It's a lot of good memories

gorgeous

bella ramsey x fem!reader

synopsis: your co-stars just can’t keep their mouths shut about your celebrity crush

guys i fr don’t know if i am back but i love bella so here is this for you all much love <3

“okay, guys, let’s answer some questions!” your co-star, rocky, called from the couch where his phone was propped up on the cushion.

something you and your costars loved to do was go live on instagram. it was a good way to promo your movie and interact with fans. plus it was really fun to goof around with your friends.

cole pushed himself up from the floor and walked over to where you were on the chair, just in frame. he sat on the arm and slung his body over yours. “let’s see, got any good ones?”

“favorite scene to shoot?” rocky asked, squinting his eyes to see.

“guys we can’t spoil the movie!” you laughed along with the others. “but let me just say, any scene with these two is the best.”

cole leaned forward to see. “celeb crush?”

“mines zendaya. tom’s a lucky, lucky man.” rocky shook his head in sadness, all whilest smiling.

“i don’t have one,” you responded as cole and rocky looked shocked.

“uhm, yes you do!” cole yelled.

rocky immediately snitched. “she loooves the last of us, especially when ellie-”

“okay!” you yelled over top of them, “but we all know cole loves emma stone! maybe a little too much.”

“hey!” cole responded, “gwen stacy was my first ever crush! i love emma stone!”

the topic moved forward from there, but little did you know the fans did not.

it didn’t take long for ship edits, tags, and more to be spread across all of social media. as soon as the love ended, it was all you could see. you just hoped that bella wouldn’t see.

-

the night of the infamous golden globes finally arrived. you did your best to work with your stylist on your look. both co-stats thought you looked drop dead amazing, so things were going pretty well.

the press was the fun part. doing interviews was so much fun. sometimes there were challenges or games.

“so, miss l/n, anything you can say about the movie?” your interviewer asked.

“sadly nothing i can say would be acceptable. there’s so many spoilers! this movie has so many twists it’s hard to keep up.” you smiled with a giggle.

your interviewer laughed. “so, on a more personal note, let’s talk love.”

“well, there’s no love here. i’m completely and utterly single, as sad as that is,” you made a tear drop fall down your face with your finger.

“well i hear a special someone is here tonight, bella ramsey would sure be a nice fit for you!”

of course this would happen.

“psh, bella would not be interested in me.”

“are you sure? didn’t you see their tiktok comment?”

tiktok comment? what comment? as far as you knew, you’d checked every edit bella was tagged in, but of course that wasn’t possible. there were hundreds.

the interviewer passed you a phone with the comment up.

@/bellaramsey: 😍

the edit wasn’t even of your comment, just a normal, plain old edit of you.

“it seems bella maybe takes more notice to you than you assume.” the interviewer said.

the interview ended and as soon as you found rocky and cole, you told them what happened. they also looked shocked but encouraged you to follow it through.

and of course bella would be here tonight. why wouldn’t they? the last of us was nominated..

right as you were walking in, you could hear people telling bella’s name on the carpet. as much as you wanted to look, you were being told to go sit to make room for the other celebs coming off the carpet.

you didn’t see them at the after party. you were chatting with some friends, sadie and olivia, when you saw sadie’s eyes drift behind you.

you turned around and saw bella approaching, and god, did he look amazing. their hair was in a bun, glasses, a maroon suit to go with it all. maroon was a good color for him.

“hey, y/n, it’s nice to meet you!” bella smiled, hand out. you didn’t even notice sadie and olivia walk away.

“bella, hi! yeah, it’s lovely to meet you too,”

shaking hands made you more nervous than anything ever. touching their skin was a whole new level.

“i’m sorry the last of us didn’t win tonight. it really deserved to.” you empathized, truly wishing bella had won.

“it’s alright, we’ll have many more chances i’m sure. you look stunning, may i add. literally, gorgeous.”

your face flushed at bella’s words. “oh! thank you, you look very gorgeous as well.”

“i saw your instagram live,” bella blurted out. you immediately put your face in your hands and groaned. bella was quick to grab them and remove them. “hey, no! it’s alright, no need to ruin your pretty makeup.” again, you blushed. “i just wanted to say, again, i think you’re gorgeous. incredibly, and you’re so talented and funny.”

you smiled brightly, not moving your hands from bella’s. “thank you. uh, sorry if this is forward-”

“i was thinking movies?” bella asked. “sorry, i just thought it would be more comfortable than a dinner with the paps. maybe at someone’s place, with pizza and popcorn?”

“yes, i’d love that!” you felt your insides rush with glee.

bella smiled wide, “awesome, great.”

you two stood in a brief silence, not wanting to leave each others company. “would you like to meet pedro?”

“would i?!”

D.A.M.N crew headcannons (complete with some memes bc who doesn't love those)

Freelancer used to work part time at a bookstore. They're a huge fan of romance novels. So is Damien, he'll never admit that though.

Has a stash of academic rivals to lovers under his bed in a box. (YES I STAND BY THE FACT DAMIEN IS ACADEMIC RIVALS TO LOVERS FANBOY)

Huxley grew up on like farm property and has a pet duck and golden (or some other big ass dog like a great dane or smth)

Lasko uses his air elemental power thingy to blow dry his hair. Once time Co worker walked in and got a face full of water droplets.

De(a)mons don't technically need to walk in the elegy, so they'll just float around. This led to Caelum having this cotton candy looking cloud he just floats around on. It leaves a trail of glitter everywhere it goes.

This leaves like Freelancer sweeping their their floors when Caelum comes around.

Also Caelum can walk, so sometimes he like parks the fucking cloud jumps off it and just stumbles around like a toddler. 

Co worker is fucking amazing at parallel parking. Like sometimes other D.A.M.N teachers see them parking and think "oh shit they're not gonna make it" and THEY DO PERFECTLY EVERY TIME.

Damien played tennis back in high school, It just fits.

Damien is long sighted but wears contacts cause glasses are "too much of a hassle". Lasko is both short and long sighted has circle lenses and silver frames. Coworker got him those cool looking chains and he loves them so much (its reminds him of his dnd character ^^)

Huxley loves Damien with his glasses on. He really REALLY loves it when Damien's face gets all flushed when he presses a kiss to where Dames frame meets the bridge of his nose.<3

Freelancer, Damien and Lasko are coffee drinkers. Huxley and Co worker are tea drinkers. (Caelum drink hot cocoa or milkshakes, depends on the weather.)

Damien eats chips/popcorn w fucking chopsticks bc he hates the way the dust feels on his fingers.

Lasko stares at him everytime he sees it. like a judging "wtf" kinda stare 

Gavin is actually ass at video games, but board games? Bro will destroy your ass in a game of fucking operation, embarrass your whole damn bloodline when he play uno, dishonor your damn herritage when he plays monopoly.

Gavin can tie a cherry stem w his tongue. It got tied around his piercing once and Freelancer laughed their ass off at the sight of a cherry hanging by his tongue.

They took a photo and now that photo is Freelancers homescreen.

Gavin sometimes acts like a curious child when it comes to certain things. Like being a de(a)mon he doesn't know certain things abt human technology.

Example. He likes flushing the water in the toilet, he likes the way it swirls. He loves keyboards, he loves the sound they make when you press on the keys.

Damien was a "gifted kid" skipped a grade back in like year 5

Gavin hates when people waste food, He doesn't even need to eat it just irks him.

Lasko is the person who buys books but never reads them. He has so many stacks of unread books in his apartment

Freelancer had broke their tailbone right after developing their powers.

Caelum was assigned to them bc they were yes a humanborn and yada yada, but it was mainly bc they were miserable because of the pain.

Yes, Freelancer became Caelum's charge bc of a broken tailbone.

You co-owned a coffee shop with your best friend just a few streets away from Seventeen's building, However, you weren't into mainstream media so you weren't really aware of that. Being in the city centre you knew there were idols and actresses and models galore but never really paid them any attention. You preferred the ordinary people, after all it was them who came into your cafe most often...or so you thought.

You had many regulars but your favourite was the boy with glasses who you'd nicknamed cute gamer guy. He was always polite, quiet and friendly. He'd usually stay for a few hours and he'd either read or play games on his laptop hence the nickname. You liked to read too and often discussed your latest and favourite books. When he played games you'd get stuck just watching him because he was really good. You'd stare amazed and forget you had work to be doing. You figured he must be a student of something as he often came in at odd hours and seemed like he had some time to kill. You didn't know much about him but saw him most weeks and got to know one another that way. He'd always ask about your day which you thought was nice and compliment your baking. He was cute too and your friend had long since suggested you should ask him out. You didn't want to just because you felt it might be weird. "I don't even know him! I only know he’s called Wonwoo because I put it on his coffee cup otherwise I wouldn't even know that! I don't know his age or what he does for a living! He's basically a stranger" you argued when your friend Mari brought it up again but she just rolled her eyes. "You see him pretty much every week of the year, that's more than you see your family! He is not a stranger". "True but I don't know him enough to ask him out! He could be a terrible person, or a sexist jerk or a..." you trailed off to see him standing at the counter. He was looking down at his phone and you prayed you hadn't been speaking loud enough for him to hear. You hurried forwards and smiled nervously "sorry to keep you waiting, what can I get for you?". He smiled "it's no problem, can I please get a chai tea and a brownie please Y/n?". "coming right up" you nodded and got to work. He asked you how your week had been and you asked him about his day then he took a seat with his tea and snack. "Did he hear us?" Mari asked and you shook your head "I think we got away with it". You were wrong.

As you were getting ready to close up Wonwoo came up to you "thanks for the snack, it was great as usual". You smiled "I'm glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for telling me". He nodded "I also just wanted to say...I'm 26 years old and I'm from Changwon originally. I'm a performer for a local company and I promise I'm not shady or dangerous...". You blushed "does this mean you heard our conversation?". Wonwoo nodded "I didn't mean to but I just wanted to let you know, I've been wanting to ask you out for a while and if the only thing stopping us was you not knowing my age or what I do...well I wanted to correct that". You smiled "consider it corrected". "In that case would you like to go on a date with me?" Wonwoo asked "I'm free this weekend and you can pick whatever we do". You smiled "sounds good". So the two of you exchanged numbers and agreed to meet up Saturday night. Mari was ecstatic and kept jumping up and down on your way home. "So he's 26" she said and you nodded "only 2 years older than me". "Which is an acceptable age gap" she nodded "and what did he say he does for a living again?". "He said he's a performer at a local company". "wait what does that mean?" she asked and you paused "I have no idea...I assumed he's a local singer or dancer or something. I probably should've asked. "Well that's what the date is for" she grinned. You suggested dinner and a movie and Wonwoo agreed to pick you up at your house. Mari helped you put together the perfect outfit and then you waited for Wonwoo. You were early (as always) and were sitting in your living room when a car arrived. An extremely expensive car so neither of you expected it to be here for you. Your friend sighed "I hate when cars just pull up outside our house like that! It's such a fancy car too". You nodded looking at the expensive car and wondered what it must be like to have a car like that. When the car didn't move you paused "why isn't it going? Wonwoo is going to be here soon and it might block him". Mari frowned "let's give it a second and then tell them to move". You nodded when the car door opened and who stepped out of the car but Wonwoo. "Holy shit!" your friend cried and you stared. "That can't be his car" you said but Mari laughed "well it sure looks like it seeing as he's driving it. Y/n if he has a car like that then he must be rich! I thought you said he was a performer not some sort of prince!". "That is what he said" you replied watching him come closer to the door "maybe he just inherited the car or won it as a prize". Mari smiled "well however he got it, it's glorious and you're going to ride in it!". As she said that the doorbell dinged and your friend squealed. You opened the door to find Wonwoo dressed smart-casual in a shirt and some very nice jeans. "Hi Y/n" he smiled "I've got you something" and held out some flowers. You immediately felt touched because nobody had ever bought you flowers before. "That's so kind of you thank you...let me put them inside" you said and opened the door to find your friend standing there where she'd clearly been spying on the two of you. "Wonwoo you remember my friend and business partner Mari" you said and he nodded "it's nice to see you again". "You too" she smiled "nice car by the way". Wonwoo blushed slightly "thank you...I try and take good care of it". "I bet!" Mari nodded and you elbowed her. You placed the flowers in the hall and told Mari you were leaving. "Have fun!" she called waving and Wonwoo led you to his car. You opened the door and were shocked at how nice the inside of the car was. You wouldn't trade your beaten-up old car for anything but this car was amazing! It was so spacious and comfy. You felt like you were in some sort of massage chair and the dashboard was so big and colourful. "If you're cold I can turn on the seat warmers" Wonwoo said and your eyes widened "seat warmers?". He smiled "yeah, want me to show you?". You nodded and he pressed a button "it might take a few seconds to warm up". You nodded admiring the architecture when you felt the warmth and gasped slightly "I can feel it! That's so nice". Wonwoo smiled "the temperature control is just there" pointing to a dial "so feel free to make it warmer or cooler". You nodded "cool" and tried not to act too awestruck with this space-age car. Wonwoo must've sensed your unease because he started asking you some casual questions and as you chatted you felt less nervous. You arrived at the cinema and Wonwoo parked up. As you were getting out a guy gawked at the car and you thought Wonwoo would say something but instead he put a hat on and pointedly pulled it over his face which you thought was odd considering you were going inside. "This way" he said and he led you inside keeping his head down. You bought tickets and snacks but Wonwoo didn't take his hat off until he was in the dark cinema. You chatted until the film started and then watched the film. It was a good film and was good as any cinema date could be. Wonwoo gave you free rein of the snacks and you had a cute hand-brush moment halfway through. Wonwoo laughed at all the same parts as you and you were sat quite close together without actually touching. So the night was going pretty well as you left your screen and headed to dinner. On your way out there was a big group of girls and you saw Wonwoo pull his hat down tighter. "Hey mind if we go out this way?" he asked pointing to a side door away from the crowd and you nodded, exiting around the back of the building. Wonwoo drove you to the restaurant and opened the door for you. "Table for 2" he said giving the waiter his name and the waiter nodded "of course". You'd picked a restaurant you were familiar with and smiled at the familiar sights and smells. "Have you ever been here before?" you asked Wonwoo. He nodded "yes I like it". "Me too" you smiled as the waiter told you to follow him. "My friend and I must've been here 20 times we never get the fancy table" you said pointing to the table behind their water feature which was very private and highly coveted. Every time you came it was taken and you couldn't even book it. But tonight it was empty. "Well maybe tonight will be different" Wonwoo said and sure enough the waiter took you to the table. "Here are your menus and some complimentary waters. I'll be back soon to take your drinks order" the waiter said and you turned to Wonwoo. "How did you get this table? They wouldn't even let me book it for my friend's 21st!". Wonwoo shrugged "I guess we just got lucky". You thought he wasn't telling you something but didn't say anything. The meal continued and everything was still going well. Wonwoo was very interesting and talking to him was so chill but also fun. He had an effortless quality about him, he seemed to look effortlessly good, was effortlessly funny and effortlessly nice but it wasn't annoying or forced. It was just how he was and you felt like you'd known him for ages. When Wonwoo went to the bathroom you checked your phone and saw 20 messages from Mari. You opened your phone and decided to call her instead of texting. "What happened are you okay?" You asked. "Y/n it's Wonwoo" she said and you froze "what is he a serial killer?". "What? No, he's a kpop idol! That's why he's so rich and always turns up at the cafe at odd hours! He's a successful idol and has been for years. I knew I'd seen him before". You pause "no he can't be". "He is, Google Wonwoo Seventeen and you'll see". You did and your phone was flooded with results. "Oh my god..." you said and your friend laughed "see! Y/n you're dating an idol!". You had no idea what to say but spotted Wonwoo on his way back so quickly hung up. Wonwoo smiled sitting down "would you like another drink?". You tried not to let on you knew who he was and it was surprisingly easy. The second Wonwoo sat back down things just felt normal and it made you question if this was the right Wonwoo. Maybe they were brothers or just really looked alike...until you went to leave and Wonwoo's suspicious hiding behaviour kicked in again. There were some men in black coats outside the restaurant with cameras and Wonwoo spotted them putting his hat back on. "You ready?" he asked and you nodded. "It looks a little busy so grab me if I'm moving too quickly" he said and you nodded. The second you stepped outside Wonwoo shot off, head down trying to avoid the cameramen's attention. You thought you'd made it when one of them shouted Wonwoo and they started following you. Luckily Wonwoo was in the car park and the gate closed behind you stopping them. You shot Wonwoo a look and he shrugged "some people know me from my performing". You almost laughed as that was his explanation of him being a world-famous idol. You just nodded not wanting to force him to tell you before he was ready and got in the car. Wonwoo drove you home and pulled up outside. "So I had a really good time tonight" he said and you nodded "me too I really enjoyed myself". Wonwoo smiled "great, so would you maybe like to do this again sometime?". You nodded "I would" and Wonwoo smiled "great so I'll text you..." and then he trailed off. "What?" you asked and he smiled "nothing you just look really nice in this light". You blushed slightly but smiled "you should see my view" and Wonwoo smiled. "Do I get a goodnight kiss?" you asked and were pleasantly surprised to see the boy blushing. "Of course" he nodded and leaned across to kiss you. Wonwoo was clearly a good kisser and given he was a famous idol that made sense. He probably had lots of experience in this area but you ignored that and just focused on your moment with him. When you separated you took in a breath and Wonwoo smiled "that was a pretty excellent first kiss". You smiled "I'm glad you agree, see you later Wonwoo" and got out of the car. You managed not to look back and only when you safely inside did you squeal. Wonwoo returned home to find a few calls from his publicist saying he'd been spotted downtown but they hadn't managed to get any photos. Wonwoo was relieved and his members smiled when they saw him "so how was the date with the mysterious cafe girl?" Mingyu asked. "Ahh yes the place you have banned us from" Scoups said, "it better not have been for nothing!". Wonwoo smiled "it was good...she's so funny and interesting. Not to mention pretty". "Did you kiss her?" Dk asked bluntly and Jeonghan hit him "come on this is Wonwoo we're talking about" before everyone noticed Wonwoo's reaction. He'd frozen and was purposefully staring at his feet to hide his blush. "You kissed her?" Hoshi asked and Wonwoo nodded "she asked for a goodnight kiss so I gave her one". The guys all roared with excitement and began cheering. Once they'd settled down a little bit Jun asked an important question "how did she react when you told her you were an idol". Wonwoo paused "I'm not sure...". "Why? Could you not tell how she took it?" Joshua asked and Wonwoo shook his head "no I just didn't really tell her". "Wonwoo!" Seungkwan cried and Woozi laughed "even after the cameramen chased you down the street?". "I just said people knew me from my performing". "So you didn't tell her what you did at all?" Scoups asked and Wonwoo shook his head "she asked me about work but I managed to be vague". "Well that's not going to work all the time" The8 said "if you want to see her again you have to tell her". Wonwoo sighed "I know but it was nice to date someone who had no idea what I did! A person who I knew wasn't swayed by it". The guys all knew what that felt like so agreed. When you got back from your date you were buzzing but when you woke up the next morning you felt a little different. Last night you'd gone through all the positives but this morning you began to think of the negatives. The cameras last night were just a taste of the harassment you'd receive for dating a kpop idol. There were also stalkers, hate comments on all your Instagram photos and death threats to look forward to. Not to mention you couldn't have a normal relationship. Wonwoo would work a lot and even when he wasn't you couldn't hurt go out in public. Wonwoo had to be careful where he went and you realised last night he probably loosened the rules for you. You weren't sure if that was the life you wanted. Relationships in the public eye were very challenging and that was if Wonwoo ever wanted a relationship. The internet told you the names of many girls who had uprooted their lives only to be used and thrown away by idols. What if Wonwoo did the same? He seemed nice but he was an idol, he wasn't an innocent kid. You didn't know him and he could do that to you. When you came downstairs Mari smiled "so...how does it feel the morning after? You're like freaking Cinderella or something". You chuckled awkwardly "not that great" and explained your worries. Your friend nodded "see I understand where you're coming from but I think you're worrying for nothing. For one thing, we work together so there's no way you're losing your job even if this did get out. For two, if Wonwoo was the type to throw girls away like tissues wouldn't he have asked you out the second he saw you instead of getting to know you for months?". You paused "maybe...". "Plus I've been watching videos of them and he's definitely not like that" Mari said. You frowned "but that's his stage character he could be completely different". "Based on what we've seen in the cafe I don't think so". You weren't sure but agreed to watch one Seventeen video with Mari which turned into several. You saw what she meant. In the episodes, Wonwoo seemed just like the guy you knew. Thoughtful, smart, considerate and...well hot. But you were still more cautious and all day you hovered near your phone, scared anytime it lit up. Part of you thought it would be easier if Wonwoo just bever texted you about your next date but another part of you really wanted him to text you. Your phone buzzed around dinner time and sure enough, it was from Wonwoo. "Hey Y/n I had a really great time last night and can't wait to see you again. How does next Saturday around 7 sound?". You debated over a reply for way too long but eventually just went with your gut. "Sounds perfect! See you then".

For better or worse you wanted to keep getting to know the cute gamer guy who also happened to be a world famous idol. Only time would tell if it was the best decision of your life...or the worst.

____________

This is a three part series and you can read the other parts here: Part Two and Part Three.

for the celebration could you do stray kids reactions to idol!reader’s comeback changing to a darker concept? thank you!!

i combined these bc they were similar, hope that's ok <3

i loved writing this tbh, it was really fun. i hope you enjoy all of them!

pairing: f!idol!reader x skz

warnings: most of these are a lil suggestive, nothing explicit tho, female reader

wc: 3.8k

Chan

When the two of you first got together, you decided that you would keep comeback concepts as a surprise. While there was no avoiding hearing the songs from somewhere since you trained in the same building, it was a fun game for you to try to figure out what performances would be like. It also helped the two of you talk about things other than work, because honestly, it’s hard to be an idol sometimes; a break where it’s just the two of you, no discussions of fans or the industry, are the best moments you have.

You are generally a very bubbly person; he usually compares your personality to an explosion of color and flowers, and he has yet to talk to someone who disagrees. This is why his jaw drops as soon as he sees you get up on stage for the performance. You’re wearing a black dress, your makeup is pretty dark and defines your features in a way he’s not used to. That said, you look amazing.

The way you move on stage surprises him infinitely more. Gone are the cute bounces you usually perform, replaced with body rolls and slow, sensual movements. He thanks whatever coincidence led to him being backstage during your performance, because he’s certain that he wouldn’t have been able to control his expression even if he tried. He’s just so in love with you, and you’re showing him new things about his favorite person on the planet - how is he supposed to not look at you with all the love in the world?

As soon as you come backstage, he envelops you in the tightest hug he possibly can give you. You giggle at the show of affection, squeezing him right back. He releases you sooner than he would like, because even though there are no cameras around, some staff members have been known to talk.

“Did you like it?” you ask sweetly, and the change from your stage persona back to your usual self is a shock to Chan’s system - a welcome one, though, because you’re the one he loves.

“I absolutely loved it, darling,” he tells you softly, interlacing his fingers with yours. “It was so different! I didn’t know you could act like that.”

“Mm, there are many things you don’t know about me yet,” you tease.

It makes Chan’s heart skip a beat; he can’t wait for the day he finally knows every single thing about you.

Minho

Minho being a music show MC is both a blessing and a curse. He loves meeting people, he loves getting to see so many great performances, and he loves the fact that when your group has a comeback, he sees you more often than ever. Usually, your concepts are so cute and lovely he can’t help but smile, which is fine - he’s supposed to smile for the camera, anyway. The curse only strikes now, when he has to interview you before your performance looking like an absolute vixen.

“Wow, you guys look incredible,” his co-host tells your group, and you all smile and bow at the compliment.

The way you’re smiling is messing with his head, because how in the world is he supposed to connect your usual sweet personality with the way you’re dressed? You look like a maneater, and while he can’t say he’s complaining in general, it’s definitely not easy for him to resist looking like he wants to devour you. Maybe because he does.

“Your concepts are usually very refreshing and innocent,” Minho begins. He has to follow the script, afterall. “This concept of yours is kind of surprising.”

The leader of your group smiles brightly. “Yes, it is a bit of a difference, but we all enjoy it a lot, I think.”

As soon as your boyfriend hears your laugh, he struggles ten times as much to not look at you. He can’t help it, you’re like a magnet to him. He may not be very touchy in public, but if there’s anything that describes him, it’s that he’s completely obsessed with you. The two of you are the only ones who know, but he doesn’t mind that much, and he doesn’t think you do either.

The interview is over, and he’s relieved at first, but then he sees you dance and he doesn’t know how he’s supposed to keep going. You’re a great dancer, you always have been, but he’s never seen you dance like this and it’s absolutely destroying him. Fuel is added to the fire roaring inside him when some loser a guy calls out how much he loves you from the crowd.

Minho needs you to know how much he loves seeing you like that. After the show he tells you with words, but he also shows you with his actions. He can’t bring himself to detach from you for even a second, and his compliments for your dancing are endless. He’s not usually that vocal about it, but he knows this concept has been worrying you for a while, and he will give his girl what she needs; not doing so isn’t an option in his world.

Changbin

Changbin has alarms set on his phone for every single piece of material that will be released as part of your promotions. Needless to say, the first concept photo he sees makes him absolutely lose his mind. He calls you immediately, and prays to whatever higher power who might be listening that you will pick up. His efforts aren’t in vain, it seems, as you pick up on the fourth ring.

“Baby, hi–”

“You cannot  be serious,” he immediately yells in his loud-ass voice. You pull the phone away from you, stretching it as far away as possible to avoid hearing loss. “How the hell am I supposed to survive this comeback?! You could have at least warned a guy, oh my god.”

You listen to him rant for a few minutes, giggling every so often and attempting to get a word in. You fail, obviously. After a while, though, he starts to calm down. He’s breathing heavily, which makes you laugh even more despite your cheeks and sides already hurting from laughing so much.

“Baby,” you start, and he sighs deeply but doesn’t interrupt you again, so you continue. “Hi. I missed you. I hope you’re having a good day. Thank you for the compliments, my love, I’m really glad you enjoyed the image!”

Upon hearing your words, Changbin doesn’t know what to do. He’s still overwhelmed with your concept photos, the dark and sultry look something he won’t soon forget, but then you’re so sweet and lovely it makes his head spin. He just sputters for a second, and you gently remind him to breathe through an airy laugh. He heeds your advice.

“Sweetheart,” he says slowly once he’s composed himself.

“Yes?”

“I love you. I love you so much. Please make time to come see me today? I might even skip the gym, as long as it gives me more time with you.”

The crazy part is that he’s so serious when he says it. Did he skip going to the gym when Jeongin asked him to help him build furniture? No. Did he skip the gym to help Yongbok show his childhood friend around Seoul? No, he joined them late and the two of them got lost. Would he skip going to the gym simply so he could hug you and hide his face in your neck for a few hours? Abso-fucking-lutely.

“Binnie, that’s so sweet,” you coo, and he can imagine your wide, glassy eyes, so thankful to him for offering such a thing. He melts without even seeing it. “I was thinking I could join you though? I know you don’t like missing it.”

And if it takes him another 15 minutes to screw his head on straight because he can’t possibly love you any more than he already does, you don’t mention it; because you’re perfect for him.

Hyunjin

Hyunjin knows that he is being filmed by fans, and that’s most likely the only reason he hasn’t sprinted onto the stage to kiss you senseless yet. Emphasis on yet, because he honestly can’t guarantee that it won’t happen. Chan is keeping an eye on him, though, so he considers himself likely to be stopped before he traumatizes his members and shocks the entire world.

You’re dancing so well, and your voice is so sultry, and your makeup is absolutely perfect. What is a man supposed to do? He can’t look at you too much, he can’t look too impressed or interested, but if he doesn’t do something he’s sure he will explode. Minho, that little shit, is grinning at him and wriggling his eyebrows. He knows this is hard for his younger friend, just as it would be for him if his girlfriend did something like that.

All of the boys are cheering, wowing, and making an absolute spectacle over the performance; after all, it’s very on brand for them to enjoy performances in this way. It also helps mask some of Hyunjin’s fascination, but he’s aware he needs to be careful. Your groups are openly friends, so he can get away with a lot, and he couldn’t be more grateful. He’s so sure there would be dating rumors sooner or later, because damn does he suck at acting unbothered, but he can’t bring himself to care. He’ll cross that bridge when he gets to it.

In the bridge of the song, you are in the center. Hyunjin has never been more captivated than right now, watching you slide slowly onto your knees on the floor, legs spread wide so it looks like you’re straddling an invisible figure beneath you. Just that would have been enough, but the way your voice is so husky and sensual makes him gulp out loud. He spirals further when you send a wink into the audience, and while its target is very ambiguous, he knows it’s for him.

He hears his members gasp and cheer, yelling about how you’re tearing it up, but he barely registers it even though he agrees fully. His ears are ringing, his hands trembling, and he’s actually sweating. What the fuck was happening?!

After the show, both groups meet up to grab dinner together. You decided to keep the makeup on, and Hyunjin doesn’t know whether he should be cursing or thanking you for your decision. You look so beautiful, but he is quite literally unable to function around you when you look like that. The complete dichotomy of your personality to the stage concept puts the nail in the coffin for him.

“Please,” he whispers in your ear as soon as you are a small distance away from the others. “Please let’s leave. Let’s go home.”

“Needy, are we?” you chuckle teasingly, but you don’t disagree. “We can go home. I don’t have the stage outfit though, sorry.” You wink.

Even the thought of your short skirt makes him groan in absolute despair. He’s so fucking lucky to have you.

Jisung

Jisung is live on YouTube when someone in the chat finally mentions your group’s comeback and the music video. He says he hasn’t had time to watch it yet, which obviously prompts every single person watching to spam him, asking him to react to the video live. All according to his plan.

Except maybe it wasn’t a very good plan. He had been avoiding all the spoilers, going so far as refusing to see you for the week leading up to the release date just to not accidentally hear you hum something and ruin the experience for him. The staff sitting behind the camera makes sure to send him a warning look before he starts the video, and he sends them a reassuring one in return.

He shouldn’t have been so overly confident, because wow. You look absolutely lethal, and his mouth waters without his permission. He tries his best to keep his expression at a solid mildly entertained level, but it’s so hard to not explode into cheers and yells - especially whenever you come onto the screen. He keeps his outbursts as minimal as possible, only exclaiming in the first chorus and the bridge. Not too suspicious, considering his usual reactions to performances.

The regret sets in even deeper when the video is over and he realizes that he can’t watch it over and over again. He puts on a brave face and gets through the rest of the livestream, chatting with fans and telling funny anecdotes from the dorms. He doesn’t think anyone suspects anything, and when the staff member tells him he did well after the live ends he decides to not worry about it.

He finally pulls up the video again, and admires it in its entirety once more before going through specifically your parts. The song is sexy, painfully so, and he doesn’t know how to act around you after this. His normally cute, somewhat shy girlfriend is staring into the camera as if she’s going to eat it alive, and it’s doing things to him.

It’s less than half an hour after the live ended when you send him a text, teasing him about his reaction to the video. Others don’t know him that well, but you? You can tell at a single glance that he has no idea how to feel about your appearance in the video. It’s kind of fun to have him be the shy one for once, but you tell yourself you won’t torture him too much.

As soon as your text reaches him, your poor boyfriend is scrambling to call you as fast as he can; he can’t wait to absolutely gush about the video, even though it most likely will consist of incoherent rambling for the most part. It also probably won’t help with how desperate he is to see you, but he can’t bring himself to care right now.

“That was fast,” you chuckle on the other end as soon as you pick up. “You okay?”

“It’s so good!” Jisung yells without an ounce of shame. “I literally- you- I’ve never seen you like this before, and that’s an atrocity. It’s not fair that everyone else gets to see you like that, too!”

You hear the whine in his voice and giggle a little - you make sure your schedule is free so he can come see you later tonight.

Felix

You had hinted to Felix that the comeback was going to be very different to what you and your group usually did, but this? Completely unexpected.

You looked so fierce with your eye makeup dark and heavy, your lips stained a dark red. He almost couldn’t recognize you on stage, but of course he did - you were the love of his life, after all. He absolutely loved the song, he loved getting to see you confidently complete the choreography with a smug smile on your face.

The only problem, really, was the fact that he was watching your comeback from the dorms. He wanted to get his hands on you, crush you in the tightest hug and tell you how fucking amazing you are and how well you’re doing, but he can’t. Stupid schedules. On the upside, since no fans or cameras are around to see him, he’s free to lose his mind as much as he pleases. And boy, is he.

He watches the video fifteen times in a row. Seungmin comes out of his room to check what the hell Felix is even watching, only to laugh mockingly when he spots the poor man’s girlfriend looking like the complete opposite of what she usually does, in a very good way of course. He decides he can’t blame him and just pats him on the shoulder reassuringly. Felix hasn’t closed his mouth since the first time he saw you on the stage.

love of my life: did you watch it?

Fuck, he forgot to text you. He wanted to, he had planned to, but the shock of the performance still hadn’t left him. He gripped his phone tightly, hands shaking and fingers refusing to cooperate as he attempted to reply.

sunshine <3: of course I did! baby that was amazing, oh my god!

He knew you wouldn’t be able to call him right then, too much probably going on backstage for you to be able to have a private conversation, but he wanted to hear your voice so badly. He somehow couldn’t connect you, his sweet and loving girlfriend, with the absolute minx that he just saw on stage. God, how he loved it.

Seungmin

“Hey Min,” you grin at Seungmin as you enter his dorm. He smiles and hugs you tight in greeting. “Did you see the broadcast?”

“I did,” he hums back, letting you go and smiling softly again. “You did amazing.”

“Thank you,” you smile back.

You can’t help but feel a tad bit disappointed, though. Seungmin never really lets on to what he’s feeling, as evidenced by whatever kind of relationship limbo you’re currently in. Do you guys kiss, cuddle, and do more explicit things together? Yes, very often. Has he asked you to be his girlfriend? No. You would do it instead, but you don’t actually know how he feels about you - kissing and all seems to interest him, but he’s never outright told you whether he likes you or not.

You had kind of been hoping that this new, very different concept for your comeback would have somehow flipped a switch. You had never been so heavily made up for a stage, never worn lipstick so dark or clothes so tight and revealing. You had wanted some kind of reaction, at least, but you didn’t even get that. Oh well. At least he had invited you over, so that’s good, you suppose.

“I figured maybe we could watch a movie together? You must be tired,” Seungmin says, breaking you out of your thoughts. “You can even pick.”

You fake gasp, your hands pressing against your chest in reverent surprise. “Me? THE Kim Seungmin will allow me to pick the movie? Why I just-”

He shuts you up with a kiss and you giggle. He smiles, too. Then he pulls you into his room by your hand, and closes the door behind you. You plop onto his bed and sigh, completely exhausted by the day. You expect to feel his weight join you on the bed, but when you don’t you open your eyes and look at the boy frozen by the door of his room.

“What?” you frown, concerned that you did something wrong.

“Uh, nothing,” he mumbles. He’s frozen for a few more seconds, and then he seems to change his mind. “Actually…” He can’t hold it in anymore. Not after that performance. Not when you look like an angel spread out on his bed. His heart hasn’t stopped racing since he saw you perform, and his head is just filled with eternal screaming.

“Yes?”

“Please be my girlfriend?” he finally asks. It’s not until then you pick up on the slight tinge of red on his cheeks, the way his breathing is quicker, and the slight tremble of his hands. “I- I wanted to ask better than this, nicer than this, but I just- the performance-”

You smile at him softly, which further cements your place in his heart, and get up from the bed to stand in front of him. You place a gentle hand against his chest, looking into his eyes before you nod. This was perfect enough for you.

Jeongin

how to stop sweating because someone is attractive

am I having a heart attack

am I in love with my best friend

This isn’t even half of what Jeongin’s been googling for the past fifteen minutes. The last one does make him pause, though; he didn’t even know he felt that way about you. Or maybe he did, and he just didn’t want to admit it to himself. You’re older than him, and somehow it has always felt so wrong to him, like he won’t be enough for you even if he were to try.

That’s why you’re so mean for doing this to him. How dare you just walk on stage in leather pants and a tight top with a plunging neckline, your face made up with the sultriest makeup he thinks he’s ever seen, and just expect him to live with that? For him to live with the knowledge of how sexy you can look? How sexy you could look for him if only he had the balls to finally ask you out?

And let’s not even talk about the new vocal techniques you were trying out. Your husky voice singing the deeper notes absolutely messed with his head. There was also a part in the song with your heavy breathing and he is sure he’s having a heart attack. Suddenly he’s revisiting the list of symptoms of a heart attack.

And then you’re calling him, and he’s yelping out loud as the picture he has on your contact pops up on his screen. The sweet, innocent look that you usually have, barely any makeup on your face and a cute yellow sundress on. Briefly, he feels like he’s dying even more because how in the world are you beautiful no matter what you wear? How do you even do it?

He finally takes a deep breath and answers the phone, trying to sound as normal as he can even when he feels like he’s perpetually short of breath.

“Hey noona,” he answers lightly, and he can see you smile prettily in his mind’s eye. He’s fucked.

“Hi Innie!” you respond happily. “Did you see the music video?”

“I did,” he responds, shutting his eyes tightly to try and block out the image of you in the video. It doesn’t work. It kind of makes it a more prominent image, actually.

“What did you think?” you ask, and your bubbly personality is giving him whiplash.

He spends a second or two trying to compose himself before he starts talking about how much he likes the song, how good you all look (emphasis on all, because he doesn’t think he could handle it if you decided to tease him for finding you beautiful) and your cool new vocal technique that he is trying his hardest not to think about.

“That’s a relief,” you laugh airily, sounding like you actually were worried about his opinion. His chest clenches. “It’s so different, I was worried I wasn’t doing good.”

He wills his heart to stop beating so stupidly fast while he tells you how there’s no need to be concerned about that. He also finally makes up his mind to ask you out some day soon, if for no other reason than maybe finally getting his heart to finally calm down around you.

a/n: i'm so sorry this took me so long, but i hope you all enjoy it nonetheless <3 school will be calming down significantly for me starting end of march, so pls be patient with me until then!

20 Questions for Fic Writers Podficcers Apparently

Tagged by @letmetellyouaboutmyfeels because she thinks she's funny. Spoiler alert, she is. <3

How many works do you have on ao3?

I have 111 atm which is such an amazing number. Look at the ones!

What's your total Ao3 word count?

80,874

What fandoms do you write podfic for?

Mostly 9-1-1, but I've dabbled in Lone Star. I also have a podfic each for both One Piece and BG3. Before I got to 9-1-1, I mainly podficced for The Magnificent Seven: 2016.

Top 5 Podfics Fics by Kudos:

[Podfic] come on, come on (turn a little faster) - My One Piece podfic leads the way! It was written by @kenbunshokus. <3

[Podfic] Leading with the Left - I'm sure you're all SHOCKED to see this one on here. @letmetellyouaboutmyfeels killed us all with this masterpiece.

[Podfic] I Hate Accidents (Except When We Went From Friends to This) - @morganofthefairies gave us oblivious idiots, and I gave you all a podfic. <3

[Podfic] Love in the Time of TikTok - This one was written by @buckttommy, and the fact that it's so high is a testament to how fucking funny she can be.

[Podfic] To Build a Home We Deconstruct Our Rituals - It's @letmetellyouaboutmyfeels back to ruin our lives again.

Do you respond to comments?

I do! I fall behind sometimes, but I always catch up! 💃

What is the podfic fic you recorded wrote with the angstiest ending?

Pretty much everything I've ever podficced ends happily or with some sort of hopeful ending. I have to go with [Podfic] the nighttime fear (see it coming from the edge of the room) which was written by @extasiswings. It's a short introspective piece with no happy ending. I don't think there is another that ends unhappily for me to even consider, honestly.

What's the podfic fic you recorded wrote with the happiest ending?

LMAO! They're pretty much all end happily, as I just said.

Do you get hate on podfics fics?

No. Never.

Do you record write smut?

Oh yeah. I've recorded plenty. 😂

Craziest crossover?

I've only recorded one, and it wasn't crazy considering it was just a 9-1-1 and 9-1-1: Lone Star crossover. It was [Podfic] These Are My Stompin' Grounds written by @benjaminrussell.

Have you ever had a podfic fic stolen?

Idek how this would be possible.

Have you ever had a podfic fic translated?

Why did Mads tag me in this game? NOT ALL OF THESE QUESTIONS CAN BE ANSWERED, MADS.

Have you co-recorded co-written a podfic fic before?

I've had people guest star, and I've participated in one multivoice podfic.

All time favorite ship?

Are you fucking kidding me? How am I supposed to choose? Probably Buddie, even though that feels wrong because it's not even my current hyperfixation. I've never created as much for another ship though.

What's a WIP you want to finish, but doubt you ever will?

Oh, I'm gonna finish all my shit. Don't you worry.

What are your podficcing writing strengths?

Fuck. Idk? I think I have good pacing and emote really well. And my editing has improved tremendously over the years.

What are your podficcing writing weaknesses?

I'm hypercritical and tend to overedit at times. To the point that it sounds unnatural. I'll also just shove entire projects to the side if I don't meet my own standards, so there are quite a few things haunting me from the WIP folder atm.

Thoughts on dialogue in another language?

I've very rarely had to record in another language. Especially in the last few years. For my Mag7 podfics, there's a bit of Spanish and a small amount French, and they're kind of embarrassing for me to listen to. I've honestly considered taking them down, but I know there are people who enjoy them. So, I never do. There's a bit of Spanish in at least two of my early 9-1-1 podfics as well. I always try my best with it, but I only speak English, so I'm always super paranoid about fucking it up. I'll avoid recording entire fics just because there are other languages in them.

First fandom you podficced for wrote in?

The Magnificent Seven: 2016

Favorite podfic fic you've recorded written?

[Podfic] Carbon Date Me, Excavate Me written by @extasiswings and @letmetellyouaboutmyfeels is my fucking baby. I've listened to that fucking podfic so many times...

But my current favorite that I listen to regularly is [Podfic] nothing is safe written by @foxflowering which is my BG3 podfic. I have other BG3 projects in my WIP folder, but I'm so self-conscious about my ability to voice those characters that they're not coming out anytime soon. I was hyperfixated af on this ship for a while though and listened to this damn podfic on repeat. Also, @letmetellyouaboutmyfeels guest starred in it, so it has a special place. <3

Tagging, with all the pressure because I refuse to suffer alone: @blackestglass @mayonnaisetoffees @brasscacti @rhea314

And then some writers, who this is actually meant for: @theyarnmaidstale @queerbuckleys @honestlydarkprincess @peridotglimmer @gayhoediaz

@homerforsure @princessfbi @sibylsleaves @rewritetheending @fleurdebeton

@hazel-athena @buckactuallys @kitkatpancakestack @buckttommy @kittykatthetacodemon

It’s me again! I loved your thoughts on Jack and Sheena! I always see so little of him and it’s always “he’s a homophobic asshole who is bad at exy and jealous of Neil for getting Kevin’s attention” but I genuinely think there’s so much more to that. I feel like he did want to be a Raven and he wants to see the mighty Kevin and Riko. Now for his personal issues with Neil I think it’s something like he hates how everyone adores Neil because he believes he’s a better player who has worked SO much harder then him. He’s memorized all the Raven exercises and pushed himself harder than anyone. He deserves to be recognized. In my personal opinion (which I can’t wait to hear your ideas on him) I believe that he hasn’t gotten away from his abusers and is still actively in a situation where he has not gotten over his problems and that’s why he’s so angry all the time. He’s an amazing player and one that stuck out to Kevin Day. He is probably so excited to meet his idols and play on a team with them. Only to be disappointed at how different it is from what he pictured. Sorry for the ramble by the way!

No need to apologize I love hearing that! It's funny to see how different people give depth to the background characters. Jack is really more of a concept for fanbase. Can't really blame people for simplifying him like this we haven't really got much to work with and sometimes people just need plot device to be mad at it's nothing personal, jack really is riko just with even less screen time and even less content lul. You will have the most fun when you wont rely on others to portray him the way you enjoy developing him, characters like this are basically fandom co owned oc's so it,s better to not get too hopeful about others creating content exactly the way you like it. But I love reading stuff like that! we have one thing in common then my jack is def disappointed upon meeting the boys , but as i sad Riko was already a success story to keep things interesting Jack will sadly get opposite of that treatment in narrative. Not everyone can or want to be helped, Foxes were not happy to meet jack , dressed red and black and referring to Riko as Raven king to other man's clear discomfort. But hey .. if Riko could go through it and be tolerable then there sure is hope for Jack .. right? Jack is the worst kind of sport fan - the one who often doe snot even attend the games instead favouring meetings few streets away fights under bridges and needles violence in name of beloved teams. I think a lot of blood got spilled in name of ravens over the 39 years the team was around they just attract people like this. Jack was perfect example of it, perfectly brainwashed by nests ideas and had not even set a foot inside, Tetsuji woudl have been proud, Riko and Kevin wan to vomit. For Riko it's first time truly seeing how brainwashed by raven propaganda people could have become. Jack life was not easy, he comes form military family, his home has set of rules written on a wall both for behaviour and for looks, Jack was not allowed to wear red not allowed to paint his eyes black or dye his hair - things many raven fans did to fit in. Jack was supposed to get drafted but due to his health conditions it would never be an option which led to his father treating him like lost cause waste of space, Jack going to military was the only worth and hope the man had for this boy. It's okay Jack never cared, getting thrown out of house meant freedom and lack of attachment no need to look back He headed to Palmetto got involved with social services this way meeting Renee when she was volunteering, and then down the line wymack. yes yes it was all planned Because now he was in foxes (fuck foxes) with Riko Riko who was much shorter than on tv. Riko who was captain of ravens, the strongest and best team, the person who never allowed other to mistreat him, fierce and dangerous, Jack wanted to be just like that<3 Sadly Riko was not all that any more. And instead of breaking it it just fuelled Jacks obsession, because with good few inches over Riko he started fantasizing about overpowering him, wouldn't this put him at the top of food chain? Jack is the reason Arron does not use slurs any more Arron would never want to sound the way this guy did when referring to Arrons brother and his boyfriend. Jack is the reason Nicky profoundly apologized to Neil and ... Matt over the things he done to them in the past and started therapy with new doctor not connected to rest of them because.... because of Jack so yeah anon I will most likely not give jack redemption or even happy end Riko is my boy for that , but it's not because i dislike him or the idea of him but because i just find him more interesting this way , he need to fill the Riko shaped slot in my doll house.

Okay in your godly parents swap au I'd love to know more about Leo, Its such an interactive concept to put him with Bellona and the fact that people don't think hes roman enough or whatever? But his still really clever and has probably saved people's asses more times than they like to admit? Love that

Also Frank as a son of Hermes is also really interesting would love to hear more about that too

You're asking about my AU? I've waited YEARS for someone to ask me about my au.

(If you get that reference I love you)

We'll start with Leo because I feel like there's more to talk about with him.

Leo is the son of Bellona and is a member of the fifth cohort. He came to Camp Jupiter after the death of his mortal mother when he was eight.His best friends are the two Praetors Piper and Jason. Now he climbed the ranks with Piper to make it to Praetor status. He never really cared about being Praetor but was just there for Piper. During war games Leo would use the traps more as pranks to the other side instead of actually fighting. With that he used a dagger. Not a sword, not a spear, not even a shield, just a measly dagger he had since he was nine. That combined with him being in the fifth cohort and a "wild child" people didn't trust him with important decisions. However, he is his mother's son and is a great strategist. People were so focused on the prank part they didn't notice Piper shadow traveling behind them.

When they finally got close to the position of Praetor they realized that only one of them could be Praetor. Many excepted a battle of some sorts to see who would become the next Praetor. To their shock (?) Leo just kinda dropped out of the running allowing his very ambitious friend to get the job. However, Leo was allowed to become a Centurion instead. During these meetings he was surprisingly serious and had amazing battle strategies and knew a lot about wars.

During the Second Titan War Leo provided a lot of helpful advice to Camp Jupiter. When he was actually on the battle field for real his dagger was probably the most lethal weapon out there. He lived up to being the son of a war goddess. When he was out there he also used those pranks he got so good at using to distract monsters. Sadly many people didn't like this tactic so he got way less credit than he deserved.

When Piper went missing he was offered the role again but he declined AGAIN. Jason was weirdly disappointed by that. He became good friends with the new comers Percy and Hazel. He was able to tell that Hazel was from the past and that there was something about him that threw her off. He went on a quest with Hazel and Nico to Alaska. Only after him coming back did people finally recognize his talents.

Now he is also apart of the Tartarus duo in this AU. He falls in with Piper and the typical Tartarus stuff happens. When he leaves the first person to welcome him back was Jason who hugged him tighter than anyone has before.

Frank's turn :)

Frank Zhang was by no means a troubled kid. He was just a kid from Canada whose mom and grandma died. Sure he picked a couple locks here and there but it was never a lock of importance. Okay maybe one time he stole something from one of the kids at his school but thats just because he stole it from someone else. And sure he rigged the glitter bomb to explode during the pep rally but it wasn't even his idea! They bullied him into doing it, plus it was the school colors so it was on theme. That put him in a school for troubled kids. Eventually he'd been in so many that they called up a distant relative of his in Nevada and sent him there. They put him into the wilderness school where he met Reyna.

Reyna also probably should not have been there but Frank was happy she was. The two became close friends along with Piper. Little did they know all their memories of Piper were fake. Now when he left with Annabeth and Silena to go back to camp he was claimed by Hermes. In this AU the Cabin 9 Curse is the Cabin 11 Curse.

The cabin counselor, Malcolm Pace, explains to Frank that every single on of their pranks have failed since Micheal died. One of these was a fire breathing dragon that has been in the works since before Micheal died. Miranda, the former counselor, was on bed rest from this dragon. Frank doesn't know how to feel about that as his weakness is his very burnable stick. He does the Leo thing and gets the dragon back to running. He gets it not breathe fire but to breathe out glitter.

During his time at camp he never felt more at home. Lacy, Malcolm, Miranda, his other siblings and the unclaimed campers are so welcoming. When he came back from his quest Miranda and Malcolm made him a counselor. The first prank he played on the camp as initiation Lacy helped.

Later on he is a bit wary of Hazel, a daughter of Vulcan and fire user, but they grow and their love story stories.

If anyone has anymore questions about any character feel free to ask! Also I'm not writing this into a fic so feel free to steal my idea-

duplicitous - a Kanej gala heist

i freaking loved this idea from our artist @bubble--berry, and their art is soooo amazing!!!! so i’m glad we got to write this! co-authored by me and @desidarling123

Inej docks The Wraith in Ravka’s port, only somewhat happy to be on land. It’s been almost a year since she’s been in Ravka, and the sight of so many joyous Grisha out and about is a bit startling. The nation’s port is busy with preparations for the Harvest Festival set to commence in a mere two days.

She’s here at Kaz’s request – though calling the letter a “request” would be like saying Jesper “mildly enjoys a game of chance.” Inej has known Kaz long enough to determine what is  a request versus what is a demand for her unique skill set. And this letter, short and to the point, had been a thinly veiled command for her to meet him at the bustling port of Udova, ready for a job. Inej knows the newly appointed Queen and her prince consort are to be at the festival –  however, that is where her knowledge starts and ends. And if there was one thing Inej didn’t miss about working with Kaz, it was his complete lack of willingness to divulge information that most would deem necessary knowledge. 

Nevertheless, her crew is a well-oiled machine, and Inej is soon ready to disembark. Many of her crew members have family in Ravka, and she’s given them an extended leave to go and visit them. Those who aren’t from Ravka have either made plans of their own or have been invited to visit their friends’ homes, so Inej is left to her own devices for the week of the festival. 

According to Kaz’s very brief letter, her identity is that of ‘Isla Rooj’, a lesser-known Mercher who has traveled overseas from a small town in order to witness the first festival under the country’s new monarch. She is to meet him at a tavern called the Ptitsa-Sinitsa, where they will be staying for the duration of the festival. As she makes her way through the busy streets, she wonders what Kaz could possibly plan to steal amidst the Ravkan festivities.

Well. That’s not exactly right. She’s got a few ideas, actually. Inej imagines the job has something to do with the amount of powerful and influential people gathering in the city. These gatherings bring with them a horde of secret information, not to mention loud displays of wealth and power. 

But Kaz has most of the Barrel afraid of him already, and he’s working his way steadily through the few who still disobey, so… it’s not like he’s lacking anything, on his end. 

So it must be for someone else. But who?

keep reading on ao3

Inej supposes she’ll have to get her answers when she sees him. And despite her annoyance at the circumstances under which it’s happening, her heart skips a beat at the thought of being with Kaz again. It’s been far too long since she last docked in Ketterdam, having been kept away by the constant slavers she’s been thwarting and the terrible weather of the open seas. She’s successfully kept in touch with Jesper and Wylan through their joint letters to her, and with Nina, who, despite often being out on assignments, keeps Inej updated whenever she can. There’s even been a scarce exchange of letters between herself and Kuwei detailing the latter's continued studies as an Etherealnik within the Little Palace. But Kaz has been oddly silent during her most recent voyages. His letters have been few and far between, and whenever they do come, they’re often undetailed and impersonal, a far cry from his first few letters to her. Not that Kaz had ever been forthcoming in that way, either in writing or in person, but his letters had become much more distant, which had hurt her more than she’d care to admit.

It still doesn’t change the fact that her heart belongs to him — an undeniable truth she had realized long ago – and that she’s excited to see him, even if she does also want to smack him over the head with his own cane. Kaz can be obtuse when it comes to understanding his own feelings, and even worse with expressing them. Though the two of them have progressed at their own speed, Inej can’t recall anything bad happening the last time she saw him that would prompt such a stark change in his behavior. Kaz Brekker may not always need a reason, but he sure as hell always had one.

I’ll just have to find out for myself, she thinks as the sign for Ptitsa-Sinitsa comes into view. The tavern itself is packed, much like the various buildings around it, with people from all roads of life coming to see the Queen’s festival. Inej skirts around a group of excited Ravkans and notes a few poorly-disguised Fjerdans on the edges. Of course, an event like this would be crawling with foreign spies. None to worry about yet, but she vows to keep an eye out anyways. 

There’s also some Kaelish folk around, evidenced by their bright hair and loud voices ringing out over the crowd of people eating and talking.

Finally, she spots Kaz at a table near the back with a plate of smoked cod and skillet bread and heads towards him. He’s wearing a hat she knows he hates, but refuses to get rid of. All the better a disguise, she supposes with a sigh. Kaz looks up from his food, and although his face doesn’t change, the edges of his eyes grow softer at her approach. 

“Isla, good. You found it,” he says in greeting. Inej smiles warmly at the sight of him, her overwhelming happiness at seeing him in the flesh overriding her annoyance for the time being. 

“Of course. It wasn’t too hard, your instructions were quite clear. Did you have a good journey?” she asks, sitting down opposite him. His body relaxes, a sight Inej doesn’t see often, though she knows he’s still on high alert to their surroundings.

“Tolerable. I took Rotty with me, as he’s the best sailor I’ve got now, and the man wouldn’t shut up about how he needed to be back in two weeks’ time for the annual plink-drop competition.”

Inej rolls her eyes. “Trust Rotty to stick to routine. He loses every year, I’m not sure why he bothers to play anymore. One would think six straight years of losses would make the whole thing not enjoyable, but alas.”

They fall back into familiar territory with ease, chatting harmlessly whilst they eat, all too aware of the many eyes staring into the backs of their heads and ears tilted ever-so-slightly in their direction. Once they’ve had their fill, Kaz guides her to their room where they retire for the evening. It’s definitely one of the nicest places Inej has stayed in for a heist of any kind, with a double bedroom, a small lounge area in the front, and a balcony looking out over the port.

Once they’ve inspected the room and secured all entries, she takes a seat next to Kaz on the plush red couch. “Who’s bankrolling this one?” she asks without preamble.

“Our friend, the demon.” Kaz’s voice is dry, but Inej can sense the humour in Kaz calling someone else what he himself has often been named. “He’d like us to relocate a foreign dignitary's documents.”

“Your friend, you mean. I’ve not become as well acquainted with Nikolai on the sea or land, despite his many roles in his country.” Kaz has kept her informed of the former king’s whereabouts, such as he knows them, but news travels slowly at sea (as opposed to rumors which spread like wildfire), and it hasn’t been a top priority for Inej. 

“In any case, he asked me to get some documents a Fjerdan official will be carrying.” Kaz’s face is set into scheming mode, and it once again makes Inej’s heart stutter. She hadn’t realized just how much she missed seeing him in his element; a slight smirk on his face and a mischievous glint in his dark eyes.

Inej shoves that thought away. Not the time, she admonishes herself. “What kind of documents?”

Kaz eyes her carefully, as though hesitant to say. It’s a strange look on Kaz; he’s never hesitant about anything. Careful, yes, but not dubious. Not like he wants to hide the information from her.

Inej keeps her gaze steadily locked with his, unwilling to back down until he relents. “It’s the instructions for a drug to render any individual catatonic in seconds. They plan to use it in hunting Grisha, and selling them to slave traders in Ketterdam.”

Saints, she thinks. Her mouth goes thin, mind racing, because of course things wouldn't stay good for her. She’s been bringing down slavers and saving people with surprising speed and efficiency (surprising only to those who don’t know the Wraith from Ketterdam’s rooftops), and her name is getting around through rumors. It makes sense that the twisted people who trade in human lives would look for new ways to get easy captives.

“Is that why you didn’t inform me in your letter?” Inej asks, half hoping that he will catch on to her annoyance about his lack of general communication in the last few months. Kaz nods in answer to her question, and Inej decides to let it go for now, sitting back against the couch in contemplation. “I assume you have a plan,” she says, and Kaz nods once more. “Tell me.”

“The Harvest Festival begins in two days. The plan is, we sneak in as guests and find the official with the documents. My plan is to steal them, leave in its place instructions for a … friendlier alternative, so as to not arouse suspicions, and make our getaway.”

“So simple,” Inej says with raised eyebrows. She’s used to Kaz only sharing parts of a plan, so it is a miracle that she even gets that much of an outline all at once. (The mention of a friendlier alternative, one she somehow doubts is as friendly as he implies, also has her curiosity piqued). Still, she knows he’s got backup plans galore, and Inej trusts him implicitly.

Kaz gives her a begrudging twitch of his lips. “For now, yes. We have two days to find clothes and fill in some additional details. Get some rest, and we can begin in the morning.”

The next two days pass in a blur of planning, laying low, and shopping. The formal gala that is set to open the Festival requires nicer dress than the two Dreg members usually wear, and Inej gleefully picks out a range of horrific colors and patterns for Kaz to try on (which he declines in a variety of ways: with an eye roll, a smirk, a sarcastic comment, or outright disgust). 

His reactions do nothing but spur her on, and for those small pockets of time, she is simply a girl shopping with a boy she likes; she’s living a future she had only imagined for herself as a small child in her family’s caravan, excited for a whirlwind romance with the perfect man as only a little girl can imagine. 

The thing that truly drives her fantasy home, however, is the moment Inej spots an honest-to-saints lehenga, one of her people’s favorites for fancy occasions. She’s never worn one, having been deemed too young by her mother before…everything. Traditionally, they are worn most often at weddings and official gatherings, held once every five years where all the Suli come together to celebrate and tell stories. The sight reminds her so vividly of her mother that her heart aches as she reaches out to grasp at the fabric. The lehenga she holds in her hands is made of well-made silk, embroidered with intricate floral and paisley resham. It is obviously worn, but has remained in good condition.

Inej runs her fingers over the pieces and marvels at how this seems made for her. It’s her favorite shade of purple, the detailing done in neat rows. The lighter fabric of the shawl flows over her, and Inej trembles as she realizes that there’s nothing stopping her from buying and wearing this to the festival tomorrow. When she tries it on in the small stall of the dressmaker’s, her mind works quickly to pick out places for her knives, how the skirt doesn’t limit her motions, the way she can tie the shawl part of the lehenga in specific places to keep it from being a hazard if she should need to run. 

A thought occurs to her then. She remembers distinctly the coy look the older girls would get once dressed in their lehengas, the heavy blush riding on their cheeks, as they’d wait for their lovers to see them decked out in their finest, playing teasing games for minutes if not hours on end, before not-so-secretly escaping with them into a dark corner somewhere, far away from the rest of the caravan. 

It’s such a silly, random memory to come to mind, but suddenly it’s there, in her heart: a desire to have Kaz look at her like a boy in her caravan once might have – as she could have been, maybe, if her life had turned out the way it was supposed to. 

Yes, she has made her peace with who she’s become, the feared Pirate Queen of the Seas. But in this moment, she feels a strong pull back to who she could have been. Inej feels strong and beautiful in the lehenga, and although she thinks Kaz already knows that about her, she wants to hear him say it. She wants it to be acknowledged openly, for him to take off a piece of armor that he’s kept clutched firmly to his chest since she left Ketterdam. 

So Inej buys the lehenga, keeping the purchase a secret from the boy she came with. He’s never bothered about her clothes before, and he doesn’t break that streak when they reunite, both carrying bags with their new clothes. She drags Kaz along to buy jewelry to complement the outfit, forcing him to purchase new cufflinks for the suit he’d picked out for himself. For her part, Inej is immediately drawn to a set of golden earrings and a matching tikka, and doesn’t let herself second-guess the decision, purchasing it quietly while his eyes are elsewhere. 

She can be devious in her own right, and finally, this festival is something she can look forward to.

They do not – cannot – enter the gala together. Cannot, because, as Kaz had explained to her, should their covers come into question, both need some modicum of plausible deniability. 

(She hates that he’s right about that.)

But maybe that’s for the better. Without him by her side as she gets ready – he leaves their shared room early, claiming one final errand to run without her –  she finds herself able to gather some much-needed nerve. To put on her battle armor, so to speak.

It helps to start with her knives first – she carefully straps those to her legs, murmuring prayers to each Saint as she fixes them in place. 

(The lehenga, however tempting and beautiful it might be, is still a hard sell. It reminds her of the home she used to have, the life she used to live. But she’s determined to reclaim that piece of her that was stripped away.)

So Inej runs her fingers over the embroidered edges once more. The obvious care that was put into the details suffuses her with a much-needed sense of calm.

Yes, it would’ve been nice to have him here, to help her with this part. 

But she’s always known, deep down, that this is something she has to do alone. 

So she pulls herself together. The skirt goes on first, her trustworthy knives disappearing beneath the heavy layers. She works the blouse on next, lacing up the back of it securely, ensuring no wandering fingers will take it apart. Finally she wraps the dupatta – a gorgeous, shimmering, delicate thing – over her shoulders. A fitting last touch, the cherry on top.

She’s relieved to find that she still looks and feels like herself, beneath it all. Even if that’s not what anyone else will see.

It paints a perfectly duplicitous picture, in the mirror. A glittering, distracting facade on Ravkan soil.

And if this night goes the way she hopes – no one else will ever have to see what lies beneath.

—---------

So she enters the gala alone.

Well, correction – the gala doors have not officially opened yet, so she’s here in the large banquet hall that serves as a makeshift waiting room alone.

That is unusual in and of itself, but that’s by design. She doesn’t look like a working girl (not that any would have been allowed in at this kind of event), but she does pique some immediate interest amongst the well-dressed attendees in the room. Inej firmly ignores it, choosing instead to take in her surroundings.

It’s a magnificent hall, if darker than she’d expected. But the low light will work to their advantage, and it gives the event an air of mystery. The floor is a rich, dark wood (perfect for hiding stains of all kinds, she thinks grimly) and the furnishings are ornate and well-worn. There are small candles everywhere, reminding her, counter-intuitively, of the inside of a church.

If only this could be as safe.

Inej turns now to scan the crowd, and mercifully, most eyes have since fallen off of her, the thrill of novelty long gone. But she can pick out a few who stand out, their movements not quite casual. And just like that, her previous suspicions are confirmed: they’re not the only ones with their own agendas on the loose tonight.

That’s fine, expected really, but it adds a lovely new wrinkle to their mission: not only do they have to swap out the documents, but they have to make sure they’re not observed by anyone else looking to do the same thing. Of which there are likely several. 

That’s her job for tonight, and just as well. She can handle it, easy. 

Now as for the man of the hour. Their diplomat – where is he?

The Fjerdans are difficult to miss, generally speaking. She’s looking for someone who, by Kaz’s description, is a tall, blonde, older gentleman, one who’s covered in military regalia. Currently, nowhere to be seen.

That’s when, of course, she feels what can only be described as someone’s gaze on her. 

Inej turns, and there he is: Kaz Brekker, looking quite unlike she’s ever seen him before. He’s dressed in a more traditional Ravkan-style suit-coat, a stormy grey-black color, but it’s the look on his face that stops her where she stands: there’s a hunger, a greed on his features she’s never seen before. Never directed towards her, anyways. 

It’s so much coming from him, a man who never tells her bloody anything if he can avoid it, but it doesn’t scare her like it probably should. Instead, it sends a thrill down her spine, tilts her world on its axis. 

He’s looking at her as she could have been, yes, but he doesn’t see it that way, she realizes. There’s no bitterness in his eyes, no lingering regret over what had been taken from her. 

No, for once there’s just pure, unadulterated want from the boy she loves, the feeling it evokes is every bit as magical as those starlit caravan nights she’d always dreamed of.

And yes, maybe that exact dream had been stolen from her past, but every choice she’d made since had brought this part of her life back to her, even when she’d thought it impossible. 

The world kept changing, just as they both had. This could change, too.

It’s what emboldens her to draw closer to him, all covers be damned. 

He meets her as if he can read her mind, the two of them moving into a secluded, dark corner. (Some things, perhaps, always stay the same.)

But this part will be different. Because she has a question she needs answered, and she knows when to pull her advantage. 

“Why didn’t you reply to my letters?” She doesn’t let her gaze leave his, can feel the way he suddenly stiffens beneath it. His eyes avert from hers, on some faraway point on the wall.

“I wrote you letters,” he responds slowly. 

But it’s not a complete answer, not really. He’s leaving out something, he most certainly is. So she waits until he looks at her again, eyebrows raising in an unspoken question.

Kaz’s eyes bore into hers, daring her to look away, but Inej has held many a contest with him, and he can’t scare her away this time. Once, the challenge might have frightened her, but she knows his feelings are something he doesn’t feel comfortable expressing outright unless she pushes.

So she does.

“Why didn’t you reply to all my letters? I heard more from Nina than you this past voyage.”

A brief moment of hesitation, then – 

“I didn’t think you would want to hear from me.”

Inej snorts. “I always want to hear from you, even when you’re being an insufferable idiot about it.”

The boy lets out a small laugh, and the sound lifts Inej’s soul into flight. Kaz doesn’t laugh easily, and she treasures each and every one she creates in him.

He takes a deep breath, as if steeling himself for whatever admission he is about to make. “I…thought that hearing from me might be too much of a reminder of the life you left behind. I didn’t want to pull you under the weight of Ketterdam once more.”

She’s startled, not having expected that at all. It’s complete nonsense, of course, but she’s touched that Kaz is worried about that. Inej knows he has his demons, and his course of action is to fight through them by sheer force of will and by conquering the streets of the city that never gave him an inch, but she isn’t like that. 

“My demons are strong, yes...but Ketterdam has never been a reminder of that,” she shares, willing him to realize that when she said Ketterdam, what she really means is Kaz Brekker. 

The boy who saved her from a living nightmare, who had bought her freedom with the last of his funds, and who had been willing to let her leave him behind to fulfill what she was born to do.  

But she’s not leaving him behind. Not now, not ever again. Not even if he wants her to.

“You are a part of the life I want to keep, Kaz,” she says simply. “So don’t keep yourself away from me.”

“Or what?” he says, and though there's a challenge in the low pitch of his voice, she can also see the beginnings of a smile on his lips. It’s a look that makes her want to do to him what those older girls would do with their clandestine lovers, mission be damned. One day, maybe.

“Or I’ll have to steal you away, of course,” she retorts, and there’s a fully-formed smile on her face, one she’s certain doesn’t hide her inner thoughts in the slightest. “After all, I learned from the very best.”

Around them, the crowd starts moving with a shout – the gala doors have finally opened, praise the Saints! – but neither pays it any heed.

Kaz nods once, gaze never leaving hers, before slowly moving his arm upwards to hover it in the air between them in an offering. Not everything, but enough.

As long as he reaches for her, she will always reach back. 

So Inej slowly, gently wraps a henna-covered hand around his outstretched arm. She feels Kaz stiffen momentarily before forcing himself to relax, feels a warm surge of pride at the effort made. 

He’s doing this for her. They both are.

So together, arms linked, they push through the heavy wooden doors and enter the gala. 

It’s finally time for real work to begin. 

But, Inej knows, there’s no one else she’d rather have at her side.

20 questions for fic writers!

tagged by @chubsthehamster, thank you friend! I am feeling alive and have some time (as in I am procrastinating) so why not!

1. How many works do you have on ao3?

91 on my main, 32 on my short works acct!

2. What’s your total ao3 word count?

748,078

3. What fandoms do you write for?

Mainly anime/manga fandoms, but I hop around based on my current interests. My top fandoms by work count are tower of god, hxh, and sk8, but I've mostly been stuck in bsd hell since last year so until that gets under control that's where I'll be!

4. What are your top five fics by kudos?

I actually stopped checking stats (like got a skin so I can't see it unless I go to my stats page) so yeah! let's go with my top 5 fav fics right now instead!

backsliding: bllk, nagireo, 4k, rated t. exes fake dating in front of their friends to avoid having to talk about why they broke up, AGAIN. it's so fun!

Collateral Damage: hxh, killugon, 9k, rated t. aka when Bisky said to Killua “you can’t stay with Gon”, but for real. aka my heart broke writing this goddamn it.

Inevitably; daiya, miyumei, 30k, rated e. my love letter and ship manifesto for miyumei through canon. you know when writers say they wrote in a trance fugue state fueled by love and lack of sleep? this was me. loved every moment!

you're my mortal flaw (and I'm your fatal sin): yuumori, sherliam, 17k, rated m. the hunger games sherliam au of my dreams. this was an absolute joy to write all my fav parts of the hunger games au without having to learn how to write action. vibes and feelings only!!!

you are the magic in me: tog, khunbam, 60k, rated m. the hogwarts au that got me through the pandemic and fully back into fandom after a long hiatus. this will always have such a soft spot in my heart. it gave me so much joy to write and led me to meet so many amazing fandom friends, for which I will always be grateful <3

5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

Yes, I try my hardest to reply to every one. I'm a lot slower now than I used to be, but I do treasure them!

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

it's ironic that people knew me for fluff and now I don't know how to write fluff and have to pick between MULTIPLE angsty fics. Probably Collateral Damage right now, since it made ME feel bad writing it ;-;

7. What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

I think you are the magic in me or skyfall were both pretty long fics with a well-deserved happy ending that I knew I wanted the characters to have!

8. Do you get hate on fic?

I've gotten a bit here and there, mostly on my e-rated fics when I venture into more 'problematic' categories. It sucks, but I'm less affected by it now than I used to be.

9. Do you write smut?

Yeah, once that door was opened there was no closing it back up haha. Honestly, it's pretty fun when I'm in the mood to write it, especially shorter scenes where I can just turn my brain off a little.

10. Do you write crossovers?

I've written a short crossover called What a Steal on my alt account where Gojo and Reigen meet and Gojo tries to recruit Mob. I don't think I have enough brainpower to map out a true crossover but this short one was fun :D

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

I don't think so, and I hope it stays that way!

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

I have a few! Not all of them were completed, but I always find it touching that people took the time to start! Same goes for podfics and art, just so touching <3

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

I've done a collab once where the general plot was mapped out per chapter and we had 6 authors and 6 artists where each of us got to craft a chapter! It was called Infinite Road where Reki & Langa travel across Canada together and it was ultra sweet and fun. Fandom is so amazing and I was honoured to be invited into this labour of love.

14. What’s your all-time favourite ship?

ouch. ouch ouch ouch. This is too hard. BUT if I had to pick one ship that encapsulates everything I want in a ship though, it would have to be Mark/Eduardo from The Social Network. I have yet to find another ship that has so much potential on all fronts and go through the full spectrum of human emotion depending on which era you put them in. Also that fandom still has the best fic I've ever read, hands down, even if a lot of it has been wiped from the internet, it lives in my head rent free - truly foundational, lifechanging shit.

15. What’s a WIP you want to finish but probably won’t?

the guilt. the guilllt. I have a ton of khunbam WIPs lying in a graveyard that I don't even want to open up again because I'd feel bad. I also really wanted to finish the miyumei royalty AU of my dreams, and I even outlined it, but it got outrageous and the fandom is pretty tiny so unfortunately I lost motivation :(

16. What are your writing strengths?

I'd say exploring character! It's the main reason I read/write fic and am in fandom in general. Make me fall in love with a character and you've got me for life.

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

Having a coherent plot, action scenes, finding balance between too much or no dialogue, transitions... def more where that's from and that's okay! I know what I'm not good at, and if I had the time I'd think more on how to improve. But now I just think hey, it's a precious hobby of mine and instead of working on my weaknesses, I'll just ignore them and write the way I like to write :D

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic?

I don't think I'm confident in doing much more than a word or two in Japanese lol personally. I think it can be done artfully and I love it when it's pulled off well!

19. First fandom you wrote for?

Card Captor Sakura I think! At least published and not like, just in my head. It's on FFN somewhere, I pretend it doesn't exist, as with the rest of my FFN stuff.

20. Favourite fic you’ve written?

It'll probably be you are the magic in me for a long time, but these days I still think of when and how I'll finish silence strikes like a hurricane. Can't believe I broke my rule about posting an unfinished multichapter WIP. I have an ending but no clue how to get there. oopsies.

Tagging: @lorilanda, @jusalilweird, @aikotters <3

Hii love! Can I get a ❤️ for any golden trio era Slytherin?

I'm a Slytherin and despite the stereotypes, I would consider myself to be pretty nice to strangers and like just people in general. I may be "mean" to my best friend but it's banter and we both do it to each other. I am an intj-t but the weirdest thing is that each time I took the personality quiz I was an introvert ( and the percentage was usually in the 80-90s) even though I would talk to any stranger I am compelled to converse with and have quite a large group of friends if I do say so myself. I often tend to get annoyed when people touch me (not inappropriately ofc because anyone would get annoyed if that happened) or my stuff unless they have my permission to. But I guess it's normal because I have boundaries and people need to learn to respect them (very passive aggressive lmfao) and I like having my own space just as much as anyoneee!!!

My love language is physical touch!! I love cuddles and BANTERRR. Banter is THE best with friends and people I like. (btw the banter is usually within people's boundaries bc I'm not disrespectful and I know their boundaries and usually do it to people I know really well)

I'm pretty smart like in maths I get 100% but then theirs geography (ofc I didn't take geography for y10-y13 and ofc I don't have it for uni) and I just wanna meet myself out a window (did you know there's a word for that? Defenestration?)

Also if you can't really tell I have ADHD ☠️ (and OCD but how would you guess that based on this text?)

I used to make bad friends like if you divided nice people and bad People in half and told me to choose I'd literally steer off to the bad side. I gave up my crush for one of my friends than she got into an argument with me and started bullying me 😊💢 (I rejected my crush because she liked him but turns out it was a dare anyway). So yeah. I suck at making good choices. Well used to. Now I'm in your blog and that's the best choice I've ever made. I can be the sunshine of the group (like make people laugh) but I'm actually masking it and am depressed ooh and I am secretly spy agent who loves assassinating people (why tf did I write that and why am I keeping it in?)

Because I'm the youngest in my family people think like stuff that's triggering doesn't bother me? I mean spiders bother me and they're only part of trauma that I've been through (and I'll leave it at that bc I'm annoying lmao)

My decisions are based on other people's decisions (I can't make my own decisions because If it's wrong I don't want to be guilty so I'm solely doing it for self preserving purposes)

I'm funny but most of the time make vulgar jokes (again around People who I know don't mind or make them in front of me as well)

I think you know my personality (a lot about it lol) I am clumsy. I'm also used to be top of my class but my friends were near the bottom ☠️

So, appearance wise I'd say I'm mid. Like not the most amazing beautiful person but not the ugliest either. I am a brown skinned Asian person and I have medium hair which is so f*cking (excuse my french) naturally curly I wanna pitch myself off a seven foot building. I have brown eyes and am like 5'6/5'7? The last time I checked was like 11 months ago 😬

I love reading books like the hunger games, Lockwood and Co, Alex Rider and like anything mystery or crime related. My favourite genre of books and movies is thriller!!!

My clothing style is all over the place lmao. I wear cute vintage clothes for formal occasions, I love wearing like summary dresses, for prom I wore gowns because yea. I also like look cute in skirts so I wear skirts but usually I opt for like cargo pants, APPLE BOTTOM JEANS (boots with the furr sorry I'm cringe acsaccacva)

I love listening to music: I listen to Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Rodrigo, Gracie Abrams, Maisie Peters and Arctic Monkeys (so many more but I don't wanna annoy you and like keep you any longer.)

I wrote a lot sxaxxacscsta

Hope it's enoughhhh

Byeee love your workkk

Good luck on your uni examsss 💖

Hiii, thank you for taking time to write this ❤️🫶🏼

So this was a tricky one, because I REALLY tried to find the perfect Slytherin boy for you but hear me out.

You sound so interesting. You are not someone who can be easily defined as one thing (humans in general shouldn’t be easily defined but we tend to do that, because we can’t be bothered to dig deeper and get to know them)

But anyways, as I was saying, you take the things that make you you and show-pass them to other people, do you know how much courage someone needs to have to do that?

You give pieces of yourself to the world- and if you do that to the extent it doesn’t exhaust you- then it’s such a beautiful thing to do.

You help create the world around you, you give to the world.

And I really want to pair you with someone who would not only appreciate this, but also crave it, love it- love you.

And the only person right now, that comes to mind and matches your energy is our dear Golden boy Cedric Diggory.

He seems to me like a person who would love unconditionally and would be proud to call you his.

He isn’t overbearing and he isn’t too quiet. He is perfect. And he’d give the best advice!!!! Without telling you what to do, he’d encourage you to use your voice, stand your ground and live your life to the fullest.

And darling, you should! Don’t let people affect you, they really don’t define you.

Read your message again, and see yourself as the witty, funny, creative person you are!!

I wish you truly the best & if you want tell me share your thoughts on this or anything else you’d like

My messages are always open 🤍

And if you call yourself mid again, I’ll hunt you down 🧟‍♀️

Chicago, 2023.

I once blogged about a quick work trip I took to this city in June 2018, and mentioned how I fell in love with it at the time. I fell in love with it so much, in fact, that it was always on my list for another visit at some point.

Well, five years later, I did get to go back -- and this time, with my favorite travel partner! We crammed a LOT in within three full days in Chicago, but I wanted to share our faves/highlights from the long weekend, in case you're thinking of visiting:

Must-Do's

A ball game at Wrigley, if you can! Leo is a baseball fanatic, so the goal is always to see a world renowned stadium wherever we travel in the US. You'll get to see a historic ballpark, the famous "seventh inning stretch" where the crowd sings "Take Me Out to the Ballgame," and even get to experience some of the cool bars and restaurants in the area, including one with a batting cage inside.

Architectural boat tour -- can't recommend it enough! Chicago looks very similar to New York City with its amazing skyscrapers/buildings, but as a New Yorker I gotta say: their buildings are SO much nicer than ours. So much history, incredible designs, and so aesthetically pleasing (minus that comically large TRUMP tower that lurks over the river). Doing a boat tour on the river allows you to take in all the gorgeous views, get a history lesson on the city and its architecture, AND even have a cocktail while doing it.

Navy Pier. We didn't have a LOT of time here, but if we had another day we would have went back. Fun area to walk around, explore, and even get on a ferris wheel, which we did ;)

Food tours! Leo and I LOVE these and do them often, even in New York where we live. It's a fantastic way to see a city/neighborhood, experience it's culinary specialties, meet people and....well, get your steps in. We did Bobby's Bike Hike on our first night there and got to see all the big landmarks (the "Bean," the Chicago theater) and try all the quintessential Chicago foods: a deep-dish pizza (loved it), a Chicago hot dog and an Italian beef. YES CHEF.

Restaurants/Bars

Girl & the Goat. Don't miss it if you're a foodie, love a trendy spot, and love a "different" kind of menu (one of the dishes we ordered was "pig face). The food was out of this world -- along with the service -- and even though we were seated very close to other patrons and the noise level was up there, this was a huge highlight for us. Great meal, dessert AND cocktails.

Rooftop bars: Cindy's and LondonHouse. The former has a great view of Millennium Park and The Bean, and the latter overlooks the river and all the surrounding buildings. We had drinks at both and highly recommend for the views alone!

The Franklin Room. Another great dinner here (River North area) in a more unassuming spot that felt like a more local, neighborhood joint but had great food.

The Riverwalk: we spent a lot of time here and bopped in and out of so many places -- I recommend The Northman Beer & Cider garden which is a cute outdoor brewery area, River Roast (we came for a drink/charcuterie but looked like a nice restaurant with great water views), and TacoRio. There are so many others we didn't get to stop in that looked great: Beatnik, Tiny Tapp, City Winery, O'Briens. On a nice day you really can't go wrong enjoying the scene and you can easily access all the locations.

We stayed at the Kimpton Monaco downtown which also has a restaurant attached (Fisk & Co.) and enjoyed our stay there. We were in a prime location and the room was nice, plus the staff.

Chicago is an awesome city, and if you've never been, I would DEFINITELY add it to your list.

XO,

AA

November 23 – 26, 2022 - Pt. I

At long last, Asis and I finally visited El Nido, Palawan from November 23 to 26, 2022. The whole family was initially supposed to go there in 2018. We already had our tickets, but due to budget constraints and other unknown reasons, we, siblings, and our partners decided not to go. My parents were the only ones who got to travel at that time. Another time was in 2020, when the pandemic upended everything. And finally, after two years, we were in El Nido, all thanks to my sister, who booked and gifted us these promo round-trip tickets ( ´ ▽ ` ).｡ｏ♡

Technically, we stayed in El Nido for only two days. The other two days were meant for travel time, to and fro. It was honestly exhausting to have to spend a day just to get to your destination. So time-consuming, but what can mere peasants do? We’re not wealthy enough to fly directly to El Nido.

Nov 23, Wednesday – We left home around 9 am, and arrived in Puerto Princesa around 3 pm. Thank heavens, the flight was smooth, no delays. But damn, we were overwhelmed when we got to NAIA Terminal 4 airport. It was extremely crowded, with tons of delayed flights, making it one of the worst airports in the world. Buuuut yea, it was really nice to ride an airplane again. We don’t always get to air travel, so being up in the sky is somewhat special to me. I'm truly amazed at how vast and beautiful the world is from a bird's-eye view. Being up in the sky always makes me feel tiny, like a speck of dust. Such a strange and amazing feeling.

Anyhoo, we rode a shared van when we arrived in Puerto that would transfer us to El Nido. The ride usually took 5 – 6 hours, but since we had to wait for other passengers, it took us 8 hours more or less. There was also a stopover where we had our dinner. We were also surprised at how nice the roads were in Palawan—much better than the roads and highways here in the metro. Must be nice to actually see proper outcomes to where our taxes go (」°ロ°)」 So yup, we arrived at our Airbnb at almost 11 pm.

The Airbnb I found was nice and cozy, just a room with a co-shared kitchenette and bathroom. It was close to everything, but at the same time, it was far from the noise and crowd. Our host, Jhustine, was accommodating and responsive as well.

Nov 24, Thursday – We booked a shared island tour A with APE Tours, as it was the most popular one and recommended by Jhustine. Although it was a bit more expensive compared to other agencies, it was worth it. We arrived just in time at the meeting place with 17 people in our group. The boat was nice and pretty big, with an upper deck. The tour inclusions were light breakfast, lunch, light snacks, beverages, free photos captured during our island-hopping experience, use of life vests, masks, and snorkel, environmental and entrance fees to the sites, and fun and professional crews. The weather was nice that day with only a few brief showers and drizzles. We even saw a rainbow near the rock formations, which was magical. I also learned how to properly use a snorkel, although I was panicking at times due to the presence of many fish. I just made sure Asis was near me or other tourists while snorkeling. They also played beach volleyball on our last island stopover. The tour ended around 5 pm, and it was a wonderful experience being basked in the beauty of El Nido. Grateful to be there. ♡

After our tour, we returned to our Airbnb, freshened up, and got hungry again. We checked out Jhustine’s clear book of rules and recommendations and chose Gibu’s Bulalo Plaza because we were both craving broth and seafood. Their food was cheap and delicious! We also explored the area and found streets full of busy restaurants, pubs, and shops, almost feeling like we were in a foreign country. There were foreigners everywhere, with only a few local tourists. We came across a Ukrainian brewery that served craft beers—IPA and stout. We stayed there for a while, and Asis finished his beers. We also got to watch a FIFA game between Uruguay and South Korea, which was fun as there were Uruguayans in the pub cheering loudly for their team. Afterward, we went back to our temporary home and called it a day. ♡

Thinking about how the only forum I ever participated was on kissanime.to

Then it shut down for good shortly after. I guess that was my only real attempt to reach out to a community that fit me. One thing that crosses my mind frequently is how alienated I feel amongst my friends and co-workers. But I should try and make a effort to meet people who make me feel normal. Find those that let me talk and listen to what I have to say. And hold an actual conversation. That's my hope, so if you find common interests with me, feel free to reach out.

I love music, in a weird way. There isn't a day that passes without my phone blaring music. I love rock, it's a drug for me. Goosebumps shoot down my arms when I hear an amazing song (that rush of dopamine is indescribable!) . There have been so many sub genres that I've listened to. Bands that I loved and grew out of, searching for that next high. And maybe a couple that I'll revisit from time to time (like Underoath and their recent album Voyeurist ) My taste is always evolving. A couple artists I'm listening to right now is Andromeda, Animals as Leaders, and whatever prog metal auto plays on YouTube. I look forward to sharing the songs I love with someone I feel will appreciate it. Because my music is so personal and cherished that its like a window into my soul. I don't remember the names of the songs or know the members of each band member (or any). Their significance on music, or special techniques they use. My ADHD brain isn't all that great at remembering that information (unless I studied it often which seems like a chore tbh). I just embrace that song or album till my interest fades. Like the song Chino Moreno did with Polyphia 😂 listened to that song on repeat with no shred of self control.

Video games are my shit, if I show my steam library 💀 there's a ton of titles. And a lot of money senselessly spent. Senselessly because the only title that I keep coming back to is Apex Legends. Everything else is temporary. Although Overwatch 2 is a lot of fun! Still frustrating at times but it provides the challenge and multiplayer competition I enjoy. Maybe you game too and we can clap cheeks together!

If I'm not playing video games or don't feel like it. You can find me either watching random channels on YouTube or anime. I'm gonna apologize in advance, a lot of popular titles are lost on me. The ones that I'd probably have in common with most fans are Attack on Titan, Chobits, Psycho-pass (only the first season) Demon Slayer, and Steins Gate. Studio Ghibli is good as far as movies go but the ones I absolutely love is "I want to eat your pancreas" "A Silent Voice" "Josee, the tiger and the fish" and "Her Blue Sky." My absolute favorite anime series is Ergo Proxy. Funny cause my current DnD character's name is based off Vincent. It's an older title, super confusing and the anime doesn't give viewers the backstory to understand the significance of proxy's and their role given from their "creators". It's not regarded as an amazing anime. But for me, it's the similarities of Vincent's character development to my own. I didn't realize it till recently after I moved on from my own issues that I ignored for a long time. Vincent has his memory wiped to forget his past self and the anguish he faced. His new companions give him a new perspective on life. And when he faces the reality that he tried to escape, his experience with the people he cares for helps him overcome that shadow. I love you mom for helping me let go of the weight I held onto for so many years.

Lastly, my cat Mei who I got from an old co-worker when I worked at pizza hut. This cat is like the 10% of felines that isn't a Dee Dee mega doo doo head. Seriously! Mei won't jump on the kitchen counter tops, dining tables, or my PC desk. She's super gentle when we play. Like I use my hands to wrestle her and she never bites hard or claws me. Nor has she done this with my friends. And as much as she doesn't like being held, she tolerates it from me or a complete stranger with zero aggression. Honestly, she's one of the best things that has happened in my life. I love her. And yes I named her after Mei from Overwatch which is a perfect fit.

I guess that will do for now. Editing will have to wait 😂 thank you for reading if you made it this far! Bye bye!

Day 296: Amazing Trip

I want to talk about this amazing trip I went on this past weekend. Before I begin I just want to say I am proud of myself for staying accurate with the number of day of each post. I constantly take breaks thus had to count back multiple time. Today I realized tumblr shows the date of each post so I just counted from post one and it is indeed accurate. Anyways, here is my amazing trip.

The build up. This weekend, I set out to Oktoberfest. I live in Germany and Oktoberfest is an internationally recognized holiday. I thought to myself, I have to go. My co workers said I should go, and after hearing that a previous intern even bought a lederhosen without even being in the Oktoberfest season, I knew I had to show up. I bought my lederhosen and started looking up the event. I texted some friends I hug out with past weekends but they were all busy. I heard you don't have to be at the fair grounds all day and I could probably just go home after participating in the early shift. I decided against it since I wanted to party and also meet people. I booked a hostel/campsite that consisted of international travellers with a decent number of them being solo travellers like myself. I quickly booked the place for an eight person shared tipi and did not look into it too deeply.

Pre-excitement. After going home and looking at my reservation more thoroughly, I got even more excited. The place had unlimited alcohol alcohol for 15 euros a day and hostel a party comprising of many fun activities. Additionally, there were group chats being made on the platform and on instagram which was bringing solo travelers together. I was excited, I knew I was not going to end up alone on this trip and at this festival. My lederhosen game the day of my travel and fit decently well which was a relief. My bavarian roommated semi approved of my cheap lederhosen and suggested I wear my timberland boots with my outfit. I got my gear and I was ready to go. I was working from home to get there as early as I can. I left right away and ran to the train station only to realize I was looking at the next weeks schedule instead of today. Coupled with bus substitutions for trains and a delay to miss a connection, I arrived over four hours later.

Amazing start. On last bus to the campsite, I was already in Munich and noticed a group of guys mention camping. When I found an opening in their foreign conversation, I asked them if they were going camping and where they are from. These guys were about 29 years old, big and scaring. The group was from Slovakia and they were going as well. They were not very social but at least friendly. The bus stopped right in front of the camp grounds and we could already see the tents and hear the party. I was checking in an started talking with another group. They were Spanish and Venezuelan and also decently older than me. I knew most people if not everyone was going to be a good deal older than me at this event. They were super friendly and we were talking through the entire check in. To my surprise the event was being hosted by Australians. They handed us a drink even before we checked in. After checking in, I miraculously got promoted to a single tent - which I later go on to being incredibly grateful for - and the Australian guiding me to my tent was super nice and chill; He was quit his job and just was just traveling.

Superb first night. After settling into my tent, I headed out towards the party. I was walking around for the first bit when I noticed a group of girls my age. Finally there were people that weren't half a decade older than me. Started up with a casual conversation and turns out they were exactly my age doing an exchange term from California. I immediately started chirping them for being American - me being Canadian and all - and then started teaching them Canadian slang and handshakes. I got along with them super well and kind of joined their group. The reason I was able to join their group so easily was because I told them I had a girlfriend so my only motivation was to make some friends my age, and I was cool as hell. The night went on, I became really good friends with them. We met some Hawaiian girls our age and ran into other guys like the Spanish guy from the check in. At the end of the night, they invited me out with them for Oktoberfest and told me they would wake me up after walking me to my tent.

Crazy day. I woke up two hours early to piss and I was still a tad drunk from the night before. I went back to bed in the cold tent and woke up from my light sleep from my new friends calling for me outside the tent. After getting ready, I got my free breakfast with one of the Hawaiian girls from last night. Heard she had a long distance relationship as well but what long distance even before her study abroad. After a delayed morning we all set out for Oktoberfest. Having the german travel app, I lead the enormous group to Oktoberfest through transfers on public transport. It was cold a cold day to not wear a jacket or a sweater but it decided not to anyways, which I now regret since I am sick. We got into the Hofbrau tent - where all the loud Americans and Australians go - to meet up with their friends who had a table. There were so many students on exchange from their particular university from California. Even my group was considered new to them so we only talked within our little camping group. While talking with a really drunk girl, she mistook my extraverted vibes for flirting and was trying to kiss me. I ducked away and my new friends helped by standing between us. We met some middle aged German dudes who were snorting tobacco. The urinals were funny; They were all connected so I was pissing in a stream of collected piss. I felt like a barn animal. The beer was strong and my group wanted to chug so I got really drunk. The drunkest I have ever been during the day. We decided we were getting tired and wanted to leave despite knowing we would not be able to get in due to the sheer amount of people and lines. Me and one of the girls wanted to steal a beer mug as a souvenir. On the way out I noticed another one on the floor so I picked it up. I guess it did not fit in the jacket because a security officer grabbed my arm. My first reaction was to run so I shook him off and sprinted. I was paranoid so I made a bunch of turn to loose any body chasing me. I ended up dropping one since I was so drunk and it shattered in. After walking around the entire park I decided I would have to leave the festival grounds and hide it. I successfully left, hid it in a bush and made it back. My friend I met a week ago came to see me. I met up with him and my new friends. We went to the devil's wheel and me and my friend did it. I ate a half chicken and after loosing hope to get into another tent, we decided we would try a bar in Munich. We left the grounds and I almost gave up on finding my hidden mug when my friend found it. We got snacks and mall food for dinner. Instead of heading to the bar, we went back to the campsite for free alcohol. Campsite was fun once again. I met someone from my university. I talked a lot with the Hawaiian girls and I will see them again in a few weeks when I visit their exchange city. I wing manned a girl talking with a guy from instagram but they did not have the balls to talk to each other in person. I met a Mexican guy who said I can come to his guest house whenever. I saw the Spanish guy from the first night. I met a guy who was acting so suspicious that he might be in the US army. We attempted an all nighter since the girls had a flight early in the morning but security escorted us all back to our tents around 4. Around 5 my girlfriend was too drunk back home so I had to call my friends to get her home safely. I woke up a few hours later to techno music at 8 am. So I went home early the next morning and slept for 6 hours in the day.

Entry 5

For my fifth E-portfolio entry it’s about my personal achievements and milestones I had during my internship at the Melbourne aces, I personally had a whole heap of milestones and achievements in my team here but certainly the first one I had was getting an internship. it can be quite challenging to get an internship as it gets really competitive especially in sporting organisations and I was very lucky to get one at the Melbourne aces and assist them throughout the season, I might have taken for granted how big baseball is in Australia as there were was a lot of interns and also the fans that turned up to the game surprised me but I  met some amazing people and interns and that would be another achievement I had throughout my internship. I got to meet so many new people and especially people from a different country it’s amazing how other people like to go about doing the same job and getting the same opportunity. These achievement and milestones are small but are the steppingstone to creating something bigger. Working at the Melbourne aces could be hard work the days could be 10 hours and doing those 4 days in a row was a real challenge. Getting through those days were long and stressful.

Technically I found communicating in a professional environment challenging especially because I’m social person, but it is different completely different from what i am used to (Mehra & Nickerson, 2019) said that their are differences between communicating with everyone no matter with the situation its always going to be different and thats how i felt going into work i had to be extremely cautious of saying something you shouldn’t especially in a professional environment and just communicating properly with different people can be challenging especially when you don’t know them that well it’s important to find something in common (Kirk, 2016). The best milestone I had at my time at the Melbourne aces was finishing getting through 228 hours is a massive challenge and its surprisingly a lot longer than I thought it would I was very proud to complete my internship even though it wasn’t my favourite thing to do but sometimes that’s the challenge and when you finish it the feeling is so much better. And my final milestone was my presentation which outlined everything I did while I was at the Aces creating the presentation and then presenting it was a great feeling it was a feeling of relief and the feeling of I’m finally done this is the last thing I needed to complete for my degree, once I finished the presentation the relief I had felt really good it was a really good moment and a great accomplishment for me.

Reference:

Kirk. (2016). Getting social: Kirk & Kirk co-founder, Jason Kirk, offers tips on how to communicate effectively on social media. Optometry Today (London), 56(8), 44.

Mehra, & Nickerson, C. (2019). Organizational communication and job satisfaction: what role do generational differences play? International Journal of Organizational Analysis (2005), 27(3), 524–547. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOA-12-2017-1297