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leviiattacks · 3 years

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Boxer Levi & Coach Reader

author note :: i lost the ask for this, but this is not good at all. quite literally the worst thing i have ever written /srs anyways,,,,, anon said they wanted me to post it no matter what so i hope you do enjoy whatever this is,,, the pacing is non-existent and it has not been edited 👍🏼

requests are always open :-) i promise i am usually better than this,, anyway i may just use this as a rough outline for a fic 🤔

word count :: 5.4k....... yeah......

you and levi become acquainted with each other in university. it’s all very cliche if you do say so yourself. he steps in playing the role of good samaritan heroically saving your wallet and wordlessly he hands it to you even after running for the thief. the man doesn’t do as much as pant in exhaustion.

his stamina is…never mind that, his reflexes are out of this world

he expects a thank you because anyone else would expect at least a token of gratitude shown via words but the sentence you want to ask only ends up trapping itself in your throat

it comes to the point where he nods understanding maybe you have a sore throat or just don’t want to thank him at all

eyes flicking to his hands you immediately lunge forward taking your chance.

almost immediately you feel regret for holding onto the wrist of a complete and utter stranger without permission

“your stamina it’s great!” the man turns to you, he isn’t smiling but he’s definitely intrigued by the sudden change in behavior

and that’s where it all begins

levi’s horrible at getting to know strangers, even worse at forming bonds and connections. maybe that’s why he doesn’t warm up to the idea of having to deal with new people and new settings all at once

“i hope you’ve met your coach this is aman-” introductions are cut short by levi stubbornly interjecting in the middle of your sentence

“i have, but is she you?”

pursing your lips an awkward chuckle leaves your mouth, you look around uncomfortably wondering what he means.

“well, no?”

“then i won’t box.”

?????

you don’t even know what to say??? here you were thinking maybe he would be a little more cooperative than this.

his index finger points right at you and he takes a step forwards. his shoes come into contact with yours and you find yourself holding your breath apprehensively.

“i won’t box unless it’s you in charge.”

that is when you and levi formally meet for the first time. you are but an inexperienced coach and he, an inexperienced boxer.

“i’m getting drinks you want anything?”

“oh no don’t worry i’m good!!” you smile at levi and he nods his head venturing off to buy himself a bottle of sparkling water

levi has had you coaching him for a few years now

really he doesn’t think he’s ever felt more than respect for you. respect for the way you stay back late with him to train, respect for the schedules you make him and he’s most definitely respectful of your boxing knowledge

sure out of the two of you he’s more physically capable but it doesn’t change the fact that he becomes frustrated when he’s told he has to spend a day without you.

it’s not like you think that levi cares or anything, nothing sappy like that.

he just probably hates, no, despises having to listen to anyone else’s instructions. he finds that they somehow sound demeaning or less sincere.

every instruction you give him has a reason behind it. you don’t beat around the bush and he’s stated before that he enjoys that he knows he’s developing his skill set and progressing when he’s with you.

the olympus ring - one of the largest boxing competitions known to man is approaching soon and if levi manages to place in the top two his career is set to sky rocket in no time at all

that thought makes you feel unusually nervous

worry gnaws at your mind and you wonder about whether or not he’ll replace you after the competition concludes. after all who wants a coach with little fighting experience? all you really know is from your family. your brother and father had been professional boxers years prior.

you have no doubt at all that levi will place number one that’s for sure but you really hope he doesn’t find a replacement for you.

you’ve never had much faith in your coaching and to be left behind in the dust hurts you a tiny bit but you never bring it up because you know what? levi progressing in his career will make him happy :-)

levi’s happiness over yours and it’s not good to be selfish you suppose >:(

“y/n.” he’s waving a hand in front of your face, you’re uncharacteristically quiet today and he’s caught on

“you awake?” he asks again.

upon receiving no response levi’s now waving his hand with more tenacity

“wake. up.” he flicks at your forehead and you stir a little finally coming to your senses once you see him leaning up above you.

he looks taller than normal from this angle and your cheeks blaze, he has a habit of walking around shirtless whilst training and doesn’t realise the effect it has on you

“i- yeah good totally good. just thinking.”

“thinking about?” levi kneels to the floor looking you in the eyes and your mind falters wondering when it was he began to sit so close to you. it feels like it was just yesterday when the two of you used to eat lunch separately out of embarrassment.

the silence stretches for a second too long and his eyes narrow suspiciously leaving you to think on your feet

“i well, you have a press conference soon and i have to think of transportation and-”

“coach. i can deal with that.”

you’re a little stunned when he says that because he’s never tried to take away from your responsibilities in the past. is this a hint that he no longer wants you around?

“but it’s my job?” you reply back feeling threatened

“but you’re always doing it. i can figure it out this once.”

without even hearing the rest of what you have to say he stalks back towards his punching bag leaving your chest empty

he’s definitely thinking of replacing you is what you think

really this should not be getting you worked up.

you’ve known levi for years, you should have faith in the fact he trusts you but you find yourself indulging in self doubt more often than you intend to

guilt fills you as you scroll through the multiple job listings in front of you but you have a justification. this is your lifeline, you can’t afford to lose your source of income and it’s best to be prepared

however there’s no real amount of preparation that can get you used to the prospect of not seeing levi every day

he’s sort of just made a space for himself in your daily routine

chewing at your bottom lip you can’t get through one job listing without thinking about him and you shut your laptop down thinking tomorrow will be a better day and you’ll check back in then

why does levi even matter?? he’ll officially be an ass when he dumps you of your position?? who cares about him???

but that doesn’t stop you from caring and now you’re hunched over your closed laptop trying to understand what it is that’s making you feel this way

maybe it’s the whole attachment you have with him??

he is the very first person you’ve ever coached that’s true

he’s made you proud and allowed for your name to get out there in the boxing world

maybe that’s what’s holding you back from looking into other jobs

but that reason doesn’t make much sense

you should still be frustrated with him.

AND

you most definitely should not care about how he’s doing OR worry about who’ll patch him up when he ends up stupidly injuring himself during practice (he does that a lot)

“why do i care so much for him?” you type into google thinking there’s no person on this earth that can help you with this predicament now

honestly at this point asking AI is probably going to have to be your only reliable option

tapping on one of the first links you hope to find your answer

“what happened? yeah, you had sex?” pops onto your screen and you tap off as quick as possible.

no. you did not have sex. oh god, you haven’t even touched levi much. the most you’ve done is lace your fingers with his and offer him a hug

are you meant to have… had sex???

is it wrong for you to feel that way withou-

okay enough. this has got nothing to do with sex and your feelings are still valid. maybe you are right and you’re attached to him that’s it!!! right?

scrolling further down you nearly give up until you reach another link titled “the science of caring for those who don’t care for you.”

rolling your eyes you still hesitantly tap praying you find some sort of answer

and an answer is what you find that’s for sure

staring you right in the face in bold letters

1. you feel responsible for that person

not really, he’s very independent.

2. the person is a family member

absolutely not

3. you could be romantically attracted to the person in question

…….

romantically interested?? no. that’s wrong. not true. incorrect. not right. just not real. you are not romantically attracted to levi

,,,or are you?

that does explain why he makes you feel jittery, it explains why you shivered the one time he engulfed you in a hug at his first championship

it also explains why you feel burning jealousy when a celebrity shoves their number into your hands asking you to pass it onto levi. they don’t even look at you like you’re a human being. you’re just a messenger pigeon

they’re worlds away from you. you forever stuck in your tracksuit and them - those beautiful models in skintight dresses and heels to match are stuck in a world where everything they want is handed to them. that includes men

you know it’s not their fault and you’d kill to be like them too but you guess the whole sweaty tracksuits and boxing daily has just become your niche

nonetheless levi is a man. a popular man.

and he sure as hell has no romantic interest in his clumsy, uncoordinated coach

sighing you huddle yourself into a ball choosing not to think about it anymore

but you know you’ve already come to your conclusion

you like levi ackerman more than a coach should

and it’s taken you years to take notice of it

when you became a coach you never really thought people would talk about you much

you were clearly very wrong about that. you and levi are both hot topics on discussion forums and boxing panels. luckily for you levi finds no entertainment in such forms of boxing and so never glances at them

he’s completely unaware of all the online comments. to be honest you’re happy he’s oblivious to it all. he doesn’t deserve to deal with spiteful, mean spirited jabs

you’re less like levi and find yourself aimlessly scrolling through news articles and boxing q&a pages. it’s interesting to see what people have to say on social media

but these days all the searches for your name are filled with “replaced soon?” and “not good enough to coach ackerman?”

the headlines are cruel jokes but again you’re willing to handle taking the brunt of the press’ force instead of levi. yes, even if it hurts you.

“what you reading?” levi peers over your shoulder and you nearly throw your phone away to the other side of the room but instead you choose to grip at it tightly and shove it into your chest

you grin hiding the screen away. “something private.”

levi doesn’t look like he believes you, he wants to ask if you’re okay and if you need anything because frankly you do look slightly distraught but he decides against interrogating you

“oh okay. i’ll be back. you want anything from starbucks?” he asks.

at that moment you wish he asked you if you wanted to talk about what had been bothering you

but you know even if he did ask you’d deny his help

the olympus ring’s official press conference is one in which many rivalries will be established

levi has always had an issue with zeke jaeger one of the top contenders in his division.

it’s a long story......

one which includes the purposeful injury of a mutual friend in order to sabotage his career

you remember it all, the way you had to physically hold levi back from pouncing at the man. it had been one of the most difficult things you had to do

erwin was your friend too and you wanted him to receive justice. part of you wanted to let go and allow for levi to attack zeke with his all but you chose to be levi’s coach before you were erwin’s friends

if he wasn’t going to make good decisions for himself you would do it for him

if you had let him go through with that rash choice he could have risked suspension and suspension could completely halt some careers. suspension almost always led to shorter longevity and motivation

and so that’s why you always shift to levi’s side when he walks past zeke. there’s no way you’re taking a chance. knowing levi he could lose his cool and completely pummel him with an upper cut

so that’s what you’re doing right now. trying to edge levi to the other side of the hall but he does no such thing.

“coach, do you have to be so cautious with zeke?” he finally asks with a bland look on his face

you wince a little when he doesn’t use your name and it looks like he notices the reaction. he makes no commentary on it

“this is my job. let me do it properly.” you explain nudging him to the side so your path doesn’t coincide with zeke’s

levi looks at you poking a tongue in his cheek clearly not amused nor happy

“i’ll do what i want.” and with that said and done he walks on ahead. you take note of the fact that despite saying he’ll do what he wants he does in fact comply with your instructions and walks in the opposite direction and into a nearby convenience store

sighing you rummage through your backpack trying to find your meds

your head has been pounding since you’ve arrived and you hope to fit in at least one nap

looking up to survey the area the street is clear and there is no sight of zeke. you feel at ease at that discovery, not only does he cause you discomfort but he’s a general displeasure to interact with

his tuft of dirty blonde hair irks you to no end and you’re up for no conversation with the man who who ended erwin’s career

he’s the last person you want to ever initiate small talk with.

but fate is a weird thing is it not? because as soon as you’re sure you’ve escaped the clutches of zeke jaeger you hear a chuckle behind you

“well if it isn’t levi’s side piece?”

a hand lands on your shoulder but you shake it away immediately

jaw clenching you try to ignore zeke as best you can but he continues to taunt you

“imagine if levi got an actual coach and not a whore to fuck in the gym?”

turning to face him you see him midway through shrugging his shoulders

believe it or not there had been a time where you and zeke were good friends. a time where he hadn’t let fame get to his head.

so for him to refer to you like that does make your heart sting a little

“cat got your tong-”

and there it is

the long overdue punch

it hits him right in the jaw without warning and you’re tripping trying to stop levi - who might you add has shown up from NOWHERE.

you thought he was shopping?????

“you know if i needed to swing at him i could have?!?” you whisper shout at him completely infuriated that he’s possibly thrown away his chance of competing

“you weren’t going to though.” he says plainly and you can’t deny it.

you don’t have it in you to swing at zeke.

levi doesn’t choose to inflict more pain on his opponent and instead kneels beside him leaning by his ear

you don’t know what he whispers - you’re completely out of ear shot but it’s not even thirty seconds later till levi rises and saunters away seeming content

shooting zeke an apologetic look for the over the top beating you’re surprised to see him look...regretful?

whatever levi said you wonder what it was

it’s been a solid fifteen minutes of you walking behind levi

his back is all you’ve seen so you have no idea about his mood and it’s not that you’re intimidated or anything but peering in just to look at his face is a little odd so you choose to stay a suitable distance away

“y/n.” he says finally when he reaches his hotel room.

fishing through your backpack for his keys you’re surprised when he holds your wrist to stop you

“listen to me.” he sounds calm but slightly on edge

“has zeke always said those things?”

twiddling your thumbs you awkwardly laugh

“well no, we used to be friends. remember how i told you ages ago? he was so cool back then and yeah i miss that zeke :-) but i don’t know what’s up with him.”

you’ve never really told anyone about how you feel about zeke’s hostility so you’re getting KINDA emotional right now thinking about the friend you miss

“i mean to ask, since you started coaching me has he always said that?”

“it was a bit before that but yeah. it’s no big deal at all. people change, zeke changed. i can’t do anything about it.”

moving to find his room keys again you don’t expect for him to hold his grasp

looking up at him there’s a look of simmering anger on his face

“why did you never tell me he said that about you?”

running a hand through your hair you’re only getting anxious having to deal with this in the middle of a hotel hallway

“levi. everyone says that about me. me and you are always together, all sorts of stupid rumours spread.”

“so why do you have to deal with all the malicious comments?? it’s unfa-”

“levi, the world has never been fair.”

handing him his keys he looks between you and them. he’s deciding if he wants to continue with his questioning

ultimately he decides he’s heard enough

a few hours have passed since the incident. neither you or levi have had the courage to come out of your separate rooms to discuss anything

you know you’re going to have to break the quiet and go through his possible press conference questions with him. even if you don’t want to this is your job after all.

so that’s how you end up sitting cross legged on his bed in your pyjamas. levi’s still in the shower so you’ve welcomed your self in. it’s common practice between the two of you to do so

after the one time he walked in on you naked…there’s practically nothing to hide from each other

scribbling a few ideas down onto your notepad you’re curious of what the press have in store for him this time

“yes exactly my thoughts” the sound of levi’s voice is coming from the bathroom, you suppose he’s had to take a business call and think nothing of it

“y/n?” he scoffs and you assume at first he’s calling out for you but then things take a turn for the worst

“sometimes i think about not having y/n coach me that’s all… there’s nothing wrong with that?”

oh.

so your suspicions were correct.

glancing down at the interview questions in your lap you jot down a note at the bottom

hey couldn’t stay for long but try to review the press conference questions on your own if you have the time! :-) much lov good luck, y/n !!!!

and then you retreat.

you don’t know if you make it up but you swear you hear knocking at your door during the night. you aren’t too sure but whatever it is disturbs your sleep.

stretching outside of your room the next morning you’re drowsy and beyond exhausted. you don’t even notice levi come outside.

one of his knuckles is rubbing at his bloodshot eyes. has he not slept well?

“i tried to wake you up but i guess you were asleep?” his statement comes out as a question. you’re not used to levi exhibiting much emotion at all and right now he seems unusually inquisitive.

“i was sleeping.” not even sparing him a second of your time you give him a rehearsed smile and walk off towards the hotel cafe

you can’t find the energy to even look at him

the hall is lined up with barricades to prevent possible assault or injury and you’re behind the stage with levi

the two of you have yet to say another word to each other since this morning. levi’s buttoning his shirt up and you’re looking around for his necktie. the least he can do after yesterday’s confrontation with zeke is to look presentable

“tie?” he asks over his shoulder

throwing it at him you hear a grunt of annoyance. he must have disliked that.

“can you help me with my cuff links?”

breathing out of your nose you feel anxious. you’ll have to get really close to him to do that.

but again you have to.

you take them from his hands and stand in front of him. you don’t really know how to go about this, what way is there for you to appropriately position yourself?

he’s sat on a backstage bench and checks the time on his phone “we’ve only got a few minutes left.” he’s clearly requesting that you hurry this up but you can’t seem to do it you’re completely frozen in place

“y/n, what’s wrong?” he asks

“nothing.”

he doesn’t have to know you know

“something’s wrong.”

“we’re in a hurry it doesn’t matter.” yanking him by his right sleeve you slot one of the cuff links through the slits in his shirt.

levi silently observes you fiddling with his sleeves, you can feel his stare burn into you. even as you’re moving onto the opposite side you can see from the corner of your eye that he hasn’t stopped staring

“was it something i said to you?” he asks again

a silence drags between the both of you and you debate on whether or not you’d like to enlighten levi with the information you obtained yesterday night

“more like something you didn’t say.” you finally respond.

thrusting his arm back at him his hand lands onto his lap and he opens his mouth to respond only to be cut off by an announcer

“THIS YEARS OLYMPUS RING CONTESTANTS MAY ENTER.”

crowds can be heard cheering outside but levi still hasn’t ripped his eyes off of you

“go on, maybe you’ll find a new coach after the press conference.” your bitter smile tells him all he has to know and his face visibly drops realizing what has happened

“i–”

“mr ackerman to the stage. i repeat mr ackerman to the stage!!”

he’s torn between staying behind and explaining himself or leaving to head towards one of the most important press conferences of his life

his teeth tug at his bottom lip as he looks between you and the entrance to the stage

“go levi.”

and he does.

levi’s sat on one of many chairs on the panel, he gulps taking a sip of water to calm his nerves. he’s not even nervous about the press conference, that can wait. he doesn’t know how much you’ve heard and how much you’ve misinterpreted what he’s said

he finds it weird at first that he’s even worried because you and him have a professional relationship

but then he has to stop himself from smacking the back of his own head. he knows that much isn’t true, hell if it was a strictly professional relationship he wouldn’t be walking around shirtless to get your attention

he wouldn’t lace his fingers with yours when he was nervous either

he wouldn’t let you tend to his injuries and scold him if this was about being professional, he doesn’t tolerate being scolded by anyone but if it’s you he’ll take it

when it’s you scolding him for fucking up one of his fists it feels okay, it feels right. he feels warm inside knowing that you have to care for him if you get that angry

he sighs feeling exasperated waiting for the last person to join the panel and get this question and answers segment over and done with

zeke makes his obnoxiously late appearance but levi doesn’t have it in him to roll his eyes. evidently he’s still stuck on you and thinking about apologizing as soon as this is finished

zeke sits right next to levi and some members of the crowd whisper amongst themselves

“have they made up?”

“think there’s gonna be another brawl??”

“i hope not they’re both my favourites…”

one of the reporters right in front of the stage but behind the barricades is the first to speak

“as we all know there has been an unmistakable sense of tension between two of the most promising contenders this year. mr ackerman and mr yaeger. would you like to put the rumours at rest?”

the question makes levi clench his jaw, zeke rolls his hands into two fists feeling just as frustrated. this is boxing not a reality tv show who cares what the terms of their long broken friendship are?

zeke nudges levi’s knee with his and levi returns the movement.

for now they’ll call a truce. it seems that both he and zeke have more pressing matters to attend to

“me and levi are bros. i’m frankly upset such a rumour started in the first place!” the crowd is mumbling again and the reporter himself is stunned by the unexpected response

“i admit that a fight which some may have saw yesterday was my fault. i had made some inappropriate comments towards his coach to get at him. it was a malicious move on my part and i hope people don’t think him and i are mortal enemies because of this bump in the road.”

zeke is so well spoken when he wants to be that levi feels self conscious sitting there having said nothing.

“mr ackerman? would you like to comment or?”

levi’s eyes light up, this is an opportunity to have you hear him. he doesn’t have to wait to explain when he can throw hints right now. you may be giving him the silent treatment but you wouldn’t miss this press conference for the world

sitting up in his chair and clearing his throat levi looks directly into one of the cameras pointed at him. he’s sure you’ll be able to see him from backstage.

“me and zeke have no other disputes apart from that i assure you. i simply value my coach greatly and so i acted rashly yesterday.”

the reporter nods along feeling pleased with the answer.

a few more questions are thrown around to the other contestants, levi sits there bored out of his mind until at the last minute before everything is just about to wrap up he’s asked a question once again

“regarding your coach, have you thought of a replacement if you win the championship?”

levi presses his lips together not understanding the question

“why would i replace my current coach?” where on earth has this question even come from??

“rumours have been flying around regarding lack of experience and the fact you’re outgrowing each other now. it’s all over boxing discussion forums.”

your hands are embarrassingly shoved into your pockets as people pass behind you backstage offering you pitiful looks. maybe wearing your bright pink team ackerman tracksuit wasn’t the best choice because everyone can hear what’s going on up front

levi’s memory flashes back to the number of times you hid your phone behind your back and awkwardly chuckled saying nothing was bothering you. he understands what you were hiding now

his mouth twists into a scowl, he knows you’re a few meters away listening to all of this and hearing it coming out of a stranger’s mouth is probably upsetting you

“i plan to stick with my coach till the day i die.”

you sit up not believing what you heard, it entirely contradicts what you heard last night

some journalists are jotting down notes, members of the audience are leaning forward listening intently

“well, why is that?” the reporter presses on

levi twirls a pen around in his hands staring off into the crowd.

“i don’t think anyone else could tolerate me.

you bite back a laugh because you know that’s true :-)

“they’re a person who saw potential in me when no one else did.”

he chuckles to himself. “your stamina it’s great!” his witty imitation of you is rather accurate

“that was the first thing coach ever said to me.” he pauses allowing himself to reminisce.

“but i did want to drop my coach the other day.” he admits.

hearing him confess to it should make you mad, you should be pissed off right now but you can’t manage to feel that way at all

“i said it because i wanted them to relax. i never really understood the magnitude of the criticism they were receiving until recently.”

levi’s staring directly at the camera and his eyes pierce into yours, it’s as if he’s actually looking right at you

“i’d be lost without them, so i want to say to the one person rooting for me backstage, thank you for everything you do for me :-)”

you’re covering your face with your hands feeling the blush creep up your cheeks now. GOD what is he doing??? you may as well be the same colour as your tracksuit, you’ve never heard him be this sentimental in his entire life

“so no, i won’t be replacing my coach any time soon. if anything i should worry about my coach replacing me.”

levi ackerman...

he’s a HUGE idiot if he thinks you’ve ever thought of seriously replacing him

levi presses his arms against your sides when you’re both alone and in the solitude of his hotel room.

“i’m sorry for thinking you wanted to fire me.“ you mumble it into his chest feeling much too embarrassed to look up at him and say it

“also i may as well say this now but i have a fat, massive, huge crush on you “

after that you awkwardly laugh to yourself. you both kinda stare at each other and you’re meant to regret telling him how you feel right now but you don’t. having that weight lifted off your shoulders feels amazing.

"you don’t have to like me back or anything and i know you don’t like me back obviously you probably like that one actress- what was her name?? the one with the long black hair she gave you her number at a fundraiser dinner. you’d both look cute together, have i said that??”

levi gives you a blank look

“i threw her number away.”

you’re open mouthed feeling completely shocked, she’s gorgeous??

“HUH?? HELLO WHY? LEVI ACKERMAN, HAVE YOU EVEN SEEN HER??”

“i have but is she you?”

the all too familiar words from years ago ring in your ears

nostalgia hits the both of you in waves and levi takes you in for another hug. your heart hammers in your chest and with your face pressed against him once again you can feel the irregular beat of his heart too.

that is when you and levi formally meet for the second time. this time you are but an experienced coach and he, an experienced boxer.

:-)

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hollyhomburg · 3 years

Text

(warning: overly dramatic) part of me wants to write like- a fucking messy story. like messy as in the m/c is involved with all of the boys kind of messy. like- maybe she was jungkook’s childhood love who he lost touch with when he went to become an idol. and then one day she moves to seoul thinking he’s forgotten about her and thinks “better not bother him- he’s famous afterall” and ends up starting her own life without him thinking that their paths will never cross again.

she hooks up with seokjin on accident one night without knowing who he is. it’s against his better judgement but he can’t help the fact that sometimes he gets riled up in the way that only a good fuck can settle. a few days afterwords she realizes who he was and decides against contacting him or answering his text messages. ( though she does respond when he writes “i guess you’ve figured out who i am- and in that case- i have to ask you to agree to this” and she’s not an asshole- so she signs the non-disclosure agreement which she sends back to him without comment).

only a few days later she runs into jimin- or more correctly jimin runs into her getting harassed late at night by a few drunk men. he pretends to be her boyfriend. He’s wearing a mask and a bucket hat and glasses- and despite his height jimin is commanding enough to get them to back off. he ends up walking her home “how do i know you're not trying to walk me home so you can find out where i live?”

“you’re new here right? dont you know how many cameras there are in seoul”

“there aren't any cameras on my street” and so jimin sighs, pulls down his mask and turns to a billboard of his face (this one for vt cosmetics sitting outside a closed olive young). imitating his pose for a second before he can see understanding dawn on her face. “see? you really think im going to do something like that?” it’s not every day he lets himself be seen like this- but he has a feeling that for you it’s worth it. but it doesn't get near the reaction that he wanted.

you curse low, crossing your arms over your chest. “how the fuck is there another one” and though jimin responds with a ‘what?’ you dont answer. you keep walking, kicking a stone hard enough to hit the billboard. and jimin has to admit this is the first time he’s ever felt lacking in front of a woman. it’s electric and he can’t say he’s not drawn in.

he walks you home- does not kiss the strange woman who he just met on the cheek even though you’re looking sleepy and soft and vulnerable. jimin is a gentleman.

it’s not until weeks later that she actually does end up running into jungkook- and she’s shocked to find that their friendship and the pure chemistry they have is still there. they meet up for coffee after coffee and then- she meets the boys, and both seokjin and jimin just try to reign in their over imaginative hearts (and maybe their boners- maybe her and seokjin meet up in some forgotten corner of the company for a repeat meeting- during which seokjin confesses she’s the best fuck he’s ever had).

everyone can feel the tension between you and jimin. and jimin is the first to confess that yeah- they did meet a few weeks back. and you both pretend you’re not blushing when hoseok teases “wahhhhh thats like a drama” jungkook stoic faced besides her. tugging on her earing and whining to leave. he wants her all to himself- not hat he’d ever admit that. and jungkook- jungkook wishes his heart didn't hurt the same way it had 10 years ago- wishes his schoolboy crush could have just stayed that.

what's worse- is that Taehyung and yoongi have taken an immediate romantic interest in her. kind of having more of an adversarial situation where they both keep trying to one up the other. Yoongi takes her out on a boat to watch the sunrise in the middle of the ocean, doesn't care about holding her hand in front of the others. yoongi is so sweet and kind; cooks her dinner when she shows up at his house crying for whatever reason (it was jungkook- it’s always jungkook) and when she’s done he kisses the curry he made off of her lips and hands her a water saying playfully. “if you dont drink enough water you’ll run out of tears.”

“Are you planning to make me cry min yoongi?”

“Only out of happiness hopefully.”

and taehyung takes her to an amusement park in the middle of the night, so that it’s just them and a few people who follow to run the rides for them. he lets her take cute couple photos and always offers up his oversized jackets for her when she gets cold after riding a wet ride. and maybe she catches him staring at her translucent dress. lets him pull her into a corner of the amusement park and fuck her where anyone could hear or see. “are you sure yoongi could fuck you this good? or seokjin for that matter? don’t think i havent noticed the way he looks at you.”

and jungkook- jungkook can’t say anything- because he always puts the others first. and namjoon- oh namjoon and you have an incredibly intellectual relationship. Staying up after you’ve all drank yourselves nearly to sleep, jimin curling up on the carpeted floor near you saying “dont walk home alone- wake me before you go and I’ll walk you.” jimin is always saying things like that to you. and getting all protective whenever one of their backup dancers or any other man at the company shows interest in her.

you and namjoon talk about everything that night- philosophy- love- life- it comes so easy for you to talk with him. and when that night he confesses that he’s never fallen asleep in someone's arms you pat your shoulder and let him lie near you on the wide couch. your hand smoothing up and down his back. and when you wake up in the morning before everyone elce you pretend he hadn’t migrated near you enough that his cheek was up against your chest- and he pretends he doesn't want to record your heart beat and put it into a song so that he can have it to lul him to sleep always. meet up once every few weeks to go on walks together because you both share a love for nature. trips to gardens and parks that feel more like dates than anything.

and hobi- hobi sees it all happening and tries to stay out of it. rationalizes it that there has to be someone to stay impartial and professional. but you end up becoming friends against his better judgement. you do your work in his studio because you like how he’s always playing music even if he’s not working on one of his own songs, and even then you have headphone and jhope watches you sway and bob your head to whatever you’re listening too. very few people have a sense for beat like you both do- and though you can’t dance- he can see the potential in it. he offers to teach you and you agree and of course you end up fucking in the practice room because hoseok just needed to show her how to move her hips right.

only- yoongi hears the noises from the studio and goes to investigate, and he’d love it if he wasn’t hurt but he is. So he ignores her for a little while- because he wants to move on- he’s tired of being hurt by her. and then when she confronts him- somehow everyones there and jungkook misspeaks- says some pretty terrible shit that he immediately regrets and when she runs out of course jimn follows her. “jimin just leave”

“no- not until i know you’re safe” she sighs but then gets angrier when he grabs her hand.

“no- don’t- don’t do that”

“do what?”

“hold my hand unless you have any desire to keep me- to actually love me- then you don’t get to hold my hand” and they walk- jimin grabs her hand and she just sighs- so tired of being pulled 7 different directions. thinks jimin is just interested in sleeping with her- but he’s not- he just wants to love her.

things get even worse when she and yoongi makeup- decide to try and stay friends, and then jungkook confesses to her and turns the whole thing upside down and someone sees her and namjoon out walking, his arm around her shoulders and suddenly dating rumors are floating around everywhere. and fuck- they’re all fighting. jungkook grabbing her arm “she was my friend first”

“yeah but i was the one who was romantically interested in her”

“guess again”

“that doesn't count seokjin hyung- you guys just slept together that's not love” and before any of them have a chance to settle it out she speaks above all of them (maybe picking up a glass and dropping it to get them all to pay attention to her. “maybe if you stoped and wondered what it was that i wanted you all wouldn’t be pricks right now” and then she just- walks out. dodges their calls- ignores every message. until namjoon turns up at her door and asks her to come see them. everyone nervous before jungkook swallows. looking at her with shining eyes, the face of her first love. “we’ve decided, if you’re okay with it, then we think we can share.”

(PSA; this fic idea is not free to use!)

#bts x reader #ot7 x reader #bts poly au #bts angst #jungkook x reader #namjoon x reader #jimin x reader #taehyung x reader #yoongi x reader #seokjin x reader #hoseok x reader #bts polyamory #bts fanfiction #bts fic idea

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stephspurs · 3 years

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A Family Affair | Euro 2020 Football Fanfiction

hi guys and gals! Part 7 sees friendship strengthened, decisions being made and love ultimately hurting. As always, please enjoy the next part and let me know what you think is going to happen in part eight! I actually love hearing from you all so please don't be too shy to reach out and message me - I love a good chat LOL Love always, Steph xx

Part 7 | settima parte

warnings; love sucks man. word count; 1850 writing tools; third person until dashed line, first person thereafter. next update; Monday 09/08 5pm AEST. Updates are three times/week (Monday, Wednesday & Friday)! Tags (as requested by users); @footballffbarbiex @obsesseds-world @abysshaven link to fic masterlist here

“bella amelia, cosa ho fatto per meritarmi questa telefonata?” (beautiful amelia, what did i do to deserve this phone call?) Jorginho spoke his second-native tongue down the line to the British girl, calling him way past her self-appointed bedtime of 9pm.

“Jorgi, ho bisogno del consiglio di un amico” (Jorgi, i need the advice of a friend). Amelia, almost desperately, pleaded down the line to the boy who became her therapist.

It had been a few days since Amelia & Jack’s facetime where they sat and listened to the countless offers the successful girl had waiting in her voice message inbox. Being the person that she is, Amelia needed to distract herself from obsessing over the messages so she threw herself into her job. Spending too many hours over her paid allocation at Juventus training ground, getting administrative work done for the season ahead.

Was this her way of nesting? Or empty-nesting? Was she subconsciously preparing the club and her boys for life without her? Getting them ready with a season's worth of set pieces and tactical plays that would secure them an outstanding 37th victory? On the flip side, was she preparing for her new role in England which she had yet to accept. There was no harm in her taking her intellectual property back over to the motherland. The two clubs did not compete in the same tournaments, perhaps only the Champions league - but who's to say that whatever club she does pick will make the Champions League? There was no doubt Juve would be there - all of her preparation would ensure they would be. Whoever took over her role simply just had to show up and keep the boys in line.

“ok tesoro, parlami.” (Ok darling, speak to me). The Italian settled onto his couch, espresso in hand, waiting to hear the younger girl's problem.

“So I've spoken with Kyle & Jack now, and have told them of my predicament. They both are very heavily favouring one side - but I need a voice of reason. If you happen to express the same sentiments that they both did, then maybe that's all of the reassurance I need to make this final decision.” Amelia switched back to her native tongue.

After spending the better part of an hour discussing in great depth the offers that she was receiving from the 5 english clubs, Amelia felt just as confused as she did before calling the Chelsea boy. No surprise that Jorgi was team Come to the Prem & Join Chelsea, but the italian midfield maestro had also brought her back down to earth from cloud nine and reminded her of what, or who, she was leaving behind.

“Now I don't like telling you what to do, but you need to discuss this with Fede, Amelia. He doesn’t deserve a lot of things, but this is something he does.”

So that's where Amelia found herself the next morning. Sunday’s in Italy were reserved for espresso and long walks in the sun. This particular Sunday must have been reflective of the internal turmoil she was facing, uncommon for the season, the sky above her was overcast and a light drizzle had started to set in on her walk to the charming Italian’s townhouse.

______________________________________________________________

“pensavo fosse un mito che gli inglesi portino con sé il tempo the” (i thought it was a myth that british people bring the weather with them) Fede said as he opened the door, and his arms, while looking down the two steps at me.

“Very funny” I said as I gave him a hug. He always was so good at hugs. I’m going to miss them. Snap out of it Amelia - you don’t even know if you’re going to go yet. Oh she knows she's going. She also knows what club she's going to. No she doesn't, you be quiet. I’m here rooting for her Italian romance. If I had an angel and devil on each shoulder, their conversation would speak my internal monologue as such.

Walking through to his kitchen, putting on a coffee and saying hello to his dogs, Fede stood in the doorway and watched me move around his kitchen as though it was my own.

“I’m convinced you got British bulldogs because you just can’t help but love the English” I cheekily smiled up at him from my crouched position in the middle of his kitchen, giving the two bullys the best head rubs.

“Sure, you keep thinking that Amelia” Oh, the way he says your name Amelia, so foreign, so romantic. He says it the same way any other Italian would say it, he’s nothing special. Be quiet, let them have their moment.

“Lets go and enjoy these out in the courtyard, is your sun shade still up? It should hold out the rain right?” Amelia spoke rushedly as she poured two espresso cups and walked towards his back door.

“Tesoro, why are you so unsteady today? Is something troubling you?” Fede spoke worriedly, noticing my little nervous habits coming out to play and speaking faster than my mind could comprehend. Better to just get this over with i think, for once we agree on something.

“Ok i need to tell you something, and i need you to let me get it all out before interrupting me. Can you do that? This is something i’ve been working up the courage to speak out loud, let alone speak it to you”

Fede took a sip of his espresso, holding my eye contact, before putting his cup back on its saucer and leaning forward, elbows on his knees. He thought he was ready for what i was about to say, expecting it to be yet another long winded speech as to why i want to put a label on our situationship. Oh boy, how wrong he was.

“After the success of the european tournament, i have received a lot of praise and recognition for my skills”

“And you deserve every bit of it amore, every bit and even more” Oh dear, could my heart hurt anymore?

“Fede, I asked you not to interrupt me…”

“Ok ok, sorry, continue”

“So, I have received a lot of recognition both here in Italy as well as from my home country of England. In saying that, I have received a few offers from clubs in the premier league that want me to bring my approach, the italian approach, to the english game. It's a real step up in my career and it's something I am seriously considering. I’ve spoken with some of the boys back home and also Jorgi, they all think that this is the next step for me. I’m far too comfortable here, I can't grow in my comfort zone. I think I'm ready for a new challenge.”

I held eye contact with the 27 year old, I wasn’t about to let him know just how vulnerable I was feeling here in front of him. Something Fede could always do was read me, and read my emotions. If he knew how exposed I felt, how easily I could be swayed over this decision, then he would make it his life's mission to do so. I had made my mind up that I was going, but there was also a part of me that decided if he was to give me what I was after I would be open to the possibility of staying.

“So it seems that you have asked for the opinion of everyone else in your life, and made your decision, before even considering mine.” He slumped back in his chair, and rubbed two fingers over his lips while looking off into the small courtyard garden.

“Fede, I have made my decision. But I wanted to talk to you about it, I owe that to you. You have made my time here so memorable, so fantastic, so filled with love that I wouldn't even consider not including you in this.”

“Is there anything I can do to make you stay? Do you want me to ask you to be my girlfriend? To tell you I love you? To move in with me? Let me know what you need from me to reconsider this decision” He began to get frustrated with me, pulling the cap off of his head and running his fingers through his hair.

“That’s exactly it Fede! I don’t want to ask you to do that, you should ask me to be your girlfriend on your own! I don't want you to tell me you love me if you think that's what I want to hear - I want you to feel like you love me! I don’t need anyone to tell me what I want to hear, what I want to hear is what you truly feel. And if there is something i have learnt about you in the last few years is that you can’t hold back your feelings with anything! If you were in love with me it would have burst from you a long time ago. I think that you do love me Fede, but as someone to come home to instead of no one at all.”

“You know Fede, i don’t have any regrets over this. You mean just as much to me now as you did the very first time we crossed that boundary and blurred the lines. You’re just my type, you only call me late at night, you can’t decide if you’ll be your own man or mine. I hate to say it, but you really are just my type. This decision has nothing to do with you, it’s something i have come to make all on my own.”

I had stood up now, looking down at the 27 year old. I needed him to understand exactly what I was saying, how serious I was. This was the moment I could get it all off my chest, instead of just letting the relationship play out on his terms.

“I leave on Friday, I let the club know this morning. There's nothing that can be done now Fede, this is my decision. Please respect it, and me”

He stood up, his almost 6’1” frame towering over me. Looking down, face of steel, I could see everything I needed behind his eyes.

“hai ragione ti amo Solo non nel modo in cui meriti di essere amato” (you're right, i do love you. Just not in the way you deserve to be loved). He pulled me into his chest, both arms wrapping around the back of my shoulders, left hand holding my head in the crook of his neck. My arms wrapped around his back from below his arms, holding him tight enough that they crossed over and I could grab the sides of his rib cage. This was the closure I needed.

“I’ll give Jorginho a call and make sure he looks out for you”

“How do you know what club I'm going to?”

“I saw the way your eyes sparkled when you mentioned its name, it was the same sparkle that used to come out when you said mine…”

Part 8. | parte otto

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bee-s-honey · 3 years

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OMG ITS OK😭😭💗💗 I’ll just try to remeber what I wrote- headcannons for kurapika developing a crush on a person in the dark continent arc? Like the person stays with kurapika for like two years as like a helper. Kurapika and the person are just friends at first.🥺 They meet at the exam and he and the person help each other through it to the dark continent arc- and kurapika starts to realize how important they are to them and all- and he starts falling in love with them- or like finally knowing he’s in love-💗💗 sorry if it’s confusing😭 I tried to remember what I wrote I’m so sorry

Yes this is perfect thank you so much 🤍 I have no idea why your apologizing though cuz I'm the one who fucking deleted it on accident 😭😭(づ￣ ³￣)づ

And I wrote so much for it but now I have to do it again because of me. Anyway-

Kurapika started gaining the feelings around late late yorknew arc, but at the moment his head was so filled that he started trying to ignore it, but it took a toll on him the entire time that he did. he would not be able to sleep because normally in order to sleep he would think about how happy he is that he had you- he felt like he had nobody, and in order for him to sleep he has to think about the things that make him happy, you. But after realizing his feelings were more romantic than just friendly it felt so wrong to even think about you and he stopped, making it hard to fall sleep happy or feel good about much. Thoughts about you running into his head we're like cute puppies that kept nibbling at his ankles, he didn't really want to get rid of them, they made him so happy, but the fear of losing you- the thought that he wasn't worthy of loving you- the exhaust of now having even another thing to think abott-all of it made him want to push it all away.

He went through a long period after YorkNew. He began ignoring you. The both of you met up maybe once but then he tried to keep his distance. That just made everything worse, So he decided to actually try and start regularly hanging out again because he felt that you deserve to not be left in the dark no matter how hard it was to be around you when he flt like he was taking up space. Eventually you both get on to the black whale, and this is where it starts.

He's already been through the stages of what I call the 'oh god I like them' realization, first there was very realization itself then a quick spout of denial followed by leaving you because he felt he was not worthy of being in your presence the more he began to think about you. However after realizing how terrible it was to just ghost another person he just wanted so badly to be around, he started liking your company again on the black whale.

Feelings have only grown deeper now, and signs are starting to show- he gets so protective and to some it would even be insulting. You already know so much about him since you've helped him starting at the hunter exam. You and the other three are really the only people who completely know about his missions, his thoughts, etc etc (you know a little more than the others of course since you've been with him the entire time and he has told you the most out of all) so he's not stupid- he knows you know everything that's going on, but still he protects you from it. When you ask about Tserriednich (probably didn't spell that right) he will just change the subject completely. Maybe by asking you to go to the bar and get a drink or telling you to go to sleep because he thinks you need some rest. From there on he refuses to give you any information on his missions or what he's doing because he genuinely doesn't want you to get any more involved with the potential that you'll get hurt.

Eventually protection leads to heightened jealousy when it comes to people that could be putting you in danger. on the black whale no one's ever completely safe and he gets skeptical when someone looks at you too hungrily- what used to be a quiet man when jealous becomes a petty snob to the person who's talking to you, but it's just at them not you- aggression is toward others who could be putting you in danger.

If a man were to seem suspicious while asking you something or trying to have a conversation he comes up and rests a hand on your back- one even a little too high for a friend, like he's so nervous about touching you that he suddenly doesn't know what to do anymore- he'd say something to the guy to make a point of introducing himself into the conversation, then making sly petty comments until the poor fool goes away.

But don't worry, he has good judgment. This wasn't a normal guy, Kurapika knows what he's doing and knows a sneaky prick when he sees one. Now a simple need for seeing you somewhat safe is a running theme of making sure you're never hurt, that you are the most ok out of anyone else- and gods it's hard- having to deal with Wobble and everything as well as now trying to shield you from the contents of this ship to hell.

Kurapika would also start wanting to be closer to you more often, he'd hold your arm as you walk down the hallway, or purposefully scoot his seat closer to you at a table you both ar sitting at. He always has a great scent on and his presence(while full of stress itself) brings you peace. It's like a thin veil of light energy, he sometimes doesn't even pick up on how much aura of devotion he puts down around you.

But there is one day, one day- and it's so rare that probably in a million other realities it wouldn't have happened like this, where he feels both too brave to ignore the constant feeling of warm flower petals in his stomach and he's too scared of somehow loosing you that he comes to you and admits his feelings

And- it's adorable. He has a deep red blush which nobody has seen forever since he masks every emotion so well now, and his eyes look deeper than ever. He's worn by years and months of connection to a single person as well as just wanting to get what he thinks will be a rejection over with- but his eyes hold something so remenisant of purity. O course you express how you feel the same he'd get so happy, barely being able to show it, but grabbing your hands and having a smile you hadn't seen since the hunter exam.

Being in love, for him, and realizing it most of all, would be both a blessing and a curse. A white rose of beautiful fluttery feelings with blood of stress dripped on it, and especially for someone he'd only met at some exam. Something so built up could not be expressed subtly and would explode in a wave, all happening in maybe a couple minutes, and you get to see him unfold. By the end it's nothing but stress relief and at least a couple more things to be happy about.

More things he does when realizing how important you are to him:

-he normally looks behind you when facing you. He's a very direct person and when speaking to everyone he has a non-impirtant, far off eye contact, but he just can't with you. He can't give you that fake look he gives everyone, and he looses the real one so he just decides to not look directly at all

-CONSTANT "what do you rhink about this situation" "what do you want to do" "well what's your opinion"

-he always thinks in the shower and refrains from thinking about emotions or feeling at all otherwise so every night he just constantly pretends almost like practicing talking to you, and forgets it the next day because he finds that too embarrassing

-king of not understanding how to make up for anything so he just buys you things. Like when you're having dinner on one of the ship restaurants in his head he thinks just completely paying for it himself is better than just talking to you. But it is endearing

- you CANNOT trip. Catches you every time.

-to make conversation he points out or tries to talk about the gross parts of the ship. People throw up all the time, or if he's breaking into a room and there's weird stuff, because what else is there to talk about

-despite the fact that in general falling in love on the black whale and with the situation he's in calls for angsty situations he always finds ways to be unintentionally amazing.

-he remembers small things too, maybe not a lot, but your favorite meal at the main eating area in the ship, or where you keep notebooks or toher objects in your room.

-he'll actually be invested when you start talking about something you like or showing him unlike how he is with almost anyone else

-he makes sure to have a soft caress in his voice like and well he's not going to be super smiley when hanging out he's not going to have a blank dead look on his face. And that's just amazing in itself.

-he just wants to protect you from harm, and while he really wants to think about you all the time, that's a little hard with such a guilty conscience that can't even indulge in anything good.

-but far into the relationship he gets so lovey and I'd love to write that for you if you ever want to ask

#hxh drabbles #hxh #hxh headcanons #kurapika headcanons #kurapika #jealous kurapika #send headcanons #headcanons #hunter x hunter headcanon #hunter x hunter #kurapika/reader #God this was so long #but I really am not good at keeping things short

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blackjack-15 · 3 years

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The Puzzle is Just the Italian Language — Thoughts on: The Phantom of Venice (VEN)

Previous Metas: SCK/SCK2, STFD, MHM, TRT, FIN, SSH, DOG, CAR, DDI, SHA, CUR, CLK, TRN, DAN, CRE, ICE, CRY

Hello and welcome to a Nancy Drew meta series! 30 metas, 30 Nancy Drew Games that I’m comfortable with doing meta about. Hot takes, cold takes, and just Takes will abound, but one thing’s for sure: they’ll all be longer than I mean them to be.

Each meta will have different distinct sections: an Introduction, an exploration of the Title, an explanation of the Mystery, a run-through of the Suspects. Then, I’ll tackle some of my favorite and least favorite things about the game, and finish it off with ideas on how to improve it. Like with all of the Odd Games, there will be a section between The Intro and The Title called The Weird Stuff, where I go into what makes this game stand out as a little strange.

If any game requires an extra section or two, they’ll be listed in the paragraph above, along with links to previous metas.

These metas are not spoiler free, though I’ll list any games/media that they might spoil here: VEN, RAN.

The Intro:

From the French-inspired streets of New Orleans, Nancy jumps on a plane to Venice and is caught up in international espionage, theft, a mafia ring, and a cast of hostile suspects living in the same house as her.

Sounds a bit like my first semester of college, honestly. Minus the whole “Venice” and “international espionage” parts.

Coming directly after CRY, VEN isn’t quite as thick with atmosphere, doesn’t have any of its philosophy or thematic elements, and is really only famous for being set in Italy and for the fact that they hired four voice actors for our main cast sans regular characters (Colin, voiced by our good ol’ boy Jonah Von Spreecken, counts as a returning VA), but hired 6 distinct VAs for the singing gondoliers, most of whom the average player will never hear.

Yeah, VEN is kind of that type of game.

There’s a lot that makes VEN the trippy experience that it is – more on that immediately below – but nearly none of that makes VEN as confused as it is. Nancy’s hired by a foreign government – sort of – but there’s also a love line – sort of – a roommate story – sort of – and some touristy stuff like overpaying for flowers and gelato.

Taking place overseas, VEN might have been mistaken for a Jetsetting game if it weren’t for the fact that every bit of the game is permeated with the sense that nothing was quite thought out, nothing quite flows together, and there’s no emotional response in anyone – including the player.

That’s not to say that there’s nothing enjoyable about VEN; it’s one of the most highly memed games, in fact, with a catsuit, horrific fashion choices, and little laser roombas all making up the most memorable meme material (and that’s not even touching discount Justin Timberlake and his slides of seduction). It has strongly-painted characters (even if there’s a touch of the caricature about them), the return of recurring characters, the first appearance of a semi-recurring character, poisoned chocolates…it’s almost like someone tried to do STFD, but with a sprinkling of spies and Italy thrown in for good measure.

VEN can be a lot of fun, but it’s also a grind a lot of the time; the required puzzles can be ridiculous, for example, and, in a twist for Nancy Drew games, there’s a puzzle for everyone to hate, no matter if you dislike stealth games, card games, speed-reaction games, or even language puzzles.

Which brings us to the biggest problem with The Phantom of Venice: the common puzzle thread, the thing that keeps recurring, the ‘mission statement puzzle’…it’s just the Italian language. The game hinges on the idea that the player won’t know any Italian (or any Romance language, honestly), and that’s where the majority of the difficulty in the game (barring bad hand-eye coordination) comes from. It’s not a good thing at all, and it brings the entire game down with it.

Well, it has a little help. Let’s talk about the Roomba in the museum, shall we?

The Weird Stuff:

There’s a lot of things that are weird about VEN, no getting around it. But there’s one solid thing that makes it…well, Odd in the way that the other Odd games are qualified, and that’s this one simple fact:

This is a Hardy Boys mystery, with Nancy clumsily inserted in instead of Frank and Joe.

Think about it; called in by a foreign government, espionage, nearly drowning, contacts in the government and police force, an Italian crime ring…these are all things straight out of a Hardy Boys novel, not a Nancy Drew novel. There is a Nancy Drew book titled The Phantom of Venice, true enough, but this game doesn’t bear any resemblance to it besides, well, Venice itself. You could swap out Nancy with the boys and the whole game could go on, minus the whole ‘keepsake necklace from Ned’ thing, and depending on what you ship, even that might fly under the radar.

And no, I didn’t forget the dancing in a catsuit thing. Pure comedy right there.

Nancy’s a homegrown detective; most of her cases are ‘small thing spirals into bigger thing’. It’s not that she doesn’t deal in espionage, at times in foreign places, or stumble upon a crime ring. It’s just that that’s not the type of thing Nancy’s called in for, it’s the type of thing she trips over halfway into a lower-stakes mystery.

The Hardy Boys, however, because of their father’s contacts (in the novels) and their position in ATAC (in the games) are exactly the kind of people that work with police chiefs and security experts and foreign spies and the like. It’s very nearly their bread and butter. Which is why I have a wild but not out-of-the-way wacky sorta-serious theory. Bear with me:

This game was designed as a Hardy Boys game, and Nancy really was clumsily inserted in with a few weeks to spare.

At this point in history – the far-behind time of July 2008, as the Great Recession was descending, the fury of an election year was coming to a head, and you couldn’t go to a supermarket or clothes store in America without hearing OneRepublic tell you that it was just a little too late to apologize – HER wasn’t doing badly, per se, but they certainly weren’t doing as well as they could have been. They weren’t that far from having had to majorly upgrade their engine for a rapidly changing technological world, and there seemed to be no end in sight. HER had plenty of staff change-ups coming because of new sponsors, but weren’t making enough simply with what they had.

Put simply, they needed a carrot. And what better carrot than the fan-favorite Hardy Boys?

There are two Hardy Boys games put out around this time: The Perfect Crime and The Hidden Theft. While neither one was done by Her Interactive, there was a HER Hardy Boys game in the works: the DS masterpiece Treasure on the Tracks. The audience for a Hardy Boys game was meant to be young boys/teenaged boys, but the side audience expected was fans of the Nancy Drew books and games.

So while I know logically that Phantom of Venice was just the latest in a line of ‘adulted-up’ Nancy Drew books (and games), in my head it makes much more sense to say that it was supposed to be a Hardy Boys game meant to promote Treasure on the Tracks and HER got nervous and pulled the plug, stuffing their erstwhile teen detective in instead.

The Title:

As far as a title goes, The Phantom of Venice isn’t a bad one; you can tell it comes from the ‘hotter and sexier’ Nancy Drew books, and as a collection of words, it works rather well. It’s an evocative title, giving us our location, our crime (‘phantom thieves’ are common as a type of thief), and doesn’t say too much else, so as to not spoil the mystery.

As a title for this game, however…well, so little of the actual game deals with the Phantom that it’s rather non-indicative as a title. By the time you’re 16 Scopa games deep and are wearing a sparkly red dress with a cat mask and sneakers around Italy, you’ve pretty much forgotten about the Phantom and are more worried about exactly what happened to the pigeon you used as a messenger and why exactly flowers and gelato cost so much for 2008.

The Phantom of Venice just…deserved a better, more cohesive, more…well, phantom-y game than it got. That’s all.

Now, onto the mystery!

The Mystery:

Nancy’s been called in by the Secret Italian Police because a thief has been stealing art.

No, really, I’m being serious.

Sure, Prudence Rutherford has a hand in getting her called in, but basically Nancy goes from small-time cases, sometimes getting her name in the papers, to called in by the Italian Secret Police.

Caught up at a house where no one likes her (understandable, given that she just Appears one day, forced on the Ca’s owner, Margherita Fauborg, and her residents at the Ca’), Nancy soon becomes embroiled in a mystery most foul when she discovers ties to the art thief – or thieves – right around the Ca’, poisoned sausages and message-laden chocolate boxes, and shades and shades and shades of tiles offered by the Ca’s resident nerd.

Soon, Nancy is juggling police contacts, heists, Scopa games, and the impersonation of a world-class spy just to give the Italian police a hint as to who might be stealing Venice’s greatest artworks. It gets personal, however, when the Phantom Thief himself shows up, stealing Nancy’s locket which she’s just been given by Ned.

Oh, and did I mention that the whole thing is told in media res? Yeah, very, very weird choice right there.

Honestly speaking, the mystery isn’t…bad, per se. It’s got solid bones – art theft, mysterious thieves, romantic location, interesting-seeming suspects, some spy shenanigans. The problem with VEN’s mystery, largely, is that there just isn’t any cartilage to connect those good bones. Without something to hold it all together, it just kind of falls apart – exactly like a skeleton without cartilage.

Simply put, there’s a lot of mystery, but no plot to carry the mystery along.

The Suspects:

Beginning with Margherita Fauborg, the tanning-obsessed matriarch of the Ca’ Nacosta, seems like a good place to start. Dismissive of Nancy, tourists, and Nancy being a ‘tourist’, Margherita prefers to stay on top of her house tanning the day away rather than take part in any shenanigans.

Having Margherita not be a member of the ring was almost as inspired as having Helena lead it; she’s not nice, does suspicious things, is entirely self-centered – but she’s not a villain, nor does the game really pretend that she is for more than a second. I really like characters like this in the Nancy Drew games, who are honestly just People not enamored with the teen detective, but aren’t villains just because of that.

Also, the story of her husband’s death is just incredibly hilarious.

Her half-ward, half-employee Colin Baxter, on the other hand, is anything but dismissive of Nancy. He’s part of the ‘kinda crushing on Nancy’ club, but is Far less beloved than any other member of that club. It comes from his inherent creepiness, criminal record, and love for tile slides, I think.

Colin, as a suspect…well, he’s just there to make the numbers add up. It’s a shame that his largest utility is to show Margherita’s slightly unscrupulous nature, but he should have been kept as perhaps a figure that Nancy could call to get the story, rather than an in-person suspect.

The other person staying at the Ca’ is Helena Berg, fulfilling the HER mandate for having a German villain in their European games. Having Helena be the mastermind of the ring is a pretty good plot point, honestly, as I expected the first time for her to just be part of it, and to have that be the Big Surprise.

She’s also one of the few villains who promises revenge on Nancy and/or is still out there. I know it would have been Way too soon to have Helena be the returning culprit in RAN rather than Dwayne, but honestly she was a better candidate for it. While any hope of a good ND game (and mostly any game, honestly) is pretty far from me, I always hoped one day Helena would return in all her platinum blonde glory.

Enrico Tazza is our most encountered (kind of) and outwardly suspicious suspect, but he’s not exactly…well, scary. He makes Nancy-as-Samantha play a card game with him, then disappears, despite being the Preeminent Villain Face for the first half of the game.

I do love Tazza, however, just for his presence in the game. He’s cartoony, fun, well-acted…he’s just great. And as a potential villain, he’s great too! You’re never meant to doubt that he’s a ‘baddie’, you’re just meant to go along for the ride. Excellent.

Finally, Antonio Fango is the most prominent suspect that you’ll ever completely forget the name of, due to his lack of screen time despite being the Italian Police’s favorite suspect. He has a whole convoluted backstory involving multiple colleges and degrees, but really he’s just the communication go-fer for Helena’s theft ring.

As a villain…well, Fango does his part, but due to being a nigh-unseen suspect, he’s really just not very memorable. He’s like most of the ring – necessary to establish the numbers, but other than that, a non-entity.

The Favorite:

Despite the plot holes wide enough to steer a gondola through, there are a few things that really make VEN stand out.

The first is Samantha Quick; originally a stage name suggestion from Simone in FIN, she shows up as an actual character in VEN, albeit only by phone and shadow. Her pissed-off phone call to Nancy is a highlight of the game, especially as she ends with the vaguely threatening line “say hi to Ned for me”. Her shadow at the end in Colin’s window is the final clinch to make SQ a personal favorite of mine, and her presence (and the feeling of her presence, which is sort of different) is a high point in the game.

The location of the game is another plus; not so much Venice, but the Ca’ Nacosta itself. It’s a wonderful ‘home base’ location for any Nancy Drew game, filled with light, staircases, and pretty impressive stonework given that just a few short games ago, everything looked like it was animated out of melted gummy bears.

My favorite puzzle(s) are the chess puzzles, honestly. I just kind of like chess puzzles to begin with, and it’s a nice respite from forcing pigeons to do your bidding and avoiding various foods.

My favorite moment in the game is honestly the Samantha Quick shadow, but if I had to pick another moment, it’s where Nancy implies that she’s stripping for money, and Ned just replies that he’ll be really glad when she’s back home safe in the States. It’s such a random, hilarious thing to happen, and Ned’s complete underreaction to the idea of Nancy earning money in such a way (as she makes it sound way worse than it actually is) is what really sells it.

The Un-Favorite:

There are some un-favorites as well, however, that drag down the game to the place it currently resides.

The first is…well, the location and the means used to get Nancy there. As much as I have no problem with Venice, this attempt to open up the world makes little sense when you consider that there’s no way the Italian Secret Police would hinge their hopes on a small-time 18 year old American detective, no matter how highly Prudence spoke of her.

The jumbled plot (when there is a plot, at least) is another point against VEN; the writers just didn’t know what to do with Nancy being in Venice, and so just…didn’t do anything with it.

I also dislike that this game happens in media res. There’s no real reason to do it – and it makes any actions that the player takes that’s slightly apart from the ‘main plot’ – gondola rides, ice cream, looking at slide after slide after slide – seem incredibly out of place and borderline inappropriate. At the very least, if the Hardy Boys were part of the game, they could be yelling her name as she began to drown, which would give a sense of urgency that’s missing from the confused opening.

My least favorite puzzle…well, that brings me to a huge problem: every puzzle in this game is based around the fact that it’s in Italian, and they expect no one playing this to even have an idea of Italian (or any romance language). It boils down to this: the puzzle is just the Italian language, and they have nothing else up their sleeves. I don’t have a least favorite puzzle, because apart from a select few, they’re all the same puzzle, wrapped in slightly different clothing.

The Fix:

So how would I fix The Phantom of Venice?

Coming off of CRY, we’ve now had two games with two (or three) player characters, so that’s what I’d start with doing. Include the Hardy Boys, who have been called on by the Italian Secret Police because of their work with ATAC. They’re helping the mystified police track down this ring of thieves when Nancy mentions offhand that Prudence Rutherford is recommending a stay at a Ca’ in Venice whose owner owes her a favor (as a treat/vacation). Upon hearing this, the Hardy Boys ring her up and ask her help, as they’ve stalled out. They’re not allowed to come into physical contact with Nancy (to save money on animating them/Nancy), but they want her to investigate from her end, as she won’t be suspected at all.

The real reason the Italian Police let the Hardy Boys get her involved, of course, is that they need someone to impersonate Samantha Quick, and they’re having a rough time with their Joe-in-a-wig tests. They need an American who can convincingly pull off the act, and the brothers mention Nancy’s stints undercover. Desperate enough to grasp at anything, Nancy’s officially in.

That along would help beef up the plot, as suddenly we have an actual police plotline with the Hardy Boys (playing as one or the other, it doesn’t matter, or maybe both with different ‘jobs’ to do as one or the other). Diving the suspects is a good idea too; Nancy would take Helena and Tazza as her primary suspects (of course, only Tazza would be the ‘primary’ at the beginning), while the Hardy Boys handled Fango and his side of the ring.

The final puzzle (with the flashlights and such), especially, makes more sense as a Hardy Boys sort of thing. Nancy can snoop around the market and the Ca’, discovering clues as to Helena’s guilt and such. The Hardy Boys take down the ring, but Nancy takes down Helena.

I would also give Nancy a better reason to be undercover at the dance club. It’s a weird little minigame to be sure, but if it’s gonna exist in the game, there should be a better reason. Even better, take it out and have her solve puzzles – something other than the Italian Language, mind you – in order to get money from the police or something.

(Even better, take out the money thing, as someone helping the Police and pretending to be a spy should not be or appear to be short on funds.)

The last big change I’d do is to take Ned out (sorry, Ned, but there’s really no reason for you to be in this game) and swap him for Carson. Carson really should be in a few more games than he is as it stands, and this is a great way to bring in the fact that…well, Carson can’t be entirely Comfortable with the direction that Nancy’s life is going, even if he is proud of her.

Most of the time, Nancy’s family and friends are just used to say “and she’s ‘normal’ and loved and supported even though she’s never home”, and I think using them to establish her character and the stakes is a far better use of these pre-existing characters.

#nancy drew #clue crew #nancy drew games #VEN #phantom of venice #video games #nancy drew meta #long post #my meta

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iwaqchan-archive · 4 years

Text

A/N: in all honesty, this is long overdue!! but i just gotta let you guys know a little secret. i usually write these headcanons (and generally most of the things i post here) while i am at work and i am not supposed to, but weirdly enough it's the time when writing is the easiest for me, like the ideas just kind of flow better, if that makes sense?? so it can take a while till i update, but just know, i will write everything you send me!!

also again special thanks to @whygz for requesting this!! and don't worry your other two requests will be out this week!! (and anon, you made me shed a few happy tears ngl)

(can you guys tell that tamaki is my favourite??)

♡　♥　♡　♥　♡　♥　♡　♥　♡　♥　♡

getting together

• oh my sweet, sweet boy, too precious for this world

• as we are all very well aware, baby boy is an anxious mess. so for this whole thing to work out, you would have to make the first move (or Mirio and Nejire basically have to force him to do at least s o m e t h i n g) and it won't be easy either.

• it will take a lot of time for him to even be remotely comfortable around you, let alone actually initiate any form of verbal contact that would indicate that he likes you in a romantic way. so please go easy on this poor boy, or his heart might aswell give out.

• the beginning will consist of many awkward conversations, Tamaki hiding against a wall and Mirio trying to be a supportive best friend (and possible wingman)

• speaking of Mirio, he is exceptionally protective of Tamaki, like really protective. thus there's gonna be a lot of questioning on his part. he really just wants the best for his best friend, and also make sure you aren't trying to mess with poor Tamaki. but once you made it clear to him what your intentions are, he will do anything in his power to get you guys together.

• bless this boy, seriously. since he knows that Tamaki likes you aswell (he made sure to ask him after determining that your feelings were indeed genuine), he has been trying every trick in the book to get Tamaki to make a move.

• and it worked....sort of

• he got him to ask you out, but elf boy being well...elf boy, lost the initial confidence he got from Mirio telling him that you, in fact, actually liked him back.

• as soon as he saw your breathtakingly beautiful smile, a wave of anxiety washed over him and suddenly the wall looked awfully inviting.

• at least he got the words "I...like..." out, so you got the gist

finally dating

• the relationship is pretty slow moving. his severe anxiety makes it especially hard for him to show affection, notably in public (he tried to kiss your cheek once, while you were taking a walk, but he ended up kissing you on the corner of your eye by accident; least to say, he pretty much died then and there)

• holding hands and kissing are things that make him very nervous, so you really have to let him ease into things. but don't worry, with time (and patience), everything will fall into place.

• dates usually will take place in either one of your dorms, or at places where there aren't a ton of people around. such as museums or movie theatres (late night screenings)

• sometimes, all you do is enjoy each other's company, while each of you does their own thing. be it reading a book, watching some tv show or just scrolling through social media. it's always pleasant, no matter what you do because with him there is never the need to talk.

• he also loves trying out new food with you, it's actually one of his favourite past time activities!! also due to this, he found some awesome new ways to use his quirk [(｡－‿ ◕｡)]

kisses

• the absolute sweetest kisses in this universe!!!! though they can be a bit awkward at times. it really depends on his mood, or well...his anxiety level.

• not that he would ever say it out loud, but he lives for steamy make out sessions, it's the only time he can let loose and just enjoy the moment as it is. without his anxiety getting in the way.

• also loves forehead kisses, giving and receiving. to him they are just so personal and somehow they always comfort him. usually this is your non verbal way of telling him "hey, it will be alright", and it works every time.

• first kiss: not the worst, but also not the best. he was very stiff at first, because he never kissed anyone before and was awfully worried that he would do something wrong, so he just didn't do anything. but he regained his composure and just went with what felt natural. all in all, very lovely!! 12/10 would definitely smooch

♡　♥　♡　♥　♡　♥　♡　♥　♡　♥　♡

requests: open

#tamaki amajiki x reader #amajiki tamaki x reader #amajiki x reader #bnha imagine #bnha x reader #bnha imagines #bnha one shot #tamaki amajiki imagine #amajiki tamaki imagine

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anika-222 · 4 years

Text

Carry On Sparks: Watch

I present to you my submission for @carryonsparks prompt ‘Watch’! This ended up being a second chapter of my first spark submission, Drive Slow. I wanted to see where it was going.

Timing

Baz

Sunday is a quintessentially English winter day - grey and wet and chilling to the core. I arrived at the café disappointingly early, despite my best efforts to arrive right at eleven. I check my watch for the umpteenth time in the last five minutes. It’s only two minutes past and I’m already bracing for the possibility that Snow might not come. He’s changed his mind. He’s remembered all the reasons why he left in the first place. The kiss last Thursday was simply a massive lapse in judgement. On his part. For me, it was everything. If I hadn’t still felt the imprint of his lips on mine as I drove home, I’d have thought it all a dream.

Doubt is growing, taking up more and more space in my head. I check my watch again. The watch Snow gave me for our anniversary. It has a gorgeous Italian brown leather band with rose gold case. I was astounded at Snow’s good taste. It’s not a Cartier, but quite lovely for what was available in Snow’s price range. 11:04. Crowley, time is moving slower than a numpty (they are essentially sentient boulders.)

I’m starting to question everything. Did I miss something when we discussed when and where we were meeting? Was I too kiss-addled to remember correctly? Was I a fool for not confirming our meeting? I’m fiddling with the hardware on my watch, cursing my sentimental heart for wearing a gift from Snow, getting my hopes too high for what is certain to be an inevitable let down. Though admittedly, I didn’t think the let down would come quite so soon; I thought Snow would at least show up before crushing my hopes and dreams.

Simon

Fuck, fuck, fuck! I’m always late, but I took extra precautions today. I set about fifteen alarms to remind me when to start getting ready and when I needed to leave my flat. And when I really, really needed to leave my flat. But here I am, dodging through people strolling along the pavement like it’s a lazy Sunday. Ok, I guess it is a lazy Sunday, but can’t these people see that my fate, the possibility of getting back together with the love of my life, hangs in the balance?! It’s a cold, wet day, yet I’m burning up in my coat. I growl in frustration, and the lady in front of me glances back with concern, but then steps aside to let me rush past.

My heart is beating wildly, and I don’t think it’s entirely because of this unexpected cardio session I’m getting. My heart’s been thrumming since Thursday. I’ve talked non stop at Penny the last two days in anticipation of today, while she smiles, sort of sadly, at me. She doesn’t even try to enforce her Baz quota. I think she’s worried. She talks to me with that tone of voice she uses for her younger siblings, when she’s explaining some terrible truth about the world to them, like the humdrum stealing magic. Fuck. Me and Baz aren’t as doomed as the humdrum, are we?

Well, there’s not any time to fuss about that, I’ve arrived at the small cafe near Baz’s flat that he loves. That he loved, anyway, when we were still together. Without pausing, I push through the door, huffing and loud. Probably should have stopped to catch my breath.

Baz

Even though I’m still fixated on my watch, there’s no doubt when Snow arrives. The door to the cafe slams open, and the bell crashes against the glass. I look up to see Snow, out of breath, with ruddy red cheeks (he’s beautiful) standing in the entrance, eyes sweeping the few tables until they hook onto me. His tentative grin makes me forget everything. Every worry, every minute perseverating over whether he would be here. Of course he would be here. Snow doesn’t go back on his word.

He walks up to where I’m seated and I stand to greet him. “Snow.” I say in greeting, hoping the tremor I feel doesn’t make it into my voice. His eyes are fixed on mine and he seems to not know what to say. His gaze is uncomfortably intense but I find I can’t tear my eyes from his. It’s been so long since I’ve gotten to watch his shades of blue shift in the light. Eventually, he looks down, surveying the table for whether I already have a beverage.

“Can I get you a drink? Your usual?” He says. My heart flutters at the familiarity. My throat works to make some sound of assent, but I give up and simply nod. When he turns to go to the counter, I sit heavily back in the chair, my legs feeling weak from the brief interaction with Snow.

He returns quickly with our drinks and unloads his coat and scarf onto an empty chair at our table. “Hi,” he says. He’s looking everywhere but at me.

“Snow.” The following stretch of silence is torture. I’m in physical pain trying to find something to say that strikes the balance of nonchalance but will also convince Snow to get back together with me. I think I can actually hear the arm of my watch tick the seconds by.

“So -” he says at the same time I start to ask how he’s been. (Truly inadequate, but nothing else was coming to mind.) “Sorry, sorry, go ahead,”

“How did you find a job as a veterinary assistant?” I resort to the conversation piece from last Thursday that lit him up most.

“Oh, yeah, Shepard met Dr. Patel when he was trying to track a gulon. He saw it get injured, thought it might end up in a veterinarian’s office. You know Shep: he became fast friends with her, found out she was looking for an assistant, and recommended me.” He recounts, smiling incredulously at Shepard’s ability to charm his way in or out of any situation.

“And you like it?” I prompt him, hoping he’ll talk forever about this, as long as it keeps lighting up his features like this.

“Yeah, yeah. I guess at first I was a little surprised, what with my track record with maybes.”

I huff a laugh at the American slang for magical beings, “Maybes? I think you’ve spent too much time with Shepard.” He grins. I’m not surprised in the least that he excels in working with animals. Simon never wanted to hurt any of the creatures launched at him in battle, it was always out of necessity. His nature is gentle and caring to his core.

“But dogs and cats and the like, they don’t need much. Just a little food and cuddles and they’ll love you forever. It’s calming to be around them. Um,” he hesitates, breaking eye contact and looking uncertain of whether he wants to continue. “‘S helped a lot with the depression.”

My heart cracks open at his admission, his vulnerability. A little jealousy slips in, too, that it wasn’t me that could help him be happy. My mouth suddenly feels dry. I swallow and it feels loud and exaggerated.

Simon

Baz is looking at me with an expression I can’t quite place. I was worried he would pity me, but this is something different. He looks in pain, like when we roomed together at Watford, it’s a look I would have mistaken for hate.

I don’t want to dwell on this point so I change the subject. “How’re classes? The term just started, yeah?”

Baz’s expression returns to a neutral expression, “Yes, they’ve just begun, though you wouldn’t know it with the workload they’ve given us.” I smile at his complaint, knowing Baz is perfectly content with a big academic load, especially if it’s all English Lit classes. He’s in his element.

“You’ve a class with Penny?” He hums his agreement as he sets his cup down. I continue, “she mentioned you study together on Saturdays. D’you study with anyone else in class?” It’s a pathetic attempt to see if Baz’s social circle has widened since we broke up. To suss out if there’s anyone special in his life.

He laughs. It’s beautiful and light and happy. “No, you know Bunce. She hasn’t time for any more than 2.5 friends.”

“Dev and Niall, how are they?”

“Quite good. They rather enjoy some of the more social aspects of university.” I assume he means parties and drinking. Dev and Niall seemed to be the reason Baz went to any social functions at Watford at all.

“Um. Do you?”

“Do I what, Snow?”

“Erm, enjoy the s-social aspects of university?” Fuck, my stutter is coming out. He’s definitely going to know I’m nervous.

His eyebrow raises. “Every once in a while they’ll drag me out, but you know I don’t enjoy parties much.” There’s a note of suspicion in his voice.

Baz

Snow was never a great conversationalist, but this is starting to feel more like a line of questioning than catching up over coffee. He’s starting to fidget and shift uncomfortably in his seat.

“Have you met anyone new?” Snow spits it out, like it’s all one word instead of a full sentence. I’m so stunned I sit back in my chair. He wants to know if I’ve met anyone. Does he want to know if I’m dating? My stomach flips and drops, then flips again at the implication. It seems there’s an Olympic gymnast in my torso.

I sit forward again, my muscles tensing in the effort to remain impassive, cool, and collected in the face of his interest in my romantic status. “I’m not dating anyone, if that’s what you mean.”

He blushes, but looks more pleased than embarrassed. I try to keep my hopes tempered, but I can’t help but consider that Snow’s concern for my romantic life is due to his personal interests, and not simply curiosity.

Our conversation becomes lighter and easier, a slow return to familiarity. We talk about Snow living on his own, the whirlwind romance of Penny and Shepard. Snow even asks after Daphne and Mordelia, but leaves Malcolm and Fiona out of the conversation. I think he gets nervous even talking about them. Our coffees are long finished when Snow realizes the time, “Oi, I have to get going.” I feel my face fall, ever so slightly.

“Baz…” Snow says softly. It feels so intimate and my pulse is racing from hearing my name in his voice. He reaches out and his hand hovers just over mine, like he might take it, and I’m quite honestly holding my breath. At the last minute he pulls back, and I look up at him curiously.

Simon

“The watch,” I say, my smile widening, fully betraying how chuffed I am that he’s wearing my gift. Baz doesn’t wear anything without full consideration, usually of fashion, but he’s chosen to wear the watch I gave him for our first anniversary. I doubt it could live up to his taste, but I spent hours trying to think through what he might like and would fit his style.

Baz isn’t saying anything. He’s watching me, watching my reaction. I’m suddenly filled with embarrassment. What if it just happened to go with his outfit? What if he doesn’t even remember that it was a gift from me? It could actually mean nothing at all and I’ve just gone and completely mucked up the nice time we were having. I can feel panic filling my nerves and urging me to escape.

“R-right,” I stutter, breaking the silence. “Best b-be off.” I stand up and the chair clatters loudly against the floor. I hastily grab my outerwear from the chair and don’t even bother pulling it on. I’m sure the heat of my shame will keep me sufficiently warm during the walk to Penny’s.

“Snow -” I barely hear as I slip out the door and half run towards Penny’s.

My mind churns. I can’t believe I was about to ask Baz on a date and interrupted myself to comment on his watch. I’m both relieved I didn’t give him the chance to turn me down and angry at myself for not following through with it. By the time I get to Penny’s I’ve cooled down a bit, both literally and figuratively. I stand outside her flat, flipping my mobile over and over in my hand. I’m considering if I should just text him now, ask him out and get it over with, or forget it entirely. My mobile chimes with an incoming message.

Baz: Simon, can I take you out to dinner Friday?

#carry on sparks #carry on fanfiction #snowbaz fanfiction

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sandalaris · 4 years

Note

001 Umbrella Academy and 003 Seth Gecko and 004 Buffyverse/Teen Wolf

Thanks @yossariandawn for sending this!

001 | Send me a fandom and I will tell you my:

Favorite character: Diego 💕 but Five is a close second.

Least Favorite character: Reginald! The only good thing I can say about him is that he brought the Hargreeves together. Oh, and I guess he did give Vanya her first violin. Still an awful guy though.

5 Favorite ships (canon or non-canon): Not sure I have a full five, but in no particular order: Lila/Five, Diego/Vanya, Agnes/Hazel, Luther/Alison, and Five/Vanya

Character I find most attractive: Probably Ben, but Alison is a gorgeous close second.

Character I would marry: Maybe Diego? Possibly Klaus after season two if he could stay sober.

Character I would be best friends with: Probably Alison. I feel like she and I would get along well in that regard.

a random thought: I hope there’s not an apocalypse next season, and I hope the next time they do an apocalypse, it’s not because Vanya loses control of her powers but rather some other siblings who sets it off.

An unpopular opinion: Luther was just as messed up as the rest of his siblings by Reginald and deserves the same amount of understanding/forgiveness for his mistakes.

my canon OTP: Luther/Alison are such a cute couple

Non-canon OTP: Lila/Five came out of nowhere and grabbed my attention in both hands and demanded I pay it the respect it deserves :P

most badass character: Five

pairing I am not a fan of: I can’t really get behind Ben/Klaus. Most of the other ships I’m at least neutral on, but that one just isn’t for me.

character I feel the writers screwed up (in one way or another): I can’t say that they screwed her up yet, but if they magically bring the Handler back next season I think that’d be a major screw up on the writers back. Once I get, and I love the character, but they can’t keep killing her off and then bringing her back without the whole thing losing the impact it had the first time. (Now if they find a way to have her past self pop in now and again to make things sticky, I could be down for that, but I don’t want her back as a main antagonist again.)

favourite friendship: Ben and Klaus... which also might be why I don’t ship them romantically. They’re too much of a brOTP for me.

character I want to adopt or be adopted by: all the little Hargreeves! :( And maybe Lila too, let them have more normal childhoods.

I did the Seth one last because it ended on a bunch of gifs

004 | send me 2 fandoms and I will give yo my crossover OTP

BtVS and TW aired at two such different times that I don’t think I’ve ever thought about crossover potential between them.

And since I couldn’t seem to think of an OTP, I went with three potential dynamics I wouldn’t mind exploring XD

Is it odd that I think there’s potential between Willow and Peter? There’d have to either be some history there, maybe they bonded in early school years. Or else Peter manipulated and pushed Willow, either because he saw her as an easy target or because he sensed the magic potential in her and was poking at it, to the point she snapped back. Once its established that there’s some hefty bite behind the fuzzy sweaters and nervous babble, he’d get curious. And curiosity would eventually lead to some kind of relationship, whether romantic or platonic. Peter would become weirdly protective over her, but not in a physical sense so much as a he speaks to her in a way that isn’t designed to provoke, and will glare/threaten those who he feels isn’t giving her the care she deserves.

I think I could also at least mildly ship Scott/Dawn for some reason. I don’t know why, but I feel like his puppiness and her sort of optimistic awkwardness could click. Plus he’d take the whole “I was a glowy blob of energy for most of my life” thing in stride.

Oz, being BtVS’ primary werewolf, would have been great as a Just Passing Through wolf who runs into the Hale pack circa Derek’s keeps-turning-high school-students phase and who ends up sticking around for a bit. He’s not an official pack member, he likes his lone wolf status just fine, but he’s discovered quite a bit of harmonizing with his inner wolf and ways of controlling a shift that he ends up becoming kind of a much needed mentor. He also has a plethora of much needed supernatural knowledge and unlike Deaton, he’s willing to share.

003 | Give me a character & I will tell you Seth Gecko

How I feel about this character: Sarcastic, grumpy asshole with selective morals! *heart eyes*

All the people I ship romantically with this character: Kate... that’s it, the whole list. No seriously, all the ship questions below have the exact same answer... Kate...

My non-romantic OTP for this character: Gecko Brothers are brOTP to the max. They are ride or die for each other and I love that they are such a package deal.

My unpopular opinion about this character: Not sure I have an unpopular opinion on him specifically. At least not one that I haven’t mentioned before, lol.

One thing I wish would happen / had happened with this character in canon: Whoops, almost missed this one. The show did a pretty good job at showing Seth’s journey, I’m not sure there’s anything I would change per say, but maybe getting to see a bit more of what was happening during the time between seasons. The Mexican Honeymoon and the Seth and Richie integrating into the culebra world, that sort of thing.

my het ship: SethKate 100%

my fem/slash ship: I really only ship him with Kate... so maybe Kade, the stubborn preacher’s son trying to hold his family together after the death of his mama when they’re family vacation gets hijacked by a couple bankrobbers trying to flee to Mexico.... and I actually remember seeing I think it was a gif set, but it might have just been some pics, of someone’s idea of a genderswapped Kate Fuller and now I’m trying to figure out the actor they used...

I’m kind of picturing this guy (only with a dye job and maybe some green contacts), but he’s got a more masculine version of Madison’s jaw and his nose, while not perfect (she’s got a pretty unique nose) is long and slender like hers, and his eyes have that sort of slight downward angle.

I found one other guy that might work, his mouth was spot on and his eyes were practically perfect, but his nose is all wrong, his look much edgier (although that could be easily changed), and his jaw/chin wasn’t quite right. He’s here if you‘re curious. :)

my OTP: SethKate... yeah, I’m pretty predictable :P

my OT3: I’ve at least enjoyed the occassional Seth/Kate/Richie fic, so that’d probably be the closet I have to an OT3 for Seth

my cross over ship: er... I’m not sure I’d put Seth with anyone else. Maybe for funsies I’d play with the idea of movie!Seth/show!Kate and/or show!Seth/movie!Kate, but that’d be as far into crossover territory I’d take him romantically.

my kink: I don’t know that I have a go-to one, but that little one sentence prompt where Seth tries to seduce Ms. Fuller? I really want to explore more of that. So student/teacher?

a head cannon fact: Seth, for all his rebellion and bluster and rudeness, doesn’t know it but he wants the approval of those he sees as father figures, to himself and others. With guys like Uncle Eddie it comes out as trying to please them, charm them, make them like him and find him worthy of their approval and praise. For others, like Jacob Fuller, who he thinks will never accept him, will always find see him as beneath him, he goes of his way to try and prove that he doesn’t want or need their acceptance, shoving it in their face at every turn.

my gender bend: Michelle Rodriguez is the first person I thought of. I wish I could find more pics of her in Seth approved outfits, but you’ll have to make due with what I did find :P

Now I’m picturing female!Seth and male!Kate (who will forever be Kade in my mind) during their Mexican Honeymoon and that tearful good-bye at the gate.

#tua #fdtd #sethkate #btvs #tw #asked and answered

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wtfzodiacsigns · 4 years

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How to tell if your crush is reciprocated based on their Sun Sign.

GEMINI

Gemini may be flirting with you and you may think omg they like me back, but be careful. Look at their next interaction. Oh they are flirting with that person too? Yep, that’s a Gemini for you. Naturally charming and flirtatious so flirting with you is not a good enough confirming sign. Gemini is a sign of nervous energy & when they are with their crush this nervousness can become quite apparent. They will talk and talk and talk but about nothing really & will probably say all sorts of strange things. Their nerves compel them to speak and they feel that conversation is a good way to snare u temporarily so they may bask in ur glory. If your Gemini suddenly becomes a nervous wreck or has a personality change (maybe becomes silent/shy) in your company they quite likely want you. 65 - 85% of the time though you will know a Gemini likes you because they invite u to everything & message u lots, but this depends on how many crushes they have on the go. U could also ask one of their friends, cos everyone else will have the gossip. Gemmy in love can’t stop talking about u when ur not around.

ARIES

If you’re wondering if your Aries crush likes you back then sorry they probably don’t. This lot are very open when it comes to admissions of love/lust/whatever. If they like u, u will simply know. They’ll have told u already 100 times or at least it will be ridiculously obvious. Aries are very straight forward and they hate dilly dallying. If you’re the one they want they will get the ball rolling immediately. Expect lots of texts and a keen interest in meeting up & organising dates whatever. Straight forward people! Will prob show off in front of you whipping out all sorts of weird party tricks & jokes, making sure your eyes are always on them. May get obviously jealous if they see you having a good time with someone else. If you’re still unsure, just ask. They’ll be upfront if it’s a go or no.

LEO

Leo will let you know they like u. They might not simply text u, “ur the one for me x0x0x” but they will show u how they feel. Every time u hang out with Leo they will be trying to outdo the last d8. These are extravagant types & will do anything to ensure ur having the time of your life with them. If you let Leo be in charge and control these dates they are bound to like you even more, they love to be flattered too so dish out the compliments. Make them the centre of ur world. If they like u back you will receive compliments right back. Leo compliments are very genuine & feel very good to receive. They only compliment people they admire so it’s a good sign if they’re telling u how smart they think u are or how kind u are to those less well off or sexy u r or whatever. Leo will want to see u every day and probably for the majority of the day too. They can become very jealous of u spending time with anyone else & u will see this clearly, it’s unhealthy af but a good sign ur their crush.

TAURUS

If your Taurus crush cooks something amazing and time consuming for you then u can betcha they love ya. These are people who like to indulge in the good things in life and when they like you they will 100% share with you. Taurus is good at setting a romantic mood so if they invite u over to theirs “to just chill” and there’s low lighting and cushions and drapey fabric everywhere and some ambient dance music playing and a bloody cheese platter and red wine, yep this one wants you. Aside from that though it can be hard to tell if they are into you. Taurus likes to take a long time to get to know someone. They’re trying to work out if you are worth the hassle. With time though all becomes very apparent. You will probably have to be the one who brings your feelings into the open first and they may need time to process that, but if they come back to you smiling (possibly tipsy) well, mission accomplished.

CANCER

Hmm this isn’t an easy one to call. Cancers are moody and with them u may feel like yesterday u were their favourite person, but today they’re ignoring u but ur sure u did nothing wrong! I’m sure u are in fact still their fave, it’s just Cancers are worry warts & maybe are scared that u don’t like them back so in a way shut u out for a while. When it feels like they like you though u two are probably eating something really great together, snuggling up watching something, feeling very much at ease in each others presence. Maybe they will read u their fave poem. There will be a lot of fun & quick back and forth chatting. A Cancer who likes you wants you to have a fun time with them so will keep the atmosphere light and silly. This is another of the signs where if you don’t know if they like you or not, you’re the only one wondering. They will have told everyone around them & will prob be writing a tweet about u right this second. Cancer is a warm & caring sign, if u get a lil papercut they will fuss over you like u lost a finger. If they introduce u to their parents then yep you have them.

VIRGO

Super picky Virgo will come to you when they deem u worthy of their time. Not an easy one to chase. These people want their partner to be perfect. If they are giving u the time of day, giving up their time, then u can feel safe and know they are most likely very keen. Once they decide ur the one they become fidgety & nervous in ur presence. Initially anyway. Virgo is a smarty pants intellectual sign so ur dates probably involve long discussions about idk pretty boring things. Tbh this a test. They’re checking that u can stimulate them. That ur on to it. It’s unlikely that they will open up much to u for quite some time. Let them know they can trust u & if they do end up talking feelings with u that’s a good sign they’re crushing on u too. Virgo will want to look after u and make sure ur healthy, eating good & happy, so will cook some super food salad, take u on a hike then listen to all your woes and hug u tenderly. They will dote on u but without displaying tooooo much affection. If u really want to know how they feel about u just ask them. They’re great communicators.

PISCES

Lol Pisces will prob be writing u a long love poem right now but most likely never give it to u. If u do receive a love poem, or maybe a brief but totally cute note then chances are u make them feel all mad butterflies and likely heart achy love sick. Pisces will incorporate u into their art when they like u. Maybe write songs about u (for u), send u long letters or draw silly pictures for u. Creativity is very important to them & so when they include u in this work it’s a given that they think u are important too. These cuties will give u so much time and affection when they like you. They will let u know that they are always here for u. They will let u in on all their deepest thoughts & feelings and describe in detail all their wildest dreams. With a Pisces u will prob see their affection for u in their eyes. Tho it may be clear they like u this sign wants a confirmation that it’s reciprocated before plunging in any deeper. So go ahead, let them know!

LIBRA

If Libra likes u they will want to spend a lot of time with u. They are happy to hang in group situations but will make efforts to get u alone. Libra is a very social creature so them wanting to just be with one person a a time & not in a gang is a great sign. Libra will find ways to touch u when they like u, they become very affectionate. Lots of hugs, hand holding, they will lean on ur shoulder. They can be like this with ppl who are just their friends tho so look out for them giving u special treatment. Maybe at the end of the night they gave u a prolonged hug while everyone else just got a quick squeeze. Libra might like u but can take a very long time to make their mind up so patience is key here. It’s possible that they will have even told u that they’re into you but they’re still not making the next move or maybe have distanced themselves from u. Show Libra that u rule & are worth it. They will appreciate the display of confidence. These guys can play hard to get, but stick with. A Libra who wants u will dress very well when they think they might see u.

SCORPIO

When Scorpio likes you the world revolves around u. Ur the one they will message first if they think up something fun to do. In a group they will ignore everyone else and just chat chat chat to u. They will wake up & think of u so send u a text. But they never straight out tell u how they feel. They prefer to work u out first. If they think u feel the same way, then they divulge. If they appear interested in u then they prob are. These Scorpios don’t fake interest. They only bother with those they truly want to be around. Sometimes u will look up and ur Scorpio crush will just be looking at u. They don’t even look away when u catch them. Just eye contact. Tbh they are prob thinking ‘wow i could just eat them up’ Sometimes you think your Scorpio crush fucking hates you, they can be quite rude and hostile to u & say cruel things u know they don’t say to other people. Forgive them tho, they don’t mean it and in fact like u a lot & just aren’t dealing with it very well yet.

CAPRICORN

If ur hanging out with one of their best buds & they are complaining that they haven’t text back but ur phone is vibrating non stop with messages from them, well they most def like u. When u get on a Capricorn’s radar, they will try and find out as much about u as possible. So when u hang out and they know u have 3 brothers and went to Steiner school but u never told them that don’t be shocked. Them admitting they know this info is a way of them telling u they are interested in u & ur life. They can treat u a bit hot and cold, & that stems from a fear of getting hurt. If u can prove urself trustworthy, Capricorn will tell u all of their secrets. And when u start feeling a bit like their private diary u can be 100% sure it’s a match.

SAGITTARIUS

When this lot like someone they try very hard to get their attention. If they see ur online they will quickly send u a message. The way a Sag crushes is pretty playground actually. Like they will show off to you & try and make u laugh by pulling faces & shit. Very playful. Sagittarius is an honest and open sign. They are likely to just tell you they like u. Especially if u seem sort of clueless about it. In the same way though, if they don’t like u they will also let uknow. When around you a Sag will just smile and appear delighted if they’re crushing on u. If they’re up to something awesome & fun they are bound to invite u along. It’s pretty easy to tell with a Sagittarius, they don’t play games & are very straight foward. So if it seems good it most likely is.

AQUARIUS

U two will have to be good friends already. Aquarians view the friendship element of a romantic pairing to be the most important. So you’re friends and u already know they like u as such. How to work out if they potentially want to do pashing with u? Well, suddenly they will be more interested in the mundane aspects of ur life than ever. In the past a story of u forgetting to put the teabag into cup before u poured the kettle would have bored them to death. But now, they’ve never heard anything funnier. When Aqua is hot on u you become the funniest most interesting person in the world. Now you’re off to dinner at theirs expecting the whole gang to be around, but it’s just u and them. And there are candles on the table. Aqua can be romantic in a very cheesy way. How endearing! Best sign is that you have long long conversations that go well into the early hours & they just never get bored of what u have to say.

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afterthelastreset · 3 years

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Rules Of One’s Soul Ch6 Realizing Feelings P2

What followed was Rouxls just stepping away. He just had to get away from that situation. His soul thumped hard in his chest as he shook lightly from that. What was he supposed to say? I love you? Yes, I'm scared of you? No? Each answer could have good or bad results. It always was that way with the king. .....But Jevil wasn't the king, a part of him countered. Well, what about those heart attacks? He could've killed you! And he did! Remember your shoulder?!..But he said that was a part of this 'love game' and don't you find it strange they were all just heart attacks? Oh, yeah! How about showing up in your BED with you in it?! He made you a cake you idiot. It could've been poisoned! Or spiked with something! And he's a prisoner! He was done there for a reason!! Lancer pardoned all the prisoners except ONE you moron. And NOONE knows more about the King's wrath than you.

He faltered his walking before shaking his head and starting his pace back up.

And how di I know I can trust him? He was still down there for a reason! He hasn't tried ANYTHING to harm anyone! Yet! He's kissed you 3 times by now......How many people have you shown romantic affection for since her-

"Shut thineself up!"

A few servants stopped and looked at the Duke who had stopped in the middle of the hallway and shouted out of nowhere. He stood there and stared before giving a smile and chuckle before briskly walking away, trying not to attract anymore attention. Holy f*ck he was a wreck this morning. He really didn't want to be thinking of any old memories right now, and he REALLY just wanted to focus on finding Lancer right now. So taking a deep breath, he calmed down the rapid beating of his soul and managed to relax somewhat. Now. Lancer. He checked the throne room first sense that was the closest. Rounding a corner, he shoved his head into the large room. It was practically empty other than the King Club arguing amongst his five heads and something King Diamond was spouting. Something about decorations and cake?? He couldn't tell from the amount of talking and shouting the two were having. Rolling his eyes, he pulled his head back out, sighed, and made his way up towards the left half of the castle, where the royal chambers were. Lancer was probably playing with his toys again, or riding his bike....He glanced outside at the still pouring rain..Yeah. Toys.

He chuckled at the thought of the small boy playing with the limited toys he had. Or drawing himself as the next 'Bad Guy King' in his many drawings, with his 'Lesser Dad' as the sidekick. Honestly he's glad Lancer didn't turn out like his father. It would've been more horrible then for the outcome of the Kingdom then. That doesn't mean everything was perfect though, Lancer had much to learn as king. He lost count The amount of times he had to fix something Lancer did when he wasn't looking, but maybe that was for the best. After all he was still a chil-

"LESSER DAD!"

He barely had time to turn around before a blur of blue and white zoomed into him. Making him give off a loud 'Oof!' before the two came crashing down to the floor with a loud thud. the blue man groaned, his head swimming, before slowly lifting his head to peer at the weight in his chest. A very round child sat upon his chest and a tail thumped behind him. The blepping boy looked overly happy to see him.

"Dad! Guess what, guess what, guess what!!"

"...*sigh* Lancer tis very rude to tackle thou's subjects-"

"Lesser Daaaaad!" He pawed at his cape. "Guess what!"

He sighed. "What?"

He sat up and Lancer reached up to wrap his arms around the Duke's neck. He sighed and wrapped his arms around the boy, grunting up onto his feet with the boys in his arms.

"I get to help with the giant party this year and get to stay up late! No bedtime for me!"

He chuckled and began stepping towards the throne room. "Oh, really? And what party wouldst thou be referring to? Thou's birthday has already passed."

The child bounced again and he had to tightened his grip to keep from dropping him. "Not my birthday. Mr. Heart King Guy is planning this big party called a ball and he says we're all aloud to stay up late!...Although there's not gonna be balls or any other toys. So it doesn't sound too fun."

Rouxls chuckled. "Young Sire. A ball is another name for a giant get together or 'party' as thou calleths it. Tis more of a fancy get together of older darkners likest mineself and thou mutual kings."

"So no toys?"

"I...guess thou could bringest some to entertain thouself if you oh so wish. But as a King you should pay some respect to it."

"Oh...Ok!"

''That's my worm." He chuckled. "What exactly tis this uh- 'party' for anyhow?"

Lancer hummed. "I don't really know....Mr. Heart King Guy said it's a holiday Ex-King Dad tried to get rid of. He said it would be really fun. I think it's called.....Heart seeking??"

Rouxls gave the boy a look. "Doth thou mean Soul Matching Day?"

"Yeah! That! What is it?"

Rouxls stopped from the long walk by a door and grunted as he shifted to hold Lancer in one arm as he reached out for the door. "Well...It's basically a romantic holiday for couples, or more commonly a way for thoust subjects to meet thou's future spouse." Lancer made a yuck face, to which Rouxls chuckled at. "But thou won't findest yours until thou's much older. Perhaps in a hundred or so year. Don'tst worry non."

"Thank goodness....Aw, man. Does this mean I have to watch a bunch boring grown up mushy kissing?"

Rouxls chuckled as he opened the door. "No. You could always eat the food and-"

"And be entertained, entertained.~"

A head popped from above the doorway, startling the poor Duke into giving a high pitched scream and slamming the door out of reflex. There was a loud 'OW!' on the other side as well as a loud bang from the door making contact with the person. He was clutching Lancer for dear life to his chest and giving a few quick breaths-

"Uncle Jevil!" The boy's voice was a mixture of concern, surprise, and happiness and he wriggled in Rouxls grip until the Duke dropped the boy to his feet. He bounced towards the door and swung it open much to the protests of the duke behind him. The door was opened and the floating imp was on the other side, rubbing his face. "Are you ok?"

The imp smiled and brought his hand away from his face to look at the little prince. "Do not worry, worry little king. Hehehe. I've dealt much worse, worse before."

Rouxls stood frozen behind the boy, hands figiting and ready to grab Lancer at a moments notice. The spiked up feeling he felt whenever the king presented danger crept up his spine and pooled out as some droplets of sweat and a nervous smile on his face. But a voice in his head whisperedhe wasn't the king...It didn't matter. Lancer's safety was more important. The feeling increased when the jester looked up at him and his own smile faltered for a bit...The two men stared at each other for a moment, before jevil smiled back down at the little boy.

"You know, I'm pretty hungry, hungry. Would the little king mind, mind getting me some food? You know what I like. It would ease the pain, pain."

Lancer perked up. "Yeah! I can do that! I'll be right back!" Rouxls opened his moth but Lancer bolted down the hallway before taking a sharp turn and just jumping through a door. the door swung for a bit before Lancer poked his head back out and shouted back "Don't go anywhere!" and slipped back into the room.

Leaving him. Alone. With Jevil. His stomach sunk, but at the same time his soul gave off a throb that sent a happy feeling waving through the nervous emotions. Great. Thanks soul- Something wizzed by his head and lodged itself right next to him in the wall and he froze. Jevil ever oblivios summoned a few more small hearts in his hands and held them out to him.

"What does the Duke, Duke think of my heart's desire?~ It surely do-"

"ART THOU TRYING TO ENDEST MINE LIFE!?" He shouted in a high pitched squeaky tone making Jevil freeze. Rouxls side glanced the pink heart attack- wait. Since when were those pink??- and took one giant step sideways before looking back to the shocked imp. "What doth thou nay understand of attacks?!"

Jevil rapidly blinked before his eyes widened and he thrusted his hands once again forward. "NO, NO! Not attacks! I only wish to shower, shower you with....What did Seam, Seam say it was?...Love, love and affection! Don't be scared, scared! Don't be scared please, please!"

Rouxls stood there frozen, and with a complete loss for words for the moments. Jevil thrusted his outstretched hands towards him, with the mini heart attacks still humbly floating above them. They sparkled and were a....really weird rose pink color. Weren't those white? The worm shook that thought aside when one of those clawed hands grabbed his cape in a desperate but gently way, his elf ears pinning to his head.

"Please don't run away,..away.." His voice pleaded out.

A sudden throb of his soul sent a calling through his being and instantly he felt guilt thrown into the mix of the emotions. Great! Rouxls gulped. Hard.

"W-Wha...Is thou making a...love confession towards...me?" He froze after saying that. The last confession of feelings involved him running for the hills and Jevil screaming like his soul broke in half. But right now....the joker almost looked like he would cry with how desperate he acted. "...Is this a joke?

"No! No jokes, jokes...P-Please.."

"What part of thou's game are you playing?"

"Isn't it obvious, obvious? The two of hearts of course....I don't want to go back, back to a lonely freedom." His hand holding the hearts lightly shook a bit now. "Please..."

Rouxls just stared at the smaller twitching man. What was he supposed to say to his? Yes? No? His was starting to feel dizzy with all the emotions swimming through his head at once, the sound of his pounding soul filling up his ears. Anything could lead to a worse outcome. He felt almost like fainting-

"You really, really don't....feel anything...Don't you, you?"

His soul throbbed again and he couldn't stop himself before he said his next words-

"Of course, I do."

Both males froze at what he just said....Before Jevil's smile returned full and a new hope shined in his eyes. Oh, fuck...

He let out a happy squeal and series of giggles, the hearts he was holding disbanded and his tail wagged like a little puppy. "I knew it! Knew it! Bwahahahahaha."

Rouxls flinched. "N-Now holdeth on! What happened to s-s-slow!...And what art thou doing within the castle?"

Jevil giggled again before giving a smirk. "Lancer, Lancer has been kind enough to rehire, hire my games.~ And the ruler of Hearts, Hearts has asked for my little spectacles, spectacles for the show within ten, ten days....And I'm happily, happily capable of going slow.~ I can do anything!"

Rouxls opened his mouth-

"UNCLE JEVIL!!" A flurry of feet sounded out before a familiar child bounded up to them, a sad look on his face. "I couldn't find any candy...I'm sorry. I looked everywhere."

"That's ok." He reached down and patted the boy on the head. "I'm not very hungry, hungry anymore...." He made a side glance at Rouxls. His eyes wondered the Duke's face a bit before stopping at the bags under his eyes, making Rouxls raise a brow. Jevil hummed before looking back down at Lancer. "But uh-..Did you ever happen to notice, notice something?"

Lancer looked confused and tilted his head sideways. "Notice...something?"

"Oh yes, yes. Very important."

Lancer looked to Rouxls who gave the same confused look before looking back at Jevil. "Did I forget something?"

"Oh no. But uh-" He made another glance towards Rouxls before leaning down eye level with Lancer, still floating in mid air. He turned Lancer around and pushed him a few feet away from the Duke. Rouxls froze up at the sight- "Have you noticed the bags under his eyes?"

"Who's eyes?"

"Rouxls, Rouxls."

He looked over his shoulder real quick. "....Oh! Lesser Dad's always had those." He turned back to the smiling face. "He says it's something all Dads have."

"Oh! That's bad, bad!" He held a hand to his face and gave a worried look. Alerting the child.

"It is?"

"Yes, Yes. You see. Rouxls is suffering, suffering from No-sleepitis. It makes him very sleepy, sleepy and feel grumpy."

"Really?" He nodded. "Oh...He is cranky a lot. And he's been acting very weird-"

"A side, sideeffect I'm afraid. He needs a nap, nap..Soooo.How about a little break, break?"

Rouxls watched and tried to step towards them, but every step he took Jevil move away. This was starting to become worrisome and he was seriously thinking about teleporting in front of them when Jevil finally moved away and Lancer was smiling at him.

"I swear if thou tries something-"

"Lesser Dad." He little boy pointed at him. "Take a nap."

He paused. ".....What?"

"You need to take a nap. Like a lot of naps. Because you're always cranky. So I'm ordering you on...." He stopped and looked back up to Jevil. "What was it called?"

"Paid, paid leave."

"OH! Right!" Striking a pose, he pointed at Rouxls and said in a cute bossy tone. "Lesser Dad, as the new King Dad, I'm ordering a vacation for you.....And what he said. For ten days!"

"WHAT?!" He turned to Jevil with anger in his eyes. "WHAT GAME ART THOU PLAYING WITH MINE SON!?"

Jevil gave an offended look. "I like number games, games....But harm a child, child such as Lancer I would not. That is a cruel, cruel assumption for me. Did you not, not admit to feeking for me?"

"I- N-no?....I meaneth yes! B-B-But I-"

"And one must trust, trust the one they feel for yes?"

"I-I meaneth...Y-Yes! B-But we-"

"Are taking it slow, slow." He grinned. "You said it yourself, yourself. You are the one making assumptions quick, quick without knowing me first, first. You are the one to jump, jump head first as they say and consider my motives cruel, cruel.....Now. Are you sure YOU are not breaking your, your rules? Hmmm."

"Y-Y-You were the one whomst jumped on mineself a-and ....m-made contact" His face lit up a bright blue at this point.

"All within a span of hours, hours or days. You made assumptions within a matter, matter of minutes. Therefore I am moving, moving slower with things."

"Y-You- I didst not meaneth THAT-!"

"You never specified what 'things' were not under, under that rule."

Rouxls sputtered a bit more, thinking of a loophole to be found...But he found none. He gave off a growl and quickly turned to Lancer,

"You cannot be serious! I-I-....What willst thou doeth within mine help for a week let alone ten days!"

"There it is, is."

he turned back to the imp and demanded angrily, "Where WHAT is, Worm!?"

By this point the imp was laying on his back with his hands behind his head.But reached a claw out to point at him. "You pander after the boy, boy like a rabbick would her young. Yet you give, give him no trust to handle anything his own." Rouxls shut up. "How does one expect him to become king, king let alone independent if you do not, not trust him to make his own mistakes?"

Rouxls gave a silent look to the ground. "I-....I don't want him t-to....to..."

"He's not alone....There's, There's other royals and their kin. You're state of being worries, worries me-"

"I-I-It's not just Lancer!" He shouted and started counted on his fingers to list off. "Whomst is going to tend to the guards?! O-Or handle all that god forsaken paperwork?! O-Or over see thine puzzles!?"

"The Kings, Kings, secretary, and jigsawries," he stated deadpan. He went to argue again. "A game where you wear and tear, tear your body to exhaustion makes you the loser if you wear, wear it before you can intervene the bad ending. You must stay prepared for such things."

His own way of saying his mental state was unhealthy...... and implying it needed to change before things went wrong. The three were silent for a moment, before Rouxls looked down at Lancer. The boy shuffled on his feet and looked down.

"Sorry, Lesser Dad....No-sleepitis is bad for you."

Despite what was happening, he gave a dry chuckle at the term. ''C-Can you-"

"I'll be fine. I defeated Ex-King Dad with friendship power!" He struck another cute pose. "I can be a great King-With-No-Lesser Dad for a bit-"

"And he'll be back before the party, party."

Rouxls gave an eye roll. There was no getting out of this, was there? He sighed and dropped eye level with Lancer. "I'll only agree to this if thou stays away from thine dungeon until mine return. Doth thou promise?"

"Yeah! I'll be too busy making the mushy party more fun anyways!"

He didn't know whether to be relieved or not, that still begged the other question though. What the hell was he supposed to do for ten days?

#rouxls kaard x seam #jevil x seam #jevil x rouxls #Nosuit #jeam #Seavil #rouxlvil #Seaxls #Deltarune

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zombiequincy · 4 years

Text

THE MEGA RP PLOTTING SHEET / MEME.

First and foremost, recall that no one is perfect, we all had witnessed some plotting once which did not went too well, be it because of us or our partner. So here have this, which may help for future plotting. It’s a lot! Yes, but perhaps give your partners some insight? Anyway BOLD what fully applies, italicize if only somewhat.

MUN NAME: Hela AGE: 21 CONTACT: IM

CHARACTER(S): Giselle Gewelle, Yumichika Ayasegawa (inactive)

CURRENT FANDOM(S): Bleach

BLEACH FANDOM(S) YOU HAVE AN AU FOR: I have gory Bloodborne au but that one just exists in my head on my lonesome.

MY LANGUAGE(S): English and one very specific Middle Eastern dialect.

THEMES I’M INTERESTED IN FOR RP: FANTASY / Science fiction / Horror / WESTERN / ROMANCE / Thriller / MYSTERY / DYSTOPIA / ADVENTURE / MODERN / Erotic / Crime / MYTHOLOGY / Classic / HISTORY / RENAISSANCE / MEDIEVAL / Ancient / WAR / FAMILY / POLITICS / RELIGION / SCHOOL / ADULTHOOD / CHILDHOOD / APOCALYPTIC / GODS / Sport / MUSIC / Science / FIGHTS / ANGST / Smut / DRAMA / etc.

PREFERRED THREAD LENGTH: one-liner / 1 para / 2 PARA / 3+ / NOVELLA.

ASKS CAN BE SEND BY: MUTUALS / NON-MUTUALS / PERSONALS / ANONS.

CAN ASKS BE CONTINUED?: YES / NO only by Mutuals?: YES / NO.

PREFERRED THREAD TYPE: CRACK / casual nothing too deep / SERIOUS / DEEP AS HECK. (i love it all sorry I am quite the mixed bag lmao)

IS REALISM / RESEARCH IMPORTANT FOR YOU IN CERTAIN THEMES?: YES / NO. i gotta know what certain human body parts taste like u know

ARE YOU ATM OPEN FOR NEW PLOTS?: YES / NO / DEPENDS.

DO YOU HANDLE YOUR DRAFT / ASK - COUNT WELL?: YES / NO / SOMEWHAT. it’s SO BAD FOR ME RN ASGLDKJDJKA i’m very inconsistent i’m so sorry.

HOW LONG DO YOU USUALLY TAKE TO REPLY?: 24H / 1 WEEK / 2 WEEKS / 3+ / months / years. / a lot of it has more to do w my general writing mood and if the thread im writing catches my interest, and rn im writing a TON of really wonderful and fascinating threads so they’re all super captivating for me and i try to reply asap

I’M OKAY WITH INTERACTING: ORIGINAL CHARACTERS / a relative of my character (an oc) / duplicates / MY FANDOM / CROSSOVERS / MULTI-MUSES / self-inserts / people with no AU verse for my fandom / CANON-DIVERGENT PORTRAYALS / AU-VERSIONS.

DO YOU POST MORE IC OR OOC?: IC / OOC. (i have a lot of stupid shit sorry)

ARE YOU SELECTIVE WITH FOLLOWING OTHERS?: YES / NO / DEPENDS.

BEST WAYS TO APPROACH YOU FOR RP/PLOTTING: just send me a tumblr instant message, i know it sucks shit but im not comfy releasing my discord w everyone just yet cause i use it for personal use as well. i check tumblr on the daily so if you send me a message chances are i’ll see it and respond!

WHAT EXPECTATIONS DO YOU HOLD TOWARDS YOUR PLOTTING PARTNER: i guess just be able to put up with my rambling and stopping and starting, a lot of characterisation choices i do go through various stages and its pretty messy so when i communicate that with others it usually ends up equally messy. just be patient with me please.

WHEN YOU NOTICE THE PLOTTING IS RATHER ONE-SIDED, WHAT DO YOU DO?: i don’t mind! sometimes ppl have more ideas that they want to share first and i’m always super happy to listen to those ideas !! sometimes its nice to have someone with a clear guide or structure and be able to work around that rather than trying to fumble through a plot together.

HOW DO YOU USUALLY PLOT WITH OTHERS, DO YOU GIVE INPUT OR LEAVE MOST WORK TOWARDS YOUR PARTNER?: i try to map out some basic info abt their characters that i otherwise don’t know from their bio or verses and try to pick out points of confrontation or similarities to expand on with giselle that can be used as points for like a starter to happen. its either that or sometimes i have really stupid ideas i just toss out there like ‘LMAO THEYRE BREAKING SHIT AT DISNEYLAND’ and go buck wild from there if the other person is down. i also always try to warn people or get a gauge for what subjects to avoid and steer clear of considering that giselle is a bit of a Freak(tm) and will say and do bad things.

WHEN A PARTNER DROPS THE THREAD, DO YOU WISH TO KNOW?: YES / NO / DEPENDS. - And why?: if there’s something giselle did or said that upset you, i would love to know not to repeat it again (since i do still feel pretty new to the rp game, theres still plenty of time for me to make stupid mistakes). if its just a general lack of interest or uncertainty of where the plot should go, then you dont have to tell me i wont take it personally i promise !

WHAT COULD POSSIBLY LEAD YOU TO DROP A THREAD?: sometimes i can be made uncomfortable by certain things mentioned... it happens but its rare

- WILL YOU TELL YOUR PARTNER?: YES / NO / DEPENDS. i don’t want to upset anyone personally and sometimes explaining the ins and outs of my discomfort make things ten times worse so i just. would rather not.

IS COMMUNICATION IN THE RPC IMPORTANT TO YOU? YES / NO.

- AND WHY?: i am the most nervous person you can meet and my brain is always giving me misinfo abt paranoia and random shit so i having clear concrete communication between two parties abt if something is going wrong or is being received poorly means the world to me.

ARE YOU OKAY WITH ABSOLUTE HONESTY, EVEN IF IT MAY MEANS HEARING SOMETHING NEGA1TIVE ABOUT YOU AND/OR PORTRAYAL?: i need it !! i still feel relatively new to all this and i need to know whats going wrong to improve !!

DO YOU THINK YOU CAN HANDLE SUCH SITUATION IN A MATURE WAY? YES / NO.

WHY DO YOU RP AGAIN, IS THERE A GOAL?: to help with my confidence in writing! i have v bad anxiety when it comes to sharing my works and i write a lot of other pieces alongside this blog on ao3 and i want to develop my writing skills just in general. when it comes to like the nuts and bolts of why i rp giselle specifically, its mainly to just have fun and have a laugh w my friends who are really awesome quincy writers

WISHLIST, BE IT PLOTS OR SCENARIOS: OH SO MANY! ive managed to fulfil a lot of my wishlist threads with like, giselle talking to characters she’s already zombified and i love all that angst but i want to do more stupid shit. i want to make it my personal goal to bully every quincy man and woman on sight. although a REAL dream would be if i got to write a thread zombifying a character who managed to escape giselle’s clutches. and more fighting! i want to get better at describing action and fights and i love to write giselle getting beat up and beating people up! more more more!!

THEMES I WON’T EVER RP / EXPLORE: hohoho theres a LOT... uh r*pe/dubcon threads for one, even if yeah i know writing it doesnt condone it, it makes me intensely uncomfortable to put my muse in that scenario, i feel like i have an obligation to like, protect her from that shit you know? racism is one i don’t want to transgress, even though i’m a poc, its not really cathartic or groundbreaking to write abt racism in threads its just... really fucking upsetting. also i know the quincy’s have this very close parallel to the whole n*zi imagery and ideology thing going on and i am not about to start even daring to thread that into my writing or bring those allusions and references of real life tragedies into giselle’s threads. i’ve already talked at length abt exploring giselles trans identity in rp and why im not comfortable doing so, so.... yeah! all those i guess.

WHAT TYPE OF STARTERS DO YOU PREFER / DISLIKE, CAN’T WORK WITH?: i like starters where giselle can just immediately get right into being a piece of shit. mise en scene and all that! cut out the build up and just get to the intense horror !! i don’t like starters where its not immediately clear where the characters are standing and what they’re doing and what’s happening around them. those really disorientate me and leave me kinda floundering because i always need some allusion or mention of a setting to ground giselle in a time and place other wise i cant tell what her response should be

WHAT TYPE OF CHARACTERS CATCH YOUR INTEREST THE MOST?: EVIL WOMEN EVIL WOMEN EVIL WOMEN. also just characters i can wholeheartedly clown on, or also characters who have hidden depths to them and have a single panel of screentime. honestly it’s just all over the place!

WHAT TYPE OF CHARACTERS CATCH YOUR INTEREST THE LEAST?: angry old men GSADJDKSJA i could never rp yhwach for example or yamamoto because idk. theyre just so crummy and boring to me. i also couldnt rp characters who always have an upper hand in battle like aizen. i like my dumbasses and i like them stupid and adaptive not just, ‘yes i know this because i Know this.’

WHAT ARE YOUR STRONG ASPECTS AS RP PARTNER?: i think im nice...? FKSJDKDJSA idk i hate trying to toot my own horn. sometimes i also think i make funny jokes and im pretty chill and laid back

WHAT ARE YOUR WEAK ASPECTS AS RP PARTNER?: my writing style is inconsistent and adapts to whatever i’m reading so sometimes it’ll be really good and i love it and other times it reads like really bad fanfic and i get carried away far too easily and write novella lengths for threads which should be much shorter. i also get shy a lot and dont think i communicate very effectively but HEYO we’re working on it!

DO YOU RP SMUT?: YES / NO/ DEPENDS. haven’t had anybody brave enough to try yet lol

DO YOU PREFER TO GO INTO DETAIL?: YES / NO / DEPENDS.

ARE YOU OKAY WITH BLACK CURTAIN?: YES / NO.

- WHEN DO YOU RP SMUT? MORE OUT OF FUN OR CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT?: more for fun i’d imagine because that’s just giselles own attitude to sex and relationships where she doesnt want anything deep. it might show character development in one way of just showing how she regards others in a romantic sense to be used rather than actually appreciated as their own person and show how selfish she is but yeah, more out of fun

- ANYTHING YOU WOULD NOT WANT TO RP THERE?: theres a few kinks and such but i dont think they’d ever really come up. again, just mainly no r*pe/dubcon.

ARE SHIPS IMPORTANT TO YOU?: YES / NO lets hope this doesn’t make me sound like an asshole, but its more like a fun little side thing than anything important to giselle’s actual development and characterisation.

WOULD YOU SAY YOUR BLOG IS SHIP-FOCUSED?: YES / NO. again, hardly anyone is brave enough to try to romance this evil cannibal.

DO YOU USE READ MORE?: YES / NO / SOMETIMES WHEN I WRITE LONG STUFF.

ARE YOU: MULTI-SHIP / Single-Ship / Dual-Ship — MULTIVERSE / Singleverse.

- WHAT DO YOU LOVE TO EXPLORE THE MOST IN YOUR SHIPS?: more how giselle likes to give over her power or dominate in different circumstances depending on who she’s with and what’s being done. BUT AGAIN, not a whole lot to explore yet.

ARE YOU OKAY WITH PRE-ESTABLISHED RELATIONSHIPS?: YES / NO. - i mean im down for p much anything if it vibes w giselle.

► SECTION ABOUT YOUR MUSE.

- WHAT COULD POSSIBLY MAKE YOUR MUSE INTERESTING TOWARDS OTHERS, WHY SHOULD THEY RP WITH THIS PARTICULAR CHARACTER OF YOURS NOW, WHAT POSSIBLE PLOTS DO THEY OFFER?: if you want an evil woman to taunt and mock and hurt your muse, she’s your gal. you want her to zombify and ruin your muse, shes also your gal. you want her to insult and maim and injure, she’s also YOUR GAL. basically, if you want to do anything fucked up or sad or scary, she can help with that.

- WITH WHAT TYPE OF MUSES DO YOU USUALLY STRUGGLE TO RP WITH?: uh muses who get really angry quickly or don’t rise or respond to her jabs and are just kinda like a flatline. theres only so much pestering and annoying she can do until realises its not working and just wanders off

- WHAT DO THEY DESIRE, IS THEIR GOAL?: to find a goal worth living for.

- WHAT CATCHES THEIR INTEREST FIRST WHEN MEETING SOMEONE NEW?: appearance she always takes an interest in girls almost right away. age as well because she judges old people.

- WHAT DO THEY VALUE IN A PERSON?: a good set of guts to ruin and strong muscles.

- WHAT THEMES DO THEY LIKE TALKING ABOUT?: women, gore, murder, herself, music, stupid memes, gossip.

- WHICH THEMES BORE THEM?: politics, history, quincy ideology, soul reaper ideology, hollow physiology.

- DID THEY EVER WENT THROUGH SOMETHING TRAUMATIC?: her family tried to force the burden of upholding the quincy lineage onto her shoulders, she was thrown into the wrong prison and held in isolation, then pressured to become an undying monster in service of a god and then was nearly killed by that same man and left wandering without guidance or purpose. so, yeah?

- WHAT COULD LEAD TO AN INSTANT KILL?: transphobia. even a whiff of it in her direction and she’ll gut you like a fish.

- IS THERE SOMEONE /-THING THEY HATE?: the twink soul reaper who outted her.

IS YOUR MUSE EASY TO APPROACH?: YES / NO. - Best ways to approach them?: if you’re smart, you’ll bring a big bone for her to chew on and distract her while you ask whatever you want.

SOMETHING YOU MAY STILL WANT TO POINT OUT ABOUT YOUR MUSE?: i love my evil queen!

CONGRATS!!! You managed it, now tag your mutuals! ♥

Tagged by: @bazzardburner cheers chicken boy !!

Tagging: @hyouketsu @blooming5th @viciousvizard @glacies-tempestatem and whoever else wishes to do this!!

#dash games #// this took ages....

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evakuality · 5 years

Note

Davenzi: 63. “Flea markets don’t carry fleas, you know?”

Thank you for sending this prompt! For you, it’s the third chapter of the ongoing saga of the ring. This chapter also available on Ao3, with chapter one starting here on tumblr and here on Ao3

Rings, Riddles and Revenge. Chapter Three:“Flea markets don’t carry fleas, you know?”

Matteo

Despite knowing that he can’t expect any sort of message immediately, Matteo is still disappointed when his phone doesn’t light with a text any time during the rest of the afternoon. The desire for contact itches under his skin and behind his eyes all day, his phone in his hand every few minutes without his conscious thought. That little habit stretches into the middle of the next afternoon while he’s listlessly carrying out some errands his mother has asked him to do for her.

When he notices himself doing it, Matteo makes a disgruntled noise. It was just a damn interaction over a piece of jewellery. Fake jewellery, no less. David was doing his job, being professional, helping out a customer. If his perfect retail persona had slipped for a few minutes, that didn’t mean anything. And here’s the proof. No text, because he clearly hasn’t found the details yet. And with no details, David doesn’t want to contact Matteo at all. Matteo sighs. Runs his fingers through his hair.

His pocket vibrates, and his phone is in his hand again on instinct, drawn there by the mere chance that it could be David. He’s fucked, Matteo realizes. Just the idea of David being on the other end of a piece of communication is enough to have this joy buzzing under his skin. He can’t keep the grin off his face, bites his lip to try to keep it in check but knows he’s giving himself away to anyone who might happen to be watching him.

I can’t find the details I need, the text reads, and Matteo’s heart plummets to his shoes. He can’t quite tell if the cold wash of disappointment that floods his body is from realizing he isn’t going to be able to sell the ring or if it comes from sadness that David is only contacting him to give him the bad news. He shakes his head in irritation at his foolishness.

That’s okay, he sends back. Thank you for trying.

Do you know that flea market near the river?

Matteo frowns at the message. It makes no sense at all, a non sequitur. Confusing and disorientating. He can’t help the way his heart beats a little faster at the thought that sneaks into his mind that maybe David wants to see him again as much as Matteo wants to see David. His mind keeps returning to the way David had looked at him in that one tiny moment when they were so close before Matteo had practically run out of the store to avoid embarrassing himself further. A small part of him, ever hopeful, helpfully suggests that it might mean something.

There’s a place near there that could help. With the ring, David sends before Matteo breaks out of his confusion enough to answer. I could meet you there and take you over to it.

Oh.

David still just wants to be a helpful retail worker, then. Matteo swallows down the sad lump that rises in his throat as he internally snaps at that asshole part of him which keeps getting his hopes up. David offering to do this is good. This helps and it’s good.

Thank you, Matteo responds. When can we meet?

He sends it before he realizes just how desperate it sounds and flushes, despite being alone. He really doesn’t need David to know either how much Matteo needs the money or how much he would like to see him again. This sort of thing is exactly what he was warning himself about when he told himself firmly that he shouldn’t visit the store again.

I finish in an hour. So maybe at 16.30?

Like a rollercoaster, Matteo’s emotions are flung around again. David wants to meet again. Today. Not just today, but as soon as he can today. That’s got to mean something, right? Something other than just perfect customer service. Matteo smiles at his phone, a giddy rush of adrenaline hitting him. This is dumb, he thinks, but it’s not enough to push the smile off his face.

Even if this is just for a utilitarian reason, he gets to meet David again. Outside of the rigid confines of the stilted luxury of his workplace, too. The mere idea of seeing those eyes, the sure and sexy hands, the piercing that’s been haunting his dreams the last few days, is enough to set butterflies off in his stomach. He’s just like a stupid teenager with a crush, Matteo realizes. Exactly the way he was when he had a hopeless crush on Jonas and read too deeply into every interaction.

Still. This feels different, too. This feels like there’s maybe something in David’s eyes that’s heated and interested. The helpless pained longing for Jonas isn’t here this time. Partly because this feeling is so new and isn’t dragging any baggage behind it, and partly because the way David looks at Matteo is promising in a way that Jonas never was. David’s eyes had lingered, and his body had appeared affected, nervous, in a way that Matteo hasn’t often had people seem when they look at him.

It’s not a date. Matteo knows this, knows David is probably just being nice. And yet, he can’t help the flustered, delighted joy that swamps him, or the frisson that runs through his body, when he realizes that he gets to talk to him again. And soon.

He checks his phone again, his eyes lingering over the last message even as he takes in the time and calculates how long the rest of his errands will take and how likely he is to make it to the market on time.

Sounds good, he replies to David’s text finally, trying hard not to look too eager, trying not to look as desperate as he really is. He smiles at the thumbs up he gets in return and turns back to his jobs. Suddenly they don’t seem as dull as they did just a few minutes ago, and Matteo is humming as he pulls his mother’s list from his pocket and hurries his steps just a little more than before.

David

He doesn’t notice that he’s holding his breath until he gets the message back from Matteo accepting his offer to meet, and an ugly relieved gasp bursts from his lips. He flushes, glances around to see if anyone has noticed. Thankfully, his coworker is hard at work, deep in conversation with a young couple with big eyes and earnest expressions. David refocuses. Less than an hour before he can leave. Then less than half an hour before he can meet up with Matteo again.

The time drags, his last customer infuriatingly slow and indecisive and bouncing between one fabulous piece that would boost David’s numbers beautifully and one that’s much less impressive. In the end, the man sighs and buys the cheaper necklace. It’s several minutes after the time when David was supposed to leave to see Matteo and he doesn’t even have a good sale to show for it.

“Thank you,” he says, smiling through gritted teeth at the man who is slowly putting his things back into his bag and pockets, arranging and rearranging them until he’s satisfied. “I’m sure she will love it.”

As soon as the man has turned to walk out, David rushes to the back of the store, grabs his things and yells his goodbyes to his coworker as he practically runs out the door. Thankfully, there are no customers around, so David doesn’t get the disapproving stare from the more rule abiding staff members. Instead, he gets a fond smile and a cheerful wave. It’s a good sign, he thinks. Today, despite the shittiness of the customer he just served, he feels on top of the world, even more so as he pushes himself faster so he can get to the market on time.

He’s panting when he arrives, a few minutes late and with his heart pounding in his chest. Partly from the run, but at least partly because he’s about to see Matteo again. Somewhere a little more freeing than the stilted confines of his store. It’s crowded in the market, which David hadn’t really considered well when he suggested this as a meeting place. It’s not going to be easy to find Matteo in this melee, and David is kicking himself for the stupid romantic impulse that made him consider this a good spot to be together rather than a more conventional cafe of some type.

He scans the crowds, unsure where to even start his attempt to find Matteo. It’s so big, and noisy. Filled with people and things … and he really wishes he’d had the forethought to give a better spot to meet than just ‘that flea market’ because as it is time is ticking by and Matteo could be anywhere.

“Flea markets don’t carry fleas, you know?” a voice says in his ear and David starts, panic swamping him, an icy flood of adrenaline and nerves. He spins only to be replaced with a warm rush of relief when he sees Matteo’s grinning face close to his own.

“You’re an asshole,” David says, but he can hear the traitorous fondness in his voice.

Matteo gives him a weird look. “Is that the way you talk to all your customers?” he asks

David laughs and spreads his arms wide to indicate the spaces around them. “You’re not a customer here,” he says. “Do you see any shitty jewellery around here?” he asks.

“Yes, over there.” Matteo points in the direction of a nearby stall which is selling something leather and handmade.

“Funny,” David says, incapable of keeping the smile off his face, and noticing with a warmth that spreads quickly through his chest that Matteo is also smiling back at him. In a way that David is almost sure isn’t just gratitude for help with his ring. Which turns his attention towards what they’re ostensibly here for. “Can I ask you something?” he says carefully, checking to see if Matteo is offended by the question.

Matteo doesn’t look offended, exactly, but he does seem wary, with his eyes flickering towards David and his lip chewed in between his teeth. He nods, with one quick look at David, who makes sure he’s smiling as naturally as he can.

“Why … what makes you want to sell the ring?” he asks, and is baffled when Matteo’s shoulders slump in what looks like relief even while his body tenses and he looks away.

“My mother … she’s not well. And she needs some money for some treatment. Expensive treatment that we can’t afford.”

“Ah,” David says, nodding. The riddle of why Matteo wanted to sell is answered, both more mundane and more sad than David had expected. It makes sense now why Matteo would have been so caught up in how much the ring would sell for.

Matteo’s answer had seemed like a definitive statement, his mother’s requirements something that just was, so David’s a little surprised when Matteo speaks again with a bitter tone to his voice, one that he’s not sure he’d have expected from Matteo even though he barely knows the guy.

“My dad fucked off and left us when I was seventeen. And … well, the ring was his. So it was going to be this big ‘fuck you’ to him, selling his prized heirloom. Except …”

“Except it’s not what you thought it was.” David nods again. It really does make a lot of sense out of all the ways Matteo’s behavior has been slightly different to that of other guys who’ve been valuing rings for sale.

“Yeah.”

Matteo’s pensive now, his eyes faraway, clearly thinking about the ring and what it means to him if the slightly sour twist to his lips is any indication.

And this … this isn’t how David had seen the afternoon going when he’d suggested it. So now he’s kicking himself for having suggested the ring thing as a cover, and for bringing it up when they were just starting to relax together here. It’s like he wants to sabotage himself.

“So,” he says in his cheeriest voice, trying to distract Matteo from whatever it is that he’s inadvertently dragged up, “what do you want to do first?”

“First?”

Matteo’s attention snaps to David and he’s suddenly far less melancholy-looking, a bright, almost eager bloom appearing on his cheeks and in his eyes, a bloom which makes David’s chest pool with something soft and warm.

“Well …” David says, “we could look around here for a bit, you know, make the most of our time at the market. Or we could do your ring thing.” He grins at Matteo, lets his eyes brighten and his expression soften. “And then we could come back to the market in the evening, when it’s all lit up.”

Matteo swallows, his throat making a really distracting column as he tilts his head up in thought. His eyes shift to David’s and a small smile flickers onto his lips before disappearing almost as quickly.

“I … like the lights,” he says quietly. His gaze remains firm and steadfast on David’s, and butterflies suddenly take flight in his stomach, gently swooping. “So … uh, we should do the ring first, maybe.”

Matteo’s voice is impossibly soft, and David can feel the stupid butterflies getting faster now, swarnimg en mass in his stomach. He’s not quite brave enough to clarify, to make sure Matteo truly understands that he wants this to be a date. But he thinks Matteo might have got that. The way his voice hesitated a little as he said he likes lights and the way his eyes had looked, dark and purposeful, when he’d said they should do the ring first … well, David sure hopes it means what he thinks it means.

continue to chapter four

#druck #davenzi #my fic stuff #my prompt stuff #my ask stuff #Anonymous

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jennycalendar · 6 years

Text

regarding honor and honesty in the workplace (20/?)

read on ao3!!

this fic is so exhausting i wanna do it perfectly and not miss any detail BUT WE HAVE A CHAPTER NOW. THANK HEAVENS. anyway:

this chapter: no more chapter summaries. too much stuff has started going down for me to make non-spoilery statements. everything’s a spoiler enjoy

from the personal files of Jenny Calendar:

It’s ridiculous. Obviously.

Why would anyone think

The real question is

I’m dating Lilah, so even if I was (which I’m not)

Cordelia Chase doesn’t know what she’s talking about.

Rupert was still in the elevator when Jenny stepped inside, holding an overstuffed folder to her chest, a Post-It with Cordelia’s email stuck neatly to its cover. He looked up and gave her a small, nervous smile. “I’m sorry,” he said awkwardly. “I think I sort of panicked.”

After Cordelia’s question, Jenny didn’t feel like pressing him for specifics, and didn’t want to think about why. “Yeah, it’s okay,” she said. “I got a whole bunch of evidence and some contact info for if we want to get in touch with them again. Should we tell Buffy that her ex is back in town?”

“No,” said Rupert very sharply as the elevator doors closed. Off Jenny’s look, he amended, “I-I don’t want to hurt her, Jenny. She came to terms with Angel’s leaving, she’s happy with Willow—it’s clear she doesn’t have those same feelings for him anymore. Bringing him up would only end up hurting them both, and I think we’ve seen enough hurt in that arena to last a lifetime.”

“But don’t you think she has a right to know that—”

“Jenny,” said Rupert quietly, “there are some things that people are better off not knowing.”

There was a strange, charged silence between them, then, and the way Rupert was looking at her made a part of Jenny want to never look away. Frightened by the intensity of the moment, she drew in a breath, letting her gaze drop to the folder. She was certain that she was blushing. “You’re right,” she said finally, not daring to look at him. “On some accounts. But I still think—”

“He’s not here for her,” said Rupert, “and we don’t even know if he’s staying. Telling her might cause her needless pain.”

The thought of being with Rupert in a romantic sense wasn’t something that had occurred to Jenny before. Strange, since they’d spent three years being mistaken as a couple—but it had just never crossed her mind in the way it had right then, and—she blamed Cordelia. People had mistaken them for a couple before, but no one had ever assumed they were in love.

It was significant, probably, that she wasn’t able to label Cordelia’s judgment as a mistake, but Jenny honestly couldn’t think about Rupert and her without feeling like she was going to panic. “Did you press the button?” she asked.

“No,” said Rupert.

“Can you?”

Rupert jabbed at the button for the lobby and the elevator began to move. He glanced furtively over at Jenny, then said, “You’re with Lilah, anyway.”

Jenny felt a nervous rush. “Yeah,” she said, and that was the end of it.

“We’re not going over to Giles’s for dinner tonight?” Faith sounded genuinely bewildered. “Have we ever not gone over to Giles’s for dinner?”

“Sometimes he comes over to ours for dinner,” Jenny pointed out, only belatedly realizing that this proved Faith’s point. “And—I’m dating Lilah now. I need to start focusing in on stabilizing our family unit instead of—”

“Mom,” said Faith quietly. “Giles is family. Why would you act like he’s not?”

Jenny suddenly remembered the night of her first date with Lilah, and the way she’d felt coming back to find out that Rupert had been concussed, and the effortless closeness between them—how easy it had been to say he was family then. All of a sudden, that memory felt like too much of an admission. “You and Tara can go over for dinner,” she said. “I might stay home.”

Faith was looking at Jenny with a small, worried frown. Then she said, “If you’re sure,” and headed back into her bedroom to tell Tara the news.

Jenny watched her daughter go, then slumped into the couch, staring into space. She stayed like that for a moment before dialing Lilah’s number.

Lilah picked up after five rings. “Sorry about that, I was in a meeting,” she said cheerfully. “What’s up?”

There was something comforting about hearing the casual, easy cadence of Lilah’s voice. Jenny smiled. “Nothing much,” she said, “just that we got a whole boatload of evidence from Wesley and Cordelia. Like, a whole folder’s worth, and that’s just a few of the copies they were willing to let me bring back to you so you could see them. So it’s looking like that case of yours might be coming to a close pretty damn soon.”

There was a strange silence at the end of the line. Then, in an almost pained tone of voice, Lilah said, “Jenny, can you come over tonight?”

“What?”

“Just—can you come over? I need to see you.”

“Is everything okay?”

Another silence. Then, “Not really. I just—” Lilah paused in an oddly deliberative sort of way before saying, “I worry about you.”

“I’m a big girl, Lilah,” said Jenny, frowning. “I can take care of myself.”

“Well—I worry about you, that’s all,” said Lilah again, awkwardly. “Call it a habit. Wolfram and Hart doesn’t take kindly to people snooping around, and the closer you get—”

“I’m gonna be okay,” said Jenny gently.

“I know that,” said Lilah stiffly, but there was a strange resignation to her voice. “I just—I want to see you tonight. Okay?”

“Then you can come over here,” said Jenny. “How’s that? It’s a lot comfier than your bachelorette pad. We can make dinner, have some wine, cuddle on the couch and watch bad movies…” She trailed off, waiting, then said, “Lilah, are you sure something’s not wrong?”

“Are Rupert and the kids going to be there?”

“They’re all having dinner at his place,” Jenny answered. “If time with just me is what you want, it’s what you’re gonna get.” Guiltily, she felt a sense of relief that Lilah needed her attention; it provided an incredibly useful distraction from whatever the hell seemed to be going on between herself and Rupert. “Seriously, just—just come over here. It’ll be just us. I think we both need a break from all this case work for a little while.”

Lilah was quiet for a second. Then, wryly, she said, “God, I knew it was a mistake to get involved.”

“I’m sorry?” Jenny felt her stomach drop.

“Not—not that I regret—it’s just that, that I’m not used to—” Lilah blew out a breath, then said, “Worrying,” as though she was pronouncing Jenny’s death sentence. After another moment, she said, “I’m coming over.”

“Good,” said Jenny. “Great. And don’t scare me like that, okay?” She added a laughing note to her last sentence, trying to lighten the mood.

“I’m coming over,” said Lilah again, and hung up. Frowning, Jenny did the same.

“Everything good, Mom?” Faith asked as she exited her bedroom, overnight bag slung over her shoulder and Tara at her heels. “You sounded kinda stressed.”

Jenny’s eyes went to the bag. “You’re staying at Rupert’s?”

Faith smiled a little awkwardly. “Whatever you and Giles are going through,” she said, “me ‘n Tara figured you might need some space.”

“We’re not going through anything,” said Jenny a little too sharply. “And you’re definitely not just staying over at Rupert’s without asking permission.”

Faith’s smile faded and she looked genuinely surprised. “Seriously, Mom, what’s up?” she said. “You’ve never been like this before. I used to go and sleep over at Buffy’s all the time last year and you never once pitched a fit.”

“I’m not pitching—” At Faith’s doubtful look, Jenny sighed. “Fine,” she said. “You’re right. I-I think I probably do need a little space tonight.”

Faith nodded, and her smile returned, but there was a clear sadness in her eyes. “Yeah,” she said, “say hi to Lilah for me,” and she was out the door with Tara before Jenny could process that her daughter had overheard her making plans with Lilah and had decided to clear out.

“Oh, shit,” she said, groaning, and fell sideways onto the couch.

from the personal files of Jenny Calendar (DRAFT, DELETED):

why does it feel like everything’s falling apart?

Things didn’t really feel all that much better when Lilah showed up. This might have had to do with the fact that Lilah was carrying a half-empty bottle of champagne and had an odd, slippery smile that looked very suspiciously like she was inebriated. “Lilah,” said Jenny thinly, “what’s going on?”

“God only fucking knows,” said Lilah, placing the champagne bottle down on the end table by the front door and giving Jenny an ungraceful kiss. “You know, I, I had this whole damn thing down to a science before you? And then you show up with those big eyes and a whole damn family and you tell me I’m a good person like you know what I’ve done.”

“We’ve been through this before,” said Jenny, who had had too long a day to have the one consistent thing in her life flake out on her. But—Lilah was never really there, was she? Lilah always seemed perpetually hidden behind half-truths and sweet kisses. All things considered, Jenny really shouldn’t have been surprised. “A bad person wouldn’t hire a private eye to take down a firm like Wolfram and Hart.”

“Oh, you don’t know me,” said Lilah darkly. “And the thing—” She hiccupped almost morosely, staggering over to the couch and sitting down. “The thing is, Jenny, I’m going to be fucking destroyed after this case ends. I’m just—I’m going to be nothing. A shell of what I was. They tell you don’t let yourself care, and I thought—I thought I was above that. Thought I could play you.”

Jenny pressed her lips together, exasperated. “You’re talking drunk talk,” she said, “lie down,” and pushed on Lilah’s shoulder until Lilah was indeed lying on the couch.

“Jenny,” said Lilah, a strange, wavering note in her voice. “Jenny, c’mere, let me see you.”

Jenny sighed and knelt down next to Lilah, resting a hand on Lilah’s shoulder. Lilah looked up at her with a kind of devastated misery, like she was looking at a car wreck waiting to happen, and—and it more than stung, after a day like today. Jenny already had her own reasons to doubt the strength of her connection with Lilah—she didn’t need that same doubt from Lilah herself. “We’re gonna last,” she said, more for herself than for Lilah. “I’m not in the habit of ruining relationships.”

“No,” said Lilah, still looking at her, “but I am,” and closed her eyes as though that was the end of it.

Jenny looked at Lilah on the couch, then swallowed hard and pulled herself back up. She picked up her phone, her keys, and her laptop bag, exited the apartment, shut the door behind her, and dialed Rupert’s number.

Rupert picked up on the fourth ring. “Jenny?” he said, soft and uncertain. “Faith said something about you having a date with Lilah—is that why you won’t be at dinner tonight?”

Jenny smiled a little, comforted by the familiarity of his tone, and didn’t say anything.

“Jenny, are—are you there?”

“Yeah,” said Jenny. “Just—wanted to hear your voice.”

There was a strange silence, then Rupert said, “I can’t do this. I really can’t.”

“What do you mean?”

“Whatever’s been going on with Lilah, it’s—you’ve been erratic, inconsistent, and overall quite impossible to work with. Just when I think we’ve reached some sort of understanding—”

“Rupert—”

“—you skip out on some event or some gathering in favor of being with her. And then you turn to me as though—” Rupert’s voice caught, almost as though he were near tears. “—as though I’m someone to fall back on, and I can’t—”

“Rupert, just—”

“—can’t work with someone who doesn’t respect the, the work we do at all times. You must understand—”

Jenny felt her ashamed guilt dissipate. “You have got to be fucking kidding me,” she said fiercely. “You’re trying to tell me that I don’t respect the work we do? I’m the one who hired you!”

“That’s not why—Jenny, I can’t work with a person who doesn’t value my contributions or my time,” said Rupert. He still sounded shaky, but he also sounded frighteningly sure of himself. “I don’t know if we can be partners anymore.”

“What?” Jenny felt like the floor had just opened up under her.

“Believe me when I say it’s the best for both of us,” said Rupert quietly. “Certain—realizations—I came to today, regarding—the depth of my feelings for this job, for the work we do—it’s unhealthy and all-consuming, and I’m putting in more than I’m receiving. Please respect my decision.”

“Are you going to tell the kids?”

“I am and I have.”

“You told them without me there?”

“You were the one who chose not to be there.”

“What the fuck kind of move is that?” Jenny was all but shouting. “You told my daughter you were quitting without me there? She’s—that’s not your news to tell!”

“You’ve said before that we were family—”

“Faith’s my family,” said Jenny furiously, aiming to hurt Rupert as much as he’d just hurt her. “You’re my associate. Not even that, now, according to you,” and then she realized what she’d just said, and who she’d just said it to. Horrified, she began, “Rupert—”

Rupert hung up.

Jenny listened to the dial tone until her eyes had adjusted to the darkness of the apartment hallway. Nodding to herself, she pocketed her phone, scrubbed roughly at her eyes, and headed out into the night.

#fic #regarding honor and honesty in the workplace #:)

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deeranger · 7 years

Text

“Lavender Remains” chapter 1

SUMMARY:

James and Michael have decided to explore their newfound feelings for each other after the "X-Men: Days of Future Past" wrap by staying at a secluded country inn. Keeping their romance a secret they try to find out what to do, because James is a married man after all. For now at least. But the otherwise cozy stay at the inn takes a dramatic turn when James suddenly goes missing one night. Unwillingly separated from each other both James and Michael are going to realize just how much they love each other. And exactly what they are willing to do in the name of love. Will their love survive? And will they?

WARNING:

Explicit non-con and violence in upcoming chapters! Read at own risk!

Chapter 1: ”Dinner for Two”

The sun was sending down its light in cool, yellow rays piercing the thick layer of clouds drifting across the sky outside the windows. The atmosphere in the restaurant was calm and there was a soft humming of voices and clinking of tableware. For once it was nice that there was no music playing which was usually the case in most restaurants. James was grateful for the quiet. He smiled as he let his glance wander around in the restaurant of the cozy country inn. It had been a good idea to stay here together after the X-Men wrap. He needed a break and most of all he needed a bit of calm after the hectic shoots and long work days in downtown Québec. He had been looking forward to it for weeks. And he really liked this place. The inn had an almost homely feel to it and the entire building was filled with red velvet curtains, yellow floral tapestry, brown leather furniture, solid oak tables and half-faded paintings hanging side by side on the walls. It was like being in the 1950'ies.

The rooms might be expensive, but the surroundings were definitely worth it. Everything here was calm and old fashioned and the staff was kind. When he and Michael had received their keycards the receptionist had proudly told them that the inn had just finally upgraded to a digital system with keycards instead of the old, traditional keys and locks. That was about the only modern thing here, James thought, as he studied an old painting of a forest picnic by the bar. The ladies in the painting were sitting in the grass wearing big hats and one of them had a beagle on a leash. He thought the paint looked a bit cracked and chipped in the edges of the canvas which was actually complimenting the painting in an odd way. He smiled and wondered how Michael had even found this place out here in the outskirts of Québec - but it was definitely the most romantic place they had been yet. He couldn't remember the name of this area for the life of him, but it was something along the lines of La Haute-Saint-Charles. A borough of Quebec. And it looked just as beautiful as the French name sounded. Rubbing his cheek James directed his glance back to Michael and discovered that he was seemingly being studied from across the table.

"I like it when you do that," Michael said and smiled a little. James raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Do what?" he asked and let Michael cover his hand with his own on top of the table plate.

"Look dreamy like that," Michael said and softly circled his index finger on the skin on the back of James' hand. James grinned a little. He loved when Michael told him things like that, it made him feel all warm and fuzzy inside. For a moment they were just smiling at each other. However Michael withdrew his hand when they were interrupted by a waiter walking up to their table and handing them the menu. Breaking eye contact with James Michael looked up at the blonde lady who was sending them a white smile. James suppressed a sigh. The fact that they couldn't just act as any other couple when out in public was growing a bit annoying. They even had to get two separate rooms even though they only used one. But that was one of the costs of being a celebrity and quite frankly he wasn't comfortable with everyone knowing about their romance just yet. People on set might have a suspicion, but for now he appreciated Michael’s discretion. But he knew that it was hard on him.

"Can I get you gentlemen something to drink?" the waiter beamed in a French accent as she took out a small notepad and a pencil. James nodded as he looked from the waiter to Michael.

"You in on some red wine...?" he asked and Michael smiled at him shortly before looking up at the blonde.

"You bet. What can you recommend?" he asked. The blonde woman looked contemplative for a moment.

"Well, our finest is the Chateau Latour 1983..." she said and looked a little flushed. She rolled the pencil between her fingers and bit her lip as she suddenly let out a nervous grin.

"My apologies, I'm new here and I haven't memorized the wine card yet...." she said shyly.

"But I can go get a co-worker and he can tell you..." she started, but James immediately interrupted her.

"Oh, no worries, we'll take your word for it," he said as he held out a hand to ensure her that it was okay. Michael grinned.

"We're not exactly connoisseurs anyway," he added.

"We'll have the Latour," Michael said as he nodded and the blonde smiled and looked a little relieved. She then bit her lip again.

"I have to mention that it's a five hundred dollar bottle, sir," she said regretfully. James' jaw dropped open a little but Michael merely smiled. He sent her an approving wink and she nodded, scribbling it down on the notepad.

"I'll see to it right away while the gentlemen look at the menu," she said and respectfully backed away from the table to head for the wine cellar. As she walked away Michael looked back at James and exposed his white teeth in a broad, shark-like grin. James shook his head a little, his hand grabbing a hold of Michael's.

"A five hundred dollar bottle?" he asked with an incredulous grin, his crystal blue eyes shimmering in the light from the sunset being filtered through the window's glass. Michael tightened his grip a little around James' hand.

"If I didn't know better I'd think you're trying to impress me..." James teased. Michael narrowed his eyes a little at him.

"Well, maybe I am," he said, the grin still on display on his face.

"Or maybe I was just being nice to the lady. You can believe either," he said and let go of James' hand, picking up the heavy leather menu and flipping it open with a nonchalant movement.

"Ooooh," James said coyly, hiding a laugh. However nothing he did ever seemed to escape Michael's attention and he looked at him over the top of the leather binder.

"That's funny to you, huh?" Michael asked, trying to sound hurt. James just glared at him, still suppressing a laugh.

"Yes, a little," he answered and also opened his menu, skimming the names of the various dishes. He realized how hungry he was.

"What do you fancy?" he mumbled and leaned forwards a bit over the table while studying the menu which was both in English and in French. Michael bit his lip, sending him a mischievous glance.

"You," he said and smiled as he saw James' cheeks flush a little by his remark. Trying to look unaffected James flipped through the pages of the menu but he could feel how Michael was watching him. He had to admit that he liked the flirting... This was all so new and exciting and he loved every minute of it. Still it was a bittersweet mix of new passion and a slightly fearful paranoia spiced with a bad conscience. James couldn't help but wonder if he was making the right choice. It felt right, but maybe he was still confused. Maybe he wasn't falling in love, maybe he was going through a phase? After all, only a year ago he would have laughed if anyone had even hinted that he and a male colleague could ever develop any sort of romantic feelings for each other. He had always been so confident in his sexuality. Or so he had thought. Biting his lip he realized that he was skimming the lines in the menu without even taking them in, registering what it said.

"You okay?" Michael asked, breaking the silence. James almost jumped as his chain of thought was broken. Letting out a small sigh he managed to send Michael a half-hearted smile, which was supposed to look reassuring.

"Yeah..." he said and put down the menu as Michael found his hand again, knowing that he had failed miserably at his attempt to seem calm and collected.

"Look... I know that this is an awkward situation. There is a lot at stake. For both of us. Both professionally and personally. And I want you to know that it's alright whatever you decide," Michael said under his breath, locked in deep eye contact with James. Nuzzling Michael's hand a little James couldn't help but feel the adoration for this man wash through him as a warm wave of gratitude.

"I love you. And I want you to be happy. You know that," Michael said softly, the affection clearly radiating from his eyes. James was still taken aback by Michael's astonishing skill to read him like an open book.

"I love you too," James said and swallowed.

"I just... It's going so fast and I guess... I guess it scares me," he whispered, feeling his heart skip a beat or two. Michael smiled and gently squeezed James' hand a little.

"It's alright. I understand. We'll take it slow, you set the pace," he said, clearly stating that there was no pressure. James smiled, this time genuinely.

"Thank you," he said gratefully. He was feeling bad about putting Michael on hold like this due to that damn insecurity. They had talked about it before in his trailer on set. Why couldn't he shake it off? Why couldn't he just decide? No matter what he felt torn between the security of his normal life and the enticing, new reality of this whirlwind romance. He had to decide some time soon. He simply couldn't get himself to postpone it for much longer, keeping Michael in a limbo like this. It wasn't fair. Taking a deep breath James picked the menu back up.

"Let's get some grub, yeah?" he said, brushing his shoulder length brown hair behind his ears with a slow movement as if it was somehow soothing him a little to do so. He exhaled softly. He knew that Michael could see him struggling, but he also knew that he understood. It made his heart melt and his knees go soft that Michael was willing to put himself through this turmoil of waiting and the insecurity of not knowing what the future held... All for him. Michael squeezed his hand once more before picking the menu back up too. He knew when to back off a little and just let James reflect on things. He didn't want to push him.

"How does the roast beef sound?" Michael asked, feeling his stomach rumble. James found the description in the menu and read it out loud:

"The roast beef au jus is a classic slow-roasted prime rib garnished with fresh rosemary and thyme sprigs. Carved at the table. Served with mashed potatoes and sautéed haricots verts," he said and looked up at Michael.

"I'm in!" he said. In the same moment the sound of footsteps reached their ears and they both looked up as the blonde waiter stopped in front of their table, presenting their ordered bottle of red wine. James couldn't help but study how the black pencil skirt hugged her slender hips and how her blonde hair had been fastened in a bun on the top of her head. She was quite petite but her black stilettos made her taller. She reminded him of Anne-Marie. With his gaze lingering on her he wondered what a separation from his wife might be like… But right now he didn’t want to investigate that feeling all too much. But god, how she looked like her. Shaking it off James smiled at the woman as she opened the bottle with a skilled hand. She returned his smile as she started to pour the expensive ruby colored liquid into Michael's glass first.

"Looks good!" James burst out as he noticed how dense the color of the wine was. Dark and rich. He was a little excited to taste a five hundred dollar bottle wine, he had to admit. Usually it was more in the twenty dollar range.

"It does, doesn't it?" the blonde said in a silky voice as the sleeve of her white shirt grazed James' hand when she poured his glass.

"There you go, gentlemen," she said and Michael grabbed his glass, swirling the wine around slightly as he smelled it. He looked contemplative as he analyzed the scent. James looked at the waiter again.

"Thank you," he said and then looked at Michael. He still looked focused on the wine.

"We'd like the roast beef au jus," Michael then said as he put the glass to his lips and took a small sip. James raised an eyebrow slightly as the waiter immediately fished out the notepad and pencil again and began scribbling.

"Of course, sir. One of our best dishes," she smiled and then looked at Michael.

"Is the wine to your liking?" she asked carefully and watched as he looked up at her and nodded.

"Yes. It's very nice," he said a little flatly and put the glass down, rotating it thoughtfully with his fingers. He then picked up the two leather menus and handed them to the blonde. The petite woman looked a little surprised by this and she hurried to stick the notepad in her pocket along with the pencil in order to grab them. As she quickly grabbed the heavy binders she placed them under her arm and sent Michael an insecure smile.

"I'll go and place your order with the chef, gentlemen. I hope you enjoy the wine," she said and backed away, only to turn and head for the kitchen. James turned his head and looked as she walked away. He then looked back at Michael a little perplexed.

"What's wrong?" he asked quietly, a little worried by the change in Michael's behavior. It might be subtle, but it was definitely there. Grabbing his glass again Michael took another sip as his fingers explored the texture of the cloth napkins by his plate. He looked sort of stone-faced.

"If you want to break this off... Just tell me," Michael said softly as he finally raised his glance and looked at James. His usually cheerful expression had been replaced by a sad one and James frowned in confusion.

"What..? But I..." James started, but Michael interrupted him.

"Honesty is the most important thing to me in all of this. And I meant what I said before. Every word of it. Just... Promise me you'll tell me," Michael said, now managing to send James a little smile. It wasn't one of his usually radiant smiles... more like a forced one. He then looked down at the napkin by his plate again. James swallowed.

"I'll... I'd tell you, but...Where is this coming from?" he asked, concerned with Michael's sudden change of mood. Michael was scraping the nail of his index finger against the cloth napkin as if he was trying to level out the starchy texture. He snorted slightly in frustration.

"I'm a simple man, James..." Michael said softly, almost inaudibly. Again he raised his glance, lifting it off the napkin.

"Jealousy is one of my worst traits," he then said and James' eyes widened as he realized what was going on. Michael had obviously noticed that he had been looking at the waiter, mistaking his inspecting glance as a sign of interest instead of the melancholic flash-back that it had been. James opened his mouth to ensure Michael that he had misunderstood the situation, but Michael held out his hand, letting it hover over the napkin.

"It's okay, James. I just need to calm myself a little. It's not like I own you," he said and folded the napkin only to unfold it again. James felt like his heart sank. He felt like saying that he wanted Michael to own him - but he stopped himself. How could he say something like that when he wasn't even sure if he was on the right path? Making the right choice? Biting his lip James redirected his glance and stared out the window. The sun was setting and dusk was spreading out its monochrome darkness slowly but surely over the landscape. He felt a little like the landscape looked. Grey. And sad.

"Do you have to go to that meeting tonight?" James asked quietly, staring at the big lawn with its trees swaying in the breeze outside the window. Michael let out a small sigh.

"Yes... I have to," he said and James looked at him. He had to control himself to not start pleading Michael to just stay here. They needed to talk. To sort things out... To find out what to do and what to feel and not to feel. But being so confused himself James didn't know where to start or what to say. He felt like he couldn't see the forest for the trees. So who was he to discuss feelings and sort out anything? But he really wished that they could just eat and then go to one of their rooms and hide under the covers together, talking all night like they did so often.

"Here comes our food," Michael said and sent James a little smile. James couldn't decipher whether it was a genuine one or a forced one. The petite blonde waiter walked up to their table, balancing a big chopping board with a roast on it in one hand and a tray with sauce, haricots verts and mashed potatoes in the other. James focused on Michael, but he couldn't catch his glance because Michael was apparently still analyzing the napkins.

"I hope you'll enjoy, gentlemen," the waiter smiled as she placed the chopping board in the middle of the table, bending her upper body down to do so. Her discrete cleavage in the white shirt came uncomfortably close to James' face and automatically he pushed himself backwards in his chair a little. As she stood back up she looked at James:

"Let me know if you need anything," she said and arranged the small ceramic pitcher with the sauce carefully next to the platter of haricots verts and the bowl of mashed potatoes, aligning them perfectly with each other. James tried to avoid eye contact, but he didn't want to be impolite and Michael didn't look like he was going to say anything.

"Thank you, we will," James said and cleared his throat a little nervously as the blonde's sleeve brushed against his hand again when she was finally done arranging the food. She smelled of lavender, James suddenly noticed to his surprise. It reminded him of the perfume Anne-Marie always used to wear. Annoyed with himself for thinking about Anne-Marie once again he brushed an escaped strand of hair back behind his ear. This lack of ability to control his thoughts was frustrating and James bit his lower lip hard as if to jerk himself back to reality. He had no interest in this woman what so ever, but she kept reminding him of Anne-Marie, and it was more than distracting to say the least. He was here with Michael and only Michael. He needed to give him the attention he deserved and not lose focus like this.

"Bon appétit," the waiter beamed and finally walked away from the table. James felt like he could breathe again. And the lavender fragrance quickly dissipated in the steam rising from the roast and bowl of mashed potatoes. He looked at Michael whose steel eyes were scanning the table and inspecting the abundance of food.

"It looks delicious," Michael said and nodded at James. He sounded a little more cheerful than before, but still he seemed a bit distracted. His glance wasn't the usual carefree one.

"Care to cut me a piece of that?" he then asked, referring to the roast on the chopping board. James picked up the carving knife along with the fork and started to cut thin, juicy slices of meat. Looking at his watch Michael's eyebrows shot up.

"Shit... I have to go soon," he said and held out his plate when James gestured for him to do so and placed a slice of meat on it.

"Is it past six already?" James asked surprised, convinced that the time had to be no more than five or so in the evening. Time always flew by when he was in Michael's company and he couldn't help but look at his own watch just to make sure. Michael nodded as he poured sauce over the meat and finally looked up:

"Look... I'm sorry. I know I can be a dick," Michael said, sending James a sad look while shoveling some mashed potatoes on to his plate. He let out a small sigh.

"I guess I'm scared of losing you," he added and took a bite of meat, raising his eyebrows in surprise as the intense flavor spread on his tongue. James smiled at him, relieved that Michael was opening up a little and not keeping it all inside which he had a tendency to do... Just like he did as well.

"She is quite hot though, so I can't say I blame you. You haven't tasted the wine yet?" Michael said as he was swirling the dark liquid around in his glass. James blinked a little, surprised that Michael was apparently still convinced that he had been checking the waiter out.

"I'm not interested in her," James said a little frustrated while cutting himself a slice of meat as well. Michael merely smiled and it was impossible to decipher what that smile meant. Taking another bite Michael nodded towards the glass of untouched wine next to James' plate.

"Go ahead and taste it," Michael smiled. James couldn't help but return his smile and he picked up the glass of wine and carefully smelled it. Michael hadn't seemed all that thrilled about the fancy wine judging by his reaction from before but none the less he seemed rather enthusiastic now. Putting the glass to his lips James looked at Michael before taking a small sip. The taste tingled and spread like a fruity explosion on his tongue. Taken aback by the intense flavor James uttered a "whoa" and blinked a few times. This seemed to amuse Michael, who chuckled.

"Pretty nice, isn't it?" he asked and winked at James, who was still staring at the glass a little incredulously. Brushing his hair behind his ears again he looked at Michael.

"Nice?? My tongue just had a fucking orgasm," he grinned and took another sip.

"I'm glad," Michael smiled with a lustful twinkle in his eye as he took another bite of the food. It tasted divine.

"Talking about orgasms... Can't wait for that meeting to be over," Michael whispered and savored the look of James' cheeks immediately getting flushed. And it wasn't because of the wine. He then looked at his watch again. It was half past six in the evening, and he would have to leave soon for the meeting downtown. Letting out a small sigh he shoveled more food on to his plate.

"Sorry, I know this isn't exactly proper etiquette..." he mumbled as he ate. James chuckled slightly, studying Michael as he desperately tried to eat as fast as possible without looking like a complete savage. That man always had a huge appetite - and not only for food, James thought to himself. Enjoying the wine and the food James was happy that he wasn't forced to rush. Instead he slowly drank the wine and savored the juicy flavors of the food in front of him along with the sight of Michael, sloppy or not. Time was ticking by fast and when Michael looked at his watch again he put his knife and fork down.

"Damn it," he said and motioned to get up from his chair, letting his hand brush discretely against James' thigh under the table as he stood up.

"I have to go. I don't know when I'll be back, I'm guessing around midnight," he said and wrapped his woolen scarf around his neck. Looking around quickly to see if anyone nearby was looking in their direction he placed a hand on James shoulder, squeezing it slightly. James placed his hand on top of Michael's and sent him a smile. He wanted to kiss him but they both knew that they better not. As Michael walked up to the bar and paid the bill, he sent James hidden smile over his shoulder. As he walked out of the restaurant James returned his glance to the wine glass and the huge meal in front of him and he let out a little sigh.

#mcfassy #fanfiction #james mcavoy #michael fassbender #fassavoy #mcbender #romance #jealousy #my fic #lavender remains #@deeranger

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