “yaadon mein”, same difference.
ishani, a spouse is for more than just sexual gratification. lord. everyone in this show needs so much couple’s therapy.
WHY THE FUCK WOULD YOU HAVE YOUR LOCATION ON FOR HER TO TRACK, ANGRE??????????? OMG YOU’RE THE WORST SECURITY PERSON FUCKING EVER. KHANNA BHAIYYA BHI ITNE BEWAKOOF NAHI THE.
asakdjlaskjdlaskjdlksajdfkjsd angre legit contemplating leaving his boss ka most valuable asset unattended coz his wife wants to fuck.
riddhima’s like yeah go, mujhe nahi mil raha toh kya, tum toh at least mazze le lo.
angre is convinced this is riddhima bhaabi. giving kasme vaade of even dying for her.
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha he thinks vansh/riddhima were IDEAL COUPLE...... dude, isse zyaada ideal toh biryani aur ketchup waala combo hai. 
godddddddddddddddd anyone with a brain cell has by this point deduced ki this is real riddhima and she’s doing all this to save vansh from vyom in some way. stop taking the audience to be as idiotic as the main characters, show.
lmaooooooooooooooooooo vansh was all I’LL FIND SIYA and now he’s just sitting in the living room with his angry bird face till she decided to waltz in the front door. sooooooo.......... ishani can track her hubs, but you telling me vansh doesn’t have a tracker on siya????
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what hulia??????? everyone’s ragging on siya’s new style while ishani and riddhima and that lollipop chick can wear whatever the fuck they want? what nonsense.
lmao everyone’s horrified to find out that siya’s learnt the basic definition of feminism. itne saal tak they kept her in the house so she wouldn’t know, but hawa lag hi gayi ladki ko.
precap: lollipop girl rubs up against vansh warning him ki aryan knows his secret. aryan and angre haathapaai as the former tries to shoot riddhima. they’ve framed the scene like he got her, but i bet he didn’t. koi aur aa gaya hoga saamne.
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nekkyousagi · 3 years
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Beast Wars Transformers - Season 1 - Favorite Moments
Kind of a summary of a few of my favorite bits of episodes from the second half of the 1st season. This post is long enough, so I might do a separate one of my thoughts about the characters.
Episode 6: Power Surge - Terrorsaur is definitely the Starscream of this show. He’s an idiot...but hey, I give him credit for being the first to actually K.O. Megatron.
Episode 10: Gorilla Warfare
Really painful watching Optimus being forced into a berserker mode by some strange device.  And baby boy Cheetor being the little voice of reason in his mind, ‘please big bot, don’t give in, don’t let it take over you!’ *sobbing*
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I got a bit emotional as he went battle crazed and stormed the Predacon base. And then Megatron has the gall to mock him as he was like ‘Ooh, look what you can do with your moral compass turned off. it suits you.’ Reminded me a lot of how Megatron at the end of Armada was like...’Oh Optimus, you put on the hero act but you really do enjoy battle and killing don’t you? muahaha!’ OH IT STINGS!
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“Gorilla warfare suits you. The old Optimus would’ve never made it this far.”
And then after Optimus is rid of the device and in recovery, how super tsun Dinobot was at his bedside when he awoke. OOOH that was a cute moment!!!! Awwwww! Dinobot has a tough hide, but he really does respect Optimus and...gosh it’s adorable! He’s so TSUNDERE!!!! I kinda love him.
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Episode 12: Victory - Haha nice plan Megatron, but you are a jerk. They finally have a chance to leave and you ruin it. Also Dinobot you idiot tsun just go home with them! We’ll work out the kinks later! Who cares if your a Predacon ughhhh this stupid...! Optimus going back for him was typical good leader thing to do. But of course Megs gotta ruin things, again. I knew it was too early to be worried, since it’s only episode 12, but wow, seeing Optimus fall and get left behind was heartbreaking. Uggghhh! And Megatron appears to ruin things AGAIN but then Rhinox is like “NOT TODAY” and shoves Megatron down the hatch tube like a BOSS and then Optimus comes flying up to the rescue and STOPS THE SHIP FROM CRASHING WITH HIS BARE HANDS AND HIS ROCKET BOOSTERS, WHILE ‘NOT-SUPERMAN-THEME MUSIC’ FANFARE STARTS PLAYING IN THE BACKGROUND???!!! OMG OPTIMUS ARE YOU SUPERMAN?! *I AM CRYING* XXDDD
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AND THEN WE GET HUGS FROM CHEETOR AND OPTIMUS HEAD PATS!!?! I AM DYINGGGGGGG!!!!
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Episode 13: Dark Designs - So I took this as basically the Beast Wars version of a “Synthen episode”...but instead, it’s the calm and level-headed Rhinox getting reformatted into a Predacon and instead of his peace-loving self is replaced by a battle ready warrior,  and he totally trashes the Predacon base, again, LIKE A BOSS. I’m really starting to like Rhinox.  He packs a punch! Even Megatron was like...’oh, I seem to have underestimated him, yessssssss.’ Never underestimate the doctor / engineers!
Episode 14: Double Dinobot - was basically this
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Episode 15: The Spark - I had read somewhere that it was this episode where the idea of a Cybertronian “spark” first appeared. That before this, Cybertronians were either born from the pure metal of the planet or were given personalities from Vector Sigma, while their bodies were just...built. And it was interesting to see how they played out this new form of life origin. Plus, a new character, Air Razor. I was surprised...actually I’m not sure if I’ve heard of her before. But it’s nice the good guys finally get a flier...besides Optimus. Her design reminds me of Hawkgirl from the old Justice League cartoon I grew up watching.
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[ Also, I started noticing this running gag that some of the Predacon goons will get blown apart but don’t...die?! They can just be rebuilt but if one of the Maximals gets a broken joint, or disrupted energy circuits, it’s doom for them! How does this work? Or is it just a corny gag because it’s a kid’s show...???? ]
Episode 19: Call of the Wild - It was really interesting seeing the Cybertronian Maximals dealing with their beast forms. How the animal instincts were taking over their minds! But Tigatron, I love that zen loving tiger bot, he helps them to be one with their animal forms and use it to their advantage, like he learned to!
But the BEST PART in this whole episode was Megatron going on the hunt while being carried on this THRONE like a Jungle Queen?? OMG!!
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I thought Megatron in TFPrime was extra, no, THIS has to be the most EXTRA AND DRAMATIC Megatron I’ve ever seen! He is killing me!!! XDDD
Episode 20: Dark Voyage - Ok, this was another ‘Rhinox is actually a good leader’ episode, no doubt. But it was kinda upsetting to see poor baby, boy Cheetor get strangled by some giant Titanoboa, leaving his shoulder busted and then he says...’I feel cold.’ I was like, NO CHEETOR DON’T DIE, SWEET BABY! Save him!!!!! But it was a great tactic for Rhinox to remind everyone of their battle training and visualize a grid in their mind so they could target attacking fliers, even though none of them could see. Great strategy but whoo, that was too close! Let’s not risk the child anymore, my poor heart can’t take it!
Episode 21: Possession - Starscream...returns?????!!!!!! Maybe I should’ve watched the rest of G1...? I am so lost! XDD
Episode 23: Law of the Jungle - Ok, that was really sad. I think I’m really getting attached to Tigatron. (TAT) Also, Inferno is so feral with his flame throwers and his crazy laugh! Wow...he even got Terrorsaur to slip and say “The Royalty.” LOLOL This episode had a deep message and some lore thrown in. I do wonder if later on in this series, they’ll explain why, and at what point, the factions names were changed from Autobots and Decepticons to Maximals and Predacons? If they’re descendants and fight for the same reasons and motives? But gosh, it’s really depressing that the war has gone on for that long...so very, very long. Like it never, ever ended. [I’m supposing this story is in the G1 timeline, given how the spark of G1 Starscream appeared.] Tigatron made a really important point, even though ultimately he decided to keep fighting. Some really sobering lines mixed in here...hmmm!
Episode 24: Before the Storm
“Yes, my Queen!” “Ughhh, I wish he wouldn’t call me that.”
MY QUEEEEEEEN!!! Ok, this is what you guys meant about Inferno. Omg I love it tho! What a good little loyal soldier ant. *muffled snorting laughter*
A truce? What are you up to Meg?
Oh...oh god. He’s having a spa day?
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Have to look your best before conquering the universe. God, I love this Megatron. I’m crying he makes me laugh so much!
Wow...plot is happening!!!! IT’S HAPPENING!!!!! oH MY!
EPISODE 25 & 26: Other Voices - Wow, things took a nosedive for the worst. Who are these aliens, really? That projection gave me a heart attack, but it wasn’t real. Ok I know our heroes are getting out of this, there are 2 more seasons, but how?? Oh...plans align on both sides! But...BUT!!! OH NO!!! No no noooo! What a terrible cliffhanger to end the 1st season! How dare they end it like that?! I can hear all the 90s kids wailing in anguish~! Having to wait months to find out what happened?! Optimus, dear, you do have a terrible track record. What next...??? On to SEASON 2!!
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vanchlo · 4 years
Text
The Assistant / Chapter Twenty Seven, “Meet Me in the Hallway”
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New to the story or want to catch up? Find all chapters HERE! :-)
Ok I didnt forget this time :/
                           *  SNEAKYYYYYYYYY PEEK TIME *
“Why’re you annoyed I said that? Is it ‘cause that’s what you want? Did I expose your secret fantasy? ‘Cause ya know you can still go and date him, maybe it’s even easier now that you don’t work for him anymore.”
“Robbie, stop.”
“I can keep a secret. Scout’s honor.”
“No, you can’t! You always say that and it’s never true. And you were never in Boy Scouts,” I scoff, holding onto tufts of his jean jacket.
“I was too! Now, stop avoiding the question. Why won’t you give Harry another chance?” Robbie continues, veering back to the topic I so conveniently changed.
“There’s nothing to talk about.”
“Hmmm, I don’t think I believe you, Ree,” Robbie tsks. “But I’m going to get the truth out of you one of these times.”
P.S - I apologize for any spelling/grammar errors or stuff that should be bolded/italicized that I missed, I already edited this chapter on here a few times and Tumblr kept losing it ugh. 
Enjoy!
“I don’t know,” she replies, yanking at the corners of my heart. A sigh escapes my lips when I feel my heavy head fall into my hands. “M-my dad,” Becky continues, but her words collapse into tears before too long. 
I almost tell her that I already know, but my lips stop just in time. I don’t want her to get mad at Asher. And if I’m honest, our secret elevator meetings to talk about her are the highlight of my week. But my lips search for something to say. The sound of her tears is all I can hear, no matter how badly I ache to take them away. 
“He has c-cancer, Harry,” Becky says, her words tumbling out sloppily. They pull at my heart again, making it fall another notch. 
“Fuuuuuuuuck . . . . ’m so sorry, Becks . . . . Are ya okay?”
“No, w-why would I be? How could I be?” she responds, her words falling out fast. 
“Becks . . have ya been drinkin’, love?” I ask tentatively, wincing when I hear her groan. 
“I don’t wanna ‘ear it. Imma grown woman. I can bloody drink if I want t’ and-,” she argues, her voice steely. I’m caught off guard by the confrontation, and it only makes me feel worse. 
“Tha’s not what I meant, love. I jus’ . . . ,” I try, my train of thought fleeing me. All of my thoughts do, because I wasn’t expecting this. I don’t even know if I’d have any better idea of what to say if I’d had notice she was going to call. That she was going to remember who I was for the first time in 9 months. “Are ya atta pub? Cuz I jus’ wanna know yer safe. I can leave an’ give ya a lift home if ya need,” I finish, unsure of how she’ll take my words. 
She’s quiet and it only makes the scary thoughts buzz louder in my head. 
What if she gets the idea to drive herself home?
What if some drunk bloke bothers her and she can’t fend for herself?
What if she tries to walk home in the rainstorm?
What if she keeps drinking, not knowing when to stop?
What if-
“No, I’m at home. In me bed. I’m not st- dumb, Harry,” she slurs, showing me a side of her I’ve never seen. We’ve had drinks together before - in my office or rarely at a pub. But she never got drunk before. 
“I don’ think ya are, bug,” I counter, the nickname falling effortlessly from my tongue. “’m really sorry ‘bout yer dad. D’ya know how bad it ‘s yet?”
“Noooo, other than that ’s somewhere . . . like in uh Stage 2 . . or somefiing,” Becky answers, her words all over the place. “It’s t-the prostate. Ya know that fing that uh . . . is . . where ‘s it ‘gain?” One of her many words that don’t make much sense.
“Ya I know what it ‘s an’ where. I uh have one of ‘em,” I finish for her. I’m rewarded by hearing her decadent laugh. A sound I’ve craved and missed for so long. I missed it more than I thought I had, I realize as a smile pulls my cheeks upwards. 
“Oh ya. I uh kinda forgot ‘bout dat,” she titters, encouraging a chuckle from my now smiling lips. 
But her laugh fades first and mine follows. Because she didn’t call to laugh at my lame jokes, or to catch up on things we’ve missed in each other's lives. No, not really. 
“He’d been ‘aving pains. So bad he can’t eat, or use the uh loo . . He told me when we was there wit’ Robbie and . . . . he looked baaad,” she tells me, her voice catching on the last word. I feel my heart shudder in pain again, and suddenly I realize the validity of the second-hand pain phenomenon. “And I jus’ dunno ‘ow I’m gonna do dis. I wanna help him and take care o’ him . . . But I’m t’ree hours ‘way and . . . I just dunno how t’ do dis.”
“There’s no real setta rules, love. No guideline or brochure fer how t’ handle it . . Ya jus’ gotta do yer best, an’ love him . . ‘m sorry,” I tell her, not knowing what else to say. 
“You’re sorry?” she laughs, pulling my eyebrows into a knot. “Tha’s a firssssst.”
I listen to her laugh some more, savoring it. But I’m also confused and a little offended. But then it stops abruptly and I hear her sniffle. “I’m the one whoooo should be sorry,” she begins, tears lacing into her words. And taking all of mine with them. “You’re just trynaaaa help, and I’m bein’ mean and rude just like I always am to ya. Ughhhh, I dunno why I even called.”
“No, ‘s okay. Yer goin’ thru a lot an’ . . . I appreciate ya callin’. I jus’ hope ‘m helpin’,” I say quickly, dropping a hand in defeat. It finds its way to my pants and I pick at the loose thread that’s been bothering me all day. 
“But I am, Harry! I’m mean and I make no sense a-and I’m jus’ loadin’ onto ya. But I dunno who else t’ call, cuz ’m tryna t’ be strong forrrrr Robbie. And not worry Skye, an’ I jus’ dunno what t’ do, Harry,” Becky says, the last of her words dissolving into sobs. Biting my lip at the sound of her crying into my ear, I keep biting and biting as she cries. I yank at the thread and feel it dig into my skin, but I don’t let go. “I don’t wanna lose me dad afta I already lost you.” 
It takes a few seconds of telling myself, but I slowly release my bottom lip. I huff, swiping my tongue across my lips. I taste the metally blood coming from the stinging cut. And then the warm taste of salt joins it on my tongue. Pressing my lips together, the pain only intensifies. But I let it stay as tears roll down my cheek. My finger burns, but only for a few short seconds when I finally rip the thread from my pants. It doesn’t compare to the pain I feel inside of my chest, like a vice around my heart. Tightening and throbbing. 
The line grows silent, but I know she’s there. Because I hear her shallow breathing, and the occasional sniffle. And I know that she’s still crying, because I hear the whimpers that she tries to hide. Even if she is drunk. And the pain only keeps coming, because I hate that I can’t do anything to stop hers. Nothing at all. 
“I miss ya so much, Becks,” I whisper, not believing the words coming from my mouth. But they feel good. Freeing. Almost exciting. 
“I . . . I do too, b-but I can’t go down that road ‘gain, Harry. I- I can’t do this,” she rushes. I hear noises on her line, but I can’t get out the words before the it goes dead. Silence.
I feel my phone slide from my hands slick with tears. It falls to the floor with a thud, but I hardly hear it. Because her voice is drowning out the sounds of everything else. 
The thunder. 
The rain falling harder by every second. 
I press the pads of my fingers into my eyes and let my own rain fall. My fingers grow wet with every tear. Every single one I held in as her voice graced my ears. The tears that grew from the pain I heard in her voice. From when I heard about her dad’s diagnosis. And I think the ones I’ve been pushing away for a long time. 
The rain welcomes a friend, and I join the drops drilling against the glass until the storm passes. But I know that although the storm inside of me passed for a little while, that it’s only come back stronger. The velvety sofa cushions and pillow welcome my tired body. I fall into a fitful sleep with her comforting voice dancing through my head. The only place I can see her again, and where I didn’t fuck everything up.  
+
“Don’t worry, Becky. We’ll get this all figured out. You just do your best and take care of yourself and your father. Keep me updated on what you learn, and if you need extensions. Alright?” 
“I can’t tell you how grateful I am,” I reply emphatically. 
He nods before patting my arm and telling me to have a good day. I return it before leaving his office and feeling the slightest weight leave my shoulders. That was the easy part, I think to myself as I find my way through the twisty halls. 
Looping my arm through my other backpack strap, I turn a corner and keep walking. I feel my heartbeat start to slow down after that nervous meeting with Professor Alcott, finishing up my afternoon of meeting with my professors. I couldn’t even believe the words leaving my mouth to grace their ears. 
My dad was diagnosed with Stage 2 prostate cancer recently. We still don’t know a lot, but I wanted to let you know. I plan to still stay enrolled in the program and I’m committed to my courses. At the same time, I’m going to do what I can to take care of him. I will keep you updated as I learn more, but there are still a lot of unknowns at this point and . . . , I think, pausing the track I had on repeat for the last few hours. I had to figure out what to say, then rehearse it, and then say all of those words to the stern-looking expressions of my professors. Two of whom I’ve never even met before, because I’m taking their classes online. But my advisor, Sally, told me it would be best to meet with them in person. It’s more personal and shows your commitment blah blah, she said. 
I’m just glad to have that part over with, I sigh inwardly. 
The first fallen leaves of Fall crunch under my lace up purple Vans. The crisp air welcomes me. For a few seconds, I lose myself in the beginnings of the changing colors of Autumn. But the incessant worrying thoughts that have plagued my mind sit at the back, ready to pounce. I was rather numb for the first several days. I didn’t know how to function normally. Let alone inform my professors professionally and in person about the events that just rocked my life. I’m relieved that they were all very accommodating and kind to me about the news. But I know that the hard work is just about to begin. 
A U2 song pours from my speakers as I back out of my parking space and start my journey home. I try to lose myself in the beloved lyrics, but it’s hard. When they become too relatable and too nostalgic, I skip it and the stereo player whirs as it thinks. My Spotify chooses a song at random - a favorite by Vance Joy. I roll my windows down and try to sing along. 
I close my apartment door with my foot, sifting through the mail. 
A bill. An advert for Skye. Another bill. Another cosmetology advert for Skye. An advert from my uni. Something Skye ordered from Amazon. A random magazine subscription that I most definitely don’t want to subscribe to. A sheet of Domino’s coupons. And a square periwinkle envelope with my name scrawled across the front. No return address.
My feet stop in the middle of toeing off my shoes. The one falls to the floor with an echoing thud. I swallow and pad slowly over to the kitchen island. Pushing Skye’s mess over, I let the pile of mail fall with a slap. With one shoe still on, I soon find myself sitting on the arm of the sofa. Backpack still heavy on my shoulders. Keys still hanging around my finger. But all I can focus on is the periwinkle envelope in my hands. And that familiar handwriting. 
I hug it to my chest and tap my fingers along it as I think. 
I know what it feels like, but I don’t know if I want to open it. 
Because I know what will happen if I do. 
But I can’t deny the first bubbles of excitement rising in my chest. 
The first feelings of happiness I’ve felt in 11 days. 
11 days since my dad announced that he has cancer. The dreaded C word. 
My thumb does the first rip without me barely registering it. My excited heartbeat eggs me on. I try to rip it neatly, and leave the pretty envelope intact. But I’ve never been good at opening mail neatly. It’s just too exciting. I see the cursive word on the back first. The card company’s name. 
The card is a periwinkle purple, like the envelope. He remembered it’s my favorite. My eyes fall closed without warning when I feel the hard square inside of the card. A sigh escapes my lips. It only grows longer when I feel the tiny imprints the pen left from pressing down hard in the author’s hand. 
Exhaling slowly, I flip the card over and find a saying that I glance over. The cursive words made permanent by gold lettering tug at my heart. But I know that’s only the beginning. My finger pries at the opening and runs along the inside, feeling the bumpy impressions of the ink words. I rip the bandaid off and open it. But before I read anything, I grab a hold of the plastic square. I place it behind the card in my grip. 
One step at a time. 
The inside of the card is painted with sloppy black writing. At the sight of it, I watch my sight grow hazy. Starting at the beginning, I blink and feel the first tear fall when I see my name. 
Harry’s name for me. 
Dear Becks, 
I saw this card and thought of you. The little bunny on the front just screamed your name, and well it harassed me during my whole shopping trip to buy it. Isn’t it just adorable?  It made me think of the story you told me once about the baby bunny you found with your dad that was hurt. You both nursed it back to health before it hopped away back into the woods. Or your Dad called the animal services to take it to rehabilitate it. You said you couldn’t remember. Anyways, it made me think of you and the unimaginable pain you’re going through. You and your family. I never had the pleasure to meet your Dad but I wanted to extend my sympathies. He must be a pretty incredible man seeing how well you and Robbie turned out. You always spoke fondly of him. I know you’re very close to him, and because of that I know this is even harder for you. I’m so sorry. I’ve been thinking of you and your family often, and wishing there was something I could do to help. I’m so sorry, Becks. I really am. I don’t think there’s much else I can say to comfort you right now, or if there is I don’t know what it is. I’d just suggest doing what you can to be with your father during this time, and although it may be difficult to see him in pain, I think you’d be happy if you were there. No matter how things turn out, I think it would mean a lot to the both of you. I’ve experienced grandparents and loved ones passing, and it’s the shits but whoever said that it’s better to suffer together than by yourself was right. But please take care of yourself too. I don’t know what your plans are, but please don’t load your plate too full. Okay? I’m sorry, but you won’t be much help to your Dad if you’re giving yourself too much work.  I’m so sorry that this is happening to you, Becks. It pains me more than you could know to know that you’re going through this. You and your family will be in my thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. Please let them know that. Take care of yourself, please. For you and your dad. If there is anything at all I can do to help please don’t be afraid to let me know. In the meantime, I hope that this Visa gift card will help. I recall you said you’re from Madley and your dad still lives there, which is quite the trip. I hope this money will help pay for petrol, meals, hospital bills, and anything else that may help make you and your dad comfortable. Myles’ brother who’s a doctor knows of some good docs at The Royal London Hospital where he works - if you’re interested, just give him a ring. I’ll be praying for a hopeful diagnosis and outlook for your dad, and that he recovers from this. I hope you’re hanging in there, Becks. Just take it one day at a time.
Harry xxxxx
My chest shakes with a sob as I breathe in, but it’s so hard. And it hurts. Closing the card, I cover my face with it. And feel the warm tears paint my cheeks. I don’t know where they come from or how I haven’t ran out of them yet, but they keep coming. Without knowing it, I find myself sliding off the sofa and down onto the floor to rest against the sofa. Ugly sounds leave my lips and my body shakes with each sob. For the first time in days, there’s a feeling inside of me stronger than sadness for my dad. 
Longing. 
Missing. 
I miss Harry. And I let myself feel all of it. Like I haven’t been letting myself for months. I forgot how much I missed him. 
The way he could make me laugh. 
How he always knew what to say without worrying it being the right thing. 
His sunshine smile. 
His molasses like voice - deep, rich, and syrupy sweet. 
And most of all, the way his hugs fixed me like a bandaid. I feel my heart wrench with everything I miss, but it especially hurts when I think about how much I miss his hugs. And how badly I crave one right now. No, I need one. 
I cry harder at that, because apparently things can get worse right now, I think inside the chaos that is my mind. 
I miss my dad, even though I saw him yesterday when I went back home. And then I miss Harry, even though I kicked him out of my life. Even though I heard his molasses voice the other day when I mistakenly called him after drinking a bottle of wine. 
I miss him so much and it hurts.
I didn’t know that I could even hurt more than I already was. 
And I wouldn’t have guessed that his card warms my heart, and breaks it at the same time. 
+
My thumb wavers over the keyboard of letters, indecisive and lost. I groan and walk away, padding out of the room and into our main living area. 
“You better be getting a snack since you didn’t eat dinner,” Skye calls out to me from her perch on the sofa. 
“Okay, Mom,” I retort, searching the shelves of the fridge. It sounds bad, but it only took Skye a major life event to do a decent job at grocery shopping, I recount. Grabbing a yogurt from the drawer, an apple, and a spoon from others, I leave with my dinner in hand. 
The food falls to my desk with a clatter as my attention diverts to my phone. Waking it back up, I see the words I had typed out before. Without another thought, I press Send. With wide eyes and a shaky hand, I lay my phone face down away from me. I’ve only gotten settled and read a few lines from my textbook when my phone chimes. With teenage jittery excitement, I stare at it for a few seconds before daring to pick it up. My heart does a somersault in my chest at the sight of the name. 
Harry. 
I read over my text first, and then read his. 
Me
Hi. I can’t thank you enough for the incredibly sweet card. The gift card was more than generous. I don’t know which I cried more at. Just THANK YOU. A lot. I don’t know how many times I can say that. It was so kind of you to think of me and my dad. 
Harry
hi! stop it youre more than welcome. im glad you liked the card. i wasnt sure if it was 2 dorky. u better not have cried at it. im here if u need anything. have a good night xxxx 
My thumbs dance around on the screen. But before long, I set it down and try to immerse myself in my textbook. But it’s hard, because all I can do is think about him and our texts. I was texting him and we were talking, my over excited teenage-like mind thinks. But the adult part of it sweeps it under the rug, or tries to. Those two parts fight each other as I struggle to make sense of the chapter I’m reading. Because the teenage girl side wants to text him back, but the adult side argues there’s nothing to say. And that won’t I just get hurt again? I find myself nodding at that. Or more so, the argument it makes about there being no point in it. But the teenaged side reads into his words and grows excited at some of them. Talk about distracting. 
“Oh my god, just stop!” I mutter aloud, covering my ears but it doesn’t work. Groaning, I flip the page and read on. 
He helped and his card stands on my desk now, but I need to focus on my dad. And school. And this fricken boring chapter that I have an upcoming quiz on.
+
Voices carry down the tiled hallways. The sounds of footsteps sound like ghosts around me. So do the memories I have of these halls. Ones that stab at my insides as I walk further into them. I turn a corner and find the light at the end of the tunnel. He senses me and looks up. He shows a small smile as he crosses his arms over his chest. He’s continued to ignore the the circle of chairs in the waiting area. Instead, he leans against the wall nearby the door we’ve been staring at. 
“Is he done with his labs yet?”
He shakes his head no, narrowing his eyes at me. “You said you weren’t going to go and cry in the bathroom, you liar,” Robbie jokes, but I don’t laugh. He purses his lips and holds his arm out for me. 
I walk into them and rest my head on his chest. “Yeah well, you tell everybody that you’re the older twin when you’re not,” I quip with a sniffle. A laugh rumbles underneath my cheek. 
“That’s ‘cause I am.”
“No, you’re not. Dad only said that when we got in fights to make you feel better,” I reply, closing my eyes and listening to his heartbeat. For some reason, his hugs never fail to calm me down. After a fight we had whether we were 5 or 15, when I snuck into his bed at night when mom and dad were fighting, after a pet died, even after a bad day at school, and especially lately with dad’s diagnosis. It only strengthens my belief about the whole twin thing. 
He scoffs in reply and my lips find a laugh. “I want to see our birth certificates and settle this once and for all.” 
I giggle into his warm chest and close my eyes. But then the thoughts and not longer after, the tears arrive. Robbie squeezes me and tickles my back with his fingers.
“They sounded hopeful at least,” he says quietly.
“Yeah, but they want to do chemo before and after surgery.”
“I know, but they said they have to be sure. If things look good when they’re doing the surgery, like clean margins or whatever it was, then he might not need chemo afterwards,” Robbie points out and I nod, feeling the damp spots on his shirt from my tears. 
“He seems like he’s holding it all together pretty well.”
“Yeah he’s always had super strength. Remember in primary when we wrote that dad was our hero-.”
“And mom got mad,” I finish for him, adding my laughter to his. 
“Yeah. And even though we made that superhero poster about him, I never stopped seeing him as a superhero,” Robbie says, slowly trailing off when the emotions steal his words. 
“Bee, stop, you’re gonna make me cry even more.”
He laughs for a second, but then I hear him start to cry. His chest trembles underneath me. I give up and cry with him. 
“Harry sent me a card in the mail,” I sob, hiccuping in between words. 
“He did? I always knew I liked that guy. What’d it say?”
Something half-scoff and half-laugh is my response before I take a big breath. “I don’t know, it was just so sweet and kind. He said that he’s thinking of all of us, and told me to take care of myself. He said he knows it’s hard to see people you love suffering, but that it’s better to suffer together than on your own,” I choke out, tears drowning my words. “The card had a bunny on it. He said he got it because I told him the story of how Dad and I saved that hurt bunny. I wish he could’ve met dad when I still worked there . . And he sent a $150 Visa gift card to use for bills, petrol, and food.” 
“Wow, that’s crazy generous. Wait, what? You two didn’t save it, the animal control people did,” Robbie argues and I just shake my head. “And don’t say it like that. Dad’s too stubborn to die, you know that. And with how much you talk about Harry, I’m sure you guys are gonna get coffee one day and fall in love and get married,” he continues, his voice quickly turning mocking and girly. I laugh and shove him, stepping away with a laugh. 
“What?” he laughs. His voice is still under water, as is mine. “Why’re you annoyed I said that? Is it ‘cause that’s what you want? Did I expose your secret fantasy? ‘Cause ya know you can still go and date him, maybe it’s even easier now that you don’t work for him anymore.”
“Robbie, stop,” I reply, laughing with emotions fighting in my voice. 
“C’mere,” he says, pulling me into his arms once again. “Ya know you can tell me. I can keep a secret. Scout’s honor.”
“No, you can’t! You always say that and it’s never true. You blabbed to the whole 1st grade I had a crush on Johnny Turner. Then, when I gave you a second chance, you did the same thing again in 8th grade with Willie. And you were never in Boy Scouts,” I scoff, holding onto tufts of his jean jacket. 
“I was too!”
“Being it for one week and quitting because you went home in the middle of the first camp doesn’t count!” 
“I still think it does. I have the outfit, sash, hat, and everything still. I made dad proud, and you know it. Now, stop avoiding the question. Why won’t you give Harry another chance?” Robbie continues, veering back to the topic I so conveniently changed. 
“There’s nothing to talk about.”
“Hmmm, I don’t think I believe you, Ree,” Robbie tsks, his scratchy chin resting on top of my head. We hear the click of a door open, and I frantically wipe my eyes. “But I’m going to get the truth out of you one of these times.” 
I roll my eyes at Robbie as I peer up at him. He winks before sloppily kissing my head. 
“Come on, you rascals. Let’s get outta here before they try to poke me with any more needles,” our dad says, walking out of the room with his jacket folded over his arms. 
I know he knows we’ve been crying, but he doesn’t mention it. I think another secret language is already starting to form between us. With Robbie’s arm around my shoulder, I grab hold of my dad’s hand. He turns to flash a tired smile at me, before placing a kiss on my forehead. 
“Thanks for coming, guys,” he hums quietly as we stop in front of an elevator. His smile tugs at my heart. I’m just thankful to be able to still see it. 
Stepping onto the elevator, he squeezes my hand hard, just like he always has done. “Dad, don’t!” I yelp and he chuckles under his breath. 
After pressing the button for the lobby, I see Robbie’s lips bend upwards. This can’t be good. “Hey, dad, when we get home can you pull out our birth certs? I need to know the truth of who’s really the older twin.”
“Oh god. You two are 25 years old, when is this going to be over?!” my dad huffs, rubbing at his eyes, but with a smile. “Maybe I won’t take you with the next time, since it’s giving you existential crises,” he threatens, and we all fall into easy laughter. 
“I’m gonna have an existential crisis if I found out you’ve been lying to me for my whole life,” Robbie exclaims and we all only laugh harder. 
+
My backpack and coat fall to the floor with a heavy thud. With a yawn, I bend over to grab my things. The sound of chattering surrounds me. It slowly grows in volume as I sit there tiredly with my head down. I hear footsteps, laughs, and the scuffling of moved objects. 
“Wake up!” a voice nudges at me. I groan angrily in response and hear laughter in response. I peek through a crack in my arm to find Ruby’s crazy red hair bobbing next to me. My newest friend from Criminology. “Just ‘cause we have a guest speaker today, doesn’t mean you can sleep.”
“Oh, that’s today?” I reply excitedly, returning to the warm cocoon of my arms. 
“Yeah, but we still have to take notes. Ya know like last Wednesday when we had our first guest speaker? We had to write down questions for them, even if we don’t end up asking them. Alcott just wants us to get thinking and to well, pay attention. And not fall asleep like somebody! And then we have to write down 8 things that interested us, so get unpacking,” Ruby replies, her chipper voice drilling into my ears. 
“Noooooo,” I moan, scrunching my face in secret. 
I hear the door to the lecture hall close with a loud bang and Alcott laughs. “Alright, you lot, look alive. Our guest speaker has arrived and is ready to dazzle you this rainy Wednesday morning. Remember to be working on your page of ‘Ahas’ whilst he’s speaking. You’ll be passing it in at the end of class which is in 50 minutes,” Alcott announces. His Southern accent coming out in a few of his words. 
“Shitttttt. I think I might like this guest speaker. Look at him, Becky. He is fineeeeeee,” Ruby whispers, elbowing me hard in the arm. 
With a whimper, I sit up with a secret stretch. Combing my hair back, I rub at one of my eyes as they both struggle to focus. 
“What, who’s fine? What’s fine?” another voice blurts out. I squint and look over to find Simon taking the seat on the other side of me. The little Criminology trio back together again. 
“Not you being tardy, that’s not fine,” Ruby retorts with a smirk in her voice. I can’t help but smile. Simon flashes one at me as he combs a hand through his sandy hair after digging in his backpack. 
“So without further ado, I’d like to introduce our guest speaker today. Harry Styles from Styles and Lawson. Let’s welcome Mr. Styles with open arms and give him our undivided attention, please.”
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” I mumble under my breath, coaxing a confused ‘what’ from Ruby and Simon’s lips . 
“Hullo, class. My name ‘s Harry Styles, but ya can call me Harry. Ummmmm as Professor Alcott said, ‘m from tha London law firm Styles and Lawson. Me mate, Myles Lawson, makes up tha otha half o’ tha firm. This year it’ll be 5 years since we started tha firm togetha, which ‘s bloody crazy t’ me. Before, it was his dad’s firm, and long story short, Myles an’ I got togetha an’ here we are. Anyways, I make me rounds in London talkin’ t’ law classes. I’ve always enjoyed speakin’ t’ tha incomin’ lawyers an’ tellin’ some o’ me stories. An’ me favorite part - answerin’ questions. I thought ‘d start with how I got into law, tho’.”
Shit. I really should’ve known this would happen.
“Nothing,” I reply. “J-just hand me a piece of paper and a pencil, please,” I say briskly to Ruby. 
The last thing I want is to make a single sound that will bring attention to me. But it seems like the universe doesn’t really care lately what I want. I’m already trying to figure out my odds of him spotting me in the sea of 50-so students. Amongst 35 or so ogling girls. Typical.
But the more my eyes focus and my ears attune themselves, I lose myself. I knew it wasn’t a dream when I heard the first word from his mouth. I’d know that voice anywhere. But when my eyes finally focus on the towering figure standing at the front of the room, my eyes struggle. Gone are his long curly locks, and replacing them is a short and curly quiff. I try to ignore the somersaults my insides are doing, but it’s terribly difficult. 
Taking a deep breath, I savor listening to the words fall from those smiling cherry lips. In that slow, calming voice. Never being able to remain in one place, he paces around the front of the room slowly. Clad in a gray suit with a black button down, I slowly melt next to Ruby. Who from her choice of words, is doing about the same. Just in a less graphically described way than her. I can’t blame her, because somehow he has only gotten more handsome over the last year. 
“Isn’t he just so nice to look at?” she croons. 
“Oh yes,” I reply without thinking, and she sighs happily.
Simon groans in disgust, shaking his head. I see him out of the corner of my eye playing with the lead in his pencil. He tries to take it out in one piece before putting it back in. Rinse and repeat.  
I bite my lip and somehow tear my eyes away and to the paper sitting in front of me. I scribble my name across the top. Numbering my page, I write down the first ‘aha’ I have. 
1. Renowned lawyer with his own firm at 28. Almost unheard of. 
Tapping the pencil absently at my thigh, I return my attention to the front. Playing with the rings donning his hands, Harry continues with the story of how he came to be a lawyer. One I can’t say I’ve heard before. Stuffing his hands in his pockets, he starts to walk again. Changing his focus from somebody in the front row, it suddenly floats up. 
And lands on me. 
Not only am I surprised, but so is he. The pencil between my fingers halts and altogether falls from my fingers. He stops mid sentence when his eyes lock with mine. My insides grow bubbly as a sparkle gleams in his eyes. I watch a grin unfold on his lips before he composes himself. 
Clearing his throat, he asks, “I-I’m sorry, can somebody uh remind me what I was sayin’?” 
Nervously, he combs a hand through his hair. Laughing, he thanks an eager girl in the front row when she reminds him. And soon enough, he’s back on track with a new nervousness to his voice, or excitement. I’m not sure which. And his eyes trail back to me after a few words, making a smile tickle at my lips. 
Although hard, I look away and pretend to think of something to write. Feeling another pair of eyes on me, I look over and find Ruby’s hot on my cheek. I shrug at her jealous look and she just shakes her head. I laugh under my breath and she kicks me under the table. 
I lose myself in Harry’s words for the rest of his talk, his maple syrupy voice like music to my ears. 
He talks about starting his law firm with Myles.
Some of his favorite cases.
His first case.
His worst case.
His hardest case.
And then he goes on to answer questions. Ruby and I aren’t the only ones fawning over him, because most of the class is as well. Some girls are really flirting it up with Harry. He just relishes in the flattery, to no surprise. I try not to notice the few times he peeks at me when he looks for somebody to call on with a question. 
“Why does he keep looking at you?” Ruby whispers to me as I write down another ‘aha.’ Some random takeaway from another story of his. 
“How am I supposed to know?” I reply, twiddling with my pencil when I’m done. “Why don’t you ask him a question already? I can see the ants in your pants, Rube.”
“I don’t know, I think her question would be if he was single,” Simon jokes, garnering a few curse words from Ruby. I quietly laugh between their hushed argument. 
“Well, ‘m gettin’ tha eye from Alcott, so I reckon that my time’s up with you lot. Thanks fer havin’ me an’ hopefully I wasn’t too boring t’ listen to,” Harry concludes at the front of the lecture hall. 
I pretend I don’t hear Simon’s griping next to me. I can’t help but smile as I slide my backpack onto my shoulders. 
“Not so fast, everybody. What do we say to Mr. Styles for speaking to our class today?” Professor Alcott pipes up. I join in on the class-wide thank you as I hand Ruby her pencil back. 
“I bet you’ll be awake and ready for Wednesday lectures from now on,” she says, winking at me. 
I roll my eyes with a grin as I start down the steps beside her. “Like you’re any better. I saw you both drooling from the corner of my eye,” Simon remarks. 
“Maybe,” I say quietly, stuffing my hands into the pockets of my pullover quarter zip. The last syllable falls from my lips as my eyes pan over to find his head of dark curls.
Nearly at the uppermost row, my view wasn’t the best. As I near closer to him, his features sharpen and with the realization, my heart squeezes in my chest. Light stubble coats his dimpled cheeks as he smiles talking to a classmate of mine. 
I’m only a few footsteps from the bottom now, following the slow line of people who are leaving. The angel and demon, for lack of better words, argue inside of my head. Should I go and say hi? 
Yeah, why not?
No, why would you?
It would be rude if you didn’t.
It would be weird if you did. 
But there are a handful of girls around him probably already flirting with him. 
With an indecisive sigh, I clench my fists inside of my pockets. The two opposites inside of me clash, and I truly have no idea what to do. His card the other day was so kind and thoughtful. But I was a bitch the last time I saw him. I can’t believe it’ll be a year in two short months since I quit. Wow. 
“I dunno why they’re bothering, it looks like he’s taken,” Simon snickers, earning a flick on the head from Ruby. “Don’t be a bitch just because I pointed out the truth. Can’t shoot the bloody messenger, Rube.” 
I don’t intervene when Ruby chases after Simon to the door. Suddenly my feet stop around the corner from the stairs. Only a few more steps and he’d be out of my sight. 
Again. 
For who knows how long until next time. 
I can’t take my eyes off of him. He really looks like he’s enjoying himself talking to law students. Up close, he really has grown more handsome over the last 11 months. I never thought that could be possible. Smiles crease his cheeks.And light up his eyes. 
But when his left hand habitually goes to fix his quiff of curls, I see the gold ring Simon saw. He wore rings, but never that one. It’s like my heart is brought up from the bottom of the lake where it’s been, and takes another nose dive back down.
“Becky!” somebody calls for me. I blink and almost think it’s him. But when I look around for the culprit, I find Simon walking up to me. 
I find it hard to squash the disappointment weighing inside of me. That it’s not Harry. 
“Sorry, Si. W-what’d you say?” I reply, tearing my eyes away from Harry. 
“Don’t look so sad he’s taken,” Si jokes quietly, putting an arm around me and squeezing my shoulder. I force a smile and walk to the door with him. “Wanna go get a coffee? Maybe that’ll cheer you up,” he suggests happily, his voice echoing in the hall to the door. 
“Yeah sure,” I respond slowly, unsure of my words. I let him guide me out of the lecture hall and into the busy hallways. 
Wow, Harry, you moved on from Amber that quick, huh? I think to myself with knitted brows and self-doubt. Swallowing, I try to push the nagging thought away. But I can’t, and I find myself barely able to carry on a conversation with Simon. 
I thought seeing Harry in my lecture was one of the sweetest surprises. Instead, it feels like a happy dream that turned into a nightmare at the end.  
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Ok SO! I just watched the original 3 Jurassic Parks in succession and I have some things to say... (Long Post and Spoilers I guess?)
JURASSIC PARK
what was wrong with the sick Triceratops? Like they made a big deal of Laura Dern digging in poop and looking at the plants and whether or not they were eating something weird, and I thought it would come up again... it did not and I just wanna know what was wrong with the Trike?!
Then the whole viable embryo chamber that Nedry stole... I suppose the embryos just died but they did this whole thing where we watch it get covered in mud, and once again, was expecting that to be a plot point but guess not??
Otherwise great film, obviously having not seen it when I was younger, I don’t have any nostalgia towards the film, so no rose-tinted glasses to make it look prettier than it is... but really solid thriller, they captured the majesty of these creatures that don’t even exist anymore... I’ll dig up the full legacy of the film later, but easily the best of the three in my opinion... pacing was good, tension in each action sequence was great, the cast was really solid too... Laura Dern, every scene she was in, she was brilliant... she’s equal parts charming, witty but also isn’t here to take any shit... she has things to do, and she will get them done... so far the only female character in the first three movies that I could stand screaming... including Sarah Harding who had a couple moments... Sam Neill was a good gruff hero who we’re endeared to by his awkwardness around kids... Jeff Goldblum was Jeff Goldblum, weirdly underused the entire film??? Like he had that weird laugh-growl, all those great lines in the beginning, and ofc the iconic leads Rexy with the flare scene (which I was expecting to be more epic but Sam Neill kept telling him to drop it and so it came off like he was doing something kinda dumb??) but he busts up his leg and has no other purpose than “Must go faster”, the sexy wounded Goldblum, and “look up and follow the main cable”...
THE LOST WORLD: JURASSIC PARK
Contrary to the previous one, I feel like Jeff Goldblum...uhhh...is not an action star? His dialogue during action scenes, his movements, his general character all seemed awkward and out of place, and maybe that’s what he’s going for... he’s a scientist/mathematician dude who didn’t wanna be there, but the “choreography” of the action scenes just didn’t seem like a dude actively trying to save himself and the people around him... the entirety of the raptor scene in the power station felt stilted and stiff, him, Julianne Moore and his daughter... that gymnastics scene could’ve been cooler but everything was so slow? Like it’s the longest of the three films and idk if that’s a good thing... the end bit where the T-Rex ended up in San Diego felt more than a little goofy and sort of separate from the rest of the movie, like there was no transition from the natural end of the movie (them getting rescued) and the Rex wandering around the suburbs..
However I really did enjoy Vince Vaughn and I’m so used to him in comedic roles?? But like he seemed like such a grounded dude that was secretly a sort of guerilla environmentalist set to rescue animals from poachers... I kinda would’ve preferred him as the main character and have Jeff be a side character just with more to do than in the first film... Jeff is great as a foil to the action hero, witty banter was a check, running commentary is always great, occasional moments of his own death defying struggles but Vince’s character had more moxie... Sarah aka Julianne Moore was fine as the obligatory female character that wasn’t a dinosaur... though for someone who kept insisting on knowing what she was doing and hanging around multiple predators, her screaming right at Mom and Dad Rex when the key is to be still and quiet, and also not clueing in that the baby Rex blood on her vest would attract the parents to her after she specifically mentioned them having superior scent tracking was a little ridiculous... obligatory kid was fine, but they never really doubled back on the whole “you never keep your promises” problem they introduced between her and Jeff..
JURASSIC PARK 3
Uh so... there are just... pterodactyls canonically nested and presumably breeding somewhere else in the world, and I was just wondering if it ever gets addressed in JW or JW: FK??? Like I’ve seen Jurassic World but without prior knowledge of the previous films, so idk if there was a reference slipped in, but it is the same universe as the previous films sooo...just gotta accept that they nested somewhere and no one did anything to stop them flying off??
Also Laura Dern... how did she manage to rally the military and the navy??? Like where did she get the power/the connections to pull that off???
Also also... did they face... no consequences for entering those islands after having invaded a foreign countries restricted air space???
Compared to 2, generally better pacing, much better action sequences... tension was pretty close to the first film in snappy action... got Sam Neill back and he’s nice... apparently the third is not well-liked but without the nostalgia factor clouding my judgement? It was about the same vibe... more of the same, an arbitrary event pulling them to Dino land, it being a Terrible Very Bad Idea, and cue in the herbivore Dinosaurs, the slightly more dangerous dinosaurs, and The Big Bad Dinosaur... much scream, much death, then rescue....
they overused the classic JP theme a little, and in weird spots... like there’d be death and terror, and then all of a sudden the JP theme would blast and something cute or majestic would appear and it was quite jarring...the genesis of the Spinosaurus would’ve been nice to know, they made that an unecessary mystery but whatever...guess it was born from some precursor experiment to the I-Rex sort of thing that InGen had been cooking up...
Tea Leoni just kept yelling and screaming and it was so annoying istg like stop no... I get she was scared but she was hysterical off her head and it felt very classic horror film but jfc you come to an island to rescue your son from dinosaurs, not get eaten by one! They also kept trying to focus on the divorced couple rekindling their relationship in this dangerous situation but please no I do not watch these films for the love story I’m glad it was barely even acknowledged in the first film that Alan and Ellie probably had a thing going on and I kinda did not like that they made Jeff and Julianne be an established thing and have John Hammond use that as incentive to push Jeff to go back to the island... so yeah no shoo-shoo the romance away please... also the poor boyfriend who died?? Like no grief for him I guess??
Sam Neill getting angry at Billy was really mean, so glad he survived... there were actually less terrible people who didn’t realise they were terrible people in this film... the closest we got was Billy stealing the raptor eggs and that was him just being rash and young and wanting to help out...
Otherwise another typical dinosaur fest... it wasnt Spielberg direction, and you could kinda tell... not as smooth in just the general flow of the story... not quite as golden touch as the first one, but not as dragged out as the second one and it had better action sequences... so idk about y’all but I might just rank the third film above the second one?
CONCLUSION
Anyway yeah! Netflix took down Jurassic World so I’m bummed my binge watch got messed with but Fallen Kingdom is being put up this week so looking forward to that!
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johannesviii · 4 years
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Top 10 Personal Favorite Hit Songs from 2004
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15 to 16 years old. A chaotic year for sure, but with a high quality soundtrack. So here’s a top ten list in which, as usual for that decade, several painful cuts had to be made.
Disclaimers:
Keep in mind I’m using both the year-end top 100 lists from the US and from France while making these top 10 things. There’s songs in English that charted in my country way higher than they did in their home countries, or even earlier or later, so that might get surprising at times.
Of course there will be stuff in French. We suck. I know. It’s my list. Deal with it.
My musical tastes have always been terrible and I’m not a critic, just a listener and an idiot.
I have sound to color synesthesia which justifies nothing but might explain why I have trouble describing some songs in other terms than visual ones.
To provide the usual personal context, that year, being that-weirdo-in-the-back-of-the-class suddenly became great when OTHER people were also considered weirdos-in-the-back-of-the-class, and together, with a guy who kept falling asleep in class because he had insomnia, another guy who had elocution problems, and a girl who arrived directly from Cameroun in the middle of winter and was kinda depressed, we formed some sort of losers club and suddenly things weren’t so bad anymore. Unfortunately I completely lost contact with these people after highschool and that’s one of the biggest regrets of my life.
And then in September I once again ended in a completely different class in Terminale (equivalent of Senior Year in the US unless I’m mistaken) and made another great friend. So while life at home was still pretty bad, at least it was much better at school.
At this point my parents also stopped checking what kind of singles I was buying, which means that instead of this madness from 2003 where I had to hide some purchases with other ones...
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...I only bought this in 2004 and the rest were actual albums.
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Also, I found some old tapes and oh my goodness look at the label on this one. Late 2002/early 2003 at its finest right there. Kyo written with a typo, next to Eminem, next to Mylène Farmer. Love it.
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With all of that out of the way, here’s a list of honorable mentions first. A very, very long list.
Yeah (Usher feat Lil Jon & Ludacris) - Thank goodness I thought this song was pretty cool, otherwise I’d have been miserable while listening to the radio in 2004.
Milkshake (Kelis) - Ooooooh daaaaangerously close to the So Bad It’s Good category.
Let’s Get It Started (Black Eyed Peas) - Don’t have anything to say, it’s a lot of fun.
Dragosta Din Tei (O-Zone) - This took like four more years to chart in the US but we heard it all summer here. And it wasn’t unpleasant at all to be honest?
Heaven (remix) (DJ Sammy) - Hang on, wasn’t this on the 2002 honorable mentions? Yeah but it took two years to chart here so it was elligible for 2004 as well.
Turn Me On (Kevin Lyttle) - A quality earworm that somehow isn’t annoying? Sign me up.
Call On Me (Eric Prydz) - Hey, look, another repetitive dance track in my collection of repetitive dance tracks!
What You Waiting For? (Gwen Stefani) - I think this is the only Gwen Stefani song that never made me turn the radio off after a minute. Pretty good.
It’s My Life (No Doubt) - Love the original. This version, not so much.
Parce Qu’on Vient de Loin (Corneille) - Favorite artist of my best friend that year. That song was so moving and well-written. Never got tired of it but never actively listened to it either. If I had better taste it would probably make the list.
The Reason (Hoobastank) - I thought this was ok and pretty nice if a bit bland, and didn’t deserve the success nor the hatred it got. However, thanks to the rock journal I was buying at the time which was like “hey, please listen to the album itself, it’s great!”, I followed that advice, listened to the album at the cd store and bought it instantly. If you dislike this song, please listen to the rest of the album, I swear you’ll enjoy it. Here’s the first track, Same Direction, to get a general idea!
Don’t Tell Me (Avril Lavigne) - Her second album was very good, wasn’t it? What happened to her in recent years?
Je Saigne Encore (Kyo) - This was the last cut (HA, get it? cut?? ok sorry that was terrible) from the list. While I loved it back in the day and while I’m willing to ignore how cringy some stuff I loved as a teenager can be now, I'm not willing to ignore how this is basically a song about a white boy being dumped for the first time and hurting himself because he can’t deal with the mere concept of jealousy. And I’m like “holy shit calm down dude and please drop that knife”.
And now, the actual list.
10 - Hey Ya! (Outkast)
US: #8 / FR: #41
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Who’s surprised. Come on. Everyone loved it. I even bought the single! And to think I almost considered leaving it out of the top 10 to put friggin Kyo on it, of all things. The indignity. But yeah, I genuinely loved this. The only thing I can say against it is that it’s a bit too exhausting to be listened to on a loop.
9 - 100 Years (Five For Fighting)
US: #77 / FR: Not on the list
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I only heard this a couple of times that year and never paid much attention.
Then I heard it again in 2018 right in the middle of a very, very bad year, after losing my grandfather, and it absolutely destroyed me.
It’s very, very good.
8 - Face à la Mer (Passy & Calogero)
US: Not on the list / FR: #11
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Very overplayed that year. A delight every single time it was on the radio, though. Don’t have anything else to say about it.
7 - Modern Times (J-Five)
US: Not on the list / FR: #26
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A hiphop song sampling a scene from Modern Times with Charlie Chaplin. It peaked at number 1 here! Not kidding! I bought the single after hearing it exactly once. It’s fantastic and I’m really sad time buried it like it did. If you’ve forgotten about it or simply never heard it before, please give it a listen, it needs more love.
6 - Hit My Heart (Benassi Bros)
US: Not on the list / FR: #74
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Remember last time when I said I was a major sucker for Benassi Bros? Well this isn’t an exception. That is a killer drop right there. It looks great and dark and glittery all at once and, by the way, the sunny and summer-y music video completely contradicted how the song looked like in my ears, haha.
5 - My Happy Ending (Avril Lavigne)
US: #54 / FR: Not on the list
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I’m not entirely sure what went wrong and when in Avril Lavigne’s career the shift happened, but a couple of years after that song her music got a lot less interesting. I may have enjoyed her first album Let Go a lot, but this song might just be her best one ever.
The sudden shift from “YOU WERE everything” to “HE WAS everything” near the end, in particular, is great writing. Love that.
4 - Left Outside Alone (Anastacia)
US: Not on the list / FR: #76
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Usually, voices, good or bad, have zero impact on me except when they border on unlistenable, or when they are physically painful to hear/look at. The guy from Muse for example has a voice that looks like the equivalent of a flashlight in the dark and it hurts, and I’m like dude. Can you please tune that down a little bit. Please.
This lady’s voice right there is fascinating though. Her voice is green and dark and it’s such a strange, rare voice I’m charmed whenever I hear it, and in this song in particular. This was on SO MANY of my tapes it’s not even funny. And the chorus is fantastic and a joy to sing along with even if you don’t have a good voice yourself.
3 - Orchestra (The Servant)
US: Not on the list / FR: #97
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So we were on vacation, and they were giving away free cds at one stop. And I put the one I got in my portable cd player, and wasn’t that excited by the first tracks.
And then the fifth one started. And I was instantly captivated.
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You already know I absolutely adored Placebo at the time (sadly, Protect Me isn’t elligible here either), and that guy from The Servant had a similar voice and the song was roughly in the same ballpark, and the lyrics were so, so weird.
There's an orchestra in me, Playing endlessly I even hear it now They play in the devil's key, An endless symphony I even hear it now And I listen to the music, Beautiful music Yes I listen to the music, Beautiful music
And, again, I’m terrible at describing sounds but the colors are so disquieting and there’s an unpleasant vibe except the song itself isn’t unpleasant? It’s so damn weird. And that band never struck gold again after that.
I still don’t know what happened or how all of this works. It’s a mystery. A very beautiful and curious mystery. This would have had a good shot at winning the #1 spot if it hadn’t been for [shakes fist] these other guys.
2 - Breaking the Habit (Linkin Park)
US: #79 / FR: #89
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Only #2? Does... does that mean Linkin Park isn’t going to top my lists three years in a row? Holy shit, dodged a bullet there.
Should I really repeat my whole speech about Meteora. Should I really. Come on. It starts with the sound of a closing door, then broken glass, and then guitars explode in your face. The first line of the album is “sometimes I need to remember just to breathe”! Somewhere I Belong is one of my favorite songs from the band! I was trying to match the flow of Faint even if my English was still extremely shaky and my accent terrible!
And then there’s Breaking the Habit, which sounds almost pleasant compared to the levels of aggression displayed by the other songs. But it’s weirdly tense and stressful for that exact reason, because this relative calm sounds like a menace.
It works even better out of the context of the album, where it sounded a tad more aggressive than the average pop song, but still tense and stressful. And the music video is fantastic. I had it on a giant poster. I know I’ve kept it folded somewhere. If I only knew where it was, I’d show it to you. Covering up the (bright pink) walls in my room back then was a lot of work.
Edit: Nevermind. Found it:
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Gotta say one thing though. At least they aren’t #1 for the third year in a row. What’s left of my dignity has been saved.
1 - Enjoy the Silence 2004 (Depeche Mode, Mike Shinoda remix)
US: Not on the list / FR: #89
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Waiiiit a second. This was remixed by Mike Shinoda, wasn’t it. Mike Shinoda. From Linkin Park.
I guess Linkin Park IS topping my lists three years in a row in the end sdfghjhgfdfghjkjhg end me
But yeah. So. Enjoy the Silence tops a second list of mine, then. 14 years after the first one. I’m not gonna repeat what I’ve already said about that song. It simply got a brand new coat of paint, but still, even if it’s basically street art painted over a framed painting, what a masterpiece. Was genuinely gawking the first time I heard it on the radio.
And then Depeche Mode released one of their best albums ever the very next year, and it was the album of the year for me, and I became a big fan. So yeah, thanks for introducing me to their music, Mike Shinoda.
Bonus: I noticed my trusty old radio/cd player was in the background of a pic my brother took around that time! I miss that radio. It was pearl-colored and I had added stickers of birds and insects on it. So everytime I say “on the radio” in these posts, just picture this round little thing which was at the center of my universe back then.
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Next up: Not the best song of the decade but pretty close
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trojansblr · 5 years
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#FightOn! (04) | OT7
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Summary: The University of Southern California is a prestigious school - only the best or the richest can attend. That means there will be a lot of spoiled brats. Two groups start colliding and the entire college shift alongside them. What will happen when sparks starts to flow between them? Drama will certainly be there.
Pairing: BTS with -eventually- female characters
Genre: Fluff, Angst, Smut (in the future), CollegeAU!
Word Count: 16k UNEDITED 
A/N: Thank you all so much for waiting. This chapter was taking his time to take form in my head. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy and thank you so so much to all the girls that joined our family and to the ones that are with us everyday! Also, a big thanks to @bunnybubkook for being our editor of this chapter (she’s helping us improve our writing since our first language isn’t English). I made so many mistakes, it’s a shame ooofff I’ll be waiting for your feedback on the asks ❤ Love you all 
The Characters • Day 3 • Day 4 • Day 5
The air at USC was electrifying, and it affected everyone. At the Flour Tower, Hyori’s alarm had just rang. To her surprise, her roommate was already awake. Deo was sitting on her bed, hair all over her face. Honestly, if there wasn’t light peeking through the blinds, Hyori would almost swear it was Samara sitting there instead of her best friend.
“Are you ok?” Hyori’s voice came out hoarse from having just woken up a couple of seconds ago. All she got from her roommate was a grunting sound and a nod. “What is going on? Did something happen?”
She jumped out of her bed and into the other, cupping Deo’s face in her tiny hands. The girl looked pale and her lips were more of a red-ish, compared to her usual lip color. It was either because of a cold, because she had been crying, or because she was on her period.
“Did you turn into a vampire or something?” Hyori joked, making Deo laugh.
“I’m on my period.” Deo finally spoke, letting her body fall backwards and into her soft mattress. “It feels like I’m dying.” She grabbed Hyori’s wrist dramatically.
“Do you know what’s good for cramps?”
“If you say exercise, I’m going to kill you.”
“C’mon, come run with me.” Hyori said excitedly. It was rare, but the times it did happen she had the best time running with Deo. The two of them were super competitive, so they would always end up racing each other to see who would win.
As the girls were getting ready for their morning run, everyone was still very much sound asleep.Hyori was used to mornings being quiet, only seeing one or two people on her way to the track field. Today, however, with her roommate tagging along, she could barely hear the birds chipper because they were talking and laughing too loudly.
“Ok, are you ready?” Hyori said, getting into her lane and kneeling into position.
“What? Wait! We have to make a bet!” Deo said. She’s picked up this habit with Jungkook of betting on everything and anything. ‘Bet you I can finish my drink faster than you’, ‘bet you I can take a better picture than you’, ‘bet you’ll be hungover the next morning’. Because of this, she would always try to make bets with her friends, just for fun.
“Fine!” Hyori said, straightening herself. “What about... whoever loses has to make the other breakfast?”
“Good enough for me.” Deo shrugged, and both kneeled down on their respective lanes.
“Ready...”
“Set...”
“GO!” They screamed at the same time and started sprinting.
For the sake of their breakfast, Deo lost. Or, being truthful, she quit midway because her cramps were bugging her too much, so instead of running, Deo just sat down on the track and Hyori returned to her normal pace.
Once they got back to their dorms, they took a quick shower before heading to the common kitchen where they usually ate breakfast. Deo ended up making enough pancakes to feed two girls that were their floor’s neighbors.
Not too far away, in apartment 203, everyone was awake except for Yoongi. He had stayed up until sunrise adding last-minute details to one of his songs. Today was a big day for him, which also made it a big day for his friends. They were their friends' number one supporters and if there was anyone who deserved love and support, it was Yoongi.
“Hey man.” Namjoon spoke to Jungkook, making him jump in his seat. He was too focused typing on his phone.
“Oh hey, good morning!”
“You’re up early. Going somewhere?” Namjoon asked as he took a bite of his apple.
“Yeah. I gotta help my friend set up a runaway for this fashion show they’re having.”
“Oh yeah, I think I saw a flyer around campus about that. You’re going to model?”
“Nah, I’m going to help backstage.” Jungkook said nonchalantly. Namjoon only nodded. “You’re going to the library?”
“I have an essay to finish, so, yeah. I’m gonna go now since everyone is still asleep, and once they wake up I know I won’t be able to focus.” Namjoon laughed lightly, grabbing his books and standing up. “I’ll see you later.”
“See ya man.”
Jungkook continued to stay glued to his phone. Ever since the volleyball party he had been talking to this girl he met there, Aashna. Usually, he would only open his social media to check on the million things his friends would post but recently he found himself excited to see the questions Aashna would send him. Their conversations were based on games like 21 questions or would you rather and he had a good time doing it. It stopped him from being bored. Right now, he was trying to decide if he would rather fly like Superman or travel like Spiderman. To him, this one was actually pretty easy. He liked Spiderman so much, it was an obvious choice.
Namjoon, was already in the library. Luckily for him, the crazy old lady didn’t hear him heading out today, so he didn’t have to waste two hours talking to her. It would take him a while to get in the mood to do his work but there was something that always worked. Scanning the books shelves. Namjoon’s love for books was a big one and just reading the books covers would make him ease into the state of mind he needed to focus and do his work. 
He had assembled quite the pile of books. In fact, it was so big that it created a wall, such that he was barely visible behind. After 45 minutes, Namjoon realized one book was missing, so he walked quietly to the front desk where a pretty girl was sitting. Her hair caught his attention due to how bulky it was. He cleared his throat before speaking.
“Sorry to bother but I need a book on lobbying. I couldn’t find it back there.” He said quietly, to not disturb the people that were reading close by.
“Yeah, give me a second.” She said and started typing on the computer she had in front of her. “If you want you can sit down and I'll bring it to your table?” She suggested.
“Thank you!”
Namjoon headed back to his table as Silvia, the pretty girl at the front desk, was waiting for the computer to respond. Considering USC installations, the computer in the library was a dump. Specially from Silvia’s point of view. Her close friend Tessa was majoring in Graphic Design, so she was used to the best computers the school had to offer. They basically only took one second to open an adobe program. This computer however, took five whole minutes just to search for a book, but thankfully, she had the patient of a saint. Once the computer finally managed to load the book Namjoon was looking for, she headed for the correct aisle and scanned it until she identified the book Namjoon needed. As she approached, she couldn’t help but hear Namjoon mumbling to himself. Curiosity hit her, and she stopped in her tracks.
“It’s just so hard, Celi...” He sighed hard, talking into his phone. “I don’t even remember who that was at the party. I remember that she was pretty, and tiny, and had this dark brown hair that was kinda wavy. It suited her so well... I was too drunk to remember her name though. This is so unlike me! And I thought I liked Najma, but if I slept with someone else, maybe I don’t?” He continued rambling. “Anyway, I'll see you at lunch. We can talk about all of this then, yeah?”
As Namjoon placed his phone down, Silvia was afraid that he would look back and catch her red-handed. So, she clumsily moved towards his table.
“I have your book right here.” She smiled kindly to him.
“Thanks! I’m sorry I had to bother you, but I really didn’t find it.”
“Oh, it’s not a problem. To be honest, I was almost falling asleep back there.” She said cutely, making him laugh lightly.
“Well, anyway, thank you!”
“If you don’t mind me asking... what’s your work about?”
“It’s about Interest Group Perspectives. It’s for one of my Philosophy classes.” He nodded his head.
“Oh, I won’t keep you any longer then. Good luck on that, and if you need anything you know where to find me.”
Silvia started walking back to her post but she couldn’t resist on looking back. Namjoon was scanning the book, a serious expression on his face. For the first time ever since she started working at the library, she thought her role was  being a mere spectator only, of other’s lives. She was done being the reader. She was going to become the narrator of Namjoon’s story and help him find someone he deserved. How? She didn’t have her plan all figured out quite yet, but what she did have was time. She was going to come up with something.
Somewhere around campus, Jimin was already rushing to meet Deo and Hyori. They had to go help Hobi arrange the space for his sister’s fashion show but Jimin fell asleep and so, the girls had been waiting for him for the last 15 minutes. He finally laid eyes on the two tiny girls and jogged to them.
“Hey babies! Sorry I’m late!” Jimin smiled big, so big his eyes seemed to shut.
“I hope you don’t keep all your girlfriends waiting like this every time you get a date.” Deo sassily said, hugging the boy.
“It’s part of his charm.” Hyori teased back, but also gave a quick hug to the boy.
“Let’s just go!” Jimin whined. “They’re waiting for us!” The girls gagged in disbelief to the boy’s audacity but decided it was best to ignore him and just walk.
Back in Jimin’s dorm, Taehyung was tossing and turning in his bed. His roommate had gotten up in such a hurry, that it almost felt like their dorm was under attack. He usually had a quick and deep sleep, but today it wasn’t cooperating with his laziness. He rolled around one more time, this time turning to his bedside table to reach for his phone and check the time. It marked 10:47, so he decided he might as well enjoy the day. He quickly got dressed, put his usual drawing notebook in his bag, and headed out. The sun was bright outside, so he decided to stop by the campus café to get something to help his inspiration run a little. His brain was still in sleep mode.
Once he got to the café, as he was waiting in line, already knowing what to order, he decided to take a look around to see if there were any familiar faces he could greet. He did find one. She was sitting on one of the furthest booths of the café, looking at something on her tablet. Once he got his order, he walked up to her.
“Hey! I think I recognize you?” He asked, not feeling so sure now that he remembered how drunk he was at the party. “Sana, right?”
“That’s me!” She smiled kindly to him. “You wanna sit with me?”
“Yes!” As he answered, the girl scootched to the side to give him space to sit on the booth. “What are you doing here?”
“I’m actually waiting for my friends. They should be here pretty soon.”
“Oh, you’re doing something fun?” He asked, excited and curious.
“We’re gonna have breakfast here, and then we’re going to buy tickets for an exhibition. I don’t know if you know the artist. It’s Benjamin Verhoven.”
“Oh? Benjamin...” Taehyung let his thoughts slip through his lips. “His name sounds familiar, but I can’t remember any of his works.”
“Well... you can join us if you want?” She offered with a sweet smile on her lips.
“I can’t say no to an invitation like that. I’m a sucker for art.” He smiled sheepishly. “Would it be ok if I invite some of my friends to join us?”
“Of course! The more the merrier!”
“Cool!” Taehyung let out a big smile. “I’ll talk to you later then?”
“Of course! I’ll dm you the details!” Sana said in a goodbye tone.
They had begun to talk a lot ever since the party about things like art, music, books – pretty much everything. Their tastes were very similar, so they always had a good time speaking to one another. Taehyung left the café looking like a little kid on a sugar high.
“NO NO NO! SUPPORT ME!” Jin screamed into his microphone. He had been playing LOL for the past 45 minutes, and to say that the game wasn’t going his way was an understatement. “Fucking noobs!”
AlpacaTower: wtf dude!! Support!! Noob
Otakupandasworld: omw!
AlpacaTower: no! You're a jungler!!
Otakupandasworld: we can still win this!
Jin couldn’t even care about his team chatting, as soon as the surrender popped up, he clicked on ‘YES’ and immediately left his computer. He was too upset to stay and see his screen light up with the word ‘DEFEAT’. He walked into the kitchen and straight to the fridge, and before opening it, he took a quick look at the kink list. Weirdly enough, it hadn't been updated this week. As he was about to open the fridge, the power was cut out. He immediately regretted not turning off his computer earlier and putting the garlic bread in the oven. Jin took his phone from his back pocket and turned on the flashlight. He walked out of his apartment and into the hall where the electric board was. 
“Oh shit! You scared me!” Esme, the girl that lived front door said, her hands covering her chest from the scare.
“Sorry about that.” Jin scratched the back of his neck, trying not to laugh. “And sorry about the power too.”
“It just went out out of nowhere!” She laughed, still a little spooked.
“Yeah, I had too many things on!” Jin laughed and made some space so that he could reach the electric board. “You just have to flip this switch up and it should be back on right...” He stopped, flipping the big red switch on the power board “now!” As he spoke, the corridor was filled with light.
“Wow, I almost got goosebumps.” She teased, making him laugh. “I’m Esme by the way!”
“Jin!” He let out his hand for her to shake, and she did. As he was about to turn his back on her, he stopped by his door, turning over. “Quick question, if two vegetarians have a fight, is it still called beef?” He said with an amused look on his face.
“It depends on what’s at steak.” She responded back quickly, making Jin laugh.
“I carrot believe you thought of that so quickly.”
“Lettuce rejoice over our puns, neighbor.” They both laughed.
Jin went back inside to eat his garlic bread, amused with the slight pun exchange he had just had with his neighbor.
Not so far away, Namjoon was finally leaving the library. One of his close friends from his first year in college had hit him up to have lunch with her, and he missed her so much there was no way he was going to say no. Once he got to their usual café, he noticed Cecilia was already there.
“Sorry, I had to walk all the way from the library.” He apologized with a sweet smile that she couldn’t resist.
“It’s ok. I already ordered for us. I ordered a large pizza, so we can share!” She told him excitedly.
“Pizza’s here are delicious!” He complimented. They used to go to that café all the time last year. “How are you? You said you wanted to talk to me?” He changed his expression from relaxed to concerned in a matter of seconds.
“Oh...” She was a little lost for words, not knowing how to explain her feelings. “It’s Mark. He keeps asking me for a second chance but... it doesn't feel right, you know? I get this sick feeling in my stomach.”
“He made you go through so much... You should think it through before putting yourself in a sticky situation again.”
“I know... it’s just hard.” Cecilia sighed, looking lost. “But enough about me, tell me about you. And that party!”
Namjoon let out a big sigh. “I don’t even know what to tell you. I was supposed to be on Taehyung duty. I don’t know how I got that drunk.”
“But what about the girl? Tell me who she is!” She pushed, excited to hear the gossip.
“So... you see...” He scratched the back of his head, kind of embarrassed. “I don’t remember.”
“Joonpiter!” She let out his nickname, shocked and excited. “That is so not like you!”
“I know!” He sighed. “Plus there’s Najma.”
“What about her?”
“I can’t get her out of my mind, even though she doesn’t seem to care that I exist?”
“Oh of course she cares!”
“Am I just wasting my time with her?”
“Of course not! You can’t just give up like that!” Cecilia tried her best to encourage her best friend, but his head was already hanging low. “What about your poetry?”
“What about it?”
“Have you been writing?”
“A little, here and there. I’ve been trying something new actually.” He said, his morale going up a little.
“What is it?”
“I can’t say yet!”
“Pretty please?” She bat her eyelashes.
“I can read you one of my poems?”
She pout at his recommendation but realized it wouldn’t get better than that, so she agreed. “Three poems.”
“Fine!” He finally caves in, making her smile big.
As they wait for their food, he gives her his little notebook where he usually writes down his feelings and poems. Cecilia reads them intently and with care. Namjoon can’t contain himself and asks what is her favorite.
Some days, we laugh so much that we end up crying It’s like the blooming flowers. Today I crave those moments The sun rays and the calming breeze  I feel lost and insecure I don’t like it. The gentle sea can turn into an unforgiving tangle of tears I wish I could turn back to those happy moments The orange sun in the horizon Slowly setting down Gently accepting it’s errors Skies turning shades of pink and pastel blue Suddenly the realization I changed and will change Just like everything going in the wind Where cherry blossoms bloomed and I... I was happy. And I will be again.
- RM
“No, no, no!” Hoseok’s sister’s voice echoed through the room, and everyone stopped what they were doing.
“What now?” Hobi asked, everyone could feel the attitude in his tone.
“The banner is all wrong!” She whined. “Who did that?”
“Jazzy you need to relax. You’re freaking everyone out.”
Hoseok sat down on the floor, tired from all the moving they had been doing in the store. They had been working for 3 hours straight. Jazmine had asked his brother to come and help with the store. At this moment, with all the damage of having hired a company to help finish all her clothes in time for the big opening, Jazmine couldn’t afford to hire a cleaning team to help put everything together. Instead, her loyal brother found a couple of kind souls that were more than ready to help. The only problem was that in those 3 hours, all that the stylist did was complain and order them around, instead of helping.
“She totally doesn’t know how to handle the pressure.” Jungkook whispered to Jimin.
“Right? I hope she doesn’t go this hard later because I won’t model for Hitler.” Jimin whispered back, cleaning the sweat off his forehead as he placed a chair down.
“What time is it anyway? I’m starving.” Jungkook said, and as if his belly had ears, it growled.
“It’s almost 12:30.” Hyori appeared out of nowhere. “Where are we eating?”
“I’m gonna eat with Tae. You can come if you want?” Jimin offered.
“Hard pass.” Jungkook said. He turned to Hyori. “Where are we eating?” 
“Hmm... I was thinking about burgers?” Hyori suggested.
“I'm gonna grab my stuff and we can go. I still have to run by my apartment to grab my cameras to take photos later.”
“Bring me my jacket please!” Hyori shouted to Jungkook who was already midway. “You’re taking her with you?” Hyori said to Jimin. nudging her head towards Deo who was trying her best to tie her hair with a hair band that was too tight for the amount of hair she had.
“I want to, but you know how she acts around Taehyung.” Jimin sighed. His only wish was to see his two best friends become friends as well.
“You should make her go anyway. She’s the youngest of our group, so she has little to no say in things.”
“Then why is it always the other way around?” Jimin couldn’t help but laugh.
“Because~~ she has good ideas!” Hyori articulated more with her hands.
“Ok let’s go!” Jungkook finally appeared, Hyori's jacket on his shoulder.
“Hey where are you guys going?” Deo shouted after the two.
“For lunch!” They screamed at the same time.
“Wha- wait for me!” The girl started running around to grab everything. “Where’s my phone?”
“Why are you running?” Jimin asked with an arched eyebrow.
“Because I’m hungry and- and they already left!”
“Then we can eat together yeah?” Jimin side hugged the tiny girl. “What do you wanna eat?”
“Grilled cheese?” The girl suggested after a long pause.
“Grilled cheese it is.” Jimin smiled sweetly to her. “Let’s go!” He made a weird cheering sound that made the girl laugh, and they both left.
Taehyung couldn't help his excitement, and that's probably why he ran as fast as he could to Carolina's cinematic department. Their buildings were pretty close, he could've just walked there, no need to hurry, but that was Taehyung, the happiness preacher... always planning new gatherings and being excited about it!
He barged through the doors and thanked mentally no one was around there on that Saturday morning, only the girl since she offered to help Yoongi with his art presentation for his mini show that same night.
"CAROLINA~~" Taehyung called while walking his way around the artsy corridors and looking frantically for her "Carolina where are you???"
"HERE!" he heard her voice once a door opened in the end of the corridor, loud music playing, and her head peeking through it, displaying a tired smile.
"For a second I thought you weren't here!" he chuckled while running towards her.
He entered the 'lab room' that was basically just a bunch of computers and mixing tables displayed all over the place. Carolina had returned to her chair and was now glancing at him doing an excited little dance while closing the door.
"May I ask why you're dancing like a weird penguin?"
"Hey- this is the pingu dance, I'm offended!" he said with a fake hurt look.
"Sorry Mr. pingu" she chuckled, always amused by his carefree nature "But why are you so excited on a Saturday morning?"
"I got tickets!!!!"
"Please say Oasis got back together, and you got tickets" she prayed with closed eyes and hands pressed together, mocking him "Please God!"
"I'm going to throw this weird hairy hobbit on you if you don't stop," he said, taking in his hand a little troll doll with purple hair.
"Hey! Not Mr. Junky!"
"He looks so ugly that it's cute" Taehyung laughed while he marveled the doll.
"And it's a troll by the way... Hobbit-" Carolina snorted, making fun of Taehyung, and turning around to focus on what she was making again.
"It doesn't matter! I'm sure Mr. Junky isn't offended- Now can you please pay attention!!!"
"I am" she said, not taking her eyes off the screen in front of her.
"I'm serious-" he went towards her chair and pulled it backwards, the little wheels of it making it easier for him to drag her back "I got us tickets for this new exhibition- I'm sure you'll like it, and I really want to go, so... What do you say? Isn't it 'yay'??"
"I'm in for sure!! What exhibition?" she asked, turning around much more interested.
"That Benjamin Verhoven one!"
"Let me google him, wait." she turned around again to open the web. Taehyung went right after her, leaning on the back of her chair.
"Woah~" he said, once a bunch of photos of the exhibition appeared "That looks so cool"
"Wow! Look at this installation!"
"It seems really cool right?" he said, poking her cheek "You can thank me now"
"Thank you, sir~" she mocked "The tickets are already with you? Or do we have to print them?" she looked up to meet his glance, and at that moment he smiled embarrassed.
"So... about that" he started "We... hum.. we have to buy them first" he quickly looked at Carolina, and she was blinking slowly, her mouth in a line.
"Do you wanna run now, or do you wanna meet Mr. Junky from a close point of view?" she asked with a poker face.
"WAIT! NO!" he said protecting himself with his hands "I was the one finding the exhibition!!!! CAROLINA"
"You clown!!!" she said loudly while tickling him all over.
"Wait- Wait I beg you!" He was kneeling on the floor, laughing with teary eyes "I BEG YOU!!!"
"This is the shock treatment for liars." She got up, sitting on her chair once again.
"I... I'm exhausted," he said while taking a deep breath and sitting on the floor.
"I'm buying the tickets on my credit card then - is Nam going too? Or just the two of us?" Carolina asked, ignoring the almost passed out boy on the floor by her legs.
"Buy for him too! I'm sure he will like to go!"
"Nice! Three it is..."
"Actually, we are going with a friend of mine too, so we're four - maybe more since she will probably be with her friends too," he explained.
"Wait - What? Who's she? Who are the friends?" Carolina looked down with intrigued eyes.
"No need to worry, she's nice, you'll like her! Her friends, I don't know... But she is nice!! Trust me"
"Still, do I know anyone?"
"I don't think so...? She helped me out at the volley party... When I disappeared" he remembered.
"Ugh, that party" Carolina rolled her eyes "Fine. Do I have to buy her tickets as well? Like - I don't even know the people and I'm already buying stuff for them, I'm such a nice person, wow."
"Of course not!" Taehyung laughed "Just buy for the three of us, she already bought hers"
"I like her already" she said and then looked at him "I'm kidding, I need to talk to her first to know that" and they both laughed at her honesty.
"Print them already! We always forget to do that-"
"True! I'm printing" she said looking at the screen focused and then pointing towards her left "Go get them there for me please"
"Yes, captain!" he got up and went towards the printer "Also, do we give it to Namjoon now?"
"No way, he always loses his tickets! I'm keeping his."
"Keep mine too?" he asked while returning to her side.
"You're supposed to be the older one!!!"
"I am! But you're better at keeping stuff," he admitted.
"Not really though... I always lose stuff."
"You're better at keeping things you like," Taehyung reformulated, putting emphasis on the 'like', making the girl point at him.
"On that you're right!" she said, making him laugh.
"I'll go have lunch with Jimin now, wanna come?"
"Ugh..." she rolled her eyes once he mentioned Jimin's name "I'd rather die here from work exhaustion"
"You know, you have to get over that hate you have towards him someday," he said, giving her a forehead kiss.
"Never is a nice day to do that," she answered making him chuckle.
"Where are you eating then?"
"At Ben's" she said simply, making him choke on air "Oh get over it!"
"See you later then! Don't forget to tell Namjoon about the exhibit!" he said, already hurriedly walking towards the door, wanting to hear nothing about that subject.
"I will! See you! Don't be late! You know it's important for Yoongs!"
"I won't! Now say 'I love you' so I can say it back and go!" He already had the door open, ready to leave.
"You're unbearable..."
"Say it"
"I love you, Teetee"
"Love you too! Stop fucking my teacher~ Thanks~ Bye~" and he left Carolina behind, laughing lightly about his awkwardness to accept she was a grown up now.
Yoongi was a nervous wreck. He already checked on his songs at least 5 times, and he had nothing to do but wait. It was a big night for him. It would be the first time he would be performing live, and, as far as he knew, it was going to be a full house.
He got the gig thanks to a friend. He wouldn’t be the only one performing, but he was supposed to be the big star of the night. He felt a little better knowing all his friends were going to be there, and this was an opportunity of a lifetime. However, this sickening feeling in his stomach wouldn’t leave him alone, so he thought it would be best to try distracting his mind with something else.
He opened his laptop one more time and entered his social media. He scrolled through the feed and saw some posts, but, still, his mind wouldn’t let him be. So he decided to dm someone he’d been getting to know for a couple of weeks now.
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As Deo and Jimin walked their way to the café they were supposed to eat at, they kept on chatting about everything that came to their minds. Jimin had been telling her about this new friend he made online. He had no idea who she was, but she signed her messages as Cara, and he was intrigued by the strange connection he felt with her.
“What about Sarah?” Deo asked, wiggling her eyebrows at him.
“She’s like a ghost,” Jimin sighed. “I saw her maybe twice or three times, and then never again. How am I supposed to even start talking to her if I can’t even find her on social media?”
“Wish I knew baby. I'm sure she’ll appear when you least expect it.”
“Does that mean I have to be ready at all time?”
“What?” Deo chuckled. “You always look good, so you’re always ready.”
“Ah~ I don’t know what I would do without you.” Jimin’s arm wrapped Deo into a tight hug. 
“Wait- is that? Jimin!”
“Sorry?” He smiled apologetically.
“Dude! Did Hyori know about this?” Deo frowned. “I swear to god, this stupid plan of yours is impossible to handle.”
“What plan?” Jimin quickly blushed. He was a horrible liar.
“Don’t you dare lying to me Jimin!”
“Just come eat with us.” Jimin did his best puppy eyes. “He’s a lot of fun.”
“I’m not upset about him, I'm upset you didn’t tell me.” She rolled her eyes at him.
“Sorry.” He gave a side smile, but it was too late for his charms to work.
“Let’s just go.” She started walking in front of Jimin, but he grabbed her wrist.
“Don’t be mad at me.” He pouted. 
“I could punch you right now. You know that, right?” She tried to contain a smile from appearing on her lips.
“You never can.” He teased, launching his arm around her shoulders and squeezing her tightly against him.
The two got to the table, still bickering, but shut up once Taehyung lifted his head up from his phone and smiled brightly. Deo immediately tensed up. She was never very fond of the dude, and with her friends’ crazy scheme, it made it worse. She wanted to be as far away from him as she could, and in some weird way, Taehyung knew that. That made it fun.
“Hey guys! Oh you brought a friend Jiminie~” Taehyung said happily as he noticed Deo giving him a smile and a small wave.
“Yeah, you don’t mind, do you?” Jimin said nonchalantly while sitting down.
“Of course not!”
“You’ve been here for long?” Jimin asked.
“Not really. How’s it going?” He was referring to the fashion show.
“Good. Everything’s done, so all we gotta do is makeup and parade.” Jimin said excitedly.
“You’re participating too?” Taehyung asked Deo.
“Me? Oh, no. I’m staying backstage to help.” She said simply.
“Oh that’s nice of you!”
Before they would say anything else, the waitress appeared at their table, menus in hand. They discussed their orders for a couple of seconds, and then were ready to order. They all agreed on going for the same thing.
“Three grilled cheese and three cokes,” Jimin said nicely to the waitress once she got to the table.
“Is Pepsi ok?” The lady smiled politely.
“Can I have a Fanta instead? Orange please.” Taehyung asked.
“Sure thing Hun, and for the two of you?”
“Pepsi.” Jimin and Deo said at the same time, fist bumping right after with grins on their faces.
“So...” Jimin trailed off once the table got silent. “Did you finish your video?” He asked to Deo.
“No, I still have the last theory to see,” she said nonchalant.
“What is it about?” Taehyung asked, curious.
“Van Gogh!” Jimin said excitedly, knowing it was one of his friend's favorite artists.
“It's a conspiracy theory that says he was murdered and didn't commit suicide.” She completed.
“What? Really? By whom?” Taehyung asked, confused.
“His brother, or some kid that used to bully him? I’m not very sure, I didn’t watch the entire video yet.” Deo said.
“Theo?? No way! That’s like impossible!” Taehyung said, upset at such an accusation.
“I didn’t buy it either, but I also don’t think it was suicide. They explained that the place where he was shot was too low for a typical suicide attempt, and that it was most likely that he was shot from afar. The wound would’ve been much bigger if it was self-inflicted.” Deo made her point.
“Still... I don’t know... Where’s that video again?”
“Buzzfeed unsolved. You ever heard of it?”
“Yes! Namjoon watches it all the time.” Taehyung smiled. “I’ll check it out... Can’t believe he was murdered.” He said the last part more like a whisper.
“They also said that he used to say that suicide was a coward’s way to go. I guess it wouldn’t make much sense?” Deo continued, intrigued with the situation.
“I believe he had some mental problems... To be incoherent is normal in that case, so I don’t know.”
“Hmm maybe? I just think it is so weird that they never found the gun and his painting stuff out in that field,” Deo countered. She just couldn’t make up her mind about it. To be honest, she had been watching too many conspiracy theories lately.
“For the time period, it was normal to steal things, so that was probably the case,” Taehyung assured her.
“Maybe.” She wasn’t too convinced though.
“It’s probably that, trust me,” Taehyung insisted, feeling very sure of his answer.
Deo made a face, not wanting to start a whole debate with the boy. “Imagine a Gogh painting no one got to see because it was stolen. That sucks.”
“Right?! I bet it was a masterpiece!” Taehyung said, overly excited. “It’s a little sad,” he concluded and received a nod in agreement from the girl.
“So Taetae, what are your plans?” Jimin asked.
“For today?”
“Yes!”
“It’s Yoongi’s show tonight! Wanna come?” He looked happily between the two. “The more the better! He’ll be happy if he sees the place crowded.”
“I’m going to a fair later tonight, but I think we can go! Right?” Jimin looked excitedly at Deo
“Hmm, I think so! We’ll have to talk to the others though, but worst case scenario, we go just the two of us.” Deo smiled to Jimin.
“Please go! It’s going to be fun. Yoongi is really talented,” Taehyung spoke with pride in his eyes.
“What kind of music does he do?” Deo asked, intrigued. Yoongi was a mystery to basically the entire school. He was very reserved, and the only thing she knew about him was that he was the radio guy. That and some gossip Hyori would hear while tutoring, but some things sounded too crazy for her to believe.
“Rap mostly.”
“Oh~~ we’ll try,” Deo said excitedly. Rap was one of her favorite forms of music, and she was excited to see a new side of the mysterious boy. She was sure her friends would be excited as well.
“Sure, invite your boyfriend too,” Taehyung said with a wink, catching her off guard.
“Oh yes, Jack is going with us to the fair!” Jimin intervened as he noticed Deo’s expression, but he was entirely ignored.
“Oh yeah, we’ll be there.” Deo smiled sarcastically to Taehyung.
“So...” Jimin started, trying to lighten the mood. “Look! The food is coming!”
As those three started eating, Carolina was far from her meal. She didn’t mind it though. She was working her ass off to help her friend, and if there was someone who deserved all her effort it was Yoongi. To outsiders, their relationship would seem a little bit odd. They loved each other and would do anything for the other. They were family.
“Maybe we could add some holograms on the colab song?” Carolina suggested, not taking her eyes from the screen.
“I guess. All we have for that one is the background, so that would make it better.” Tessa, one girl Carolina could consider a friend, commented. They would spend most of their time together at the movies. What better way to bond than over that? Movie tastes say a lot about a person.
“A full moon would be nice...” Carolina adds. “And we can shine them with that white and blue-ish light from the stage. What do you think?”
“We can’t put too much white, but I like it.” Tessa smiled, satisfied with the results they were showing. “You never get bad ideas huh?” She teased, making Carolina smile.
“I can say the same about you, you know- and I agree, just a little bit of white.”
“And about time – We need to wrap this up so you can take it to Yoongi. What time is the event?”
“Eleven sharp! He’s probably dying with anxiety right now, my phone just beeped for the fourth time in a row, and trust me - that's a lot of texts for Yoongi, a record even.” The girl laughed dryly.
“Oh~ poor guy. You should tell him we’re almost done here!”
“I’ll send him an audio messing with him first.” Carolina let out her best impression of a villain's laugh.
“Don’t!” Tessa whined, but, also, laughed. “He’s gonna have a heart attack.”
“Poor Yoongs...” Carolina laughs as well. “I’m not doing that to him... at least not today! He’s too nervous already, and I want everything to go perfect.”
“It will, don’t worry!”
“Thanks for helping by the way, really.” Carolina turned serious. One thing she really appreciated was when friends supported one another.
“It was my pleasure, but if you ever wanna pay me back there’s this movie I really wanna see as soon as it comes out.” Tessa grinned.
“Say no more!” A week without going to the movies was a week badly spent. “What’s the title?”
“Send in the clown~~” Tessa sang the song. “Joker!”
“Bro!” Carolina chuckled. “Call me crazy but that’s like my childhood hero- villain- whatever!”
“I’d go with hero honestly. So you’re in?”
“Of course I’m in! I would be crazy if I wasn’t!”
“Alright!” Tessa said, excited. “I saw in the theater that it’s realizing a little after Halloween.”
“It is! I saw it too! It’s a deal.” Carolina pointed her finger at the girl with that ‘this is serious’ look.
“But... if you had to choose, who would be the best Joker so far?” Tessa asked, intrigued. This was something the two had never discussed before.
"Heath Ledger is forever my soulmate, and forever my favorite joker, but I have big expectations for Joaquin Phoenix! And Jared Leto is a fabulous actor, but the Joker he was attributed, the Gang Joker, is like the worst of them all, my least favorite so..."
"Oh thank god you exist. I'm so sick of hearing people say that Jared Leto's joker is the best one just because he's super-hot. I had such huge expectations for Suicide Squad, and it was a big flop."
“Same! I was so excited and well... Bleh.” Carolina did her best poker face. “Oh, and Jack Nicholson was pretty awesome as well! I used to watch him as a kid.”
“Yes!” Tessa said, overly excited with the conversation. “I don’t know if you saw Gotham, but they cast Cameron Monaghan to play young/teen joker and he was pretty good too.”
“I did, he’s pretty good as well.” Carolina nodded.
The two continued discussing their movie tastes and working hard to finish Yoongi’s concert effects as soon as they could. The boy was a pile of nerves, and everyone knew it. 
Someone who was also on the verge of having a nervous attack was Hoseok. His sister was driving him crazy, and he was trying his best not to lose it too.
Everyone was back at Jazmine’s store, and the last details were being made. Some people were getting their makeup done, some were curling or straightening their hair, and all were listening to the lecture of what clothes they had to change into.
“You look so so good! You’re making me regret not signing up too,” Deo sighed as Tori did a little spin to show her the outfit she was wearing.
“I told you!” The girl grinned. “You’re always like that. You need to stop that shy act of yours.”
“It’s not an act. I’m more of a potato than a supermodel,” Deo said, making the other sigh.
“You are not! Stop!” Tori said. She knew her friend was kidding, but still.
“You’re staying for the after party, right?”
“Of course! I wouldn’t miss it.”
“Good, you know I need my drinking buddy with me.”
“It’s just you and me, against the buzz,” The girl sassily said, making the other laugh.
Not very far away, Hoseok noticed his new friend, a girl that had recently joined USC.
“Hey Amber, I’m so glad you came! How are you?”
“Hey Hobi! I’m good. I’m excited, but also nervous. I'm sure I'll be ok though! How are you?” The girl asked, turning a little in the makeup chair to give him her full attention.
“I’m a nervous pill, there’s so much to do! But don’t be nervous, you look really pretty!” Hobi smiled gently. He was proud of his sister’s clothes and happy so many people came to help show them off.
“You’ve got this! The show will go super well.” The blonde cheered. “But, I’m clumsy so I’ll need to really concentrate, and thank you! I don’t usually wear this much makeup. I've never been good enough.”
A frown quickly appeared on Hoseok’s face. He hated to see people sad. “What?! Don’t say that! You shouldn’t think so poorly about yourself!” His mind raced for the right thing to say. “My sister is really picky, so if she chose you it was because she saw something in you! Believe in yourself!” He gave her a gentle smile, and squeezed her shoulder lightly.
“I just get nervous around certain people, and then I get clumsy.” Amber hinted. “But I know it’ll be ok. I’m glad she picked me, all the things from her shop are so nice! You look so good today. You know... In the makeup and stuff.”
“You think so?” Hoseok was used in being the one giving compliments, but he couldn’t deny that receiving them felt good. “This isn't really my vibe, but I can’t deny these clothes look sick. Do you have plans after this?”
“I do! You should wear more clothes like that. I’m not doing anything after this. Yourself? Did you want to do something after?”
“We have some champagne and cake hidden for my sister. You wanna stay to celebrate with us?” He offered.
“Of course! I would love to. It sounds fun. She definitely deserves it after putting this show together,” Amber complimented, looking around the room to see all the beautiful outfits.
“She does. She went a little Godzilla this morning, but she’s the best.” Hoseok’s gaze turned soft as he spoke of his sister.
“She is! She’s put in so much work, and it’s been so worth it. I can already tell this show will be amazing.”
“I hope so! I’m grateful for everyone joining, and that includes you! Oh - Duty calls! You’re gonna nail that ok?!” Hoseok encouraged one more time before turning away.
“I’m grateful for being invited! Thank you so much, I'll see you later. Good luck, you got this!”
Amber continued getting her makeup fixed. Meanwhile, Hoseok ran to his sister. They peeked through the made-up curtain that led to the runway.
“Look little bro, we have a full house!” Jazmine squealed excitedly.
“Of course we do!” He hugged her tightly. “You worked so hard, everything will go as planned!”
“Thank you!”
Lights started flashing and music starting playing loudly through the speakers. Everyone was amazed with the final results. It almost looked like a professional show. As soon as the first model left backstage and stepped into the runway, flashes hit her eyes from all different directions. Jazmine felt proud. Hoseok felt proud. Everything was taking form.
“What’s up nerd?” Jungkook’s head peeked in front of Jae’s lenses.
“Jesus Christ! I almost died. That angle does not suit you,” the girl teased, and Jungkook pretended to be offended by her snarky remark.
“What do you mean? All angles suit me,” Jungkook said cockily, but he quickly let out a laugh.
“Sure.” Jae rolled her eyes. “Are you taking any good shots, or are you just joking around?”
“I bet you my shots look way better than yours,” he teased.
“Pfff, you wish virgin boy.”
“Oh please.” He rolled his eyes.
“I’m just joking.” Jae loved to see how annoyed he would get at the sound of the nickname.
“Yeah, whatever nerd.” Jungkook chuckled.
“So I was thinking... we could pair up for the project for photography club.”
“Sure, the nerd and the virgin boy. Sounds like a bad superhero movie,” he said, making the girl laugh out loud.
“It sounds pretty rad.” She laughed. “What would be your superpower?”
“I would kick their asses and then hang the bad guys by their underwear. Yours?” Jungkook said after a little while of thinking.
“I’d probably throw them math books because everyone hates math,” she explained with a playful smile on her face, “and I'd have glasses, and they would shoot some deadly rays that’d turn them into dust.”
“Sounds like you’ve this all figured out,” Jungkook chuckled.
“So should you. We’re a team now.” Jae pointed her finger at his face, dead serious. “Or are you not worthy?”
The public was mesmerized by the incredible organization. The models looked stunning, and the clothes were a hit from the start. Sadly, that organization the people were seeing wasn’t happening backstage. Everyone was running around and trying to change into their outfits on time for their turn on the runway, where they give life to Jazmine’s pieces.
“Coming up I need Jimin and Alissa. Be ready because you’ll go in 2 minutes.” At the mention of his name, Jimin got up but immediately sat down.
“Oh my god! I’m so sorry!” The pretty brunette girl almost screamed in Jimin’s face when they bumped into each other.
“Are you ok?” Jimin asked, filled with concern.
“Yeah! And you?” She examined him from top to bottom.
“I am.” Jimin smiled. “I didn’t see you around ever since the party, Laura” He gave her a quick hug. They were from the same dance crew, but they weren't that close. 
“I’ve been kinda busy” she chuckled. 
“Hey can I-” Jimin’s sentence was cut off by a scream.
“Next model c’mon! C’mon!”
“I guess that’s your cue.” Laura said, tucking the hair that had fallen in front of her face behind her ears.
“It is, but I'll see you around Delgado?”
“Sure- yes, you will!”
The runway continued, and after a couple of hours, all the outfits were shown. Jazmine walked down the runway with all her models as the last song played, and she even did a little speech to everyone there. She was very grateful, and it was getting hard for her to hold her tears in.
“Everyone!” She let her fork click into her champagne glass, already backstage. “I am so thankful to all of you. I appreciate you joining me in this little crazy adventure as well as all of you that woke up super early today to come help set everything up! To my lovely brother who always stays by my side... cheers!”
“Cheers!” Everyone held their glasses up and drank.
“So... did you have fun?” Hoseok sneaked behind Amber making her jump slightly.
“I did!” She smiled big. “You should feel proud of yourself!”
“I am!” Hoseok gave her a sheepish smile. “Thank you, again.”
“Anything you need, you can count on me ok?” The girl said with a sweet look in her eyes.
“I’ll keep that in mind.” Hoseok gave her a wink.
 “BANG BANG INTO THE ROOM!” Tori and Deo sang out loud to the song that came out of the speakers, drinks in hand
“WAIT A MINUTE LET ME TAKE YOU THERE!” Jimin joined.
“Go away, this is girl’s fun only.” Tori jokingly pushed him.
“How dare you!” Jimin tried his best to sound offended, but he couldn’t help but laugh. Through Deo, he and Tori had become friends, and he liked teasing her a lot.
“Fight me Jiminie!” Tori teased back.
“I’m a gentleman. Excuse you.” Jimin laughed as he walked away from the two girls.
“Oh~~ Jiminie~~” Deo teased.
“Shut it! Dork!” Tori laughed out loud to Deo’s impression of herself. “Go see Jack!”
While everyone continued partying, the Y group had to leave the party. Jimin’s classmate and friend Jean, had invited them to some local market and they had to shower before going. They were tired from all the running around at the show.
Carolina, on the other hand, had just finished her job and was at her home, taking a shower. Jin was there too. After his pause earlier, he decided to go back to his games and when he noticed, it was almost 6 in the afternoon when his housemate peeked her head into his room.
"Is Dracula home?"
"Ha ha ha very funny" he said while stretching his arms, still sat on his gamer chair.
"Please tell me you ate something" she entered his room still wrapped in a towel, some droplets of water falling to the floor because of her wet hair.
"I ate some snacks while play-"
"Jin!!! For fucks sake, snacking isn't eating properly"
"Ya, you tell that as if I already didn't know!" he got up "I'll eat something before going"
"You better! If you drink on an empty stomach, I swear to my whole vinyl collection, I will leave you there" she threatened with a sharp look making him sigh.
"I will eat something, we both are. And stop treating me like a child"
"The fault isn't mine, you're the one that play games the whole afternoon like one" she said while turning around to leave his room making him follow closely.
"You game too you- you pillock!"
"Pillock?" she turned around and snorted with a smile "You're watching too much Sherlock Holmes for your own good"
"I'm afraid that's your british influence on me, my dear" he joked making her roll her eyes but chuckle nevertheless.
"And yes, I game too but I only like things like assassin's creed or god of war"
"You love Mortal Kombat too, don't lie"
"True, I do love it" she looked up too caught in her own head.
"We should play it sometime, there's a while since-"
"No time for that now! Go to your shower otherwise you're going to be late! I'll leave you something to eat here, go go!" she started pushing him towards the bathroom.
"It's still early!!"
"We both know you take ages in the shower Seokjin" she looked at him with that 'let's get real' eyes they always shared in moments like this, making him sigh again.
"Fine. I do." he mumbled going by himself to the bathroom now "You're being way too harsh today"
"No I'm not-"
"Yes you are~~ You're like Yoongi's manager" he said laughing.
"Yeah yeah"
"Is it because you want a song??" he wiggled his eyebrows before closing the door.
"TAKE YOUR SHOWER!!!!" she shouted making him fall in laughter inside the room.
Carolina texted her group in their usual chat after getting ready, wondering where everyone was and when she noticed that Yoongi was probably home alone, she decided it was time to go to the bottom floor and see how the boy was doing.
“So how did it go?” Yoongi sat down on his chair and as soon as he did, his nail immediately returned to his mouth. It was his coping mechanism. In his mind, he was looking cool but on the outside... that was a whole different thing.
“Oh so you’re pulling the chill vibe on me huh? That’s new.” Carolina let out a sympathetic smile.
“I tried but I guess it’s no use with you.” He let out a sigh. “But seriously, the effects... are they cool?”
“Relax! You know damn well I wouldn’t just do anything for you.” Carolina raised her eyebrow. “They turned out great, all of them in sync with the songs and matching the concept of them.”
“If there’s someone I can trust is you. But I was thinking of going in a little bit early so we could try them out and see how they look onstage?” Yoongi suggested. The more he thought, the more excited he was getting.
“Sure! I think the boys are already coming, I showered first to come here while Jin gets ready and Tae called saying he was on the way.”
“Good, that way we go together- any news on Namjoon?”
“He texted a while back saying he was waiting in the lobby- you know, because of the crazy neighbor.” Both couldn’t help but laugh. “He’s probably just waiting for her to leave so he can come up in peace.”
“Maybe we should invite her, so he can have a little fun tonight.” Yoongi teased, making Carolina laugh.
“He would be so disoriented that he most probably would ruin your show and when I say ruin I mean breaking the speakers, tripping on the cables etc.” Carolina said with a straight face but two seconds later was laughing out loud.
“Oh shit.” Yoongi couldn’t contain himself just picturing the situation. “Maybe next time.”
“Less nervous now?” Carolina said, a soft smile occupying her features.
“Yeah, I'm getting excited now.” Yoongi also smiled. He felt so lucky to have a friend like her.
“You’ll do great as always, Yoongs. And besides, we both know you’re the most talented musician in this place.”
“I know... But I just heard the place will be packed and I only ‘performed’ for you guys so that doesn’t count.”
“Once you step on that stage remember your dreams. And if you can’t, just look at us.” Carolina pulled him into a hug. “We’ll make sure you don’t forget how talented you are.”
“You’re making me all sappy. I need to channel Eminem to look bad ass.” Yoongi dorks around, showing his cute gummy smile. “But thanks.”
“Thank me one day with a song made specially for me.”
But before Yoongi could answer Carolina’s sassiness, there was a knock on the door and a head peeked into the room.
“Sorry to bother man but Taehyung is out in the living room. He said he was knocking on the door for the past 10 minutes so I let him in.” Jungkook said and right after that the door was fully open by a bored looking Taehyung.
“Jeez, I was starting to think no one was home.” Taehyung let himself fall onto Yoongi’s bed.
“It’s impossible that you’ve been there for 10 minutes. I've been here for 10 minutes.” Carolina arched her eyebrow and Taehyung showed a guilty smile.
“You know I'm dramatic.”
“Seriously.” Carolina sighed but laughed right after.
“Where is everyone?” Taehyung asked noticing they were hanging out at Yoongi’s room and no one else was there.
“They should be on their way.” Carolina shrugged simply.
“You guys want something? I have beer in the fridge. I need one.”
“I’ll join you.” Carolina answered, getting up from the bed and going to the kitchen.
Jungkook went back into his room to get ready. Meanwhile, Deo and Hyori were almost ready too. As Deo was still tieing her all stars, Jack called and Hyori took the moment to take some shots of the sky. It was almost that golden hour and she couldn’t resist to take them, even though her camera roll had maybe 300 photos of that already.
“Hey Hyori!” A girl called out from behind.
“Oh~ hey Emma! How are you?” Hyori said sweetly when she saw the girl that had called her.
“I'm good. I see we had the same idea.” Emma joked, pointing to Hyori’s phone.
“I’m a sucker for the sky, especially when it gets all pretty.” The girl confessed.
“Me too.” The two took a moment to watch the pretty sky one more time. “I was actually meaning to text you.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, I feel like the only time we get together is for school stuff. And that being said, it’s me asking for your help with bio.” Emma confessed, a little embarrassed.
“But I don’t mind helping you at all!” Hyori said kindly.
“I know! But I was thinking that we could do something fun one of these days? To relax a little for the class’s stress.”
“Oh sure!” Hyori smiled to the girl. “I’m going out with my friends now but I'll text you later so we can set something up!”
“I’ll be waiting!” Emma said, waving the girl goodbye.
“So are you ready?” Hyori asked, when Deo came to her.
“Yup, Jack will meet us there.”
“Why did you decided to invite him all of the sudden?” Hyori asked.
“What? Because he’s my boyfriend?”
“Uhu, I see.” Hyori gave her a lopsided smile.
“Don’t worry your pretty little head about it.” Deo teased.
“I don’t have to. I know you too well.”
“Whatever floats your boat.” Deo shrugghed. “Where’s JK meeting us?”
“Don’t know, I'm going to call him.”
As the phone rang, the two girls walked to the fountain where they had agreed to meet with Hoseok and Jimin. After the third try, Jungkook finally answered.
“Thank God!” Hyori’s voice sounded as soon as Jungkook answered.
“I was in the shower.” Jungkook said simply.
“How did me and Deo get ready before you did? You’re the worst I swear.”
“He’s still in the shower?” Deo’s voice could be hear through the line. “Put him on speaker.”
“I need to smell good.” He said simply and could almost feel Deo’s rolling her eyes. “Unlike some of you!”
“Shut up 5-year-old.” Deo laughed.
“Where are you?” Hyori asked.
“Still at home, I’m almost ready and I’ll be there soon.”
“Well you better hurry!”
“Yes mom!”
Jungkook hang up the phone and finished getting ready. Once he step foot out of his room, his living room was filled by the typical crowd.
“Is Namjoon coming up or what?” Yoongi asked.
“He’s probably waiting downstairs.”
“I bet he’s with that sweet lady.” Jin joked.
“Don’t tell him that.” Carolina laughed.
“Hey Jungkook.” Jin noticed the boy.
“What’s up?” Jungkook greeted. “Good luck later man!”
“Don’t you know it’s bad luck to just say it like that?” Carolina teasingly said.
“Thanks.” Yoongi intervened before the two could get into their usual arguments.
“You should drop by!” Jin said, with a grin in his face.
“Yes, I invited Jiminie later!” Taehyung added.
“Sounds like fun, I will!” Jungkook said excited.
“Hey if you see Namjoon downstairs tell him to come up?” Yoongi asked.
“Sure.” Jungkook replied, walking to the door. “See you guys later.” He said, winking to Carolina and seeing her reaction before closing the door, satisfied.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The night fell pretty quickly and both groups were having the time of their lives. The Y group was already with Jean at the 626 Market and the X group was already at Yoongi’s show. Before it was his turn, there was going to be other artists and that made him relax a little.
Once they got to the market, they didn’t expect it to be that big. The streets were filled with light and music echoed from all around the places. There was a little map at the entrance and everyone was mesmerized to see how big the space was. The food area was composed of 100 different chains and the variety of food and insane. But what really caught their eyes was how big the rides section was. It was a whole another world for them.
“So what do you guys wanna eat?” Jean asked when they made it to the food trucks.
“I think I wanna try that churro ice cream you suggested.” Jimin said, excited.
“That’s for dessert.” The girl laughed.
“Look! Corn dogs!” Jungkook pointed and rushed to the truck.
“What do you wanna eat babe?” Jack whispered behind Deo as he back hugged her.
“I don’t know. Hyo?”
“Maybe a burger? Those look good.” The girl pointed to a truck near them and took some steps towards it.
“I want a corn dog with JK.” Hoseok said excited, following the boy.
“You?” Deo asked, turning around to be facing her boyfriend.
“I’ll have what you’re having.”
“Wow, that helped so much.” She rolled her eyes playfully. “Burgers then?” The petit girl turned to Hyori.
“Burgers it is.” Deo managed to set free from Jack’s embrace and intertwined her arm with her roommate, ignoring his protests.
“What about you guys?” Jack turned to Jimin and Jean that were still looking around.
“I’m thinking of a kebab? Maybe?” Jimin asked, looking between the two.
“Why not? I’m in.” Jack said with a shrug.
“Me too.” Jean smiled widely to the both boys.
As everyone waited in line for their food, Yoongi and his friends had just arrived at his venue. It was a local club/bar that the locals and mostly college students would go to. They weren’t very strict with whom they would let in but when it came to serving alcohol, they always asked for ID’s.
“Ok, it's not empty but-” Yoongi started looking around.
“Yoongi relax, it's still early.” Namjoon pointed out.
“Yeah and we all invited some people as well, they will probably arrive a little later” Taehyung smiled sweetly.
“Thanks.”
“Nobody arrives early nowadays...” Jin commented while looking around “But I'm sure Jungkook will show with his friends, and I invited some people from my department-”
“Should we go to the front already?” Carolina asked impatient pointing towards the spot, not empty but still not crowded.
“Yeah, you guys should stay there, front sits are always the best” Yoongi chuckled.
“There's no sits...” Taehyung looked confused to the spot.
“It's just a saying, dumbass.”
“Oh...” he said only, making everyone laugh.
“Anyways guys, I think I'll head to the backstage-”
“Are you sure?” Namjoon asked.
“I'm sure you still have time...” Carolina tried.
“I'm sure. I'll prepare myself better inside.”
“We'll be waiting for you then! You'll be great, bro!” Taehyung cheered making Yoongi smile.
“I'll go check on you in a few.” Carolina assured him.
“I'll be waiting. Tell them you're a friend of mine, I'll let the guy know you're with me.” Yoongi said already leaving.
“Oh yeah, that's my friend!” Jin said to a guy who was passing by him “I'm friends with the singer!”
“Come, let's buy some beer.” Namjoon pulled him towards the bar “You two stay here guarding the spot.”
“Sure thing!” Taehyung said loudly.
“Sure thing.” Carolina mimicked Taehyung in a mocking manner.
“And may I know why are you so mad now?”
“Couldn't we just be in peace in Yoongi's thing???” she said furious.
“But we are-”
“No, you are! And everyone else! Stupid asshole- I don't even know where the friendship came from like-” she ranted.
“You won't even see Jimin, he'll probably be over the back with-” Taehyung tried.
“Who cares about Jimin, dude?” she looked at him with a confused expression.
“What...?”
Everyone had mostly finished eating and were just waiting for the slow eaters like Deo and Hyori and for the one who ate like he were three people in one, like Jungkook.
“Is it really a good idea to be eating before going on the rides?” Deo asked. She loved to go on roller coasters and crazy rides.
“I’m not bringing any sick people back into my car.” Jack laughed.
“Even if it’s me?” Deo did her best puppy eyes and the boy immediately soften.
“Don’t make my life harder baby.” Jack retorqued, making Deo make a funny face and give him a kiss right after.
“So Jean, how do you know Jimin?” Hyori asked.
“Oh you didn’t tell them?” She asked quietly to Jimin. “We have some classes together.”
“We’re friends.” Jimin smiled big.
“Yes!” Jean smiled back to him. It was hard for her to have social interactions like this and his answer made her relax a lot.
“So what do you wanna do next?” Jimin asked her.
“Oh whatever you want, is fine with me.”
“C’mon, you were the one inviting so we gotta do something you like!” Hoseok supported, making Jimin nod.
“Well, what about those churros ice cream?” She suggested.
“We better save that for after the rides.” Jungkook jumped into the convo. His eyes finally left his food and that was when he noticed the girl from the party coming towards his table. “I’ll be right back.”
“Hey Jungkook! I thought it was you!” the girl smiled as they were only a feet apart.
“Hey Aashna! How are you?” He smiled, stuffing his hands in his jean’s pockets.
“I’m good. You’re with your friends?” She asked, peeking through his shoulder.
“Yeah, you?”
“Too! We should go on a ride together!” The girl said excited.
“Yeah, what about the bumper cars? We’re lacking one person so I was just going alone.” He suggested.
“Sounds fun!” Aashna smiled excited.
“See you there Aashna?”
“Yes, and call me Ashi!”
“See you Ashi.” He chuckled, going back to his table.
Before Jungkook could even sit down, his friends were already teasing and he just shrugged them off with his hand, stuffing his last corn dog in his mouth.
The second artist of the night was up and the club was getting more and more crowded. This one had a bit of a more chilled vibe than Yoongi but he wasn’t as good. Still, he entertained the public quite well. In Carolina’s opinion, he would be a better host than a singer, although his lyrics weren’t that bad.
"This song is super good!" Namjoon said loudly "You think I can hear it online?"
"Probably? Maybe the guy has SoundCloud?" Carolina answered.
"MY FRIEND IS AFTER! SUGA!" Jin continued to look like a manager; he had a cup on his hands.
"Woah~ Look at that!" Taehyung pointed to the screen behind the musician.
"What I did for Yoongi is much better, trust me."
"You did him the art presentation?" Namjoon asked surprised.
"Yeap" her eyes were still on the stage.
"Should I record him once he performs?" Taehyung asked.
"Of course you should!" Jin answered "We have to keep some memories for him."
"I'll take some photos, you do the videos, you're taller anyways and that helps." Carolina added making Taehyung nodd "Be sure to record everything from Far Away, the holograms are amazing on that one."
"Holograms???" Namjoon exclaimed.
"I'm very proud of my kid." Jin back hugged Carolina peppering her with kisses, just to mock her.
"I swear to God, Seokjin!" she threatened but he was too hyper to let go, the other two just kept laughing.
As they had agreed, Aashna was waiting for Jungkook and his friends to ride the bumper cars. She rode with Jungkook, Jimin with Jean, Jack with Deo and Hyori with Hoseok. Useless to say the first ones of which team were the ones driving. Mostly, Deo kept screaming at Jack to hit everyone and he barely even had time to react because he was laughing too hard. On the second round, they decided to change the drivers. Jungkook had to hold himself to not get thrown out his car because Aashna was crazy for blood and wanted to hit every single person that would hit them.
“Shit, I’m all sore.” Jungkook complained. “You’re a terrible driver.” He said, making Aashna laugh.
“Hardly as bad as you are.” She teased, hitting his arm playfully.
“Pfff as if.” He said, before his arm being pulled. “Anyway, I had fun.”
“Me too, thanks for riding with me.” She smiled sweetly to him.
“I’ll see around campus yeah?” Jungkook said before waving Aashna goodbye.
“Where are we going now?” Hoseok asked, excited.
“We could go on the roller coaster?!” Deo almost pleaded excited.
“Yes!” Almost everyone said at the same time.
“I was thinking of maybe going on the ferries wheel?” Jean asked, tucking Jimin’s shirt, not wanting to be a party killer.
“I’d prefer it too. We can go together if you’d like?” He suggested.
“I’d like that!”
Once the third singer climbs up on stage, Carolina decides it’s time to check on Yoongi backstage. She wanted to go right away the moment he left but decided it was best to give him some space.
"Pssst, Agust D!" Carolina said in a whispery manner while peeking cautiously her head inside the backstage room.
"Nobody ever called me that." He chuckled.
"Well, soon enough everyone will know him." She closed the door "Still, I like Suga way better."
"Because he's not that angsty?" he joked. The girl crossed the room and sat right next to him before answering. His attentive eyes on her.
"No, Suga is angsty as well... But that's the thing... Agust D is only Agust D, Suga on the other hand is you and him. That's why I like him better." Her head now leaned on the back of the couch, waiting for his response, a small smile creeped on his face.
"I don't think I ever saw you getting this emotional." He looked down. "Is the british air doing you good?" Yoongi met her eyes now.
"Is this you thanking me for appeasing your mind?" Carolina chuckled amused. "And no, it has nothing to do with him... I'm cold but you're like- really important to me so... That's how I truly feel."
"Shit, I'll have to work on that song for you now." He smiled awkwardly. None of them were very open about feelings but they understood each other pretty well.
"Remember to look at us when you're up there!" She smiled back and got up to leave, not before he pulled her hand making her look back at him.
"Is it empty out there?" he asked, his front was confident but his eyes never lied, he was nervous, Carolina could tell.
"Yoongs... Trust yourself. We are right in the front, don't forget." She winked and he let go of her hand. Carolina crossed the room again, her hand on the door, ready to leave but not before looking at him again "It's crowded by the way." She left right before seeing his smile go wide.
Now at the top of the wheel, Jean and Jimin were sitting quietly, watching the full moon and the stars upon them.
“We got lucky it stopped here.” Jean commented after a while, referring to being on the highest point of the fair.
“We did! Everything looks so pretty down there.” He smiled big and took his phone out to capture the moment. “Wanna take a selfie?”
“Oh sure!” They posed with a smile and then a silly face before he placed his phone back in his pocket. “Make sure to send me those later.”
“I will! Are you having fun?” He asked, turning to face her.
“I am, thank you for coming with me.”
“Thank you~ for inviting me.” Jimin said sweetly.
“Oh stop it! It was my pleasure. You are a great friend.”
“So are you Jean, so are you.”
Back at the show, Carolina was back with her friends. The artist that had gotten up when she entered backstage was now saying his thanks and goodbyes.
"Is he ok??" Taehyung asked once he saw Carolina returning with a beer in hands.
"He was a little nervous, but everything will be ok."
"Who bought you that?" Jin asked coming close to her because of the loud music.
"Myself...?" she answered "I'm a strong, independent woman after all."
"The beauty of equal rights! Cheers!" Namjoon said clinking his bottle with hers overly excited.
"You forgot to add underage in that sentence." Taehyung said.
"It's fine, if anything the beer is mine." Namjoon added with an accomplice look at the girl who side hugged him.
"I just wanna know who's driving my car tonight because I'm a little busy with the vodka." Jin said loudly while dancing, as if he was in another world.
"I can't drive so..." Taehyung answered.
"Don't look at me, I myself don't trust me with a car." Namjoon shrugged.
"I don't have a license but I know how to drive-" Carolina was saying but got interrupted.
"NO!"
"You take the car then." Jin said not worrying too much.
"NOT-"
"Really?" she asked with a funny face.
"Oh boy...." Namjoon took a large gulp of his beer.
"What about Yoongi?!" Taehyung said loudly.
"He's fine I told you already." Carolina answered "I assured him we would be here waiting and-"
"Ya" Jin laughed "I think he was talking about driving?" Taehyung nodded agreeing.
"Oh..."
"Guys, let's decide that later... Let's enjoy first!" Namjoon pondered.
"Anyways I highly doubt anyone will get drunk, we're all here to see Yoongi." Carolina said.
"Agree!"
"I don't know about you guys, but as soon as Yoongi finishes off I'll start celebrating." Jin said still dancing "HEY! DO YOU KNOW SUGA? I'TS MY FRIEND!" he shouted to a bunch of people standing next to them.
Yoongi stepped on stage, a couple of people cheered but his friends were the loudest. They were screaming at the top of their lungs and Yoongi couldn’t help but smile. He presented himself as Suga. He started off with a song entitled “Agust D”. As the song started playing, everyone started jumping and moving their bodies to the sound of it.
Next up was “Give It To Me” and when that was already over, Jungkook and his friends arrived. After that, “The Last” started playing and then “So Far Away”, a collaboration he did with a girl he met online that used to do some covers. By that time, everyone had their phones out with their flashlights to fit the mood of the song and arms in the air swinging.
“He’s really good!” Deo shouted in Jungkook’s ear so that he could hear her.
He only nodded in response. He didn’t know this side of him. He knew he liked music and that he like to produce some things but it never crossed his mind that he’d have things this level, this good. He stayed glued to the words until the very last one and once it was over, everyone cheered.
"Ahhhhh!" Carolina exclaimed once she saw Yoongi coming in their direction, she went straight to a tight hug "I'm so proud of you!!!! You were so good, Yoongs!!!"
"Thank you!" he hugged back "Everyone's talking about the art work" he chuckled excited.
"Bro it was amazing!! Woah~" Taehyung came by excited as well "The songs were BAM! grrr" Taehyung let out a bunch of noises and expressions.
"Thanks!" Yoongi chuckled.
"And of course they're talking, I told you to trust me!" Carolina added.
"I wish I could see it as well but I was on stage so-"
"Oh we recorded it for you!!!" Taehyung said.
"YOU DID AMAZING BRO!" Jin came by with Namjoon, greeting Yoongi with his always playful manner.
"You did good, Yoongi!" Namjoon tapped on his shoulder congratulating him. "The lyrics were- Wow, really powerful!"
"Thanks guys!" He chuckled feeling proud of himself. "I see you all had a good time then."
"Of course we did! We'd be crazy not to!" Carolina added.
“Hey man, you were great! Congrats!” Jungkook appeared in the middle of the group giving Yoongi a quick hug.
“Thanks JK! Glad you showed up!” Yoongi showed a genuine smile.
“Of course! How did you feel up there?” Jungkook asked excited.
“Pretty great I must say.” Yoongi chuckled.
“JK MY MAN!” Jin screamed and immediately came in for a hug.
“JIN!” Jungkook screams back, laughing.
“Jimin came as well?” Taehyung asked.
“Yeah-” Jungkook said but before he could say anything, Jin spoke again.
“Wanna hang? Bring your friends, we’re celebrating here!”
“Yeah man, come hang!” Namjoon said, beer in hand, cheerful.
“I can go call them?” Jungkook kinda asked, he wasn’t really used to these hang outs between his group and his housemates but he couldn’t deny he was excited for it.
“He’s probably busy with his friends guys, let him be.” Carolina spoke but everyone ignored her.
“Yeah go grab them!” Jin repeated himself, probably because of the drinks he had already had.
“Oh really?? Bring Jiminie!” Taehyung spoke with a big smile.
“I’m gonna call them and I’ll try to find you!” Jungkook said before turning away to where his friends were.
“Jungkook left?” Yoongi finally looked back to the group, he had been talking to some people that were congratulating him.
“He went to get his friends.” Namjoon spoke from beside him.
“I’ll be right back.” Yoongi said. “You came.” He said in the girl’s ear.
“Yoongi! You were great! Of course I did! I wouldn’t miss it for the world!”
“Thanks Linzi.” He let out a chuckle. “You’re alone?”
“No, I’m with some friends. I was just about to leave actually, but I was trying to find you first.”
“Well, thanks for coming!” He let out a smile.
“We’ll talk later yeah? Let me know if you got home safe.”
“I will!”
“FRIENDS! WELCOME!” Jin shouted when Jungkook came back with his friends.
“Welcome where?” Carolina said, sarcastically.
“Oh! The stargazing girl!” Namjoon let out once he noticed Hyori.
“Hey guys!” Hoseok spoke to everyone in general.
“Oh~ hi!” Hyori said shyly.
“Let’s go grab some drinks!” Jungkook said, sliding his arm around Jin’s shoulders.
“I’ll go too!” Deo said. The whole situation was freaking her out. They were friends but they were hanging out and it was weird and awkward.
“Sure! Anything you guys want?” Jin asked, looking back at everyone.
“I’m good thanks!” Taehyung said, looking away from Jimin.
“Whiskey if you can.” Yoongi said.
“No thanks, I'll go there later.” Carolina said before wandering off to the dance floor.
“Bring me anything.” Jimin winked.
“Whatever you’re having ok?” Hyori said looking to Deo.
“I’m already served.” Namjoon showed his beer bottle. ”But thanks.”
“Want me to come with?” Jack asked Deo.
“No, you’re not allowed to drink today mr. Driver.” Deo snorted, pinching his cheek.
“Let’s go!” Jungkook said.
“I’ll be going with you guys! You won’t be able to bring everything back, I’ll help!” Taehyung said cheerfully.
“Nice!” Jin said before turning their backs and going.
Deo had her hands around Jungkook’s arm to not get lost and he was following Jin to the bar. Taehyung was hanging in the back. They had to walk in line because the place was so crowded. Once they managed to get to the bar, they did a little circle.
“What was it that they wanted?” Jungkook asked.
“Not a clue, everything is fine!” JIn laughed.
“Yoongi wanted whiskey and Jimin was anything...” Taehyung said right after.
“What are you having?” Deo asked, turning her attention from the shelves and to the boys.
“Maybe a shot... Can’t decide, I’ll ask the bartender for suggestions.” Jin answered.
“Nothing for me.” Taehyung said.
“For me and Hyori... hmm... can be two vodkas with coke.”
“I don’t know either. I’ll go with Jin’s.” Jungkook added.
“I like this friend very much!” Jin said to Taehyung while pointing to Jungkook.
“You have to order for us, they’ll think I’m 16.” Deo chuckled, talking to Jin.
“They do have a point.” Jin laughed, amused.
“I’ll help ordering because it’s pretty crowded.” Taehyung said, jumping to the bar. “Stay close.” He looked at Deo but she just shrugged him off.
“Swear to God!” Deo said in Jungkook’s ear making him laugh.
“Go away underaged kid.” Jungkook laugh, defendind himself from a punch she threw to his arm.
“So are you!”
“Leave it to us kids!” Jin laughed, looking back.
Once they manage to get all the drinks, they walked back to where their groups last were. Yoongi, Hoseok and Jack were chatting while leaning against the wall about music. Something in Hoseok sparked when he saw Yoongi perform and he was excited to explore that part of himself. Everyone gave them their drink and followed to the next group where Hyori was talking to Namjoon and Jimin was just flirting with some girl.
“Did you find your friend? From the party?” Hyori asked Namjoon. They were still on the topic of the party.
“I did, yes. It’s that blue haired one that went to grab drinks.” Namjoon pointed once he saw Taehyung.
“He seems quite hard to miss.” Hyori teased, letting a laugh fall out of her lips right after.
“Well you might find it surprising how many times we already did.” Namjoon laughed too, a little embarrassed.
“I get it. It was a super big house!”
“It doesn’t help that he’s a little unpredictable.” He laughed. “I never asked you thought but, what were you doing on that room?”
“Watching the stars mostly. That party was too loud for a second and I needed some air.” She said simply.
“I can relate to that.” He confessed, feeling a little shy.
“If you ever need, I know some points around campus where you can see the sky perfectly. Even some rooftops.” She suggested with a grin in her face.
“That would be nice! Thanks, star girl!”
“You having fun?” Deo creeped behind Hyori, handing her the drink she choose for her.
“I am thank you.” Hyori gave her a death glare.
“Hey do you know where Carolina is?” Deo asked, showing him the drink she had for her.
“Uh... She was just here?” Namjoon said confused. He wasn’t paying much attention.
“Jimin!” Deo tapped on his shoulder. “Did you saw Carolina?”
“Ye-” before he could say anything, Taehyung was already going off.
“We lost her???”
“She’s there.” Jimin chuckled while pointing to the dance floor.
“Oh~~ thank God!” Taehyung let out a sigh.
“Hey!” Deo tapped Carolina lightly on the shoulder. “Got you a drink.”
“Oh thanks! You didn’t nee-” Carolina finally looked at the girl, eyes widden. “-eed to...”
“It’s nothing! But you’re ok? You’re a little pale.”
“Uh... Yeah! Totally! Thanks!” She took a sip of her drink, confused with a million things running through her mind.
“Imma go back to the group but if you need to catch some air or go to the bathroom you can call me!” Deo said. She was 100% sure now that Carolina was the bathroom girl from the party, all she had to do now was figure out about which boy she was talking.
“Mhmm, sure thanks!”
The time flew by and the party wasn’t over yet. Once Yoongi ended his performance, the manager of the club announced that he was the last one but that everyone was invited to stay and have fun. With the regular radio music playing, everyone kept on drinking and dancing and laughing. The smoke from the cigars and dim light made the entire mood. It was going to be a good night. That was until...
“Take your hands off my girlfriend you piece of shit!” A guy yelled over the music and threw a punch.
“Fuck you man!” The other guy quickly stood up and threw another punch.
“What the hell is going on?” Jack called over, catching the group’s attention.
“Someone doesn’t know how to handle their drinks.” Jimin shrugged it off.
Soon the manager came in between the two guys and kicked them out. As it was usual policy, he would give a warning but if they didn’t stop, he’d have to call the cops. It was a bad image for the club to have drunks fighting right at their door. One of the man that was involved in the fight was a regular. Every once or twice, he would come to the club and would make a scene. The only reason the manager would still let him in was because he spent more in a night than most of his clients in a week. But of course, that would lead to fights.
“Knock it off!” One of the bouncers yelled but it was no use.
“Want me to step in?” The other one asked.
“No need, the police is already on their way.”
It took them a while, but once they heard the sirens, the two men stopped fighting and ran in different directions. One ran down the street to get away as fast as he could and the other managed to get inside the club.
“The cops are here! Run! RUN!”
Maybe it was the alcohol in their systems or maybe the fact that half of the people there didn’t have the legal age to drink but chaos installed quickly. Everyone was running out through the front door, some decided to use the emergency exit but it was already too late, cops were already covering both exits.
Carolina quickly exchanged looks with her group. She was underaged and there was no way she was going to get caught. She quickly grabbed Deo’s wrist and ran to the backstage area where she had been just hours ago with Yoongi. Hyori and Jungkook followed right after.
“Ok listen up, there’s no way I’m getting caught. We have to jump out of this window.” She peeked her head outside to see if there were cops there. “The coast is clear, let’s go.”
Carolina jumped first. “C’mon, hurry up!”
“There’s no way I’m jumping out of that.” Deo said.
“Would you rather get caught?” Jungkook glared his eyes to the both of them. He was a pile of nerves.
“That’s too high!” Hyori panicked.
“I’ll go first and I’ll help you get down yeah?” Jungkook sugested.
“Ok, but be careful!” Deo said.
“Ok c’mon!” Jungkook whispered.
“You wanna go first? If they get to us we’re dead Hyo, we have to jump.”
“AH FUCK!” Hyori flipped, climbing up the window.
“Ok Deo... keep your shit together, you’re a cheerleader. You’re thrown in the air higher than this fucking shit!” Deo talked mostly to herself. “Can I go?” She peeked her head out.
“Yes, I get you.” Jungkook told her.
Outside the backstage, the boys were trying to create a distraction to make the policeman that was looking for the agressor inside the club.
“We gotta do something!” Hoseok said, panicking.
“Chill Hope, let’s talk to them and keep them up.” Jack suggested.
“NO! Namjoon pretend to faint!!” Jin almost screamed.
“Me?! I can’t act for shit!” Namjoon said, panicking as well.
“Guys keep it down, you’re making it worse.” Yoongi glared at all of them.
“HERE I GO!” Taehyung embraced himself for a fall, closing his eyes as soon as he hit the floor and giving it a special touch my pulling his arm over his forehead. It was a 5-star acting.
“HELP! MY FRIEND FAINTED!” Jimin screamed, getting the attention of the policeman.
“What is going on here?!” The cop asked.
“OUR FRIEND FAINTED!” Jin said overly dramatic.
“What happened?” The cop asked, an eyebrow arched.
“The bad guy!” Namjoon started but felt flustered, not knowing what to say after.
“He pushed him and he fell!” Hoseok said, covering for Namjoon.
“That’s why he fainted!” Jimin added.
“Did you saw where he went? Which direction?” The cop said anxious.
“Into the bathroom.” Yoongi pointed in the opposite direction of the backstage.
“HEY! What about our friend!” Jin said, too excited with everything going on but thankfully the cop was long gone.
“Dude!” Everyone said at the same time.
“Oh yeah.” Jin said nonchalant.
“C’mon, we gotta get out of here to see if they need help.” Yoongi said.
“Everyone has their ID’s?” Jack asked, while him and Jimin pulled Taehyung up.
As the boys waited to leave – the line was super long because the police was checking ID’s at the front door. Deo finally managed to jump and they were hiding behind a dumpster, checking to see if they could move.
“Ok I think there’s a car there.” Carolina pointed to the side of the bar.
“Why the fuck they need so many cops for a fight?” Deo said frustrated.
“That doesn’t matter now!” Jungkook said, his palms were already sweating. He was tense and Carolina had to hold a laugh.
“Ok, be prepared to run if you have to.” The older girl told them.
“How are you so calm?!” Hyori said, freaked out.
“You don’t wanna know.” Carolina laughed dryly. “Ok, on the count of 3.”
The girl started counting. 1... 2... 3! They all started running and as soon as they hit the end of alley, it was exactly what Carolina suspected, there was a car and the two cops that were leaning against the wall noticed them immediately and started chasing after them.
“C’mon!” Jungkook grabbed Deo’s wrist so that she wouldn’t stay behind while Hyori and Carolina ran in front of them.
“HOLY FUCK!” Deo screamed, overwhelmed with the situation.
They could hear the footsteps of both cops chasing after them and they various attempts of telling them to stop were ignored. Quickly they got to a crossroad and Carolina took the left road and Hyori followed suit. Jungkook was ready to turn too but Deo pulled him to the other way.
“It’ll be easier like this! Hyori is fine with her.” She assured him.
“Keep up just a little longer ok?” He asked, seeing how tired she was already.
“We gotta find somewhere to hide.”
Once Carolina and Hyori noticed they were alone and they couldn’t see the cops, they decided to slow down their pace. They sat down on a bench. They noticed they were on a park but at this time of the night they weren’t recognizing it.
“That was close.” Hyori started, trying to normalize her breath.
“Yea-” Carolina stopped mid-sentence. “Do you hear that?”
“Wha-”
“We gotta hide.” Carolina quickly looked around, eyes scanning the place. “Are you good at holding your breath?”
“What?!”
“YES OR NO?!”
“I guess!!”
Carolina grabbed Hyori’s arm and pulled her with her to the fountain. She kept peeking a little but when she saw the light of the cop’s flashlight, she dove in, pulling Hyori along with her.
Deo and Jungkook continued running for what felt hours but really was 10 minutes since they got separated from the two girls. That was until they saw a convenience store.
“Let’s go there!” Deo pulled Jungkook.
“Wait, we need to control our breaths before we go in.”
“We don’t have time for that! Just smile to the cashier and then you can breathe normally!”
“Fuck, let’s go then.”
They immediately walk to the drinks area. Jungkook grabbed a power drink and Deo a water. They heard the doors slide and their hearts clutched a little. They tried to peek but didn’t see anything.
“Let’s grab some Doritos.” Deo suggested, telling Jungkook to calm down with her hands.
“I want pringles.” He said nonchalant.
“What? You always want Doritos.”
“And you always want Pringles.”
“Your point?” She laughed lightly.
“Hey kids.” They heard a voice from behind them and turned.
“Yes?” Deo spoke, afraid Jungkook’s voice was going to tremble.
“What are you doing here at this time?” The cop walked closer to them.
“We came to buy some snacks.” Deo said, showing the chips in her hands. “Is there a problem?”
“Where did you came from?” The cop pushed again.
“From campus.” Deo answered immediately with an eyebrow arched. “Why?”
The cop looked at them for a couple of seconds before relaxing his posture a little. “Make sure to make it there safe. Have a good night.”
As soon as he turned his back, Deo couldn’t contain the big smile on her face. “Let’s grab some gum too.”
“I swear, one of these days I die because of you.” Jungkook whispered to her.
“What did I do?!”
“You were giving him an attitude!”
“I was no- he was interrogating us for no reason!” She said teasingly.
“I- what?!”
“Relax Gguk. This will be the first of many times.” She winked to him and turned on her heels, heading to the cashier. The only thing she could hear was his sigh.
Back at the fountain, Carolina decided to be brave and peek her head out of the water. She couldn’t hold her breath anymore so between drowning and getting caught, it was a close call. Everything was quiet. She couldn’t hear the cop’s radio anymore so she decided it was now or never. They jumped out of the fountain, fully wet and trembling to the breeze of the night.
“Let’s agree to never speak of this again.” Carolina said, frustrated.
“Agree.”
DAY 5 [COMING SOON]
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Familiar Face
First installment in the No Place Like You Series.
Jensen x Reader, Y/F/N- your friend’s name, Jared, Kim, Brianna 
Series summary: Your best friend finally convinces you to put on your big girl panties and go to a Supernatural convention while you are in Atlanta. Never in your wildest dreams would you have thought you would catch Jensen’s eye. Little does he know, you have your own spotlight. (I’m terrible at summaries; stay with me haha) 
Warnings: Language, awkwardness, idk. 
Word Count: 1752 
A/N: This is my first attempt at a true series, and it’s only my second time writing Jensen, so be gentle haha. Also, remember, THIS IS FICTION, for the purpose of this storyline Jensen is single. There is in no way hate intended towards his family. 
PART2  
 Masterlist       To Do List         Ask Me Anything/Requests  
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Y/N’s POV 
I groan in response to the incessant beeping of the stupid alarm clock in our hotel room, lazily fumbling about, trying to find the snooze button. “Hold it! What do you think you’re doing missy?!” Oh Y/F/N, and her bubbly, chipper morning self. 
“Five more minutes...” I mumbled into the pillow, begging her for some mercy. 
She apparently takes that as a sign to jump on my bed and start bouncing up and down, repeatedly chanting, “Today’s the day! Today’s the day!” 
“Get off of me!” 
“Nu-uh, not until you get up! Come on, come on, up up! We have a big day ahead!” 
All that ecapes my mouth is a grumble, followed by some explatives, and finally, “Don’t remind me...” 
“Seriously Y/N? I mean you’ve only loved this show since day one. You should be excited, it’s gonna be so much fun! Cons are awesome, you meet soooooo many cool people. Not to mention the cast is there” she says nudging me with her elbow, and wiggling her brows in that goofy way she does. 
She and I have been best friends since god only knows when. We’ve been through everything together, and she’s always been the one to push me out of my shell. At this point she could get me to do anything with her goofy go get em attitude. “Fine....” I throw my hands up in surrender, as I sit up. 
Her ecstatic squeal’s loud enough to wake everyone in the hotel, I’m sure of it. She bounds around the room, gathering up what she says is the perfect con outfit for me. I had begged her before we came to let me dress down. I want to be low key in this whole thing- no attention brought to me what so ever; completely under the radar. “Here, wear this” she says handing me a simple black t-shirt. Oh thank god, she did hear me! I thought. 
My mini celebration stops abruptly when I flip the shirt over. There’s a giant picture of Dean leaning against the Impala with he words ‘Forget the Prince Charming with his horse, I want Dean with his Impala!’ scrawled across the front. “I am not wearing this.” I say, getting up from the bed, and heading towards the bathroom to get in the shower. 
Her response is to put her hands on her hips, lean forward, and pout “Y/N, you love Dean!” 
“And I can love him without the shirt to prove it.” 
“Please, I’m wearing my Sam shirt... come on don’t leave me hanging. We gotta be the complete Winchester set.” 
Ugh, “Fine. I’ll wear it, but I am wearing a flannel over it!” 
Within a couple short hours we are walking into the lobby with people buzzing about, all giddy and laughing with each other. I have to admit it’s kinda cool. I mean all these people coming together simply because of a common interest in a show. 
Y/F/N was right, everyone is so nice. I still try to keep my head down though. This was still entirely too new. Before I know it, she’s dragging me all over the damn hotel doing all kinds of things she says we have to, because ‘she’s got a checklist’. 
The day goes by pretty quickly, and I’ll never tell her, but I’m glad she convinced me to come. I’ve had more fun in the last few hours than I have in a long time. But, right now however, I’m a weird mix of excited, nervous, and at a loss for words. The time has come. The J2 panel was about to begin. 
“Y/N, would you get your ass in here already!” Y/F/N’s voice snaps me out of my trance. She has already gone through the door, and I’m left standing here  just on the other side like an idiot. “For god’s sake, it’s not like they’re gonna jump off the stage and kill you!” She says grabbing my hand and pulling me down the aisle to our seats. 
Only about 5 minutes into the panel, she slapping her hand down onto my bouncing leg, “God why are you so nervous? You’re sitting in a chair listening to people talk, calm down.” 
‘Sorry, I can’t help it” 
Jensen’s POV 
Here I am on stage in front of fans with Jared, suppose to be paying attention, but I can only think about this girl I Caught a glimpse of earlier. Literally, I only saw her for a fraction of a second, but she’s been on my mind all day. Her smile just lit up the room. “Dude!” Jared’s voice and slap on the shoulder, brought me back into reality. “Did you even hear the question?” 
I look up, pulling a face, “I’m not gonna lie, no, I did not.” The room busts out laughing at what they think might be me just being goofy or something, allowing me to get away with it this time. Jared however, picks up on it a little more. He’s caught me spacing out all day. 
After the girl asked her question again, and I gave her my answer, my eyes start to scan the crowd as they normally would, until they fall on the same smile from earlier. There she is, sitting beside her friend. God that smile. 
While I am managing to stay more focused for the rest of the panel, my eyes always find their way back to her. She laughs at the stupid joke I just attempted to make, and I swear my heart about busts open. I tell myself that this is ridiculous, I never even met her. I shouldn’t feel this way. 
She’s whispering with her friend, and they both start giggling. I think to myself, I could get lost in that giggle forever. She’s just so freaking cute. I silently keep hoping she will look up when I am looking at her, but she never does. Her eyes refuse to look in my direction. They are always glue somewhere in the general direction of the stage, but they never meet mine. 
Not long after, the panel is ending, and Jared and I are walking off the stage. His questions start the moment we are out of sight. “You saw her didn’t you?” 
I try to brush him off, and keep walking. “What are you talking about?” 
“oh don’t give me that crap. I’ve known you long enough to know that a girl has caught your eye. All day you’ve been spacey, and I’ve never seen you that off in a panel.” 
I stop and turn to face him. “Ok. Alright. Fine. I did see a girl earlier that may have sparked an interest. Yes, she was in there, but don’t go getting all-” I start to gesture wildly with my hands, know exactly what I mean, probably not many other people do, “on me.”
“Why?” 
“It’s one girl in a sea of people, I’ve never met her, and she wouldn’t even look at me in there.” I know good and well those are piss poor excuses, but it’s all I got right now. Luckily he backs off, clearly not in the mood to argue with me any more at the moment. 
We start walking across the hotel. There were of course fans lining the way. We acknowledge them as we walk by, and out of the corner of my eye, I see her. She is just standing there with her friend, not screaming like most of the people in the room. I turn my head to look at her, and for the first time, my eyes catch hers. I offer a smile, and her cheeks turned a delightful shade of pink as her head dropped down and then to her friend. I couldn’t help but chuckle to myself. So damn cute. 
Y/N’s POV
I throw my arm out, unintentionally hitting Y/F/N in the stomach producing an umph sound from her lips. “I looked right at him!!!” I say, my eyes as wide as they could be, and my face all up in hers. 
“What? Who?” She says, trying to recover from the blow. 
“What do you mean who? JENSEN FREAKING ACKLES!” 
She laughs, throwing her arms around my neck, “Ah, I’m so proud of you!” She jokes. We giggle and goof off all the way back to our room. She wants every little detail of that milisecond of an interaction, if you could even call it that. “He smiled? See, I told you they were nice!” 
I plop down on my bed, “Even serial killers smile sometimes.” 
She is in the bathroom, no doubt reapplying make up. “Wait, so you think Jensen Ackles is a serial killer?” She laughs, knowing good and well that’s not what I meant. 
“Oh shut up, you know what I mean. Just because a person smiles, doesn’t mean they are what you say they are.” 
She rolls her eyes as she comes out of the bathroom. Yep, new make up in place. “Whatever, come on, get up, get ready, we gotta go.” 
“Ugh, I know.” 
Jensen’s POV 
Everybody’s heading out to dinner, and boy are they a riot tonight. Well, honestly when are they not, though? Jared is still giving me crap about this girl. Why would I ever expect anything less from him.  About half way into this dig, Kim and Brianna happen to overhear him. “Oh, did I just hear what I think I did?” Brianna chirps. “Does someone have a little crush?” She grins. Now Kim's looking at me in expectancy too. Great. 
Jared tells them all about my behavior that day, meanwhile, I try to slip back behind the crowd, not wanting to be apart of the conversation anymore. The building we’re walking along side has many posters displaying upcoming events and shows. I Take in the sights as I pass by, but none of them catch my interest. Except this one. The last poster on the wall stops me in my tracks. 
Everybody else keeps walking, but I just stand there staring like a moron. 
Eventually, Jared realizes I’m no longer right beside him, and turns to see me standing here. “You good?” He asks, and all I can do is point to the picture. Jared tells the rest of them to go ahead, and he, Kim, and Brianna walk back to where I was. “What? What’s up?” 
“It’s her” 
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mycasandstarrs · 6 years
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SPN 1x14: “Nightmare”
Let’s meet our first psychic kid (besides Sam).
Oh, this dude is in for a gruesome death.
OH it was one of Sam’s nightmares/premonitions!! I was wondering why they focused on the car’s license plates.
Jim Miller. Saginaw, Michigan.
Too late.
RIP Jim Miller
Aww Sam, it’s not on you.
Dean has always been antsy about Sam’s nightmares/premonitions/visions what ever you wanna call them.
“Well, don’t look at me like that!”
“I’m not looking at you like anything.”
This (or something similar) happens again in 12x14 between Mary and Dean.
!!!!! The priest outfits/cover!!!!
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Where did they even get that outfit?
Sam brushed his hair out of his face!! He looks so good!!
I can’t help but think of the blooper for this scene, lmao.
Father Simmons and Father Frehley.
Lmao, Dean.
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Sam really does look better with his hair like that.
There is no normal, inconspicuous way to ask if there’s been ghost symptoms in the house.
Max.
“I know it’s rough, losing a parent, especially when you don’t have all the answers.” Sam is a saint, god bless his heart.
That is the weirdest device I’ve seen them use on the show.
Escanaba Hotel.
Dean cleaning his weapons.
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I know I read somewhere that Jensen learned how to clean the guns properly. It really shows.
OH NO SAM
Another premonition, except Sam’s having this one while he’s awake.
Ugh god, that’d be a terrible way to die.
Dean, you are a dirty liar.
Aww poor Sammy, he is determined to save Roger.
It’s too late again.
RIP Roger Miller.
Dean immediately covering their tracks.
fff, Dean had to stop Sam from walking directly in front of a car.
“Both our families are cursed.”
“Our family’s not curse. We just had our dark spots.”
“Our dark spots are pretty dark.”
“You’re...dark.”
Nice comeback, Dean.
I guess “cursed” would be a bit of a harsh word for the Winchesters, but it certainly seems like they are.
Priest covers are back as they talk to Max.
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They seem to be hitting a nerve with Max as they ask him about his childhood.
No but seriously, Sam looks good like that.
Roger and Jim Miller were abusive towards Max; the stepmother did nothing.
Max’s real mom died in a car accident.
Another premonition.
And another gruesome way of dying.
MOTE: Max Miller.
“Well with what he went through, the beatings, to want revenge on those people? I’m sorry, man, I hate to say it, but it’s not that insane.”
“Yeah, but it doesn’t justify murdering your entire family!”
“Dean.”
“He’s no different from anything else we’ve hunted, all right? We gotta end him.”
I’m kinda siding with Sam on this one.
Dean’s last statement is giving me S4 “If I didn’t know you, I would want to hunt you” vibes and it’s making me sad.
Oh boy, here we go.
Well shit, Max saw Dean’s gun.
“I think I’m here to help you.” I swear, Sam has the kindest heart.
“Sam, I’m not leaving you alone with him.”
Wow Jim and Roger were abusing Max up until the week they died. Shit, dude.
“When my dad used to look at me, there was hate in his eyes. Do you know what that feels like?”
“No.”
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There’s the big connection: Max’s mom died in his nursery. In a fire. Pinned to the ceiling.
Sam gets locked in the closet.
Despite knowing that the show was well into its 9th season and Sam and Dean would still be alive, on my very first viewing I screamed when they showed us Max killing Dean because I believed it had happened. I legit thought that Dean was dead and I was devastated. When it was revealed that it was just a vision, I almost cried out of pure relief. This show has been fucking with me since the very beginning.
Sam manages to move the drawer.
Sam then makes his final plea to Max.
“We can help you. All right, but this this, what you’re doing-it’s not the solution. It’s not gonna fix anything.”
“You’re right.” Max’s last words.
RIP Max Miller.
I feel so sorry for the step mom. She lost everyone so abruptly and she can’t even share what really happened because who would believe her? I hope she’s better now.
Dean was right, Max couldn’t be saved.
“We’re lucky we had Dad.”
“All things considered, we turned out ok. Thanks to him.”
You know what, that’s a good, fair point.
What’s about to happen.
I get the feeling something’s about to happen.
Dean, you asshole.
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“As long as I’m around, nothing bad’s gonna happen to you.”
*internal screaming*
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minijenn · 6 years
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Universe Falls Chapter 46
Bleh so yeah a short kinda whatever chapter, but that’s fine at least its over with cause I’m excited about Society of the Blind Eye and I wanna just get there already but still, this chapter is decent enough I suppose. B plots pretty cool so that’s something. Enjoy!
Previous: http://minijenn.tumblr.com/post/168620833619/universe-falls-chapter-45
Chapter 46: Keeping It Together
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“We need to track down Peridot,” Garnet addressed the collection of Gems and kids sitting before her in the temple’s living room, her tone steady, firm, and authoritative. The Gem leader had figured that more than enough time had passed since the invasion for them to be getting back to business, namely by curtailing one of the few lose ends still left over from it. And as far as they were all concerned, it was their responsibility to tie that end up for the safety of the planet as a whole. “We found her pod. We know she’s out there somewhere. She came to Earth with a job to do, and odds are, she’s still going to try and do it. That’s why I’ve gathered you all here.”
“Whoa, so this is a super serious magical meeting, then?” Mabel asked, aptly enthused. “Man, if I had known that, then I would have baked cookies for everyone!”
“I thought we were here so everyone could help me fold all this laundry,” Steven noted, nodding down to the massive pile of unfolded tee shirts that they were all sitting around.
“That too,” Garnet said, picking up a shirt and folding it up. “The chore wheel idea you had fell apart fast.”
“Wasn’t me,” Amethyst vouched, reclining back as she nodded over at the aforementioned wheel hanging on the fridge. While various housekeeping responsibilities had been divided up evenly among Steven and the Gems, Pearl had taken the liberty of crossing their names out and commandeering every single one of them.
“I just really enjoy doing all of those things,” the white Gem said with a proud smile.
“It’s better if we do them together,” Garnet asserted, giving Amethyst in particular a critical glance that prompted her to begrudgingly sit up and help.
“So… why are me and Mabel here then?” Dipper asked, somewhat lost amidst all this talk of laundry.
“Oh, mostly for the Peridot thing,” the Gem leader reiterated. “Though more hands does make the folding go by faster.”
“Ugh, humans should just stop wearing clothes,” Amethyst groaned boredly. “Be a lot funnier.”
“Hey! I’m a civilified part human, thank you very much,” Steven remarked in playfully pointed protest. “Clothing is a must.”
“Ok, but seriously, Steven, do you really have to have so many versions of the exact same shirt?” Dipper asked, holding one of the young Gem’s many star shirts up to prove his point.
“Pfft, don’t listen to him, Steven,” Mabel scoffed, rolling her eyes at her brother’s usual cynicism. “This is coming from the guy who wears the same clothes almost every day because he hates doing laundry.”
“Laundry is a waste of time,” Dipper remarked defensively, crossing his arms. “I’m a busy guy.”
“Well, I happen to like all my star shirts,” Steven grinned as he happily folded one of them. “Its guess its sorta like my look, you know? Simple, yet iconic!”
“Suuuure, it is, Steven,” Amethyst said with a wry, joking grin as she tossed another shirt over to Steven. “Still, I can’t believe I’m saying this, but Dipper might have a point about you having too many of these things. Folding them all up is so booooooooring…”
“Hm…” the young Gem mused, a growing smile spreading across his face as he happened to glance over at Garnet. “Well, its like you said, Garnet, this goes by a lot faster when we have more hands to help. So… maybe we could finish a lot sooner if Ruby and Sapphire were here!”
“Oh my gosh, yes!” Mabel readily agreed with an excited gasp. “It’d be so great to hang out with those two! It feels like its been ages since the last time we saw them!”
“Mabel, the ‘last’ time we saw Ruby and Sapphire was the first time we ever saw them,” Dipper pointed out dryly. “And that was only a few weeks ago.”
“Well it’d still be really cool to see them again!” Steven reiterated before looking to Garnet with a pleading smile. “So…? What do you say?”
“I’m sure they’d be glad to see you three,” the Gem leader remarked with a hint of an amused smirk. “But I am not unfusing for laundry.”
“Aw…” Steven and Mabel sighed in disappointed unison, their sudden hopes for seeing the Gem couple again quickly dashed.
All the same, Pearl spoke up amidst this, taking the opportunity to get the conversation back on the more pressing matter at hand. “Garnet, you don’t think Peridot would come looking for us, do you?”
“She better not, if she knows what’s good for her…” Dipper muttered disdainfully, more than ready to put his fresh sword skills to use if the green Gem came anywhere close. After all, he was still ever mindful of Peridot’s involvement in leading up to the horrible straits that Lapis was still very much in. And that was not something that he was about to forgive and forget so easily.
“We weren’t her priority,” Garnet said, as rationally as ever. “She was sent here to do something in the Kindergarten.”
“Do you think she’s still going to try to reactivate it?” Pearl asked, suddenly anxious.
“Mm… if she gets it back up and running, the injectors will turn back on…” Garnet said, her expression darkening as she said this.
“Injectors?” Steven spoke up, curious. “What are those?”
“You’re already seen them…” Pearl said with a remorseful sigh. “Well, you’ve seen them disabled.” To give a visual demonstration, she projected a hologram of her Gem, showing one of the many, massive, drill-like machines that dotted the Kindergarten. However, instead of downed and dusted, this one was erect and active as it began digging into the ground, planting something therein. “If Peridot reactivates them, they’ll pick right up where they left off, planting Gems in the crust of the Earth, where they’ll incubate and suck the life right out of the ground! We can’t let Peridot restart Gem production here. If we do, the entire planet will become…”
“Janked,” Garnet succinctly finished where Pearl had left off, eliciting surprised gasps from the kids and a rowdy laugh from Amethyst.
“Garnet! That mouth!” the purple Gem chuckled, not noticing Pearl’s still very apparent distress, which was aptly shared by all three of the kids.
“So, uh, we should probably stop her from turning those injector thingys back on then, huh?” Mabel asked, quite uneasy.
“That’s the plan,” Garnet affirmed, rising to stand. She paused though, noticing the worried looks on the faces of both the kids and her teammates as they all unanimously feared what could happen to the planet they all called home if Peridot was left to her own devices. “Don’t worry,” the Gem leader assured with a small, but confident smile. “We’ll stop her. Come on, everyone.”
“Coming!” Pearl chimed, hopping to her feet as she hurried after Garnet to the warp pad.
“As long as we don’t have to fold anything,” Amethyst remarked, gladly leaving the pile of laundry behind to the kids, who simply continued folding. After all, the Gems had made it clear that they had this situation covered, which was why they were all quite surprised when Garnet called for them.
“Steven, Dipper, Mabel,” the Gem leader beckoned with a small grin, one that Amethyst shared as she hopped onto the warp pad.
“C’mon! That means you guys too, right?” she asked, chuckling as the kids exchanged excited smiles at the open invitation, one that they knew, just a few weeks ago, the Gems would have never even extended to them.
“Woo! Gem mission time!” Mabel readily perked up, rushing over to the warp pad without delay as the boys quickly followed. “I can’t remember the last time we’ve been on one of these that didn’t involve all of us almost dying!”
“That’s because we’ve almost died on just about every one we’ve been on,” Dipper said, somewhat deadpan, though not as much as he could have been, given how disastrous the invasion itself had ended.
“Hm…” Pearl frowned upon hearing this, her worry palpable as she whispered to the Gem leader. “Garnet, are you sure we should bring the kids along with us? This could be dangerous.”
“Peridot’s got nothing we can’t handle,” Garnet promised, confident that this claim was true.
“Well, what are we waiting for?” Amethyst asked eagerly. “Let’s go mess her up!”
“O-or maybe we could just ask her nicely to stop trying to hurt the Earth!” Steven reasoned, not wanting to see things resort to violence.
“No, actually, I agree with Amethyst,” Dipper staunchly remarked. “If we have a chance to stop Peridot, then we might as well take it. No matter what we have to do.”
The others too pause upon hearing such a dark, coldly-stated resolve, all of them looking to Dipper with apt concern over it. However, before any of them could question it, the front door happened to burst open, startling everyone as a very perturbed conman bared in.
“Kids!” Stan shouted, an obviously annoyed look on his face as he caught sight of the twins accompanying the Gems on the warp pad. “What do you two think you’re doing up here?! I thought you were only gonna be up here bugging the Gems for a few minutes, not all day! We gotta get back down to the shack and restock the gift shop before people start thinking we’re having some sort of ‘clearance sale’. Ugh, just saying those terrible words makes me wanna barf.”
“Uh, actually, Grunkle Stan…” Mabel began, exchanging a tentative glance with Dipper. “We’re kinda about to go on a super important Gem mission to save the entire Earth! So…”
“So restocking the gift shop can definitely wait until we’re done with that,” Dipper finished with a bit more certainty, though he couldn’t claim to be completely confident in light of Stan’s already disapproving glower over this information.
“Oh, it can?” Stan asked, raising an eyebrow as he glanced up from the twins to look towards the Gems.
“I’ll certainly say it can!” Pearl cut in, crossing her arms. “Like Mabel said, we have very important work to do, work that, if not tended to, could result in the death of this planet and everything on it! Which means, Stan, that we have no time to deal with you or your little… gift shop dilemma.”
While Stan usually would have countered the white Gem’s condescending behavior with some kind of sharp, witty retort, instead he simply seemed to shrug it off and respond in a way almost no one had been expecting. “Alright then,” he said, his tone as calm and collected as his expression. “If this ‘mission’ or whatever it is is so important, then I guess I’ll just have to go with you guys.”
“What?!” everyone, save for Garnet, exclaimed in stunned unison at this sudden twist, their surprise only growing as the conman started to nonchalantly head towards the warp pad himself.
“You heard me,” Stan shrugged, hardly even phased by their shocked expressions as he addressed the twins in particular. “Its about time I go on one of these nutso Gem adventures with you kids. And considering what happened with that whole hand ship thing, I think I have a right to come along and make sure you two don’t get beat up by any more of those ‘Homeworld’ jerks.”
“Aw, yeah!” Amethyst exclaimed excitedly before any of the others could even react. “I’ve always wanted you to come on a mission with us, Stan! It’ll be just like a Revenge Trip, only with like, higher stakes, I guess. Still, it’s gonna be awesome!”
“Yeah, it will be!” Steven grinned, equally as enthused. “Finally, all seven of us, going on a mission together! I’ve dreamed of this day for so long now! We’re like one big, huge, super team!”
“We should call ourselves the ‘Crystal Pines’!” Mabel chimed in brightly.
“Whoa! We should!” Steven gasped, stars in his eyes. “We can make matching team tee-shirts and everything!”
“Please, no more tee shirts,” Dipper deadpanned, nodding over to the still plentiful pile of unfolded shirts still lying on the floor on the other side of the house.
“Now, hold on just a minute!” Pearl interjected hotly as the kids started to get carried away in their excitement. “Stan, you are not coming with us!”
“Oh, really?” the conman asked dryly.
“Really!” the white Gem reiterated harshly. “We’re going to track down a Homeworld Gem with intel and resources far beyond our own. This could be incredibly dangerous, and the last thing we need is for our attention to be divided because we have to keep an eye on you.”
“Keep an eye on me?” Stan repeated with a caustic scoff. “Oh, that’s rich. Maybe you don’t remember how I was the one who saved you three from that horde of zombies?”
“W-well… yes, but-”
“Or that you apparently had to be saved from those ‘dangerous Homeworld Gems’ by three kids?”
“Alright, b-but that wasn’t-”
“Seems to me like you three could use all the help you could get,” Stan concluded with an almost smug grin. “And luckily for you, I’m nice enough to offer that help, so you might as well take it.”
“Ugh, like we even need your-”
“You can come,” Garnet interupted Pearl’s bitter refusal, her expression alone showing that she was growing impatient with this ongoing debate.
“But, Garnet!” the white Gem protested amidst Steven, Mabel, and Amethyst’s shared excitement and Stan’s clear satisfaction.
“Hey, P, no butts except Stan’s up here on this warp pad!” the purple Gem quipped with a rowdy laugh.
“Yeah, you heard her,” Stan remarked triumphantly as he finally stepped onto the rather crowded warp pad. “Move over and make some room, Pearl.”
“I can’t believe this…” Pearl growled to herself, clearly quite displeased with this turn of events. Even so, she figured there was no use in arguing with it, seeing as how they had wasted enough precious time as it was. “Still, if we have to have one more along for this mission, I suppose its best to take the necessary precautions…” With a relenting sigh, her gemstone began to glow as she pulled a medium-length, thin, elegant rapier with a symmetrical, ornamental guard and a blueish tint to its glistening edge. “Dipper, here,” she said with a small smile as she handed this sword to her already amazed pupil, who was even more awestruck as she entrusted it to him out of nowhere. “That is the Ancient Sea Blade. I stole it off a Homeworld Gem during a fierce underwater battle back during the war. But I don’t have much use for it nowadays, and seeing as how this is your first real mission since you’ve been training under my tutelage, it only makes sense that you go in properly armed.”
“Whoa…” Dipper said in apt muted wonder as he held the stunning blade up for Steven and Mabel to get a better look at. “This thing is so cool! Thanks, Pearl! I promise I’ll be super careful with it.”
“I trust that you will,” Pearl nodded with warm approval.
“Oh, wow,” Stan spoke up as he sent the white Gem an unimpressed glance. “So you’re just gonna hand some deadly weapon off to my nephew while I’m standing right here? Real classy.”
“Is there a problem with that?” Pearl asked, crossing her arms and returning his scowl.
“No, not really,” the conman shrugged apathetically. “But would it have killed you to give the kid a sword that isn’t so, ya know, girly?”
“Girly?” Dipper frowned as he looked to the Ancient Sea Blade’s sleek, graceful structure again.
“I’ll have you know that sword is a steadfast, sturdy weapon that requires a skillful hand to wield and demands respect from all those in its path,” Pearl asserted to Stan pointedly. “Which, of course, is something that you would know nothing about.”
“Oh, I’ll show you ‘respect’,” Stan growled, rolling his sleeves up in preparation for a brawl, though Garnet was quick to put a stop to it.
“That’s enough,” the Gem leader said stanchly, holding her arms up to keep the white Gem and the conman apart. “We’ve already wasted enough time here. Let’s get going.”
And so, without any further arguments or deliberations, that’s exactly what they did.
The darkened, hollowed out walls of Kindergarten were just as lifeless and solemn as ever as the collective group arrived, their voices and footsteps being the only natural sounds for miles around as they began to search for Peridot. A search that initially seemed to be rather fruitless as there were no apparent signs of the green Gem, or anyone else for that matter, in sight.
“So, Stan, does this place still give ya the ‘heebie-jeebies’ just like it did when I brought you here all those years ago?” Amethyst asked with a goading grin as she elbowed him in the knee.
“Pfft, are you kidding me?” Stan scoffed, though he was still rather uneasy as he glanced around the desolate area. “This place never freaked me out. A-after all, I’ve seen plenty of dead, barren wastelands in my day.”
“Suuuure, you have,” the purple Gem quipped, rolling her eyes as she moved on ahead. “But just be sure to keep an eye out. Your never know when something’s gonna… jump out at you!” At this, she suddenly turned around, having shape shifted her face into a grotesque, monstrous appearance, one that was more than enough to elicit a startled gasp from the conman.
“Hey!” Stan shouted angrily, already chasing after the purple Gem as she broke down into heavy laughter. “Amethyst!”
“Ha! Try and catch me, ‘old man’!” Amethyst teased, vaulting over a rock as she hurried through the Kindergarten.
“Could you two please be quiet and try and take this seriously?!” Pearl fussed after both of them. “If Peridot hears either of you, she’ll be able to tell we’re coming from a mile away!” Of course, neither Stan nor Amethyst heeded the white Gem as they continued to have their noisy fun, much to the white Gem’s severe aggravation. “Oh, this is already a disaster…”
“Calm down, Pearl,” Garnet advised as she walked past, briefly placing a hand on her teammate’s shoulder. “Everything will work out, you’ll see.”
“Ugh, I hope so…” Pearl groaned as she trudged on ahead, wishing that this bothersome mission was already over.
At the same time, the kids hung a bit behind the adults, though they still followed them, at first anxiously as they remembered just how ominous the Kindergarten was. However, Steven and Mabel were quick to loosen up as they noticed Dipper practicing with the sword Pearl had given him, swinging it around experimentally to get a sense of how it handled. Mabel stifled a laugh as she watched her brother’s broad, almost over dramatic movements before she started mimicking his maneuvers with an imaginary sword of her own, complete with exaggerated facial expressions and all. Dipper only caught on as he overheard Steven’s amused chuckle at this, and as he paused and glanced over his shoulder, Mabel abruptly stopped and put on a front of unknowing innocence, one that wasn’t very convincing, all things considered.
“Didn’t you guys hear what Pearl just said?” he asked, rather exasperated. “We’re supposed to be taking this mission seriously.”
“Oh, we are taking it seriously!” Mabel protested with a wide smile. “In fact, its so serious, that I even brought this along!” She pulled her grappling hook out of her sweater, brandishing it proudly. “You’re not the only one around here with a fancy-smanzy weapon, bro-bro. If Peridot tries to mess with us, I’ll bop her with this!” To prover her point, she launched the hook out, only for gravity to quickly enough pull it back down to the ground, where it landed with a dull, unimpressive thud.
“…I… think we should just stick with letting my sword do all the fighting, if its all the same to you, Mabel,” Dipper remarked dryly, turning to catch up with the Gems.
“Well, either way, I still think we’re being pretty serious about all this,” Steven vouched confidently as he hurried over to the Gems as well. “Don’t you think so, Garnet?”
“Sure,” the Gem leader smirked, taking a moment to ruffle the young Gem’s hair playfully.
“Hm… Well, nothing looks activated…” Pearl noted, her gemstone reflecting light upon one of the broken-down injectors. “In fact, it doesn’t look like anything’s budged since the last time we were here…”
“You’re right,” Garnet said, hands on her hips as she looked around. “But just because Peridot hasn’t been here yet, it doesn’t mean she won’t come.”
“Hm,” Steven nodded in terse agreement, making his expression resolved to show just how serious he really was.
“Let’s do a thorough check of the perimeter,” the Gem leader continued authoritatively.
“Hm.”
“That way, we can monitor any further entry.”
“Hm, sounds good to me!” Steven chimed with a thumbs up, already heading off to do just that as the others began to split up.
“Oh! If we’re teaming up to go look for Peridot, then you and me should totally be Search Buddies, Dipper!” Mabel exclaimed with a daring grin. “That way, when we find her, I can deflect my grappling hook off your sword and we can knock her out clean before she tries any of her sneaky shenanigans!”
Upon hearing such a bizarre plan, the most Dipper could initially do was look to his sister with apt confusion, looking between the rather thin blade of his sword and her quite bulky grappling hook. “Mabel, do you understand how physics work? Like, at all?”
“Yo, if we’re choosing Search Buddies, I call Stan as mine!” Amethyst proclaimed with a wide grin, shapeshifting her legs to be long so she could be tall enough to steal the conman’s fez off his head to put it on her own.
“Yeah, you would,” Stan sardonically remarked, though he was still grinning in amusement as he reclaimed his hat.
“You two teaming up is a catastrophe just waiting to happen,” Pearl muttered, rolling her eyes at their joking manner in light of the serious situation.
As the others continued discussing their investigative arrangements, Steven had already wandered off on his own to look around the corner. The young Gem didn’t expect to see too much, but he kept an eye out for suspicious activity, even if he had no idea what he’d really do if he happened upon any. He couldn’t deny that he was rather worried, especially as he passed by another injector, about what Peridot might do if she was allowed to succeed in her unknown ambitions. After all, she had already been stranded on Earth for quite some time now, completely left to her own devices, whatever they might be. Chances were that she had likely made some kind of progress on her mysterious, likely harmful goals, and that she would only continue to do so if she wasn’t found and stopped soon. Steven only hoped that Garnet’s hunch that the green Gem was somewhere around the Kindergarten was right, otherwise the search for her could go on endlessly, all the way until she completed what she came to Earth to do. And while that was a thought that alarmed the young Gem quite a bit, fortunately, he wouldn’t have to wait that long, for as he continued to independently investigate the area, he happened to overhear the unmistakably familiar voice none other than Peridot herself.
“Log date: 6 5 2,” the green Gem began as she rose up along with a platform that had emerged from underground. Steven froze up in his spot only a few feet away, clearly within Peridot’s frame of view, though she didn’t seem to notice him at first as she continued her report while fiddling around her with finger-formed touchscreen. “This is Peridot, updating status. Still stuck on this miserable planet… The fusion experiments are developing properly. A few have even emerged early-” The green Gem suddenly cut herself off with a sharp gasp the moment her eyes drifted away from her screen and towards the equally startled young Gem standing right in front of her.
For a moment, neither of them said anything, both of them completely unsure of how to react to such an unexpected, awkward encounter. Though based on how still both of them were, it was clear that they saw each other as equal threats, based on what little they knew about each other thus far. Even so, Peridot was the first to speak up, albeit in an anxious whisper as her screen dissolved and she looked around nervously. “Are the… other ones with you?” Steven initially shook his head, though he was quick to recant this lie with an honest nod and awkward shrug. Peridot let out a frustrated groan, her disjointed fingers covering her face as she lamented her incredibly bad luck. “Of course… Why not?”
“Peridot!” The green Gem gasped in sharp fear as she heard Garnet’s firm shout from across the Kindergarten, her cover completely blown as the Gems and the Pines spotted her all at the same time.
“There she is!” Pearl exclaimed, her spear already in her hands.
“Let’s get her!” Amethyst grinned daringly, rushing forward with her whip at the ready as everyone else quickly followed.
Needless to say that with such a crowd on her case, Peridot didn’t hesitate to flee, rushing down the Kindergarten corridor with her pursuers hot on her trail. Oddly enough, the green Gem seemed to be running right for one of the high, impassible walls of the canyon, confusing the others a bit, though even so, they continued to chase her in the hopes of finally ending this ongoing game of cat and mouse.
“Give it up, Peridot!” Dipper shouted, his sword already at the ready to go after the green Gem who was largely responsible for the disasters of the past several weeks. “You have nowhere to run!”
“Yeah! We’ve got you cornered!” Mabel added, trying to get a good aim with her grappling hook. “I’ve always wanted to say that!”
“That’s what you think!” Peridot retorted, glancing back with a snide grin before she did something none of them had been expecting. Without even skipping a step, the green Gem began to run vertically straight up the Kindergarten wall, snickering triumphantly as she put distance between herself and her foes. “Try and catch me now, you filthy rebels!”
“So that’s this ‘big, scary Homeworld Gem’ you guys are so afraid of?” Stan asked the Gems rather caustically as they all stopped at the base of the wall as Peridot continued running up it. “Pfft, she just seems like a loudmouthed nerd to me.”
“She mostly is,” Amethyst shrugged with a scowl. “Her being able to run up walls is new though.”
“Aw, I can’t do that!” Steven pouted, wishing that he could pursue her somehow.
“Neither can she!” Pearl exclaimed, tossing her spear straight up towards the green Gem.
Peridot ducked out of the weapon’s path as it sailed straight over her, her smug smile returning as she glanced back down at the group below. “Ha! Missed!”
Her assumption was quickly proven wrong, however, as Pearl’s spear did strike something: an injector stuck in the wall near the top of the cliff. And given its already loosening grip on the canyon wall, the impact was enough to get the injector to not only detach, but come collapsing down right towards the green Gem. Peridot gasped as she noticed the massive machine start hurtling down towards her, which was why she had no choice but to turn on her heel and start bolting down the wall the opposite of how she had come up it.
“Oh! I got her! I got her!” Pearl notified the others, her arms held open wide to catch their foe when she inevitably fell.
“Please,” Stan scoffed as he pushed the white Gem aside. “At the rate she’s bookin’ it down that wall, she’d knock you down flat the minute she runs into you. I got her.”
“Then what makes you think, you’ll have any better of a chance?” Pearl countered crossly, pushing the conman right back. “Why don’t you just step aside and let those of us with actual experience handle this?”
“A lot of good that ‘experience’ is gonna do when Greenie up there pummels you into the ground and gets away!” Stan argued back, shoving Pearl once more. However, before the white Gem could shoot back an angry retort of her own, their fight was abruptly interupted as Garnet ran for them both, pushing the pair out of the way just as the falling injector struck Peridot first, before brutally crashing into the ground below.
“Both of you, pay attention!” Garnet ordered to Stan and Pearl, her gauntlets summoned as she let them up.
“Hmph, he started it,” Pearl scowled as she crossed her arms.
“Right back at ya, stretch,” Stan deadpanned just as sourly.
“Do you think Peridot’s hurt?” Steven asked, somewhat concerned as he took a step towards the downed injector as the dust from the crash settled.
“Hopefully,” Dipper remarked, his grip tightening on his sword as he held it aloft in case the green Gem suddenly emerged. And that’s actually exactly what she did.
Surprisingly, Peridot was seemingly uninjured as she pulled herself out of the wreckage with little more than an exasperated groan. The moment she spotted her foes surrounding her, however, she was quick to pull herself up and attempt escape yet again.
“Nope, guess she’s ok!” Amethyst quipped, already lashing her whip out. “But she won’t be for long!”
Before Peridot could get too far, the purple Gem’s whip happened to catch her, coiling around her torso and pinning one of her arms down to her side. Before the green Gem could even think about wriggling free, Dipper and Mabel were both already running for her, their respective weapons poised to attack, albeit in different ways.
Dipper brought his sword down first, the Ancient Sea Blade clashing squarely with the lower half of Peridot’s arm, which, oddly enough, seemed to solid, sturdy metal. Though he was initially confused by this, he was quick to go in for another attack, trying to work past her surprisingly steadfast block. This process repeated itself several times over, with neither of them making any real progress until Dipper struck Peridot’s arm once again and decided to keep his blade there, in the hopes that applying pressure would wear her down, though really, the only thing it seemed to do was frustrate her even more.
“Augh! You irritating clods don’t know when to quit!” the green Gem seethed, beyond irritated with her current desperate straits.
“Apparently, neither do you!” Dipper countered just as harshly, suddenly pulling his sword back so Mabel could come in with a surprise firing of her grappling hook. Unfortunately though, Peridot saw it coming just in time and her disjointed fingers easily managed to catch the hook, though not before it knocked her against the side of her head first.
“Ow!” she growled, tossing the hook aside hard as one of her fingers began to spark with a self-generated electrical current. “I’ve had just about enough of this uncalled-for interference for one day!” With this, Peridot pressed her electrified finger down on Amethyst’s whip, its charge spreading throughout the entire weapon to the point that the purple Gem was forced to relinquish her hold on it.
“Whoa! Hot whip! Hot whip!” she shouted, her hands flying away from her weapon as Peridot hurriedly released herself from it. The green Gem let out another small victorious snicker as she began to flee on foot, though she didn’t get far before running smack dab into Stan, who had wisely, and quickly put himself directly in her path.
“And where do you think you’re goin’, Greenie?” he asked caustically, glaring boredly at her as he crossed his arms.
“Oh great… another meddling human to deal with…” Peridot grumbled, backing up a bit as she calibrated one of her fingers into a laser. While somewhat caught off guard by this, Stan was prepared to deal with it; what he wasn’t prepared for, though, was the spear that was suddenly vaulting towards both him and the green Gem. The projectile missed Peridot completely, and fortunately, Stan was quick enough to duck out of its path, but at the expense of inadvertently letting the green Gem go free.
“Hey, Pearl!” Stan shouted crossly over at the white Gem as he quickly picked himself up off the ground. “What do think you’re doing, chucking spears at my head like it’s some kinda target?!”
“I was trying to hit Peridot!” Pearl protested, already running forward as Amethyst started to do the same. “And what do you think you’re doing just letting her get away!?”
“Uh, looks like we’re all kinda letting her get away now!” the purple Gem pointed out, nodding up to Peridot as she continued running on ahead.
“Go ahead, you Crystal Clods!” she shouted over her shoulder somewhat breathlessly. “Wreck this place! See if I care! I already got what I needed!”
“Get back here!” Pearl yelled after her, another spear summoned as she ran after the green Gem.
Peridot responded to this command by simply throwing her hand up, her fingers starting to spin rapidly until they had essentially become helicopter blades. As she began to lift up off the ground and out of the reach of her pursuers, her small smirk gradually turned into a maniacal laugh as she looked down upon her foes, who still seemed insistent on giving chase after her. “Ha! Face it! You simple lumps are no match for my superior technology and intellect! You’ll never catch up!”
“You wanna bet, you noisy, green, triangle-headed punk!” Stan shouted now thoroughly invested in this mission simply due to the rather large aggravation Peridot proved to be for all of them.
“I’m gonna bop her good!” Amethyst growled, leading the charge after her as the white Gem and the conman followed not too far behind.
“I’ll help!” Pearl fiercely agreed as they all rounded a corner in the Kindergarten to continue the chase. The kids were eager to follow after them, all wanting to put a stop to the green Gem’s ambitions as well, but before they could get too far, Garnet was quick to reel them back in.
“Wait,” she called calmly, still standing by the fallen injector.
“Wait? Wait for what?” Dipper asked impatiently. “Peridot’s getting away! We have to go after her!”
“Yeah, come on, Garnet!” Steven urged intently, starting to run ahead. “We gotta hurry!”
The Gem leader stopped her young ward once again, this time by holding him back by his shirt until he finally gave up and stopped trying to run. Seeing that Garnet was quite serious about this, the kids all decided to take pause to see exactly what was so important that chasing the green Gem down could wait for.
“If Peridot’s mission was to reactivate the Kindergarten, the injectors would be on. Look,” she nodded over to the closest injector, which was as still and silent as ever. “They’re not.”
“Oh?” Steven frowned, initially confused by this before he started to get the picture. “Oh!”
“So that means… she was trying to do something else?” Mabel guessed, even if she was still a little confused.
“Exactly,” Garnet nodded. “Let’s see what she was actually doing-” The Gem leader paused, easily lifting up the broken injector and tossing it aside to reveal the elevator shaft Peridot had initially emerged from. “Down here.”
“Ohhhhh…” all three kids mused in understanding unison, immediately realizing what a smart plan this was.
“But wait, what about Peridot?” Steven asked, glancing over his shoulder at the direction the others had taken off.
“Pearl, Amethyst, and Stan can handle her,” Garnet assured, adjusting her shades. “If they can manage to get along.”
“Well, then I think its safe to say they’re pretty much doomed then,” Dipper sarcastically remarked as they all began to follow Garnet into the dark depths below, none of them anywhere close to sure of what they might find down there.
At the same time, Stan, Pearl, and Amethyst, had hardly noticed that Garnet and the kids hadn’t joined them in chasing Peridot down as they were all adamantly intent on catching up to her. The green Gem simply continued laughing mockingly at their attempts from her high vantage point, easily dodging Pearl’s spears and Amethyst’s whip as she glided smoothly through the air. For the most part, they didn’t lose sight of her, that is, until she happened to fly behind one of the injectors resting on the cliff above, only for her to not appear on the other side of it seconds later like she should have.
“Aw, great!” Amethyst huffed in breathless disappointment as they all came to a stop. “She got away!”
“Oh, I’m sure she didn’t get too far,” Pearl assured with a wave of her hand. “After all, if her primary objective, whatever it is, is here in the Kindergarten, then chances are she’s not going to just leave it behind so soon. I’m sure that if we remain diligent, we’ll be able to find her, capture her, and put an end to her mission once and for all!”
“Well we would have caught her sooner if somebody had just let me nab her instead of just wildly hurling spears like a nutcase,” Stan remarked crossly, not even trying to hide his frustration with the white Gem as he glared her way.
“Well maybe we would have caught her even before that if somebody hadn’t tried to unnecessarily interfere with me catching her as she was running down the cliff!” Pearl countered just as bitterly.
“Oh, what, so you’re saying this is all my fault then?” Stan asked harshly, not noticing Amethyst’s look of growing concern as she looked between him and Pearl.
“Yes!” the white Gem exclaimed, appalled. “The only thing you’ve done since this mission began is make an absolute mess of things! In fact, why are you even here in the first place?! It’s not like you had to come along with us!”
“Hey, I already told you,” the conman reiterated with a persistent scowl. “I’m here to keep an eye on the kids, remember?”
“Oh, and what a wonderful job you’re doing of it too!” Pearl exclaimed with faux approval. “But do you happen to notice something? Oh, that’s right! They’re nowhere to be found!”
Stan was more than ready to shoot back a heated retort, but right before he could, Amethyst finally interjected, growing quite aggravated with their ongoing squabbling. “I’m sure the kids probably just hung back with Garnet,” she began, staunchly stepping in between the pair. “For now, we gotta get our heads back in the game! P-dot’s hiking it away from here, and all we’re doing is standing around here yelling at each other about it, which isn’t really gonna do anything to stop her, you know.”
“Well, Amethyst, how do you purpose we do to find her?” Pearl asked, hands on her hips.
“Uh, I dunno, actually come up with some kinda plan instead of biting each other’s heads off,” Amethyst said, passing a rather critical glance between the white Gem and the conman. She paused, however, upon noticing a rather large exit hole marring the nearby Kindergarten wall, as well as a plentiful pile of rocks resting on the cliff high above it. “And you know what? I think I might just have an idea…” She smirked wryly, though her confidence quickly turned to worry as soon as she remembered who she had to work with for this plan. “But uh, for this to work, you guys are gonna have to, um… get along? Just a little?”
“Get along? With her?” Stan scoffed haughtily at the idea. “C’mon, Amethyst, you know me better than that. I don’t work well with snooty airheads.”
“Well I don’t work well with miserly charlatans,” Pearl shot back, turning her nose up as she glared away.
“…You know what, I also don’t work well with people who use words that nobody knows the
“Well, could you guys at least try to work together?” Amethyst asked, nervously amidst the ongoing tension. “At least until we catch Peridot? Then you two can go right back to hating each other.”
Stan and Pearl were both still quite bitter as they exchanged distrustful, disdainful glances, neither of them too keen on having to cooperate for any period of time, however small. But as they both met Amethyst’s sincere, pleading pout, their shared resistance to her proposed teamwork-heavy plan fell apart almost instantly.
“Ugh, alright, fine,” Pearl begrudgingly agreed. “But only until we capture Peridot, and not a moment after that.”
“Yeah, and this doesn’t mean we gotta be all buddy-buddy about it either,” Stan remarked, arms still crossed as he sent the white Gem a cold scowl.
“Oh, believe me, I have no intentions of being anything of the sort.”
“Uh… well… that’s fine, I guess,” Amethyst frowned, still uncertain of whether or not her plan would go off without a hitch given these less than favorable circumstances. “But shouldn’t we at least all shake on it just to-”
“No!” Stan and Pearl were quick to reject this idea, both of them firmly believing that them agreeing to work together along was more than enough.
“Ugh,” the purple Gem groaned, running a hand through her messy hair as she tried to figure out how she was ever going to make this work out. “I can already tell this is gonna be a pain in my gem…”
With the elevator disabled, Garnet and the kids had no choice but to descend into the underground control room on foot. Its slanted walls and floors were just as dark and uninviting as they had been when they had first happened upon them weeks ago, and yet they still somehow carried a heavy air of mystery to them, even if the group now knew what rested at the end of the tunnel.
“So… what exactly do you think Peridot was even doing down here?” Dipper asked Garnet, hoping that the Gem leader’s future vision could at the very least give them a hint about what they were up against.
“It’s hard to say,” Garnet said, her manner as levelheaded as ever. “But no matter what she’s up to, if Homeworld sent her here to do it, then we need to put a stop to it.”
“Oh, that’s such a good point, Garnet!” Steven said with a bright grin. “You’re brains and brawn. The whole package!”
“Thank you,” Garnet smirked, accepting her young ward’s high five.
“It’s gotta be cause you’re a fusion, right?” Mabel asked with eager curiosity. “Cause fusions can do like, anything. Believe me, I know from experience!”
“So do I!” Steven chimed in proudly.
“Me too, I guess,” Dipper added with a small, bemused chuckle.
“Fusions can do a lot,” Garnet confirmed, still grinning. “But I have to keep some of my secrets.”
“Aw, please?” Steven pleaded. “We wanna know! Is the strong part of you Ruby and the wise part of you Sapphire?”
Garnet paused for a moment, pondering this question before delivering an expectantly enlightened answer. “It’s all of both. When two Gems combine, it creates something greater than the sum of their parts. For instance,” she glanced over at Steven and Mabel. “When you two fused into Maven, what do you think each of you brought to the fusion?”
“Oh! I know!” Mabel quipped first, raising her hand. “I brought my impeccable fashion sense, great social skills, and my award winning smile! Oh, and I also brought glitter, lots of glitter! We were basically covered with it the entire time we were fused, it was great.”
“Hm… Well… I guess I brought my positive attitude and all-around friendliness to Maven,” Steven said, blushing in embarrassment as he tried not to sound too immodest.
“True, but those things weren’t all that Maven was,” Garnet said, still pushing on ahead. “They were everything that you two were, and more. They were a symbol of your friendship, your bond, the perfect image of your relationship and what it means to each of you.”
“Relationship…” Mabel muttered to herself, her cheeks suddenly red as she stole a quick glance over at the impressed young Gem. “Wow…”
“Another good example would be Stepper,” Garnet continued, looking between Steven and Dipper this time. “What parts of you two went into making him who he was?”
“Oh, well, uh… Hm…” Steven paused thoughtfully for a moment. “I don’t… really know.”
“Yeah, me neither,” Dipper shook his head. “I guess its because Stepper was… pretty awkward his first time around.”
“But not after you found harmony between each other,” Garnet countered smoothly. “So after that…”
“Oh, wait a second!” Steven filled in as the Gem leader trailed off. “The way we tricked Peridot when we were fighting her robots! Dipper, that was definitely your brains at work there!”
“Huh, I guess you’re right,” Dipper noted with a small, growing smile. “And I gotta say, Steven, even if I wasn’t super ok with it at first, you were pretty determined to keep us together, which was something that totally carried over to when we fused that second time.”
“Oh yeah!” Steven exclaimed, excited by this revelation.
“Stepper did have both of those traits,” Garnet acknowledged. “And many more, including ones that neither of you were even aware of. His existence told the story of you two growing closer, and the moment you found the harmony between each other was the moment you finally came together.” The Gem leader paused, her smile growing a bit as she adjusted her shades. “In the same way, that’s what I am. The symbol of our—of Ruby and Sapphire’s relationship, their devotion to each other. I’m both of them, and so much more than them, all at the same time. That’s why I’m so great.”
“Wow…” all three of the kids mused in genuine amazement at everything the Gem leader had said as they finally reached the control room.
“So what’s it like to stay fused all the ti-” Steven cut his question off as he took in the ruinous sight before them. The control room was still just as damaged as it had been the first time they had all been there, with its central crystal busted in and all power cut off to it completely, leaving the place dark and still. The key difference, however, were the numerous pillars standing erect throughout the entire room, most of them about Garnet’s height and all composed of tightly compacted dirt. All of this combined to create an atmosphere that was deeply unsettling, in ways that none of the kids could really describe as they tentatively followed Garnet into it. “I don’t know how… but this place is even creepier than the last time we were here…” Steven mused, flinching as he heard his own voice echo back at him amidst the otherwise dense silence of the room.
“Yeah…” Mabel agreed with a fretful frown as she approached one of the pillars. “What’s the deal with all these tuby things?”
“Mabel, don’t touch those things! We don’t know what they’re for!” Dipper cautioned, his hand already resting on the hilt of the Ancient Sea Blade, just in case. “Y-you know, I’m suddenly really glad Pearl gave me this sword…”
“There’s clearly something different here this time,” Garnet spoke up, glancing around meticulously. “I don’t like it.”
“The power’s not on…” Steven noted as he looked back to the broken crystal. “What was Peridot doing down here?”
“W-what if she was just collecting dirt for some reason?” Mabel suggested anxiously, hoping that this was nothing too serious. “Not sure why anyone would do something like that, but maybe she just has a weird hobby?”
“It looks like she pulled these out of the Kindergarten walls,” Garnet mused, glancing up to notice that there were even pillars of dirt hanging from the ceiling above. “Something strange is-” The Gem leader cut herself off as she caught onto the soft sound of sudden rumbling coming from one of the pillars on the far side of the room. Stoic as ever, Garnet made her approach, summoning her gauntlets as a precaution in case anything dangerous were to emerge.
“Garnet?” Steven called over to her, curious, as Dipper and Mabel also glanced over in her direction. The kids exchanged a somewhat worried look after not receiving a response from the Gem leader, but even so, they all hurried over to her, making sure to keep their guard up all the while. Garnet still said nothing as she reached out to touch the dirt pillar, only for it to start shaking violently the moment she made contact with it. The kids shared a startled gasp at this, Steven and Mabel tucking behind Garnet’s legs for protection while Dipper quickly drew his sword, aiming it at the pillar with a tight, albeit somewhat shaky grip.
“Y-you don’t think something’s in there… do you, Garnet?” Mabel asked nervously as they all steadily backed away. The Gem leader still provided no answers, her manner suddenly tense as she kept her gauntleted hands in tight fists. The pillar’s shaking only seemed to be growing more rapid and aggressive by the second, and yet nothing seemed to emerge from it. Instead, something unknown happened to fall from the ceiling above, landing right behind the group and frightening them all more than enough to prompt them to spin around and see exactly what it was.
And what it was seemed to be a hand and a foot, both of different colors, awkwardly fused together as they wriggled around aimlessly. The kids were all completely awestruck and aptly disturbed as Garnet picked the small, bizarre creature up, but they only had a moment to examine it before several more, similar creatures began dropping down from the pillars on the ceiling. Hands mixed with feet, arms connected to legs, two arms connected by their joints, legs linked at the knee and still several other twisted combinations of disjointed, mutli-colored body parts began slinking across the floor in whatever limited way they could, all of them slowly but surely pulling themselves towards the alarmed group near the front of the room.
“O-ok! So I guess Peridot wasn’t just collecting dirt down here!” Mabel exclaimed fearfully, quickly pulling her grappling hook out of her sweater.
“What the heck are these things?!” Dipper asked, his eyes wide as he held his sword out in front of him defensively.
“And why are they—Ah!” Steven’s wondering was cut off as the creature Garnet was holding leapt out of her hand and onto his face. The young Gem gasped in terror as its hand grabbed at him, but fortunately, the Gem leader was quick to defeat it with a swift, decisive strike. The malformed creature dissipated much like a downed Gem monster would, and all that was left in its place were its jagged, crystalline remains.
“It looks like… two Gem shards… stuck together…” Steven noted with an anxious frown as Garnet held it up for them all to see. And sure enough, its appearance was quite telling of this: a pink and blue broken pieces of two different gemstones, somehow mashed together in an uneven, unnatural shape. Upon realizing exactly what this was, Garnet let out a disgusted gasp as she quickly tossed the clustered gem shards away from her, back towards the other writhing disembodied limbs still dragging their way towards the group.
“Gem shards? As in… broken Gems?” Mabel asked with growing horror towards the situation as a whole. “So these things are basically like Gem zombies… if they were stuck together…”
“Are you kidding?! These things aren’t anything like the zombies we’ve been up against before!” Dipper exclaimed hotly, not hesitating to bring his sword down on one of the creatures that managed to get a bit too close for comfort.
“Stop!” Garnet suddenly ordered, her voice oddly tight and tense as her expression conveyed just how unnerved she was. “D-don’t hurt them!”
“W-why not?” Steven asked waveringly, especially as he noticed that the usually unshakably courageous Gem leader was trembling in nothing less than absolute terror. “G-Garnet?”
Garnet didn’t get a chance to explain, but even if she had, she wouldn’t have been able to amidst her steadily rising panic. But all the same, the onslaught of smaller shard creatures was quickly forgotten as one of the larger dirt pillars let out a sickening crack, one that tore itself clean across as it began to grow wider and wider with each passing second.
“W-what was that?!” Steven exclaimed, him, Dipper, and Mabel all hanging close by Garnet, even if the Gem leader could hardly be considered a form of defense amidst her own deeply distraught state.
But even so, the young Gem’s question quickly got an answer as the pillar suddenly exploded, bright light pouring out of it. And at the center of this light was another cluster of Gem shards, their forms gradually starting to emerge as it rose higher and higher into the air before the stunned group. Soon enough, the light silhouettes of four distinct Gems appeared, merged together by their torsos in a mess of trapped limbs and shapes. They let out a unified, distraught, desperate scream as they tried to escape from their entangled form, only for them to glitch out, their different appearances being lost completely as they fused against their will. From there, the silhouette’s shape started to change, taking on the form of what first looked like a massive hand, before the “fingers” of that hand shifted into various arms and legs. As the light faded, it became clear that these multi-colored limbs were conjoined together, its long, hulking body wrapped in a ragged grey cloth as it landed on the ground with a powerful crash, rattling the entire room in the process.
And, without wasting even a second, this nightmarish amalgamation began crawling its way towards Garnet and the kids, who were all aptly horrified by this monstrous being. Though none of them were more petrified and transfixed than the Gem leader herself, who knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, exactly what, or rather who this clustered creature used to be.
“Ok, so here’s how its gonna go down,” Amethyst began with a sly grin as she outlined her plan to Stan and Pearl. “I’m going to track Peridot down and chase her back here. That’s when you guys make sure she runs into this hole,” she nodded over at the large hole in the wall behind them. “And then you pull those rocks up there down using this whip.” She held up the two handled, very long whip she had summoned and lassoed around the pile of rock on the cliff above. “And we’ll trap her inside. Pretty easy, huh? Are we all good on what we’re supposed to be doing?”
“Of course, we are, Amethyst,” Pearl confirmed with an exasperated huff.
“Yeah, we’re not stupid,” Stan remarked, pausing briefly before continuing with a smug smirk meant for Pearl. “Or at least I’m not.”
“Hey!”
“Ok, s-so we’re all ready, then!” Amethyst quickly interjected before another argument could break out between the pair. “I’ll be back in a few; you guys be ready to bring those rocks down on Peridot’s stupid triangle-shaped head. Oh, and try not to kill each other until I get back, k?”
“No promises…” Pearl muttered, exchanging a cross scowl with Stan as the purple Gem headed off to put their plan into action. For the first several minutes after Amethyst had left, the pair remained in a state of stilted silence, each of them holding onto their own respective ends on the whip and stubbornly refusing to make eye contact. However, this silence soon dissipated as Stan began to whistle in an attempt to alleviate his boredom with their uneventful station, something that was very quick to set the white Gem off.
“Could you please stop that infernal whistling?” Pearl asked with a very thin layer of politeness.
“Oh what, is it getting on your nerves?” Stan paused for a moment, glancing over at her with a knowing smirk.
“Yes,” the white Gem replied with a disapproving glower.
“Great!” the conman’s grin grew wider before he started whistling again, only much louder this time, much to the white Gem’s growing aggravation.
“You do realize that our plan is never going to work if Peridot hears you, right?” she asked pointedly. “If you wanted to be obnoxious and cause a ruckus, then you should have gone with Amethyst.”
“Yeah, I should have,” Stan remarked coldly. “At least then I wouldn’t have to hang out with a boring, stuck-up killjoy like you.”
“And what’s that supposed to mean?” Pearl relinquished her hold on her end of the whip as she placed her hands on her hips.
“It means you’re annoying,” Stan began, also letting go of the whip as he took a challenging step towards the white Gem. “And pushy and bossy, and controlling, and a nag, and a prude!”
“Well, you, Stan,” Pearl countered just as fiercely as they essentially stood only apace away from each other. “Are careless, callous, irrational, dishonest, inconsiderate, and selfish!”
Stan flinched at this, his eyes widening at such this all-too familiar accusation before his former fierce demeanor quickly returned. “Take that back,” he demanded with tranquil fury.
“No, I won’t,” the white Gem staunchly refused. “Because it’s true.”
“No, its not!” the conman shot back, hands clenched into tight fists at his sides.
“Yes, it is.”
“No, its not!”
“Yes, it is!”
“No, it’s-”
Stan instantly cut himself off upon hearing the sudden loud rumbling coming from above them, something that Pearl took notice of too as they both glanced up to see a sight that shocked them both. Somehow, the pile of boulders they were supposed to pull down to trap Peridot had budged, almost as if it had been pushed from above seeing as how the rocks were already starting to rain down towards them. A few of them already fell right before the startled pair, keeping them from effectively fleeing, but they shared a frightened gasp upon realizing that one of the larger rocks was plummeting down directly towards them.
“Look out!” Stan shouted, acting on instinct alone as he pushed Pearl and himself out of the way of the rock and into the exit hole. The pair barely had a moment to pick themselves up off the ground before the rest of the rocks finally fell, essentially trapping them both inside. And they had virtually no time at all to question how this cave in had even happened before a familiar, irritating snicker sounded out from the other side of the rock wall.
“Ha! You two must have thought that your little ‘plan’ to apprehend me was so smart and so foolproof,” Peridot began, leaning against the rocks with a smug smirk. “But I just so happened to overhear all of your futile deliberations, as well as your incessant arguing, which, of course, ended up being your complete and utter downfall! And once again, I’ve proved myself to be vastly more intelligent than you dull clumps by turning the tables on you and imprisoning you in the very same trap you had intended for me! It’s simply genius!”
“Yeah, yeah, you know what would be more genius, Greenie?” Stan asked, his tone deadpan as he tried to peek through one of the sparse gaps between the rocks. “Letting us outta here.”
“Please! Like I’d ever do that,” Peridot scoffed, rolling her eyes. “No, instead I think you’ll both stay right in there… trapped forever with no way out while I make my daring escape! Enjoy your new home, you clods!” The green Gem let out another triumphant laugh as she ran off, leaving the pair behind and stuck in the hole that, as she had said, they had no real way out of.
“Oh, this is just perfect!” Pearl growled as she tried prying the rocks aside with her spear, to no avail. “I have to admit that Amethyst’s plan to capture Peridot was actually quite promising, until you had to go and ruin it completely, Stan!”
“Oh yeah, go ahead and blame me,” Stan shot back, crossing his arms. “You know, the guy who literally just saved you from being crushed by a bunch of rocks. Heck, maybe the plan would have worked if I had actually thought twice about that.”
Pearl took pause at this, a spark of something akin to guilt striking her as she remembered that Stan had indeed saved her, as much as she was loathed to admit it. But she was quick to shake if off in favor of her former disgruntled anger. “Well, regardless of who’s fault it is, we’re still trapped in here all the same. Any ideas as to how we’re supposed to escape? Or should I just assume that the limits of your imagination only extend as far as creating new tawdry falsities to put on display at the Mystery Shack?”
“I dunno, why don’t we just have you yell at the rocks until they fall down?” Stan remarked sarcastically as he leaned against the cave wall. “You’re full of enough hot air that it would probably work pretty quickly.”
The white Gem couldn’t hold back a frustrated scowl upon hearing this, her cheeks lighting up blue in a flustered blush before her anger finally exploded. “See, Stan, that’s exactly your problem! You never take anything seriously! You think everything is just one big joke!”
“A joke, huh?” Stan retorted with a harsh scowl. “Shows how much you know, stretch. You’d be surprised at how many things I take very seriously.”
“Oh yeah? Like what?”
“Like-” the conman quickly cut himself off before he could even make mention of the one thing he had been heavy focused on for the past 30 years. So instead, he went in a different, far less incriminating direction. “Like taking care of Dipper and Mabel.”
“Oh, yes, of course!” Pearl exclaimed sardonically. “Taking care of the twins! Something you do so well that you just carelessly them run around as they please and get themselves into life-threatening situations on almost a daily basis! Clearly, their safety is your number one priority, right?”
“Hey, a little freedom never hurt anyone,” Stan said, still not retracting his stance. “Besides, it helps them learn lessons about life or whatever. Lessons that you refuse to learn, Pearl, seeing as how you’re about as stubborn as, well, a rock!”
“I am not a rock!” Pearl protested, appalled. “I am a Gem, thank you very much.”
“Yeesh, and so literal too,” Stan rolled his eyes, letting out an annoyed sigh as he paused for a moment, glancing down. “You know, Pearl, ever since I met you Gems, you’ve always been the one constantly on my case, even from the start. Heck, even Rose tried lightening up a bit near the end of her run. But you just keep fussing and nagging at me, even though I’ve never done anything to you. So what’s your excuse for hating me so much, huh?”
“Oh, please, Stan, don’t be ridiculous,” the white Gem crossed her arms. “I don’t hate you. I just—I… I’m not… w-well… well you’re just so… so frustrating! Like I said before, its like nothing is of any real importance to you, and the things that do matter to you, you just seem to brush aside to let them be on their own! Would it kill you to show just a little more concern and consideration every now and then?”
“Would it kill you to just loosen up and relax for a change?” Stan countered evenly. “Seriously, Pearl, you’re like, one of the biggest control freaks I’ve ever met, and believe me, I’ve known plenty. But you wanna know something crazy? You can’t control every little thing life throws at you. Sometimes you just gotta take things as they come, without throwing a massive tantrum every time something doesn’t go your way.”
“I-I know that!” Pearl protested defensively. “I just… w-well sometimes, I… Huh,” she paused, her expression softening in slight realization. “Y-you know… that’s… some surprisingly good advice, especially coming from you. Perhaps… perhaps I do sometimes get a little out of sorts when things go awry…”
“Oh, ya think?” the conman deadpanned, though he also began to drop his sour attitude upon recalling what the white Gem had said before. “But uh… maybe you do kinda have a point about me being sort of careless sometimes… I guess I could try to keep a better eye on the kids, and, well, everything else for that matter…”
“Wait a second…” Pearl said with a small, tentative smile. “Stan, did you just… admit that I was right?”
“Huh, yeah, I guess so,” Stan shrugged though he quickly tried to play it off. “But don’t take it too seriously, stretch. It’s probably just because of the lack of oxygen in here o-or something. But hey, looks like this is a two way street seeing as how you technically said I was right too, Pearl.”
“Oh! W-well… Well I, uh…” the white Gem stammered, trying to suppress an embarrassed blush. “Well, I suppose everyone has their moments every once in a great while, including you, Stan.”
The conman couldn’t help but let out a genuine laugh at this, one that Pearl gradually joined in on as the ongoing tension between the two of them slowly started to lift. True, the two of them had never really been on good terms in the past, but they were steadily starting to realize that perhaps there was no real reason for them to hold such longstanding disdain towards each other in the first place. Even if they didn’t necessarily agree with each other on every point, there was still grounds for compromise between them, grounds that they had finally started to reach in, ironically enough, one of their worst squabbles yet.
“Um… so… Stan?” Pearl began, still flustered as she averted the conman’s gaze, though spoke sincerely nonetheless. “I just… Well, I’m… I’m sorry. It wasn’t really your fault that we got trapped in here. And you did end up pushing me out of the way of those rocks so… thank you for that.”
“Yeah, well… I-I guess I’m sorry too,” Stan acknowledged somewhat awkwardly. “You know, I don’t like admitting it, but you’re not always an overbearing stick in the mud.”
“And you’re not always a swindling con artist,” Pearl said with an amicable smile that turned to a worried frown as she looked to the rocks behind them. “Now, how are we ever going to get out of here?”
“I guess we’ll just have to follow Amethyst’s advice and work together,” the conman remarked with a knowing smirk as he positioned himself against the rocks. “On the count of three, we’ll both push on these rocks as hard as we can.”
“Right,” Pearl nodded, already putting some of her weight against the stones in preparation. “Three.”
“Two,” Stan continued, making sure he had a steady footing.
“One!” they both exclaimed in unison, giving the rocks a hearty shove. Neither of them had expected the stones to go down on the first push, but somehow they did, resulting in both Stan and Pearl falling down along with them, started, but free all the same.  
“W-we did it!” the white Gem exclaimed with a laugh, exchanging a relieved smile with the conman.
“Uh, actually, I’m pretty sure I did it,” Amethyst pointed out as she stepped up to the pair, whip in hand and an amused grin on her face.
“Amethyst?” Stan frowned in confusion as him and Pearl picked themselves up to stand. “Wha—h-how did you—What’s going on?”
“Oh, not much,” the purple Gem shrugged, still grinning slyly. “Just savin’ you two dorks. I heard those rocks fall and I thought you guys had caught Peridot on your own, but then I overheard you guys yelling at each other in there, so that’s when I realized things kinda fell apart.”
“Wait… Amethyst, if you knew we were trapped in there, then why didn’t you try to save us sooner?” Pearl asked, her tone disapproving.
“Cause I figured a little… quality time would be just the thing to get you guys to finally get along, and it looks like I was right!” the purple Gem exclaimed with a pleased smile. “Guess all it took for you two to make nice with each other was to trap you in a cave for a while and force you guys to talk it out. Who would have thought?!”
“Are you kidding me?! Amethyst, we could have died in there!” Stan exclaimed harshly.
“Exactly!” Pearl huffed. “That was completely inadvisable! Not to mention the fact that Peridot got away again because of all this!”
“Yeah, maybe,” Amethyst shrugged, still far too elated over how the pair were finally on good terms to be brought down from it. In fact, she was so excited that she ended up catching them both off guard with a surprise group hug. “But we’ll get her next time for sure. Right, you guys?”
Neither Stan nor Pearl answered this at first as they exchanged an initially stilted glance, uncertain of whether or not they wanted to carry their newfound affability onward past the cave it had been found it. But as they glanced down at the clearly delighted purple Gem, they both found that her happiness was contagious enough for them to reciprocate her hug, deciding that they really didn’t have much of a reason to go back to the way things used to be. “Right,” they confirmed in determined unison, knowing that from here on out, things were going to start moving forward instead of remaining in bitter stagnation.
Despite the warm resolution going on above ground, down below in the control room, things were still in a state of absolute chaos. The massive amalgamation monster continued sulking towards the frightened group, its mess of entangled arms and legs continually inching its way towards them with unknown intent.
“G-Garnet?” Steven shakily tried to get the Gem leader’s attention, which was still completely fixed on the lumbering mutant. “Garnet, what do we do?!” Almost as soon as he had raised this question, the young Gem let out a startled cry as one of the smaller limb clusters jumped onto him from behind. Mabel rushed to pull it off of him, but as soon as she let it hit the ground, Dipper plunged his sword into it, poofing it easily.
“What are you doing?!” Mabel exclaimed, looking to her brother in disbelief. “Garnet told us not to hurt them!”
“Well if we don’t, then they’ll end up hurting us!” Dipper argued, his sword at the ready to take down another smaller limb creature slinking towards them.
“Garnet, w-we need your help!” Steven pleaded with the Gem leader in the midst of all this, only to turn around and realize the huge mutant had grabbed her. Its array of arms gripped her tightly by the arm, hip, and head, and as shocked as she was, she was unable to release herself from its tight hold, especially as it began pulling her towards it. “P-please! You gotta talk to us!��� the young Gem cried, only for Garnet to remain in terrified silence, her entire form trembling in speechless horror as her breaths came out in short, panicked gasps.
“W-watch out!” Mabel warned as another creature pounced for Steven. The young Gem reacted quickly, his shield forming over his arm to block its advance, though its disfigured hand continued pressing hard against it.
“I don’t understand!” Dipper exclaimed, slashing through yet another mutant as it clamored for the young Gem. “Steven, why do these things only seem to be going after you and Garnet?”
“I-I don’t know!” Steven shook his head, distraught as he glanced back at the Gem leader again. Garnet was still trapped in the larger monster’s hold as another one of its hands rushed for her face, roughly shoving her shades off and revealing all three of her huge, terror-filled eyes. As caught up in her frozen fear as she was, the Gem leader hardly noticed the kids trying their best to beat the still numerous smaller mutants away only for more of them to keep coming without any seeming end in sight. But even amidst this, Garnet suddenly spoke up, her usually strong, stoic voice completely shaken, almost broken even, as she finally explained exactly what these creatures were.
“T-these… these were Crystal Gems…” she choked, tears starting to stream down her cheeks as the mutant pressed its hand against her face. “S-shattered into pieces during the war… They were buried together… T-they were forced together… They were forced to fuse!”
Needless to say that upon learning the truth about these monsters, the kids were all aptly shocked, though they all immediately understood why Garnet was so petrified by them. As horrific and unimaginable as it was, these grotesque, twisted monsters were composed of the broken remains of her former comrades, Gems she had known, fought with, likely even befriended back during the war. They had been merged, against their will, together into these nightmarish fusions, if they could even be called that, with no way of breaking free and barely any sentience left to speak of as they acted on pure, mindless instinct alone. In all honesty, it was almost enough to send the kids into the tears that Garnet herself was already completely lost in.
“T-this… this is wrong…” Garnet’s voice was little more than a heartbroken whisper as she stared at the mess of conjoined gemstones positioned at the fusion monster’s core. Her voice wavered even more as she began speaking to the creature itself, her tears still falling hard and heavy as she offered them a weak apology that would never be enough to suffice for the amount of suffering they were likely going through. “I… I-I didn’t… None of us knew you were… t-that they would… None of y-you deserved… I… I’m sorry!”
The Gem leader let out a loud, agonized shout as her immense emotions finally started to overwhelm her, to the point that they quickly began to compromise her completely. With both of her halves in absolute despair and disarray, the white light of unfusion began to consume her, her form still shaking as the fusion monster continued to cling onto her tightly.
“Garnet!” all three of the kids gasped in shocked unison, especially as a large gaping hole began to spread through the Gem leader’s midsection, another sign of her all to quickly falling apart.
“No!” Steven cried, his shield still holding up as he shoved another mutant back, shuddering as the gap in the Gem leader’s form began to widen. “Garnet, you’re coming undone! T-this isn’t like you!”
“Y-yeah! You gotta keep it together!” Mabel pleaded just as anxiously as she took out a smaller creature with her grappling hook before Dipper covered her by stabbing through another one. “This is all really messed up, yeah, but remember what you told us! You’re way more than any of this! You’re Garnet!”
Upon hearing this, the Gem leader’s tightly shut eyes flew open, this distraught, yet truthful reminder filling both of her struggling halves with the motivation she so desperately needed. All at once, her manner suddenly shifted, her grief and fear turning to righteous fury, not towards the forceful amalgamation of her fallen allies, but of the ones who had done such a horrible thing to them in the first place. With a courageous shout, Garnet pressed her hands against the limbs restraining her, the gap in her form starting to close as she fought back with sheer, outraged ferocity. Though she was still engulfed by obscuring light, she pushed the mutant away from her with a powerful blow before rushing towards it, this time completely on the offense. As she pushed heavily against the creature, its four abnormal, oversized eyes appeared around its clustered gem, all of them staring at her almost pleadingly, as if they were silently begging for her to release them. And that’s exactly what she did. The unfusing glow disappeared from her, her halves still united as she literally ripped the forced fusion apart, its monstrous form poofing away in a momentous explosion of smoke. Garnet quickly bubbled its remaining gemstone mere seconds after it hit the floor, her manner still tense and rigid and silent, even as the kids breathed a shared sigh of relief behind her.
“So… is it bad that all of this somehow wasn’t the most disturbing thing we’ve seen this summer?” Dipper asked rather stiffly, his sword still drawn just in case any more mutants showed up. “Because even if its not, its… pretty up there on the list…”
“But we did it!” Steven exclaimed with a newfound allayed smile. “We beat them back!”
“And its all thanks to you, Garnet!” Mabel chimed in, brightly at first, though all of the kids’ smiles faded as they looked to the silent Gem leader with concern, especially as she kept her back turned to them. “Garnet?”
“So this is what Homeworld thinks of fusion…” Garnet suddenly growled to herself, an edge of ferocity that could only belong to Ruby in her tone as she glared down at the bubbled gem resting over her palm. “W-we couldn’t have known they would do this…” she seemed to reply to herself, her voice softer, sadder, much more like Sapphire’s, before she exploded into anger again. “This is where they’ve been. All the ones we couldn’t find. They’ve been here the whole time! And Homeworld’s been doing… this to them! Rose couldn’t have known… We couldn’t have known… This is punishment for the rebellion! We could have stopped this! We could have saved them! It’s not our fault!”
“Garnet!” Steven fearfully exclaimed upon hearing the Gem leader let out a distraught sob. All three of the kids were still quite unsettled to see Garnet in such a rarely vulnerable, shaken form, but she was quick to start regaining her composure as she sent the bubbled clustered gem away, turning to the trio behind her with a soft, strained expression.
“K-kids…” she began, all three of her eyes looking down to them with unspoken apologies for her moment of weakness. It was clear that there was much she wanted to say to them, but she didn’t get the chance as the tense moment was abruptly interupted, though fortunately, not by fusion mutants this time.
“Yo!” Amethyst called as her, Pearl, and Stan slid down into the control room. “We’re back!”
“Garnet, we lost Peridot,” Pearl reported regretfully. “We had a plan to catch her but it…”
“It fell through,” Stan finished, smirking in slight amusement as he crossed his arms. “Literally!”
“Whoa!” the purple Gem gasped upon noticing one of the lingering fusion mutants crawling up onto her. “Check out those freaky things!”
“W-what are they?” Pearl asked, unnerved as she picked the pair of conjoined hands up.
“I’ll tell ya what they could be,” Stan remarked, grabbing another stray mutant with an intrigued grin. “The Mystery Shack’s newest headlining attraction! People would eat these creepy little suckers right up!”
“Put them down!” Garnet suddenly ordered, her tone incredibly harsh as her shades returned. Stan and Pearl were quick to do so, alarmed by her fierce manner just as much as the kids were, even if they understood where it came from. “We need to poof and bubble all of them,” the Gem leader commanded coldly, raising her fist over the mutant Pearl had dropped before bringing it down in a heavy, brutal swing. “We can’t let any escape.”
Though the horrific disaster in the Kindergarten was over, it was safe to say that the kids were still somewhat shaken by everything they had seen in that control room. It was for that reason that they had unanimously decided to regroup the next day, for both the sake of helping Steven with his last bit of laundry, as well as to discuss and debrief from it all.
“So… what do you think Peridot wanted to do with all those fusion monsters from yesterday?” Mabel asked the boys with a fretful frown as they headed for the warp pad.
“Isn’t it obvious?” Dipper retorted with resurgent disdain for the green Gem. “She probably wants to use them as weapons or something and sick them on all of us. Seeing as how she’s already tried to kill us with robots and a spaceship, it really wouldn’t be that surprising if she was trying to do it with reanimated Gem mutants.”
“I don’t know… those Gems… they didn’t really seem to know what they were doing…” Steven noted solemnly as they congregated onto the warp pad to go up to one of the temple statue’s hands. “If anything, they all seemed to be really… scared. And… like Garnet said, they used to be Crystal Gems! So I don’t think they’d want to attack us on purpose…”
“Uh, speaking of Garnet, how’s she doing?” Mabel asked with concern as they warped up to the hand, where the washer and dryer awaited.
“Oh, well, she’s-” Steven cut himself off as they arrived, only to find the Gem leader herself casually leaning against the statue’s thumb. “Right here, apparently.”
“Oh, hi, Garnet,” Mabel greeted with a small smile. “How’s it going?”
“Still damp,” Garnet replied, nodding over to the washing machine.
“Oh, right, the clothes,” Steven said, heading over to take care of his laundry. “I guess that makes sense. There are towels in there.”
“Wait a second, how does the washer and dryer work all the way up here?” Dipper asked, rather confused. “Is there like, some kind of special plumbing system or does something else make them run?”
“It’s magic,” Garnet said with a flashy wave of her hand and a small, joking smile. The kids shared a warm laugh over this, but it quickly died out as the Gem leader looked away, her arms crossed and her expression unreadable.
“Um… a-are you… alright?” Steven asked worriedly, remembering just how distraught and panicked his guardian had been the previous day, traits that she was certainly not known for.
“…I wish you three hadn’t seen that…” Garnet answered, her tone steady, but still layered with hints of remorse.
“Oh, its ok,” the young Gem assured gently.
“Yeah, I mean, we were all kind of freaking out down there,” Dipper said with a small shrug. “And given what we were up against, I think we had every reason to be.”
“It’s not ok,” the Gem leader countered, shaking her head.
“…W-why not?” Mabel asked, rather tentatively.
“What Homeworld did,” Garnet began, her expression darkening as she looked down. “Taking the shards and parts of fallen Gems and combining them. Those Gems weren’t asked permission to be fused together like that. Fusion is a choice; those Gems weren’t given a choice. It isn’t right. It isn’t fusion!”
The kids all went silent upon hearing the Gem leader’s resurgent anger over the matter, all of them realizing exactly why she had every reason to be angry. After all, she was a fusion herself; the concept was deeply important to her, it was everything she was. And to see it be tarnished and distorted in such a twisted way no doubt filled her with a kind of fury she couldn’t fully begin to describe.
But even so, as the dryer beeped, Steven glanced up to his guardian again, still rather worried for her in light of everything that had happened. “W-what’s it like?” he asked, both curious and anxious. “Being a fusion?”
Garnet glanced over to the kids at this, her expression once again stoic as she offered a terse response. “You all have fused.”
“I mean, like, all the time,” the young Gem clarified. “Do you forget who you used to be when you’re together?”
The Gem leader finally smiled at this, glancing down at the gemstones on her palms. “You forget you were ever alone. You all know, that when you fuse, you don’t feel like two people. You feel like one being. And your old names might as well be names for your right arm, and your left.”
“So… when you split up, is it like you disappear?” Mabel asked, remembering fearing the exact same thing happening with Maven not too long ago.
“I embody my—I mean, Ruby and Sapphire’s love,” Garnet assured. “I’ll always exist in them, even if they split apart. But the strength of that love keeps me together, so I can stay Garnet for a very long time.”
“That’s why you’re so great,” Steven finished with a bright, warm smile.
The Gem leader let out a small chuckle at this, one that the kids all joined in on. Regardless of the horrors they had witnessed in the Kindergarten the previous day, one thing was still clear: Garnet was still there, still keeping it together, still existing as the ultimate proclamation of Ruby and Sapphire’s love for one another. And try as they might to pervert the image of fusion through mutant monsters and forced amalgamations, that was something that Homeworld would never be able to destroy.
This warm moment continued until a gust of wind passed by, blowing a blue and white sock out Steven’s laundry basket. The young Gem gasped as the sock was carried by the abrupt breeze, nearly off of the statue’s hand entirely until Garnet managed to catch it at the very last second. “Don’t wanna break up a pair,” she smiled, handing the sock back to her young ward.
“Yeah,” Steven grinned, folding the blue sock back together with its matching pink counterpart, together, just as they were supposed to be. “They belong together.”
Next:
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carey-pricemas · 7 years
Text
Moving Part Two- Leon Draisaitl (by anon)
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Ok so I’m really sorry!!! I lost track of time by doing homework!!! But here’s part two!!! And I might finally get something finished tonight! (I really hate not being in a routine!) But anyway enjoy!!! Imma go finish homework then try and write!!!
Warning: None!
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“What’s pretty girl like you doing alone at bar?” asked a voice colored with alcohol.
You were sure you had already heard it somewhere before. You turn your head, actually curious as to who decided to disturb you at your lonely spot.
“William?!” you screamed from surprise, almost falling from the chair.
“I wouldn’t expect you here…” he murmurs. You were kinda amazed he remembers you as you met him a long time ago and he was more focused on Leon than you.
“Oh you don’t know? I moved to Toronto. I got a job here and there wasn’t much holding me in Edmonton so here I am. Ready to conquer!” While you were talking, Willy takes a seat next to you, laughing at your excitement. You weren’t even sure where it was from. Suddenly everything was so easy.
“You should have told me! I would have shown you around the city! And wait, you don’t know anyone here right? Well I’m here with some of my teammates… Time to get to know some people!” And before you can protest, Willy is dragging you to the other side of the club, but it’s actually fine. You need new people, a new start, and someone other to think about…
The music is once again too loud, lights flashing too quickly. You wondered how many pointless nights you wasted at places like this. Instead you could enjoy a cup of tea or a late night walk, but by that time it’s already gone. It’s fascinating how much you sacrificed for someone who probably didn’t even noticed.
“Hey you alright there?”
“Just- kinda nervous,” you quickly answered with small lie, hoping William was not gonna dig deeper.
“You managed to tame Leon, girl! You have nothing to worry about, they are gonna love you.” Oh if he only knows. It’s good he doesn’t though, as you left that in Edmonton, and were not planning on coming back for it.
Then you came to table full of guys all flashing you smiles, but none can oppose brightness of Leon’s.
Fucking hockey guys…
•~•~•~•~•~•
Loud noise is echoing through your apartment and you pray to all the gods that it’s not Leon calling you in the middle of night. However faith is not merciful. So you just answer the damn phone, too tired to care.
“I’m so glad you’re awake,” he breathes, voice full of liquor. You can barely hear him over the loud music.
“Leon I haven’t heard from you since my last night in Edmonton. Seriously go fuck yourself,” you spit into phone, wanting nothing else but getting him out of your system.
“Please lis-” he sounds desperate and if you were still in Edmonton, you would already be on your way.
But you’re in Toronto. The boys invited you to their game tomorrow and you were going on a date, so there’s no point in that anymore. Leon will get it sooner or later. He cares only because you’re gone now anyways. It’s just matter of time before he perplexes the head of another girl, forgetting all about you.
And maybe that still hurts a bit.
“Bye Leon,” you whisper softly before hanging up.
•~•~•~•~•~•
“Mo! Mo! Hold on! You aren’t listening me!” you are screaming through laughter. You tripped over your own feet, but instead of landing on ice, there’s something firm and warm.
“So you can’t skate?” he asked with grin pulling at his lips, trying hold in laughter.
“Never had a chance to learn,” you answered, not looking at him, too ashamed.
“Really? The guys from Edmonton never made the time? Well we gotta fix that.” You doubt they even know you can’t skate. Except they all know. You once asked Leon to teach you but he never made time.
Before you have time to regret most of your decisions, you were dragged to the other side of the ice.
And for a moment you forgot about everything.
“Hey you two! Smile for me!” Willy screams, taking a couple of photos of you.
“What are you going to do with them?” you scream back on him.
“Oh you’ll see.” He grinned at you before skating even farther from you. You stop leaning back on Morgan and start to slowly skate to Willy. You didn’t have illusions about catching him but you can at least try. Even though your version of trying was mostly about not letting your legs part too far away from each other. You really don’t wanna fall.
It was no surprise Willy give up after some time skating closer to you but never so close for you to catch him.
“If you skate from one end of ice to another without falling, I’ll tell you to who I sent it to,” he teased. You thought about his offer for bit. He didn’t gave you time limit and you were really curious. So why not? You can try.
“Okay but you gotta take me to the start,” you smiled at him and to your surprise, he dragged you across the ice and somehow managed to stop you at line behind net, without falling. Others notice something is up and skate closer to you, giving you some space.
“Ready! Steady! Go!” Willy yelled and you hustle with one of your legs moving a bit.
No stress. You don’t have to rush. Stay calm. Hustle one leg and let physics do it for you, and then the other. Oh wait! Your legs are falling apart, crap! Close ‘em! You don’t wanna fall! That’s better. Why is everyone standing and watching you. Is that a phone in Willy’s hands? Hell, now you definitely can’t fall. Stupid legs at it again. And those idiots can shoot at the same time. Crazy, they’re all crazy!
You eventually gain speed and get across the ice, just for you to discover that you don’t know how to stop and crash into the glass, landing straight on the ice.
You just laughed for solid five minutes on your back. Poor attempts of boys trying to get you back on your skates didn’t help much as they were laughing as well.
“I sent it to Leon,” Willy suddenly tells you when you were taking off the skates.
And world lost sense once again.
You’d rather not check your phone for some time…
•~•~•~•~•
Last rays of sunshine in the sky, clouds can’t even stop them. The whole city blooms from them, reflecting and twisting them but they still glow and amaze.
You were sitting at your window, warm tea in your hands, admiring the beauty of the city which slowly sinks into night. Shadows were growing and your tea was getting colder and colder. However, even with the last ray of sunshine, light didn’t disappear and people didn’t stop living their lives. They still have somewhere to go, somewhere to be.
And this time when you hear ringing, you didn’t decline.
“You always wanted me to teach you skate,” a soft voice echoes from phone. This time he’s sober.
“And you never made time. I can’t wait for forever,” you answer, also in hushed tone.
“You shouldn’t…,” he said even lower than before. Heavy silence surrounded you. Not even your breathing can break it.
“Leon? Are you there?” you ask when the silence was taking too long.
“Yeah… we- we must make it to the playoffs and then we’re gonna play in Toronto… And- and we’re gonna have a talk about all of this.”
“Or maybe I get a business trip to Edmonton… Let’s say next month. You make time and we talk.”
“W-what?”
“I’ll call you when I make it into Edmonton. Bye Leon.” Without waiting for his answer you hang up.
And maybe your breathing didn’t hitch this time.
•~•~•~•~•~•
First thing you did when you saw him was hug him. Surprising not only him, but you as well. Then you both sit, looking at each other, nobody brave enough to speak first.
“I’m stupid,” Leon finally breathes out.
“We both are,” you reply quickly not wanting him to blame it all on himself.
“If only I made up my mind sooner… We lost so much time and now… You’re in Toronto.” You link your hand with his, drawing small circles on his palm, trying to calm him.
And then it hit you.
“We are both miserable. And our friendship? Hell. We never worked. We just weren’t mean to be together… I guess. We would probably kill each other. Heh. Just imagine it.”
“Yeah… but we could at least try.”
“That chance was there two years ago. Now I’m in Toronto. It’s too late.”
“Yeah… We both are kinda busy.”
And sadness in his eyes breaks you a little bit.
“Leon look at me,” you said softly taking your other hand and lifting up his head, staring right into his soul.
“We can’t date. Not only because of our current locations but also because as I said, we would destroy each other. We both know that, we both managed to do that already. However we can make right at least our friendship. We never were good friends but that can change now. Please, please be my friend?” You look at him. Hoping that he wasn’t gonna reject you.
“We can try to make this right at least.” His voice was strong once again and smile broke on your lips, matching his.
And you laugh a lot that night.
And you wore his jersey when you watched him play.
And maybe it wasn’t perfect but for the first time, everything was alright.
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So we don’t get the happily ever after but I really enjoy that there was like an ending at least! So let me know what you thought and give it up for our anon! English is not their first language but they managed to give us two parts! Up next: I’m going to finish this Nate Schmidt one even if it kills me!
Fun Fact: Our anon didn’t know the word hustle existed until writing this but it’s now their favorite word! XD
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lawnpartycharades · 6 years
Text
her dress was white
Boy was it warm, even for June. The barber chair looked real leather but you could tell it wasn’t. The black top was stinking and I had to keep shuffling around to stop my legs from sticking. I still don’t know why you’d want a warm wedding. You’d be a sweaty mess before it’s even begun and it sure ain’t much fun if you’re just sitting there watching, unless you’ve got a cold one but even then.
I read that it was going to shower later, but I wasn’t so sure. Normal the clouds hang a bit lower, like when you throw a sheet up and it’s floating above the bed and then starts to fall down. You know it’s going to fall like there’s some kind of invisible string pulling it down in just the right place. But these clouds were high and still pretty spread apart. I hope for her it doesn’t rain. She’d hate it, all that mud.
'How'd you want it?'
'Huh?’
‘The mop, how’d you want it?’
‘Oh just do what you can do. Make it tidy and clean. Yeah, clean it up.'
'Looks like it's been a while.'
'Yeah, life gets busy well, you know. But today's the day.'
'Something special?'
‘Daughter’s wedding. Important to look nice, and proper, like things are on track, you know.'
‘Got your speech ready? Father of the bride.’
Some father.
I still remember the last time we spoke. It was early afternoon one Saturday in March. It'd rained all morning and the pavement was swollen with grey, murky water. I'd been to see Frank because the game was on and he'd just got outta hospital. The Tigers lost by three, which really blew as I had twenty on, and Frank was telling me all about this nurse he'd had. Her name was Wilma or something and she'd worn sheer stockings which you could almost see through when the sun shone on them just right.
Frank kept me pretty busy by telling stories and I'd had a fair bit when I thought I'd go see you. I remember when you turned twelve and I bought you these poems and one was this poem by Yeats talking about love and what it means to lose it. I’d read it damn near twenty times in the shop and could say every word over but you hated that I’d done that. That I couldn’t be a normal dad and just get you some new sneakers that everyone was wearing. I’d been drinking heavy and I kept reciting it. I couldn’t get why you didn’t like it, why you couldn’t see the beauty in it all. You threw it back at me stormed out crying and I just sat there saying it over and over, looking out the stupid stained window and the rain and wind.
That day the rain had just slowed and the sun was beating down, making the fumes from all the puddles gas up and stink out the place. You never really want to be around town just after it's rained, when all the dirt and muck's been thrown around and squashed up in some hole in the pavement or running down around some broken bottle. The thing I like is the rainbows that you sometimes see when a bit of oil’s mixed up with the rain. You get to see all these colours, bright and real and like nothing you’ve seen before. Some kids were out kicking and fired one right across my eye. I gave it a boot but missed and landed square up in the mud. I almost broke my leg too and was covered all over. The youngest wouldn't stop laughing but then saw my face and asked if I was alright. I couldn’t but smile, he was OK.  
There was hardly any names on your front door and any that were there were written in ink that'd been smudged and smoked by the sun. I always think if you're going to mark it, make sure you do it proper with gold letters or something. Otherwise you just make yourself look shabby. I don't remember how many buttons I pushed but I just hit them until you answered. I said happy birthday and you said I was off by a week. You let me up and I stood on your new clean carpet, me and my boots and all my mud and I said sorry I look so old. It's weird how new things always smell like something you're not supposed to smell but you want to anyway. I think it was the glue they'd used to stick the carpet down. I gave you a hug and you said it was only two and I already stunk. Why couldn't I give it a miss for once. Then you saw the muck and the mud and I guess that was it. I don't blame you, really. I'd do the same now, too. Hard to think that was ten years ago, if I'd have it again I'd clean up first.
‘Not yet. Well it’s not like I’ve got anything written down or nothing but I’ve got ideas. Plenty I need to say.’
'What about the bloke, good guy? Big deal marriage. I've been through it twice and still wake up some days scratching.'
I hate it when they do that. Asking all those questions. Might not mean much to him but you gotta spend all this time thinking about what to say when you’d rather just relax. I like quiet. That's why I don't go out much, unless I’m going somewhere where I already know the crowd. With the right kind, you could spend ten years and say less than I've said already. Chloe was a bit the same. I remember she had this friend when she was a kid, a red head called Amy. Always had her hair in pigtails like her mum had spent all morning fussing. She’d ask questions about everything: why’d we live apart, why’d we catch the bus instead of driving, why’d we not have the latest doll or movie or whatever when practically everyone has it. Boy it used to make me laugh, seeing Chloe sit there, roll her eyes and tell her something, anything just to get her off her back. Funny thing is, with those kind of people, they’re hardly ever listening. It’s like they can’t just sit there and enjoy things without making some kind of noise.
'I hope so but don't know the guy, really. I hear he's called Luis. Some name, sounds kinda French like. Imagine that.’
The clock on the wall buzzed. It must be noon now and I still had to try find the place. I eyed a couple across the street. They were just lounging in the bus shelter and he must’ve said something good because she was laughing and heaving up and down and rubbing her eyes. It’s good to make someone laugh but I’m too nervous. I mean maybe if I’ve got a bit of shine on and I’m telling some story to Frank but that’s different. I don’t know how I’ll go in front of that crowd of faces. Boy it’ll be some shock when they see me.
The announcement sat there on an oak easel all shined and polished. Boy it was nice. The card was off white, like the colour you see on napkins in city restaurants when the candles are all soft and yellow and warm, and the letters were perfectly curled at the edges and painted in the best gold you’ve ever seen. ‘Welcome to our new beginning, Chloe and Luis Murphy’. That really got me. She’d made him take her name. Boy, that wasn’t a surprise. I remember when she was just a kid and the neighbour’s boy, Sammy, wouldn’t let her play keeper. That caused a real fuss. She’s just as good as any kid and she’d bloody well prove it. Boy was I proud. I’d have to spend every evening firing quick ones and high ones and trick shots at her, even though her gloves were just these oven mits she’d found and covered up with tape. She wouldn’t let me catch a breath. That’s what I loved about her; she was always true to whatever ran through her head and she thought was right.
I don’t know how long I’d stood there, just thinking. It was starting to get dark and two lights on the pavement flicked on and scared shadows up and down the walls. Silver clouds hung up and above tall buildings that scattered around the hall. The rain had stayed away, just like I thought it would. Imagine what could’ve happened if I’d been in charge of the news. I swear these days they just tell you it’s raining, so’s you feel good when all of a sudden the sun’s out.
I checked my jacket pocket. The page I’d torn hung warm against my chest and hurried up and down with short breaths. I grabbed the cold bottle and chucked one down. I felt warm and good and for a second I forgot that I was still glued outside in the dark, away from all the lights and clinking glasses and happiness. Someone must’ve speaking because every now and then I could hear faint cheers and laughter. I couldn’t make it out but it didn’t matter anyway. I wasn’t here for them.
I held my breath and stepped into the champagne light. A tall lady with a bright white shirt all buttoned up and a nice smile offered me a drink. I don’t remember if I took it. The room was small but busy with excitement. Men dressed in sharp suits with ties and handkerchiefs sat beside pretty girls dressed in red and green and the brightest blues. Two kids all dignified and serious crawled around drooping tablecloths and pointed shoes. And then I saw her, on a long table at the front, with proud, happy eyes and dressed all in white like cotton candy clouds. And I stood nervous, clutching my tightening chest as the laughter and noise started to quiet.
‘Dad, what … What are you doing here?’    
I remember reading this thing in a paper once. It was talking about stress and this guy asked if you’d ever been in a crowded train station, with all the people pushing to get through the gates, and the announcements and beeps and shouts and whistles, and you’re stuck there in the middle and maybe you’re tired and all you want to do is just sit down on the cold pavement around the noise and chaos and close your eyes. He said imagine you’re the bird that’s snuck through and is floating above it all. You see all the people coming and going and you see that all those individual stresses don’t matter. They’re all part of this kind of working order and all of a sudden it’s like a weight being lifted, like you can see that you’re in this big world and no matter what happens the pieces will fit together in the end. When I heard you speak, I thought about that bird. I wondered what’d it be like up there above all the murmuring and the disapproval, the shouts and the confusion. Maybe it’d just look down on it all and see we were just two people who’d forgot how to speak.
I don’t really remember what happened next. Somewhere between it all, I found myself clutching my bottle and the scrap of paper and I felt myself speaking and short of breath and my chest moving up and down. And
‘… one man loved the pilgrim soul in you
And loved the sorrows of your changing face’
I remember then my eyes watered and everything became blurry and far away and the bottle in my hand became warm and the stuff burned my throat and that
‘And bending down beside the glowing bars,
Murmur, a little sadly, how Love fled’
I shouted and jumped as they came for me, pulling at my shoulders and arms and telling me to stop causing a scene like I was just some stupid kid. And my tears filled like when you stick your head against the glass and see the rain rush down and collect in little pools and you looked back at me with my tired eyes, and you saw my jaw tremble and the lump in my throat grow and my back ache
‘And paced upon the mountains overhead
And hid his face amid a crowd of stars’
And then you smiled.                                        
And maybe it didn’t happen like that and maybe I just froze there with all the people watching, and maybe you told me to go that you couldn’t forgive me and that bursting in all drunk is just the reason you needed me gone, and maybe the drink slurred my speech, and maybe they all laughed at my old shoes and the whisky splash on my collar. But I like my version so, I guess, that’s that. And every time I’m out walking, after the rain, and the sun’s out, and the birds are darting out and about and flying right up into the clouds and the sky, I think of you. And I remember that smile.
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