#okay! ready set go gimme ur thoughts on this

[stolenslumber]

devils roll the dice, angels roll their eyes (pjs)

Jay needs someone to pretend to be his girlfriend, and you’re just the person for the job— seriously, you’re almost a professional at this point, regularly charming the families of your idiot twin’s friends who need your help getting their parents off their back. Of course, leave it up to Jay to blur the lines of your fake relationship so smoothly that you catch real feelings; falling in love has never been this easy.

PAIRING: park jongseong x female reader GENRE: acquaintances to partners in crime to fake dating to lovers i guess? lol, college au, vaguely greek life au, vaguely rich kid au, fluff fluff fluff, jake is the mc’s twin bc i thought it would be funny WARNINGS: swearing, kissing and suggestive content/sexual themes WORD COUNT: 14.4k A/N: ik the ages don't line up here shhhh just ignore that okay

NOW AVAILABLE: hang your head low in the glow (companion fic/follow-up)

“WHY DO YOU LOOK SO NICE?” 

“Why do you sound so surprised?” You scoff, tossing the apple you were just about to eat at Jake’s head. Annoyingly, he catches it in mid-air, then makes a show out of polishing it with his shirt and taking a big bite out of it. “Hey, I was going to eat that, asshole.”

“Shouldn’t have thrown it at me, then.” 

You roll your eyes at your twin, then go to retrieve another apple from the fruit bowl. It’s surprisingly well-stocked, given that you’re in a frat’s kitchen. Honestly, it’s surprising that there even is a fruit bowl in a frat’s kitchen, but the president of this frat runs a tight ship.

Said president appears in the doorway just then, snatching the apple from your hands as well as the one from Jake’s hands. “Guys, seriously, you have to wash these before you eat them.”

You and Jake both whine simultaneously. “Chan!” 

“I already took a bite out of that, bro,” Jake complains.

“I’m starving; please have mercy,” you beg.

Chan whips his head around from where he’d begun washing the apples in the sink to fuss at you. “What? Why haven’t you eaten yet? It’s almost 9pm!”

“Which reminds me— why do you look so nice?” Jake repeats.

“I had a thing with Mark,” you sigh. 

“You can just say you were pretending to be his girlfriend; we all know what you mean,” Jake snorts.

“I had a thing with Mark,” you repeat, resisting the urge to throw another apple at Jake’s head. “It was at this ballroom downtown, and of course he had nothing to wear, so I had to take him shopping first, which made us late, and then his parents wouldn’t stop talking my ear off about how I need to convince him to give up the music major, so I couldn’t touch any of the food there. Not even the foie gras torchon,” you recall mournfully. “We just got back, like, five minutes ago.”

Chan hums sympathetically— he knows how much you love foie gras torchon. “You can probably ask for an endless supply in return for your appearance at today’s thing,” he suggests, only half-joking. It absolutely sounds like the kind of thing Mark Lee would agree to, what with his ridiculously large inheritance and hapless generosity (last month, Mark lost thousands of dollars in some animal shelter-related pyramid scheme, marketed to him by none other than Lee Haechan).

You wave a hand dismissively. “Nah, I’m keeping Mark’s favor for something else.”

Jake raises an eyebrow. “What else?”

“Whatever it turns out I need in the future, dumbass. What’s it to you, anyways?” 

“Just wanna make sure the poor guy doesn’t end up trapped in your snares forever, little sis. Yo, can I have that apple back?” Jake turns to Chan with characteristic puppy eyes.

“You’re only older than me by eight minutes,” you grumble, the age-old retort slipping out of you before you can help it.

“No, Jaeyun, you cannot. And don’t talk to your sister like that— oh my god, why do I sound like Taeyong,” Chan mutters, thinking about his predecessor frat-president-slash-mother-hen. 

“Jeez, government name and everything.” Jake holds his hands up, relinquishing his claim to the apple.

“In fact, your sister gets to have both of these apples, after I clean and cut them up, because she is a saint for continuing to save our asses from our parents like this,” Chan lectures, unceremoniously carving out the chunk of the apple with Jake’s bite marks and tossing it into the trash bin.

“Real ones get it!” You reach out and high-five Chan. 

“That is so unfair, c’mon, man!” Jake splutters. “She gets just as much out of these fake relationships— seriously, didn’t you drive her around everywhere for, like, a month after she went to that wedding with you?”

Both you and Chan shudder at the memory. “Ugh, my worst cousin and the worst guy he was ever with. They’re still married, by the way.” Chan shakes his head. “God knows why.”

“Love conquers all…?” Jake offers.

“What the hell are you talking about love for,” a new voice grumbles. Park Jongseong strolls in through the doorway, hands full with plastic bags promising wonderful things based on how your stomach reacts to the smell.

“Oh, hell yeah, chicken!” Jake cheers. “Took you long enough, bro.”

“Traffic was hell; something about a ball downtown, and— oh. Hey.” Jay stops abruptly at the sight of you, now munching on the apple slices Chan hands you, one by one.

You wave vaguely in his direction, too busy eating to respond. Jay is one of your brother’s friends who you don’t know that well, since you’ve never pretended to be his girlfriend. It’s strange that you two don’t know each other better, actually— as the social chairs of your sorority and his fraternity, respectively, you would usually have a lot to work on together. But this year has been particularly busy for you, what with your senior thesis and your various things with Jake’s frat brothers, and you had delegated most of your social chair responsibilities to your co-chair, Yunjin, who was far better suited to the social part of the job, anyways. You suspected Jay had done the same thing, since the two of you only ever texted to confirm budgets for any joint events.

“You need to have more than one-and-three-quarters of an apple for dinner,” Chan scolds you, parental instincts back in full force.

You shrug, about to turn around and rifle through the cabinets to see if you can find some peanut butter to add to your apple slices when a takeout container appears in front of you. Tired and still starving, you react rather slowly, your eyes tracing up the hand on the container to the veins of an arm belonging to none other than Jay.

“You look hungry,” is all he says, before popping the container open for you and rearranging the rest of the plastic bags on the counter. “Jake, tell the others to come down for food.”

The others means that soon, there will be an influx of hungry frat brothers in the kitchen, and you have no desire to be anywhere near that, so you mumble a quick thank you to Jay, plop the rest of the apple slices into the takeout container (against Chan’s complaints about the contamination), and move to leave the kitchen, eager to be on your way to your sorority house.

The last thing you overhear before you leave is Jay asking, “Why did your sister look so nice?”, and Jake and Chan responding in unison, “She had a thing.”

A few days later, when they’re doing work in the library, Jay asks Jake, “So how long have Mark and your sister been seeing each other?”

Jake’s pencil jerks across his graph paper, a jagged line appearing on the page at the same time that he swears. “Dude, what the fuck?”

“Dude, what the fuck,” Jay echoes flatly. “Didn’t you say she had a thing with Mark?”

Jake blinks. “Well, sure, in the same way that she’s had a thing with Chan, and Yeonjun, and Vernon, and all the others.”

Jay gapes at him. “Your sister dated all of them? And all the others?”

“What, no, she didn’t date them, she fake-dated them! Just a couple of times, mainly showing up to things with their families so their parents would leave them alone about finding a partner and all that. You know how the parents are.” Jake gestures vaguely, referring to the oddities of the world of wealth they were born into. 

Jay nods slowly, understanding dawning upon him. Does he know how the parents are? Oh, does he ever. He has always had a good relationship with his own, but they had been more pushy on the whole love thing as of late, with the not-at-all subtle questions his mother asks about any special someones in his life and the unfunny jokes his dad cracks about how he’s still spry enough to help raise grandchildren. Especially unfunny, given the health scare his dad had given them all in the last year.

Jake’s voice brings him out of his veering-towards-morbid thoughts. “But seriously, bro, how is this news to you? My sister’s been doing this… Cinderella-genie thing for two years now.” 

Jay’s eyebrows furrow. “Cinderella-genie thing?”

“Yeah, I mean, she transforms our frat brothers into respectable young men with a respectable relationship, but only for three occasions, and she gets the same number of favors back.” Jake wrinkles his nose. “It sounds weird when I say it like that, and don’t get me wrong, I love to give her shit for it, but it’s all above-board stuff. Sunghoon bought her bubble tea for like, three months. Oh, and no one’s allowed to catch feelings, so everything ends clean and neat.”

“She fake-dated Sunghoon?”

At the mention of his name, Sunghoon pops one side of his headphones off. “What’s up?”

“You fake-dated Jake’s sister!?”

Sunghoon shushes him before responding. “Yeah, don’t you remember? It was a couple of months ago.”

Jay’s ears flush, both at how loud he had unconsciously gotten, and at the reminder that he really has been out of it for a while now. It’s not like he’s been living under a rock, but he has definitely been spending a lot more time with his parents and away from his friends ever since his dad’s health scare.

“She was great, though,” Sunghoon continues. “My mom still thinks I made the biggest mistake of my life ‘letting her go.’ But she’s also been leaving me alone about ‘finding love’ because she thinks I’m heartbroken, so yeah, Jake’s sister works wonders.”

Jake smirks. “Sim genes, man. Elite stuff.” 

Sunghoon scoffs. “You wish. Didn’t I hear your mom yelling at you on the phone the other day for not having settled down yet?”

“Ugh, don’t remind me. Does she not realize what decade this is, I mean, we’re still in college—”

Jay interrupts what looks to be the beginning of a long rant from Jake, cutting him off with, “So where can I sign up?”

Jake stares blankly at him. “Sign up for what?” 

“The Cinderella-genie thing.”

Sunghoon scrunches his face awkwardly. “Uh, she kind of has a waitlist, buddy.”

Jay waits for him to laugh and say he’s just kidding, but he doesn’t. “Are you serious?”

“Yeah, she doesn’t do the fake-dating thing for multiple people at the same time, and she’s pretty busy with all her shit, so I’m not sure how long of a queue you have ahead of you…”

“Okay, but Jake could get me ahead, right? Cut the line, or something? C’mon dude, I’m your best friend.” Jay is suddenly desperate, remembering the conversation he’d had with his mom on the phone last night, where she had dreamily recalled meeting his dad in college and delicately reminded Jay that he could have a plus-one to the Parks’ upcoming 50th wedding anniversary celebration.

Jake eyes his friend warily. “I dunno, she really doesn’t like stuff like that. Unfair advantages, I mean.”

“My parents aren’t getting any younger, Jake, and you know, with my dad last year and everything…” Jay does his best approximation of batting his eyelashes at Jake. 

“Are you guilt-tripping me?”

“A little?” Jay’s smile turns a little maniacal. “For real, my parents have their 50th wedding anniversary coming up, and it would be the perfect event to bring her to so I can reassure them that things are going well in my love life.”

“Are things going anywhere in your love life?” Sunghoon’s tone is skeptical, and reasonably so. 

Jay has been distant lately because of his family, but even before that, he had always been known as somewhat aloof and unattainable. Devastatingly handsome, yes, with killer grades and fierce ambition, and a business empire to inherit to boot, but he is also his parents’ one and only miracle child, born after years of trying and almost giving up. Jay’s parents are older than all of his friends’ parents, and their family business has always been that— a family business. Jay has two years after graduation to learn the ropes in the business, and then he’ll be due for an MBA, and then a return to helm the business, but this timeline has recently felt more urgent than ever with his parents’ flagging health. They would never say it, but he knows the only reason they haven’t retired yet is because they don’t want to hand over control of the business to anyone but him. Jay has worked his ass off in college, trying to get there as fast as he can, as well as he can. But his parents also want him to enjoy college and find true love, and while he’s been doing pretty well with the former, the latter has been on the backburner for, well, forever. Who has time for true love, in between classes, fraternity duties, the various shenanigans his friends get up to, internships, networking, TA-ing, volunteering, being on the executive board of two clubs, and eating, sleeping, dreaming, and thinking?

So. No. Things are not going anywhere in his love life, and he confirms just as much to Sunghoon with a grunt, to which Sunghoon wheezes out his amusement.

Jake eyes Jay with pity, now. “Alright, that guilt trip was successful, but more so because you just admitted to being bitchless for so long. I’ll put in a good word to my sister for you.”

Jay perks up instantly. There is light and beauty in this world after all! “Awesome, thank you bro, you won’t regret this, I promise!”

“I wasn’t planning on it, but those are famous last words, Park.” Jake raises an eyebrow at him. “Are you sure you can handle my sister?”

“Why not? She seems… nice.” Jay is slightly evasive in his answer, and truthfully, it’s because he isn’t really sure what you’re like. All your interactions to date have been cordial, almost business-like, and you and Jake are fraternal twins, so it’s not even like he’s really familiar with what you look like. He is, however, sure that you look beautiful in a ballgown, even if he only saw you in one in his frat’s kitchen.

Jake chortles outright. “No, my sister is not nice. Yeah, I’m definitely going to convince her to help you, just because I think it’ll be hysterical watching her turn you inside out. Good luck, my brother in Christ, because you’ll need it!”

you: hey jake told me abt ur predicament

jay: … good morning, how are you? i’m pretty good myself

you: ???

jay: just being polite. and it’s not a predicament i’m just… interested in your services

you: good for you? anyways i’m super busy right now and don’t really have time to be taking on anything else so i’m just letting you know that i can’t help you out. good luck though

jay: how about coffee?

you: what?

jay: do you want coffee?

you: like right now?

jay: yeah i’m on your porch

You almost throw your phone to the other side of the room. True, Jay’s fraternity house is across the street from your sorority house, but it still feels absurd to think that he’s right there, less than twenty feet below your room. Is he stalking you?

Accordingly, that’s the first thing you ask him when you throw the door open to him. “Are you stalking me?”

He scoffs. “As if. I asked Jake to ask Yunjin for your location.” 

“That’s not not stalking.”

Jay shrugs, though he has the decency to look a little embarrassed as he shoves his hands in his pockets. “Whatever. I just walked across the street; that’s all. So, coffee?”

You stare at him for a few moments, weighing your options. Truthfully, you were about to leave to get coffee before your first class, anyways, but you’re not sure how long you want to entertain Jay. You decide to split the difference. “I’m on my way to Nat’s, so you can tag along. But I’m just grabbing a coffee to go, and then I have class.”

“Okay, let’s go.” 

“Gimme a second; I’ll grab my stuff.” For some reason, your heart is beating a little faster than usual when you reach your room. You’d like to blame it on the stairs you just climbed, but something about Jay coming to find you at your front door feels old-fashioned and sweet, though your rational mind reminds you that he literally just walked a couple hundred feet. He even said so, himself.

But when you come back down to see him leaning against the doorway with his hands still in his pockets, looking out into the street, you suddenly remember that Jay is, like, really good-looking. Despite yourself, you find yourself admiring the cut of his jaw and how nice his hair is styled. It’s not like you don’t know plenty of attractive guys— hell, the guys you usually fake-date are all objectively hot. It’s just inconvenient that you now recall how Jay has always seemed to be the most mature out of Jake’s friends, even from what little you know of him. Unhelpfully, your brain also conjures up the image of him sliding a takeout container to you last week, and the way your eyes had lingered on the veins of his arm.

God. It’s been too long since you’ve gotten laid.

Jay’s voice breaks you out of your bizarre trance. “Ready, Cinderella?”

“Excuse me?”

“Jake told me about your whole Cinderella-genie thing. It would be weird to call you ‘genie’, so…” Jay trails off, scratching the back of his head and looking actually embarrassed now. 

You can’t help but laugh. “Right, because Cinderella is totally less weird. Alright, big guy, let’s go.”

The walk to Nat’s, your favorite local coffee shop, takes about 15 minutes— 10, if you’re walking fast, which you usually are. Jay’s legs are uselessly long, but he seems determined to walk as slowly as possible, while also staying silent the whole time. Finally, you reach the end of your patience and step out right in front of him, intending to ask him what the hell he’s doing. Unfortunately, you find that you misjudged the distance, and he almost collides right into you.

“Whoa,” he mutters, reaching out to grab your arms to steady the both of you. 

“Sorry,” you huff, embarrassed at yourself. A lot of that going around today. “I just… what’s your deal? I already told you I can’t help you, and then you show up at my door and ask me to get coffee, but you don’t say a single word. What do you want from me?”

Instead of answering your question, he asks, “Why do you do it?” 

“Do what?”

“The Cinderella-genie thing.”

You roll your eyes. “Jake has got to stop calling it that. It’s a long story, honestly.” Sighing, you reach into your backpack to pull out your planner. “Alright, we’re already past the amount of time I scheduled to get my coffee and get ahead on some readings before class, so I guess we can sit down inside.”

Jay raises an eyebrow. “You have time for me now? Also, that’s the most insane planner I’ve ever seen.”

You gesture around you. You had stopped Jay almost at the door of Nat’s, and you’re clogging up the sidewalk. “We should at least get out of the way of these people. And yeah, I’m sure it is.” You are a live-and-die-by-your-planner kind of person. Everything is in there— social events, studying time, your various things with Jay’s frat brothers, even things like eating and showering and sleeping. It seems psychotic, sure, but you’re a busy person, and there’s no way you’d be able to handle everything without the strict schedule you set for yourself.

When you walk up to the counter inside Nat’s, your favorite barista— a cute high school kid named Riki— is manning the register. You smile warmly at him. “Hey, Riki. The usual, please.”

You expect Riki to tease you about your usual, which contains an admittedly concerning amount of caffeine, but instead he calls out, “Jay! What’s up, my man!”

From behind you, Jay reaches out and fist-bumps Riki. “Hey, long time no see, buddy. How’s history going?”

Riki groans theatrically. “Horribly, ever since you stopped tutoring me.”

Jay frowns. “Wait, really? What are you having trouble with? I know I’m kind of swamped right now but we can always find some time and—”

Riki bursts out laughing. “I’m kidding, I’m kidding! Jeez, you should’ve seen your face. Relax, I got a 94 on my last paper!”

“Oh, very funny, you menace!” Jay punches Riki’s shoulder, but his expression eases up. You wonder at the fondness that twinkles in his eyes. 

Riki laughs some more, then he turns to you. “Noona, one cup of liquid death coming up! Hyung, what about you?”

“London fog, please. And seriously, text me if you’re having trouble, okay?”

Riki waves the both of you off, telling you that he’ll bring your drinks over to you. 

You make a beeline for your favorite spot, right by the large window that overlooks the sidewalk. Jay surprises you for the umpteenth time that morning by easily striding ahead and pulling your chair out for you, then coughing and turning red when you give him a weird look.

“Sorry, I, uh, yeah. Instinct,” he explains, which is really no explanation at all. 

“Are you courting me or something?” You try to keep your tone light and joking, but confusion inevitably slips in. Nothing Jay has done today has made sense. 

He seems to have regained his composure when he sits down, because he hits you with, “I guess you could say that. It’s just something I think I’d do for my girlfriend.”

You stare at him blankly. “Thanks for telling me…?”

“I mean, if you’re going to fake-date me, you can probably expect me to do stuff like that, right?”

You groan. “I’m not going to fake-date you, Jay, how many times do I have to say it? I—”

“— don’t have time, I know. But what if I could make it worth your while?”

“Jay, you know I’m Jake’s sister, right? We have money. Besides, I’m helping Mark right now, and I don’t do this for multiple people at the same time.”

“Oh yeah, Jake told me about that rule. What if I could take care of that for you?”

You raise an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

“I’ll help Mark find a real girlfriend, and then you can help me, instead.”

“If it were that easy, don’t you think Mark would have done it himself?” 

Jay waves his hand dismissively. “Oh, please, Mark’s been crushing on the girl in his music class for ages. He gets too into his head about asking her out, so he chickens out every time. They’re partners on a project right now, though, so I’ll just give him a push in the right direction.”

You have to admit that you’re intrigued by his proposition. Everything Jay just said lines up with what you know about Mark, especially the chickening out part. You’d like to see Jay try, and you figure it can’t hurt either way, so you nod. “Okay, fine. If you can help Mark, I’ll help you. But seriously, what’s your deal? Why do you want my help so badly?”

Jay blinks, then he leans back into his chair. “Oh. Honestly, I haven’t 100% decided that I do, yet.”

“But you’re willing to agree to help Mark Lee with a girl in order to secure my help?” You shake your head. “You’re really strange, Park.”

“I get overly invested in challenges really easily,” Jay confesses, showing you an unexpectedly bashful smile. “So I got a little caught up just now in the idea that I could change your mind about helping me. But now that you’ve brought it up, I’ll still help Mark, no matter what. I’m sick of him writing lovesick songs about that girl, anyways.”

“Large iced Americano, no water, four shots of espresso. And a London Fog,” Riki announces. He sets the drinks down on your table right as the bell above the shop’s door chimes and lets in the pre-9am work crowd. He groans and bids you both a hasty goodbye.

Jay eyes your coffee with disgust. “Liquid death, huh? That’s disturbing.”

“Hey, don’t knock it ‘til you try it.” You tilt the cup in his direction, laughing when he shudders. 

“Absolutely not. I can’t believe you order that enough that Riki knows it’s your usual.”

“I usually see him in the afternoons when I order this, actually, so I’m sure he’s going to give me an earful about getting one in the mornings, too. Speaking of— doesn’t he have school?” You whip around in your seat to stare at Riki. 

“He has two free periods on Mondays this year, so I guess he picked up an extra shift. He’s a hard working kid,” Jay says. 

You turn back around to see him with that same fondness in his eyes. “How do you know him, by the way?”

“Ah, he’s my little’s friend from high school. My little is Jungwon— cat-looking dude?”

You let out a squeal. “Oh my gosh, he’s the cutest!” 

Jay crosses his arms and grins, looking amused. “Yeah, he is pretty cute. Anyways, Jungwon mentioned his friend was having trouble with his history class last year, so I started tutoring him a bit, just casually, since I’m studying history.”

“Not economics?” You’ve heard about Jay’s family’s notoriously tightly-controlled company. Everything is within the family, so you’re surprised that he isn’t getting ready to take over. 

“Both. I can have two majors, you know. What’s yours?”

“Linguistic anthropology. And studio art. I can have two majors, you know.” 

Jay rolls his eyes. “Okay, okay, I know that was pretentious. What’s linguistic anthropology?”

You clear your throat, not expecting to talk about your hopes and dreams so early in the morning, and with someone who’s only a few steps away from being a stranger. “Languages, and the social and cultural foundations of them. Basically. I want to do linguistic archaeology in grad school, and this is the closest thing you can get in undergrad.”

Jay leans forward and nods enthusiastically. “That sounds really cool. What kind of art are you doing?”

“Oil paints, mostly, and some charcoal drawing…”

Like that, an hour flies by. You don’t even notice the blocks in your calendar getting overwritten by what is essentially a coffee date with Jay until you get the reminder that you have class in thirty minutes. 

“Shit, I gotta go soon.” You say it with some regret; surprisingly, you’re really enjoying yourself with Jay. He’s smart, and funny, and a little awkward in a way that makes you think he’s the most sincere person you’ve ever met. And he has interesting thoughts and opinions on history, some of which you even make a mental note to follow up on later for your thesis. 

“Before you go, will you tell me why you do the fake-dating thing?” Jay puts his head in both his hands and smiles at you, and…

“Are you batting your eyelashes at me?”

Jay squints at you. “Maybe. Is it working?”

“Not really,” you lie, like a liar. 

“Didn’t work on Jake, either. Man, I gotta work on it.” Jay gives up the act and relaxes back into his chair. “Will you tell me, though?”

“Sure, it’s not like it’s a big secret or anything. It’s not even that long of a story, now that I think about it. Not something worth trying to seduce me over, but I like your hustle,” you joke. 

“So it was working!”

“I wouldn’t go that far. Okay, so it started with Chan. He just didn’t want to go to his horrible cousin’s horrible wedding, but his sister had been arguing with the cousin about Chan and was, like, defending his honor or something? And one thing spiraled into another and all of a sudden Chan needed to show up to the wedding with an impressive partner to prove to his cousin that he could pull.” You make a face. “Boys. I’d actually met this particular cousin before, through some convoluted situation at one of those holiday parties that our families throw, and I knew he was insufferable, so I was willing to help out. Other guys in the frat heard about it, and you know, it’s surprising but not shocking that your frat has a lot of guys with some sort of weird baggage that prevents them from actually seriously dating someone. It’s weirder that a significant number of them also find themselves in situations where they need to pretend to have a girlfriend, but as it turns out, I’m really good at it— being a fake girlfriend, I guess. I haven’t had much time to date myself, so it’s kind of nice hearing how much everyone’s families liked me as their potential daughter-in-law. Plus, I always get favors in return, so it’s not the worst thing in the world. It’s like the fun part of dating, without the actual time commitment.”

Jay looks skeptical. “Going to family events and schmoozing with distant relatives is the fun part of dating?”

You scoff. “Whatever. You’re the one who asked why I did it, and I told you. It doesn’t have to make sense to you.”

“Sorry, sorry. I’m not judging, I swear. I just think that there’s probably better parts to dating, but who am I to talk,” he mutters.

“Ah, yes, Jake mentioned that, too. Bitchless all these years?”

Jay deadpans at you. “I know you aren’t making fun of me for that when you basically just told me that you fake-dated all these guys because you have a raging praise kink specifically for people’s families.”

“Oh, fuck off.” But you’re laughing, almost— giggling? Ugh. Maybe you do need to back off on the caffeine. “Alright, I have to go now, for real. Text me when Mark is good, and then we can talk about our two fake dates.”

“Isn’t three the max?”

“I was serious about not having time, Jay. I have a thesis for linguistics, and a portfolio to put together for art. Mark was going to be my last… thing this year. I went to one event with him, so if you can get things squared away with him, you can have his other two.”

“Okay, fine. Pleasure doing business with you.” Jay salutes you with two fingers.

“You haven’t even succeeded with Mark yet, and you haven’t heard what favors I want in return, either. Don’t get ahead of yourself, hotshot.” 

And then you’re gone, leaving Jay to ruminate on the last hour and a half you spent together.

Jake’s right— you’re not nice, not in the traditional sense of the word. You’re kind of prickly, and you seem to run your life like a drill sergeant, but Jay thinks you must be really kind. Aside from Chan, the others you’ve helped (Mark, Yeonjun, Vernon, Sunghoon, good lord) are all variants of pretty boys who can’t talk to women to save their lives but live and die by the words of their parents, who all hope to see them get married sooner rather than later (Jay elects to ignore how he fits into that mold pretty well, too). No wonder you felt bad for them in their plights and wanted to help them; and Jay really believes that you did it to help them, not because of whatever favors you got in return. Like you said, you have money, so it’s not like you couldn’t buy your own bubble tea or pay for a driver. No, he’s seen your calendar, and it’s crammed with volunteering events in between everything else, and he’s seen the way you fuss over Riki, someone you only see a couple times a week while ordering a coffee. He’s pretty sure you’re just a classic do-gooder, and he doesn’t even need your help that badly, but he does love a challenge. Get Mark Lee together with the girl of his dreams is the first one. The second one is to figure out why he cares about proving himself to you so much— it’s not like he’s swimming in free time either, but somehow you’ve gotten under his skin, and he wants to see where this goes.

(Plus, he thinks you’re really pretty.)

When you enter your studio art workshop class, you find Yunjin immediately and pout at her. “Thanks for revealing my location to Jay, traitor,” you whine.

Yunjin grins. “It’s not like the sorority house is a state secret, babe. And I have zero regrets— he’s hot!”

“So?”

“So, I’m sick of you fake-dating these guys because you love to be the most helpful person in the room, and I want to see you actually date someone!”

You snort. “Joke’s on you, then, because he also wants to fake-date me.”

“Eugh, really? What the hell, I thought he was a good one,” Yunjin groans.

“He is a good one,” you respond instantly. You’re not sure why you’re so defensive about him, but from everything you’ve witnessed today, you know that Park Jongseong is the definition of a good guy.

“Well, maybe this will finally be the one that goes from fake-dating to real dating!” Yunjing wiggles her eyebrows at you. “You already think he’s nice, and you didn’t say he isn’t hot, either.”

“I have a pulse, Yunjin, I can tell that he’s hot.”

Yunjin whistles between her teeth. “Wait ‘til I tell Jake to tell Jay that.”

“Do not— and since when are you and my brother so close, anyways?”

She flashes you a conspiratorial wink. “New boytoy.”

“Ew, seriously? Jake?”

“Hey, it’s not that deep. He gets around, too, doesn’t he? Friends with benefits, no strings attached, etcetera.”

“Famous last words, honey.” You start pulling out your art supplies, chewing on your lip as you consider whether to ask her what you’re dying to know. “... So, what do you know about Jay? And do not tell Jake about any of this, Yunjin, I swear.”

“We’re really not close like that, babe, and I’d never betray your trust for dick.” Yunjin puts her hand over her heart solemnly.

“I want you to know that I’m throwing up in my mouth.”

“Noted.” Yunjin sticks the pencil she was using in her hair, then leans back and hums thoughtfully. “Now, Jay… I know what everyone knows about him, I guess. Good guy, nice family, kind of detached, if I had to say so? Not in a bad way, though. I just mean that he seems to hang out with his friends and that’s pretty much it. He’s involved in a bunch of stuff on campus like you are, but I know he had to pull back recently because one of his parents had a health thing— oh no, I can tell you’re already Cinderella-ing.”

You huff. “Jake is so annoying for that. What do you mean, Cinderella-ing?”

“You feel bad for him and now you want to help him!”

“I already agreed to help him, if he helps Mark Lee get a girlfriend, first.”

“Wow, he must really need your help if he’s willing to do that.”

“Funny, he said he isn’t sure if he needs my help, yet.” You shrug. “He’s confusing.”

“Oooh, but you’re interested, aren’t you?” Yunjin peers closer at you. “Oh my god, you whore! You want him!” 

“Yunjin!” You shush her, cognizant of the other students around you. “I’m just curious, okay? I wanna know what I’m getting myself into.”

“Sure, sure. I believe you!” Yunjin insists, looking entirely unbelievable. “That’s not surprising about Jay, though. His family is, like, super family-oriented. Introducing them to a fake girlfriend seems like it wouldn’t go well, so it makes sense that he’s hesitant about it. You should ask him for more details when you guys fuck—”

You cut her off with a hand slapped over her mouth. “I’m going to murder you in your sleep.”

Yunjin laughs underneath your hand and flicks you off. “But seriously, the rumor is that he’s never dated anyone in college because his parents had the perfect college romance and want the same thing for him, and he’s always been too busy being the prodigal son and heir apparent for true love to just, like, fall into his lap. Despite the valiant efforts of many girls on campus,” she finishes dryly.

“That’s… a really detailed rumor.”

“Chaewon’s little is obsessed with him, so I’ve heard it a million times.” 

You both cringe. Chaewon is far too nice to say it, but her little is stuck in a phase of boy mania so all-consuming it borders on clinical.

“Enough about boys; how’s it going with the portfolio?” Yunjin nudges her chin towards your empty canvas.

You sigh. “Pretty good, except for the human portrait part. It’s really not my thing, but Professor Song was so adamant that I try to include at least two of them by the end of the year. I did one of Jake already, but he doesn’t know, so it’ll be hilarious to see him cry at the senior showcase.”

“Oh, he’s totally going to lose it,” Yunjin agrees. You stay silent on the curious display of knowledge she just exhibited on your brother’s behalf. “Who are you thinking for the other one?”

“Beats me. I’d use my parents, but that feels a little bit too on the nose, especially after the one of Jake. It’d be weird to ask our friends, right?”

“Not really, but your portfolio theme is family, isn’t it? Very sweet of you to think of us as family, but then you’re talking about an entire group of people.”

Instantly, you shudder. “That’s way more than two humans. Love you guys, but no thanks. I’ll figure something else out.”

Yujin smirks at you. “If you and Jay date and fall in love and get married, you’ll be family, and then you could do one of him.”

“That is so not the solution!”

You don’t hear from Jay until a week later, at which point you figure he has given up, so you’re shocked to find him at your door again. 

“Morning, Cinderella,” is all he says to you before handing you a cup.

“Good morning,” you return, too dumbfounded to say anything else. “What’s this?”

“Coffee. Large iced Americano, no water, four shots of espresso,” he recites. “I got Riki to text it to me,” he admits quickly.

“I appreciate it, but what’s this for?” You narrow your eyes at him. “You can’t possibly think that one of the favors I’ll ask from you is coffee, right? I’m not that easy, Park.”

Jay looks offended. “Hey, you let Sunghoon buy you bubble tea!”

“Yeah, but he was really pathetic about the whole fake-dating thing.”

“... Fine, I’ll give that to you. That does sound like him. But no, this is because I wanted to ask you something, and I figured I’d take up the time that you usually schedule for getting your coffee.”

“Ooookay. So, what’s up?” You start on the walk to the library, and he’s quick to fall into step beside you.

“I’ve been thinking about how to help Mark with his crush, and I have the perfect idea, but I need your help.”

“You need my help to help Mark so that you can get my help for yourself?” It sounds absurd coming out of your month, and before you can stop yourself, you blurt out, “Wow, try saying that ten times fast.”

A surprised laugh erupts from Jay’s chest. “That was corny as hell,” he says, but he’s still laughing, high pitched and delighted. Laughter transforms his whole face, his eyes slipping into crescents and his nose scrunching with the force of his happiness, and you’re left dazed looking at him like that.

“Don’t tell anyone you witnessed that. I know where you live,” you threaten him half-heartedly. It really doesn’t carry much weight when you’re beaming in response to the mirth in his expression.

He stops laughing to grin at you, still bright and lovely. “Yeah, right. Who’s been coming to whose front door?”

“You don’t think I could walk across the street? I’m there all the time, Jay. So many people in that house owe me; it’d be a piece of cake to get your room number.” You say this with a stupid smile still on your face.

“Right, consider me properly frightened.” The wattage of his grin finally turns down a couple of notches, giving you room to breathe properly. “So, about Mark,” he starts.

“Yeah, this just sounds like more work for me,” you respond skeptically.

“Hear me out, okay? Mark has all these love songs written about this girl, and I found out that she always eats lunch at the same table at the same time in the dining hall on Tuesdays, so I figured he could play one of his songs over the dining hall speakers and then confess to her.” Jay makes little jazz hands at the end of his sentence, and it prompts a giggle out of you.

You have to fight your smile down when you speak. “A couple of things. One: that is so incredibly over the top for a confession, but sure, I like your spirit. Two: there’s no way Mark is slick enough to pull this off. Which leads me to three: what do you need from me?”

Jay nods. “Exactly, Mark could never do this on his own, which is why I’ve enlisted a bunch of guys from the frat, and you, of course.”

“Me, of course?”

“Sunoo and Jake are going to sweet-talk the lady at the dining hall who has the keys to the staff office with the dining hall audio hookup and microphone— she loves Sunoo, and Jake will flash her the ol’ puppy dog eyes to keep her sufficiently distracted. Heeseung will walk past and swipe her keys, and Jungwon is going to make sure that Mark’s crush is actually in the dining hall at the right time. Chan is going to apologize on everyone’s behalf if this goes wrong.”

You tut. “Poor Chan.”

“It’s his presidential duty, god bless.”

“And where do I fit into this?”

“You and I need to hold Mark’s hand, figuratively, and keep him hyped up enough to actually go through with it. He agreed to the plan, but I can totally see him chickening out again, which is why Sunghoon and Yeonjun are also going to stand guard outside the staff office so he can’t escape.”

“I feel like you could hold Mark’s hand on your own,” you argue, but you don’t really mean it. This sounds so chaotic and harebrained that you would normally want to stay a mile away from it, but Jay’s enthusiasm and seriousness about it is rubbing off on you. Plus, it would be nice to see one of your fake boyfriends actually succeed in their love life.

“He has two hands, and I can’t hold them all by myself because I have to operate the audio hookup,” Jay proclaims solemnly. “And I said figuratively! He trusts you, clearly, or at least he trusted you enough to be his fake girlfriend.”

“I come highly recommended,” you intone dryly. 

“And he trusts me enough to go along with the plan, so I think we’re the best suited to be his moral support,” Jay continues, ignoring your smartass comment. 

“This is a ridiculous plan, Jay.”

“So you’re in? Oh, wait. Are you free at 12:30 today?”

You stop to check your planner and confirm that you are. “What would you have done if I wasn’t?”

“Reconfigure the time-space continuum so you could be in two places at once. Mark’s future happiness depends on this,” Jay insists.

"I see what you mean about getting overly invested in challenges really easily… Alright, text me where I should meet you later, then?”

“You got it. Have a good day, Cinderella!” He yells this part as he jogs away from you. 

“Stop calling me that!” But you can’t remember the last time you smiled this much this early in the morning.

Hours later, you smile instinctively upon seeing Jay’s name pop up in your notifications.

jay: coast is clear. meet me outside the dining hall staff office in 5 minutes. operation is a go

you: omw, 007

jay: stop ur making me blush

you: fr?

jay: no this is just banter

you: omfg mark just texted me to say that ur actually blushing

jay: im going to end him. after he gets a gf, ofc

“Hey,” you whisper in Jay’s ear, making him jump. 

“Holy shit, how’d you get here so fast?”

You shrug, jostling his shoulder as you’re pressed up against him in the tiny recessed alcove across from the staff office. “I’m a fast walker. Places to be, people to see, you know? Speaking of…” You motion to the open office door. “Should we go inside?”

Jay clears his throat. Up this close, he can count the eyelashes that flutter against your skin. “Yeah, Mark’s already there. I’m surprised he found the composure to pop his head out and see me, or text you, honestly. He’s been a nervous wreck since this morning. Oh, finally, way to be on time, losers!” Jay beckons Sunghoon and Yeonjun closer from down the hall.

“We’re fine; Jungwon says Mark’s crush hasn’t even sat down at her table, yet. Hey, how are you? Long time no see.” Yeonjun flashes you a smile.

“Committing questionable acts in the name of love, you know, just living the dream,” you joke. “How’s your mom?”

“Great! She still asks about you. By the way, if I had known being a little more pathetic would get me this level of commitment,” Yeonjun gestures around him, “I would’ve asked for a real girlfriend, too.”

“I’m told I was pretty pathetic, and even I didn’t get this kind of treatment,” Sunghoon reminds you.

You pat his arm consolingly. “Maybe if you had Jay on your side, buddy.”

“Yeah, what the hell, best friend?” Sunghoon eyes him accusingly.

Jay pats his other arm. “Sorry, I have ulterior motives with Mark.”

“Oh, so now Mark gets a girlfriend and a secret male lover?”

Jay scoffs. “Not those kinds of ulterior motives, but please. As if Mark could bag me.”

“Ladies, ladies, there’s plenty of Jay to go around,” you say placatingly. 

“Guys, I’m freaking out in here!” Mark wails from inside the office.

“Fuck, Jungwon said she’s sitting down now. Go!” Yeonjun pushes you and Jay towards the office.

In quick order, Jay gets the audio hooked up to Mark’s laptop, and he starts the song. While Mark hyperventilates between the two of you and you actually do share in the holding of his hands, Jay finds himself staring at you as you try to encourage Mark. You really are quite kind— he doesn’t think many people would have agreed to be dragged into this silly scheme, but here you are, throwing yourself into it wholeheartedly because there’s a chance it might secure Mark’s future happiness. 

The sun reaches its highest point in the sky just then, streaming in through the windows behind you and drenching you in golden light. Jay’s not sure if he’s nervous about getting in trouble for this or if he’s just been looking at you for too long, but he can feel his heart stuttering in his chest. It’s positively outrageous how pretty you are.

“Bro, what the fuck do I say?” Mark hisses, interrupting Jay’s very important investigation of the color of your eyes. “The song is almost over, please, you gotta help me!”

“Just tell her how you feel,” Jay offers. It’s not his best attempt at advice, but he’s distracted by the way your hair brushes against your neck. 

Mark splutters and fumbles and curses under his breath, but then the song is over, and Jay is turning on the microphone for him to speak. “Um, hey, so, yeah! Yeah. Uh, I’ve liked you for a long time… which you can probably tell, because of the song and everything.” Mark giggles nervously. “There’s, like, at least five more where that came from. Because I like you a lot, but I’m not great at talking in person, so I wrote all these songs, and oh god, this is super weird, isn’t it? I’m sorry if it’s weird, I just, well, I wanted to tell you. What I feel for you is so big I think I might explode; it makes me lose my mind and my breath and my ability to speak, and it leads me to do stupid stuff like this. And now you know. Okay, cool!” Mark reaches over and slams his hand to turn off the microphone. 

You and Jay share an exasperated look over Mark’s head.

“Mark, you didn’t even say who the song is for,” you remind him. 

He pales. “I didn’t?”

“Or who it’s from, but I think that part is pretty obvious,” Jay sighs. “Just text her right now, and tell her it was from you, and ask her out!”

“What? No, I can’t do that, I think I’m gonna be sick,” Mark moans.

You roll your eyes. “Mark, do it right now, or I’m telling your mom you cheated on me.”

“What? But I didn’t! And we weren’t even dating for real! And I just told her we broke up!”

“Right, I’ll say we broke up because you cheated on me.” You stare him down. “Seriously, I’ll call her tonight.”

“Nonono, I’ll text Mina, okay? See, I’m texting her right now.” Mark pulls out his phone and types frantically. 

Jay throws his arm around Mark’s shoulder, using the leverage to hit the send button on his phone. “See, that wasn’t so hard!”

“I need to go walk into traffic,” Mark declares. 

You smile breezily at him. “Sure, whatever. Love conquers all!” Behind his back, you and Jay high-five.

Jay says you should have dinner to celebrate Mark and Mina’s new romance (ignoring Mark’s pained “What romance? I’m dying.”), but you tell him that you’re volunteering at the community kitchen that night. Jay doesn’t miss a beat. “Sure, I’ll be there. We should talk about my thing, anyways.”

That’s how he finds himself in a hairnet and disposable gloves that night, making funny faces at the head of the community kitchen’s daughter, who’s running around underfoot. He’s been put in charge of chopping vegetables, while you’re stirring a huge pot of stew at one of the stoves.

“Watch your fingers,” you scold him half-heartedly. He’s devastatingly cute like this.

He has the audacity to wink at you. “I know my way around a kitchen, don’t worry.”

“Very cool, trophy husband.”

“What, no more 007?”

“Depends on the outcome of Mark’s text to Mina. Did you hear anything from him?”

Jay scoops up his vegetables into a large bowl and brings it over to you, nudging you aside with his hip so he can add the vegetables to your pot. “Not yet, but I don’t have him freaking out in my messages either, so I’ll take that as a win.”

You let him take over the stirring and turn around to lean against the countertop. “Cute hairnet,” you quip.

“Thanks. You think they’ll let me take it home?” he jokes. 

You nudge your chin in the direction of the little girl giggling at Jay. “I think she wants to take you home.”

He winks at her, then lowers his voice so that only you can hear him say, “She’ll have to get in line.”

You swallow and wonder if the stove is turned on too high. “Right, so what’s your thing about?”

“Later, yeah?” Jay gestures around you, and you suddenly remember that you’re in the middle of a busy kitchen, with everyone hustling to get ready for the dinner service starting in half an hour. 

You spring into action again, embarrassed at how easily you’d been absorbed into conversation with Jay. Something about the way he talks to you makes you feel like you’re the only person in the world— he’s always so attentive, nodding and responding to your every comment. You have to wonder why he hasn’t dated anyone seriously in college; he seems like he’d be the dream boyfriend. Hypothetically.

He only proves this point further when he reveals two containers of mac and cheese that he had picked up before getting there, which he microwaves for the two of you to eat after the dinner service is over. You turn on the lights in one corner of the cafeteria and sit at the only table that’s still left out: a children’s table where you have to balance precariously on seats that are too small for you. But it’s entirely worth it, knocking knees and elbows together, laughing too hard for what the situation warrants.

“I would’ve made you something myself, but I didn’t want to use up the kitchen’s ingredients,” Jay comments off-handedly.

Your heart glows in your chest. “That’s really thoughtful, Jay.”

He smiles and scratches the back of his head, suddenly shy. “Nah, it’s common sense, right? Come on, eat before it gets cold.”

Right then and there, Jay learns that he loves to watch you eat. You make exaggerated faces and ooh and ahh over something as simple as mac and cheese from the 24-hour diner down the street, and he finds himself itching to make something with his own two hands that will make you react like that. 

When you’re done eating, you sit back and sigh in satisfaction. “That was exactly what I needed. Now, tell me about your thing— what kind of mess have I gotten myself into?”

Jay hems and haws for a good minute before finally telling you about his parents’ upcoming 50th wedding anniversary. “It’s a little complicated because they had this, like, fairytale relationship, and of course I’m happy that they’re still so in love all these years later, but it’s kind of… a lot to live up to. Not that I’m complaining, because they’re awesome, but I don’t have that kind of relationship with anyone yet, so I haven’t brought anyone home to them.”

“So the rumors are true,” you mutter under your breath.

Unfortunately, Jay seems to have heard you. “What rumors?”

Flushing, you explain what you’d heard from Yunjin, who had heard it from Chaewon’s little. You’re quick to add, “I wasn’t asking around about you or anything!” 

Jay just smirks at you, something wicked and slow that only contributes to the heat in your cheeks. “I didn’t say anything.”

You hesitate before speaking up again. “So, if you don’t mind me asking… How come you haven’t dated anyone long-term in college? You’re, you know, perfectly okay to look at.”

Jay deadpans at you. “Wow, thanks, that really means a lot to me.”

You let out a huff of a laugh. “Shut up, it’s not a secret that you’re hot.”

Jay’s eyebrows shoot up, and you swear to god, he blushes to high heaven. “Th-Thanks.”

“Mm.”

It’s silent for a few long moments, then Jay clears his throat. “If I’m being honest, I haven’t dated anyone long-term in college because my parent’s relationship is a lot to live up to, and it’s not like I have a ton of time to find my perfect life partner in between everything else.”

“Ugh, tell me about it. Yunjin tells me I should try actually dating again, but it’s kind of a lot, right? Putting in the time and effort to get to know someone from scratch, when you’re not even sure how it’s going to pan out? And you’ve seen my calendar.” You laugh quietly. “And, honestly, I have this problem with dating where I get bored pretty easily.”

Jay leans forward, pushing into your personal space close enough to count your eyelashes, again. “Are you bored right now?” 

“No,” you answer, although you’re not sure why he’s asking. “Um, so, why do you need a fake girlfriend, then? I don’t think it’ll pass muster with your parents, if they want you to be in love for real.”

Jay fidgets with his fingers on top of the table. “Yeah, it’s kind of stupid, to be honest. My dad was hospitalized for a month last year, and it really shook us all. My parents are on the older side, and I’m their only child, and, well, I’d like to make them happy while they’re still around. Sorry, that was morbid. And I know it’s not like we’d be doing this forever, and it’s wrong to fake it, but still. They’d be overjoyed to see me in a relationship. I want to give that to them, even if it’s only twice.” He tells it to you like it’s a secret, and your chest caves in with the force of his sincerity.

“I don’t think that’s stupid. It’s sweet, Jay, really.” You reach out and still his fingers. “Listen, you know I’m really good at being a fake girlfriend, right?”

“You come highly recommended,” he mimics you from earlier, mouth quirking up in the beginnings of a smile. It lifts the atmosphere slightly, and you’re glad for it.

“Right, so don’t worry. Leave it to me. Your parents won’t suspect a thing,” you promise. “When’s the anniversary celebration?”

“Six weeks.”

You pull out your planner to start scheduling. “Great, so you can send me information about yourself, and I’ll do the same for you, and then we can find time to meet up and quiz each other about it and get our answers on our relationship straight—”

Jay’s hand lands around your wrist, stopping you from writing further. “Not that I don’t appreciate your… efficiency, but I don’t think that’s going to work. Like you said, my parents want to see a true relationship, and I don’t think flashcards are going to cut it. How about we just… get to know each other?”

You blink. “What, like daily one-on-ones, or something? Office hours, but just for each other?”

He bursts out laughing. “Oh my god, you’re serious, aren’t you?” He lets go of your wrist to hide his face behind his hands as he continues to laugh, which makes you smile despite yourself. He’s so goddamn cute.

You decide to humor him. “What do you suggest, then?”

“As much as I would love to monopolize your time, I don’t actually want to take up any of the precious few free spots on your calendar. You need to set aside more time for yourself, by the way. But for now, how about you give me the thirty minutes you schedule for getting to Nat’s and then back to campus every day? We can get to know each other then.”

“You want to walk me to the coffee shop and back?”

“Among other things.”

“… Such as?”

“Just you wait, Cinderella. I’m going to sweep you off your feet so hard, you won’t know what hit you. I’ll be the best fake boyfriend you’ve ever had.”

In the dim light of the after-hours cafeteria, with his long legs stretched out on either side of yours and the soft crescents of his smiling eyes twinkling at you, you’re inclined to believe him.

Jay keeps his word. He shows up on the sorority house’s porch every morning, backpack slung over his shoulder and hands in his pockets at 7:45am. He doesn’t even have class until 11am (you know because you asked Yunjin to ask Jake), so his dedication impresses you. Sometimes, you’ll watch him approach the house from your window, bopping his head along to whatever he’s listening to in his earbuds. 

When you open the door to greet him, he always smiles sleepily at you and reaches out to grab whatever’s in your hands (usually art supplies or heavy reference books for your thesis). It’s a small gesture, but it shoots through your cotton-candy-soft heart as true and straight as an arrow.

Most mornings, the two of you will chat about anything and everything, swinging from homework to Greek life drama to pet peeves to Mesopotamian history. Occasionally, you’re both tired from your busy schedules and just end up sharing his earbuds, listening to something slow and soothing. More and more often, you find yourself stuffing supplies and books into your backpack until it’s grossly misshapen, just so Jay can have his hands free to brush against yours on the walk to Nat’s.

It’s not just the coffee shop, either. Suddenly, he’s everywhere in your life, as if someone had penciled in his name as one long continuous block in your calendar. He comes to the library with you, and you work on your assignments in companionable silence. He’s now a regular volunteer at the community kitchen, and he’s helping them design a new menu for the colder days coming soon. He even shows up outside the studio art workshop, bringing you takeout when you’ve forgotten to eat. At parties, the two of you dominate beer pong, with him bouncing balls off of his bicep into the cups just to make you fake your fawning adoration at him. He doesn’t have to know that it comes easily to you, especially when he’s constantly looking at you the way you know you look at beautiful works of art.

“If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were actually courting me,” you comment thoughtlessly one day. You’re perched on the kitchen counter at the frat, watching Jay make ramen for the two of you. It’s almost three in the morning, and neither of you should be awake, but there’s something special about the quiet privacy afforded by the strange hour.

Jay forces himself to keep stirring the pot like usual. If he’s being honest with himself, he doesn’t know any better, either, but he doesn’t want to look too closely into that at the moment. Instead, he opts to flirt. “Wouldn’t you like to know,” he murmurs.

“Yeah, that’s why I said it, smartass.” But you let him off the hook, now preoccupied with reaching over to re-tie his apron.

“Ooh, ramen!” Jungwon’s face lights up as he walks into the kitchen, led by his nose. He looks like he just woke up, rubbing at his eyes with the ends of his sweatshirt sleeves. You have to stop yourself from cooing at him.

“What are you doing up so late?” Jay scolds him gently.

“Oh, hey, Dad. Hey, Mom. I just woke up; I had a weird dream.” Jungwon nods at you both and takes a seat at the kitchen island.

You gape at him. “What?”

Jungwon blinks a couple of times, looking more alert by the second. “Oops. Did I say that out loud? Sorry, Niki’s been rubbing off on me.”

“Niki calls us Mom and Dad?” You’re not sure if that’s sweet or weird.

“As a joke! In a jocular manner. Jovially.” Jungwon throws up a peace sign, as if that helps.

“I’m glad to see the English degree is paying off,” Jay remarks dryly. He looks like he took the Mom-and-Dad thing much more in stride, except for the tips of his ears, which burn red. It’s a dead giveaway that makes you smile fondly, because it’s so him.

“Will you make some more ramen?” Jungwon bats his eyelashes at the two of you.

“See, it works much better when Jungwon does it,” you tease Jay.

“Can’t argue with you there, honestly.” Jay puts another pot of water on the stove to boil. “You should have more than just sodium and carbs, though,” he tells Jungwon.

You nod, hopping off of the counter to rummage through the fridge. “Yeah, you don’t eat enough vegetables. Maybe that’s why you’re having weird dreams. Aha!” You emerge triumphantly with a salad kit.

Jungwon laughs. “And you wonder why Niki calls you Mom and Dad.”

Jay scoffs. “That’s just because he hasn’t met Chan.”

“Fair enough. What are you guys doing here so late, anyways?”

You pause in assembling the salad to point a salad tong at Jay. “This guy just follows me everywhere.”

“We’re in my frat house,” Jay retorts. 

“I could be here for someone else,” you argue. 

Jay’s gaze pins you down, warm and earnest. “You’re not, though.”

You smile at him. “No, I’m not.”

Jungwon coughs. “Get a room.”

You reach over to ruffle his hair. “You’re standing in it.”

The three of you eat your ramen and salad in silence for a bit, all falling victim to varying degrees of sleepiness. Without noticing it, you’re scooched up next to Jay, shoulders and knees and ankles pressed together in one long line of comfortable intimacy.

Jay thinks about Jungwon’s question as he slurps at the noodles. What are you guys doing here so late? The answer almost eludes him. These days, he finds himself drawn to you like a magnet, pulled in by forces far stronger than himself. 

He remembers that the two of you had been doing work in his room after the main library had closed, and you had fallen asleep on his bed at some point, a sketchbook dangling from your fingers. He had spent a ridiculous amount of time admiring your sleeping form, indulging in his favorite pastime of counting your eyelashes and resisting the urge to lay beside you. Eventually, your stomach had woken you up, and he insisted on making you some food, even if it wasn’t as nice as he would have liked to do for you. Now, looking at you chatting and joking with Jungwon, Jay feels his heart expanding into his lungs. You fit into his life so perfectly, and he’d like to think that he fits into yours, too. It’s almost too good to be true— could this be what his parents started with? 

When you’re done eating, Jungwon waves the two of you away, insisting that he should do the dishes since you cooked. You’re not about to argue with that, so you pat him on the shoulder before following Jay back up to his room. 

“He’s a good kid,” you tell Jay as you hop on his bed again, grabbing your sketchbook to pick up where you left off.

“He is.” Jay tuts at you. “And you should go to sleep.”

“I will, I will, just let me finish this sketch, okay? Besides, I don’t see you turning your laptop off, either.” You jut your chin out stubbornly.

Jay glances at the Wikipedia rabbit hole he’d been going down before your stomach had growled loudly an hour ago. He’s done with his work for the day, and he had just been keeping you company for the last two hours. “I have super important, time-sensitive work to finish,” he lies solemnly.

“Jay, I can see that you have the Wikipedia page for sinkholes open.”

He slams his laptop shut. “Actually, I’m done,” he declares, flopping down on the bed beside you. He turns his cheek from where he’s level with your stomach to look up at your hands moving across the page. “What are you working on in there?”

You make a displeased face. “People. I have to do one more human portrait for my portfolio, and it’s driving me nuts. Here, this one is of you.”

Jay lifts his head, astonished to see himself reflected back on the page. In smooth, sure strokes, you’ve captured him in tender detail: strong jaw, sharp eyes, and mouth twisted in concentration, probably from earlier when he’d actually been doing work. Jay’s jaw works as he struggles to figure out what to say. He’s unbelievably touched that you would draw him. “Can I keep this?” he asks finally.

“It’s not even done yet. And it’s not that good,” you warn him.

“It is to me. C’mon, please?”

“Maybe when I finish…” You trail off, swayed by the senseless patterns he’s tracing on top of your knee. “Which I won’t, if you keep distracting me.”

He smirks and stills his hand, looking like he’s about to tease you before he interrupts himself with a yawn. “Alright, goodnight, Cinderella.”

“'Night, 007.”

When he wakes up the next morning, he finds the lingering scent of your shampoo and a complete sketch of himself, now decked out in a tux worthy of James Bond. It makes him laugh out loud, and he knows he’s in trouble when he slides out a picture of him with his cousins from a picture frame to put your sketch in the frame, instead.

Before you know it, the day of the Parks’ wedding anniversary celebration has arrived. You’re on a four-way FaceTime call, with Chaewon lounging on your bed as you try on various dresses.

Kazuha is more invested in asking you about your relationship than helping you decide what to wear. “I’m just saying, I think it’s interesting that you and Jay have been, like, glued together for well over a month.”

“We’re getting to know each other better, so we don’t mess up in front of his parents,” you explain for the millionth time.

Kazuha wiggles her eyebrows at you. “Suuuure. Why didn’t you just send him one of those scarily detailed questionnaires like you did with all the other guys you fake-dated?”

Chaewon motions for you to spin in the billowy dress you’re currently in. “Too beachy,” she decides. “But ditto to what Kazuha said.”

“It’s because she like-likes him,” Sakura sing-songs.

You stick your tongue out at her. “Grow up, will you?” 

“Forget about that— have you guys hooked up yet?” Yunjin demands.

“Yet? No, Yunjin, what the fuck,” you complain.

“Gross,” a familiar voice groans from Yunjin’s corner of the FaceTime. You, Kazuha, Sakura, and Chaewon all zero in on her square.

“Jake?” You exclaim.

Yunjin giggles and moves the camera to show Jake sitting at his desk in his room, wearing his nerdy glasses and hunched over a textbook.

“Did you guys just hook up?” Kazuha blurts out. 

“Gross,” you repeat.

Yunjin rolls her eyes. “Grow up, will you? And no, I’m just here because it was too loud at the house.”

The rest of you fall silent on the call, especially you and Chaewon, demonstrating how decidedly not loud it is in the sorority house.

Yunjin blushes and clears her throat. “Whatever. Hey, you should totally wear that sparkly navy velvet number! The one that cinches at your waist.”

You rummage around in your closet and pull out the dress in question to try it on. “This one?”

Sakura whistles. “Oh, for sure. Good eye, Jen.”

Yunjin blows her a kiss. “Of course, of course.” She points at you. “That’s the one, babe. You have, like, the sluttiest waist ever, second only to Sunghoon; you have to wear that.”

Sounds of agreement abound, except from Jake, who whines, “You guys don’t think I have a slutty waist?”

“You’re a whore in other ways, don’t worry,” you reassure him dryly. You do another spin for Chaewon. “This isn’t too much, though?”

Jake suddenly pops into view of the camera. “It’s a formal event, and Jay is going to lose his mind no matter what you wear, trust me.”

“That’s not the point,” you insist.

The girls respond in unison, “Yes, it is!” 

And you have to admit, the way Jay’s mouth stays open as he gives you the once-over a few hours later is gratifying, to say the least. For good measure, he does it again, letting his eyes linger at the dip between your collarbones and the curve of your mouth.

Molten heat spreads through you in response to his wandering eyes, ratcheting up in intensity when he smirks at you, purposeful and knowing.

You elect to check him out, too, knowing that you’re not the only person who can get flustered here. He cuts an unbelievable figure against the setting sun, leaning against his sleek black car, hands in his pockets and legs crossed at the ankles. The tuxedo he wears fits criminally well, emphasizing his broad shoulders and long legs, and you can’t stop yourself from wondering what he’d look like taking his tie off. On second thought, this may have backfired; you only find yourself feeling warmer the longer you stare at him.

Thankfully, he starts moving, coming up to the porch to hand you a bouquet of baby’s breath.

“Oh, good idea— should I hand these to your mom or your dad?” You ask, taking the flowers from him.

He laughs, surprised. You are too cute for his own good. “The flowers are for you, Cinderella. My parents and I are allergic to pollen, actually.”

“Oh.” You hold the flowers closer to your chest, giddiness touching you from head to toe. He got you flowers, even though he’s allergic. “Thank you, Jay.”

He hums and reaches out to tuck a piece of hair behind your ear. “Happy to do it. I saw the flowers in your room dying the other day. Go put them inside; I’ll wait out here. I can feel Chaewon’s stare drilling into the top of my head, anyways.” He looks up and waves at Chaewon, who’s hanging out of your window shamelessly.

She shouts, “Have her home by midnight, or she’ll turn into a pumpkin!”

“I don’t think that’s how it goes, but okay!” He throws her a thumbs-up.

Inside the house, you’re seized with the urge to splash some water on your face, just to calm yourself down, but that would ruin your makeup. Instead, you place the flowers in a vase of water and trust that Chaewon will bring them up to your room for you, after she’s done heckling Jay.

“Leave my guy alone,” you yell in her direction, pulling at his arm to get him down the stairs and to his car. 

“Your guy, huh?” Jay looks at you with uncontrollable fondness.

“Just for the night,” you say, but you don’t miss the way his smile widens at the way you don’t deny it.

Ever the gentleman, Jay opens the passenger door for you, helping you gather the ends of your dress and tucking them in under your legs. He remains crouched for a moment, looking like he’s debating with himself about something, and then he goes for it, leaning over and buckling you in.

When you raise an eyebrow at him, all he says is, “Precious cargo,” and then he’s shutting the door, leaving you flushing once more.

The car ride to his parent’s place is easy and comfortable, even with the charged atmosphere that lingers between the two of you. Conversation always flows like water with Jay; you’re debating the finer points of how to determine provenance for historical artifacts when you arrive. Guests are littered across the front lawn, conversing with each other but centered around his parents.

Suddenly, you’re nervous. “Do you think they’ll like me?” You ask Jay.

He looks at you like you’ve grown another head. “Are you serious? Of course they will. You’re you.”

You swat at his shoulder even as you smile widely. “Your unconditional faith in me notwithstanding, I’m serious, Jay. I want to be able to live up to this fairytale romance thing.”

He takes your hand in his, pressing a kiss to your knuckles. “Believe me, you’re a dream come true. Let’s go, Cinderella.”

You gulp and curse your thundering heart, but then you’re five feet away from his parents, and you’re exclaiming at how in love they look, all these years later. Jay’s dad is distinguished in salt-and-pepper hair, and his mom is all smiles when she tells you that you’re too pretty for Jay.

“Mom,” he whines.

“Oh alright, come here, my beautiful boy.” She brings him in for a hug and beams when he kisses her cheek. Your heart melts like ice cream in the summer; he’s a mama’s boy, through and through.

Jay’s dad asks, “So, how did you meet?” 

You open your mouth, prepared with your story. “I’m Jay’s friend’s twin sister, and then we kind of got caught in a scheme to help one of our other friends ask out the girl he liked, and we just got closer after that. Jay’s easy to like.” So far, it’s all true.

Jay doesn’t look like he’s faking anything when he continues, though. “She’s easy to love.”

“Way to one-up me,” you joke, but you feel like you’re floating, cradled by the buoyancy of the affection in his eyes.

“Seriously, she’s so smart it makes my head spin, and her heart shines brighter than the sun. She makes me laugh and work harder to keep up, and I’m lucky to just stand by her side. Being with her is the most natural thing in the world, like breathing, or my heart beating.” Jay doesn’t take his eyes off of you the whole time he’s speaking; he wants to commit every change in your expression to memory, from surprise to fondness to something deeper.

Jay’s dad hums approvingly. “Good work, son. You sound like I did when I met your mom.” He brings his wife in to kiss her temple.

“Enjoy the party, lovebirds,” she coos at you, and then they’re gone, off to greet other arrivals.

You’re frozen in place, with one hand still clutching at Jay’s like a lifeline. “We didn’t practice that,” you mumble.

He shakes his head and rubs his thumb over your cheek with his other hand. “No, we didn’t. Are you mad?”

“Mad? I think I’m jealous of your future girlfriend,” you say, forcing a laugh. It sounds wooden even to your ears.

He frowns. “Don’t do that.”

“Do what?”

“Act as if you don’t know how much I like you.” 

The world stops turning on its axis. “What?”

His gaze slips down to your mouth, tracing your cupid’s bow. “You heard me.” He turns hopeful eyes on you. “Do you… feel the same?”

Just like that, the world resumes its motion, and you can’t let him go a second longer without knowing how much he is loved. “Desperately.” 

He breathes a sigh of relief, and you think he’s going to kiss you— you need him to kiss you— but he hugs you close instead, lips hovering against your ear. “You have no idea how happy I am to hear that,” he murmurs.

“If it’s anything close to how happy I am, I probably have a good idea,” you laugh. You’re surprised at how quickly the burning urge to have his mouth on yours has tempered into something more grounded and permanent. 

“I have to go do something for my parents, but I think I’ll die if I have to leave you. Will you come watch?” 

You’d go anywhere with him. “Of course.”

He squeezes your hand. “Thanks, doll.” Against your will, your hand spasms in his. He giggles, delighted. “Duly noted.”

“Shut up,” you complain, but you follow him all the way to the tented dance floor set up on the grounds behind the house, only letting go after he kisses each of your fingertips in turn.

You’re surprised to see him pull out an eight-string guitar, and even more surprised when he explains to the gathered crowd that he’ll be playing the song from his parents’ first dance. They look perfect, swaying in the center of the floor, but you only have eyes for Jay.

You watch as his fingers pluck deftly at the strings, a romantic Spanish melody that barely reaches your ears over the rush of all your adoration for him. As soon as the song is over, he catches you in his arms, lifting you up and spinning you around twice before setting you back down, hands at home around your waist.

He asks if you want to dance. You teeter back on your heels, looking at the graceful curve of his mouth and thinking back to the nimbleness of his fingers. “Honestly? I want to kiss you. Really badly.”

He exhales and holds you tighter. “You won’t let me take you out first?”

“If you count the last few weeks, you’ve taken me out, like, a million times.”

“But a real date, doll. I want to cook for you, and we can get tea lights, and a picnic blanket, and— god.” Jay sucks in a sharp breath when you move his hands higher to cup underneath your chest. “You’re going to be the death of me,” he sighs, pressing his forehead to yours.

“I hope so. Stop being so nice, and take me to your room, please?”

Jay’s eyes flick heavenward. There’s only so much self-restraint left in him. “You win.”

And when he finally kisses you, pressed up against the door of his childhood bedroom, you nearly cry from how tender it is. He kisses you slowly, reverently, like you’re one of the saints from his history books.

“Sometimes, I think I’ve dreamt you up,” you confess to him. The words hang precious and delicate in the space between your lips.

“Let me show you I’m real then, yeah?” He presses a kiss to the corner of your mouth, then licks right into you, eliciting a gasp from the back of your throat. Your fingers find purchase in the soft hair at the back of his head, and you realize that you’ve been breathing the wrong air your whole life; the groan that passes from his mouth to yours is the only thing you want in your lungs from now on. 

Liquid desire pools in your stomach, rising until you think you might choke on it. “Jay, please.”

“Please, what? Use your words, doll.”

“Touch me.”

That’s all he needs to hear. Quicker than you realize it, but just as urgently as you need it, you find yourself laid out on his bed, and then he’s demonstrating that he knows more than just how to play guitar with those thick fingers.

When you make it out of his room an hour later, you’re still glowing with happiness. Jay knows he looks equally lovestruck, not least because his collar is hiding several lipstick stains from you. 

You offer to help him redo his tie, so he anchors you unnecessarily close to him, hands sweeping up and down your side. “I don’t think I told you yet, but you look really nice tonight,” he murmurs. “You look really nice all the time, actually.”

You bury your face in his chest. “I’m going to explode if you keep sweet-talking me like that.”

He presses his smile to the top of your head. “Nooooo, you’re too pretty to explode.”

“Jay!” But you’re both laughing, bathed in the soft magic of newfound devotion. You couldn’t dream up anything better.

(Dating Jay is a lot like fake-dating Jay, as it turns out. In some ways.

In other ways, Jay still manages to take your breath away with new and inventive methods. He really does make you dinner, with tea lights and a picnic blanket, ensconced in the twilight of a park you drive an hour away to get to. He even makes foie gras torchon for the occasion, from scratch, and he watches you intently as you moan in delight at the taste. You joke about your breath being fishy when you kiss later, but he just shrugs, unbothered and already moving so that his head disappears underneath your dress, making you moan in a different way.

So, yes— there’s a lot more kissing, and sex, and intimacy that makes you want to curl up in a ball and hiss at how vulnerable it makes you. But Jay is always welcome in the prickly patches of your soul, and he wants those parts of you as much as he wants the parts of you that paint him in aching affection.

When he finally tells you he loves you that winter— in so many words, because it shows in his every action otherwise—, it’s three in the morning again, and your hands are fluttering across his brow, smoothing out the creases from a night of worrying about whether he’s really good enough to take over the family business. Your fingers, lovely and dear to him, stitch together the cracks in his self-resolve, and he can’t help but let the words out. His heart absolutely sings when you repeat the words back to him.

Some time later, you ask him to sit for a portrait for you. He doesn’t think too much of it, especially as the seasons bleed into one another and spring brings an influx of senior events, pollen, and the impending question of the future. He’s at your senior thesis, asking you detailed questions during the audience Q&A and wrapping you up in the biggest hug when it’s over, and you sit in on the final class he TAs, applauding when he’s done.

At the showcase of your final portfolio, his jaw drops when you reveal the second portrait (after having laughed his ass off at Jake blubbering over the first one and Yunjin kissing him in public to shut him up). 

The second portrait is of him, and his parents. From his dad’s strong brows, to his mom’s smile lines, to his own hands; every detail is captured, shimmering in loving light. 

He finds that his eyes are wet when you come up to him and brush your thumb against his  eyelashes, smiling brightly at him. “Do you like it?”

“I love it. I love you, so much, like crazy, you don’t even know,” he rambles, laughing through his tears now.

You kiss him quickly but firmly, just a reminder that your mouth was made to fit against his. “Love you more, London boy. Speaking of…” You lean back to stare at him through your eyelashes. “I got the Rhodes,” you whisper.

His eyes widen like saucers. “You’re coming with me?”

“More like you’re coming with me,” you say, knowing that Jay had requested to be placed at his family business’s England location to be close to you in the event that you got the scholarship.

“Obviously,” he relents without missing a beat. “I’m going to follow you everywhere. Can’t get rid of me now.” He dips his head to kiss you longer. Lightning still shoots through his fingertips, just like the first time, and every time after that.

At graduation, you tell him, “You know, I think I’ve decided what I want your favor to be.”

He smiles at you, familiar and true. “Yeah? What’s that?”

“Just love me, for a long, long time.”

“Easy, Cinderella.”)

#enhypen #park jay #park jongseong #enhypen jay #enhypen x reader #enhypen fic #jay x reader #jay fic #jay oneshot #enhypen oneshot #enhypen fluff #jay fluff #wrote this in 5 days bc i am deranged #no banner bc idk how to make one and don't plan on learning so we're rawdogging it #back when i wrote fics on tumblr for **** there used to be like banner makers who would specifically make them for ppl... #is that still a thing? someone lmk idk #okay! ready set go gimme ur thoughts on this #im gonna go to dinner and then watch the rest of ep 7 and 8 of king the land and ignore how sunghoon is soooo guwon #i also need to finish dr romantic 3 and start packing to move across multiple state lines #but maybe i'll fall into the clutches of guwon sunghoon or jake puppy fic. i need a lobotomy honestly #ss.fic

[judeswhore]

can we have an imagine of us straddling him on that sofa PLEASE 🛐😩

ik u probably wanted this to be ✨sexual✨ but i thought this idea was cute but let ur imagination wander ig, also why has mason getting tiktok fucked us all up?

tiktok - mason mount

After making his Tiktok account and posting his first ever video, Mason had given you free reign to film whatever you wanted for him to post next. He wasn’t sure yet if he regretted that decision, he wasn’t exactly ecstatic about the prospect of filming a dance but then he also knew you were a shit dancer so that was kind of ruled out. On top of being worried about what you were going to make him do he was slightly worried about his fans response, the two of you weren’t exactly secretive of your relationship but it was very rare you posted things of you together but Mason kind of wanted to make a statement and Tiktok was always the best place to do that.

“Should I be worried that there’s a blind fold involved? You know like children will watch the video, right, and my mum. Sure Only Fans wouldn’t be the better site to use?” You rolled your eyes at Mason, setting his phone up on the little book table he had so the sofa was in a perfect close up shot.

“Stop being annoying, this is perfectly innocent.” You hit record on the camera, double checking you were both in frame before turning to your boyfriend who was staring down at the blind fold in his hands.

“There is nothing innocent about you and blindfolds, Y/N. Why can’t you just tell me what we’re doing? This is my account.” You took the blind fold from him, standing up on your tip toes so you could secure it around his eyes.

“Stop whining, I’ll tell you in a minute, you said I could do whatever I wanted and this seems fun.” You tightened the scrap of black material and then stepped back, three fingers held in front of his face. “How many fingers am I holding up?”

“I don’t know, ten?”

“Loser.” You clapped your hands slightly and then placed them against Mason’s shoulders, pushing him back against the sofa, his soft “umph” making you giggle when he landed into the cushions. “Gimme a minute.”

“Where are you going?”

“One second!” You left him sitting confused on the sofa as you grabbed your plate of things from the kitchen, a slice of red apple, a green grape, a piece of dark chocolate and a strawberry. When you got back to the living room Mason had his head tilted back on the sofa, arms folded over his chest and you took a moment to admire him, legs spread ever so slightly, thighs on show in his shorts, biceps straining in his tight black shirt.

You placed the plate down on the sofa beside him and then carefully climbed on to his lap, straddling him with your thighs locked either side of his. His hands immediately found your hips, fingers pushing beneath your shirt like he can’t bear to not be touching your bare skin. You leant in, lips brushing his ear and grinned at the way he shivered against you.

“You’re incredibly pretty y’know, baby.” You mumbled, lips against his earlobe and Mason’s throat bobbed when he swallowed thickly.

“Is this the game?” He asked, pulling you a little more firmly into his lap as you hovered over him.

“No.” You took his face in your hands and pressed a quick kiss against his lips, aware that you’d have to edit the video and cut most of this part out before he could upload it. “Okay, rules.” You kept your hands on his jaw as you explained, your thumb brushing over his bottom lip, a giddy feeling inside of you at how extra responsive he seemed now that he couldn’t see. “So, I have four things here and you basically have to eat them and tell me what they are.”

“Are you gonna give me some really spicy shit because if you do I want be responsible if I throw up on you.” You pulled a face and dropped your hands, poking a little at his stomach.

“Vile, but no. You like these foods. Ready for the first one?” You reached for the grape first, holding it between your fingers in front of his lips as you waited for his answer.

“So what do I just eat it and then tell you what it is? Seems pretty easy.”

“Show me your skills then, Mount. Open.” He dropped his mouth for you and let you slip the fruit between his teeth, fingers pushing further up your shirt as he bit into it, a cocky smirk appearing.

“Grape, obviously.” He gave your side a quick squeeze and you wriggled, smile forming on your own face.

“What colour grape?” Mason’s face contorted into a frown, lips twisting as his nose scrunched adorably.

“How the fuck am I meant to know that?”

“That’s the whole point of the game.”

“That’s ridiculous, I can’t tell grapes apart they’re just grapes.”

“They taste different.” You argued, settling one hand on the back of his neck, thumb brushing over his skin as he continued to frown. He sat in silence for a few minutes, tongue darting around his mouth and then shrugged.

“Red.”

“Sorry, baby, green.” You stroked his hair as he let out a grumbled complain and bit into your lip to stop yourself from laughing. Mason was the biggest sore loser and you knew if he got all of the foods wrong he’d become a pouty mess.

“Let me do the next one, asking about colours and shit put me off.” He opened his mouth again, shifting his hips ever so slightly and you didn’t know if he was doing it to tease or just to get comfortable but it sent a little shudder through you. You pressed the red apple against his tongue and watched as he chewed, his brows definitely furrowed behind the blind fold.

Your attention was focused on the way his jaw worked, the quick clenches of it as he chewed slowly, obviously trying to savour the mystery fruit to try and figure out what it is. You hand was still on the back of his head, nails grazing against his scalp as you waited on his verdict.

“Red apple, it’s the Granny Smith one I eat all the time.” He knew he was right and he gave you a little grin, fingers tickling your sides.

“One point for Mr Mount.” You bent your head down and pecked his lips quickly, already reaching for the dark chocolate. Mason hated dark chocolate, you don’t think he’d ever eaten it in the time you’d been together so you were hoping he’d get this one wrong.

“Do I get a kiss for every one I get right?” He asked, head back against the sofa again. You knew this was gonna be an image burnt into your mind, straddling him like this, his mouth half open, head back with his eyes covered. You kind of hoped he’d let you reverse the roles of the blindfold in the bedroom, you wouldn’t mind using it on him for a change.

“You might. Okay, next one.”

“I’m not sure my fans will be that excited to see me eat stuff.” He commented before dropping his mouth further open for you.

“They’d watch you watch paint dry, Mase. Plus, you look pretty hot like this so I think they’ll love it. Ready?” He just nodded in reply and started chewing the little piece of chocolate, tongue swirling around his mouth. He cocked his head, fingers moving from your side to your thigh where he drew little patterns as he tried to fingers out the taste.

“Chocolate. Regular chocolate but like a shops own brand, maybe Tesco’s.” You grinned and softly patted his cheek, making a noise like an incorrect buzzer off a game show.

“Dark chocolate, clearly you don’t hate it that much, you ate it fine.” Mason hummed a little, tugging on the bottom of your shirt as he shifted you forward again, his other hand on your bum.

“The apple taste was still in my mouth. You should have let me cleanse my pallet.” You rolled your eyes at this but reached for the bottle of water on the floor at his feet.

“Here,” You unscrewed the cap and held the bottle to his lips, tilting it back so he could gulp some down, his pat to your thigh his way of telling you to stop. You tightened the lid back on and threw it on to the sofa. “Now you can’t complain, okay last one.”

You held the strawberry between his lips and told him to bite down and then you dropped the stalk back in to the bowl, gaze locking on your boyfriend as his lips tilted into a teasing smirk, his fingers trailing over your back beneath your shirt. He gave a soft little hum as he swallowed, head cocking to the side again.

“Y’know,” There was already a playful tone to his voice and you knew immediately he was about to tease. “I’m not quite sure I know what this is.” You arched your brows even though he couldn’t see you, curious about where he was going with this since he so clearly knew it was a strawberry.

“Oh really?”

“Really. Might need you to have a taste and tell me what you think.” Even with one less sense Mason was a cocky bastard but you couldn’t deny his tricks made you laugh and you couldn’t help but roll your eyes at him.

“Let me see if I can figure it out.” Your voice was a whisper and then you slid your hands over his jaw, lips covering his in a soft kiss. You could definitely taste the strawberry when you stroked your tongue over his and gave your own little hum before pulling back, Mason lifting the blindfold in the process.

His gaze was dark but teasing, that little hint of lust swirling in his eyes and you knew he was about to have a lot of fun with you but you just quirked a smile at him, hips shifting ever so slightly.

“You know, I’m still not sure, I think you need to let me taste some more.” Mason gave a soft breathy laugh and then reached over to stop the recording, fingers tangling in your hair afterwards to bring your mouth back down to his.

“As the lady wishes.” He paused against your mouth, breath fanning over your lips. “We might wanna cut a lot out of the video before we actually post it. Not sure anyone would appreciate seeing me basically begging for a kiss.”

#england nt #chelsea fc #football #football imagine #money mase #mason mount #mason mount fluff #mason mount fanfic #mason mount one shot #mason mount fic #mason mount blurbs #mason mount blurb #mason mount imagines #mason mount imagine #mason mount x reader

[shivanessa]

My piece for @dbh-found-family and the Detroit Become Family Event: Past - Future

"Maybe I should move out." Connor stated calmly. 

Hank choked on his coffee. His violent coughing called Sumo into the kitchen. Connor tried to help him with patting his back and the dog pressed against his legs until Hank shoved both of them aside with his head glowing like a ripe tomato. 

"Gimme some fucking space you two!" 

He cleared his throat. 

"You… you're thinking about moving out."

Connor nodded. 

"Why the fuck would you do that?" Hank stared at Connor with wide eyes. 

Connor pulled back a little. "I think it's the right thing to do. I'm living off your money for months now and-...".

"The fuck you do" Hank made a dismissive gesture. "And you know that! So cut the bullshit and come out with what's going on."

Connor hesitated. He looked to the side, unsure how to proceed. 

"It is… It seems important for me to find my own place. Own my own things." 

Understanding dawned on Hank's face. Connor had only a very small amount of possessions but even those didn't really have a place in Hank's house. They never had talked about it, always something else had been important after the revolution. Hank's eyes strayed to the corner where the clothes and other possessions were stored. He shifted his weight, clearly uncomfortable. 

"I see..." He pressed his lips closed and Connor could sense that he wasn't happy with the decision. He placed his cup on the counter and turned fully to him. "Look, I see that I've been neglecting that. But why don't you just talk to me. Instead of giving me a heart attack first thing in the morning. Like-... We can figure things out."

Connor deflated. "I'm sorry. It's just… I feel that I need to be responsible for myself. I can't rely on you to decide how I am to life."

He rubbed his neck. Truth was, he didn't want to move out at all. He liked being with Hank, talking about his day and hearing Hanks tales. He liked the movies, the companionable silence between them, walking Sumo and all that. He hung his head. His left hand twitched and he couldn't stop it. 

"Connor." Hanks voice was softer now. The android looked up, his inner turmoil clearly written all over his face. 

"I tell you what. I'm sorry about not having thought about this sooner. But I want you to feel at home here. I want…" his voice became thick and Hank had to pause a moment. "I want you to have this as a home. If you don't it's okay, I'll help you with the moving and all that. But maybe we can figure it out." 

*

"Are you sure, Hank?" 

Connor watched the human who stood in front of the door at the end of the hallway. It was the one between his bedroom and the the bathroom, the one they never talked about and that was always closed. Hank had both hands on his hips, his face was closed of. He stared at the door as if it was the gate of hell. 

"Hank…?" 

"Yeah, I hear you." He deflated. "I-... oh for fucks sake, let's do this!" 

And before Conor could say another word Hank pushed the door open. 

Slowly the android followed. He never had set a foot inside before, out of obvious reasons.

This had been Cole's room. 

It was dark inside. Connor's eyes adjusted quickly to the dimness, but Hank marched to the window and opened the curtains, dragged them aside as if he tried to escape the gloominess. 

What Connor saw seemed to be typical for a six year old, as far as his database provided. Apparently Cole had been obsessed with space. His bedding had stars and rockets on it. A model of the solar system hung above the bed. Different spaceships, aliens and planets decorated the walls. Other things were very much still catering to a small child's interests and needs. Stuffed toys, self made decorations, school supplies. A closet full of clothes, untouched, as if Cole was about to be back any second. Only the stale air and the dust that rested on everything showed that in fact nobody was about to life here anymore. 

At least until now. 

Hank opened the window to let in some fresh air. Then he turned to Connor. He looked way more helpless than Connor had ever seen him. Raw and open. But also determined. "Okay-..." he choked out. "Let's do this."

"Hank…" 

"No." His eyes were wet, but the tears didn't spill. "I want this. Really."

Connor nodded. His scan provided that Hanks vital-signs were elated but not in a alarming amount. They got to work. 

*

It took the whole day to sort through Cole's belongings, to decide what to give to charity, what to keep and what to throw away. Hank was relentless, and even if he sniffled from time to time, he smiled at Connor. The android wasn't sure if his interpretation of the situation was correct, but somehow cleaning the room reminded him of cutting open and old wound that still festered. It hurt. It bled. But the more they worked the more it felt as if a pressure that had alway sat on the house, lifted. 

At one point Hank started to talk about Cole. About how he had been. Who he had been. His hobbies, little quirks that made him unique and special. He showed his books to Connor, his photos and schoolwork and more and more Connor understood who Cole had been. And somehow this seemed to even strengthen the bond between him and Hank. Everytime his optical unit zoomed in on the human two words appeared in his HUD. 

Hank: Family

It was nice, emitting a warm and soft glow. 

*

When they finally sat down on the couch in the evening both felt drained, but also satisfied. Connor understood that this hadn't been an ending. It was a new beginning. Cole was gone, but he always would be a part of Hank's life. And now was the time to let go of his things. Of the hurtful past. Time for something new. Connor's eyes fell on the containers with new paint that waited by the door, next to foil and brushes, ready to work with tomorrow. Paint he himself had decided on. Paint for his new room, his own room in Hank's house. 

Their home. 

Cole's Foto didn't rest in Hank's bedside drawer any longer, next to his gun, but stood beside some other things they found today by the outdated music player. Somehow Connor thought the boy looked happier than before, but maybe his optical unit played him a prank.

Hank groaned when he leaned back. "Be so kind and get me a beer, son."

Connor rose from the seat with a warm smile. "Of course."

Dad.

#dbh found family #Dbh family event #dbh rk800 #connor dbh #dbh hank #connor & hank #detroit become human #Fic

[descendantofthesparrow]

Encore - Harry Hook x reader - part 9 - working over time

=

You sighed, tying your apron around your waist, leaning back to spot uma and china talking away at the table in the corner.

you heard a rushing of footsteps, your aunt stumbling down the stairs.

“shit shit shit!” she muttered, wringing her hands together, her teeth clacking together.

"Auntie?” you muttered, walking over to her and patting her shoulder “what's wrong?”

“five people called out today, it's just going to be us!!!” she screeched, running her hands through her short pink hair.

You paled, your aunt’s bakery was always busy, it had gained popularity over the last few months and you had gone from 50 customers a day to over 250, and that wasn’t including online orders.

“shit…wait!” your aunt watched confused as you bolted away from her to the front of the store, skidding to a stop in front of Uma and China.

“hey Uma, you were a waitress, right?” she nodded confused “great, could you help out today, we have five people call out and it's just me and Tonks and we need help” Uma nodded and stood to make her way to the back.

“your aunt's names is Tonks?” China laughed, finishing her mocha and standing.

“yeah” you muttered, glancing to the clock, one hour to the mid-day rush “she likes to go by that since she looks like her”

China snorted, walking towards the back.

“what are you doing?” you asked confused, jaw-dropping slightly as china smiled and said.

“helping, you needed more people right? I've done retail before, I got this”

You laughed, cleaning up the table and getting everything ready.

Soon both China and Uma emerged from the back, both wearing black aprons with the bakery's symbol on it.

“sweet thanks you two” you finished checking out a customer, wishing them a good day and beaming at the two girls.

“so what did Tonks set you two on?”

Uma spoke first “cashier, China is going to be in the back with tonks and you are just gonna keep doing whatever” you nodded, walking to the sink to wash your hands.

“Alright, well that means i’ll be up here with you, i’ll dish out orders while you take orders and get stuff from the pastry panel okay?” she nodded, glancing over the tablet.

“okay first, let's teach you how to use the register”

=

You sighed, sipping on your mango, banana, Strawberry smoothie (if ur allergic to any of those, just some sort of other icy drink)

“that turned out better than I hoped, thank’s you guys, that would have been like hell without you”

Harry hummed, head leaning on your shoulder munching on a glazed doughnut “no problem lass, sorry I was late”

“no worries har” you laughed, rubbing your cheek to the top of his head “though it would have been great for you to be there the entire time, you got called back to auradon by Gil because of …why?”

Harry snorted, “the crew came over and started wrecking our place, had ta put ‘em in their place”

“ahh” you giggled, sinking into your chair “gotcha”

China groaned from her spot, flopping her head into her arms on the table. “I forgot how awful retail was, how do you do that every day?!”

You laughed, Uma joining in “you just get used to it” uma sniggered, patting Chinas back.

Your aunt came our from the back, flipping the keys in her hand, holding three envelopes, “alright kiddos, locking up, let's go” the four of you stood, harry tossing his arm over your shoulder.

You aunt handed an envelope to Harry, Uma, and China, the three looking at her oddly, “your pay for today, thank you guys so much for helping, even though you had to obligation to”

Uma and Harry glanced at each other, then looked up at Tonks “wait you're paying us?” uma muttered, ripping open the envelope and jaw-dropping as she looked at the amount.

“fer real?!” Harry gasped, unbelieving, blinking surprised at Umas check “yer actually paying us?”

“yes?” Tonks tilted her head confused, “I wasn’t going to just have you work with no pay, that would be awful of me”

Harry and Uma just blinked, staring dumbfounded at your aunt, you sighed, stepping in-between the two vks and pulling on their arms.

“well, see ya, tomorrow auntie, ~”

She waved you goodbye as you lead the two stunned vks away and an amused China followed you “alright, see ya goodnight!”

=

China and uma exchanged numbers, waving goodbye as you entered your key into a door lock.

“text me uma!”

“will do, see ya girl!”

Uma stepped through first, harry taking your hand and leading you through.

“Hey, guys” Carlos’s voice echoed through the living room, seeming to come from the piles of blankets, pillows, chairs, and boxes.

“did” uma mumbled, walking around the fort “did you guys make a pillow fort?”

“yeah!” Gil’s voice sprouted from“doors in the front!”

“wheres the fron’?” Harry laughed, scratching his head.

“found it” you crawled through the blanket door, gasping as you caught sight of the high strung fairy lights.

“welcome” jay muttered, his hood delicately placed over his head, “to our comfort cave, state your name and purpose.”

You glanced down, in front of jay was a large board, with little action figures. And dice.

“Are you guys playing dnd?” you laughed, crawling further into the fort, allowing uma and harry to crawl in.

“yes,” jay spoke in a misty voice, obviously holding back laughter “now state your name and purpose~”

“have you really started or are you just getting started”

“We did a one-shot and then now were are doing a real campaign!” gil cheered, licking off Cheeto dust from his fingers.

“Alright I’ll play, gimme a character sheet and dice”

The boys cheered, allowing you to make a spot between Gil and harry. Uma sat back, preparing to enjoy the chaos.

“now let us begin~”

-end of part 9-

 permtaglist

@mockeryhamato​

@random-thoughts-003​

@daughter-of-pan12​

#descendants #Descendents #disney descendants #harry hook #harry hook descendants #harry hook x reader #harry hook imagine #encore #part of your world #reprise

[shcnley]

╰ ✧ ZOEY DEUTCH. MUSE SEVEN. BISEXUAL. ❞ say hello to the s club’s very own SHANLEY EVANS! a TWENTY-THREE year old CISFEMALE that goes by SHE/HER pronouns. i heard they were voted MOST TALKATIVE in high school, which says a lot about them because they’re very VIVACIOUS and DEPENDABLE, but watch out for their IMPULSIVE and STUBBORN side as well. i hope they’re ready to take a break from being a TEACHER and finally get this summer started! 

hiiii friendssss, i’m gigi!!! and here’s my lil french fry lovin’ bb, shanley. sooo excited to plot w/ you allllll <333 

B A S I C S

full name: shanley nicole evans gender: cisfemale pronouns: she/her sexuality: bisexual age: 23 years old birthday: january 27th 1997 birthplace: NYC currently living: chicago, il relationship status: single zodiac: aquarius sun, virgo moon, leo rising occupation: teacher ( 1st grade )

I N S P O

characters: jessica day ( new girl ), lorelai gilmore ( gilmore girls ), harper ( set it up ), summer roberts ( the o.c. ), alexis rose ( schitt’s creek ), & amy march ( little women ). music: click this sentence for playlist !!  pinterest: click this sentence for pinterest !! 

B A C K G R O U N D

kso, i’m going to be honest. shanley had an extremely normal and happy childhood. her parents met in high school, fell in love and were married after graduating college. her father ( theodore evans / think sandy cohen from the oc ) is an executive vice president of an insurance company while her mother ( clara evans / think kristina braverman from parenthood ) is a stay-at-home mom. born and raised in new york city. she has an older sister ( haddie evans / think prue halliwell from charmed ) who is three years older, she has an extremely close relationship with her. shanley is obsessed with family, tbh. she tells them just about everything. they had dinner together every night and talk about their days, have inside jokes, go on family vacations every summer ( before sclub summers ). overall, her parents are very loving and supportive, wanting only the best for their daughters. in high school, shanley was convinced she wasn’t like other girls *pUkeS*. she was very outgoing. like she literally made friends with anyone and everyone. a friendly face; probably the student who showed the new students around. it was rare to see shanley upset or rude to anyone unless she was defending someone. she had good grades (our shanny was v advanced), kind of a teacher’s pet but like still got her seat moved or sent to the hallway because she wouldn’t stop talking. i almost made her superlative most likely to say something stupid because like that’s her too. she was on the yearbook committee, played volleyball, and was a part of the student government. if she wasn’t at school or home, you would most likely find her with arlo, which whew. a story there. when it came to the sclub, she spent whatever free time she had left with them. encouraging all the trouble; shanley will do ANYTHING you tell her to and probably doesn’t think about it. don’t give her dumbass a dare because she will do it. sorry , i forgot what i was going to say; let’s change topics. NO i remembered, lets carry on. she’s always up for a good time. don’t hesitate to invite shan...even if you don invite her...she’ll invite herself SO. fast forward to college, shanley was accepted to loyola university and moved to chicago. how excite!!!!  kso she always knew she wanted to go away for school yanno be miss independent thats why they love her BUT college life wasn’t easy, not in the beginning at least. she was going through a breakup and lost herself for a while. became cold and detached; honestly after the break up her routine was to go to class then back to her dorm, study, cry and repeat. she was only friends with her roommates till finally they forced her to go out and deal with her heartbreak the “””normal””” college way aka getting stupid drunk. *tiktok vc* it izz what it izz. joined a sorority then dropped it because it was too culty for her. she got a part time job at insomnia cookies. slowly became high school shanley again. her spirits were especially lifted when she began student teaching. the kids made her so happy. they also proved to her that teaching was what she was meant to do. next thing ya know, four years are up and our girl has a degree in elementary education.  no one probably asked but her love life !!! like mentioned earlier shanley is single. she was convinced she was going to end up marrying arlo, maybe not right after high school like people assumed but eventually. they just connected on another level so when he ended things after their first year of college, shan was crushed. but if you’re curious, she's still got the hots for arlo. are we surprised tho? no? exactly. thanks for reading, pals. dsjkn okay i’ll add more. fine. so she hooks up with people and goes on dates but no one sticks. she doesn’t want them to stick either. she knows she had that like one great love and doubts she’ll ever feel it again so she just prefers to be on her own. she don’t need no man !!!!!!!! except for one...but mind ur business. so like what is shanley nicole evans up to now? well, her original plan was to move back home once she had graduated. but she was offered a teaching position in chicago and gladly accepted it. she figured since she loved living in chicago so much and it was at the school where she completed her student teaching; it all felt right for her to stay there. this was a fresh start for her. and she got it!! ya girl moved into a beautiful ( expensive ) apt near lake shore drive, started her own tiktok account where she randomly went viral and fell in love with all her students who she calls her kiddy beans!!

E X T R A !!

has 4 tattoos:       portrait of her dog, on her left calf // why? again obsessed w/ her dog       aquarius symbol,  on her right outer elbow side // zodiac hoe. Is v proud       coffee mug, on her right wrist side // her first tattoo. couldnt think of anything else.       honey bee, back of her arm above elbow // got really drunk, heard a song, thought of arlo, ended up at a shop with friends as a joke and woke up the next morning with it. 8 piercings: 3 each lobe. Industrial ( left ). tragus ( right ). sings when she talks sometimes most of the time speaks in really bad accents; new jersey being her fav is always in a dress...look at her pinterest...all she has is dresses. she likes to show off her legs ok. obsessed with animals ( if she’s not paying attention, its bc she’s thinking about her dog and/or bunnies ), coffee, and junk food. a jonas brothers stan, nick is her favorite brother. shelf is her favorite song. cries whenever she hears when you look me in the eyes ( she sang it to arlo when he took her to their concert ). has a big following on tiktok. on the teacher side. she posts her ootd and weird shit her students have said. sometimes even reenacts scenes from new girl. a reality tv show about birds she sees. its quite entertaining.  potatoes and pasta are her favorite foods. grew up making fairy gardens has a concentration face  dances for no and every reason.especially if she’s excited or beat someone in something. rambles way too much, forgets what she’s talking about mid sentence, attention span of a fruit fly. she has a hammock named bartholomew and she chills on it when she’s sad...so most of this trip. :-)))

welcome 2 the end; gimme all ur plots. i wanna plot with you all. i am down for everything and anything. 

#schq:intro #<33333 #theres more i want 2 add but i wanna get this out already fjdsjk #i added more tingz jkfs

[marchivists]

not the place to fall in love: chapter two

read on ao3! [i didn’t format anything below the “keep reading,” so it’ll probably be easier to read on ao3]

For Oikawa, it was almost a completely terrible thing to run into Ushijima Wakatoshi in a place where Ushijima Wakatoshis should not have existed.

In most ways, it was completely terrible. On or just outside a volleyball court, spontaneous meetings with a fierce rival could inspire and motivate, painting the interaction with a sort of ironic charm that made looking back on the moment at least somewhat bearable. In fact, Oikawa relied on these types of encounters to justify almost everything he did. After all, what is the point of staying late at the gym six nights of every week or hopping on a plane to seek training in another country without being able to look forward to the thrill of crushing some annoying talent under your heel?

In the middle of an airport waiting area with no upcoming tournament or match in sight, an unfortunate, stomach-churning meeting was just an unfortunate, stomach-churning meeting. It did, however, make Oikawa forget about the restless fear wreaking havoc on his normally cool demeanor. Before the hapless reunion, a squall of pressurized fear and vague, animalistic alarm had settled at the top of Oikawa’s throat. It sent thunderstorms of the same make up into the back of his head and down into the center of his chest. Drizzles made their way from those points to the tips of his fingers and toes. All in all, the storm system reduced Oikawa to a bundle of aimless nerves and a defunct set of fight or flight instincts. Ironically, the shock of seeing Ushijima’s ugly mug had dispersed the worst of the downpour. This fact alone made the encounter almost completely terrible instead of absolutely horrendous.

While Oikawa’s internal forecast had most certainly shifted course, storms and bad weather had by no means been replaced with sunny skies and gentle breezes. Though the meeting had shocked his system to its senses, it had also torn fresh scabs off of his wounded pride and damaged expectations.

In the real word, far from Oikawa’s inner atmosphere, Iwaizumi wrestled with their backpacks, trying to make a place for them in the already overpopulated overhead compartment above their seats.  The rest of the passengers did much of the same, filling the plane with a buzz of productive noises as everyone settled in.

“You could, you know, help me.” Iwaizumi grunted, his voice resigned in a way that suggested he expected no help but felt obliged to request it anyway.

Oikawa looked up from his seat in time to see the ace smile triumphantly as the door closed on their things with a satisfying clunk. He pulled his knees to his chest to allow Iwaizumi to slip past and settle into his own seat. Oikawa had triple-checked their bookings to make sure he was guaranteed a place as far away from the window and the endless sky just outside of it as it got. That left Iwaizumi the middle seat and made some random sucker the jelly in a window-Seijou alumni sandwich.

“Cool, huh?” Iwaizumi asked, nodding towards the window, eyebrows raised in a way that showed he was really asking are you okay?

“I can hardly hold in my enthusiasm,” Oikawa answered, voice dry in a way that said I am quietly seething with rage and I would rather smell Kindaichi’s dirty socks than be sitting here . He stuck his wrist in front of Iwaizumi’s nose. “Quick, Iwa-chan, check my pulse. Am I too excited?”

“How do you always manage to make everything sound disgusting?” Iwaizumi huffed, swatting Oikawa’s arm away. Iwaizumi’s words, and the way he relaxed in his seat to watch the bustling runway outside the window, acted as a bookend to the conversation. His posture continued speaking silently, saying either that sounds like a personal problem, asshole or you’ll get over it . Either way, he seemed fairly convinced that Oikawa wasn’t going to make a mad dash off the plane anytime soon. The easy, confident way in which Iwaizumi could read him excited the anger in Oikawa’s stomach, irrationally wounding his already disheveled pride even more. The sensible part of his brain likened the feeling to the image of a toddler reaching for the vanilla extract despite parental protest only to be blown away both by its heavy bitterness and the knowledge that someone who isn’t themself knows more about reality than they do. The angry part of his brain, which made up the majority, scowled at the sensible part and metaphorically threw the image in the trash. He took another side-glance at Iwaizumi and decided to translate his postures’ message into I really want to look out this window instead.

With Iwaizumi focused on his affair with the window and no other outlet to use as a distraction, irritation turned somersaults in his mind. Why, of all people, did they have to run into the only person who could single-handedly remind Oikawa of every single one of his failures as a teammate, as a captain, as a person? The blow to his ego might not have been as harsh if he’d had some sort of impressive speech prepared or a volleyball at hand to set into Ushijima’s awful face. Instead, what had he said? Something about going to the bathroom? Stupid Ushiwaka, with his stupid face and stupid shoes and stupid bladder and stupi— the sudden dinging of Oikawa’s phone interrupted his train of thought.

He pulled it out of his pocket and prepared to frown disapprovingly at whatever notifications he found flashing there. He smirked fondly instead.

From Yahaba:

Could you, realistically, use dirt to wash a car? I’m trying to win an argument

From makki <3:

who are u arguing with

From Yahaba:

Watari

From makki <3:

oh

From makki <3:

whatever watari said is the correct answer

From watachi!!:

>:3

From makki <3:

ew.

From makki <3:

i take it back. yahaba’s right

Oikawa watched the messages roll in, eyes suddenly greedy for home and all the riches contained there. They flashed all the brighter now that takeoff loomed nearer and nearer.

He nudged Iwaizumi. “Should I tell the group chat about our little run-in with Shiratorizawa’s pride and joy?”

“Go for it. Tell Mattsun he still owes me ten bucks since Kindaichi cried at our send off party. He can Venmo it.”

Oikawa grinned and started typing. Some of his anger drained as he wrote, as if knowing he was still connected to his team in some way made annoyance seem less constructive than it had when he’d stewed in it alone.

From Oikawa:

guess who we ran into

From makki <3:

ur mom

From mattsun:

Tsk tsk. Low hanging fruit, Makki

From makki <3:

aw shit. ur right

From makki <3:

*iwaizumi’s mom

From mattsun:

Nice

From watachi!!:

Nice

From kunimi:

nice

From: makki <3:

nice

From Oikawa:

guess!!!! i’m running out of time

From Kyoutani:

aren’t you supposed to be on a plane

From mattsun:

It’s a sad day when Kyoutani remembers something about Oikawa that you forgot

From makki <3:

i remembered

From makki <3:

does this mean i get to take over as head of the fanclub

From mattsun:

I don’t think you could handle the responsibility

From makki <3:

:(

From Kyoutani:

i wouldn't have remembered if it had been about him staying in japn instead of leaving

From watachi!!:

Japn

From Yahaba:

Who was it, Oikawa-san?

From Kyoutani:

shut up

From Oikawa:

thank you yahaba!!!!!!!! it was ushkul;

Iwaizumi elbowed him in the side, sharp and quick, before he could finish delivering the terrible news. Oikawa’s fingers slid over the keyboard and pressed send without his permission before losing their grip on the phone entirely. It fell between their seats and stuck there.

“Ow ,” Oikawa complained. He flashed a scowl in Iwaizumi’s direction before leaning down to retrieve the phone, hands seeking blindly between the cushions for their prize. “What was that for?”

“Oikawa .”

“Gimme a second, geez.”

The good work the group chat had done on Oikawa’s mood all but disappeared. He paid no heed to the strained tint to Iwaizumi’s voice, making the hands that suddenly appeared on both sides of his face all the more surprising. They roughly turned his attention towards the aisle.

Oikawa’s throat made a strangled noise, like a small animal trapped in a snare, without his brain’s permission. Ushijima Wakatoshi was making his way towards them, hideous strong arms wrapped around a hideous green duffel bag as he, presumably, searched for his hideous seat.

Oikawa watched in dumb silence as Ushijima passed them. His breath hitched as his chest made a connection his brain wasn’t quite ready to put into words. At the sound, Iwaizumi’s hands fell back onto his lap. Oikawa turned. His eyes locked with Iwaizumi’s; the wide shock and raw pity Oikawa found there suggested that Iwaizumi had made the same connection but come to terms with it more quickly.

Ushijima Wakatoshi is going to the same place I am.

“Excuse me,” a hideous voice snatched the breath right out of Oikawa’s lungs. He spent half a second working to reclaim it, hands clenched into fists at his sides. He turned. “I think this is my— oh.”

Oikawa despised that oh , a sound of flat surprise that only confirmed who the voice belonged to. It also implied that the owner of the awful noise had not worked to fabricate such a disgusting situation, meaning fate held a personal, violent grudge against Oikawa for some unknown, unwarranted reason. As the oh suggested, Ushijima stood in the aisle in front of their seats. He glanced down at his ticket as though he couldn’t believe it had led him to the right place.

Ushijima continued. “I did not realize you would be on this flight.”

Oikawa felt his mouth fill with something poisonous and distasteful. Iwaizumi interjected with something blunt instead. “I’m here too, you know.”

Ushijima blinked, as though Iwaizumi had just solidified into a person worth taking note of. He nodded his acknowledgment. “Iwaizumi.”

Silence encased the three of them as Oikawa struggled with the venom that so desperately wanted to strike out at the easy target in front of it. He stumbled, not out of any moral hesitation, but because there was simply so much to be said that it seemed impossible to start.

Ushijima broke the silence first. “Oh,” he said again. Oikawa’s jaw clenched painfully at the sound, teeth scraping against teeth like nails on a chalkboard.“Are you going to watch the acceptance ceremony in New York?”

Oikawa felt his eye twitch. “I got accepted, actually.”

“Oh,” he repeated. That little sound, so full of preconceived notions and decided opinions, set Oikawa’s heart on fire and made it hard to keep his fist where it lay, clenched against his side. Iwaizumi moved so his shoulder rested lightly against Oikawa’s, gently pressing him to the seat. The movement cleared some of the angry haze that made Oikawa feel like he was simultaneously seeing everything and nothing; he caught a spark in Ushijima’s eyes that might have meant something interesting if Oikawa had been able to conjure the empathy to dissect its meaning. “I’m glad to see you made a wise decision.”

Wise decision?  

Oikawa caught the reference to their past conversation long before it flew over his head. The fact that Ushijima was most definitely speaking sincerely only made his words pierce deeper into Oikawa’s skin. He scowled.

“Excuse me?” a stewardess interjected. “Please take your seat, sir.”

“My apologies,” Ushijima replied, moving closer to their seats to make more room in the tiny aisle as he placed his duffel-bag in the overhead compartment. Oikawa shrunk into Iwaizumi as Ushijima’s broad chest invaded his personal space. He shrunk even more as Ushijima slid past them to take his place by the window and did not unshrink even as Ushijima settled in his seat.

There had been a time in Oikawa’s youth when he had been afraid of most everything. He’d shrunken a lot during that time, made himself smaller to minimize the chances of being seen or getting hurt. He shrank now, not out of fear, but out of disgust, as if Ushijima was oozing oil or tar or some other terrible, poisonous thing. Nowadays, Oikawa was not a fan of shrinking. He forced himself to lean forward, straight into the blast zone of whatever Ushijima was radiating.

“So,” he started. Now that he’d begun speaking everything he’d ever wanted to say to Shiratorizawa’s ace fought for purchase on his tongue. His pulse surged. Iwaizumi gave his foot a kick which Oikawa swiftly returned. His voice felt unnaturally cool in his mouth compared to the heat in his chest. “You’ll be training in New York too, hm?”

“Obviously.”

“Hm. That’s funny. Well,” he sighed. “I suppose they had to get their charity work in somewhere. For the tax deductions, you know.”

Ushijima blinked. “No, I don’t.”

Oikawa leaned across Iwaizumi’s lap to give Ushijima’s knee a quick, patronizing pat. There was no satisfaction to be had in the straightforward, unbothered way Ushijima followed their conversation nor in the confused, open manner with which he looked down at the spot where Oikawa had touched him. Oikawa liked his prey to understand that they were being eaten and Ushijima didn’t seem to realize that he had been caught in the first place. Nevertheless, he continued.

“That’s alright. I’m sure they’ll find something for you to do. Water boy, maybe? Janitor? What do you think, Iwa-chan?”

Iwaizumi studied Oikawa’s face for a moment before replying. “I think New York is short on ball boys, actually.”

Oikawa flashed his ace a bright, toothy smile. Iwaizumi frowned like he’d taken a bite out of something spoiled. “Ah, I think you’re right. You’d make a wonderful ball boy, Ushiwaka-chan.”

Ushijima blinked twice. “I’m going to be playing volleyball.”

“We’ll see,” Oikawa hummed. “We’ll see. Say, Ushiwaka-chan?  Please take this the wrong way, but, isn’t there some other place you would rather sit? Perhaps with someone who doesn’t know you?”

“This is my seat.”

“What an astute observation. But let’s entertain the thought,  just for a second, that you could switch seats with whoever you’re traveling with?”

“I’m not traveling with anyone.”

Iwaizumi frowned. “Nobody?”

Ushijima turned to look at Iwaizumi, eyes full of the same genuine transparency they’d held after Oikawa had patted his knee. “My father was supposed to come with me. He had to cancel at the last minute.”

“Oh, what a shame,” Oikawa rushed his words to cut off Iwaizumi who had opened his mouth to say something. “Daddy issues are the worst .”

Iwaizumi slammed his foot down on top of Oikawa’s hard enough that the people in the seats across the aisle looked up from their magazines. Oikawa grimaced both at the pain and at the harsh gleam in Iwaizumi’s eyes. It said that’s enough, Oikawa Tooru. They held each other’s gaze for a few long moments, each trying to win a silent argument. Oikawa looked away first, not because he’d lost, but because his throbbing foot desperately needed nursing. He slouched in his seat, angling away from his two seat partners, and pressed on the top of his sneaker to search for broken bones.

He heard Iwaizumi cough. “It’s uh, good to see you again, Ushijima.”

Oikawa scowled at that.

He continued to scowl until an hour or so after take-off. The plane had quieted down, with half its occupants asleep and the others occupying themselves with books or some other silent task. Oikawa had shifted sometime during that hour so that his back was pressed against the aisle. He watched Ushijima’s sleeping face, the soft, vulnerable way the boy leaned against the wall beside him. Oikawa didn’t have the energy to find it particularly disgusting; his anger had lost almost all of its sharpness, leaving behind a dull ache and a pounding head.

“Iwa-chan,” he whispered.

“Hm?” Iwaizumi murmured, attention focused on the book in his hands. His anger seemed to have dissolved too, though a sliver of annoyance shone through the sound.

“Would you accompany me to the restroom?”

“Aren’t you a little tired of the last thing you bumped into during one of your little bathroom excursions?”

Oikawa laughed, the sound cold and fatigued. “As if we could find anything worse than Ushijima if we tried.”

“Hm,” Iwaizumi murmured again, unamused. He flipped through a few pages in his book before sighing and standing. “Let’s get this over with. If we run into that freaky red-headed dude in there I’m throwing you out the window.”

The plane bathroom had not been built to house two young men. Oikawa, as the caller of the meeting, took the worst spot and settled on the edge of the toilet. Iwaizumi leaned against the sink, arms crossed. They sat in stuffy silence for a few moments.

“I’d like to throw Ushiwaka out the window,” Oikawa mumbled finally.

Iwaizumi sighed. “I know this is hard on you. I wouldn’t want to train with him any more than you do. But you’ve gotta quit it with all the passive-aggressive shit. You should like a villain from some crappy anime.”

“You say that like he doesn’t deserve it.”

“Give him a break, Oikawa. He’s going to this thing by himself. It’s the most depressing thing I’ve ever seen.”

“Oh, so you’re on his side now?”

“Don’t go picking a fight with me just because you’re butt-hurt that things aren’t going the way you planned them. You know whose side I’m on.”

Oikawa looked away. The swirly designs in the bathroom wall seemed to frown at him.

“Look,” Iwaizumi started. “I’m not saying you have to, like, be nice to him or anything. Just be civil. He’s gonna be your teammate, for fuck’s sake.”

Oikawa slumped and ran a hand through his hair. “I know. God.” He looked down at his shoes, posture silently saying I thought this was my chance to start over.

Iwaizumi pulled him up and into a hug before Oikawa had time to silently say anything else. The hug said this is still your chance. You’re going to do amazing things.

Oikawa leaned into the embrace. Iwaizumi still smelled of home. He thought of everything they’d accomplished there, of the friends and teammates they were leaving behind. He shuddered. “I’ll probably have to set for him.”

“I know,” Iwaiumi pulled back to ruffle Oikawa’s hair. “Just don’t make it easy for him, alright?”

Oikawa smirked. “Obviously.”

Oikawa drank in the fond look in Iwaizumi’s eyes. He felt whole again.

“Let’s go back. I don’t want people thinking we’ve been taking simultaneous shits this whole time.”

Oikawa left the bathroom with a much better outlook on the day than when he’d entered. Then he saw Ushijima’s outline, still visible over the seats even though he still slouched sleepily against the wall, and had to fight against a wave of nausea that churned in his stomach. He shuddered.

I’m going to have to set for that man. I’m going to have to make him the best player he can be.

What a terrible thought.

#:3 #haikyuu!! #iwaoi #ushiiwaoi #seijou #oikawa #iwaiziumi #ushijima #hq!! #mine #mads fics

[roadtohadestown]

hadestown thoughts n’ things song-by-song

Y’ALL KNOW I SAW HADESTOWN A COUPLE DAYS AGO AND I GOT SOME THINGS TO SAY !!! these aren’t gonna be me fully describing how the songs play out (a couple times yes, but not from start to finish), but are me pointing out little things that i found very memorable or funny or were little “OH SHIT” kinda moments.

(i’ll also be referring to the characters by their actors every now and then)

occasionally i’ll refer to the fates individually by their actual names (clotho, lachesis, atropos); if you don’t know which actresses play who:

yvette -> clotho // kay → lachesis // jewelle -> atropos

———

ACT 1

road to hell:

the cast came out all at once and i swear my heart JUMPED when i saw them enter and wave at the audience !!!!

andré came in walking slowly over to his usual spot on stage right. while walking, he was holding the hands of some of the cast who were sitting at the tables.

the fates snapping a sassy look at hermes when he says “three old women all dressed the same.”

introducing orpheus, orpheus is literally a happy ball of sunshine running onstage, holding a red rag and a crate and starts wiping down the tables.

when hermes introduces eurydice, orpheus and eurydice bump into each other at the center of the stage. they stare at one another for the rest of road to hell and it’s so so cute and enchanting. sitting on orchestra left, i was just watching orpheus’s face, so awestruck and in love.

any way the wind blows:

fuck i am so gay for the fates

eurydice’s “anybody got a match ??” and hermes holding out a matchbox to her. she snatches it and says “gimme that.”

eurydice lighting the candle and clotho blowing it out.

lachesis gracing a hand on eurydice’s hair (and i forget at which lyric because my mind is Like That and Forgetful)

come home with me:

eva casually dragging her hand back and forth above the flame, playing with it because she’s not really the focus of the scene and needs something to do while reeve’s busy crumpling a newspaper to make a flower for her

hermes saying, “orpheus......don’t come on too strong”

and orpheus—directly after hearing hermes say that—says to eurydice, “coMe hOmE wITh ME !!!” featuring reeve’s wonky movements that make orpheus seem awkward, which is just plain cute

at one point, he sits on the table beside her

hermes taking the candle from eurydice’s hands and placing it aside on another table. this candle stays lit for a lot of act 1, then is later blown out because we need Metaphors and Symbolism

i love that eurydice crumples up orpheus’s paper flower, then stuffs it in her pocket

wedding song:

damn i love eva and reeve

damn i love this ensemble

damn that flower is red

epic i:

once hermes says “sing it again though” and hands orpheus his guitar, orpheus straps it on. he takes a little moment of silence before he starts singing—like he’s trying to prepare himself first. in that moment, he’s actually just staring at eurydice and smiling because he loves her so much—

livin’ it up on top:

I LOVE THE FATES AND THEIR FANS !!! EVEN THEY’RE SUPER HAPPY THROUGHOUT LIVIN’ IT UP

WHEN PERSEPHONE COMES BACK FROM HADESTOWN, ORPHEUS IS SO GIDDY !!! YOU COULD SEE HIM SMILING LIKE CRAZY AND HE’S A LITTLE JUMPY BECAUSE HE’S SO EXCITED SEPH’S HERE !! HE’S LIKE AN EXCITED LITTLE PUPPY !!! HE WAS SO EAGER TO TAKE HER COAT TOO !!!

orpheus juMP

he was literally throwing a couple silver cups to hermes (who caught them)

there were cute little john and eva moments, with john dancing around her at one point

persephone tried to shove eurydice in with the dancing ensemble to get her to join, but eurydice walked away waving her hands and awkwardly smiling as if saying, “no thanks, i’m not gonna do that,” (but obviously later persephone successfully drags eury into dancing, and she’s wonderful at it)

when hermes said “let the poet bless this round!” ahmad, while holding one of the wine bottles, puts his hands up as if to say “alright, he can do it”

after orpheus gave his speech and they drank from their cups, hermes actually coughed—like the wine was just too much for him asjhsnsj

all i’ve ever known:

persephone’s onstage during the little hermes introduction bit. when he mentions orpheus and eurydice, seph holds out her arms to each of them as he does (as if indicating who’s who) before sitting down at the side to watch the two lovers.

orpheus takes off his apron (finally), revealing him in full with his nifty suspenders 😩💕

when eurydice said “now i wanna hold you too,” she was frantically moving her hands, grabbing different parts of orpheus’s arms

that sex scene was beautiful (IT’S JUST A GRACEFUL INTIMATE DANCE BETWEEN THE TWO AND IT’S PRETTY !! ESPECIALLY WITH THE LIGHTING)

mwah

way down hadestown:

orpheus and eurydice dancing around as everyone sings about hades and hadestown (spoiler: they’re cute)

as hades and persephone descend, smoke comes out of the pit, and the ensemble is leaning in to look down there. ahmad’s in front of all of them—leaning too—but also has his arms outstretched to his sides, keeping everyone else back. they all eventually break apart, and honestly the thing i most remember is just afra with her knees on the table and her hands gripping the edges of the table, too, to peer down into the pit.

gathering storm:

me, watching afra hand eurydice her coat

orpheus takes out his tiny notebook and pencil from his pocket and goes to the side to start writing in it, because he “needs to finish the song”

eurydice clutching her arms as she says “we need food.......we need firewood.....”

“okay, finish it...”

she goes over to orpheus and places a hand on his arm, then leaves

epic ii:

AW HELL YEAH, THEY BROUGHT BACK THE “doubt that she’d ever come, dread that she’d never come, doubt that his lover would ever come back” LYRICS !!

orpheus uses present tense instead of past tense !!! it’s now “he thinks of his wife in the arms of the sun” instead of “he thought of his wife in the arms of the sun” and etc.

chant i:

the workers’ choreo is so mesmerizing. SO MESMERIZING.

reeve sings the la la la’s differently than the broadway preview audio i heard before, and i LOVE how he sings it now. his ending “la la la la la la” leads into the workers’ “low, keep your head, keep your head low” and oh my god i am so in love with that

“is it finished !?” eurydice asks hermes. “not yet,” hermes replies. she asks “is he always like this !?” and he nods.

hermes is now narrating in third-person about how orpheus is ignoring the storm rather than speaking to orpheus directly

i really don’t know how i feel about eva going lower when she sings “harbor me.” in the past she’s went higher; and because i used to hear that all the time, now that she‘s going lower my mind‘s thinking “c’mon, you can go higher !! i know you’re capable of it.” but regardless, eva’s voice is still the most beautiful thing i’ll ever hear 😩💓

the way the fates snatch away eurydice’s backpack and coat is so elegant, yet cool and pitiful

EVA I HOPE YOUR KNEES ARE OK FROM THAT FALL. I KNOW YOU DO IT EVERY NIGHT, BUT STILL.

hey little songbird:

hades casually putting on his shades

patrick’s juicy low notes are to die for

“see how the vipers and vultures surround you” reveals the three fates making their way closer to eurydice

when the chips are down (intro):

the little coin ( / ticket to hadestown ) hades gives eurydice

the way eurydice holds up both the flower and coin in the air as if contemplating which to choose

when the chips are down:

yvette, please step on me

kay, please step on me

jewelle, please step on me

please. step on me.

gone, i’m gone:

shoutout to andré off to the side making all the necessary sound effects.

hermes jingles a coin bag until eurydice comes up and puts her coin (“ticket”) in the bag, indicating she’s boarded the train to hadestown.

cue andré blowing the little flute thing to imitate a train whistle. again, thank u for ur sound effects.

wait for me:

orpheus finally looking up from his tiny notebook with a smile on his face, as if he’s happy that he’s made progress on his song and wants to tell that to eurydice. but when he looks up, he sees hermes from afar instead and (still with an innocent smile) exclaims “mr. hermes !!” before going up to him. (unlike the london production, he doesn’t look around searching for eurydice first before encountering hermes.)

orpheus drops to his knees as he says “no...” during his convo with hermes

the workers shining the lights around like they’re search lights is so COOL

THE FOG !!!

the lights actually swinging over people’s heads in the first row. wow. just,, wow.

FATESFATESFATESI’MSOGAY

THE SET OPENING UP !!! I KNEW IT WAS GONNA HAPPEN, BUT DAMN THAT WAS SO MUCH MORE EPIC IN REAL LIFE

the way reeve jumped off the platform !!! TBH KINDA HOT

i was watching him run along the turntable and it was an awkward little run LOL

“I’M COMING WAIT FOR ME !!!!!” “WAIT” “I HEAR THE WALLS REPEATING !!!” that scene was so GOOD and MUCH MORE INTENSE IRL !!!

i loooOOOVED the way the workers turned their lights at each “WAIT !!”

why we build the wall

the workers retreat to the sides of the stage and hades comes in. they’re so stiff just standing there and singing and i’m like—well fuck.

the saLUTE !!! it’s literally just them putting an index finger up, bUT STILL. FUCK.

eurydice looks around to see everyone saluting, and eventually joins in with them and does it too

the way amber dramatically turns around with her arms swinging about, pauses, then says, “anybody wanna drink?”

ACT 2

our lady of the underground:

“SSSSSSTEP INTO MY OFFICE !!!!” *intensely hip thrusts her way to hell (disregard that she’s already in it—)*

“i got the wind right here in a jar” *grabs her boob and jiggles it*

don’t we just stan amber gray

way down hadestown ii:

andré making the sound of “the pickaxe ringing” by banging a silver cup against the microphone on the stand

eurydice coming through the door and down the stairs. upon seeing the workers, she exclaims, “i’m eurydice !!” with a smile on her face like she’s ready to meet new people, but her smile fades away once she realizes no one’s paying attention to her. “doesn’t anybody hear me?” she asks the fates. and clotho responds, “oh they can hear! but they don’t care,” with a devious smile on her (and the rest of the fates’) face(s). “no one has a name down here.”

the fates proceed to tell eurydice how the workers have all forgotten about their lives before hadestown, and eurydice will turn out just like the rest.

lachesis says, “so what was your name again?” (no response) “see? you’ve already forgotten.”

flowers:

eva’s voice.........SO SAD

how she holds out her hand left hand to the side, as if trying to caress someone’s face who isn’t there.

come home with me ii:

yeah, orpheus comes in from the audience and climbs onto the stage as he says, “come home with me !!” and it’s ADORABLE

he puts his guitar down as he gets onstage (which i’d say is a metaphor for him choosing eurydice over his music)

she leaps into his arms, they embrace each other, and it’s the absolute most sweetest thing ever

papers:

“hades, i know this boy !” (persephone) // “one of the unemployed...” (hades) // “his name is orpheus—!” // “you stay out of this...” // and persephone gives him a look because he just shuts her down, and she knows she can’t do anything about it

as the fates approach orpheus, eurydice extends her arms out trying to protect him

clotho snatching orpheus’s guitar and mischievously examining it

mmmmm look at that fight scene

nothing changes:

ugh, i love that acappella and their voices are SPICY 🔥🔥💯🔥

the way clotho just holds his guitar above him while he’s lying there on the ground, beaten, like she’s teasing him

if it’s true:

eurydice retreating back to the turntable with the other workers, knowing full well there’s nothing she can do, and simply works away like the rest of them

“is this how the world is !? to be beaten and betrayed and then be told that nothing changes—will it always be like this !?” is my favorite

orpheus finally standing and is still in pain from all the workers beating him up

him pointing at each of the workers as he says “i’m asking me...and you and you and you!”

the workers each get up as they sing “we stand and listen” (or is it “we stand with him” ?? whatever, you get what i mean). but orpheus is giving them hope !!! yes !!!

how long:

persephone and hades standing on either side of the pit

they were staring at each other, moving in sync like a mirror; when persephone stepped with her right foot, hades with his left, and so on.

chant ii:

the workers and orpheus slowly rising up from the pit

“is it truuuuue ???” echoing in the back, then hades shouting “it’s the bOY !!”

when the workers say “i can’t look at my brother’s eyes,” afra and ahmad started getting up from the center and refused to make eye contact.

while i am still salty about them cutting persephone’s chant ii verse, i didn’t dislike hades’ new part. i liked it.

as hades shouts, “I CONDUCT THE ELECTRIC CITY !!!!” aLL THE LIGHTS IN THE THEATRE GO OUT AND IT’S WICKED COOL

epic iii:

sitting in my seat was honestly a perfect spot for me. hades was sitting in his stool and his back was to me, so obviously i couldn’t see much of his facial expressions, but it was literally like i was getting hades perspective as he viewed orpheus singing.

the most magical moment in the show tbh

when orpheus first sings “la la la” and hades says “where’d you get that melody ??” he gets up and starts walking towards orpheus like he’s about ready to fight and sue him for plagiarism

but persephone intervenes with a gentle “let him finish hades” before he takes another step. so he backs off.

when orpheus was singing about how hades “saw [persephone] alone there against the sky, it was like she was someone [he’d] always known,” eurydice steps up on the turntable. orpheus is in the center, with persephone and eurydice on either side of him—truly showing the parallels between orpheus and eurydice’s love with that of hades and persephone’s.

hades eventually gets on the center with orpheus, and the platform rises again. when everyone—workers and fates included—surrounds them on the turntable below, singing with orpheus, hades looks around at all of them, angry and confused

at the big “la la la la la la la” moment when everyone joins in with orpheus, the workers each get up in pairs as their side of the turntable finally faces the audience. they step up and remove their hats.

the workers finally make eye contact with one another

REEVE REALLY HITS THAT NOTE. AND IT’S SO BEAUTIFUL.

the way the flower just appears in hades hands after he sings “la la la la la la la...”

you can really SEE persephone crying

lover’s desire:

persephone putting the flower on his vest is so cute

SHE TAKES HIS HANDS

i love hades and persephone ok shut up i’m soft

KIMBERLY PUTTING HER HAND ON AHMAD’S ARM, THEN LOOKING UP AT HIM AND TIMOTHY. JOHN AND AFRA ARE SIDE BY SIDE, HOLDING EACH OTHER AS THEY WATCH HADES AND PERSEPHONE DANCE.

promises:

honestly i don’t remember too much of it visually because i was too busy crying.

i heard “i don’t need a ring for my finger, i just need a steady hand to hold,” and i just started BAWLING

i think i remember she takes his hand when he says “do you let me walk with you” though

“can we go?”

“i don’t know...”

word to the wise:

the fates dancing around hades was just. mmMMM.

his kiss, the riot:

he removes the flower on his vest. (oh, symbolism, we meet again.)

hades is beside hermes as he tells him “let there be one term to be agreed upon...”

wait for me ii (intro):

ah yes. hermes sitting on that stool as it slowly turns around on the turntable.

wait for me ii:

during my show, andré accidentally sang “that is the road to paradise and likewise the path to ruin.” which is alright. we all make mistakes, it’s okay fam 👏

i started crying again once eva and reeve harmonized on “wait for me...i’m coming” and looked at one another

“are we gonna try again?” “it’s time for spring...we’ll try again next fall.” “wait for me?” “i will.”

as orpheus is walking along the turntable, hermes, persephone, eurydice, and the workers are gathered in the center. near the end of the song when they’re all singing “waiiiit for me... i’m comiiiing, waiiiiiit i’m... coming with you” persephone’s holding out the red flower while eurydice has her hand outstretched to orpheus.

EVA JUMP

“I’M COMING WAIT FOR MEEEEEEEEEE I HEAR THE WALLS REPEATING THE FALLIN’ OF OUR FEET AND !! IT SOUNDS LIKE DRUMMIN’ !!!!!!”

it all goes dark as they sing “i’m coming !!!! (coming !!) (coming !!)”

doubt comes in:

IT’S LITERALLY AS GOOD AS YOU’D THINK IT IS

SO OMINOUS AND SPOOKY WITH THE FOG !!!!

eurydice’s following right behind orpheus, but he doesn’t know that. and the doubt and uncertainty on his face is heart-wrenching.

like. the STRESS on his face as he throws both his hands to his head and clutches his hair.

as the scene needs to focus on orpheus and his perspective of feeling alone, the spotlight is taken off of eurydice as she stops walking and lets the turntable turn until her full figure retreats into darkness. the spotlight is fully on orpheus and orpheus alone.

in the dark, three lanterns gradually rise up from the pit. as the fates start singing, their voices are hauntingly beautiful in the scene.

“doubt comes in...the wind is changing...doubt comes in...how cold it’s blowin’...doubt comes in...and meets a stranger walking on a road a l o n e . where is she ?? where is she now ??”

orpheus’s “who am i ?? why am i all alone ?? who do i think i am ? who am i to think that she would follow me into the cold and dark again.”

“orpheus, i’m listening—i’m right here !! and i will be to the end !! and the coldest night of the coldest year comes right before the spring.”

“i used to see the way the world could be...and now the way it is is all i see.”

orpheus’s realism contrasted with eurydice’s optimism just tugs at your heartstrings. orpheus, the once optimistic poet who “could see the way the world could be” no longer has that gift. eurydice, once a realist, has now been given hope that her lover can show her the way.

near the end of the song, the stairs begin to light up, and so does the exit. they’re so close to the surface—they’re almost there. and eurydice is so hopeful. she’s so certain they’ll make it that she doesn’t even doubt for a second that orpheus will turn around. but suddenly you hear a gasp. and you realize in the blink of an eye that orpheus had made a grave mistake. he’s turned around. his eyes are on eurydice, who’s frozen and in tears.

“it’s you...” he utters.

there’s a long silence

“it’s me...” her words are weak. “orpheus...?”

“eurydice...”

eurydice drops to her knees as she quickly descends back to hadestown. orpheus had scrambled his way to the edge of the pit, helplessly on his knees, staring down at where his lover had just been.

road to hell ii:

hermes’ “a’ight” after a long silence just brought me so many emotions. fuck.

as hermes is singing, eventually orpheus gets up and, with no other choice but to push on, continue his way up the stairs (to the surface), slowly and alone.

“‘cause here’s the thing: to know how it ends and still begin to sing it again...as if it might turn out this time...i learned that from a friend of mine.”

“see, orpheus was a poor boy—“ dressed in her act 1 clothes, eurydice reappears onstage saying, “anybody got a match?” hermes is still up front in the center, facing the audience as he holds out a matchbox in his left hand. “but he had a gift to give...” eurydice comes up and takes the box from him, “gimme that.” she sits down on the ground and takes out the candle from her bag, lighting the match, then lighting her candle.

from her pocket, she takes out a red flower and holds it to her face, sniffing it. a soft smile forms on her lips—like there’s some sentiment to this flower that she’s yet to know of—and puts it in her hair.

as the pit comes back up with all the tables and chairs, there’s persephone sitting on one of the tables.

at the end, orpheus returns back onstage with his apron and everything, stopping at one of the steps as he makes eye contact with eurydice. they’re staring at each other, lovestruck, just as they were in the beginning. “we’re gonna sing it again...”

we raise our cups:

persephone and eurydice’s harmonies 💞💓💖💕❤️💞💞

orpheus playing his guitar onstage even though all that shit just happened 😭 i cri

———

miscellaneous things:

act 1 was great, but the moment act 2 started i instantly knew it was gonna be my favorite. in the past when listening to audio, i always preferred to listen to act 1, with only a couple songs from act 2. so i always thought act 1 was my favorite act. but finally seeing hadestown in person, i think act 2 probably takes the cake.

once curtain call started, i was clapping like mad. when we got to the ensemble bowing, my hands were already dead but i was like, “FUCK IT, IF MY HANDS FALL OFF TONIGHT IT WAS WORTH IT BECAUSE I GOTTA APPRECIATE THIS ENTIRE CAST”

#AND THAT’S IT #i’m tired #a couple things may be inaccurate but it’s. fine. #hadestown #hadestown the musical #hadestown broadway #broadway #casu’s ramblings #my shtuff #casu’s hadestown experience

[villanevest]

you know what the ke fandom needs more of? more AU fic. like gimme some chaotic college au or coffee shop au or neighbors au

U are so right. Honestly hit me with ur suggestions.

I didn’t want to leave you waiting until any suggestions came in or my brain started working so here’s my totally lame, unsolicited and rushed dot-point take on a Villaneve in the film industry:

- Villanelle is a notoriously bratty but EXTREMELY talented actress

- like she’s a total costume thief and honestly kind of difficult to handle on set if Konstantin (her manager) isn’t around

- but she’s also a one-take wonder when she wants to be, she can just turn on the character, bam, nail it, then go back to the Kraft table and hoard doughnuts

- she starts out doing short films and indies and then swans right into big pictures in that way that almost NOBODY does, but she does

- it’s never occurred to Villanelle that everything wouldn’t fall into place for her, and it’s almost like through sheer force of confidence that it actually does.. people just don’t question her because she’s so obviously got It

- she’s all over the place, doing the most eclectic projects, bouncing from superhero flicks to deep dramas

- she’s a magazine darling bc she has the wildest fashion sense, but in interviews she’s chatty and conspiratorial and funny in this way that means you don’t really notice she hasn’t actually told you anything real about her until much later

- anyway Villanelle wraps the last block for her latest movie and then she’s herded off to London to do a music video with Sebastian, who she’s really not that fond of (she doesnt even listen to his songs)

- but Konstantin’s management group also reps him so she’s bribed into it

- Eve is a director (and aspiring screenwriter), and she’s good, she’s really fucking good, but she’s mostly stuck doing music videos that she’s not all that interested in because her boss Frank won’t cut her a break

- he always promises that “after this next one” he’ll send her through to one of his television buddies, but he never does

- “oh Eve, you’re too good here, just let it go”

- in her spare time, Eve’s writing a TV series, and it’s Ready, and having something she’s happy with and passionate about just makes the sets she’s on seem even more stagnant

- Kenny, an AD she’s had on a couple of projects (who is Very Supportive of her show idea), is the son of Carolyn Martens, who is like THE head of creative development at a huge production company

- and he manages to accidentally-on-purpose get them to run into each other so Eve has a few minutes to pitch

- and Carolyn tells Eve she likes her idea, but it’s kind of off-beat, really fresh in that shiny-new way that makes dusty dinosaur investors uncertain about profit margins

- like maybe it’s Too New, too much of a gamble

- but she says if Eve can find a way to make it more of a sure thing then she is IN

- so then Eve is directing the music video of this (honestly kinda basic) dude singer and this famous actress chick is gonna be in it

- Hugo their sound guy is Hype to meet her

- but Elena is like “yeah I’ve heard she’s a Problem” so Eve is all okay, Here We Go

- and then she sees Villanelle and there’s this whole stretched moment of just seeing her

- and then she remembers hey she saw this woman once in an arthouse film and she was incredible

- and obv That’s why her heart is doing That

- Eve just admires talent when she sees it, okay??

- and Villanelle as always goes from zero to a hundred

- like she can barely be bothered to be there but then she sees Eve and it’s Wow I Can’t Believe Music Videos Are My Actual Passion

- and yes Villanelle’s beyond into it but she’s also an ass, and like, what’s she going to do, NOT try to drive Eve up the wall? As if

- she Has to know what Eve looks like flustered

- has to know if Villanelle can fluster her into dragging her into some props closet and tearing her clothes off 

- so from Eve’s side

- Elena’s sources from wardrobe departments across the country were not kidding

- Villanelle is a total nightmare

- but also not

- like every time Eve tells her to do or try something she always pushes back, has to ask fifty But Why questions

- it’s impossible to stay frustrated with her though bc once she’s on board she absolutely brings it, will keep going until she’s got it perfect

- and then once Eve can see she’s got that to work with she starts trying to really push too, to see what she can get out of her

- but… It’s a music video, not an Academy contender, so they get caught up in this “well how about this” back and forth until Kenny’s like… Uh Eve remember we only have like five days to shoot this whole thing

- Elena thinks it’s funny because there’s going to be a HUGE disparity between Sebastian’s fumbling help-I’m-just-here-to-sing acting and Villanelle’s totally committed nuanced performance 

- then suddenly they’re done, and it’s been this total blur and Eve is kind of on a high from it because it’s the closest she’s come in so long to being able to make something she’s actually engaged with, that means something

- and she’s not willing to trudge back to Basic Town so she bites the bullet and just goes for it, like Fuck Frank

- and yeah Sebastian is … A little ordinary… But he’s commercially successful and has a pull with the 18-35s, so Eve approaches him after they’ve wrapped

- she pitches him being the featured artist on the soundtrack of her TV show

- he gets exposure, she gets his brand

- it’s not ideal – his isn’t the image that’d be her first choice to tie with her series, it’s not really the same vibe – but she’s not going to wait for Carolyn to forget about her

- and Sebastian says he’d like to help her, but he’d have to check with his managers, and what about his tour schedule, and does she need original music, and um –

- and then Villanelle’s all “oh I couldn’t help but overhear… You know, Eve, I’m looking to get into TV”

- Eve goes, “you are?”

- well she is nOW

- nevermind she’s turned down a dozen offers over the last few years to focus on her film career

- but her film career is going great

- and none of it is as FUN as winding Eve up this last week has been, and this was only a shitty music video

- a TV shoot would be a few months, would give them both so much more time and space to see what’s the best (and worst) they can really bring out in each other 

- and Eve’s a bit lost

- because Villanelle is the It Girl du jour

- and Eve’s show hasn’t even been officially optioned but here’s all the free publicity she could want

- and she never bothered to consider it before but actually, Villanelle would be completely perfect for the lead

- perfect

- and now Eve’s thought about it it’s all coming together and she doesn’t want to let go of it again

- (and working with Villanelle some more wouldn’t suck, honestly, not completely)

- (might actually be – well)

- “are you for real?”

- “so for real,” and Villanelle’s drawling, eyebrow raised, almost smirking, but Eve can tell she’s serious

- oh this is so far above and beyond what Carolyn needed

- and that’s the start of it all

#killing eve #villanevest #ke #villaneve #villanelle #eve polastri #mine #villanelle x eve #eve x villanelle #villanevest writes #villaneve fic #villaneve au #saltandsunscreen

[ofstarsandvibranium]

Hearts Beat Fast

Fandom: Marvel (Doctor AU)

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Reader

As requested by anonymous:  if ur requests are still open... i love me some doctor bucky 👀 cute lil smart doctor baby w his own lil office and reader is his fav patient and hes always calling her in for follow up appointments bc he has heart eyes 4 her + some inspo from this post.

A/N: i know nothing about the medical field despite my mom and pretty much almost every filipino I know is in that field. lol.

Your car crash was a blessing and a curse. A curse because, well, you got into a car crash. Your car was totalled. A car running the red light completely t-boned your car. As a result, you broke three ribs, one of which punctured your lung. You were in the hospital for a few days.

But you always believed that things happened for a reason and the reason you got into the car crash had to be so that you could meet this hot ass doctor you now know as Doctor James Barnes.

Doctor Barnes, or as he insisted you calling him, Bucky, was the complete and total package. He was hot, smart, funny, and caring! Throughout the entire time he overlooked your healing process, he was a total sweetheart. 

It’s been weeks since you were discharged from the hospital. One week since your last appointment with him and now you have another one. He wanted to ensure that your lung and ribs have been healing properly. Therefore, he continuously scheduled an appointment with you every week since you’ve been discharged. He didn’t wanna miss a thing and you appreciated how involved he was with your recovery.

__________________________________

There was a knock at Bucky’s door. His eyes unwavering from the paperwork before him, he mumbled, “Come in.”

A fellow doctor and Bucky’s friend, Sam, opens the door, peeking his head in, “Hey, Barnes, Y/N’s here.”

Bucky’s head immediately shot up, “I’ll be right there!” He quickly scribbled his notes onto a paper, his script looking even less illegible, and shut the file. He shot out of his seat, quickly pulling on his doctor’s coat and rushing to the door, “Give this to Sharon for me. Thanks, Sam!” he he hurries down the hall, but then stops to rush back, “What room’s she in?”

Sam laughed, shaking his head, “Five and cool it with the heart eyes, man. You’ll scare her away!”

Bucky gave him the middle finger as he rushed down the hall towards the room you were waiting in. As he approached the closed door, he ran his hand through his slicked back hair, hoping that there wasn’t a strand out of place, “Be cool, Barnes,” he mumbles to himself before pushing the door open. 

He finds you sitting in a chair, your legs swinging back and forth as if some tune was playing in your head. You looked up at him with a smile, “What’s up, Doc?” you said with a giggle and he smiles.

“Like I haven’t heard that one before.” You give him a shrug and he goes to the sink, washing his hands quickly but efficiently, “So, how’s my favorite patient doin’?”

“Better, I think?”

He moves over to you taking the stethoscope from around his neck, “Yeah? Breathing okay? No pains?”

You pursed your lips, something you did whenever you hesitated with saying something, “Pains are somewhat still there. They’ve dulled down a bit, but still there.”

Bucky nods, a strand of hair falling into his face and he blows it away, “Alright. Well, we’ll check that out in a bit, but in the mean time, I’m want you to strip.”

Your eyes widened, “W-What?”

Realizing what he said, Bucky’s eyes widened as well, “No! Not like that! I mean, I want you to strip but only your shirt! But not like that! I mean, so I can get better access to you! I mean-” he immediately shuts his mouth and exhales through his nose. Gathering his thoughts, he says slowly and clearly, “Your sweater is too thick and I want to be able to hear your breathing and heart rate accurately and clearly without your sweater being in the way.”

“O-Oh. Um, okay.” You move to remove your top clothing, Bucky turning around to give you some privacy. Why though? He was going to see you shirtless regardless! And why the hell was he stumbling over his words like that?!

“Ready.” 

He turned around and he made conscious effort to keep his eyes on your face and not your chest. He clears his throat and slowly moves towards you, “Um, sorry if my stethoscope is cold.” he presses the tool to your chest and you let out a gasp from the cool metal, “Sorry,” he mumbled. Silence fell between you as he listened to your heart beat...it was going really fast. Were you nervous just as he was?

Bucky’s eyes glance from your chest to your eyes. He clears his throat, a smirk on his face as he moves the stethoscope slightly lower and the pace increases, “You’re heart’s beatin’ really fast...faster than average.”

If your face wasn’t feeling hot before, it was definitely blazing now, “Well, uh, doctor appointments always make me nervous.”

“Yeah?” he moves the stethoscope again, “How come?”

“Don’t know,” you mumbled, eyes avoiding his, “So, uh, how does my lung sound?”

He nervously clears his throat again when he moves the stethoscope to the left side below your chest, “Breath normally.” he listened in and adjusted the stethoscope again, “Now gimme some deep breaths,” you did so, his eyes wandering to yours. He leans back, pulling the tool away from you, creating distance between the both of you.

“So?” you asked as you grabbed your clothes and began to dress.

“There’s still some slight wheezing, but very minor. I’m sure that by your next appointment you’ll all healed up.” he watched your shoulders sag a bit.

“Oh, well, that’s great!” you put on a smile for him, “Thanks, Doc!”

“Bucky,” he says with a fond smile.

You pull on your shirt and sweater, smiling at him, “Doctor Bucky.” 

He sighs and rubs his head, “Um, just head out there and Sharon will schedule your next appointment.”

You give him a slow nod, “Um, thanks, for being so concerned with my recovery. I really appreciate.”

“Only the best for my favorite patient,” he says with a wink and steps out of the room to let you collect yourself.

_______________________________

This was it. Your last appointment with Bucky. You were happy you were all healed. You no longer had to deal with the pain and keep taking medication for it. But you were dejected about no longer seeing Bucky. Nonetheless, it’s been a good two months being his patient, so you waited for him in the examine room with a gift basket. 

When he entered, you stood up with a smile, “How’s my-oh! What’s this?”

You handed the basket to him with a sheepish smile, “Just as a thank you for taking care of me.”

“It’s no problem, Y/N, really. It’s what I’m here for.” he sets the basket onto the counter and looks back at you, “So, one more examination and you’re outta here for good.” he gestures to the seat before you, “Shall we?” 

The appointment passes by with a breeze and you’re walking out of the room looking distressed, but you’re not the only one who looks that way. 

“So...this is good-bye,” Bucky says.

You nod, “Yeah. Well,” you stick out your hand, “Thanks Doctor Barnes.”

Bucky slowly takes your hand and gives it a firm shake, “It was my pleasure, Y/N.” he doesn’t want to let go, you don’t want him to let go, but he does eventually. You then turn and walk down the hall, glancing back at him one last time and giving him a wave. You turn a corner and you’re out of sight.

Bucky then feels a thump on the back of his head, “OW! What the-”

“You’re really just gonna let her go?! You’re not gonna ask her out?!”

“She’s my patie-”

“Not anymore, dumbass!” Sam exclaims, gaining the attention of a few nurses and patients. 

Realization hit Bucky. He slaps your file into his chest and goes rushing down the hall after you. He sees you step into the elevator and he jumps in right as the doors are about to close.

“What the-”

“Go out with me tomorrow night!”

“Huh?” you asked him with a completely adorable confused look on your face.

“You got me smitten, Y/N, and because you’re no longer my patient, that means I can’t get in trouble with being romantically involved with you.” he takes your hands in his, “Go out with me. Lemme take you to dinner.” 

‘I-I don’t-why-”

“Doll, I’m sure you’ve felt it too. We have a connection. We couldn’t explore it then, ‘cause you were my patient. But now you’re not and we have a chance. So whaddaya say? Have dinner with me?”he asks one more time.

His blue eyes bear into yours. His face is filled with hope and genuity and he’s right. There’s a connection between you two. You squeeze his hands and smile at him, “I’d love to go to dinner with you, Doc.”

He chuckles shaking his head, “Great, but how ‘bout you call me Bucky from now on?”

You giggle, You got it...Bucky.”

#bucky barnes x reader #Bucky Barnes #bucky barnes imagine #bucky x reader #marvel #au #doctor au

[apprentice-nylah]

So since I didn’t catch that we finally got Book XXI - The World until now... I’m doing my usual first impressions of playing through and my thoughts. Since (I think?) this is the end of Nadia’s route, I believe I’ll do an overall thoughts in a different post later on when I’ve digested everything. 

Both my thoughts on the Upright ending and Reversed ending are under the cut. I play through Nadia’s route only. But this is a much longer than normal post. And it goes without saying, but a lot of spoilers under the cut. 

Upright Ending

- ITS FINALLY HERE?!?@?!??@~

- Backroom of the shop but in red... okie

- oh is this uhm.. when the apprentice first got revived? 

- snow

- oh what did nadia legit visit the apprentice when.. wait... 

- okay so basically you can only pick “youve come to the right place!” even though theres an option for “wait this isn’t right.”

- YoU’Re hEr FiAnCe!!!

- NO YOURE PERFECT FOR HER

- is it going to be the fool card???

- ok the high priestess, I can accept that

- THE LOVE OF MY LIFE (can you hear me screaming irl) 

- this is all the devils fault so “the devil will pay for this”

- aw nadia gushing about the apprentice is so cute

- “I’ll always find you.” fuck ye

- uhm.. apprentice wise probably “id turn into a phoenix.” 

- lived on the moon.. “i’d live there too.” 

- it was cheesy but u loved it anyway

- im actually squealing irl about nadia

- winkie sprite again ;0

- back where it started then eh

- “it has no power” 

- renovating it would be a nice touch i think

- death 

- “this IS a pickle” 

- a ruse cruise l0l

- “you’re right” can’t believe i’m taking advice from death

 - letting go of the past

- i don’t want to worry u queeeen

- this scene is familiar from asras route i think though i didn’t play it to this point, just have seen screenshots of it

- aw nadia

- that “back off zombie” option just reminds me of that heath inspector spongebob episode for some reason, but i’m going with “i wouldn’t say that”

- you could but u won’t

- “emotionally traumatizing zombie card” lmao

- ooo his thone room is kinda cool art wise

- i still love the devils art even tho i kinda hate him

- “do you ever stop talking” theres no other option to choose obviously

- nadia lecturing the devil is everything

- mortals but the apprentice is basically the fool so idk how true that exactly is

- WE WON

- what kind of person exactly WAS nadia if her family is this shocked that she wants them to visit, jeez

- fashion show lmfao

- natiqa gunna stay oo

- aw muriel and asra is still cute as fuck

- awww the baker getting to be procurator. thats also cute as fuck

- volta as official taste tester l0l

- portia totally has a crush on nahara and no one can convince me otherwise

- “i’m not ready to leave” 

- i swear they keep mentioning things on fire and although shes prob referring to the one we were there for, theres always so many stories involving the satrinavas that include setting things on fire and i want to hear all the stories

- “lets bother valerius” we owe him for it still

- “he deserves it” my thoughts exactly

- YOU BET I REMEMBER IT

- “what we’ve done!!”

- sprite artttttttt

- eeeeeee.

I do feel like the ending is somewhat anti-climactic. I would have loved to see the wedding and all that cute shit, but perhaps it could be a tale later on. Or it also gives fandom creators some room to let the imagination run wild and that’s always a positive thing as well. 

I haven’t looked around much, but i think theres some discourse about the endings, though when is there not discourse in the fandom lmfao. I will say that i think this does really play into what I said before that the upright ending and route playthrough is all about change. This is the person Nadia is capable of being at her best and her reversed ending the person she could be if she had stayed on the path she was set on. (or at her worse, if you prefer that). 

as said, I think I’ll put an overview thoughts in a different post, but I think book XXI was a pretty decent wrap up, though obviously I wish there had been more of it. 

Reversed Ending

- I’m still like.. not as mad about the reversed ending as a lot of people seemed to be, but also i agree with the apprentice. PANIC

- okay im really keen on domination and shit but being a possession of another person is really a no-no for me. but i get it nadia... this isn’t ur best u

- the devil really has a fetish for red, don’t he

- I think this place is never gunna let u go anyway tbh

- learning more about the devils nature and knowing that nadia is eventually gunna be the devil is just like... why.

- “which would u prefer” 

- u bet im gunna be fucking cheeky

- “ill obey” ig. idk what the “right answer” is so...

- say nothing

- nadias eyes are fucking creepy like what

- tbh i can’t believe this somehow backfired on the devil like... i didn’t think he was actually this stupid

- “its beautiful” 

- okay her devil sprite is hot asf. i admit it. 

- “of course’ 

- so valarius rules vesuvia now?

- its kinda of sad to see her relationship with the high priestess gone

- okay, also a hot CG

- “gimme!” tho i’m sure shes gunna make me beg or something wild

- “let me thank you properly” 

- kiss every inch of her

- thats kinda sweet in a weird sort of way

- “youre mine” 

- they fucked didn’t they

- youre going to free her... >.>

Okay, i have... thoughts. While I’ve said that I do believe that the Reverse ending is supposed to be Nadia as the person she was at the beginning of the story (or at least in some ways with some of her less desirable traits amplified to the max), this just seems... weird after playing the Upright ending. 

Obviously this makes sense if you played the route as a reverse ending. The apprentice is super dedicated to Nadia that they’ll follow her blindly, even if it means harming other people. You fail to see her faults and instead just tell her that people who criticize her are wrong. But like I said, I think the Devil honestly being that idiotic that he actually gave her the power to defeat him is just wild. In a way where there has to be a lot of suspension of disbelief for that to be a thing. But okay. This is where we are. 

I do think a lot of the domination/physical scenes with Nadia were super hot and wish we had gotten a bit more in the Upright ending, but since I have both endings, I can live with getting the emotional lovey stuff in one and the steamy physical stuff in another. THat’s fine. Also, I really do love Nadia’s Devil sprite. The art is great for it. 

Anyway, those are just some thoughts I had on my first play through. I’ll probably do a full reflection tomorrow when I’ve sort of had more time to process my feelings. As for what I’ll do with the Arcana now that Nadia’s route is over... I’m not sure. I’m not super hot on Portia, though I like her. Just not in a “I want to romance her way.” Maybe I’ll play through Muriel since I think he’s sweet and I thihnk his story will be super interesting. And As much as I hate Lucio in this route, I’m kinda of interested in how they’re planning on writing his route. 

#the arcana #the arcana spoilers #nadia satrinava #nadia spoilers #first thoughts #upright and reverse endings

[angrylizardjacket]

the band with no name {Douglas Booth} 2

A/N: 1654 words. A bit shorter, but we’re getting into things now. idk how i feel about it, please give me feedback.

[PART 1]

Flop of The Month, your band, has an instagram account with exactly two posts on it, and Douglas feels like both and idiot, and a creepy stalker, for the amount of time he spends flicking through the two photos without actually liking them, for fear of you realising who he was.

Colson, however, seemed to have no such reservations.

“Look, I’m on their story,” Colson’s grinning from ear to ear as the cast and crew break for lunch the Monday after they’d seen your band play, showing Douglas his phone, and your band’s instagram story. It showed their notifications, highlighting how Colson had liked both photos and followed them, and had the caption ‘how’d the rap devil find us?’ and ‘not complaining tho’. 

“Bloody hell,” is all Douglas can bring himself to say, wearing a half-smile as they made their way to the costume department to get changed before lunch. It had been a low effort day, just jeans and t-shirts, but it was always safer to not eat in costume. Hair and makeup could stay and be touched up however.

Your band’s page had begun the day with 217 followers, and ended it with over a thousand. There wasn’t a link to your personal page, and so all he can do is scroll through your Facebook while waiting for Colson to be ready to go.

Y/N: weird question Y/N: also, hi Y/N: but yeh, weird question Y/N: was your friend last night mgk?

Douglas takes a moment to compose his thoughts before typing out his response.

Douglas: hi back Douglas: and yes.

There’s a few minutes of silence, and Douglas can feel his scalp itching beneath his wig, just a little, but he tries to ignore it.

Y/N: cool. Y/N: well it was nice meeting you guys!! Y/N: looking forward to seeing if ur band is real btw Douglas: probably wont be for a while Y/N: im happy to wait Y/N: if u want me there that is Douglas: if we ever actually play a gig, you’ll be the first to know

You send a blushing smiling emoji back, and Douglas finds himself strangely pleased.

“Is that her?” Colson asks, eyes shining as he pulled on his leather jacket; with his wig and makeup, he still absolutely looked the part. Douglas quickly slipped his phone in his pocket, knowing that a faint blush dusted his cheeks despite his best efforts. As he waffled his way through an affirmation, Colson’s smile just grew wider.

“I still don’t understand why you were being so vague; she probably would have jumped you there and then if she knew you were part of the Motley Crue movie, man.”

“Yeah,” Douglas said, his discomfort mounting at the insinuation, “that’s the problem, dude; first of all, I don’t know if she like the band themselves, or just the music, and if she does like the band,” he paused, shrugging a little, quietly embarrassed, “what if she likes them better than me?”

“They’re all married,” Colson says, like it immediately solves everything.

“Man, you know that’s not the issue,” Douglas sighed, but it’s clear he wasn’t done, and Colson just waited, eyebrows raised, “you know, girls who are like... like... how did you say it the other week? When that girl from Instagram was in your DMs every other minute?”

“Clout chasing,” Colson nodded sagely, suddenly understanding all too clearly his co-star’s apparent fears, “well she doesn’t know who you are yet.”

“Exactly,” Douglas exclaimed, glad the craft services tent was finally in view, feeling himself grow hungrier by the moment, “and I think I wanna keep it that way, just for now.”

“Better pray she doesn’t watch Jupiter Ascending,” Colson snorts, just as Douglas punches him in the arm. 

The next day, he messages you first, sends a photo of himself and the rest of the band out of costume, but holding their instruments, all wearing heels to help make it easier to wear them around set. 

Douglas: the band says hi Y/N: shit, you guys have instruments and everything Y/N: getting less sketchy by the minute

You follow it up with a winking emoji, and a photo of yourself, out in the sunshine, dressed impeccably, makeup dark and sharp, holding a stack of posters beside your head, advertising your band’s next gig; this Saturday.

Douglas: are you inviting me? Y/N: only if you’re saying yes

Your confident coyness amuses him, despite the way the shoes are pinching his toes, and he tells you he’ll be there.

The next day, you send a link to a band name generator, but more interestingly, you send it right around the time he’s getting his makeup done, early in the morning.

Douglas: early start? Y/N: my shop won’t open itself Douglas: your shop? Y/N: mini mall tattoo parlor hahaha

“She owns a tattoo parlor?” Daniel asks, reading over Douglas’s shoulder between takes, “you’d better make your move or Colson’s gonna go for her.” 

“Go for who?” Colson himself calls across set where his makeup’s being touched up.

“You weren’t meant to hear that!” Daniel shouts back, though he’s grinning, and adds, “Y/N. She owns a tattoo parlor.”

“Really, shit man, Doug she’s cool as hell,” Colson muses, before snorting, addressing Daniel, “gimme some credit, I’m letting the man shoot his shot; he’s my bro, not my competition.”

“Thanks man,” with the slightest smile, Douglas puts his phone away as the scene is reset around them, and Colson joins him in the middle of the living room set.

“I expect free tattoos, however,” he says with a faux seriousness, “because if you like her, like really like her, I’m gonna wingman the shit out of you.”

“Seriously?”

“Absolutely, man,” he claps Douglas on the shoulder with a surprisingly sincere expression.

It’s Colson who suggests, the following day, sending a video of Douglas playing the bass, asking if you had any pointers. They’re at band rehearsals again, blasting through their repertoire, when they get to Take Me To The Top, and as the song dies down, Colson makes the suggestion.

“Why are you filming it?” Iwan asks, and Colson’s smile is all teeth where he’s holding Douglas’s phone, answering before Douglas has the opportunity.

“Tryna help impress that punk chick from the band last weekend.”

“You’re actually talking to her?” Iwan asks with a bright, almost incredulous smile, “after everything that happened? She must really like you.” He muses, and Douglas feels his soul leaving this mortal plane.

“Smart move; asking for advice from her, lets her know you think she’s talented, and, well, you know,” Daniel shrugs, wiggling his fingers with a casual air. Douglas frowns, but Colson’s nodding.

“Exactly what I was thinking,” he agrees, and finally Douglas clues in. Dexterous fingers.

“Don’t be gross, guys,” he sighs, already regretting letting Colson help at all, “just take the damn video.”

It only takes thirty seconds for you to respond in All Caps.

Y/N: ARE YOU IN A MOTLEY CRUE COVER BAND

“I’m fucked,” Douglas mutters under his breath, staring wide-eyed at the message.

Y/N: you play so well dude just relax your stance and shoulders Y/N: fkn love take me to the top Y/N: seriously a motley cover band??? Y/N: you just instantly got 100x cooler

“Okay, maybe I’m not fucked,” he concedes after a moment, quietly breathing a sigh of relief.

Y/N: now i have to see u guys play!! Y/N: if that’s alright of course

“Nah, you’re definitely a little bit fucked,” Daniel offers over his shoulder, and Douglas pushes his face away.

“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” Douglas grumbles, and Daniel shrugs bemusedly. 

“At least she thinks you play well,” but Douglas isn’t listening to him, he’s frantically tapping away on his phones, scowling, “what ‘re you doing?”

“Trying to come up with a name for our band -”

“Our fake band?” Iwan asks, arms crossed over his chest wearing an amused little smile, “do we have to play along with this too?”

“Not if you don’t want, just don’t... don’t tell her it’s fake is all.” Douglas offers, and the rest of the band nods.

“So how long are you going to play along with this bit?” Daniel ask, and Douglas heaves a sigh.

“Not sure; until I can trust that she’s not just in it to meet the actual band -”

“Which she doesn’t know you know,” Iwan interjected again, and Douglas nodded a little. After a beat, the rest of the band looked to each other, and seemed to share some sort of silent communication, before turning back to him.

“Okay,” Colson agrees easily, “if you’re serious about this chick you’ve known for five days,” he emphasizes, though Douglas doesn’t seem phased, “if we ever run into her, we’ll pretend we’re in a Motley Crue cover band.” He agrees, while Iwan and Daniel silently agree, though they look rather amused at the whole situation.

“There’s just something about her,” Douglas muses quietly.

“It’s the fact that she’s the coolest chick you’ve ever met,” Colson tells him with far too much authority, “and your little posh, school-boy brain wants to try something new.”

“Hey -” Douglas scoffed, though he was quickly talked over.

“She looks like she’d punch me in the face but I’d be okay with it,” Iwan adds, which, strangely enough, the rest of them agree to with various mischievous smiles. Douglas doesn’t exactly deny that he feels the same way.

“What’s our band name gonna be?” Daniel asks finally.

“The Fourskins,” Colson answers back immediately, grinning wide and proud of himself.

“Absolutely no-”

“That’s kind of genius,” Daniel snorts over Douglas’ protest, and so, on a three-to-one vote, their fake Motley Crue cover band is named The Fourskins, and Douglas kind of thinks he’d rather come clean there and then to you, rather than suffer through ever typing or saying that name to you. But he doesn’t. 

He really hopes you’re worth it.

#Douglas Booth #douglas booth x reader #douglas booth imagine #colson baker #mgk #machine gun kelly #daniel webber #iwan rheon #The Dirt #the dirt cast #the dirt cast imagine #the dirt imagine #the angry lizard writes

[rosyerim]

fwb↠ lovers!yukhei

warnings; obvi sexual stuff, some cursing, 16++!!!

listen i am a HOE for lucas

but lbr so are u 

who isn’t like have you SEEN that man GOD

anywho letzgetit

lucas aka wong yukhei was one of your friends ever since u two got paired up for a presentation in college

super cocky when u approached him first 

u were like

“hi so will we go to yours ?”

he was like

“( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) oh we’re goin to mine huh? that fast u must want me bad( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)“

u just rolled ur eyes and was like

“listen here u damn TREE i meant so we could work on the presentation!!”

he’s like “yea sure whatever u say babe”

so u just rolled ur eyes again and was abt to leave before he grabbed ur hand and was like im jk!! gimme ur number so we can sort out a day

so u do bc i mean who wouldnt give lucas their number

when u get home u already have a message from him

“hey it’s lucas :)”

“lemme know what day suits u, im p much free all week!”

he actually wasn’t free all week but would have cancelled any plans for u in a heartbEAT 

little do u know, homeboy been lowkey crushin’ on you ever since he saw u strut into the same lecture room as him

then u tripped but thats BESIDes tHe poInT

u text back and are like

“i’m free tommorow if that suits u?”

you didn’t expect a text back so quick

you put your phone down for 00.02 seconds before

WHA-PING

its ya boi lucas double texting u

“yeah i’m free haha said i was free all week :)”

“that came off as kinda passive aggressive im sorry thats not what i meant??”

hehehe u just smile to ur self what a cutie

you set up to meet at the campus cafe the next day at like 2pm bc god knows ur ass won’t be up before 1pm

again once u put ur phone down thinking the convo was over

WHA-PING-DING

its lucas again 

“so..what are u doin rn? i’m just workin out haha :)”

wong yukhei rlly out here bein all fuckboyish and shit but u bein ur good, sin free self ignore the DEVILS calling and go do ur own things around the house

ignoring the WHA-PINGS

next day rolls around 

you’re at the cafe like 10 mins early because u didn’t want to b late 

and woahh whose already sitting inside at the corner table w two chairs??

and two steaming cups of coffee??

yeah u guessed it lucASS

looking fine as heLL in literally just a white hoodie??

you know THIS look

that whole ass look

okay stop staring at his beautiful self and go i n s i d e

bby boy does a lil jump of surprise when u walk up he was so immersed in his phone

he was not looking up “how to get someone to like u” fucjakjks

he’s all smiley and is like

“ (✿◠‿◠) i didn’t know what drink u liked so i just got u a coffee, hope its okay(✿◠‿◠)“

ssjdhsjd ofc its okay baby!!

u just nod and say you’ll pay next time

he gets a lil blushy bc your both gone meet up again aw

so you both start working, he has ideas so do you, so you both compromise and wow u two make a great team

at some point the convo turns from school to sharing drunk stories of ur friends

a few coffees & lots of laughing later u suddenly realize its gotten rlly late bc of how dark it is outside!!

cue lucas using this as an opportunity to be all suave & gentlemanly 

“wow it’s gotten late, i’ll walk you home!!” 

so ur both on course to ur apartment 

he tries to be that boy and put his jumper on u because he saw u shiver for 00.001 second

but ur like lol no thanks im not cold

the tips of ears go red & poor bby is embarrassed  so he goes all pouty :((

then u feel bad bc homeboy was jus tryna be nice :((

so u end up wrappin yourself up in it and now hes all :))

now ur all :))) too

when u get to ur apt he kinda awkwardly shuffles outside so u invite him inside so he can “warm up” before he leaves

and whooo did u two “warm up”

he takes a seat on ur sofa & is kinda mindlessly babbling as u put on some music and bring him over a warm drink 

so ur both just sittin there bbq sauce on ya titties

and then its like some sort of sudden tension arises??

he stops babbling and just stares at u 

u stare back, slowly putting down ur drink

then ur leaning in oh so s l o w l y

he places his big ass hand on the side of ur face, eyes hovering from ur lips to ur eyes, asking for permission 

you give him a lil nod and he s w o o p s the fuck in

his plump lips are soft, a lil chapped and the first kiss is tender, he pulls away after a few seconds

he looks at you thru half lidded eyes and oop you pulled him back to ya lips hehe

from there it escalates 

he leans back onto the sofa and pulls you ontop of him, in a straddling position

one of his hands moves from your face down to your waist holding u tightly against while the other is rubbing circles on the exposed skin below your shirt

his tongue pushes past your lips, to meet yours and you thread your fingers through his hair, tugging lightly at the ends

this elicits a deep ass groan outta him and he pulls back suddenly, tilting his head up towards you

you’re slightly panting as you take note of his swollen lips and slight blush dusting his cheeks

he notices the same things about you and smirks before your face back towards him

to ur slight disappointment it’s not as heated as before, just a lil soft kiss and hes pulling away again

ur like 

“<(｀^´)> why’d u stopp <(｀^´)>“

he just chuckles w his deeper than the ocean voice pinches ur cheek lightly

“because as much as i’d like to keep goin, it’s a bit too fast paced don’t you think?”

you flush again as u didn’t even think about what he was feeling and nodded, burying your face into the crook of his neck

but the hypocrisy of this bOY

the next time u two meet up to “work on the project” u end up goin to his place and oop hes got u beneath him on his bed, both of ur shirts on the floor 

his mouth is set on marking your neck, collarbones while his hips are lightly grinding down on you, you feeling his bulge from beneath his tracksuit pants

you wrap you legs around him, pulling him even closer before flipping him over somehow

he’s a lil surprised as you take ur turn to pepper his neck and collarbones w love bites but he’s not complaining as u can tell from his quiet moans beneath you

you make your way lower on his body, stopping just before the waistband of his pants, looking up at him

“can i?”

u ask him first because consent is important kids

he nods so fast ur afraid his head is gona pop off 

you pull his pants & underwear down and wha-ping there he is

you grasp him at the base and lucas throws his head back, almost banging it off his headboard but does he care? nope.

so after ya know, suck the soul out of him

homeboy needs a phat minute to get his breath back

but ur pulling ur top back on, ready to go bc u felt like he woulda kicked u out but nOPE

the second he catches u ready to leave, he grabs u and pulls u back down onto the bed w him

ur like??? but in a good way

he ends up peppering ur face w lots of kisses and u gigglin bc aw

but then the kisses end up getting more heated as he makes his way down ur body, ur shirt leaving u once again, as well as ur pants and oops ur underwear too??

he ends up giving back what he received :)))

after that night, you both agree to keep it casual

basically friends w benefits

lucas loves the idea 

at first

like the thought of him bein’ able to text you whenever he was horny and not block him? great. gettin’ the occasional nude from you during his classes and ending up hard for an hour? not the best, but he’ll take it.

bUT the sight of you coming down off your high that he gave you while still panting his name softly??? 100000% HERE for it

wearing his shirt as you tumble around his bedroom, your neck covered in lovebites from him leaves him 97% soft and 3% sorta kinda horny

but he wants to be able to text you abt how your day was or what you’re doing for the day him or just listen to you rant!! not just when he pops a boner or you’re in the mood

he also wants to experience holding you in his arms, filled with love and not lust, kisses that are just innocent instead of heated 

to wake up to your sleeping face, no matter how funny looking, in the morning instead of an cold, empty space in his bed

but lucas knows you won’t return his feelings so he does his best to hide them (read: fails miserably at hiding his feelings for you)

then you begin to notice subtle changes in his behavior 

he goes from choking you out w a dark look in his eyes to caressing your cheeks w heart eyes in 000.02 seconds

he gives you his shirt to keep even after you leave his apartment and insists on driving you home

he texts you pictures of cute puppies he saw on his way to college instead of his usual boxer pics 

safe to say, u knew wtf was up

but u didn’t want to sound conceited abt knowing lucas liked you, so you didn’t say anything

and you both kept up the facade of hiding your feelings for the other behind by taking your frustration out on each other, sexually

and it stays that way for a while, but lucas was becoming more agitated each night you left and vice versa

until he broke the unspoken rule

neither of you had stayed overnight at the others for fear of having to deal with the truth of your emotions in the morning

but that night as you lay beside him, breathing heavily, the thin covers barely covering your naked bodies, he slipped his hand into yours and pulled you close

and you both lay there for a while, content in each other embraces, listening to each others heartbeats

then, you shifted to move away, to leave another night of unspoken feelings for another day

but he pulled you back and whispered, “stay”

you knew what that meant, you thought it over in your head

if you stayed, you would wake up and finally face the music, finally talk about how much you’ve fallen for him

how much you want to give him kisses all over his face to make him laugh

how you want to go on cute little cafe dates and study dates and dinner dates and basically every kind of date with him

how you want to introduce him to your family as not just your friend, but your boyfriend, your lover

a few moments passed

lucas’ forehead creased slightly in worry

he placed a tender kiss on your knuckles

mumbled a soft “please”

you took a deep breath 

and relaxed against him, letting your eyelids flutter shut as you let sleep overcome you

missing how lucas’ eyes literally shone as he looked down on you

“finally” he whispered against the crown of your head as he placed a kiss there, his grin almost splitting his face in half

he sent a bunch of keyboard smashes into the nct gc later bc he was so happy sjdksjd

and thats how you and wong yukhei fell in love

he also still gets butterflies every time he sees you and screams internally every time u kiss him fucjskjd <33

le fin♡ 

this is my first bullet scenario, hope it was okay (〃▽〃)

#nct #nct u #nct 127 #nct headcanons #nct imagines #wong yukhei #lucas #lucas headcanons #wong yukhei imagine #lucas imagines

[emeraldfic]

07:

Stormy:

Miami: Monday April 29, 2018 1:58 PM

Shit. I feel like complete shit and when I forced myself out of bed to shower, my reflection was showing me that I looked like shit too. My smeared make up and a neck full of hickies made me cringe. 

Even after showering and brushing my teeth twice, I still felt gross and I couldn’t get the taste of vodka out of my mouth. 

After freshening up the best I could I pulled on some sweats and went to get some water so I could down some Advil and catch this headache before it got the best of me. I was surprised to see Chris sitting at the breakfast bar. He was rubbing his temples like he was annoyed. After getting my glass of water I sat down next to him trying to quietly grab his attention without poking at his obvious aggravation.

“Hey.” He murmured forcing a smile

“Hi.” I smiled. “Are you okay?”

He slid his phone over to me and signaled with a nod towards the screen for me to see what was bothering him. I raised a brow seeing that his messages were pulled up, and sighed seeing they were from Mimi.

Mimi: REALLY CHRIS???? im w deja one night and ur out drinking w stormy the first chance u get?? not to mention u two were all over each other the whole time??? WTF! 

To Mimi: ok? thought we were taking a break? wtf does it matter??

Mimi: BREAK? lmao ok. this is how u want to play it?? i just gave us space for a night to cool off ... but if u want a break that fine. 

To Mimi: i do. 

I handed back his phone and let out a sigh. I could feel warm tears sitting in the corners of my eyes. I feel so guilty. I’ve caused so much unnecessary drama since being here. I stood up and was about to make a run for my room but he stopped me. 

“What’s wrong?”

“Chris... I can’t keep messing things up for you.”

“Messing things up? Stormy...” he chuckled “What are you messing up? I wanted this. Things were so rocky between her and I. We were due for some space.”

He pulled me in for a hug and I felt myself relaxing against him making me remember how tired I really was. I was hoping we could hide out on the couch and be lazy all day but when the buzzer went off I knew that wasn’t happening. He let whoever it was up and a few minutes later there was a knock on the door.

“Can I help you?”

“What’s up man, we’re from the furniture depot, we have a delivery for Chris.”

“Oh, yeah, yeah. That’s me.”

“Check over the info here and sign at the bottom for me, man and we’ll start bringing everything up.”

I could not hide my excitement. I clapped and jumped up and down thinking about how amazing my hunnies bedroom was going to be. It made the thought of her coming home soon all the more real!

About an hour later they had everything all hauled up and in her room. Chris headed off to the store to get us some drinks and snacks and I got ready for a long night. 

“Let’s do this baby.” He smiled 

Hearing the way ‘baby’ flowed off of his tongue so easily made me smile but U wasn’t going to make a big deal about it so I cracked open my monster and took in a big gulp acting like I hadn’t even heard it.

It was after nine when we had finally assembled everything. The bedroom set was so much more beautiful than I had remembered from the store. I was in love, and part of me wanted to cry. My emmy finally has everything she’s ever deserved thanks to Chris and I can’t wait for her to come home so he can finally have the chance to be the daddy she’s needed. I’m nervous for myself though... I’m getting a second shot at being her mom and I just hope I live up to her expectations. 

When everything was arranged perfectly I put her clothes away, made up her bed and vacuumed up the floor. It looked so great, but it was missing the little things.. and her.

“You did a great job in here.” Chris said popping his head in.

“Its all thanks to you.” I reminded. “She’s gonna love it!”

I grabbed the last of the trash from the room and turned off the light. Chris followed behind me and shut the door after us. I was so tired, but so happy that I had got it all done today. I plopped down on the couch and Chris followed suit letting out what seemed to be a satisfied sigh.

“Come here and gimme a kiss.” he asked lowly.

I happily crawled into his lap with a smile and did just as he’d asked, but of course it didn’t stop with just a kiss, before I knew it we were caught up in a full blown make out. I couldn’t help the moans that slipped through my lips as our tongues wrestled for dominance and his stiffness beneath me told me he didn’t mind.

He stood up with me in his lap mid kiss and started walking towards his room. I could feel the nervous butterflies start to flutter but I brushed it off.

“You staying in here tonight.” he said letting me fall back against the bed.

“Yeah, I could.” I nodded with a smile.

“Na, it wasn’t a question. I’m telling you that you’re staying in here tonight. I’m tired of you disappearing on me.”

“Disappearing? What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Anytime you fall asleep in here you’re always gone when I wake up. Like you’re running scared or something.”

“I am not scared.” I sassed

“Well then quit running.”

He laid down next to me and wrapped his arms around my waist. We laid there comfortably for a few minutes and I could feel my eyes getting heavier by the second.

“Chris...” I yawned

“Hmm?” he hummed 

“I lied... I guess I am scared.”

“Of what baby?”

“Getting hurt.”

“I’ll never hurt you. I promise.”

I let those words linger around in my head and before I knew it, I was out.

Chris:

 Two Weeks Later:

Miami: Monday May 14, 2018 2:40 PM

Things have felt so off and negative lately it’s enough to make your skin crawl. Stormy just walks around in this funk and it’s so hard to handle so I’ve been working my ass off at practice; going in on my days off, going in early and staying late- the whole nine... all of it just to avoid being home.

Last week in court we were denied to bring Emmy home and it wrecked Stormy... I’ve been avoiding it all to try and hide the fact that I’m hurting too but it’s no use. It broke our hears. We have another hearing in about a month but it feels so hopeless. Apparently in the eyes of the judge, we aren’t ready to have Emmy home. He’s asked us to sign up for a few parenting classes and have more meetings with her and our worker Stephanie so we can have a better understanding of it all. 

“Good job boys” Coach called out. “Give me two laps and call it a day.”

After pushing myself so hard today I felt so tense and aggravated. I was so deep in my own thoughts nothing I felt like I’d never snap out of it. I pushed out the two laps and as I was headed to the ocker rooms coach called me over.

“What up, coach?” I huffed out of breath wiping the sweat from my forehead with my shirt

“I just wanted to check in on you, make sure everything’s alright. You’ve seemed a little off lately and I’m a little worried about you, especially with the hefty plate you have in front of you.”

“Oh, yeah. I’m alright, I’m good. I’m stressed, but I’ll be alright.” He raised a brow like he didn’t believe me. “Really coach. I’m fine. I think I just need to blow off some steam.”

“Alright. Well just take it easy. Are you ready for this weekend?”

“Yeah, I’m stoked. This event is always all over the news and I can’t believe I’m apart of it.”

“It’s so great, it’s a great time and you get paid for it. Win, win.” He chuckled with a shrug

“Yeah definitely. I’ll be ready coach. I promise.”

“Alright, get out of here.” He patter my shoulder and I was off to the showers. I couldn’t seem to get the water hot enough to satisfy my aggravated body enough to relax making me more irritated than I already was so I cut it short and packed up my bag and headed out. I was hungry, and knew I needed to eat something but with the way my stomach was feeling I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to hold it down so I just headed home hoping that I could crawl into bed and sleep the rest of the night away. 

When I walked in, I tossed my gym bag down by the door and shuffled off for my bed. To my surprise, Stormy was snuggled up sound asleep. I wont lie it brought a small smile to my lips. I kicked off my shoes and snuggled up next to her.. The second I was in bed , she crawled on top of me and ran her hands up and down my chest as she started kissing on my neck. I closed my eyes enjoying her touch feeling myself finally starting to relax. 

“Damn, baby.” I groaned lowly as she started sucking lightly 

I rolled us over so I was on top and pinned her arms to the bed. I smiled down at her but my smile quickly faded when I saw that her eyes were puffy like she’d been crying. I raised a brow, asking what was wrong without really having to ask.

“I don’t feel well.”

“What’s the matter?” I asked falling down to the bed next to her

“I don’t know.” she sighed “I guess with all of this going on I’m stressed to the point where it’s making me sick to my stomach.”

“Don’t let it get to you, Storm. Emmy will be home with us before you know it. There’s nothing to make yourself sick over. We got this. And, Besides, I need you feeling better for this weekend.”

“What’s happening this weekend?”

“The big charity event. Buckets for bucks. Every year it’s a big thing and it’s basically just a bunch of people who sign up to play basketball all weekend for a a different charity every year. Some people are sponsored for each basket they make, and some just donate. Every year the NBA training camp is involved.” 

“Oh. So you want me to participate?” she asked with an unsure chuckle

“No..Well, if you want to. I was just figured you’d be with me for support.”

“Well, of course. I’m more than happy to be there with you.”

“Good.” I yawned snuggling more into the bed and closed my eyes

“Chris...”

“Hmm” I murmured 

“Can we go get some food? I’m hungry.”

“I promise if you let me take this nap right quick I’ll take you to go get some food in a little bit.”

“Fine.” she whined and kissed my forehead before disappearing into the living room

I was sleeping so good but my phone kept vibrating beneath me and I was starting to get aggravated so I sat up and finally answered after the third call

“Yeah? I huffed”

“Hi, Chris. This is Stephanie. I’m sorry to be a pest but I needed to get a hold of you before I left the office today and Stormy wasn’t answering her phone either. I’m leaving in the morning for a family emergency and I’ll be out of town for a little while so we’ll need to postpone your visit with Emerald.”

“Oh, alright.”

“I’m really sorry about all of this last minute. I’ll give you a call first thing when I’m back in the office.”

“Okay, I’ll let Stormy know. Thanks for the heads up,”

“Sure thing. We’ll talk soon. Bye now.”

I rubbed over my tired eyes and let out a loud yawn. As much as I wanted to just lay back down and sleep for the rest of the night I knew I had to get up.

“Hey sleepy head.” she called out with a smile as I walked into the living room.”

“Where’s you phone at?” I asked sitting down next to her.

“In my room charging, why?” 

“Stephanie was calling.”

“Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, she’s just gonna be out of the office for a family emergency so we have to postpone our visit.”

“Oh, okay. As long as everything is okay with Em.”

We got comfortable on the couch and continued watching her show on Netflix. I wasn’t really into it, but I enjoyed being close with her. It was peaceful and had me feeling a lot more relaxed than I’d been all day... until my phone started buzzing with text after text

Mimi: hi... can we talk?

Mimi: i need to grab some things from the house...

Mimi: well... r  u gonna be home this weekend? maybe we can talk over dinner?? lmk.

Mimi: i miss u chirs

Mimi: it’s so hard being a way from u... i hate it sm

I let out a hefty sigh and dropped my phone into my lap. I was not trying to kill my mood with all of this but it certainly didn’t stop me from getting a headache.

“What’s wrong baby?” Stormy cooed 

“Nothin’“ I muttered with a shrug

“Liar. Your tense.”

“I just have a headache is all.”

“Let me make you feel better baby.” she purred crawling into my lap.

She tangled one hand in my growing curls and kissed me slowly teasing me with her tongue. She pulled away from the kiss slowly with my bottom lip tucked between her teeth. She gave it a little tug and let it plop back into place. She peered down at me with a cheeky grin before tucking her face into my neck making me groan lowly as she hit all the right spots. I could feel my tension melting away little by little.

“Let’s take this to my room baby.”

She ignored me and continued to take charge. I hissed lowly as she reached into my pants and exposed me. My head hung back as she continuously stroked at a steady pace. I was so close to finishing when there was a pound at the door.

“Fuck it. Don’t stop.” I pleaded 

“Chris! Open up!” Mimi shouted from the other side of the door.

Stormy sucked her teeth and got up from my lap. I rolled my eyes watching her storm off the room with an attitude.

“Chris! Hello? I know you’re in there.” Mimi barked with another pound to the door.

I pulled my pants up and stomped over to the door. I snatched it open as hard as I could and gave her a glare.

“What?” I snapped furrowing my brows at her

“I told you I needed to come by and get some things.” she said as her eyes looked me over she stopped at my neck and sighed “I’m sorry I didn’t know  you had company over.”

“I don’t” I snapped “Just hurry and get whatever you need.”

“I can’t stay?” shed asked chewing on her bottom lip

“Look, Mimi. I’m not trying to be a fucking prick right now but I was really in the middle of something and here you come pounding at the door like the fucking police, and that’s pretty fucking irritating. And, I’m definitely not in the mood for this conversation with you right now.”

She walked in after me and went straight for what used to be our room and I went in the other direction to Stormy’s room.

“She’s just getting a few things ans she’s leaving.”

About an hour later after we’d finished out last round in the shower we were comfy in sweats and ready to go finish watching TV  but to both of our surprise, there Mimi sat on the couch with a death glare pointed our way.

“Really Chris?” she snapped folding her arms over her chest. “Her? Really? This whole time it’s been her? I couldn’t believe you’d cheat on me, but with her of all people?”

“Why are you still here?” I spat “What did you stand by the door and listen to us? I wanted space Mimi, get the fuck over it.”

“Screw you Chris. I can’t believe you did this to me.” She sobbed

I heard Stormy slam her door behind me and I knew she was irritated with me but, I’ll have to sort that out later... Seeing Mimi crying was bothering me and I knew I had to sweet talk her up to get her out of here.

“Mimi, we’re separated... I’m sorry you walked in on all that, and I’m not sure why you waited around, but I’m sorry for whatever you heard too.”

“I just have nowhere to go, Chris. Thus was my home, remember? And we’re apart so I have nothing now” she cried “What am I supposed to do now?”

“I don’t know, Mimi.... Can you ask Dej to stay there for a while longer? I have a big charity event this weekend and I’ll be out of town so maybe we can talk when I get home? I wasn’t trying to intentionally hurt you tonight, but you can’t get upset with me for fucking around. I am single right now and I do have needs.”

“But why her?” she whined with a frown

“I can’t help that I got attracted to her, Mimi. We spent a lot of time together... something you and I didn’t do. Just give me a few days, okay. I need a clear head for this weekend.”

“Okay.” She sighed

She picked up the two bags she had packed and walked out the door without saying another word. When the door closed behind her I finally let out the breath I didn’t realize I was holding.

“Is she gone?” Stormy asked poking around  the corner

“Yeah. I’m sorry baby. She’s just hurting.”

“I know, I understand.”

“That’s why you’re so amazing.”

“I’m hungry, and you did promise to take this amazing girl out for food after your nap.”

“Yeah, I did, huh?”

“Yes, so let’s go before I starve to death.” 

As she walked away from m I couldn’t help but to stare at her ass and hips. She was getting thick and I loved it.

“Al this fucking we been doing has you looking hella thick baby.” I muttered biting on my bottom lip “God damn...”

“Quit starring at me and get your ass ready.” she giggled.

Thirty minutes later we had agreed on a bomb ass bar and grill joint waiting on our order. I enjoyed the dight of her sitting across from me happily sipping on her soda.

“Look baby, they’re hiring!”

“Yeah, I see that.”

“Well maybe I should apply? It would be nice to make my own money for a change.”

“Hell no! I’ll be damned if you’re up here waiting on these pervs. What do you need to work for anyways?”

“Because, baby. I mean having my own money really is necessary. I can’t mooch off of you forever.” 

“But I want to take care of you.” I admitted reaching across the table for her hand “Especially when Em comes home, don’t you want to be a stay at home mom?”

“Not so much...” she sighed

I knew I wasn’t winning this one so I didn’t budge when she rushed off to find the manager. She came back about five minutes as just as our burgers were arriving at the table. She sat down with a huge grin and wiggled her eyebrows at me.

“Guess who has an interview first thing tomorrow morning!”

I wasn’t thrilled but I couldn’t help the growing smile on my face. I knew she was going to do great. After we finished our food we moved over to the bar and ordered up a few shots

“Come on light weight.” I teased “You literally only finished one. I got like six down over here.”

“It’s not sitting well, I feel sick to my stomach.”

I chugged down a tall glass of water to weaken up the shots and we headed out. As soon as we were home, Stormy was running for the bathroom. I could hear her dinner coming back up on her and it made me feel bad for suggesting we take those shots.

Once she was finally well enough to get up, I helped her up to bed and she was fast asleep.I said a quick prayer hoping she was well for this weekend and was off to sleep myself.

#chris brown #chris brown fanfic

[demons-n-daydreams]

Part I: Greenie

Pairing: endgame Gally/Reader, slight angst

Warnings: None (let me know if I missed something)

Requested by: anon

Request:

(angst + fluff with gally please ?? preferably during tdc.. thank u and i love ur imagines especially the latest one with minho)

Word Count: 1.4K

Author’s Note: I got a little carried away with ideas when I received this prompt, so this imagine is actually nothing like the prompt, purely because I intend to write more imagines that eventually do. This is part 1 of my Gally series, which should span from before The Maze Runner all the way through The Death Cure. Who’s excited??? Also, the reader is my height, because I love height differences. I’m 5’3”. Will Poulter is 6’3”. Do the math.

Summary: You wake up in an unfamiliar place, to a horde of unfamiliar faces. Naturally, you’re a little freaked out.

Your name: submit What is this?

When you woke, it was dark.

Your body was laying down on a metal floor, cool beneath your back.You felt around frantically with your hands, trying to get a sense as to where you were, blinking rapidly to try and adjust your vision.

You moved to sit up, only to get knocked back as the floor lurched beneath you, the room- no, the elevator- you were in beginning rise. You could feel your mind racing a mile a minute, a thousand panicked questions crowding up in your jumbled thoughts. Where were you? How did you get here? Where were you going? You felt a burst of panic when you realized that these weren’t the only things you didn’t know. Beyond self-identifying, knowing what your name was, you knew nothing; not where you came from, why you were here. You didn’t know if you had been kidnapped; hell, you didn’t even know your own last name.

Lights flashed past as the elevator ascended, causing bright spots to dance in your vision, disorienting you further. You laid there, dazed and frightened, until you managed to slow your heartbeat to normal levels.

Your vision adjusted slightly, and you could begin to make out your surroundings. There were boxes all around you, stacked together neatly. Moving carefully to avoid falling on your face in the swaying elevator, you crawled over to one of them, opening it carefully to avoid spilling the contents.

It contained tools. Basic things, like hammers, screwdrivers, nails, some nuts and bolts. After casting a wary glance around the room, sensing no other person there, you grabbed one of the hammers, closing the box before retreating to the corner of the elevator. You had no idea where you were, no idea what was going to happen to you- this was your best chance to defend yourself.

After a long, undetermined amount of time, the elevator came to a shuddering halt, throwing your balance off and forcing you to land on your hands and knees, hammer sliding out of your grip. You fumbled for it frantically and then stood, backing yourself into the corner.

A groan of metal rattled your eardrums and suddenly, a line of light illuminated the elevator. There was another screech of metal, and another groan, this time coming from humans, and the ceiling above you opened up, blinding you as a bright light shined in your eyes.

You recoiled, cringing back into the corner, holding the hammer in front of you defensively. Your heart was beating out of your chest, and you could hear muttering above and around you, steadily growing louder.

“Holy shuck-”

“Is that-”

“Slim it!” someone shouted, and you snapped your head up, taking in your surroundings warily. There was a dead silence as you looked around, eyes darting back and forth.

Above you, there were about twenty or so boys, all staring down at you. Your grip on the hammer tightened, and you felt your hackles rise, their gazes intimidating. One of them, with tanned skin and curly brown hair, tore his eyes away to look at the group.

“Alright shanks,” he said, voice full of authority. “Back to work. Don’t need you slintheads slackin’.”

Grumbling but compliant, the boys all left, with the exception of the one that you figured was the leader, and two others; a boy with dark skin, and another with dirty blond hair and freckles.

You didn’t relax at all despite the much-reduced crowd and flinched back when the one who had spoken jumped into the elevator, and began advancing towards you. You raised the hammer again, palms sweating around the handle with anxiety. He was significantly bigger than you, both height-wise and in muscle mass. Even with your improvised weapon, you weren’t sure you’d be able to fight him off if you needed to. Panic began to swell in your chest. You had no idea who he was. For all you knew, he and his friends were the ones who had brought you here.

He came within four feet of you, and you reacted on pure instinct.

“Back off!” you shouted, waving the hammer wildly, hoping he didn’t come any closer so you wouldn’t have to use it.

He paused, thankfully, raising his hands up in surrender. Leaning forward, his face fixed into an open and unthreatening expression, he made further no efforts to come closer. The other two stood at the edge of the ground above you, ready to jump in if you made a single wrong move.

“Calm down, ‘kay?” the boy in front said, voice soothing. You looked at him with wide eyes, hammer trembling in your tight grip. “We ain’t gonna hurt you. S’okay.”

You kept your weapon out in front of you, back against the corner of the elevator to keep as far away as possible. You weren’t going to take any chances.

“What’d you do to me?” you demanded, voice shaky. “Why can’t I remember anything? Where am I?”

“S’okay,” he repeated, same calming tone as before. “Happens to everyone. They send one of us up every month. We ain’t gonna hurt you, alright?”

The boys above the metal box shifted, their movements setting you on edge. Eyeing the boy in front of you suspiciously, you asked, “No one here remembers? Just like me?”

He nodded, taking a small step towards you. You flinched back, breath halting to a gasp, bringing the hammer back up to deter him.

“Ay, woah! Relax!” he exclaimed, raising his hands to protect his face. The boys above moved into defensive positions, ready to swoop in to help as they eyed you like you were a wild animal. “It’s okay, alright? Lookit, I’m Nick. This is Alby,” he pointed up at the dark-skinned boy, then pointing to the tall, freckled one, “and Gally.” He turned to face you fully, back bent a little to lessen the height difference, brown eyes piercing through you. “I promise, ain’t no one here gonna touch you. What’s your name?”

You tried to slow your panicked breathing, managing to calm yourself before stammering out, “Y/N. My-my name, i-it’s Y/N.”

Nick nodded encouragingly, giving you a small, reassuring smile. “Hey, Y/N. You’re safe here, ‘kay? Gimme me the hammer. We ain’t gonna lay a finger on you. You got my word.”

He offered his hand up, showing you it was empty before holding it out. A peace offering. You stood there, for a moment, weighing your options. He hadn’t actually made an attempt to hurt you, besides unintentionally scaring you half to death. If what he said was true, he’d been through the same exact thing as you. Deciding to trust him, at least for the time being, you crept forward and laid the hammer in his hand hesitantly, letting go when he curled his hand it. He slowly lifted it out to his side and dropped it to the ground with a clang. You felt yourself relax once he let go of it, seeing Alby and Gally slump a little as well in the corner of your vision.

“We gotta get you outta this klunkin’ Box, huh?” Nick said, trying to break the tension. You nodded in agreement, and he gave you a small smile. He looked to you for permission to touch your shoulder and you nodded again, body tense as you let him guide you over to one of the walls where Gally and Alby were standing. “I’m gonna hav’ta lift you.”

You stiffened a little at the thought of him touching you, but ultimately let him, knowing full well you couldn’t drag yourself out, the walls too high up for you. He lifted your body, and Gally reached down, one hand gripping your arm while the other wound around your waist, pulling you up with ease.

He set you down in front of him, and you looked up to his face as he towered over you. His green-blue eyes bored into you, and you stood there, transfixed and a little anxious. A smirk crept across his face and he patted your shoulder, and due to your proximity to his body, you could feel the timbre of his voice in his chest as he said, “Welcome to the Glade, Greenie.”

@weekendswithgoodfriends , @randomblog289848 , @serpent-princess , @bluesprings18 , @apps99199 , @hernandofuentes , @mrsbarness , @rebekxhmikaelson , @weyheycraicey , @haleyyc , @neewtmas , @thevalkyriee

#gally #gally imagine #gally x reader #the maze runner #the maze runner imagine #imagine #tmr #tmr imagine #reader insert

[couldnt-think-of-a-funny-name]

listen... i miss gmw. gimme a lil something something bout the kids' college graduations?? maybe baby penny is sick all over Farkle's diploma and it's ruined for framing and Jennifer can't BELIEVE the AUDACITY of this infant CHILD and maybe joshaya are running late late late late bc whoops impromptu trip to denmark on smthg and the plane was delayed but FSCK WE GOTTA GRADUATE or something. idk. what i do know is that i love ur blog and riarkle, in that order xxxx

You sent this in like maybe a week or so ago and I’ve been ignoring it in fear of becoming Trash once more but I just realized that it’s Riley’s birthday and life is a nightmare so the Trash Is Unleashed™

Okay so Maya stayed in New York for college as we know, but Riley and Farkle fucked off away to some Ivy League out of state

You readers can put them wherever your pretty little hearts desire, I personally like the thought of them in Boston (and I feel like it’d be a nice little circle since Feeny’s from Boston let me live)

But anyway, they’ve stayed as close as ever!!! Time and distance have no power over them!!! We know this!!!

Like we’re talking facetiming, constant texting, a group chat with memes they can’t explain to anyone else, phone calls, they all know what’s up with each other constantly

For the record they are still in touch with Zay, Smackle and Lucas but it’s just like. not CONSTANT communication you know. Like they’re group chat still lives but it’s college + Riley and Farkle have a kid so they’re all busy

But anyway

So Riley’s got her astrophysics and journalism courses aced, Farkle’s fully set to go into politics, and Maya’s art major is done with.

And you know. Our fav ot3 has been together most of their lives. They graduated middle school and high school together and they couldn’t wait to see each other graduate college

But…they were blindsided

No one had ever suspected their colleges would have the audacity to schedule their graduations on the same day

Does Riley pull a Topanga and try to fight her schools dean??? Absolutely 

Does it work? Absolutely not

So now the ENTIRE family is stressed, because most of the Matthews consider Maya part of the family, so does Minkus, Shawn can’t see his goddaughter graduate and Josh is left with the delima of “Girlfriend vs Niece”. They’re all freaking out like holy shit

Riley and Maya are just….in Full Dramatics about this

We’re talking waxing Shakespearean sonnets about the Universe™ trying to tear them apart. They make their way back to all that Sun and the Moon symbolism bullshit

After a literal week of this Farkle is TIRED

Wakes up to his four year old telling him “Mommy’s wearing a lot of eyeliner and said the world is a dark and spiteful place that doesn’t want her and Auntie Maya together and that every moment they share is in blatant defiance of fate. What’s that mean?” and this poor guy is just like,,,,,,for fucks sake,

Like obviously he wants to see Maya graduate too!!! They’re best friends!!! But these girls are EXAHUSTING him lmao

So he has a Plan, but he also knows how his Plans usually go, so he just gives tf in and calls his dad to handle it lmao

Meanwhile: Joshua

Who has just been….literally screaming nonstop since this drama unfolded

Riley’s his BLOOD, even though they’re uncle-niece they have more of a close sibling relationship

But he literally has a ring ready and waiting for Maya!!! 

And the boy is a fucking Matthews so of course HE’S in dramatic throws about this predicament 

He calls Cory for advice and Cory is like “You’re going to Maya’s because you love her and I’m not paying for your fucking flight to Boston” lmao

So it ends up with like. Katy, Shawn, Turner, Josh (+ his four bandmates), and Zay (bc he’s in the city and Broke), and Ava end up going to Maya’s ceremony 

With Cory, Topanga, Stuart, Amy, Alan, Eric, Auggie, Smackle and Feeny going to Riley and Farkle’s ceremony

Jack couldn’t get off work and Doesn’t Super Care and Morgan’s in Europe for work so they’re unfortunately off the list

They forgot to invite  Lucas didnt want anymore choosing between the girls bullshit couldn’t make the trip because of work lol

So anyway: Farkle’s Plan that was funded by Stuart? 

Absolutely got remote controlled robots so they could keep up a video call for both ceremonies 

You know damn well what I mean

Cory thinks this is absolutely the funniest fucking thing he’s ever heard of

Eric thinks this is a sign of the impending Robot Wars™

The girls are still massively upset and think Farkle’s a fucking dork but they’re very touched and love him yadayada so this calms them down a bit

But anyway like, we get to the big graduation day and like….disasters, disasters all around

Josh’s Stoner Friend™ keeps knocking into the damn robot and almost breaks it like thirty times in an hour

Eric is giving the robot at Riley and Farkle’s site a wide berth with suspicious eyes

Auggie, Cory and Penny are all suspiciously sick but are trying to power through the ceremony 

All the other students and people attending these graduations…..you know these whackjobs are getting looks. Some assholes in the crowd keep throwing stuff at the robots

Shawn and Katy are making a HUGE SCENE crying hysterically we all know they would

Jennifer makes a surprise, dramatic appearance at Farkle’s graduation

We’re talking pulling up in a limo, emerging in slow motion, wearing a glittering black evening gown, elbow length black satin gloves, stilettos and a huge hat with peacock feathers on it, making a show of searching the crowds before spotting him (standing directly in front of her) before throwing out her arms and screeching “My baby-!”

Farkle’s like ‘We literally have not spoken in at least six years will you please get the fuck out of here’

She does not, in fact, get the fuck out of there so Topanga is now on duty to make sure she and Stuart don’t get into a fight and ruin this for the kids asdfgj

Feeny keeps fucking falling asleep bc he’s old and doesn’t care about the guest speakers but he SNORES WORRINGLY LOUDLY

Students aren’t technically allowed to have devices™ out during the ceremonies so Riley and Farkle and Maya are trying so hard to be discrete as the watch the feed from each other’s graduations 

They literally end up paying more attention to each other’s graduations than their own lmao

Josh’s bandmates and Zay are all being the rowdiest fucking audience members possible like they’re all those assholes that bring noise makers and scream and clap at random intervals

Stuart and Jen keep shooting each other withering glares and trading insults as Topanga shushes them

Penny, Auggie, and Cory are just feeling more and more like Literal Death the longer this drags on 

Maya finally goes up to get her diploma and Katy literally faints

Riley and Farkle start cheering bc yay Maya!!! Until they remember they’re at their own ceremony and there is LITERALLY A SPEECH HAPPENING SO THEY’RE SCREAMING INTO THE QUIET AND INTERRUPTING EVERYTHING

Get glared back into submission but Maya’s laughing at them 

Maya’s graduation ends soonish after that but the other one is DRAGGING ON STILL so everyone is like crowed around trying to watch on Maya’s tiny screen lol

When the speech finally ends Smackle’s muttering about how everything said was factually incorrect 

Stuart and Jen are still antagonizing each other

Amy and Alan are taking enough pictures to blind people with the flash

So Riley gets called up for her diploma first right

Trips

Hard enough to fall off the fucking stage

Had to be helped back up by memebers of the band

Gets back on stage and gets her diploma

Falls again coming down

Amy and Topanga are s c re a m i ng and Maya is literally crying from the effort it takes to not laugh

Jen’s making obnoxious comments about who her son was ‘trapped’ by and Penny wants to know what that means and Stuart is prepared to stab Jen if she bothers to answer

Riley’s literally off to the side getting looked at by a medic when Farkle goes up for his diploma

He gets it fine enough but coming downstage he’s overcome with the urge to do ‘thank you I am farkle’

he didn’t realize the student that was called up after him was right behind him

punches this kid in the face, he falls

the person behind them falls

a fcucking domino effect of ivy league graduates 

Eric is literally crying from laughter watching this. So are his fucking bodyguards like they broke character bc this scene was Too Much

Feeny is back to snoring

The New York crowd is loosing their fucking minds

Farkle’s rushing back to his seat and Jen stands up to get his attention to Yell at him for being embarrassing and

Penny just fucking projectile vomits all over her

She’s SCREAMING

Cory opens his mouth to apologize and explain that she’s been sick and HE PUKES. WHICH SETS AUGGIE OFF

EVERYONES SCREAMING 

Listen it was a huge crowd but three people projectile vomiting is gonna cause a STIR

People are rushing away and it’s a whole mess of a scene

The nyc crowd is Alive watching this all unfold 

Eventually the ceremony ends and Riley and Farkle lowkey lock theirselves in their apartment for the rest of the night

Everyone thinks they’re just embarrassed but they’re fucking cracking up hysterically like it took two hours to give Penny a bath because they couldn’t catch their breath

At some point they settle down a bit and call Maya and the three of them spend the rest of their night drowning in nostalgia 

This is messy as fuck but I’m out of practice anyway

^ me when I think about gmw these days

#gmw #riarkle #maya hart #riley matthews #farkle minkus #asks #molly mumbles #this is So Bad I'm sorry #I had to rush it #bc food #but hope someone enjoyed #lol

[ahri-fanfic]

: Ahri VS Jay - SHOWDOWN

It was a dark and snowy night. Ahri had been bored, so bored, you wouldn’t believe it. She had been there together in the room with Ray, Payton, gabe and jon. Normally they could perfectly entertain each other, but not this time. And to make matters worse, it was almost impossible to go to town. It was too snowy, too dark.

“Urgh,” said Ray, “I wish Jay would say something. At least we’d have something to do.” Payton agreed, “I agree,” she said and throwing her mobile phone at the wall, just to catch it again when it bounced off. “Uuuurgh,” she then said as well, because she agreed with Ray, “Don’t you know anything we can do, Ahri?” .

Ahri’s gaze went down the room, past a teddy Bear and a stack of g-strings. Then Her eye fell onto a lone empty bottle  they had used the evening before.

I know,” said Ahri, “How about we play...............spin...the....BOTTLE!”

“What a superb idea” “Oh yeah!” Jon and Gabe also peaked up “Yeaaaah!”

So they all sat down and Ahri took the bottle first. Hilariously, it landed on Gabe, but Ahri thought Gabe was a bit too creepy and really didn't want to kiss the man. She hoped the others might have mistook it for landing on Payton, but judging by the howls of laughter and the rising anticipation in the room, they probably didn't.

"But but dont you all see it really landed on Payton?" "Loool no, u should kiss Gabe," said Payton. The fact that she said it made Ahri feel so embaressed.

But then, all of a sudden.... Jay commented on Ahri’s fan fiction about everyone !. We all simultaneously turned our heads and had a scrubs moment were we stared off and imagined ways to punish jay. ( a flash back pay has ) Payton enters the scene, but whats this? Ray is there too.

"Do you remember that thing that happened a few months ago? The one that seemed like it would split us apart forever, but instead brought us closer then ever? That brought us......to each-other?"

"The time with .. the rumours ?" "Yes!" "Oh, yes right "

"Its hard to believe what happened isn't it? What happened and what it led to" "Yes my queen" said Ray, giving Payton a  kiss. "Now that Ive got it again I will fight my hardest to keep it." "It was pretty life changing."

So now we all snap out of our own thoughts and the camera of our minds draws back to the world we know now. But before everyone got themselves ready to go after Jay, there was one thing Ahri wanted to take care of. She had to introduce Ray to her parents. Ahri had been thinking for it for a longtime. Her parents were the worst. cruel, pathetic and sexist. But Ahri had told them that she finally got engaged and that she would introduce Ray to the family before they could meet her fiance. a desperate attempt at the hope ray could help them see things differently. if he couldnt do it , no one could. "Uuuuurgh," Ahri said "I can handle it," Ray said "You don't know my parents!" Ahri said. "I know, but if they created you, then they can't be that bad," Ray spoke wisely. "I knoooooow but it's still...uuuuuurgh." "We'll just go there and I'll impress them," Ray said very manly Then Ahri suggested he bring payton so we had more support. She felt safer with them there. Ahri knew that whatever would happen, pay would protect her.

The day of the dinner had come. Ahri , Ray and pay took an uber to her parents. They came into a dining room and the table had already been set. "Ah, you've finally arrived," Ahri's mom said and she looked at Ray, "You're late." "It wasn't her fault," pay said as protective of Ahri as she was. "It was the weather." "Sure... sure..." Mom said and she went back to the kitchen. "Wow," Ahri said, "she didn't even shake your hands." "Oh well," Ray said seeming unfazed. Oh gosh, that nonchalant way. Exactly the reason why Ahri had asked him along. Ahri was busy swooning over her fiancé when her dad came in. "Boy," dad said and stared at Ray. Ray shook his hand politely. "Ah, you're here too," dad said to Ahri and pay, "Help your mother out, it's time that the men have a conversation." "uuuuuurgh," Ahri said and went into the kitchen dragging pay along. Then Ahri's mother made her do all sorts of annoying useless jobs. After all, as mom said, people like them were inherently used to these sorts of things. Then dinner came. Ahri was told to take the food in while mom and dad sat down. pay wasn't even allowed to see where Ray went off to. Just before she carried in the first plate of food, she felt something weird. Like a cross wire went down her back, tingling all along the way down. Something was off, but Ahri was still too annoyed with her parents!

Meanwhile, back at their house, gabe and jon were enjoying each-others company. As the narrator, I will respect their privacy and not specify how.

Ahri carried in the meal. But no one was there. Instead, at the end of the table, sat Jay!

Jay laughed at her, "My my, that apron makes your tits look huge !" Ahri threw down the meal and looked around anxiously for someone, anyone. Not only was Jay going to feel the fullest extend of Ahri's righteous fury, Ahri could also unleash her frustration with her parents !

She threw the dish at Jay like a Frisbee. But as it was about to hit him, he stepped just out of the way ! "If you want to see your parents again," Jay said, "come to my Apartment" Ahri felt conflicted. On one hand, Ahri hated her parents, on the other, she wasnt sure if her friends where with them. Ray came in and said: "We should save your parents." "You guys are here ! we have more important things to worry about he found out where my parents live ? was he watching our messages ?," Ahri said. "No he shouldnt be able to unless ... that fan fic really set him over the edge ? .. he is a loose canon." said rain. "your right. he probably would." pay chimed in. -- -- --

Jay: what do you mean, it's over ?! it cant be ! Ahri: No No, back into your casket! Jay: Grrrr. You will never get me in my box. I am too large and too sexy! Ahri: you would if i told you it was attached to an under-aged girl. Jay: but.. cant you just send me some pics ?! Ahri: Noooo! Whats wrong with you !? Jay: life isn't worth living without being able to psychologically damage people !. Ahri: OK, Ur right, life isn't worth living when your that far gone ”. ray and pay walk into the creepy alleyway after hearing things get loud from the car. Ray: you need to leave us all alone its not worth it to us ! Jay: huh ;^_^; .. why ?, so you get to be happy with your girl ? and i get nothing ? .. Payton: BAKAI !! ". pay runs at jay punching him and knocking him to the ground. Ahri: PAY ! Ray: awww hell naww ". rain grabs pay and pushes her towards ahri , grabbing jay by the shirt and dragging him around a corner .   Ray winked at Ahri, " go get your parents "  . But Payton was all hot 'n ready to kill jay , Ahri thought she better do something quickly. So Ahri pecked Payton on her cheek and looked her in the eyes. " come on he'll be fine , we can help by getting this done . pay and ahri dash off towards the sounds of banging in the distance. " there ! i see them i'll untie them head back to ray ", ahri exclaimed smiling at pay . Ahri caught up with pay quickly and they jogged back to rain . " where are your parents ?, are they okay ? " ahri responded softly but audibly . " it doesnt matter , theyll be fine lets just get home safe ". with that they didnt talk again until they arrived back at the alleyway and saw ray just standing there a smile on his face . pay ran into his arms smiling and gave him a kiss , then punched him in the stomach . " that was for worrying me you bakai !! ". rain just smiled at her and put her on his back so  he could carry her, we could all go home. ray day dreamed on his way home with pays arms wrapped around his neck. "arg...that was good " said Ray. "yes, yes it was" said Payton. "You seemed a little distracted near the end though. Not your normal energetic self" "yes...sorry about that. I was thinking back to eight months ago, when I first realized my feelings for you even though I didn't know it at the time. Its what opened my eyes to what I felt all along ".

"And our love grew together from that moment to today"

"I love you Payton my tsundere". "I love you too Ray -my demi god.

And they smiled at each-other, as we fade out into the sunset. So they defeated Jay and everyone was satisfied!

Author: well, looks like they'll be busy for a little while. Jay: Nooo its a lie. Gimme it!

The end

#fan fic #just a girl writing fan fiction