#this has been extremely long tag rambles with fool
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Where Are All the Gods? - Thor x (Fem) Quill!Reader/ Loki x (Fem) Quill!Reader
Word Count 1.7 K
Warnings: MCU styled standard pop culture references ( the reader is Star-Lord’s twin so...)
Summary: Loki has an excentric neigbor in the dungeons of the asgardian palace that quickly catches the attention of Thor during one of his visits. She seems to have a past that resonates with their own experiences and the god of mischief keeps himself skeptical about the veracity of her saids, but his adoptive brother is willing to listen her.
Notes: For the sake of this, let’s pretend Thor visited Loki at least once before the prision break that happened during the invasion of the dark elves.
Tags: @nocturnest @spngingerbread21
The prince of Asgard was in the dungeons for an informal visit to his brother. Nothing obliged him to do it, he told himself many times that he was going to give up on him. However, actually putting that idea to practice wasn’t easy because he still cared for Loki despite stumbling with his hate over and over again. Thor only wanted to make him company for a while fearing that the extreme isolation would make him even more deranged and there weren’t many others willing to make the visits. No one else, only him and the queen had some amount of attachment to him.
It didn’t take long for him to regret coming, as soon as the sarcastical verbal aggressions started. The situation progressively escalated into one more of their classical fights.
“ You are pathetic, as much of a simplistic sentimentalist as the species you adore so much.” Loki was rambling his hate away. “ Can’t you see that you need of me more than I have ever needed you? You are here for yourself, Thor.”
The god of thunder wasn’t listening anymore. Not only was the reproach old, but a noise in the background was catching his attention. One that Loki got used to after many days hoping to learn how to ignore it. A mindless environmental inconvenience that didn’t justify the use of magic, but was enough to annoy him pretty frequently.
You were singing in the cell right in front of his, acting like you would have been ignoring the argument when in fact you have been pendant of every word because you were bored. Extremely bored, and Loki wasn’t a very chatty neighbor. Singing to yourself for hours was a coping mechanism to keep your sanity, but also an easy way to get attention whenever possible. Even if it would start with him yelling at you to shut up, he would have to talk with you. Annoying the two asgardians into paying attention to you seemed more fun than being passively exposed to their family drama.
“ That the walls were shaking, the Earth was quaking “ You sang as if you would be back fooling around with Peter. “ My mind was aching and we were making it … “
Thor turned back following the direction of the sound and Loki was even more infuriated than usual when he realized you created a successful distraction midway into his venting.
“ Mind to give us a minute? I have been FORCED TO HEAR YOU for the ENTIRE DAY!!”
“ Your song… “ His adoptive brother inquired with unstoppable curiosity. “ I think I have heard it before.”
“ No way! The son of Odin is into AC/DC? Things are getting crazy!” You answered with excitement. “ … And you shook me all night long …”
You sang a little bit more into the short chorus and brought to him the needed realization.
“ STARK! That’s a song he likes,” He cheered the awakening of his musical memory.” it was hard to decipher without the music. This is outstanding, Loki! I think your companion of imprisonment must be from Midgard.”
“ Curious detail, it must be part of the punishment. Her constant singing will drive me insane.”
It was your opportunity to properly engage in their conversation and you didn’t waste it.
“ Hey, god of thunder and rock and roll! I heard you protect people from Earth. Would your code of honor make you be my lawyer? Spending quality time with your maniac brother has been fun, but I really need a way out of this.”
“ Excuse me, but even as a prince of Asgard I can’t interfere with a verdict given by the Allfather.” Thor calmly informed you. “ I fail to understand how a human found such an unlucky fate.”
Loki bursted into laughter.
“ Wait until you hear it, she has broken all human measurements for stupidity. It’s humiliating to serve sentence close to someone like her.”
“ You underestimate everyone the same way you overestimate yourself.” The son of Odin recalled. “ Which was your crime, midgardian lady?”
“ Theft.” You simply explained. “ I tried to take a valuable piece from the asgardian treasure.”
Loki’s demeanor was intimating you to give a complete confession.
“ Tell him which of the many artifacts in the palace was the target of your greed.”
You hesitated, then replied.
“ Odin’s Gungnir, the only thing this place holds that’s almost as valuable as your untouchable Mjolnir. Nothing personal, I just wanted it for its worth. I’m not planning to use it to destroy a planet like this one did with an Infinity Stone.”
It wasn’t precisely what Thor expected to hear and it raised even more questions.
“ The objects you mention are beyond the reach of any mortal, it makes no sense. Not even hearing the name of my hammer angers me because I am aware you would have never accomplished such an impossible heist.”
“ Did you sincerely think you were going to steal the most heavily guarded weapon in Asgard and walk out harmless?” Loki followed, the airs of superiority in his tone quickly increasing. “ You were imprisoned by your own moronic recklessness. Why did you want it, in the first place? The palace is brimming with treasures that are easier to obtain, heading for the spear of Odin is like screaming to the guards to lock you in a cell for the rest of your life.”
“ The client I got only pays for unique shit, Loki! He is not interested in a golden statue from your banquet hall.”
Thor witnessed the altercation with amusement. Insulting people to entertain himself in endless arguments was the closest Loki was to making friends.
“ If you ask me, that feels to me more like desperation than foolishness. “ He added in your defense. “ Not so long ago I thought myself capable of successfully invading Jotunheim all on my own because desperation to prove myself made me commit a reckless mistake.”
You showed him a half smile that Loki noticed with annoyance.
“ Nobody asked you, Thor. You shouldn’t even be here. “
The blond ignored him and gave a few steps closer to your cell.
“ From one desperate fool to another.. May I ask for the motivation behind yours? ”
Thor was soft spoken and sweet, so you found no problem in opening up just a bit to him.
“ My brother, I did it for him. For both of us, we want to start over away from the asshole who raised us.”
“ You have be kidding me!” Loki interrupted with frustration. “ Are you going to believe her? She is clearly trying to manipulate you using what she has learned by listening to us against you.”
“ I’m not, I swear. This is all a great irony. “ You defended yourself right away. “ Your pity is useless, you can’t get me out, so why would I lie to you? I do have a brother I love, Peter is all I have. It’s always the two of us against the universe, no one else cares for us... Well, Kraglin does, but the point is that we don’t fit in where we are. I wanted to make that sale so we would have enough to make it alone without having to worry. The man who raised us made us thiefs, it’s the only life we know since he stole us from our home as children.”
“ Is that the addition you make meant to move my emotions?” Loki mocked you with cold skepticism. “ Now is when I’m supposed to empathize with the tragedy of those who suffered from my fate. Let me be the first one telling you that you fail as a liar as you have failed as a criminal, your tale is unrealistic. The stealing of midgardian children serves no useful purpose. “
“ Sneaky advantages ideal for stealing.” You corrected him. “ We were smaller than most alien kids and if you would have read The Hobbit, you would know that little people make excellent burglars. Instead of a company of thirteen dwarves at our doorstep asking us to join for an adventure, my brother and I got kidnapped by the forty thieves of Ali Baba.”
Neither of them understood what you were trying to exemplify, but their confusion was fun to see.
“ Fate mocking us because Pete and I have the kind of bond you two never had is out of my control. “ Was your honest conclusion. “ How about having a few counseling sessions to pass time? Thor can come once a week and I can help you solve your problems. I failed as a criminal, but I’m good at being a sister for my bro.”
It was a subtle invalidating point for Loki’s insults that you delivered flawlessly
“ I refuse, I don’t need advice from an inferior creature. “
“ Then why are you here? If humans are so inferior, why aren’t you ruling us? We are cellblock mates because you failed as a dictator, you are a loser doomed to hear me. “
Thor stifled a chuckle to avoid making things worse.
“ You are not the worst company that can be found in this prison. Loki doesn't appreciate it, but he should.”
You exaggerated a lovely expression receiving the neutral compliment.
“ Thank you, Thor! He doesn’t value me in the slightest. Would you keep coming to visit me? I can tell you many awesome things about Earth if you want.”
Loki rolled his eyes, avoiding looking at you.
“ Don’t waste your time, he already has a midgardian and she isn’t a constant source of annoyance like you are.”
To his brother’s disgust,Thor felt comfortable with you. Your ways reminded him a bit of Darcy, quite funny and nice to be around. He was also curious about your story, which you began to tell but didn’t finish.
“ It would be my pleasure.” He answered directly to you, ignoring the insidious side commentary. “ The eloquent and heartfelt way in which you speak of your brother is a comfort for my troubled mind and I would like to learn more about midgardian traditions to surprise my friends.”
The agreement was sealed sharing polite smiles, then Thor turned back to face Loki.
“ See you soon, try to be a nicer companion.”
As he was heading out he could still hear the usual bickering between prisoners restarting.
“ Where have all the good men gone and where are all the gods?” You were singing once more.“ Where’s the streetwise Hercules to fight the raisin odds?”
“ SHUT UP!!”
“ Don’t you like it? Too bad, it's from Peter’s favorite movie. Do you know how many times he made me watch it? I know it by heart so get ready.”
#mcu imagines#thor odinson#loki laufeyson#thor odinson x reader#loki laufesyon x reader#thor x reader#loki x reader
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HEADCANON 004. IN ALL SERIOUSNESS...
... Sampo finds that nothing in life needs to be taken with the self-righteousness and pain that seems to characterize many of the people he has encountered.
He finds it excessive, how many times he had to hear someone angsting about their sad life story: many of these people are his customers, begging him for a discount for a price too high and taking in such a sad tone as they lament about their life and all that went wrong in it, that it'd melt the frostiest of hearts.
Not Sampo's.
Most of the time it's not because he's incapable of feeling empathy- but he refuses by principle, since it's clearly an attempt to swindle him. And he's the one that does the swindling- he won't miss to chip in their tearful monologue or their angry ramblings with that time, perhaps not so long ago, that they were crying misery from their pockets while simultaneously betting on the latest fighter in the Underground club, if he recalled correctly...? Doing this ends the tears, makes the anger and then the real bargaining come in, and saves Sampo from having to try and tape his eyelids open just so he doesn't fall asleep on them.
Sampo tends to be a whimsical being: he does things when he wants to, because he wants to, and expecially because it benefits him- he's enjoying himself, first and foremost. There's no shame in having to humiliate himself because, in the end, it gets him what he wants or needs- he considers himself the real winner. He doesn't lose face, not like the scorned party would like him to. it's a mean to an end, and the end grants him his wishes. He also finds funny how many justice acolytes and customers are seeking him out with such devoted anger to give him retribution for his actions- they clearly don't know how the business world works, and that everything has a price tag. They do seem to take things too seriously- take him, for an example. Even when scorned, his revenge is a funny, elaborated method to inflict pure emotional damage on the other person.
If we take his Path in consideration, the Nihility, I'd have to place him in the realm of the Masked God, the Dyonisiac Nihilism: these people tended to believe that the world was, one day, destined to end with nothing to come after it, and had embraced this truth with an optimistic spin to it. If the world was to end, then oneself should make the most out of it- there should be plenty of time to enjoy life, to fulfill their every desire and whim- and everyone who didn't abided to this much merrier view of life was stuck in the Apollinean Nihilism, trembling in fear for the end of the world while trying to live in denial of the truth.
The Dyonisiac Nihilism fits Sampo EXTREMELY well. He takes life lightly and makes the best out of it, acting on actions for a greater scope that will eventually benefit him and give him a great show that he put in motions behind the scenes. He's always seeking to keep himself entertained and well-off, and thinks that others that don't share this view are being weighted down by incredibly big burdens that they choose to place on their own shoulders. They're self-made martyrs, or have either been played in someone else's plans and couldn't figure out what was going on in time to wise up and avoid emotional scarring- and Sampo may feel kind of sorry for them for a few minutes.
I also really like that the paragon of Dyonisus / Aha. The Masked Fools are akin to slighty more mentally stable Bacchae for me. I grasp Greek mythology and stuff it in my mouth like a good sandwich and the filling is as many fucking comparisons to it as I can find.
#( OOC. ) ━ ANYWAY; moving onto another world...#( HEADCANONS. ) ━ an in-depth guide to THE CONMAN.#extremely important for me to put greek mythology EVERYWHERE
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@lansplaining encouraged me to finish this random meta nobody asked for, so let's talk about Meng Yao, Meng Shi, and 孟母三遷 (mèng mǔ sān qiān), a proverb about good parenting.
A warning: this is super long (even for me!) and is less quality meta and more my ADHD brain jumping around a maze of loosely related ideas. Proceed with caution!
Let me start by briefly going through why I decided to write this, because it’s important. In haunting Meng Shi’s tag in my starvation for Meng Shi content, I’ve multiple times come across the idea that Meng Shi pushed Meng Yao too hard, that she should’ve been more careful with teaching him to seek his father’s approval at any cost, and that she was too naïve. I’ve never reblogged this kind of post because 1) I personally think it’s rude to go out of your way to ramble about how much you disagree with someone on their own post and 2) if this was an isolated incident I wouldn't care either way, so I didn’t want to direct this rant at anyone in particular. It’s more to do with a tendency, primarily (as far as I can tell) from fans who haven’t had much contact with Chinese culture, to oversimplify Meng Shi and make her relationship with Meng Yao slightly disturbing, and I think part of it is due to CQL basically cutting out her entire storyline (so fans simply don’t have info about her to assess her fairly) and part is due to misunderstanding what a good parent is supposed to act like in the context of Ancient China.
[Of course, Ancient China is not a very useful historical concept, not any more than “ye olde Europe” - things change a lot based on time and place - but you know. It’s fantasy. Extremely broad trends are okay in this case.]
Anyway, the idea behind the posts I mentioned is, basically, that Meng Shi (usually through no fault of her own) is to blame for Meng Yao’s obsession with power, since his desire for approval was inherited from lessons she taught him. Just to start with, I’d argue that Meng Yao isn’t power-hungry as much as he craves security and respect, but that’s a different meta. Let’s assume that she really did teach him to be Like That. Was she wrong to do so? I’m not looking for “does that make for a happy, well-adjusted childhood?” or “would you raise your own son as Meng Shi did?” - I’m trying to figure out, would she have been considered a bad mother in the context of the society she lived in? I don’t think she would’ve.
It is surprisingly hard to find texts about the obligations of parents in Ancient China. Their main obligation is to raise filial children, but I feel like that’s not very useful: whether or not parents are good parents, children are expected to be filial, so a child being filial really says more about the child than about the parent. Maybe the parent completely missed the mark and society at large was what taught the child to be filial!
We can assume, of course, that parents were to raise good people, and that by learning what a good person looked like, we could figure out whether the parent was successful, but once again, I feel like that’s pinning things on the outcome, not on the process - the best of parents can end up with an awful kid and vice versa.
While thinking about all this, it took me a frankly embarrassing amount of time to remember the story of Mother Meng and Meng Zi, but once I did, it wouldn’t leave my mind - in part because the Meng here is the exact same Meng of Meng Shi and Meng Yao (yay! fun if useless parallel!), and in part because this is a story about how a woman can successfully raise a son by herself.
Okay, so important note: one of the most influential ancient Chinese thinkers is Meng Zi (孟子 Mèng Zǐ), who is known in the West as Mencius. If you've never heard of him - he's perhaps second in importance only to Confucius. When Mencius was still a young child, his father died, so he was raised by his mother, who is usually known only as Mother Meng (in Chinese, 孟母 Mèng Mǔ.)
Mother Meng's story is told in Biographies of Exemplary Women (列女傳 Liènǚ Zhuàn), which for around 2000 years beginning around the 18th century BCE, was the most commonly used book used to educate women. The book is divided into sections, each one showing a different way women could be honorable and good. Mother Meng's story is told in the Maternal Models section (母儀傳 Mǔ Yí Zhuàn.) The story has a few parts, some of which I'll quote, always from Kinney's 2014 translation.
Before I go on to quote it, though, I'd like to establish that Mother Meng's story is so, so famous that even if Meng Shi had never read this particular book, I'm almost certain she would've been familiar with at least the outlines of Mother Meng's story. I'm not cherry picking a suitable chapter from the book, I'm literally going with the most famous story in it because Meng Shi would be most likely to know this one if she knew no other story.
Okay, the first part of the tale takes place when Mencius is a young boy and Mother Meng is a widow raising him.
The mother of Meng Ke of Zou [a different name for Mencius] was called Mother Meng. She lived near a graveyard. During Mencius’ youth, he enjoyed playing among the tombs, romping about pretending to prepare the ground for burials. Mother Meng said, “This is not the place to raise my son.” She therefore moved away and settled beside the marketplace. But there he liked to play at displaying and selling wares like a merchant. Again Mother Meng said, “This is not the place to raise my son,” and once more left and settled beside a school. There, however, he played at setting out sacrificial vessels, bowing, yielding, entering, and withdrawing. His mother said, “This, indeed, is where I can raise my son!” and settled there. When Mencius grew up, he studied the Six Arts, and finally became known as a great classicist. A man of discernment would say, “Mother Meng was good at gradual transformation.”
According to the translator's footnote, "gradual transformation" is "a childrearing technique, whereby a child is morally formed through daily exposure to correct models of behavior."
From this story comes the proverb 孟母三遷 (Mèng Mǔ sān qiān) - "Mother Meng moved three times." It's come to mean that a parent - especially the mother of a male child - should spare no efforts to provide an environment that will give their child a good education, paying particular attention to what models are surrounding them.
I'm sure I don't need to say if Meng Shi was at all familiar with this proverb (and she would probably be), she must have been very stressed out over literally raising her son in a brothel. (Here I must mention sex workers in ancient China were often essentially owned by the brothels, so literally "moving three times" wasn't really an option for Meng Shi even if she could miraculously pick up another trade.) Meng Shi did however at least try to surround Meng Yao with the accomplishments appropriate for the son of a cultivator:
Xiao-Meng, are you still learning those things lately? [...] The things your mom wants you to learn, things like calligraphy, etiquette, swordsmanship, meditation… How are those things going? [...] His mom’s raising him as a young master of a wealthy family. She taught him how to read and write, bought him all those swordsmanship pamphlets, and even wants to send him to school.
Meng Yao actually talks a little bit about “those swordsmanship pamphlets” in the only time in canon he directly shares memories about this mother:
Lan XiChen, “Your [guqin] skills are also considered quite fine outside of Gusu. Were they taught by your mother?”
Jin GuangYao, “No. I taught myself by watching others. She never taught me such things. She only taught me reading and writing, and bought a handful of expensive sword and cultivation guides for me to practice.”
Lan XiChen seemed surprised, “Sword and cultivation guides?”
Jin GuangYao, “Brother, you haven’t seen them before, have you? Those small booklets sold by the common folk. First jumbled sketches of human figures, then deliberately mystified captions.”
Lan XiChen shook his head, smiling. Jin GuangYao shook his head as well, “All of them are scams, especially to fool women like my mother and ignorant children. You won’t lose anything by practicing them, but you definitely won’t gain anything either.”
He sighed in a rueful way, “But how could my mother have known this? She bought them no matter how expensive they were, saying that if I returned to see my father in the future, I had to see him with as much competence as possible so that I don’t fall behind. All of the money was spent on this.”
See what’s happening? Meng Shi cannot physically take Meng Yao to cultivators, but she spares no efforts in giving him the closest thing she possibly can -- figuratively, we might say she moved three times.
Of course, these booklets don’t work, but as Meng Yao says, how could she have known this? The cultivation world is very closed off - think of how the entire Mo household gathers to see Lan juniors, and how Wei Wuxian mentions once that “Cultivation families, in the eyes of common folk, are like people favored by God, mysterious yet noble.” Not just noble, but mysterious. That tracks, too - I mean, they live in inaccessible households and mostly leave to night hunt or visit each other, neither of which is an activity that would allow commoners to get much more than an occasional glimpse of them.
Now, if Meng Shi doesn’t even know that a pearl for Jin Guangshan was just a trinket, if she doesn’t know even the wealth of a major sect, how can she read booklets and decide whether that’s genuine cultivation or not? All that she sees is a chance for Meng Yao to be surrounded by the ideas and skills of the people she wants him to emulate - cultivators - and therefore she does everything she can to get him that chance. Mother Meng moved three times.
Okay, but maybe the argument is not “Meng Shi shouldn’t have pushed Meng Yao to cultivation” but rather “she should’ve pushed him, just not too hard." To that, I present another tale from Mencius' childhood:
Once, when Mencius was young, he returned home after finishing his lessons and found his mother spinning. She asked him, “How far did you get in your studies today?” Mencius replied, “I’m in about the same place as I was before.” Mother Meng thereupon took up a knife and cut her weaving. Mencius was alarmed and asked her to explain. Mother Meng said, “Your abandoning your study is like my cutting this weaving. A man of discernment studies in order to establish a name and inquires to become broadly knowledgeable. By this means, when he is at rest, he can maintain tranquility and when he is active, he can keep trouble at a distance. If now you abandon your studies, you will not escape a life of menial servitude and will lack the means to keep yourself from misfortune. How is this different from weaving and spinning to eat? If one abandons these tasks midway, how can one clothe one’s husband and child and avoid being perpetually short of food? If a woman abandons that with which she nourishes others and a man is careless about cultivating his virtue, if they don’t become brigands or thieves, then they will end up as slaves or servants.” Mencius was afraid. Morning and evening he studied hard without ceasing. He served Zisi [a great scholar whose grandfather was Confucius] as his teacher and then became one of the most renowned classicists in the world.
Notice that Mother Meng moved three times to ensure Mencius would have the highest of aspirations - to become a scholar. But just aspiration isn’t enough. Not by any means. Now that Mencius is actually studying, Mother Meng is willing to take an extreme action to ensure he's taking it seriously. Mencius doesn't have a father to smooth his path to success. He has to learn that aspiring to greatness isn't enough. He'll have to put in the effort as if his life depended on it. And if he doesn't persist in his hard work, everything he's done thus far will be useless. Sounds like a lesson imparted on young Meng Yao, doesn’t it?
A lot of fandom rage towards Meng Shi would apply to China's Best Mom Contender, Mother Meng. She gives her son big dreams, and teaches him how to go about achieving them in a society where failing is easier than succeeding. Yes, it's fair to say that Meng Shi taught Meng Yao to refuse to settle for anything less than being “Jin Guangshan's son, a respected cultivator.” Yes, it's also fair to say that she probably didn't allow him much time to play like children his age did. But unfortunately, in the world of MDZS, poor children probably wouldn't get to play anyhow, the difference is that they'd usually be working, not studying. Studying is a privilege! It’s a privilege Meng Yao could not afford but was given to him anyway, through his mother’s many sacrifices. We can even say that while she was alive, Meng Shi was trying to ensure Meng Yao would one day have a better life, at the expense of a fun childhood - and that's very Mother Meng of her, whatever our modern Western sensibilities might have to say about that.
Finally, I’d skip other tales (which show Mother Meng and an adult Mencius) and go straight to the poem that ends the Mother Meng section:
The mother of Mencius
Was able to teach, transform, judge, and discriminate.
With skill she selected a place to raise her son,
Prompting him to accord with the great principles.
When her son’s studies did not advance,
She cut her weaving to illustrate her point.
Her son then perfected his virtue;
His achievements rank as the crowning glory of his generation.
I’d like to focus on the last verse - “His achievements rank as the crowning glory of his generation.” All that Mother Meng wanted was for Mencius to not completely ruin his life, but he became great. You can so very easily see a parallel with how Meng Shi hoped Meng Yao would be a cultivator but he became Jin Guangyao, Chief Cultivator, styled Lianfang-zun, one of the Three Venerable, hero of the Sunshot Campaign.
Of course you can say “Jin Guangyao did many Very Wrong Things to get there, though!” Which, sure, okay, fair point. How many and how wrong depends on which canon we're discussing, and your own interpretation, but there’s no version of the story in which Jin Guangyao is 100% an innocent child uwu. But blaming that on Meng Shi is just... straight up weird? I don’t see anyone going “If Jiang Fengmian hadn’t adopted Wei Wuxian, he’d never have dared become Yiling Laozu!” and that’s pretty much the same logic. Would street kid Wei Wuxian have invented a new type of cultivation if he had never been taken in by the Jiang? Probably not, but raising undead armies is very much not something Jiang Fengmian could’ve predicted. In the same way, how could Meng Shi have predicted that teaching her pre-adolescent son “You are the son of a cultivator, act like one and earn your place in society” would’ve ultimately resulted in innocent deaths? How could she predict “You’re not destined to having the same horrible life I did, you can get something better than this” was a bad thing to teach? I quite honestly don’t know.
Finally, I'd like to point towards a much flimsier evidence that Meng Shi did great as a parent. And that is Meng Yao’s love. Nie Huaisang at some point comments Meng Shi is someone who Meng Yao "cherishes more than his life," and I think his assessment is correct.
Even putting aside the fact he built a whole temple to get his mother to reincarnate into a better life, and even putting aside how he refuses to flee the country without her remains, there's still crystal clear evidence that Meng Shi must've done something right. Because a lifetime of people using his mother to bully him doesn't seem to have made Meng Yao resent her. Had their relationship not have been very strong, odds are he'd feel bitter and/or ashamed of her. That doesn't seem to be the case. He's attached to her even decades after her death.
I want to be very careful with equating mutual affection with good parenting, though. When I was a rather rebellious teenager, my mother (in typical Chinese fashion) used to say that parents and children don't have to love each other as long as they're dutiful to each other, by which she meant that a parent-child relationship isn't informed by warm and fuzzy feelings, but by whether you'd be willing to do anything for each other. Specific to my case, she meant "I don't care if it makes you hate me, you will do as you're told because that's what's best for you." (That may also be the reason why people more familiar with Chinese culture see the Jiang family less as outright abusive and more as #complicated, but that's another meta.)
Whether your kid wants to hug you every time they see you is of no consequence to traditional Chinese thought - raising them to be the best they can is all that matters, because at the end of the day, you won't be around forever, but you can definitely set up your kid's life so that it goes smoothly and virtuously. How that's accomplished varies depending on many factors, but to have the goal be "I want my child to love me" rather than "I want to raise my child right" would've been considered selfish as hell.
So even if all that Meng Shi had given Meng Yao had been stern lessons about the need to go get his birthright, she would've still have been considered a good mother!! In fact, she would've been doing everything she was supposed to do, under extremely difficult conditions! (Remember the importance of environment? That Meng Yao grew up to want to be a cultivator despite having probably never even met one speaks wonders about Meng Shi's childrearing powers!!)
But just based off how over the top Meng Yao's filal dutifulness is, I'd go a step further and say that even as she did the impossible, she was also loving enough to inspire genuine affection. This is complicated because children who have present fathers could expect their mothers to be tender with them. The first century BCE text 禮記 Lǐ Jì or The Classic of Rites says that:
Here now is the affection of a father for his sons - he loves the worthy among them, and places on a lower level those who do not show ability; but that of a mother for them is such, that while she loves the worthy, she pities those who do not show ability - the mother deals with them on the ground of affection and not of showing them honour; the father, on the ground of showing them honour and not of affection.
But when the father figure is lacking for any reason, the mother must abandon her tenderness because someone must guide the child, and without a father, the role falls to the mother. A single or widowed mother had to be very careful to not smother their children with affection and raise useless, spoiled kids, or so it was thought. (The presence of Qingheng-jun and Lan Qiren is why Madame Lan can be so affectionate with the Lan boys, by the way - if she was raising them by herself she would've been expected to be much more practical. AUs where she just gets her kids and runs away could do very cool things with this idea. But I digress!)
Where was I? Oh, okay. Because Meng Yao seems to not just respect, but actively miss her, it seems that Meng Shi somehow managed to deal with her son on the ground of both honor and affection, to paraphrase.
So basically, all things considered, it seems not only would Meng Shi have been considered a great mom (if people could look past her being a prostitute, anyway) but she also went above and beyond the bare minimum. She truly spared no efforts on any front to make sure her son had everything your average gongzi would have - someone to teach him and someone to love him, access to education and confidence in his birthright. That she couldn't actually make him a cultivator, that she couldn't actually raise him in a proper home with no one being cruel to herself or him - that's immaterial. Even Mother Meng couldn't control what her neighbors did, only what she taught her son! The key point is Meng Shi tried. She did everything she could to educate her son right. You couldn't ask more of her, and quite honestly, you should probably be asking less.
Of course we can't err on the other extreme and say she was Perfect. Given MXTX only ever writes flawed characters, we can safely assume that if we'd known more about Meng Shi, we would've seen many flaws. Indeed, just the fact she didn't teach Meng Yao the guqin when he apparently wanted to learn it might point to some conflict we don't know enough to speculate about (maybe she focused too much on cultivation when Meng Yao's interests lay elsewhere? Maybe she wasn't able to sufficiently shelter him and he felt it'd be a burden to ask her to teach him anything? Maybe maybe maybe, go wild with your fics.) Nevertheless, I would never hold a female character to a higher ideal than a male character - if the male cast of MDZS can be a hot mess and still be admirable for what they're trying to do, then so can Meng Shi.
At the end of the day, when I look at Meng Shi - and I've made myself a document with all the references to her in the novel canon so I could easily contemplate her life and character - all I see is a woman every bit as determined and resourceful as her son, willing to do everything it took to raise her little boy into the sophisticated and ambitious man he became.
Finally, here's a fun little parallel that I'm 100% sure was unintentional but I still love. I said Meng Shi couldn't have moved three times. She couldn't, but I think maybe she taught her son he was worth moving three times for. Qinghe Nie. Qishan Wen. Lanling Jin. Isn't that super fun to think about?
Alternatively, tl;dr: Oh My God I Can't Believe We're Blaming Women For The Actions Of Their Adult Children In The Year Of Our Lord 2k21, Meng Shi Was Doing Her Best, Chill!
#drinking game#take a shot every time i say 'finally'#this post refused to let me get to the end of it lol#i think because i'm extremely salty about fanon stage mom meng shi#(to not say tiger mom meng shi which crosses into outright racism. but i'm giving people the benefit of the doubt)
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AND THEY WERE WALLMATES: Cookies (part 2)
Pairing: Javier Peña x F!Reader
Rating: T for mature themes (implications of sexy times and violence). It will go up later ;)
Summary: You share an apartment wall with Javier Peña, but that doesn’t make it any easier to get to know him. You didn’t think your baking would be the catalyst.
Javi and Reader continue to get to know each other.
Tags: Mention of blood, super vague description of wound care. Additional TW for Javi: the Mortifying Ordeal of Being Known.
Word Count: 3,484
A/N: I was NOT expecting the amount of enthusiasm I got for the first chapter, but I’m so grateful for it!! I struggled a little bit with this chapter because it was the only one I didn’t have a solid plan for lol, but here it is because I’m impatient to share (and also tired of looking at it). I promise the next few will be better ;)
Masterlist
---
The next evening, you give yourself a stern pep talk before going to knock on Javier’s door. Javi, you remind yourself. You’re here to check on his leg, assuming he needs you to.
The door swings open much more readily than it had the night before, and Javier appears, an expectant half-smile curling the corner of his mouth. “Neighbor,” he drawls. Despite the new air of informality about him, his eyes hold a familiar suggestion that makes your heart sink a little. Back to his customary flirting, then.
“Hi, Javier,” you say, more coolly than you had originally planned. “I came over to see if you wanted me to check on your leg. I just kind of assumed that you would have the right supplies and stuff when I was giving you instructions last night, but if you don’t I can give you some, change the bandage for you. The first few days of healing are the most critical,” you explain, willing yourself to cut off your own rambling.
He examines your face for a second, the ready welcome fading. “Why do I get the feeling this check-up is more for you than for me?” He hitches an amused eyebrow back up, stepping back to let you in.
Over the threshold you cross your arms. “I don’t know, did you want your secret stab wound to get infected?”
He puts his hand on his hips with the beginning of a disbelieving frown. “It wasn’t a stab,” he grumbles defensively, with all the dignity of a petulant child.
You roll your eyes at his assertive posturing. “I know. I examined it.” Javier doesn’t move, though it couldn’t be comfortable maintaining such a wide-legged stance in those tight jeans. Your lips twitch the slightest bit as you take in your normally composed neighbor, his conflicted moue suggesting he’s been thrown off.
Taking pity on him, you borrow a page from his communication manual, nodding to a chair. “Come on. Pants off,” you deadpan, letting just a hint of your amusement show.
His expression starts out relieved, then cycles through several emotions in the space of the next second (albeit extremely subtly). He seems to freeze momentarily. “Uh, if you’ll just excuse me for one second, I’ll have these off for you in no time.” He winks, which would be charming if it weren’t Javier and he didn’t look like he had forgotten something important, and hastily strides toward the bedrooms.
Mystified, you look around, curious about the man despite his unpredictable demeanor. The apartment looks comfortably lived-in, yet there’s a distinct lack of personal effects, creating an odd contrast. There’s an empty takeout container by the sink, but you aren’t fooled by that- very occasionally, you’ve smelled amazing things coming from this kitchen. You wonder what sparks his culinary inspiration.
A throat clears behind you and you jump. You hadn’t heard Javi return, but there he stands by the dining room table, the fly of his jeans already gaping. He quirks a brow at you. “See anything interesting?” he asks, tipping his head to indicate the apartment. Apparently at ease, he begins to remove his jeans, and you avert your gaze, a flush creeping up your neck.
What? You saw people in all states of nudity every day at the hospital; why should you be flustered now? Annoyed, you busy yourself sorting through supplies while he sits down,
though not before he pulls out a chair for you.
Just like the previous night, he waits until you’re almost finished working to speak. “How did you know I was in pain last night? I didn’t think I made much noise.” His eyes are narrowed, like it’s something that’s been bothering him.
You reflect on your answer before giving it. “You...moved like you were in pain. Slowly, shuffling. And...you made a noise once you closed the door. I heard it, you know, through the wall.” You admit the last part with your eyes down, focusing on adhering tape to his skin.
“Through the wall, huh.” Something in Javier’s husky voice makes you glance up. He looks contemplative, dark eyes studying you thoughtfully. He angles his head down toward you. “What else do you hear through the wall?”
You’ve walked into a trap of your own making. Those daring insinuations are back in his eyes, but you can’t escape to your apartment in the middle of changing a bandage. So you answer truthfully: “I hear you cook sometimes. Smell you cook sometimes,” you correct yourself brightly. “What do you make that always smells so good, Javier?” You meet his gaze with deliberate innocence, although you would genuinely like to know.
His expression shutters, and he leans back in the chair again. “Food,” he mutters. “Stuff I learned a long time ago.”
An unexpectedly real answer; you quash the intense curiosity it provokes. Not wanting to pry too much, too soon, you just snicker in response. “Food, huh? I think I’ve heard of that.” His attention snaps back to you, but you just let him brood as you finish with his leg.
This time when you stand, you linger over your supplies, leaving some out for him and explaining things to watch out for. “I’ll come by again tomorrow night, but it should be fine as long as you don’t aggravate it,” you conclude.
“Well, non-aggravating is my middle name.” Javier gives you a winning smile, one that probably would have passed the muster of anyone who hadn’t heard the mocking edge in his voice.
A laugh sputters out of you. “Is that so? I’ll be sure to tell Connie next time I’m over there.”
Something like fascination sparks in his eyes, a hunger he can’t hide propelling him to lean forward. “Oh? You two ladies talk about me?”
Your lips purse as your mind races through suitable responses. “Well, I had to get the dirt on my mysterious neighbor from somewhere,” you say lightly. Because it sure wasn’t coming from him. Yet the longer you spent in his company, the more you found you wanted to know.
“Hm.” A huff is his only response. His shoulders relax against the chair back as he returns to regarding you wordlessly, but in a distinctly more agreeable way.
You suppress a smile as you pick up your bag. “Well. Goodnight, Javi.”
--
Almost a week after your last checkup, Javier grinds his cigarette butt into the ground and flicks a last glance at your window. He and Steve had arrived home at the same time, so he’d stalled with the excuse of a smoke outside, knowing that if he entered his own apartment, he’d lose his nerve. Gritting his teeth, he limps up the stairs and to your door. He knocks.
The noise of the tv cuts off, and a moment later, you open the door. You blink in surprise. “Javi! What are you doing here?” Concern clouds your face as you take in his rumpled appearance.
The words lodge in his throat. “I, uh. I need your help,” he admits, dragging his gaze up from the floor. “Banged my leg at work today. Think I opened it up again...thought I should let you take a look at it.” He couldn’t stop imagining your reaction if you found out he hadn’t.
Your eyes widen, and you immediately step back to let him in. “Of course! Please, here-” You offer your arm, but Javier has enough pride this time to make it to your dining room table without help. When he looks up you’ve vanished, dashed off to your stash of medical supplies, he assumes.
He takes the opportunity to look around. Your place is cute, homey-feeling, because of course it is. He notes, however, that most of the decoration has been locally bought, and curiosity needles at him. Nothing more personal to bring with you? He gets a fleeting glimpse of the bottle of wine on the coffee table before you return.
“...sorry about that, I don’t know why I stashed this away so well when I knew you might need it again.” Your setup is a familiar scene by now. You keep glancing over at his blood-stained bandage, frowning worriedly, and he wonders how you can be so damn caring when it’s clear he’s interrupted your evening.
He makes a sound of disgust. “Nah, this was a stupid accident,” he says, annoyed all over again. “Normal, routine chase after some narco, but I slid against a wall that had some shit sticking out of it at just the wrong spot.”
Your eyes leap to his in shock, and too late he remembers that Connie gave you the ‘janitorial services’ line. You don’t ask though, pressing your lips together and determinedly refocusing on peeling off the bandage, and Javi can’t help but feel a twinge of respect.
Well, someone in the building would tell you sooner or later. “I’m an agent of the DEA,” he says, monitoring your reaction. “Since you were about to ask.”
You straighten indignantly. “I was not!” you protest, before you see the lazy gleam in his eye and realize he’s joking. You roll your eyes reproachfully, but the press of your lips now looks amused. “I just thought there was probably a reason Connie didn’t tell me.” Javier winces as you gently prod at his injury.
“Well, what’s one more secret between neighbors?” He winks conspiratorially at you. Just like the last time, however, it gets minimal reaction, and it confounds and intrigues him in equal measure. Women usually respond to his efforts. Even if there’s no real intention, he likes seeing them get a little flustered, likes the feeling of having influence, control. And women don’t seem to mind.
But you...you resisted. Javier doesn’t know why, but you don’t react to his usual charm in the ways he’d come to expect. He’s sure you don’t dislike him- but he’s not exactly sure what he’s doing to make you like him, either. There was something...enticing about it.
The familiar feeling of your fingers smoothing tape along his thigh brings him back to the present. He tries not pay too much attention to it, knowing that it would be extremely asshole timing to pop a boner.
“Well, you should be all set. Again.” You look sympathetic, not resentful, and Javier nods, suddenly feeling awkward. How could he possibly make up all of this up to you?
“Just- try to be careful, okay? You don’t have to hurt yourself as an excuse to hang out with me.” Out of nowhere you’re teasing him, with a line to rival some of his worst. His eyebrows raise, and he chuckles as he dips his head.
“I’ll keep that in mind.” He gets to his feet. “...Thank you,” he says gruffly, hoping he’s conveying even a tiny amount of how much he means it. “Enjoy your evening.” He doesn’t let himself look back as he heads for the door.
--
Steve and Connie have invited you to a movie night. Or at least, Connie has. You assume the invite comes from both of them, even if a movie night doesn’t seem like something Steve would initiate.
“Javi will be there too,” Connie had informed you nonchalantly, but she watched intently for your reaction.
You hadn’t even blinked. “Great!” you said easily- until you realized the opportunity this presented and beamed. “What should I make?”
Which is how you end up standing outside her door, one floor up, holding a plate of cookies. You were glad now that you decided to make them today and not yesterday- finishing them barely 20 minutes ago had effectively given you no time to tailspin about what to wear or how you were supposed to act around Javi. Or rather, Javi and Steve and Connie, since although you and Javi had a secret, it was not what they’d imagine it to be.
Connie answers the door, and that’s definitely not a twinge of disappointment you feel, because why would Javier have answered the door of someone else’s house?
“Hey, come in!” Connie gushes. She waggles her eyebrows meaningfully at the plate in your hands. “What are those, and what are you drinking with them?”
Her easy familiarity grounds you. “Whatever you’ve got,” you reply, some of your nerves settling. Your friend leads you to the kitchen, where Steve and Javi stand continuing some conversation at the bar counter.
“The party has arrived, boys!” She announces. “I told you all that smell was for us.” She winks at you, a bottle already in hand to pour you a drink.
“Welcome, welcome,” Steve greets in his easygoing way, gesturing with his beer to encompass the apartment as a whole.
You smile in thanks, your eyes flitting briefly to Javier. He hasn’t said anything yet, but there’s a loose relaxation to him you haven’t seen before, a softness playing on his lips as he absorbs the scene. It’s similar, you realize, to the moment when he complimented your lemon cake, the first time you felt like you were meeting the real him.
This observation only takes a heartbeat to sink in. Tucking it away to examine later, you shyly lift the plate and set it in the middle of everyone. “She‘s right,” you confirm, peeling off the plastic wrap. “Peanut butter cookies.” The next few seconds are spent in an expectant semi-quiet as everyone takes a cookie and savors the first bite.
“Mmm,” someone sighs, and the dam breaks. A flurry of compliments all around, new threads of conversation bursting forth. You absorb it gratefully, relieved at their enthusiastic response and happy to have been able to contribute. You try not to react to Javier’s eyes on you.
The ice broken, you all chat and drink around the bar for a bit, before Connie declares that it’s movie time, leading everyone to the living room. Before following them, Javier grabs the plate of cookies. “We’ll just take these with us,” he says decisively, and you take it as a compliment.
It’s the first time he’s addressed you directly since you arrived, and there’s a knowing glint in his eye. “By all means,” you respond pleasantly, meeting his gaze. Taking your tenuous first step in sharing the establishment of a public-facing persona to your relationship (such that it is).
In your delay, Connie and Steve appear to have gotten into a hissed discussion, standing between the couch and the loveseat. Connie whirls around as you and Javi approach, fixing a smile to her face. She waves you over to the smaller sofa. “Come on, we get to snuggle up on the loveseat, so the big men have more room to spread out.” She aims a cool faux-glare at her husband, but a glimmer of real frustration prevents it from being believably fake.
Steve sends Javi a long-suffering, apologetic look. “Sounds cozy,” you chirp, mediating before anyone else can say anything. “So what are we watching?”
At this, Steve’s face lights up with a grin that almost makes you wary. He takes great delight in announcing the selection, some military action flick with “enough drama and hunky actors to keep the ladies entertained as well,” apparently.
“A true classic.” Javier nods sagely from his sprawled seat on the couch, his smirking grin suggesting that it was not at all true. Steve kneels to put the tape in, and as he and Javi continue to snigger over it, Javi shoots a self-conscious glance in your direction, his posture shifting.
Connie sighs. “They’ve done a few of these now. I should warn you that it’s less about watching the movie than it is about bonding over making fun of it,” she confides.
You keep the two men in the corner of your vision as you turn to reply to your friend, feeling warm with gratitude at being included. “That’s okay,” you assure her. “It’s a good bonding activity.”
Connie smiles, but seems distracted. She lowers her voice to speak again. “I should also tell you that they make fun of it because they know how government/military stuff really works. From their job at the embassy.” She seems unsure if she should say any more.
“Oh!” You realize that Connie has no way of knowing about your conversations with Javi. “I know. I mean, Javier told me. What they do.”
Connie looks amazed. “Javier told you? When?” Her voice drops to just above a whisper.
“Recently,” you hedge. “I was, um, helping him with something, and it slipped out.” No point in getting him in trouble.
Connie looks ready to burst, but before she can say anything the tv blares, and Steve pointedly declares that it’s starting.
You settle in for the mock-fest, and sure enough, the men don’t disappoint. It’s hard to follow what’s actually going on through their exasperated groaning, but you don’t mind. Their back-and-forth is just as entertaining, and you even manage to join in occasionally during the medical scenes.
Throughout it all, you surreptitiously watch Javier. His opening up is a slow-building thing, like he can’t decide how much of himself to reveal. He steals frequent glances at you, as if trying to judge what you’re thinking of him in this new context. But he can’t pretend to be his usual lascivious self in front of Steve and Connie, and all at once he seems to decide to just be, and damned if you don’t like it.
You don’t let on that you’ve been paying such attention, only teasing and acting like you normally would around friends. But you can’t help but respond to the way Javi’s eyes crinkle when he smiles; to the hard-won sound of his laugh, sending pleasant tingles down your spine. With other things for him to focus on besides you, you’re able to observe him more freely, noticing things you hadn’t before.
When the movie finally ends, you and Javier stand to leave, managing to only after Connie extracts ironclad promises from the both of you to do this again. The tentative banter you’d fallen into in the apartment carries you down the stairs; it felt rather like you were still creating the steps to a dance in which you weren’t quite sure if you were competitors or partners.
He walks you to your door. “It’s like eight steps down the hall, Javier.” It’s sweet, despite your objection.
“A lot can happen in eight steps,” he counters, undeterred.
At the door, he murmurs your name. You look at him in surprise when he takes your hand, even as your body sings from the warmth of his attention. “I don’t believe I’ve thanked you for all your help yet.” He brings your hand to his mouth and presses his lips to your skin. Softly, lingering. “Properly, that is.” In his hooded eyes is a brazen offer.
His mustache brushes more softly than you would have thought, and your mind immediately leaps to imagine what it would feel like against your mouth. Heat flares within you at the thought, but you pull your hand free and step back from him. You can see his thoughts slow, reorganize at your retreat.
“You don’t have to thank me with sex, Javier.” It would be lying to say you hadn’t considered this possibility; you place each word with care, knowing that any future relationship you might have with Javier would depend on his response to this conversation. “I didn’t help you as an excuse to sleep with you.”
It wasn’t that you weren’t interested in sex with him, exactly. The truth was...you didn’t want to be done with him yet. You wanted to learn more about him, uncover all the little things that made him him behind the gruff armor. But if you agreed to be seduced by him tonight, it would send the opposite message. That all he had been to you was a debt that was now paid.
Javier looks befuddled, the furrow in his brow deepening as his listens. Your next words come out sounding more practiced. “If that’s all you want from me then fine, but...friendship is good too, you know? Friends are a thing people have.” Your gaze drops briefly, a flicker of embarrassment overtaking you. But you’re determined to make him understand that this isn’t a blanket rejection.
His expression turns frustratingly inscrutable as he digests this. “Right.” Slowly he nods, shifting away from your door.
“Just- think about what I said, Javi. Okay?” No pity in your voice, only a soft, steady plea.
Javier continues to nod as he backs away. “Sure,” he replies, step by step, toward his own home. “Buenas noches, Vecina.” Good night, Neighbor.
In a twisted reversal of your usual roles, you watch him walk the length of the hall. A contemplative saunter, hands sliding into his pockets to retrieve a cigarette.
You can only hope you said the right thing.
---
A/N: In the first scene, Javi left the room to go put on underwear lmao.
Fic Taglist: @din-damn-djarin, @thirstworldproblemss
#javier peña x reader#javier peña x you#narcos fic#narcos#javier peña#pedro pascal#pedro pascal characters
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Email for better love lives
I HAVE A NAME FOR THIS ONE YAAAAAY
im doing the read more thing, cuz u know scrolling ugh
@beyoncesdragon @aixy-hpsa (if anyone else wanna be tagged, let me know!!!)
This is a Yunho fic!
enjoy?
You met San at a compulsory public speaking class, where only you both had to attend for grades; it was filled with nerds who came voluntarily. And your bond begin with bored out glances at each other and loud sighs exchanged. And after that you guys hung out a lot, went to get coffee while doing homework, caught rides with each other, and waved whenever your paths crossed.
You met Yunho when San wanted you to meet his friends that he wouldn’t stop talking about, which made you slightly jealous; you yearned for a bond like that. You pushed that thought away, nothing good comes with jealousy. And while San and his friends would go about their own business, you would stick to the side-lines, not knowing what to say or do, even though they try their best to include you.
Yunho would be the one to keep you company, actively telling you about his day and attentively listen when you were asked about yours. He would also help you study and take you out to grab coffee when San would be too busy.
Anyone would be a fool to not fall for Yunho, with his smile that make his eyes crinkle at the corners, teeth on display, fluffy hair. Who wouldn’t fall for him, at least you could keep it inside, and no one had to know.
“Look at Yunho in this picture, he looks so handsome” San shows you the pictures from your quick break before the exams to the arcade. You take a glance, damn. You know that the moment you open your mouth, you’re screwed.
“Hmm”
“I don’t like it when you’re vague”
“Yes Yunho is cute” That’s all you plan on saying anyways, but you had to panic, because what if San thinks you’re not commenting on it too much and picks up that you’re crushing on Yunho? Ok, so you were overthinking.
“Too cute that it’s impossible he exists, I mean I see him every day but it’s not like I believe he’s real, there is a limit to being cute and all. I mean a recreation of a Greek god- I mean he should be a Greek God himself-”
You were cut short by San’s exploding laughter and as you voice your confusion to him, he still laughs until you violently shake him-
“Yah! Why are you laughing?”
He finally calms down enough to tell you-
“Just say you have a crush on him”
You open your mouth to deny-
“Admit it~” He says scrolling through his phone again.
You huff out, San was your best (read: only) friend, it wouldn’t hurt to tell him, so you nod the tiniest bit, and San grins from ear to ear.
“I mean, I didn’t see it coming, but when you started rambling off like that, it was obvious.”
You sigh.
“You tell this to anyone, I will personally murder you”
“Sure sure”
And after that, he thankfully let you change the topic.
.
.
.
Ever since then, whenever you’d meet Yunho, right after that, you’d whip out your phone to text San; something vague like-
“He’s wearing a red sweater”
“He dyed his hair blue!”
“Kill me”
And then you’d go home and text San about how a person; a human, cannot simply be so beautiful, and ramble off about him.
.
.
.
“But sir, I don’t have an email” You tell the professor, who has just asked to submit your assignment by mail.
“Don’t whine to me, and make one, is there a student your age without email? How do you have social media accounts?”
“I don’t have them” you reply
“Just make one, it’s extremely useful, and won’t take much of your time” He said, in a brushing off manner, guess he doesn’t believe you.
You nod and sigh as you leave to the next class. If you can’t whine to your professor, you can whine to Yunho. Who listens to the whole thing like the god damn angel he is, and as you open your phone to create one, he gently coaxes it out of your hand, asks you if it’s okay if he creates one for you instead and when you nod he turns his attention to the phone, while you’re just dumbly staring at your hand, where Yunho’s hand made contact with yours.
“Look, I sent my self a mail using yours, lets chat on mail for a while, you can get used to it” He says, you nod, and talk for a while, and then Yunho had to go. You wave at him while he leaves and you text San.
“What’s your mail?”
And when you finally get it, you send him a mail.
URGENT: JEONG YUNHO TOUCHED MY HAND, I REPEAT JEONG YUNHO TOUCHED MY HAND, MOM COME PICK ME UP PLEASE.
I MEAN HE WAS FABULOUS TODAY TO, IF IT WASN’T OBVIOUS; HIS HAIR WAS SO SOFT I CLIKED A PIC, LOOK:
[Image attached]
DO ME A FAVOUR, WHEN I DIE, SIT ON THE VERY SAME CHAIR HE’S SITTING ON, LOOK AT THE SAME DEIRECTION HE’S LOOKING AT AND BURY ME THERE, WHILE YOUR AT IT PRINT THIS ON MY GRAVESTONE.
WHEN I DIE PLEASE TELL HIM I LOVE HIM IN THE OTHER WAY.
BYEBYE
Later that day you get a reply from San saying that you’re too dramatic and an email from Yunho, which you didn’t think much about the time. He was the one who wanted to talk in mail, so you open it and-
And you realise you accidently send it to him too.
*cue freak out*
“So I must have send it to him too-” San blinks at you for a while and then-
Laughs at your face saying random things like
“This is gold”
“Nonononono”
“Never in my life- never”
At this point, you think he’s just spewing English vines that he’s been watching a bit too much to be considered healthy. And now you’re overcome with sadness, and as soon as he notices, he starts apologising and you bow you head, you think you look like a rag doll, and then cry. And san runs circles on you back, occasionally tucking strands of hair behind you ear and wait till you finish.
After a good while of snot- running type of crying, puffy eyes and ringing ears, you start to ramble, a habit that got you here in the first place.
“I don’t think I’m ready for rejection, I mean I was perfectly fine watching him from the side-lines. Heck I would watch him get married and I’d probably say nothing, like I’m not dying inside, proceed to get married, I’m crying tears of happiness-”
“What makes you so sure that he’s going to reject you?”
“I don’t know ok? But this isn’t a movie, he sees me as a friend and I had to go and catch feelings for him.”
San sighs.
“So, what’re you going to do now?”
.
.
.
It was hard, but you finally managed to blackmail San to help you avoid Yunho situations.
“And how long do you plan to do this?”
“Until my plane ticket and Visa to Alaska are approved and I change my name to Veronica Fall”
He looks at you, and the look speaks for itself, you’re being dramatic. You raise your arms in mock surrender and flop on top of the bed.
“Tomorrow everyone is hanging out, Yunho will be there, you coming?”
You pointedly grin at his cheeky expression, and he mimics the way you had surrendered just a few moments ago.
.
.
.
You stare at the response you had given to all the missed calls from Yunho.
I’m busy
Sorry, I was showering
I’m going to be busy for a while.
And you watch as the three dots move, and then stop and then move again, you feel as if your heartbeat moves along with those dots, stopping when it disappears, and then finally a response.
We need to talk, I gave you your time, and it’s not fair.
You feel like this is a new side of Yunho you haven’t seen, an assertive one. And you realise, just because you’re a coward, doesn’t mean that you can leave Yunho in the dark, even though you have fears of Yunho leaving you, getting awkward; deep down, you know, that Yunho, he’d never treat your feelings as something useless. And that makes you feel more in love.
And who knows unrequited love may not be so bad, maybe, just maybe; for Yunho it might not be so bad.
Fine
After sending the last text, you get up to clean the place, take out boxes littered about, and books and papers all lying about that you haven’t cared to put away. You do the dishes, and tie your hair into a pony, you’re distracting yourself from the real problem of facing him, for now you let yourself do it; later, you can scream at yourself.
And a right when you reach for the broomstick that you had tucked in deep behind the storage room; you hear a knock at your door.
You don’t think much about it, until you open the door. Low and behold; Yunho was standing at the doorway, a determined look on his face and he walks past you into the house.
You can’t help but think; geez, come on in. But you’re just salty.
And he opens his phone and shows it at your face, too close to read, practically in between your eyes, its touching your nose too. And you’re the dramatic one.
“Explain; explain this email, that was, I figure, supposed to be sent to San, explain why you’ve been avoiding me and my calls, and wherever I go right after I replied to this, I’m not going or letting you go until you do.”
And his voice cracks at the end bit, but you don’t notice, you’re in a bubble of thinking; thinking how to phrase this, just overthinking; maybe.
And moments which feel like hours pass, and you decide to do this the ripping off the band aid way. But it turned out more like the ramble it off way
“I like you? No, no that came out wrong… I love you? Yes, I’m pretty sure I love you, and don’t worry I know you’re not into me that way-”
And you don’t know what really happened; there was a hand on your face, right under your nose, and he was right in front of you.
“Sometimes, everything you say is nonsense.” He breathes, you open your mouth to respond, and he applies more pressure with his palm, to keep you quiet. You can’t help but think of the way your lips mouthed at his palm, not the time; not the time at all.
And then he continues.
“You don’t know how relieved I am to hear that, the moment I got that email, it took me a few minutes to understand, but when I did, I already pictured our five adopted cats, not gonna lie”
Your eyes widen in shock, did he just indirectly say he like you back, in the form of cats? This is why you fell for him in the first place.
“Did I creep you out? I must have creeped you out, forget I said that.”
And you laugh behind his palm, and he slowly removes it, moves it to your shoulder, drags it down the length of your arm, and interlocks it with your hand, a sweet smile on his face, the contagious one, so it’s only law that you smile back, teeth and all, since you can’t hold it back.
“We should go on a date.”
“That; we must.”
.
.
.
You were on one of your many dates, too wind up in each other to not notice the others who also wanted to hang out with you, you totally kept the news from San; you and Yunho are in this together, so he needs to also be comfortable with telling San, after a lot of thinking, you both settle on letting them find out, which may take years to get in their daft heads, but for now, you both have put fate in them.
.
.
.
San caught on way too quickly, the moment you enter the café and sit down, he says-
“So you’re not moving to Alaska? Or is your husband; Yunho moving with you?”
You blush and look down-
“Look, I can explain-”
And he breaks into a wide grin,
“I’m happy for ya”
.
.
.
You and Yunho were scrolling through many of the messages you have send to San; the ones fawning over Yunho, as much as he likes to get you flustered, he himself also gets flustered, so it’s a win-win situation.
“They haven’t caught on yet” you suddenly say.
It’s true, other than San none of them have caught on yet that you both have been dating, and that’s kind of weird, since it’s been almost a whole year.
But it’s not like you’re gonna sit them down and tell them. You and Yunho have a better plan.
Well you have a better plan.
“-and they walk in on us!”
“…..”
“Or not?”
“No”
You end up inviting them over for dinner, and as they take their first bites, you happily chirp in that you’re dating and Yunho adds that you’re moving in with, leaving everyone to choke on their food, except San, who had a cocky expression, which soon turned into a choking fit, who’s cocky now?
And Wooyoung looks up, and goes “Wait, you’re serious” and continues choking, this time on nothing.
.
.
.
#jung yunho x reader#alternate universe#pirate king#ateez#ateez au#ateez fics#ateez imagines#song mingi#jung wooyoung#choi san#choi jongho#park seonghwa#kim hongjoong#kang yeosang#jung yunho#its like wrong text fic but like wrong email fic#u know?#also like the reader seems a bit stalkerish#but i know yall filthy hoes inside out#anyways#uhm its kinds fluff and crack ig#so#crack#fluff#humor#drabbles#?#kpop drabbles#kpop fics#kpop au
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PARTNERS IN CRIME OR LOVERS? • RAFE CAMERON
I said you look pretty. All strung out on coke You said it's not funny But it wasn't a joke And you won't remember But I carried you home You sat in the shower While I washed off your clothes
Rafe had already thrown up twice in that party, crying out in agony and saying nonsense that was when Kelce and Topper decided it was best to call Y/N to handle the situation, even though Rafe and Y/N had broken up a few months ago she was the only one who could snap Rafe off that hazy state and bring him back. He drank way too much and the alcohol mixed with coke probably harmed him a little which ended up in a terrific hangover in the next day but it didn’t scare Y/N any less when her friends came up to her saying Rafe was all messed up in Topper’s room.
“Again?” She asked, worried, once Kelce explained the situation.
“He is out of it ma.” Kelce said scratching the back of his head, fixing his snapback.
“I’ll go see him.” Y/N shrugged her shoulders placing her beer down in the countertop. “Thanks for letting me know guys.” She patted their shoulders as she walked between Topper and Kelce. “And I’m sorry for him Topper.” She added.
“Nothing new.” Topper laughed.
With a loud sigh she stepped into Topper’s room where Y/N found Rafe laying in the ground, holding a pillow he took from his best friends bed. Rafe was talking to himself in confused mumbles until he saw Y/N, who knelt down to his face, sitting down.
“There you are pretty girl.” He said with a smile, dragging the words with difficulty. He was really out of it. “I missed youuu.” He blew her a kiss. “This isn’t any fun without babyyyyy.”
“Rafe, lets go come on.” Y/N brushed his sweaty hair of his forehead. “Kelce and Topper told me you already threw up twice.”
“Ugh.” Rafe whined rolling into Y/N lap to lay his head on her thighs. “Snitches get stitches!” He screamed closing his hands in a fist, fighting the air.
“Oh my god, what am I gonna do with you.” Y/N said desperate as Rafe kept on rambling nonsense. “We need to get you out of here, troublemaker.” Y/N tried to get up but as soon as she moved his head the only thing she heard beside his complaints was the loud tod of his head banging the ground.
“Autch” Rafe cried out pouting his lips.
“Here, come on big boy.” Y/N giggled watching Rafe struggle to get up on his own.
He was almost a giant beside her but Y/N still hugged his waist firmly to keep him up. He stumble on a few steps of the stairs making Y/N curse as they made their way outside. Rafe insisted on saying goodbye to his best friends trying to slip a few sips of beer which Y/N quickly slapped his hand of the cups.
“We are leaving. Now!” With a serious voice she pulled him outside.
“Uhhh I like it when you talk like that mama.” Rafe whistle making her face turn bright red, sometimes especially when he got this high he forgot they weren’t a couple anymore.
Y/N strapped his seatbelt in place before closing his door and turning the engine of her car on. During the way Rafe changed the song almost hundred times getting impatient, Y/N knew she couldn’t take him back to his home because if Ward saw his son in that state he would freak out and probably beat his ass.
“I’m hungry.” He said turning to her, turning off the radio. “Yo quiero Taco Bell.” He sang.
“You look so pretty.” Y/N laugh looking at him briefly while she took a turn into her street.
“This isn’t funny Y/N.” Rafe whined once again.
“I have leftovers at my place.” She said parking the car. “You can eat them, and the ice cream.” She added and Rafe rubbed his hands together at the thought of food.
“Do you have that disgusting frozen pizza?” Rafe asked excited towering over Y/N as she unlocked the door to her apartment.
“Keep it down Rafe, people are sleeping!” She said pulling him inside her house, he hadn’t been there in a long time.
She sat him down on the couch before she could run him a cold shower in all hopes that the freezing water could help sobering him a little bit. Once she has everything ready and a change of clothes for him, since Y/N still had dozen of his hoodies and sweats laying around her house, she walked toward the living room where she found a faded Rafe arguing with the television.
“What’s the matter now?” Y/N asked, one hand on her hip.
“I wanna watch netflix.” Rafe answered, words escaping through a large drunken smile.
“What you need is a cold shower.” She said put Rafe nodded no. “Yes you need one, come one, lets go.” Without giving the boy time to argue she pulled him straight up.
Now in the bathroom Y/N tried to beg Rafe not to fall while he was taking of his shirt, ignoring her pleads.
“Wanna join me?” He asked with a smirk on his lips, undoing his belt.
“Rafe!” She said loudly. “No, get in the shower.” She pointed to the bathtub before leaving him alone.
Her cheeks were still bright red from his questions, not that she didn’t want Rafe anymore because she knew she did what she didn’t want was to be a casual faded fuck. Rafe got extremely needy when he got to this point and Y/N had to collect all her willpower not to give in.
Once she heard the water running and Rafe complaining about the coldness she knew she could get his dirty clothes from the bathroom, so she did, slowly walking making sure it was safe and grabbing his disposed clothes.
“I know you are there.” Rafe laughed, poking his head through the end of the curtain.
“Hurry up, you need to eat something and sleep it off.” She warned walking out.
“Okay mommy.” Rafe joked once the door was closed again.
Y/N let out a big sigh and made her away to the laundry to put his dirty clothes in the washing machine, pressing some buttons and after a couple seconds it was spinning, Y/N leaned into it thinking about the all situation, her parents weren’t the biggests fans of having Rafe alone in her house with their daughter, but Y/N ignored them. Her friends also warned her about him which she tried to play cool saying “that’s what friends do” even though she knew friends didn’t act like they did.
Everything was a mess but she felt a strange wave of serenity rushing over her once she heard Rafe’s voice again, calling out for her.
“You still have this?” He asked pointing at the hoodie.
“Of course I do, what did you expected me to do? Throw it out of the window?” The girl giggled open the freezer, to grab the pizza Rafe asked for in the car.
“I thought you’d get rid of my clothes.” He confessed with a frown.
“But they’re comfy.” Y/N stated obviously while the pizza spinned inside the microwave.
Rafe had a slight smile on his cheeks, he was still pretty faded but not to much to the point of being a chaotic mess. His fell into his forehead smoothly and his black sweats along with the grey hoodie made him look ten times even more cuddly than he already was.
Y/N gave him a plate with three generous slices of pizza and a cup of orange juice, once he was comfortable in the couch she sat beside him, opening netflix letting him chose something.
“Want some?” He asked, politely, offering her.
“No, I’m good thanks Rafe.” Y/N smiled at his gesture.
“He should watch Resident Evil.” He pointed at the screen with a mouth full.
“Again?” Y/N laughed, it seemed like they’d always watch those movies together.
“It’s tradition babyyy” Rafe said and eventually she ended up playing it.
When he was done eating Rafe got up to place the plates into she sink even though Y/N told him he didn’t have to, she didn’t want him to fall or anything, he came back to the couch laying down in the free seats with his head on her lap, Y/N smelled the fresh shampoo on his hair giving her a huge urge to play with his hair.
“Can you massage my head?” Rafe looked at her, almost like he read her mind.
Y/N automatically started to play with his hair, massaging his scalp in pleasant patterns which made Rafe moan softly at her touch he so dearly craved. A few hours passed by and Rafe was fast asleep but Y/N was wide awake looking at him, making sure he was fine and also admiring his soft features.
When Rafe slept he’d always look so peaceful, his face looked relaxed and his hair looked extremely soft. The calm breaths leaving his body making his chest move slightly, it was a sight to see. Y/N loved when Rafe was calm and out of trouble, even if he wasn’t her boyfriend anymore. Which lead her into thinking if someone walked towards her front door and saw them like these what would they think of them? Would they think they were lovers or partners in crime? Would they think they were just friends? Maybe fools? She couldn’t stop thinking about that and she wondered was he thinking the same? Was he dreaming of her? Was Rafe dreaming about when he one night begged his girlfriend to leave everything behind and run away from Outer Banks to start fresh somewhere no one knew them, what was he dreaming about? She questioned herself as she kept on playing with his hair, carressing his face.
Tag list 💞
@koufaxx @majoroof @thatsonobx @starkeybaby @this-is-bigger-than--us @tomzfrog @alotbnouf @jj-maybank-stan @jellyfishbeansontoast @rafecamerondeservesbetter @tomfreakinghollandneedsaoscar @tembo-ndoto @poguebx @k-k0129 @kieinred @obxmxybxnk @lcil123 @fandom-phaser @sexualparkour @myrandom-fandomlife @lasnaro @sw-eat-ing @kiarascarreras @jjswhore @milamaybank @downbytheouterbanks @write-from-the-heart @justcallmesams @annedub @drizzlethatfalls @tovvaf @drewswannabegirl @whoreforouterbanks @newhopenessie @maybebanks @poguesrforlife @shawnssongs @wastedheartcth @rudyypankow @danicarosaline @sc4rlettm @hufflepeople @punkrainbows @obliviatevamps @trustfundparker @annoylinglyaries @sexytholland @5am-cigarette @softstarkey
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(liar liar) 🍰PANTS ON FIRE for the wip meme, please! i'm so happy to see you here, i'm grinning like an fool
Awww you’re entirely too sweet my darling @fictional ! I’m so happy to be back and I think it was some sort of stars aligning when you tagged me, because I have been logging in from time to time but it’s only taken me a few seconds to feel NOPE and disappear again. And this was the first time I felt like I can actually be here (tumblr is a weird place for me) and then you tagged me and I got very excited. So thank you! 🥰
Okay so to quit rambling, this wip is actually one I think I’ve talk to you about and yes, it’s referring to Liar liar. I don’t want to give away too much of the plot (even if the one I’m (currently not actively) writing for isn’t active right now) so I’ll post a snippet. It got pretty long because I’ve shared the second half of it with a few people and I wanted to give them something as well. Please note that it’s kind of rough still.
The following morning, Draco is horribly sticky with sweat, because XX is lying far too close to him and, oh heaven forbid, touching him. Draco tries to untangle himself as best he can, without frowning too much, should XX wake up, and of course he does when Draco has squirmed around for a bit.
“Mmm, morning sunshine,” he mumbles, his eyes even foggier than usual from sleep. Draco also notices he has dried saliva in the corner of his mouth. Gross. “Did you sleep well?”
“Amazing,” Draco means to say, because any other answer to the assistant to [someone high ranked that Draco wants to work for] - whom you’ve taken home to shag silly to get the chance of getting a position with [highly ranked person] - is impossible. Maybe “Of course,” or “Very,” or even an agreeing hum would be acceptable. But the words “Not really,” which are the ones Draco hears himself say, are definitely not the right ones.
Luckily, XX just chuckles, a sound that grates along Draco’s spine, and he has to fight back the urge to shudder in discomfort. “I think I know what you mean, I found it very distracting to sleep so close to someone with this hot body.” He smiles in what is probably supposed to be a teasing way, but it looks like he’s constipated. Draco is extremely impressed with himself that he manages to not recline as XX inches nearer to him. “We had some amazing sex last night, don’t you think?”
“Honestly, I’ve had better,” someone says, and to his horror, Draco realises it’s himself.
There’s a nasty pause, in which the only thing Draco can do is stare as XX’s face goes from shocked, to looking like he thinks Draco is joking, to realisation that he’s not, and then his features turn into a scowl. “Excuse me?”
This is Draco’s chance, he thinks, this is his chance to smooth things over, to laugh it off as, yes, a joke, it was just a bad joke! It’s too early and he hasn’t had his tea yet, he can’t be held responsible for the things that jump out of his mouth. So he laughs, he laughs, and then to smooth things over, he says “Well, I wouldn’t say it was bad enough for you to apologise, but I have to say it was a nice touch. I do forgive you.”
Want to know about my WIPs? Send an ask!
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La Vie en Rose
Ship: Parkner (Harley Keener/Peter Parker)
Summary: Parkner, but with The Batchelor, because I said so
Tags: Febufluff, Day 13, bouquet of roses, Roses, the bachelor - Freeform, Harley is the The Bachelor, And Peter is a contestant, Bisexual Harley Keener, I love how thats not even a real tag LMAO, Bisexual Peter Parker, Love at First Sight, First Impressions, Good first impressions, First Impressions Rose, Fluff, Why Did I Write This?, The Author Regrets Everything, Boys In Love, Happily Ever After
Day 13 of Febufluff: "Bouquet of Roses"
Author Note: I'm considering writing a Flower Shop AU as an extra fic for this day if I have time. If that's something you guys want to see, let me know! :)))
--
Harley doesnt know why he decided to do this stupid show. He huffs in annoyance as his appointed hair stylist starts playing with his hair again, like the first twenty times she had done it wasn't good enough, trying not to duck away from her hands. Because that would be considered rude, seeing as he chose to be here.
On set. Surrounded by cameras. On the Batchelor, of all shows. Really, why couldn't he have signed up for Survivor, or Big Brother, or something? Why did he have to choose the one where he had to dress up, and put on an act? Why did he have to choose the show about love?
Because he's a hopeless romantic who's been alone for way too long and is started to become extremely desperate? Because he just wants to find the one for him without going through another thousand assholes and heartbreaks? Because he's just trying so hard for people who don't even want him?
His face scrunches up as he glares at the bouquet of roses placed beside him, something he's supposed to give to someone who makes the best first impression or something, ignoring the team around him as they pick at his clothing just it's just right, perfect for the cameras, perfect for his suitors, who are going to be walking through those doors right in front of him in about 2 minutes and give him plastic smile, fake personalities just as he is going to give to them. Because they dont want the real Harley, the nerdy, clumsy guy who stumbles over his words and rambles about the things that he likes, who's normally an introvert and adores his days staying indoors with a good book and a movie, oh no no no. These people, they want the image of Harley Keener, the rich, strong, tall, perfect man who could do no wrong, and who is always romantic, always outgoing, always on.
God, why is he doing this? Why did he decide to do this? He's never going to find anyone real on here, and he's just going to get his heartbroken again, and make a fool of himself, this time it'll just be on live television for everyone in the world to see-
The producers start to count down, and the red light starts to flicker on the cameras, so Harley's plasters on a big, handsome smile, even if he has a sinking feeling in his stomach.
The first person out is a nice woman named Macy. She's pretty, kind and soft spoken, but her smile doesnt reach her eyes, and those very same eyes flicker over Harleys body way too many times as they talk, that when she finally walks away, Barley feels a little frazzled. A little objectified. He feels like he should get used to that.
After that, there's a man named Bryan and another woman named Suzie. They were both nice people, and both easy on the eyes, but still, there wasn't a connection to either of them, they weren't what Harley was looking for. He didnt know what he was looking for, really, but it wasn't them. At least, Harley didnt know, until another man steps out after Suzie steps away.
Harley looks up, planning to plant another painful grin on to his face until he freezes, his heart stopping in his chest. Woah. His chestnut hair is slicked back, with one stray curl falling into his chocolate brown bambi looking eyes, wide and full of glee and a trace of hope, a wide smile on his face pushing up his thinner lips and lightly freckled cheeks, shining with the faintest hint of makeup. His jaw is so chiseled, and his shoulders are broad, and holy moley Harley cant breathe. He feels weak in the knees, staring at what has to be a Greek God, ethereal in his beauty, and completely missing whatever he just said.
Harley blinks down at him (he's shorter than Harley by a few inches, just his Harley likes it, god is he perfect?), knowing hes gaping at the man who's now staring back at him with a flicker of amusement in his eye, like he knew Harley didnt hear a word he just said. "Uh, I'm sorry, can you repeat that?"
Peter's grin widens, like he confirms his suspicions, and holds out his hand again. "I said," he emphases teasingly, his gorgeous, twinkling eyes full of mirth. "my name is Peter Parker. Nice to meet you."
Harley shakes himself out of his stupor, and shakes the man's hand firmly, confidently. "Harley Keener."
The twinkle in Peter's eye grows. "I know."
'Of course he would know, you're the batchelor, dipshit.' Harley berates himself, wincing a little externally, taking a deep breath and smiling sheepishly, trying to pull himself back together. "Sorry. I'm not normally like this, uh." 'Dont start rambling, dont start rambling,' "What are some things I should know about you?" Harley flinches again at the terrible wording of the phrase he was told to say, but Peter just laughs lightly, apparently taking it all in stride.
"Well," his voice is so soft and silky, and Harley is gone for him, oh no, this is so bad- "I'm 23," 'so we're the same age, that's good, cross that off the list,' "I have a bachelor of Biochemistry at MIT, and going for my Masters soon." 'smart, intelligence is sexy, another checkmark there,', "I'm a dog person, but I love all kinds of animals," 'I've always wanted a dog, check', "and I love going out, but I also enjoy indoor time, just relaxing and doing nothing." 'Check, check, and check, perfect, he's actually perfect, I don't understand, what the heck-'
"What about you?" Peter breaks through his box, still grinning that stunning, toothy grin of his, and normally, Harley would lie, say hes an outgoing guy that loves to go out on the town, say that he loves to go out on dates and go out to parties, anything to sweep them off their feet. But he doesnt want to do that with Peter, doesnt feel like he has to with Peter, so he blurts out the truth before he can think.
"Pretty much everything you said." He chuckles awkwardly, partially dropping his act as he rubs at the back of his neck. "I'm also 23, got a bachelor's in Engineering, work full time, I love animals too, and always wanted to have a dog." Peter's grin softens, turning into a warm smile as he listens that has Harley's heart warbling, making him relax even more. "I love movie days, and am pretty much a really big nerd."
Peter brights at that. "Me too! What's your favorite movie?"
Harley ponders on that for a second, while simultaneously wondering how he's gotten this lucky, 'this stupid show is actually working?' "Probably Indiana Jones, though Star Wars comes in a close second."
"Dude, I love Star Wars! Oh," Peter looks cheeky, his eyes wide and shining with excitement. "Harrison Ford fan?"
Harley can't help but to smile back, Peter's radiating positive energy infectious. "You bet. One of the best actors of our time. Who's your favorite character??"
They keep talking for a while, longer than he normally gets with the contestants, before the crew is ushering Peter away, needing to make time for the others in their busy schedule, and Harley looks over his shoulder, staring after him with warmth unfurling in his chest.
Later that night, everyone gathers together in a large room, cameras still surrounding them, for the Rose Ceremony. Instead of being nervous, uncomfortable and bitter like he was earlier, Harley is stood with his back straight and his head held up high, holding onto the bouquet of roses tightly, knowing exactly who he's going to give them to. Even as Harley meet more and more people, there was only one person that stuck into his mind like glue, filling his almost every thought.
Chris Harrison explains what will happen in the rose ceremony, how it works to the audience, before the cameras pan on to him, expectant and waiting.
Harley takes a deep breath, knowing hes probably going to get some shit for this, but deciding he doesnt really care all that much. "You are all amazing, wonderful people who made good impressions on me. But there was only one person that made me feel relaxed, like I could be myself, and that stuck in my mind for the rest of the night. So, Peter Parker, I give you the First Impressions Rose."
Peter's face lights up as he makes his way to the front, ignore the grumbled or disgusted looks coming from the other contestants, his eyes full of shock, like he didnt expect to get it, and so much gratitude it practically knocks Harley off his feet. Peter gently takes the flowers with a small, quiet "Thank you," his gaze giving away every emotion that his words can't.
"Of course," Harley murmurs back, pressing a quick kiss to his cheek before he turns away again, grinning as he sees the crew start to panic from behind the cameras. Peter flushes so prettily, giving him one last, soft, beautiful smile before turning and walking back to his spot, joy radiating off of him in waves.
Harley just watches him gently, his entire face soft, before he wipes the expression away and goes back to the regularly scheduled program, getting ready to pass out the other roses. But even as he does, he feels Peter's gaze on him, following his every movement, and feels giddy, hopeful, finally feeling like something good is going to come out of this.
Harley doesn't know it yet, but he ends up proposing to Peter in the finale. They get married a few months later, and go on to become the longest lasting couples in the show's history.
#febufluff#Febufluff#day 13#bouquet of roses#roses#The Batchelor#parkner#parley#peter parker#harley keener#harley keener/peter parker#harley is the bachelor#i dont know why i wrote this#like i havent seen the batchelor in years#why did i make this
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Just-Watched Thoughts on S3
Alright time to write this while I’m still here recovering so I can go to bed already. I might add more/clean this up once I get some proper sleep.
Tagging it but putting Castlevania Season 3 spoilers under a cut just in case people haven’t got tags hidden and such. Here goes-
Overall I’m honestly just kinda shocked? I think it’s because a lot of things were easy to predict (that the cult might be trying to bring back Dracula, something was up with the Judge, Hector was obviously gonna fall for Lenore’s bs, etc.) so when things happened I didn’t see from a mile away..
When I was only like an episode or two in, things actually felt a little stunted to me? Something about it felt like “This is what people liked from before, right??” particularly with certain action or such, but I feel like it picked up pretty quickly from that. I’m still kinda in winding-down-emotions mode so I can’t really definitively say what storylines I liked and which ones I disliked for the most part. I liked Isaac’s, and the design of the... Hivemind Magician? Was all pretty sick. It felt like the first thing that was actually a massive challenge for him, and nearly overtook him, but he overcame it and even came out of it thinking through what he wanted for the future. It’s a nice change from seeing him steamroll anything that came his way.
I like that Trevor and Sypha’s storyline ends up with them not getting their heroic grand time like they did last time. Yes, there were sacrifices made, but before it still felt grandiose: they’d worked together to kill Dracula, something the world didn’t even think possible for the most part. This time, they sacrificed a lot more and ultimately didn’t win a thing other than their own lives, and were helping a hidden monster in their process of killing other monsters. What a crushing thing for them to have to go through, and I think Trevor’s conversation with himself before (and later with said monster, ironically enough) about missing parts of his old non-heroic non-adventuring life was pretty somber and interesting.
The whole Lenore/Hector route was exactly what’s expected from the beginning, but it was done well for what it was, and I don’t think they were trying to fool anyone with the direction it was headed. Carmilla’s plot was.. eh, more or less not much seemed to actually happen, but it did introduce us to the awesome vampire sisters so I’m more than down with it. I wish we got a little more about Saint Germain’s whole deal with that portal and such, who he was looking for and how he knows they’re still alive in there, but I assume that’s a next-season kind of thing.
I’m gonna ramble if I write anymore so here’s a more concise/clear list:
Things I liked
- Trevor and Sypha’s chemistry! I thought it was good the first couple seasons (which apparently puts me in the minority?) but they felt much more compatible as a couple this time around. The little exchange about the “taste for rougher things in life” is wonderful, and I definitely snorted when she sleep-bapped him in the face.
- The tidbits of funny dialogue! Seems to still be a show specialty. Some of them were understandably a bit funny (using “Nope! speedwalks away” in place of “shut it” is pretty good), and others weren’t funny but I just found it hilarious (e.g. Morana’s repeated fancily-stated things that boiled down to “... Lenore, seriously, TMI”)
- The soundtrack! Not really any surprise, despite it not being the famous Symphony of the Night tracks people clamored for trust me I totally get that and despite it still not being released even from season 2 much less 3, it was very nice to listen to.
- The vampire sisters! While it was obvious from the beginning Lenore was the “cutest/nonthreateningest-looking of the scary bunch but actually the scariest” one I liked the energy they all had, especially Striga and Morana and their relationship. I liked that we got to see Carmilla’s attitude bouncing off of other vampires who (while respecting her skill) also called her out for it from time to time.
- The references! I’m sure there’s more and I’m a dumbass who only spots the obvious ones, but... the fact there’s demons that’re exactly ones out of the ol’ Symphony of the Night game again, like the Malachi and Fire Demon. It’s so dumb but I love shit like that, especially since they obviously stray far from the game canon and don’t have to do that but do it anyway.
- Some of the action scenes. I cannot mention what I like without mentioning the parts that made me go “... Okay, yeah, that was badass.” You know the ones! When Cho busted that sword with her hands, when Sypha chopped that angel-like demon into pieces. ... A lot of the stuff Sypha did, actually, I’m glad she got some more epic moments to kick ass this season. I thought the earlier action scenes of the season were just alright, but by the last fight it was definitely starting to feel like that awesome dynamic fight style we saw in season 2.
- The fact Dracula saw an opportunity to return and didn’t want to. Not much to say here other than the obvious - I feel like that’s extremely fitting, and I’m glad they made it clear without bringing him back and having him be angry/regret it or something like that. Without any dialogue, even.
- The ending.. somewhat. It destroyed me a little on the inside, but I actually like that nobody really had a happy ending. Particularly if there could be another season, it feels really fitting. I’ve seen some people complaining “They ended up where they started! Trevor and Sypha are back on the road, Isaac’s traveling with his army, Alucard’s alone in the castle and Hector is a slave” but I couldn’t disagree more. Of course if you boil it down to the words themselves, it’s “the same,” but did ya see the sheer trauma literally everyone was put through? Obviously some had it worse than others (and we’ll fucking get to that) but nobody came out unscathed. Everyone’s now had some belief challenged or retreated further into a fear/mistrust that already existed - previous events planted the seed for it and the hell the cast went through gave it growth.
Trevor and Sypha are going to have to challenge their goal they’d been following since working together/getting together: they can’t just go headlong adventuring and fixing people’s problems, because things like this can happen. Their new allies and the entire town were slaughtered or trapped somewhere, and the man they’d trusted and been helping this entire time was a serial killer, particularly of children. Alucard is drifting into a state of consciousness not unlike his father before he met Lisa, but potentially in a worse place since he’s witnessed and felt true kindness, but has retreated away from it even so due to the betrayal he’s suffered at an already-fragile time for him. Isaac has to reconsider what he’s going to do once he has his proper army, and even if it’s worth it to get his revenge or to carry out Dracula’s original plans. Saint Germain.. I mean, he’s in psychodelic hell searching for that person and presumably a way out, I assume it’s tragic. Hector’s learned a hard lesson in trusting and is going to have to figure out if his freedom is worth risking pain or death. Likewise I think the characters grow this way. Even if it was a happy ending, or an ending where everyone “wins” some small victory somehow, I think it’d ultimately have been worthless if nobody was fundamentally changed by the end of the season.
Things I didn’t like
- The sex scenes. I’ve seen a lot of people like “If you’re gonna put in gratuitous sex then actually include Trevor and Sypha??” and I’m gonna have to disagree with that. While I love the ship and all, I’d like to give the benefit of the doubt and say sex scenes weren’t thrown around randomly or just to flex the rating - they were only tied to actual story, hence why I’m down with the bedroom stuff of the show’s main ship only being alluded to. However, I gotta say that the long broken-up sex scenes mixed with battle/action was not the way to do that. I think I know what they were going for (it definitely drove my anxiety up having those scenes back to back with intense action/violence, I can tell ya that!), but it just wasn’t a good idea. Yes, they were obviously made to be uncomfortable (particularly since I’m pretty sure one of them was dubious consent at best?) but that was reflected well just in a few key frames/actions - it didn’t need to be drawn out and mixed with the action. It made me want to skip through (I didn’t out of fear I’d miss battles, which isn’t really good design) and I’d like to bet parts of the finale are unwatchable for some. For the record, yes you could say “well they got into an adult-rated show, deal with it,” but the fact of the matter is up until now sexual violence/discomfort wasn’t heavy-handed and in-your-face like this. Non-sexual violence was definitely all over the whole series, but it’s still a bit like whiplash considering.
Also, the fact people think the scene with Alucard was at all chill. I see it from a story standpoint (though I honestly think their motivations were weak and there’s other ways to betray someone/get their guard down), but I think the people going on about “power bottom” and this and that are forgetting that the absence of a no is not a yes, particularly with someone severely emotionally damaged after spending months alone not only without a support group but without any contact, immediately following the death of his father by his own hands. I’m no expert but I don’t think that’s someone in the proper state of mind to consent to anything sexual, even if there were a couple weeks or whatever of spending time with these new friends. He very well might’ve been on the way to a stress disorder before they turned his world upside-down and frankly I’m wondering how he’s going to be faring come the next season (assuming there is one.) That’s more of a fandom gripe than the show itself I suppose but it’s worth a mention.
- The pacing. It’s hard to pinpoint it, but something about it felt off, especially in the first half. The best way I can describe it is when you pump the gas and brakes because your brakes aren’t working great and you’re loosening them up - maybe it was necessary to get things going, but it’s a bit destabilizing/odd for anyone in the car. I think it’s what contributed to that stunted sense I got until things picked up a little more. You can see it more in just how packed with stuff the latter half is, some things which could’ve been planned a bit better through the whole season.
- Sumi and Taka. I honestly felt that they wanted to get in a way to have a punch-in-the-gut arc with Alucard (not a bad idea, I am one for tragedy), wanted to kill off some characters who were actually important, and decided to do these both with one stone. I don’t think they were successful on the second part, because these two absolutely contributed to the stunted feeling I had about some of the season. They had a good start in terms of backstory, and the idea of two people working together to fight vampires without having some big legend tied to their name to drive it (e.g. Speaker magicians, Belmont legacy, Alucard’s heritage), as well as a connection to/fleshing out of one of the nameless generals, sounded like a great concept. A great concept, but it was rushed I felt, to the point that their motivations for turning on him were so packed and squished in they just weren’t believable if we’re supposed to believe these two were sane. They had some sort of mental/trust issues due to their backstory - that’s fine, and could contribute some emotional problems. However if their distrust in Alucard had been given more time to fester and grow, more little comments of Alucard’s brushing off their attempts to learn about specific things, and more cues from him that could be misinterpreted by them as him causing trouble and lying (not just them not believing him by itself), it would be more believable that the past and misinterpretations of the present get into their head and poison their thoughts of him. You can plant a seed of doubt but just like any other character bonds, it has to be given time to grow. Alucard’s rapid bonding with them could be attributed to his loneliness, trauma, and need for a support system, but you can’t make that excuse for Sumi and Taka’s motivations going from “Hm.. I wonder what he isn’t telling us” to “We need to emotionally gut him and then kill him” basically overnight.
Edit:
I forgot to add a conclusion last night, so I guess the TL;DR is season 3’s a good 7.5/10 for me, -1 for the overall pacing, -1 for missing a bit of the punch from before, and -0.5 because the last few episodes jumped me with a bat and I let it happen.
#i'm probably gonna regret this tomorrow but here are my just-got-gutted-by-that-season thoughts#castlevania#season 3 spoilers#castlevania season 3#ooc#tw dubcon#tw violence
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Chapters: 3/12
Fandom: Pitch Perfect (Movies)
Rating: T
Relationships: Chloe Beale/Beca Mitchell
Characters: Beca Mitchell, Chloe Beale, Dr. Mitchell (Pitch Perfect), Beca Mitchell's Mother, Aubrey Posen, Jesse Swanson
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, skateboarder!beca, Romance, Angst
* * *
Beca never thought she would see the day when she was excited to go to an a cappella rehearsal.
And she still never thought she would, because today was not that day.
After debating with herself for the better part of the day about whether or not she should actually go through with this whole a cappella thing, Beca ultimately decided that she had to stick it out. If she stuck to something terrible now, her miserable time spent in the horrid purgatory known as Barden would end sooner.
Beca just hoped it wouldn’t kill her before she got the chance to escape.
The doors to the rehearsal space creak slightly as she pulls them open. The large room she steps into smells like old wood and dust. There were steps with seats around the perimeter, and about a dozen foldout chairs were set up in front of a white board in the middle of the room. Most of the girls Beca had met at initiation were already there, sitting in the chairs and conversing while Chloe and Aubrey stood in front of them, discussing quietly with one another.
A black baby grand piano stands next to the set up, and Beca wrinkles her nose at it as she makes her way over to the rest of the girls. Chloe notices her approaching out of the corner of her eye and turns towards her, smiling brightly.
“Beca! You’re here!” she exclaims before leaving Aubrey’s side to skip her way over to Beca. Aubrey huffs in annoyance, but Beca ignores her.
“Don’t sound so surprised,” she says teasingly, stopping in front of Chloe. Chloe giggles and pulls Beca into an unexpected hug.
“I’m not surprised,” she speaks into Beca’s ear, causing a shiver to run down her spine. “Just excited to see you.”
Before Beca can decide what that means, Aubrey claps her hands loudly from the front of the group. “Alright, ladies. Everyone is here now, which means rehearsal has officially started. Please take a seat. Sopranos in the front and altos in the back.”
Chloe pulls somewhat reluctantly away from Beca and rejoins Aubrey at the front. Beca sits down at the end of the back row and tries to ignore the fact that she can still feel the ginger’s arms wrapped around her.
“As you can see, Kori is not here,” Aubrey starts. “Last night she was Treble-boned. She has been disinvited from the Bellas,” Aubrey continues, walking over to an empty chair in the front row and moving it aside.
A vague memory of saying her vocal chords would be ripped out by wolves floats into Beca’s mind and suddenly she remembers part of the oath she’d taken at initiation. “That oath was serious?”
“Dixie Chicks serious,” Aubrey affirms. Beca stares at her in confusion. “You can fool around with whoever you want to, just not a Treble.”
“That’s not gonna be easy,” Stacie in the front row says. She gestures in between her legs. “He’s a hunter.”
Beca smiles and stares in amazement at the busty brunette. “You call it a dude?” Stacie looks over her shoulder at Beca and grins, nodding her head and looking supremely proud of herself. Beca nods her head back, extremely satisfied with this new information.
Aubrey ruins the moment. “Stacie, the Trebles don’t respect us,” she says, staring the girl down, “and if we let them penetrate us, we are giving them our power.”
Rather than fighting Aubrey on the matter, Stacie just closes her legs.
“Not a good enough reason to use the word ‘penetrate,’” the girl called Fat Amy points out.
Aubrey chooses to ignore her. “So, is there anyone here that has anything to confess?” she asks slowly, her eyes skimming the group before landing on the girl sitting on the other end of Beca’s row. Beca cranes her neck to see her shifting nervously in her seat.
The girl visibly tenses, and all at once her confession bursts from her. “It was an accident! I…”
Aubrey gives her a pitying smile and holds out her hand. “Turn in your scarf and go.”
The girl stares up at Aubrey in sorrow, her mouth open and closing for a few times before she begins to untie her Bellas scarf from her bag strap. She places it in Aubrey’s hand.
Aubrey makes a standing gesture, then points to the door. The girl starts walking out, before Aubrey stops her. “Take your chair,” she tells her.
The girl grabs the back of her chair and begins to drag it behind her as she swiftly makes her way to the exit. She starts running halfway and drops the chair back on all four legs when she gets close to the door, crying as she pushes them open and leaves the room.
Beca watches all this with shock. “Was that necessary?” she asks Aubrey incredulously as soon as the girl has left, twisting back around in her seat to glare at the blonde.
“We are at war, Beca,” Aubrey says gravely. “I need to have my soldiers prepped and ready to go with three kick-ass songs,” she continues, starting to get worked up. “And if you don’t like the way I run things than you can just-”
Aubrey suddenly gags, holding up a fist to her mouth and turning around. Beca stares in confusion, and she sees the other girls doing the same.
Chloe rushes over to Aubrey, stroking a hand up and down the struggling girl’s back. “Breath, Aubrey,” she says softly, though Beca can still here her from where she sits. “We don’t want a repeat of what happened last year.”
Beca’s ears perk up at that, curiosity overcoming her. Luckily, she doesn’t have to be the one to ask. The Asian girl next to her – Lilly, she thinks – raises her hand.
Chloe points to her while Aubrey tries to compose herself. “What is it?” she implores kindly.
Lilly whispers something. Although she’s right next to her, Beca can’t even hear what she’s saying.
“I’m sorry, what are you saying?” Chloe asks.
“What happened last year?” Beca can just barely hear her the second time, but everyone else still looks confused.
“Uh, she’s wondering what happened last year,” Beca says louder. The rest of the group starts agreeing. Looks of uncertainty pass across Chloe and Aubrey’s faces.
Ten minutes and a disgusting, puke-filled YouTube video later, Aubrey attempts to refocus the group. “Enough,” she snaps, causing everyone to look back at her. Beca doesn’t know if she can ever look at her the same way. “It’s in the past. Now is time for the future. This is how we’ll become champions.”
Aubrey walks over to the whiteboard, flipping it over to reveal various rehearsal techniques and exercises.
Beca stifles a groan as she listens to Aubrey drawl on about all the things they have to do, regretting her life choices even more than before.
* * *
Beca doesn’t know how long they’ve been at rehearsal for, but it feels as though a lifetime has passed, and they still weren’t done.
She’s standing by the piano, listening to Aubrey ramble on beside her about proper breathing techniques, the importance of scales, and how to produce a good singing tone. Aubrey’s turned towards Beca, one hand resting on the piano’s polished wood surface. Beca opts to keep her hands hanging by her side.
“Stand up straight. You’re short enough that it’s silly that you slouch anyways. And stop leaning to one side when you sing. You should always take full breaths when you sing, that way your voice can carry more and you’ll have more endurance.”
Beca resists the urge to roll her eyes. As if she needs someone to teach her all this stuff. These techniques have been imbedded in her for years.
*
“It’s important to always have good posture when you sing,” Ms. Heather tells Beca, standing up from the piano bench to circle around her.
“But, I thought I was standing straight,” Beca says, raising her chin in the air in order to make herself seem as tall as possible. Her nine year old body didn’t offer that much height to begin with, but that didn’t stop her from trying.
Ms. Heather chuckles. “Raising your head doesn’t fix you posture, Beca.” She places her hands gently on Beca’s shoulders to pull them back. “You want all your airways to be completely open, that way your voice can carry all the way through your body unrestrained.” With a few more minor adjustments to Beca’s stance, Ms. Heather nods in approval. “There, perfect. That’s how you should always stand.”
Beca holds as still as possible, not wanting to ruin her perfect posture. Ms. Heather sits back down at the piano and smiles up at her. She begins to lead Beca through the remainder of her lesson, joking every now and then when she notices Beca getting frustrated. Beca leaves her house with a smile on her face.
When she gets home, she immediately rushes to the kitchen. Her mom stands at the stove, making dinner.
“Hi, sweetie,” she says, pouring pasta in a boiling pot of water. “How was your lesson?”
“It was great! Ms. Heather gave me a new song to work on,” Beca tells her proudly, holding the sheet music up for her mom to see.
Her mom steps away from the stove to take the piece of music from Beca’s hands. She studies it for a few moments, humming her approval. “That’s pretty exciting! I can’t wait to hear it, Beca.”
Beca grins. “Is Dad home yet? I want to sing it for you and him.”
Her mom walks over to the cupboards and starts pulling plates and cups out to set them on the counter. “Not yet, but he should be getting home any minute now. Why don’t you help me set the table, and you can give us a little mini-concert after dinner?”
Grumbling in disappointment a little, Beca grabs the kitchenware and starts on the talk of setting them out on the table. Her pouting doesn’t last long, though. She sings freely as she works, letting the excitement of a new song and the chance to perform for her parents carry her to dinner.
*
“Are you listening to a word I’m saying?”
Beca is jolted back to the present by Aubrey’s sharp words. She notices that her hands have strayed to rest on top of the piano and quickly retracts them, folding her arms over her chest.
“Yeah, definitely,” she says breezily. “Have good posture, drop your jaw, keep your air moving. Got it.”
Aubrey’s eyes narrow. “Hm,” is all she says for a moment, studying Beca. She takes in her purposeful slouch. “Well, fix your standing, then. You look like you trying to shrink in on yourself.”
She begins leading Beca through a warm-up that involves saying the word ‘wow’ over and over again. Beca feels ridiculous, but she has no choice but to go along with it. Her eyes wander as she does so, watching the other Bellas work on various things.
Chloe stands in front of a mirror with Stacie, trying in vain to teach the girl how to keep her hands off herself while singing. Things will go well for a few seconds at a time before Stacie starts groping or grabbing herself in some way, causing Chloe to force her hands to remain at her sides again.
The redhead must feel eyes on her, because after a while she turns her head in Beca’s direction. Beca blushes slightly at being caught and quickly looks away. She glances back a few seconds later to see Chloe still staring at her.
Although she’s still doing the dumb vocal warm-ups, she manages to smile sarcastically at Chloe. She raises her eyebrows and shrugs to indicate how done she is with Aubrey’s crap. Chloe giggles and her tongue pokes through her teeth a little as she tries to make herself stop. She winks once at Beca before turning her attention back to Stacie’s wandering hands.
For some reason, Beca’s smile turns more genuine and the voice stuff Aubrey’s forcing her to do doesn’t seem quite as terrible as before.
* * *
After a disastrous attempt at running through some of the choreography they learned that day, Aubrey lets out an exasperated breath. “Okay, I’m calling it.”
Beca sighs in relief. She was ready for this hell to finally be over. Still, she couldn’t help but give in to the desire to rile up Aubrey, just a little more. Plus, something had been bugging her since they started learning the dance steps. She grabs her water bottle and walks over to the blonde. “Hey, Aubrey, did we just learn the same choreography from that video?”
Aubrey slams her water bottle down on the piano, and Beca can’t help but wince at the action. “Don’t forget to pick up your rehearsal schedule,” she says, ignoring Beca.
Beca clenches her jaw and goes to pick up her schedule. Then, at Aubrey’s request (demand), she joins the rest of the Bellas in a circle. They all put their hands in the middle and attempt to sing and put their hands up on (after?) three, but fail miserably. Aubrey tells them that they’ll work on that first thing next time and finally lets them go.
With a snicker, Beca starts moving to quickly pack up all of her stuff. She’s just heading towards the door when she hears her name being called. She turns around to see Aubrey looking at her expectantly.
“What’s up?” she asks, hoping this won’t take long.
“You know you’ll have to take those ear monstrosities out for the fall mixer, right?” Aubrey asks rhetorically, as if Beca is stupid.
Beca feels anger flare in her chest, but pushes it down. Aubrey definitely isn’t worth it. “You really don’t like me, do you?” she says decidedly.
“I don’t like your attitude,” Aubrey replies frankly.
“You don’t even know me,” Beca retorts defensively. She sees Chloe approach slowly from the corner of her eye.
“I know that you don’t want to be here,” Aubrey accuses her, eyes narrowing. “And I have a feeling that the only thing you care about is yourself.”
Beca shrugs. “Guess you’ll never know,” she says simply and starts to walk away.
From behind her, Aubrey lets out a sharp, “I can smell smoke on you! You better not ruin your voice with those drugs of yours, Beca.”
Beca turns around and continues to walk backwards. “I’m gonna need them to deal with you,” she fires back before pivoting on her heel and swiftly exiting the room.
Now that Aubrey mentions it, she really could go for a smoke.
* * *
She doesn’t expect a knock on her door later that evening, but she figures it’s either her dad or her RA, and Kimmy Jin isn’t here so it isn’t one of her friends, so she chooses to ignore them and hopes whoever it is will go away. Instead, the person knocks again, louder and more rapidly this time. “Beca, you in there?” A familiar voice says.
Beca pauses the show she was watching – The Office, sue her – and gets up to open the door. Just as she suspected, Chloe Beale stands on the other side. She’s got her backpack slung over her shoulder and her face breaks out in a grin when she sees Beca. “You are here!”
“Unfortunately,” Beca deadpans. Chloe only giggles in response. “Um, what are you doing here?” she implores.
“I was wondering if we could hang out,” Chloe replies easily. Beca raises an eyebrow.
“And you had to come all the way to my dorm to ask me that? Why didn’t you just text me?”
Chloe shrugs. “I have a feeling that if I’d texted you, you wouldn’t have answered.”
Damn. She was right.
Beca rubs the back of her neck awkwardly. “That’s not true…” she trails off weakly.
Chloe looks at her knowingly. “Mmhm. Sure it’s not. So, can I come in?”
She’s already pushing past Beca as she says it, dropping her bag at the foot of the bed and kicking off her shoes.
“Please do,” Beca says sarcastically, shutting the door. She watches as Chloe starts wandering around the room, looking at the various pictures lining her shelves. “You don’t know boundaries very well, do you?” she asks after a moment, though there’s no malice in her tone like she thought there would be.
Chloe looks away from the pictures and towards Beca, grinning. “Nope, not really,” she says brightly. Then, a rare shadow of doubt crosses her face. “Is this too much? I can go if I’m making you uncomfortable.”
Beca chuckles. “Pretty sure you already did that when you burst in my shower, dude,” she says lightly. She walks over to sit in her desk chair. “I don’t think you could do much worse at this point.”
Chloe’s smile returns. “Good point,” she agrees before turning back towards the photos.
The pictures are mostly of her friends from Seattle, most of them taken at the skate park they always used to hang out at. A fair number are action shots of either someone else doing a trick or Beca herself doing one. Chloe picks one up of Beca.
“Is this you?” she asks.
Beca nods her head. “Yeah, it is.”
Chloe studies the picture for another moment, looking impressed. “How long have you been skateboarding for?”
Beca thinks back. “Since I was… fifteen, I think? Yeah, I started at fifteen and got my first board at sixteen. So like three years.”
The picture gets returned to its place and Chloe points to another one. “And who are they? Friends of yours?”
“Yeah, or, acquaintances, at least.”
“Do you miss them?”
Beca shrugs at the question. “I guess? But not really.”
Chloe looks at her. “Not really? Why not?”
Beca swivels in her chair a bit. “We weren’t super close. We did more skating than talking most of the time.”
“Where are you from?”
“What is this, twenty question?” Beca grumbles.
Chloe has the decency to look apologetic. “Sorry, I just wanted to get to know you.”
“Yeah, well, I think you’ve got that covered by now,” Beca says icily. She notices Chloe looking upset, so she softens up. “So did you have anything in mind that you wanted to do when you came here, or was your idea to actually play 20 questions?” she tries in a joking manner.
Chloe flushes slightly. “No, nothing specific,” she admits. “I don’t know. I guess I just… I guess I just wanted to spend time with you.”
Beca clicks her tongue to fill the silence and looks around the room. “Well, I was just watching The Office when you knocked,” she says awkwardly. “We could watch that, if you want?”
Chloe’s face lights up. “Let’s do it.”
The two of them get settled on the bed with Beca’s laptop in between them and let the show play, but eventually it just ends up as background noise to their conversation. But Beca doesn’t mind; she’s seen all the episodes, and she’s slowly learning that she’d much rather listen to Chloe Beale talk than watch Michael Scott offend his employees anyways.
* * *
The next day, Beca walks into work to find a sight she’s never seen before. Some guy is standing by one of the shelves, dusting. Music blares from some overhead speakers – which Beca didn’t even know they had – and the guy is singing along at the top of his lungs.
Beca narrows her eyes and marches over to the stranger. “Hey,” she barks, poking him harshly in the back of the shoulder. The guy turns around with a grin on his face.
“Hey,” he says, in a much friendlier manner than Beca had. “I’m Jesse.”
Beca points up at the ceiling. “Do you mind?” she asks, indicating to the music.
“Right! Sorry, one sec,” Jesse says quickly. He walks over to the office and a few moments later, the volume is turned down significantly. Beca scowls. She wanted it all the way off, but at least now she doesn’t have to yell over the noise. Jesse emerges from the office. “Sorry about that, I wasn’t expecting anyone here for a while.”
“Who are you, anyways?” Beca questions him with a raised eyebrow.
“I’m Jesse.”
Beca rolls her eyes. “Yeah, you mentioned that,” she says irritably. “But what are you doing here?”
“I… work here?” Jesse says, sounding confused.
Beca’s eyebrows furrow. “Then why haven’t I seen you before?”
Jesse laughs. “Probably because Luke doesn’t need both of us here at the same time.”
Beca’s shoulders slump. She guessed that made sense. “Oh, right.”
Jesse studies her for a moment. “I know you,” he decides.
“No you don’t,” Beca says.
“Yeah, I do,” Jesse says confidently. “I just don’t know from where…” He taps his chin, thinking, before snapping his fingers. “You’re that girl who did the cup thing at auditions!”
Beca groans inwardly. You’ve got to be kidding me.
“That would be me,” she sighs, walking away from him to plop down on the couch. Jesse follows excitedly behind her.
“Man, that was so cool,” he raves. “Could you show me how to do it?”
“No,” Beca snaps at him immediately, glaring in his direction.
Jesse holds up his hands in surrender with a smile on his face. “Okay, okay. Not a big sharer, I see,” he says good-naturedly. Beca fights to keep her cold stare intact. It’s harder to glare at someone who seems genuinely so unbothered by her standoffish attitude.
“Quick learner,” she quips.
Jesse just grins some more. “You got recruited by the Bellas, right?”
Beca nods her head. “Unfortunately.”
“I joined the Trebles.”
“Congratulations,” she drawls dryly, picking up a magazine to read from the coffee table.
Jesse chuckles. “So what’s you deal?” he asks, standing from the couch to continue his dusting. “You’re one of those girls who’s all dark and mysterious, then she takes off her glasses and that amazingly scary ear spike and you realize that, you know, she was beautiful the whole time?”
“I don’t wear glasses,” Beca deadpans, flipping a page in her magazine.
“Then you’re halfway there,” Jesse fires back.
Beca looks up at him for moment before turning her attention away again. “You know when Luke’s gonna be back?”
“No,” is Jesse’s reply from the other side of the room. “He said he was ‘going out,’ so who knows what that means.”
Beca shrugs and stands up from the couch, magazine still in hand. She walks over to the office to see a sound system. She finds the power button and presses it, ceasing the music altogether. Jesse looks at her in confusion and she stares back with an indifferent gaze. She sits down in the chair behind the desk and breaks eye contact, flipping another page in her magazine and saying nothing.
* * *
The empty swimming pool on Barden’s campus would definitely make a great zombie apocalypse movie set, but apparently it was also the perfect place to host competitive a cappella events. All four groups on campus stood (or sat, in the High Notes case) in the middle of the pool, waiting for… whatever it they were there for to start.
When Aubrey had messaged the Bellas group chat telling them to be ready for the “riff off” tonight, Beca had immediately texted Chloe and asked what the hell a riff off was. Chloe had only sent back a cryptic you’ll see with a winky face in response.
It was a miracle Beca came, really.
Observers stood and sat along the pool’s edge at the top, drinking beer and apparently hyping themselves up for the evening’s activity. Beca didn’t know who was lamer- the people willingly participating in a cappella, or the a cappella groupies.
Beca would go with the latter, since she was technically once of the people willingly participating.
Aubrey is busy giving everyone a brief pep talk of sorts when a siren call sounds from the Harmonics. The Bellas all turn towards the center of the pool where one of the guys from auditions, Justin, stands.
“WELCOME TO THE RIFF OFF.”
A cheer rises from groups and spectators alike, and even Beca begins to feel the palpable excitement in the air.
“Who’s ready to get vocal?” Justin asks, causing more cheering to erupt. He continues to pump up the crowd and from her place at the edge of the Bellas, Beca spots Jesse standing with the Trebles. He catches her looking at him and puts on a tough expression.
You’re going down, he mouths to her, pointing to the ground.
Beca shrugs and holds out her hands. I don’t care, she mouths back.
Fair enough, he replies, grinning.
Justin was apparently finally ready to get down to business. “Let’s see our first category,” he says, holding a projector thing up to the wall, showing a wheel with different categories to choose from. The wheel starts spinning and Beca looks to see Chloe and Aubrey watching with avid attention. Aubrey holds her hands up to her mouth and wiggles her fingers in anticipation.
The wheel eventually stops spinning and lands on a category. “Ladies of the ‘80s!” Justin proclaims, and movement immediately follows. Aubrey rushes forward at the same time as the Trebles do, and before she can start singing Bumper stomps his foot.
“Oh Mickey, you’re so fine,” they start singing along with the beat they’ve created, “You’re so fine you blow my mind. Hey Mickey! Oh Mickey, you’re so-”
“Fine,” they’re cut off by a girl from the Harmonics. The Harmonics start doing a rendition of Like a Virgin and Beca watches with slight fascination. She still doesn’t exactly understand how this whole thing works, since no one ever bothered to explain it to her, but she guesses it’s sort of interesting watching the different groups interact with each other like this.
The Harmonics continue to sing while Aubrey and Chloe turn towards the Bellas to form a huddle. Beca can’t hear exactly what they’re saying, but she does hear the firm “watch” that Aubrey says before she walks out to the middle of the pool again. Beca notices Chloe start to follow behind before Aubrey shoos her away. Beca’s eyes narrow suspiciously.
Aubrey butts in to what the Harmonics are singing with, “Like the one in me, that’s okay,” and understanding of how it works starts to dawn on Beca. Aubrey continues to sing and eventually motions for the rest of the Bellas to join her. Chloe leads the rest of them towards Aubrey, and they begin to harmonize. Beca doesn’t sing along with them quite yet, but she does follow hesitantly behind.
It’s actually going surprising well before Beca sees one of the High Notes stumble their way over. She holds up a hand and tries to match the word “away” with “ay.” A few people start laughing at her, including members of her own group and Justin walks over to her with his arms raised.
“The negative side effects of medical marijuana, folks,” he proclaims. “You are,” he claps his hands together, as well as everyone else in the pool, causing Beca to jump slightly in surprise, “Cut off!”
Cheering rises at the elimination and Justin turns towards the wall to pick the next category. The Bellas retreat back to their original spot and Beca sidles up alongside Chloe to make sure she’s understanding things correctly. “So, we match a new song with a common word?”
Chloe smiles at her. “Exactly.”
“And you just pick any song that works and… go with it?”
Chloe nods her head. “Yep,” she affirms.
“Nice,” Beca says, mostly to herself, as she migrates towards the back of the group again.
Suddenly, the next category is announced. “Songs about sex.”
Beca sees the Trebles start to move towards the middle, but before they get far a voice cuts them off.
“Na na na, come on.”
To her surprise, it’s Cynthia-Rose that is singing. She steps out from the middle of the Bellas and makes her way to stand right in front of the Trebles, getting in their faces. The rest of the Bellas start doing background vocals while Stacie prowls forward so that she’s next to Cynthia-Rose. The two start grinding against each other while they sing.
This time, Beca can’t help but join in. She steps up behind Chloe and adds in some harmonies, trying not to look too into the whole ordeal. She does have a reputation to uphold, after all.
Before they can repeat the chorus all the way through, the beatboxer from the Trebles cuts in. “Sex, baby. Let’s talk you and me,” he croons, getting the rest of the guys to back him up. Cynthia-Rose retreats back to the rest of the Bellas, but Stacie holds her ground.
Aubrey marches up to start pulling Stacie away from the Trebles by the arm, but Stacie stops her before they get very far. Once again, she strolls right up to the boys and cuts them off. “Baby, all through the night I’ll make love to you,” she sings, and Amy steps forward to harmonize with her. “Like you want me to, and-”
“And I guess that’s just the woman in you,” Beca’s surprised when Jesse quickly steps in and sings over Stacie, causing her to finally step away. Her face must show her surprise, because he gives her a subtle wink. “That brings out the man in me.”
Jesse looks so smug as the rest of the Trebles join him that Beca can’t help but start to think of some song to interrupt him with. She racks her brain for any options, and comes up with a horribly brilliant idea. She really doesn’t give it any second thought before running forward.
“It’s going down, fade to blackstreet, the homies got RB, collab’ creations, bump like acne.”
The look of shock on Jesse’s face is enough to make Beca forget about what she’s doing, so she’s keeps going and lets the lyrics spill from her lips. She turns around to face the Bellas towards the end of the rap to look at all of them. Chloe’s jaw is basically on the floor, Aubrey has a look of confusion on her face, and the rest of the girls look either shocked or impressed.
An awkward moment of silence follows the verse, and Beca’s heart falls as the Bellas fail to join in with her. Then, she hears Jesse from behind her say, “Keep going,” and that’s all she needs to push through.
Beca smiles at the Bellas and spreads her arms out. “Shorty get down, good Lord,” she croons, and the resulting whistles and whoops give her strength. “Baby got ‘em open all over town.”
At last, Fat Amy emerges from the Bellas. She joins in with Beca on the next line, and Beca sees Chloe turn to start organizing the rest of the girls. “Strickly biz she don’t play around, cover much grounds, got game by the pound,” Fat Amy slaps her belly, and with that Chloe cues them in and the Bellas are off.
As Beca’s voice soars over the brilliant backup the Bellas are providing her, she can’t help but think about how great this is. How great it feels to sing and to feel the music flow through her. It’s a sensation she hasn’t allowed herself to feel in years and in this moment, Beca forgets why she ever stopped in the first place.
Beca takes a turn around the group and ends up next to Chloe. The two of them make eye contact, and Beca’s smile somehow grows even larger. A rush goes through Beca when she realizes Chloe’s not the only one watching her; the other girls are all waiting for her cue to cut them off. So, she raises her hands to let them know to hold out one last note and lets it end with a resounding, “We out.”
Cheers explode from all around the pool, and Beca pays them only brief attention before facing the Trebles. While Chloe hugs her from behind and Amy jostles her arm, Beca lets her expression turn smug. “I mean, you’re welcome,” she tells the Trebles cockily.
She’s so caught up in celebrating with the Bellas that she doesn’t notice Justin making his over to them. “Tough blow, ladies,” he says, killing the mood. “The word you needed to match was ‘it’… and you sang ‘it’s.’” Beca laughs in disbelief. “You are cut off!”
The Trebles and Justin are the only ones that say it this time around, but it doesn’t hurt any less. Anger flares though Beca. “Are you serious?” she demands.
Justin declares the Trebles as the winners and hands them the microphone. The Trebles go wild and Beca glares at them. They got to win by a technicality?
Fuck this.
Aubrey starts gathering the Bellas for some sort of meeting, but Beca ignores her summons and storms off in the direction of the ladder out of the pool. When she gets her foot in the first notch to start climbing out, she feels a hand on her arm, stopping her. She whips around, expecting to see an angry Aubrey or a gloating Jesse, but it’s neither. It’s Chloe.
“Don’t you have a loss to discuss?” she says bitterly, but immediately regrets the tone she used upon seeing the lack of judgement in Chloe’s eyes.
“I don’t want to focus on the loss,” Chloe says kindly. “I just… I just wanted to tell you how amazing you were tonight. I’ve never seen anything like that before,” she squeezes Beca’s arm. “Beca, that was incredible.”
Beca’s eyes soften at the sincerity in Chloe’s voice. “Yeah well,” she says softly, without the malice of before. “I’m glad someone thinks so.”
She meets Chloe’s eyes for a second and gives her a small, sad smile before climbing up out of the pool. She shoves her hands in her jacket pockets and starts walking home, all the while ignoring the small bit of light that she knows was ignited tonight; a light that was ignited by the music.
#fanfic#pitch perfect#bechloe#beca mitchell#chloe beale#life is not a love song#much fast updates#such wow
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Sugar Daddy [Hoseok x Reader] 9
credit: littlemeowmeowschimmy
Requests opened // prev - m.list - next
Genre: Romance // Angst // Smut
Summary: A sudden request to be one of the most powerful man’s sugar baby comes apart of your life, it’s hard to turn it down. However, through the process of this relationship, you slowly start to feel for him..but then again, you become extremely wary of the position you’re in. Will this end well…?
WC: 2.3k
A/N: Ah sorry for whomever asked to be tagged. I wrote it down somewhere and then lost it D: Just send me a message (dm or through ask) and I’ll put you on the next chapter for the tag list! Anyways, here’s the next update, sorry loves it’s been awhile.
»»————- ★ ————-««
You kept distancing yourself from Hoseok as the seasons started to change. Or so it felt like you were distancing yourself from him. Hoseok continued to get busier by the second, meaning that he didn’t have a lot of time for you. Which made you feel like you weren’t good enough in the first place. Although, despite not giving him what he wanted, Hoseok stayed good to his word. He continued to pay for your college tuition, and sending you gifts whenever he could.
Although those gifts were few and they weren’t big either. You were getting a little pessimistic as the air grew more relaxed, and your feelings for him grew distant. Everything seemed to be going well at work, despite your boss knowing what happened between you and Hoseok. That would forever be in the back of your mind as you sat there, trying to figure out what your next move would be. Of course, your career could be ruined even before you started it.
Small thoughts like such ran throughout your every being. You couldn’t help yourself, though, considering that you joined because of your best friend. Speaking of whom, Ayeong had her hands full with sophomore. For some reason, she found him to be attractive, humorous, and everything that was not someone her age. Although you couldn’t deny that his looks weren’t there, you had to step back just a little because of the age difference.
Yeah, it was only two years apart, but something about younger men didn’t appeal to you. However, you shouldn’t be speaking as Hoseok was and is only two years older than you are so you weren’t utterly unsatisfied with her decision. Ayeong often showed pictures of him whenever she decided to gush. Park Jimin was known for his excellent dance skills and innocent mind.
However, as Ayeong pointed out, he wasn’t so innocent in bed. Plus, what he was hiding under his clothes was something to look forward to as she often put it. Since your positions had flipped, you were on the receiving end of things. Listening to Ayeong speaks about how amazing Jimin was in bed, amongst other things. You were happy for your friend, but it certainly felt like you were missing apart from yourself.
Without Hoseok, everything just kind of went back to normal. The world wasn’t as “colorful,” as one would say. It felt like a rush with him, and since you weren’t getting it anymore...
The loud bang of your forehead hitting your desk took you from your thoughts. It was another sleepless night as you had purposefully pushed your final project to the side. Since the end of the semester was coming, you assumed that you would be able to fly by with perfect colors. Not have to worry about your final project as it was due months away. Now, since the deadline was only a couple of weeks instead of a couple of months, you were scrambling to get everything done.
The project was based around your dreams and aspirations. Your professor wanted you to get out of the box and think about things that weren’t so reality driven. The more creative, the better he’d often say. Now with your mind somewhere else, the innovative “juices” weren’t flowing. You sounded like a lovesick fool with how often you thought about Hoseok.
Hell, you even told yourself that you were beginning to become someone that you hated. Maybe you should have listened better during sex education when they talked about the hormones. Perhaps that’s what brought you closer to Hoseok, or perhaps it was because you were genuinely attracted to his personality. Hell, you had only known the man personally for what seemed like half the year.
Now that he was beginning to become distant, again, it just didn’t feel right. When you heard your phone go off, you groaned. Assuming that it was Ayeong calling, you didn’t bother to look at the ID.
“Ayeong, if you’re going to brag about Jimin’s dick, I don’t want to hear it.” You mumbled pressing your cheek against the wooden desk. What brought you to your senses was hearing a familiar chuckle from the other end. You immediately sat up straighter, a light flush escaping your cheeks.
“Whomever this Jimin person is,” Hoseok started in a honey tone. “I’m sure he has a lot to show if Ayeong is cooing over him.”
“I - um - Hoseok -“ You paused fumbling over your words and scrambling to get up. it was almost as if you were seeing him at the front door with how quickly your body reacted to him. “I mean Mr.Jung, I’m sorry about that.” You mentioned pushing your desk chair in and then fixing the cardigan on your shoulders. Hoseok just clicks his tongue in response, later shifting from wherever he sat.
You could picture him in his bedroom, leaning against the doorway out to the patio. Seoul’s lights were flickering from below and his face lightened by the moon. It was almost too stereotypical to picture him holding a glass of whiskey or wine, but you could’ve seen him without one. He seemed to drink a lot whenever you were around, but it was in moderation.
Although, you remembered him telling you about the drinking problem in his family. Why he only had a couple of glasses a night, or sometimes not any at all. Pushing that aside, you too moved towards your small patio. Opening the door just a crack to feel the cool breeze outside. But with how the smog was lately, you couldn’t have it open for far too long...
“It’s good to hear your voice Y/n,” he spoke, bringing the glass up to his lips, then gently set it down. Your heart was beating a thousand times in your chest as it felt like you were on the phone with the love of your life. Or some silly little school crush.
“Right back at ya,” you nervously laughed pushing your doors shut then moving around back towards your bed. You shifted towards the middle, bringing your back to the wall and your knees up to your chest. There, you drummed your fingers along your knees, eyes scanning everywhere so you wouldn’t focus on one thing.
The silence was starting to get to you both, as it seemed like it would eat you two alive. No one said anything for a while, both of you thinking about different things. Hoseok was thinking about how to invite you over to something, and you were thinking about how and why he was calling you. The second you decided to open your mouth, so did Hoseok and it certainly felt like you two were in a cheesy movie together.
Hoseok chuckled once again, the sound sending your heart into your throat and your cheeks to brighten. When he offered that you go first, the silence took back over. How were you going to tell him that you were upset with him not making any contact? Maybe if you were, to be honest with him, that solve your problems, but then again, you were afraid of confrontation.
“Y/n,” Hoseok starts picking the glass of wine up again. “Is something the matter?” he questions pursing his lips.
“Yeah..actually there is.” You slowly started after his question. Since his silence was an answer to your own, you decided to tell him everything. Pieces that you thought would at least spark a conversation. You explained to him how you didn’t particularly enjoy being distant from him.
Although, you continued to stress that you understood why he was distant. Being a CEO wasn’t precisely a laid back kind of job. So you just rambled on for what seemed like an hour and a half but was only twenty minutes. Hoseok patiently waiting and listening as you spilled your guts out to him. Now you certainly felt like you were in a cheesy rom-com with him.
Especially when the line went silent again and the only thing you could hear was the ticking from your clock. When Hoseok didn’t answer, you called out to him. Only to get a grunt and then a sigh on the other end. You could hear him call out to someone, but you couldn’t quite hear their name.
When whomever he called out to got closer, Hoseok mentioned that he needed his car out front. That’s when you put two and two together and abruptly tried to stop him.
“Wait - I don’t think coming over is a good -“
“No, I need to explain myself in person. Plus I haven’t seen you. Be there in twenty.” then he hung up.
»»————- ★ ————-««
“This feels way too much like a romcom,” You mentioned when Hoseok broke down your door. He glanced in between you and what was left of your crummy apartment’s door. Since his key wasn’t working, he decided to use his muscles and break the door.
Or what was around your door so he could get in. Meaning you would have to explain to your landlady why there was a gigantic hole in your front door. This also meant that someone could easily take your things during the night if you didn’t lock your place upright. Hoseok inspected the door once again, tilting his head to the side and puffing his cheeks out.
The way he did so reminded you of a little child when they were in trouble. You couldn’t help but giggle at the small gesture, but then quickly back peddle when he glances at you. Hoseok determined that everything was okay and there was nothing to fret about. However, everything wasn’t okay as you had a gigantic hole in your door, but that was beside the point.
“Just hear me out.”
“I kind of have to now.” You mentioned stuffing your hands into your pajama pants. Hoseok gave a devilish smirk before slowly creeping his way forwards.
“You are right,” he starts biting his lower lip. How it empathized with his front teeth and made him look like he was a pouty baby. You stood there, heart still beating a thousand times in your chest. “My schedule did get crazy, and I should have warned you,” he mentions rubbing the back of his neck.
“But, I was also advised to stay away from you,” he mentions now taking a step back as he could see the color start to drain from your face. Who would advise him to stay away? Hoseok was his person, and he should be able to make decisions on his own. Once again, you noted that he was apart of a family company. One in which his father built from the ground and then he took over, at such a young age you might add.
“So you are continuing to pay for my tuition,” you mentioned trying to put the pieces together. “But you aren’t talking to me. Yeah, that kind of adds up if you think about it.” You mumbled noting once again that Hoseok heard you. Hoseok brings a few fingers up to the bridge of his nose and then shakes his head. He then goes on to explain what your boss had told about the cameras.
Then, going on to explain what you feared the most. Your career would when you hadn’t even started it. From the outside, it seemed like Hoseok was doing the right thing. He was protecting you and caring for you from far away, even though he didn’t have to. He was your Sugar Daddy. He was supposed to get sexual favors from you, and you were supposed to get things in return.
This wasn’t a relationship, nor should it have ever been. Hoseok did mention tha the had never done something like this before, so he wasn’t sure how it was supposed to turn out. However, falling in love with someone else wasn’t mainly in the plan. Or was he falling in love with the idea of you? These were questions he was asking himself while also trying to keep his distance. It was the real reason he didn’t contact you for such a long time.
Not the bullshit that he was telling you right now. However, from his point of view, it seemed like you were taking it well and weren’t asking many questions. Although, you did give him a snarky remark and he wasn’t completely okay with that. But, he wasn’t going to let his emotions take over the situation as he didn’t want to lose someone valuable in his life.
When he finished explaining the entirety of your fear, the last piece clicked into its rightful place. You crossed your arms tightly over your chest, your eyes leaving him and trying to look somewhere else. This isn’t what you were expecting from tonight, but then again beggars cannot be choosers.
“So what I’m getting from you,” is what your mouth started to say as your brain was still processing all of this. “Is that you don’t want to continue this..”
“Not,” Hoseok mentioned crossing his arms. “But I’m telling you what the risks are and the fears. I’m also explaining to you why I stayed away for such a long time.” There was still uncertainty; however you could understand where he was coming from.
You weren’t at all sure where that left you and him. Which is why when he slowly started to bring up inviting you out to an event, you narrowed your eyes in his direction. You were unsure of where all of this was coming from, yet you didn’t know how to feel about him asking you to go out with him. After everything he just said, he too seemed uncertain about a lot of things. Now he was starting to play it off like everything was okay?
“I’m going to have to think about it Hoseok.” You mentioned bringing a hand up to your hair, ruffling it just a little and then setting it back on your chest. Hoseok nods his head, then stands there awkwardly.
“One more thing...” he mentions his face contorting into somewhat of an innocent expression.
“If you don’t mind..I need a place to crash. My back tire is completely flat.” and it was at this moment, you wanted to hural your kitchen table at him.
#littlemeowmeowschimmy#bangtanarmynet#bts#bangtan#bts series#bangtan series#bts au#bangtan au#bts sugar daddy#bangtan sugar daddy#jung hoseok#jung hoseok x reader#hoseok x reader#bts hoseok#bts jhope#reader insert#bts x reader#bts reader insert
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MTMTE Swerve X reader {how to be failure 101} chapter 4. All my kicks
"You know you want it, you know you want to live for free."
"You know it."
"You know it."
"You know it."
"No!" You panted, waking up in sweat.
Live for free... Ha! What a joke. Never have you heard anything more retarded.
And yet... You fell for it. You fell for it and ended up here. What a fool you were. And all this just for a calm and peaceful life with lots of money.
A sigh left your lips, your nightmares didn't stop even in space. And with the latest happenings, you could only imagine how much more there will be added to your list of traumatic nightmares.
The gore, the blood, the bones, the expressions and limp bodies... It was all real. This time you wished it was just a nightmare, but you knew that it wasn't. Reality, that's what it is.
And goddamn, did it hurt.
You made your way towards the bathroom that was specifically made for you (and surprisingly fast), took a piss, and cleaned up. Afterwards, you put on a messy bun with the only hairband you still had. It didn't suit you, at least not today, so you put your hair lose again.
Suddenly, you felt a pain in your lungs. It wasn't unbearable, just unpleasant, so you decided to ignore it.
'It's probably nothing,' you thought.
When you left the bathroom, Rodimus was already awake. Exited, he picked you up and shouted, "Good morning (y/n), well at least I think it morning now. How was your recharge?"
You winced at his loud demeanor since you've just woken up, but smiled nevertheless at his excitement.
"If by recharge you mean sleep, then I guess I slept alright. How about you?"
"I recharged well like always, thank you for asking."
You nodded and asked him to put you back down so you could put your pants on. For in fact, you didn't sleep in your pants.
"I'm heading to the headquarters, want me to give you a lift somewhere?" Rodimus asked.
"How about Swerve's? I promised him I would come by today."
"Swerve's it is then."
You watched Rodimus transform into vehicle mode while you put your pants on, and then hopped in.
And holy shit, was he fast as hell. You bet that he would be going waaay over the speed limit if it were earth. Luckily this wasn't earth. Although you do think that Ultra Magnus wouldn't approve the speed he was going at, especially with a passenger inside.
Speaking of inside, his interior design was extreme. I'm talking flames, details, the whole think was fancy as fuck, red light everywhere.
You hoped the ride wouldn't be that long, this red was staining your eyes a little.
Skip forward a couple of minutes, thanks to Rodimus' fast driving, your destination came in sight. You carefully slipped out from your seat into the open. Your eyes have never been happier to see a different color then red. It took a lot from you to not cry.
"Here's your stop (y/n), I have to blast to mine now. Will you be okay?"
"Yeah man, I'll be alright. You shouldn't worry about me."
"If you say so." And with that, he drove off again. Leaving dust behind, well that is if there were dust here. This place was pretty clean.
Stepping inside the bar your eyes immediately landed on your boy- I mean Swerve. You have to stay formal, can't go around calling everyone you ever meet your boy right? This isn't some lazy ass fanfiction oneshot!
Wait, you thought it was? Get outta here! You're thinking about another upcoming book.
Ahem.. getting back on track.
His eyes landed on yours and his grin got wider. God, he was so happy you came, he thought you said that just to get away from him.
Sadly, he couldn't jump over the counter to pick you up and bring him to him. He had his own duties, and anyway, you seemed to be fine getting to him on your own. Going left and right so you wouldn't get stepped on. You know, the normal human thing to do when you're surrounded my giants.
Finally, you walked behind the counter and asked him to get you up and place you on the counter.
"Ohmygodiamsohappyyoucame. I thought you wouldn't honestly, not because I think you're a liar but because maybe you said that so you could go to sleep. Do want want some energon?" Swerve rambled.
You chuckled, "I... dont think I am able to drink energon." You pointed at yourself, "human."
"Oh... oh! I am so sorry, I totally forgot! I am so stupid, please excuse me for that. Do you want some water instead?"
"Water would be nice, thank you."
He gave you a rather big glass full of water, well for them it's small but for you it's very, uh... big. But the bigger the better am I right?
You took a sip, and meanwhile the pain in your lungs you felt earlier came back. It made you have a coughing fit, you had to choke yourself to be quiet. No, Swerve didn't poison you.
Although he did get worried that he did. His hands shook, his face was in shock. Will you be okay? What can he do to help you?"
Luckily, you stopped.
"Sorry about that. Humans sometimes get a random coughing fit," you said, as not to worry him to much.
"Are you sure? Do you need anything?" He asked.
"Dont worry, I'm fine. This happens sometimes to the best of us."
He seemed to calm down, but was still a little bit worried. As to not bug you with it anymore, he let it go. Which made you relax, because the last thing you would want is someone here getting worried for someone like you.
After all this happened, and you were done drinking your glass of water, Rodimus came to pick you up. Said you needed to see Rung. You said your goodbyes to Swerve and hopped back inside Romimus' interior, being mad at yourself that you forgot how red it was inside.
But luck was on your side! Rung's office was closer to Swerve's then Swerve's was to your shared hab suite.
Again, you stepped outside being happy with other colors.
And then you thanked Rodimus for the ride ofcourse. He laughed happily and took off god knows where.
Your small hand went up to knock on the door so it could be opened for you.
3 knocks was enough, and then a familiar face was above you with a friendly smile.
(Tags coming another time)
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The MCU’s Daughters Prequel: Whatever
A/N: This is a Prequel, to my new story The MCU’s Daughter, inspired by Brie Larson’s album Finally Out of PE. Whatever is the inspiration only. Hope you like it.
Summary: Long before she was the MCU’s Daughter. Before they were the Internet’s Daughters. They were just teenage girls trying to fit into a new system, a new country and a new school. Before all the fame and success two teens first became friends and teammates.
Warnings: Mentions of Depression, Anxiety, Epilepsy, Violence, Extreme Angst, Minor Fluff
March 8th 2016
Tegan
Why does New Zealand have to have such a weird education system?
You can’t get into high school without doing 8 speeches?
What 5-year-old does a speech?
What would they talk about?
Dora?
The cat in the hat?
It’s insanity. Also since when does creating a youtube channel count as speeches. Also why in the hell did I say I could sing at the beginning of the year? I mean I can, when I’m alone and not standing in the girls' loo after my friends banished all of the girls needing it for half an hour, claiming that it had the best acoustics for recording me singing before we shot the video in the library.
God, why am I here? I should have just prepared 7 speeches and given them to the class throughout the year to get it over with. But no my social anxiety decided to be a bitch and refused to let me take that offer thinking no one would ever see me sing. Boy was I wrong.
“OK, Tegan you stand her by the mic and sing like nobody’s watching,” Inday said with a reassuring smile.
“Much easier said than done, Indy, very much easier said than done.”
“Just do it or you’ll have to spend another year here and I and you both know that you think you’ve been here too long anyway.”
“Ok Blaire Waldorf but is the camera really necessary. I’m fine with all of you listening through the wall on the computer with your headphones in but I don’t want you to see me. I have a doctor's note if you need to say I need to keep my triggers to a minimum if you need.”
“Tegan I’ll get rid of the camera just no snarky.”
“But snarky is fun, Alexandra.”
“Simone handle her.”
“Everyone out and let her do her thing without the camera and she’ll do great.”
“Fine.” And with that, the door shut and I was left in peace in the girls' bathroom less than a month ago I had had a panic attack in.
I really have to do this, don’t I?
Just breath. In. Out. In. Out. Focus all you have to do is sing and not panic and get into high school and you can remove all of these videos from existence. Someone is going to pay for this rule.
I let it out. I began to sing into the mic with all of my year outside the door but I couldn't think about that at the moment all my focus was on the song I had to memorise for today.
When it was all over, I ran to the nearest toilet and puked, sadly for all of my classmates the microphone was still on and they were all hooked up to Saskia’s computer with sound-cancelling headphones listening to me. Great.
As soon as I heard the door opened I sat up leaning against the wall.
“You OK Tegan?”
“Fine just a little sick.”
“You were amazing sweetie. We just have to shoot the video now. You were the last to go.”
All I could do was groan and grasp my hand in the air motioning for someone to help me get up from the ground. Before quickly realizing my stomach wanted to get rid of more content on this wonderful International Women's Day.
“Gross,” Said an English voice from the door, all I did was smile and accept Simone’s help to get up.
“Hey, Robin. How are you?”
“Good and you very clearly are sick.”
“Guys this is my cousin Robin. I don’t know why he’s here but he is.”
“I’ll help shoot if you need and I’m here because I have to do a stupid exchange so which one of you bozos is Lachie because I’m staying with you for 2 weeks.”
“This will be fun.”
“Better you than me Lachie. Because if we were to stay in the same house for longer than 8 hours we’d end up blowing up the entire world. Or the world would end up gone.”
At that statement, everyone laughed and we all got up and headed toward the library for the worst hour of my life.
May 11th 2016
Simone
After the day that was shooting for the past week. Today was just a normal Wednesday. On the bus ride to tech me and Tegan did our normal routine of watching John Oliver on the ride there and on the way back talking to all of our friends. Though today it was all about how the video was going.l That was when Tegan found out the video was going viral. She was not happy about that.
The moment we had finally got Tegan to calm down my phone went off pinging until I opened up Instagram to see who the hell had just messaged me to cause my phone to go off so badly. I saw the name and just passed it to Indy to get her to read it out loud.
“Simone why on the green earth did some big Hollywood hot-shot message you?”
“Who? Tegan asked just after catching an M&M in her mouth and raising her hands in triumph.
“Mark Ruffalo.”
“Hulk? Why on earth did Hulk message you?”
“Tegan. Asking her to send in an audition tape for a role.”
“Tell him I can’t act because I can’t.”
“You can do anything you set your mind to.
“While that was an utterly inspiring sentiment I can’t act for lack of a better word, I suck at anything involving people watch me if you haven’t noticed. I get sick and have panic attacks and ramble like I am now.”
At this point, the whole group went silent plotting ways to get an audition tape together. While Tegan, Saskia and Alexandra continued to chat and eat the assortment of candy, pizza and food arranged around us on the green grass of the tech school during lunch waiting for the bus to pick us up.
All of us combined weren’t smart enough to outsmart her so we turned to the one person who had anything over her. Miss G. We all just gave her a look at the same time and she shook her head and mouthing the words ‘No. She scares me,’ before going back to reading her book.
Why was she scared of Tegan?
Actually, I don’t want to know. If the teacher is scared of her there must be a good reason. There has to be.
When the bus finally came we all stood up after our picnic I noticed Tegan’s sketchbook was open on the ground open to a page of a drawing of the class eating lunch at our makeshift picnic.
By the time we got back to school, I had finally come up with a plan for how to get footage of Tegan acting. A school play. That plan didn’t work because the principal asked her to write and direct it. Then there was the idea to get her to have a role in it. That didn’t work.
I was still focussing on this after school when we were setting up shooting our next video I realized that was the best act anyone has ever done in history. The act of a happy bubbly near teen girl over that of a girl who’s a hot mess with several mental issues, who is wise beyond her years, who’s seen the dark side of humanity and survived. A girl who was forced out of her home because the government despised her mother. Because her mother was scared the government would kidnap her. Because she’s had epilepsy. Because she’s herself.
The best act an actress can do is make people believe they’re someone else in real life and that’s what she’s doing. Fooling the world into believing she’s fine and it works. She does it with us. I know she only seems as happy as she humanly can maintain in real life but when we spend 30-50 minutes shooting at once she can turn from Buttercup to Bubbles in a second.
I just have to cut together clips of her in youtube videos we’ve done and some clips of her when she doesn’t know she’s on camera. And maybe find some clips of her actually acting for good measure.
I was finally disturbed from my planning when I heard Miss G curse under her breathe next to me when Leah ran into her thumb and a click that could be heard by multiple people as we played a game of hide ’n’ seek for a video idea Alexandra had come up with.
A video that we ended up calling ‘how our teacher's thumb was broken’ because that’s what happened. Simple as that. We had learnt to edit our videos well in the short amount of time we’d been doing it and people liked it. If only Tegan would agree to the stupid audition.
I mean she would whether or not she liked it, I’d just rather she chose to do it than us forcing her because she really needs something to go her way for once and if she could get into a movie even if she turned the role down, something would go right for her for once. And as her friend, that’s all I want for her. Simple as that.
I know she misses everyone in her past but I also know if she got this role it’d help her get over it and start anew.
Tags: @hollandarling, @hollandroos, @wazzupmrstark, @keepingupwiththeparkers
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hey so if anyone is interested amity arena strategies / how my deck works feel free to keep reading :D i got weirdly excited and rambled a bit so uh it’s kind of long i guess, sorry? b/c this got so long i’m going to do a second separate post on general tips for Amity Arena fame games
hi!! this is my preferred Amity Arena deck, i’m typically very happy with it and it works well for me! i’ve been using it for a least a month now and it’s gotten me through Arena 5 & now into 6!
i’d also like to point out that I’m level 7, all of my cards are 5-7 (with the exception of Cinder of course, who is an Epic card and therefore Really Hard to get) and I have over 500 gems & over 9k coins- all without spending a single dime of real money! A lot of people think this game is pay to play and you can’t advance past early arenas without buying upgrades but you can totally play for free! anyway onto my deck…
both White Fang Grunt cards: these cards seem to be a standard in most battles i come across! I like using both of them because they’re extremely cheap to use & while they’re not the strongest fighters don’t underestimate the fact that theres 3 (or 6 if you use both) of them. i like to start off my games by deploying all 6 grunts on one lane and then quickly follow up with a Stronger card on the other lane (forcing the opponent to either focus on one side or risk spreading their cards against both-sometimes nothing happens but other times I get really close to destroying at least one turret on my first try!) do NOT underestimate the power of the grunts attacking a turret; they WILL do a lot of damage especially if there are more than 3 of them; make sure you take advantage of the gun units long range attack & don’t place them right on top of an enemy; this way they can get a few shots of damage in before getting hit themselves.
Griffon: my Griffon is the one card I swap out the most-I’m not entirely sold on using this card BUT its a VERY good counter to Scythe Ruby-something i encounter a lot in battles and don’t usually know how to fight without just sacrificing my units; the Griffon is perfect for fighting this Ruby because she can’t hit it at all (whereas its pretty easy for Ruby to take out any low aura ground units in just a hit or two) i’m not sure the best way to use my Griffon other than on Ruby-sometimes I use it against an Alpha Beowolf if I don’t have my usual cards lined up or I just randomly send it on offense etc but mostly I save it if I know the person I’m fighting is fond of using Ruby
Cinder: i love cinder! I loved her even more at 3 aura :( the 4 aura change makes me struggle a little & i don’t get to use her as often as I did previously-this is also the reason I don’t have a Scythe Ruby in my deck I just can’t afford the aura for both. anyway. cinder’s long range arrow attack is actually pretty decent, not to mention fast, and she can easily pick off grunts or baby deathstalkers while walking past (and usually out of their aggro range so they won’t attack her) but the real reason you’re using cinder is for her special ability: the rain of arrows or whatever. if you play cinder right you can get 2-3 abilities out of her before she actually dies and that can be really useful! her rain of arrows will instantly kill a baby deathstalker group (super useful) & usually grunts as well. its also a really good last second clutch to destroy a very weak turret/tower even if none of your other units are nearby. my suggestion: whenever you place a cinder place her at the very bottom so it takes a really long time before she reaches midfield/their side this way you have a lot of time for her special ability to build up multiple times & also her normal attack will pick at units running down the middle
Alpha Beowolf: ugh i Love and Hate this card,,,love to use it,,,hate to have it used against me.the alpha beowolf will ignore all enemy units and only attack towers which makes it a good bulldozer but easy to take down with t he right defense (ie: a baby deathstalker group will p much destroy a beowolf instantly making your 4 aura use a huge waste) timing when you place your alpha beowolf in order to make it effective is something you just have to learn (did the enemy just use their deathstalkers? is the enemy low on aura? is the enemy already putting all their focus on the other side of the field?) if you can afford the aura the alpha beowolf + baby deathstalker combo WILL destroy a tower if they arent stopped fast enough (i like to use this combo + my double grunt attack all on my very first turn to attack two sides of the game; usually either one or both will be able to do massive damage before both can be stopped!)
Ribbon Blake: I stopped using Blake for a while and I’m really glad I picked her up again! Ribbon Blake is a unique card in that she can be placed literally anywhere you want in the game; this makes her great for both offense and defense although I use her for offense like 95% of the time; if you level Blake up enough (mine is at level 5) she can usually get off at least 300 damage before she’s killed (assuming the enemy reacts quickly and tries to kill her-some people underestimate Blake and just ignore her allowing her to get a pretty good chunk of damage off); one of the reasons I love ribbon Blake so much is because I love a good last second clutch-if you have lets say 10 seconds left and you don’t have enough time for a unit to cross the map but the tower is so low,,,ribbon blake has got ur back. shes there in a second and probably Will destroy it. shes also just a nuisance early game-relatively cheap but strong to start directly weakening a tower and forcing the enemy to either react to it (while they’re distracting you focus the second tower) or ignore her (letting her do a good amount of damage)
Baby Deathstalker Swarm: my babies,,,this is a must have in any deck imo (and i do see it Very often in fame!) a group of baby deathstalkers will 100% kill any unit they are deployed on (except scythe ruby & flynt if he has his ability- do NOT use deathstalkers on them they will all just die). the key to baby deathstalkers is to pay attention to the enemies deck. do they use alpha beowolves often? save your deathstalker-they’ll kill that in a second. they’re also very good against a beowolf pack etc. deathstalkers, as mentioned, also make a great offensive pair with a beowolf etc; basically deathstalkers are great on both offense and defense & you can’t really go wrong with them-but dont use them against Scythe Ruby/Flynt etc & watch out for Cinder!
Neon: i love neon! when she first came out I misunderstood her card and thought she was really useless-she’s so weak what’s the point? but i was a fool and didn’t understand that the point of neon isn’t to cause massive damage or anything-its a defensive card! or at least to me it is. i really like having Neon in my deck because shes a really good unit to pull out when you’re getting overwhelmed. deathstalkers on their way over and you have no counter? throw out neon! she’ll drag them away and add a new card to your hand. too many tank units attacking your tower and you dont know what to do? throw out neon to drag them away! neon is a really good way to reset the field for a few seconds and rethink your plan. when i first started using neon i thought “whats the point in wasting coins on upgrading her level? i just use her as a throwaway distraction, shes not worth the money” but i was wrong! i highly suggest upgrading your neon for this reason: not only is she your distraction card she’s also one free hit. like my ribbon blake, neon is a GREAT last second clutch card to win the game on a damaged tower!! nothing can stop her from walking right up to it and wacking it once for like 100 damage or whatever her level is and sometimes thats all you need to pull off the win! don’t underestimate that free hit; especially paired with ribbon blake ;)
so thats my deck!!! i have a lot of fun with it :D feel free to tell me about your decks!!! tag me in a post or send me an ask!
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Alright. What is the sex appeal of Alistair? I I'm confused to the point of distraction and it hurts my quality of life (not really). I wonder about this and am trying very hard not to say negative things about him, but I don't understand at all. And I've read all the Alistair tags on this blog.
Oh boy, get ready for a long post.
I am extremely attracted to Alistair because of his sense of humor and the emotional closeness caused by shared experiences. He’s the one who is there for you from the beginning, your brother-in-arms since Ostagar; the highest hopes for victory and the lowest lows of defeat, losing everything and fighting back - he is right here. He is your comrade, no matter what, and he cares about your opinion the most - he actually asks what you think about others, he values and respects you. He trusts you. He’s funny, I find his humor delightful; he’s honest about his feelings, his grief is as genuine as his affection.
Also, I find his voice incredibly attractive. Not in a “hot and sexy” way, more like in a “playful and supportive and delightful” way, he sounds like a friend. I’m pretty much demisexual, so I don’t care what you look like, as long as you hit that sweet spot with your emotional support. I am attracted to everyone I trust, and Alistair feels like a friend you can trust.
Granted, my first playtrough was a male Surana one, so add the “forbidden fruit” appeal - I liked him, wanted him, but I couldn’t have him and it grew into a sort of fixation.
I wrote my first Dragon Age fanfic about the trip to Orzammar, that aesthhetic of a cold snowy mountain road, campfire, unrequited love… My Surana grew up in the Circle, both aching for the ourside world and fearful of it, both spiteful of the imprisonment and thankful because it saved him from the Alienage… and Alistair - beautiful Alistair in his shiny armor, his clever jokes, his easygoing nature, his kindness and his attention, affection, fondness, he’s perfect, he’s right there– that vulnerable trust, that mystery of first love, and you’re both tainted by the Blight so no family or children for you– and then, Anora. And they have to get married for the good of the country. You’re just an elf, a guy, he doesn’t even like you that way, you’re just fooling yourself that he could have liked you eventually, sometime down the road, given time, but no - he has to marry a woman, so right, so proper. You’re all miserable, and a part of you is - always will be - stuck on him, that one friend-crush you can never really get over, just seeing him you keep thinking of what could have been, even if you know it could never be. You could never. He would never. He likes women. You’re a guy. But you love him because he’s delightful and wonderful and genuine and honest and funny and kind, he’s the light of your life, the only one who makes this nightmare tolerable. He makes you feel safe. He makes you feel alive.
Ok, I’ve rambled enough! I could go on, but I think you get the point. I’m always a slut for friends-to-lovers hurt/comfort mutual pining slowburns. Rub that emotional journey all over my body, I want to swim in my own tears.
You don’t have to like Alistair. Blacklist his tag if it causes you distress.
-edi
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Snowed In (Beckett x MC)
4th Day of Christmas
Summary: A severe snowstorm leaves Beckett and Ivy trapped in the library. There’s no food, water, or phones, and then, the power goes out… To make matters worse, everyone has already gone home for the holidays.
Notes: I don’t own any of these characters.
Rating: PG-13
Tags: @boneandfur @littlecrookedheart @syltti78 @regina-and-happiness @flyawayboo @alegria1580 @llamasgrl @pixelburied @tmarie82 @indiacater @violinist3121 @symonde @laceandlula @krish58100
I began to wander the endless shelves of the library looking for a book on the history of Theif. Griffin had told me that learning the history of it might help me understand the game better and that it would definitely impress the coach. A few books fluttering around caught my eye, and I used my powers to bring them to me. I held them while I stroked their spines, placing them onto a nearby table.
The library was abandoned for winter break, and I had no reason to go back home. Plus, I would have the whole campus to myself, along with my dorm room. I turned a corner and ran into someone, falling down.
“Watch it!” he said. I looked up to see Beckett.
I rolled my eyes with a sigh and stood up. “Great. Just who I wanted to see over break.”
“Don’t get all excited. I’m leaving after I find this book.” Beckett snarked.
“Really?” I asked. I didn't know why, but I was going to miss him over the break a lot more than I cared to admit.
He smiled. “Why? You act like you’re going to miss me.”
“Shut it. I will not.” I snapped back. The lights began to flicker, and Beckett and I walked to the nearest window. The outside world was impossible to see through all the snow that was falling down. Like that, the lights went out. All I could hear was a handful of books flapping around.
I heard Beckett sigh beside me. “This is great. I have to leave in the next twenty minutes to make it home for the holidays.”
“At least you get to go home...” I whispered. I heard him rub his hands together, and a second later, there was a little flame in his hand. “Let’s work on a way to get you home.”
Beckett walked over to a table and let a candle. He picked it up and we began moving towards the front of the library. “What did you mean about going home?”
“I mean... just... it’s complicated, Beckett.” I sadly said. “Anyways, I don’t want to talk about it, and we need to get you out of here.”
We walked in silence the rest of the way to the front of the library where, thankfully, a fireplace. I went over to it and lit a fire. I looked around and found a couch. Beckett stood there while watching me attempt to mover the couch. I started to drag it backward when I got my foot stuck underneath it and fell.
Beckett began laughing. “You know you could have asked me for help?” Beckett came over and helped me up. “You know you’re stubborn, right?”
“Like you have any room to talk!” I joked. Between the two of us, we moved the couch in front of the fireplace. I plopped down while Beckett wandered near the doors for a bit. “They lock during the break and for extreme weather!”
“You’re kidding, right?” Beckett asked.
I flipped around on the couch. “You mean I know something you don’t? That must be what it’s like to be you...” I remarked.
He rolled his eyes and smirked. “You think you’re so cute.”
“I think you’re cute.” I flirted.
Beckett’s cheeks grew rosy against the shadows from the fire. “Oh- well- I think you’re cute too. But not in a weird way!” He cleared his throat and regained himself. “There’s a room in the back with some blankets. If you’re cold, I can go get some.”
I smiled. “That’d be amazing! Thank you!” He lit a candle and made his way towards the closet, disappearing into the darkness. I noticed a ukelele near the lost and found bad and decided to play it. I curled up onto one side of the couch and began to sing and play to pass the time.
Wise men say only fools rush in
But I can't help falling in love with you
Shall I stay?
Would it be a sin
If I can't help falling in love with you?
Like a river flows surely to the sea
Darling, so it goes
Some things are meant to be
Take my hand, take my whole life too
For I can't help falling in love with you
“Boo!”
I flipped around and punched the person. I looked down to see Beckett. “What the hell? Not funny, asshole!”
Beckett began to laugh. “I thought it was funny. Minus the part where I got punched...” I grunted as I helped pull him off of the floor. He brushed his clothes off as he began taking. “I didn’t know you could sing.”
“And I didn’t know you could be nice, yet here we are.” He tossed me a blanket and a pair of sweatpants. I noticed that Beckett was changed into gray sweats and a tight tee shirt. “What are these for? And when did you change into those?”
“They keep extra clothing in there in case of an emergency. I changed while I was back there. I figured if we’re going to be stuck in here, we should be comfy.” Beckett explained. He gave me a few minutes to change before returning to the fireplace area.
“Thank you for the clothes.” I smiled. I sat down on one end of the couch while he sat on the other. “So, what do you want to do to help pass the time?”
“Read,” Beckett responded. He used his skills and pulled a flying book onto his lap.
I pulled the book over to my lap. “I didn’t mean that. I mean talking, Beckett.” I opened my hands and let the book fly off. “Why do you not want to talk, Beckett? Scared that I’ll figure you out?”
“No. I have nothing to hide. I just find games pointless.” Beckett remarked. “I’m not scared of some little game.”
I leaned forward on the couch. “Then prove me wrong.”
“Fine.”
“Never have I ever?” I asked, and he nodded yes to my question. “Never have I ever read a book from this library.”
Beckett’s face turned into a cold stare. “One, not fair, and two, never have I ever broken a law.”
“Hey! I haven’t done that!” I quickly replied. “Never have I ever had a sibling.”
“That wasn’t my choice,” said Beckett. “Never have I ever been kissed.”
“What!?” I gasped.
Beckett sighed. “Yeah... I’ve never been kissed. Is that weird?”
I smiled, laughing a little to myself. “Not at all. My first time sucked. The dude burped in my face, and then, there days later, I sound out that he gave me strep throat.”
“Ooo... that sucks,” Beckett remarked. “At least you’ve been kissed.”
“Are you suggesting that we kiss, Mr. Harrington,” I smirked.
“I- that’s not what I meant-” he stuttered.
I leaned forward towards him. “I mean, you’re attractive. I’m attractive. It’s not like a kiss is going to hurt either of us.”
“Have you-” He began saying.
I raised an eyebrow. “Have I what?”
“Thought about kissing me...” He whispered below his breath.
I smiled and leaned back to my original position. “And if I have?” His face grew all rosy. The light from the fire allowed me to see his blush and freckles. “What about you?”
“I don’t have time to think about such things.” He huffed. “I have better things to do then think about your lips.”
“Sounds like a confession of guilt to me.” I joked.
Beckett rolled his eyes. “You’re so infuriating. I can’t even comprehend the fact that you drive me crazy, but I also miss you everytime you’re away.”
I began to blush. “Really?”
“Just shut up!” He said.
Beckett moved across the couch, his lips meeting mine. Jolts of lightning rushed through my body at our lips moved together. I ran one hand through the hair on the back of his head while he pulled me closer, hands tangling in my hair. He was careful and gentle, and he was almost sweet. It wasn’t surprising that he was an amazing kisser since he was amazing at almost everything he did.
He pulled back with a grin that rapidly dissolved into worry. “I’m so sorry- I shouldn’t have done that without asking for-“
I rolled my eyes, smirking. “Shut up.” I pulled him back into me for another kiss. This one was much more passionate than the last. I pulled back and smiled. “How was that?”
“Wow...” he blushed. The two of us talked for a while before falling asleep on the couch.
I heard a few laughs and squinted my eyes open. I looked near the fireplace to find Zeph, Griffin, and Shreya taking pictures. I glanced over my shoulder to see Beckett, arms around my waist.
“Mature, guys,” I whispered. “Don’t wake him up.”
Griffin sighed and then let out a small laugh. “So, did you two get it on or?”
Beckett shifted a little. “We’d be lucky if the two finally kissed.” Zeph jokes, elbowing Shreya in the side.
I began to blush. “They totally did! Finally!” Shreya yelled.
Beckett’s eyes flickered open. “What’s going on?” He looked around and sat up, moving away from me. “I’m sorry! I didn’t know- I mean- you sleeping there-“
“He’s cute when he’s flustered like you said, Ivy!” Zeph remarked.
Beckett glanced over at me. “What?”
I glared at Zeph, and this caused him to take a step back. “Seriously, shut it.”
“Let’s leave these two alone for a minute,” Shreya suggested. The three walked away from Beckett and me.
I looked over at Beckett. “I’m so sorry about my friends.”
“It’s okay, but do you really think I’m cute?” he asked.
I nodded. “I do, but I also know that you're so out of my league.” He cocked his head. “Seriously? You’re funny, caring, cute, and nice, underneath all that jerk.”
“That’s not a word.” He replied. “You think I’m cute?”
I shrugged. “I mean, yeah. Anyone would be dumb not to fall for those freckles.”
Beckett sighed. “I think you underestimate yourself. You’re a Sun-Att, and that goes a long way.” I glanced over at him, raising an eyebrow. He cleared his throat and began to ramble. “What I mean is, you’re strong. That’s attractive. Also, you’re funny, beautiful, smart, kind, caring, cute
I blushed while I laughed a little. “You think I’m beautiful and cute?”
His eyes went wide. “I mean- yes? I do. I wanted to ask you on a date. If you wanted to go!”
I leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. “I’d love to, but you have a family to go see.”
“What about you?” asked Beckett.
I shook my head no. “I don’t have anywhere to go...”
“Then, come with me,” he suggested.
I looked at him. “Are you sure?”
He nodded. “Yeah, one hundred percent.”
Part 2 coming on December 19th!
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