#and in the picture above he was 8 almost 9^^

[cosmic-kiwi]

I loved my friend.

He went away from me.

There's nothing more to say.

The poem ends,

Soft as it began,—

I loved my friend.

~Langston Hughes

[studiogrimm810]

Lazy Morning Discussions

pairings/characters: (established) sam x gn!you

summary: a lazy morning discussion of the future is sometimes painfully unrealistic, but it's still fun to imagine, right?

warnings: suggestive activities, yearning for a better future, kinda sad but a lot more fluffy :D

word count: 1,386

A/N: this was a request!! thank you so much for reaching out and i hope this is what you were looking for!! <3

———————

It was a lazy Tuesday morning at the bunker. There hadn’t been a case to be worked in almost a week and you and Sam were starting to feel the effects of not working. You were definitely taking advantage of that though. Yesterday, you both made homemade pizzas for dinner and made him sit through the Twilight saga that Dean made fun of you for. You stayed up late which led to now being tangled in blankets at almost 11 am. You had never seen Sam stay in bed past 8, sometimes 9 when he was sick, but the two of you just got to talking and made no effort to get up.

After hours of talking, a few rounds of particularly exhausting activities, and talk of coffee, you both remained buried under the comforter and tangled in each other's hold.

“I would prefer a city to be within walking distance of anything we might need, suburbs are too spread out,” you reason, looking up at the ceiling, your clasped hands lifted and toying with his fingers. “I suppose if it was a smaller neighborhood close to a town or main street than that would be suitable.”

“I just would hate an apartment, too cramped,” he frowns.

“Of course you would say that, there’s barely even enough room for me in this bed with you,” you joke, shaking your head. He looks over to you with a shocked expression and sits up to grab your waist and pull you on top of him.

“Personal space has never been a complaint of yours before,” he teases, resting his hands on your hips and toying with the hem of your underwear.

“I think you could manage an apartment if we had a yard or patio of somesort,” you crossed your arms and exaggerated a thoughtful expression on your face, ignoring his comment.

“That would be better,” his hands run down your thighs and back up, blossoming goosebumps across your skin. His eyes trail your body in a slow and adoring manner, leading right back up to your eyes and he settles his head in the pillow as he watches you.

“A townhouse would be nice,” you envision, “maybe we would get to know our neighbors and have cook outs!” You beam at the thought, looking down at him and he just watches you above him, admiring the way your messy hair frames your face like a halo.

“Yeah, sure, but what if we got one of those really difficult neighbors who enforce HOA rules like trash cans being out too long or property lines?” He offers and you roll your eyes.

“Okay, I’m telling you now, if we bought a home, I refuse to listen to someone trying to tell me how to take care of it,” you scoff, your hands braced on his chest with a finger tracing his tattoo.

“Yep, our neighbors would hate us,” he decides with a compliant shrug and you smack his chest lightly with a dropped jaw.

“Hey! You don’t know that!” You shake your head, really picturing the perfect home to share between you two.

“Well, we would definitely need room for a dog,” Sam decides, running his nails up the side of your torso, making you hum in idle pleasure. Your eyes snap open once you realize what he’s doing.

“If you want a dog so bad then I at least get two cats,” you demand. You couldn’t believe his distraction almost got you to agree to owning a dog.

“But that’s three animals- we’ll definitely need more than an apartment,” he hooks his hands around your torso and pulls you down so that you’re flush against his chest and your elbows are braced on the pillow beneath him. “Especially if we ever-.” He stops himself, his expression draining at what he almost said. You feel it too, the ache shared between you two. You sigh and rest your cheek against his chest, tucking your arms under his back.

It was a sore subject- kids. You’ve always envisioned a future with children but took it as a mindless fantasy and nothing more. That was until you met Sam and now all you could think of was the possibility of creating a human that’s half you and half him. It hurt to think about.

It was fun to plan for a fancy home you realistically could never afford or think of what town or city you two would choose if you could. That stuff was just that- stuff. It was all a materialistic day dream that could change from day to day, but children lead to the full stop of imagination. It reminded you both of how truly unrealistic your dreams were.

Sam ran his fingers through your hair, feeling guilty at his slip up. He hated reminding you of what could never be.

“Seattle would be nice,” he spoke, pulling up a blanket once he felt how cold your exposed back was. “Bright, colorful, all four seasons, colder,” he listed, trying to cheer you up with a new city to focus on. You stayed silent though, thinking of how empty a home would feel at this point if you couldn’t create life in it.

“It’s by the water too, beaches. We can bake under the sun and cool off in the water,” he sets it up, all for you, but you can only think of building sandcastles with a child you’re not destined to raise. Sam’s hands continue to roam over your body, trying anything he can to comfort you.

But it’s quiet again and you try to focus on the steady beat of his heart and the warmth radiating from his skin. He lets you for a while, not speaking again and allowing you to be with your own thoughts right now. His hands don’t cease, though.

An undetermined amount of time passes and he presses a soft kiss to the top of your head before gently flipping you over and onto your back so that he’s now the one hovered over you. He doesn’t even have to be directly over top of you to cage you like he does.

You reach up to tuck his hair out of his face and he gazes down at you, a somber smile blessing his lips. He still doesn’t speak but he can tell you’re about to.

“Dean would kill us if we moved to Seattle,” you argue with a gentle shrug. His smile brightens and he drops his head with a laugh.

“Yeah, okay, you’ve got me there,” he reaches a hand to caress your cheek, leaning close to kiss your forehead and lingering for a bit longer than he usually would. When he pulls away, he smooths your hair and settles his hand under your ear.

His tongue darts out to wet his lips and his eyes roam your face, taking in just how beautiful you are to him.

“At what point do you think we need to get out of bed and get ready for the day?” You ask, snaking your arms around his neck to keep him close.

“Today? Never,” he shakes his head, dipping down to peck your lips.

“We have to eat at some point,” you argue, feeling a rumble of hunger in your stomach.

“Debatable,” he murmurs, kissing you again, this time a bit sloppier.

“Sam,” you giggle, turning away but his hand pulls you back into place and he kisses you again, biting your lip teasingly and earning a breathy whimper from you.

“Right, right, you want to get up, you said?” He pulls away, acting dumb but your arms drag him back to you and you pull up with the help of his palm under your skull to lift you into a packed kiss. He chuckles into your lips and keeps you pressed into him.

“I don’t recall,” you whisper, latching your lips onto his in a soft embrace where you can ignore your fears, worries, dreams, and lack thereof. Despite all you wish you could have with Sam, you have to remind yourself just how lucky you are to have him in your life in the first place. After a life of constant fighting, heartache, loss and disappointment, knowing that Sam is still the man you call yours is more than enough.

———————

thank you so much for reading!! <3

>pictures are not my own, i have the originals linked here (pinterest) >>check out my other works here

>tags: @blossomingorchids

[dddesc]

Do we ever see Escargon move like a snail? I can’t remember seeing him move, or if we did, I don’t remember seeing his lower body - just his upper half.

inspired by the foot like part of his body on your comm

(in reference to this phenomenon. footy)

those "feet" are canon! they're funny. here they are in the show:

i like to imagine them as similar to the edge of an irl snail's foot, which you can see in this picture of one of my pet snails:

...but that's not a hard and fast rule for me. the way i draw the anatomy of his foot depends on the piece.

interestingly enough, these feet (which i'll call toes from here on out to differentiate them from the foot muscle that is technically the majority of his body) aren't prevalent on his model sheets; they seem to be a trait gained and dramatized as artists continued drawing him throughout the show's run.

now, in terms of how he moves... well, i could just show you. or i could infodump about him and snails all in one.

(sorry i can't readmore this one, fellas; it breaks the post. you're trapped in here with me.)

escargon moves around a whole lot, really! he's quite fast, so it's easy to miss.

episode 9 gives us this shot of him chasing lololo and boy-kirby:

but, hmmm. i don't think it's the only instance of him moving in this classically gastropod-esque manner, with his foot rippling across the ground, but it is probably one of the few. he doesn't move like this very often.

instead, as the show progresses, it becomes much more common that he steps around on his toes. here they are at their vaguest in episode 19:

and 25, hitting us with some very leg-like anatomy:

there are more and technically earlier examples than this; 8, 11, 12, 17... etc.

the above examples are him moving fast, but even when moving slowly -- like in 25 once more, as well as 73 -- it appears that snails primarily drag themselves along using their toes.

it's very very cute. like a dress. <3

but what does all this have to do with irl snails?

it's important to know that irl snails have two gaits: adhesive crawling and loping.

adhesive crawling is when a snail leaves its foot planted entirely on the ground, moving forward via muscle contractions and slippery mucus. with this gait, they leave a continuous trail of said mucus.

loping involves a snail only partially planting themselves on the ground, arching their foot as they move and leaving a discontinuous trail of mucus. they're still propelled forward by contractions, but look almost as if they're dragging themselves forward on "toes"...

certainly less dramatic than the show, but hey. notable enough for me!

the reason snails use each gait is believed to be dependent on the surface they're on -- adhesive for smooth, and loping for rough or absorbant. they used to think snails loped to escape predators, but truthfully, neither gait is much faster than the other. instead, it seems that loping is useful for conserving mucus.

you didn't ask about mucus, but it's pretty important when it comes to snail locomotion. with how escargon moves, i'd say he spends most of his time loping... which makes me think anthro snails in kirby produce a lot less mucus than the average snail.

i can't recall any point wherein escargon is described as physically slimy, or leaving trails. you'd think something like that would be a point of contention when it comes to the cleanliness of the castle (and dedede's fists). he also can't stick to walls on his own or anything, hence...

...him needing to use plungers in his only show-canon attempt at doing so.

"but he's wearing clothes that would impede his ability to stick!" -my wife, who proofread this post and is being contrarian on purpose.

okaaay, but, the times escargon does crawl up walls -- alongside dedede, which means that this ability is not unique to escargon or a result of his species -- he is most definitely using his arms and toes to do so, implying that adhering to the surface is not something he can do.

...besides. if escargon could stick to surfaces naturally, don't you think he would have attempted to do so at least once to get away from his majesty?

it all makes you think (or, it all makes me think, at least)...

in conclusion: i don't think he'd be able to drag his body around without at least a little lubrication, but due to him potentially not producing a lot of mucus (maybe a trait of evolutionary anthropomorphism?), it would make sense that loping is his main gait on account of its mucus conservation.

...then, to finally answer your question: yes! we technically see him move like a snail. but he is a unique fictional interpretation of a snail, so he has some amusing little quirks that i've spent way too much time applying real-world anatomical logic to.

[jamesmcalover]

worst plus one 2

Hálfdán Helgi Matthíasson (Væb) x Reader

Warnings: enemies to lovers, arguments, them being meanies

Summary: Reader is Matti's best friend and is brought along to this whole Eurovision mess. His annoying brother is making this trip even messier.

Part 1 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9

1.7k words - not proofread

The sun was out. The flags were waving. You were ten minutes into filming Eurovision TikToks with the Icelandic chaos troupe and already regretting every life decision that had brought you to this cobbled square with Hálfdán.

“Can you please just say the line?” you snapped, for the third time, holding your phone up with increasing despair.

“I am saying the line,” Hálfdán replied, far too calmly for someone actively making your blood boil.

You pinched the bridge of your nose, trying not to fling your phone into the river. “The line is ‘Vote for Iceland, or Matti will cry.’ That’s it. Straight. One take. No improvising.”

Hálfdán turned to Matti, who was valiantly trying to balance a mic and two cans of Coke Zero in his hands. “Do you want to cry for the camera?”

“I want to leave this planet,” Matti mumbled, shifting the cans before one slipped.

Hálfdán turned back to you, eyes bright with mischief. “See? He’s in character. Why can’t you match the vibe?”

You lowered the phone with a dramatic sigh. “Because I’m trying to make this usable, and you’re doing your usual thing where you think everything is a joke.”

“Oh, come on,” he said, stepping closer, grin still in place. “You love when I’m like this.”

“No,” you said flatly. “I tolerate it. For your brother. Barely.”

For just a split second, something flickered across his face. The grin dipped, just a touch, like you’d hit something sharper than you meant to. But then it was back, more forced around the edges.

“You’ve got a real way with people, you know that?”

“And you’ve got the self-awareness of a rock.”

Matti blinked. “Guys–”

But Hálfdán stepped forward again, his voice lower now, more controlled, but with an unmistakable edge. “You act like being here is some huge chore. Like we should be grateful you’re gracing us with your presence.”

You stared at him, the heat rising to your face. “And you act like everything revolves around you. Like if you’re not the loudest one in the room, the sun stops shining.”

A weird silence settled. Úlla shifted awkwardly. A tourist paused like they’d stumbled into a scene from a Scandinavian soap opera.

Matti moved quickly, stepping between you both, holding one hand up like he was breaking up a bar fight. “Okay. That’s enough. You two need to–”

“I’m done,” you muttered, shoving the phone into Matti’s chest, almost knocking one of the Coke Zeros loose. “Here. Let someone else film his clown show.”

And you turned, storming off down the street. Past a booth selling Eurovision pins. Past a man in a Erika Vikman shirt filming a vlog. Past the weight of everyone’s eyes.

You didn’t look back.

Not even when you knew, with that annoying certainty, that he was still watching.

You didn’t go far. Just far enough.

Basel was still beautiful, even when you were stomping through it with your jaw clenched and your brain buzzing. The cobbled streets gleamed faintly in the afternoon light, the flags flapped cheerfully above doorways, and somewhere by the river, a busker was playing something wistful on an accordion. You barely noticed.

You didn’t have a destination in mind. Just away. Past shop windows and flower stalls and tourists taking pictures you didn’t want to be in. You tugged your hoodie sleeves over your hands and kept walking, your own frustration rattling louder than the city around you.

Eventually, your feet led you back to the hotel. You meant to go to your room. Maybe take a scalding shower. Maybe scream into a pillow or punch one. But instead, without thinking, you found yourself slipping into the delegation lounge.

It was quiet. Almost empty. The air was a little too still, like even the walls knew something had gone wrong.

One corner of the room was dimly lit by a lamp shaped like a treble clef, casting golden shadows across the carpet. A half-eaten croissant sat forgotten on a paper plate near the window. Someone had abandoned a water bottle on the piano. The Wi-Fi was still terrible.

But the couch was soft. And more importantly, unoccupied.

You sank into it, shoulders slumping as the adrenaline wore off. You pulled your sleeves over your hands and shoved your hood up over your head, blocking out the world as best you could. Then, with a shaky breath, you leaned back against the wall and closed your eyes.

Just for a minute.

Soft footsteps approached a few moments later. You didn’t move. Didn’t open your eyes. You didn’t have it in you.

“Don’t punch me,” Matti said gently. “I brought peace offerings.”

You blinked up at him.

He had two cups of tea cradled in one arm, a chocolate bar tucked under his chin, and that familiar sheepish smile he only ever wore when he was walking into someone else’s mess with the full intention of cleaning it up.

You didn’t say anything. Just reached for the tea.

The paper cup was warm against your fingers. Comforting, in a way nothing else had been all day.

Matti didn’t sit right away. Just stood there, watching you like he was still deciding whether or not you might vanish through the floor.

After a long moment, he said, “He didn’t mean it like that. He was just being… him.”

You stared down into the tea, watching the steam curl. “I know.”

He shifted the chocolate bar from under his chin to the table. Sat down slowly, leaving just enough space between you to be respectful. But still there.

“He’s been weird all day,” Matti added. “Kept asking where you were. Kept pretending he wasn’t asking.”

You didn’t respond. You took a sip. It burned your tongue.

“He’s not trying to be the worst person alive,” Matti said after a pause.

You let out a dry, humorless laugh. “He just manages it anyway?”

He smiled faintly. “He does that with people he likes.”

Your eyes snapped to him.

He held up both hands, not pushing, not teasing. “Not saying anything. Just saying.”

You didn’t answer. You didn’t need to. The quiet said enough.

And because Matti was, above all else, a good brother and a better friend, he didn’t say anything else about it. He just started talking about something else, tomorrow’s rehearsals, a weird email, a cue someone kept missing. You let him talk. Let his voice fill the room like music in a too-silent house.

You let yourself breathe.

And you didn’t see Hálfdán for the rest of the night.

After that, things shifted.

Not dramatically. No public blowups. No dramatic declarations. Just quieter. Colder. The kind of silence that settled between two people who’d said too much and not enough at the same time.

You didn’t speak to him.

You were still around him, of course. Eurovision was a circus, and your trailers were pitched in the same tent. Rehearsals, interviews, backstage chaos, you were orbiting each other constantly. But the chaotic, crackling back-and-forth that had defined you both disappeared like smoke.

He didn’t tease. You didn’t snap. You kept your distance. From him, from whatever complicated pull still existed under the surface. And he, for once, respected the space. Or maybe he was just as tired of the fight as you were.

You found yourself drifting closer to other people. Matti, naturally, a constant presence, easy company, someone who didn’t demand anything from you except maybe a sip of your coffee. And Úlla.

Úlla, one of the Væb’s dancers, wore silver glitter like armor and moved like she was powered by music alone. She was funny and bold and barely gave you a choice in becoming her friend. The second day after the argument, she plopped down next to you in the artist lounge and said, “You look like you need rescuing,” before pulling you into a meme ranking tournament on her phone.

And that was that.

You ended up spending more and more time together, wandering through the sunlit streets between obligations, judging street food with dramatic flair, rating delegation outfits in whispered tones at cafés. She took selfies with everything: signs, fountains, cardboard cutouts of Käärijä (one of which she made you pose beside, despite your protests). She called it “cultural immersion.”

One afternoon, she started an impromptu dance-off in the lounge. Dragged you in by the wrist. You lost, spectacularly. And she threw her arms around you after like it was a victory for both of you anyway.

With her, and with Matti trailing after you both like a loyal retriever, it was easier to breathe. Easier to forget, at least for a while, how often your eyes drifted. Up two floors in the hotel. Across the halls. To the corner of every room where Hálfdán inevitably appeared, filling the air with his too-big presence and trying, trying not to look at you.

Sometimes you caught him looking anyway.

Sometimes you looked away first.

Other times, he did.

It didn’t help that Úlla noticed everything. You had a sneaking suspicion she always had.

“You’re weird when he’s around,” she said one afternoon, sipping iced coffee and swinging her legs over the side of a planter box as you waited for transport. “Not in a bad way. Just… quieter. Less fighty.”

“I am not fighty,” you said, too quickly.

She arched a perfectly glittered brow.

You opened your mouth. Closed it again.

There wasn’t a good response. Because she was right.

So you stared at the pavement instead. Watched the shadows of flagpoles shift in the breeze. Tried not to think about how your whole chest felt tight when Hálfdán entered a room. Or how you used to meet his grins with eye-rolls and sharp comebacks. And now… now you looked down. Or away. Or anywhere but at him.

And somehow that was worse.

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺

Part 3!!

[bubblyi3]

Between Us, Before Us FINALE | KTH

"some people are lessons, not lifelines."

pairing: taehyung x female reader

genre: slice of life, angst, fluff

word count: 4.6k

content warning: angst, mild smut, trauma, cheating themes, pregnancy, heartbreak, toxic relationship, time jump here and there

summary: between the past and future lies the aching space of now. with taehyung, you've journeyed through love, heartbreak, and growth. once strangers, then lovers, now something more complicated, your connection is shaped by time, mistakes, and second chances. this is the story of who you were when you first fell for him, who you became through the pain, and who you might still become if you dare to hope again. in the space between healing and longing, one thing remains: him.

author's note: here's the epilogue:') figured i wanted to have it short and sweet. this final part is for the love that almost was and for the girl who found the courage to let go. writing this series has been an emotional whirlwind, and i’m deeply grateful to have shared it with you. wishing you stories that stir your soul, always. </3

© disclaimer: please do not copy, translate or reproduce any part of this work without my permission. thank you!

*fiction rooted in real emotions and experiences.

taglist:

🌸 @nikkiordonez12 🌼 @whoa-jo

PART 1 || PART 2 || PART 3 || PART 4 || PART 5 || PART 6 || PART 7 || PART 8 || PART 9 || PART 10 || PART 11

You stood there for a beat, heart rattling against your ribs. Nora giggled in your arms, tugging at your hair, asking if she could show you the picture she drew. You nodded, smiling as wide as you could manage, and let her carry you into the present.

Inside, everything felt the same — the scent of your mum’s fabric softener in the laundry room, your dad’s half-drunk tea still on the counter. The muffled sound of the TV from their room down the hall. Nora’s toys were scattered. A trail of glitter markers and building blocks, half a sticker sheet clinging to the couch.

You sat with her on the floor while she talked a mile a minute—about pancakes with Appa, about a movie she watched twice, about how she’d saved you a purple jellybean "because it looked like your favorite scrunchie."

And for a while, it worked. The ache dulled.

Later, when she was fast asleep beside you in your childhood room — the fairy lights still taped above the bed, the posters you never bothered to take down — you let your eyes wander.

To the window Taehyung once snuck through on late summer nights, barefoot and grinning. To the chair where he used to sit and chat with your dad, pretending not to be nervous. To the space he used to fit into so easily, like he’d always belonged.

You sighed. Quietly. Deeply.

This was the beginning of something beautiful. You knew that. You were grateful. But beautiful things could still carry shadows.

And as you watched the rise and fall of Nora’s breath, you whispered a truth you’d never say out loud.

“I loved him. I really did.”

Not in the way you loved Yugyeom now. Not with the steadiness of years and the promise of forever.

But in the way that first love clings — stubborn and soft and shaped like youth.

You kissed Nora’s forehead and tucked her in tighter.

Then you slipped the ring off your finger and held it in your palm.

Just for a moment.

Just to remember what it meant to be sure.

And what it took to let go. You placed the ring gently on the nightstand, beside an old framed photo of you and Nora at the beach — her curls wild in the wind, your eyes sun-drunk and smiling. A different life. A different kind of happiness.

Down the hallway, you could hear your parents murmuring. Your mum's soft voice asking if you'd eaten, your dad clicking the kettle on again, probably forgetting he already had.

You padded quietly to the kitchen, wrapping your cardigan tighter around you. Your mum looked up and smiled knowingly.

“She went straight to sleep?”

You nodded. “Out like a light.”

“She must've missed you so much."

You smiled, swallowing a lump in your throat. “I missed her too.”

Your dad handed you a mug of tea without a word. Just the way you liked it. You sipped it slowly, letting the warmth settle into your chest.

“She’s growing up so fast,” your mum said, looking off thoughtfully. “You’re doing so well, sweetheart. We’re proud of you.”

You tried to say thank you, but the words tangled in your chest. Because part of you still didn’t feel like you were doing well — not when your heart was still sorting through the memories, still caught somewhere between Jeju sunsets and hallway goodbyes.

You glanced toward the living room, eyes drifting into the quiet blur of memory. Your mind wandered — to moments, to maybes, to things left unsaid.

Your dad noticed. He followed your gaze, then met your eyes with a quiet steadiness. “It’s okay to feel things that don’t quite make sense yet,” he said softly. “Love’s never tidy.”

You blinked, caught somewhere between the past and the present. “I’m happy,” you murmured — more to yourself than to him.

And you were.

But happiness and heartbreak, you were learning, could exist in the same breath.

Later that night, after the house had gone quiet and the tea had gone cold, you returned to your room. Nora mumbled in her sleep, curled into your side like she never wanted to let go.

You slipped the ring back on. Not because you had to but because you were ready. And you tell yourself that tomorrow, you'd begin again — as the the women who said yes.

But for tonight, you'd grieve everything she had to leave behind.

Because letting go doesn’t always look like moving on.

The next day, the studio was buzzing quietly with the hum of creation. A soft instrumental looped through the speakers, filling the space like a warm, steady pulse. Jungkook sat at the mixing desk, fingers moving fast but smooth, focused on the track. Taehyung leaned back against the wall, sketchpad resting on his knees, pencil hovering but not moving. His mind wasn’t on the music today.

They’d just dropped their latest single — a smooth, killer track that felt like a fresh start. Along with it, they were deep into their new project: discovering underrated artists, giving fresh voices a shot. It was exciting, but Taehyung’s head was somewhere else.

The door slammed open, making everyone jump. Namjoon and Jimin came in, shaking off rain, eyes bright like they were ready to drop some news.

Namjoon stormed in, soaked from the light rain, still wearing his studio badge from earlier. “Bro—what the fuck.”

Jimin followed right behind, holding an iced Americano like he’d forgotten it was cold outside. “We literally just saw it on Instagram.”

Jungkook swivelled in his chair. “Uh… good morning?”

“You knew, didn’t you?” Jimin demanded, eyes wide.

“Knew what?” Jungkook asked, confused.

Namjoon waved his phone in the air like a receipt from the universe. “She’s engaged.”

Taehyung’s body stilled.

Jimin flopped dramatically onto the spare couch, the drink finally sweating between his fingers. “To Yugyeom. In Jeju. With a ring. With her parents there.”

Namjoon looked like he was still buffering. “They surprised her at the beach. Full-on proposal. There’s a blurry ocean photo up. Caption just said, ‘yes.’ But the ring’s there. Clear as daylight.”

Taehyung looked up, expression steady, no shock.

Namjoon, watching quietly, broke the silence. “You already knew.”

Taehyung nodded. “Yugyeom came by before the trip. Asked for my blessing.”

Namjoon blinked, surprised. “For real? And you kept quiet?”

Taehyung exhaled slowly. “It wasn’t my place to say anything. I told him what mattered — that she’d be happy, that Nora would have what she needs. That was enough.”

Jimin let out a low whistle. “Damn, that’s way more chill than I’d be.”

Taehyung gave a small, almost sad smile. “It’s not about being chill. It’s about facing reality. You hold on to what you had, but sometimes you have to let the rest go.”

Jungkook nodded. “Yeah, I already knew about it too."

Namjoon raised an eyebrow. “So you guys had the heads-up and just kept your mouths shut?”

Jungkook shrugged, a hint of a smile on his face. “We figured it was something she needed to say on her own time. We respected that.”

Taehyung glanced at Jungkook, a flicker of gratitude in his eyes.

Jungkook went on, “She came back last night for Nora. That ring was shining quiet but clear. She looked… at peace.”

Namjoon exchanged looks with Jimin. “Man, that’s tough. Seeing someone you care about move on.”

Taehyung’s voice was low but firm. “Yeah. But shit moves on, whether you’re ready or not.”

A silence settled — heavy with everything they weren’t saying.

Jimin broke it with a grin. “Well, looks like you’re officially stuck in the family drama now.”

Taehyung chuckled, a bit hollow but real. “Guess so.”

He closed his sketchpad, stretched, and looked around the studio — posters from old tours, lyric sheets pinned everywhere, the smell of cold coffee lingering. “But let’s get back to work. There’s an artist from Busan I want to spotlight next. She’s got something real.”

Jungkook smiled. “Sounds like a plan.”

Namjoon clapped Taehyung’s shoulder, solid and steady. “We’ve got your back. Always.”

The music swelled again, filling the room with drive and hope.

Outside, the rain softened to a gentle drizzle.

And in that studio, surrounded by melodies and memories, Taehyung sat quietly—carrying the weight of what was lost and what was still ahead. He chased music like it was the only thing steady, chased dreams that felt both close and just out of reach, trying to hold himself together against whatever the hell life kept throwing at him.

Taehyung sat alone on the rooftop of his apartment building, legs pulled close, arms resting on his knees. The cold air bit gently, but it was welcome — a sharp contrast to the heat buzzing inside his chest.

He stared out over the cityscape, lights flickering like distant stars. His mind replayed the moments from earlier — the visit from Namjoon and Jimin, the quiet looks exchanged, Jungkook’s calm knowing.

Yugyeom’s visit before the trip came back to him, clear as day. The way his hands trembled just a little when he asked for his blessing. The way his voice cracked, even though he tried to keep it steady.

Taehyung had told him what he thought mattered most. That she’d be safe. That Nora would be loved. That Yugyeom better damn well be ready for what that meant.

Because it wasn’t just about rings and proposals. It was about what came after — the real, messy, beautiful life.

He thought about you — the way you’d looked last night, so different from the scared girl he’d known years ago. Strong. Certain. Whole.

It hurt. That was the truth. But it wasn’t the kind of pain that swallowed him whole. It was quieter, sharper — like a scar that reminded him he’d been there, that he’d loved.

And maybe that was enough.

Taehyung reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. A message from Jungkook blinked on the screen.

[Kookie]: You good?

He smiled, fingers hovering over the keys. The words caught somewhere between the past and what was next.

For the first time in a long while, Taehyung felt something close to peace. Not because things were perfect — far from it — but because he was ready to stop fighting what was already done.

He looked up at the rain-streaked sky and whispered to himself, “It’s time to move on.”

The room was a quiet mess of half-packed boxes and lingering laughter, the kind that softened the edges of change. Weeks had passed in a blur since Yugyeom asked you to move in with him. You and Nora. So here you are now, with Nora sat on the floor, chatting animatedly on a video call with Taehyung, who was making silly faces from his apartment. You smiled quietly from the doorway, watching your daughter's bright eyes light up.

Yugyeom appeared beside you, leaning in close and whispering, "She's so happy. You're doing an amazing job, you know."

You squeezed his hand gratefully but your eyes were fixed on the open storage bin you had pulled out. Among old notebooks and photos lay the silver necklace with the tiny crescent moon charm — the one Taehyung had given you for your 22nd birthday.

Your breath hitched as you picked it up, the cold metal familiar and bittersweet. Yugyeom noticed your hesitation. "That necklace... does it still mean something to you?"

You swallowed, fingers curling around the chain. "It's not just mine anymore. It's part of Nora's — her dad's love, even if it's complicated."

Yugyeom nodded, the understanding in his eyes softening the tightness in your chest. “Then it’s worth keeping. For her. One day, she’ll want to know everything. Not just the good parts.”

You offered him a faint smile, grateful for the way he never tried to erase the past—just helped you live through it.

Laughter rang out from the hallway—Nora’s squeaky, contagious giggle filling the space like sunlight. And over it, Taehyung’s voice, warm and unfiltered.

You stared at the necklace for a moment longer, the tiny crescent moon resting in the center of your palm like a fragile truth. Then, with a quiet breath, you unclasped your fingers and reached into the bin for a small velvet pouch tucked between journals.

Carefully, you slid the necklace inside.

You zipped the pouch closed and placed it inside a smaller keepsake box, the one Yugyeom had once suggested you use to collect things for Nora when she was old enough to understand.

It already held a few baby socks, her hospital bracelet, and now… this.

Something sacred from before her, yet deeply tied to who she was.

Yugyeom placed a gentle hand on your back, rubbing slow circles.

“You okay?” he asked.

You nodded, sliding the lid over the box and placing it toward the back of the storage bin. “Yeah. I think it just… caught me off guard.”

He smiled, but it didn’t press. “We’ll keep it safe.”

Nora turned two with frosting on her nose and cake in both fists.

The birthday party was small. Just family, Nari, Yugyeom, Taehyung's parents, the boys, and Taehyung in the corner helping her stack her blocks between sips of juice.

By now, the ring on your finger didn’t feel new anymore. Neither did the way you and Taehyung stood beside each other like two sides of the same coin. Still tethered, just not in the way you once imagined.

There were shared glances. Laughter over Nora’s tantrums. Joint decisions about preschool, shoes, and screen time. There were nights Taehyung picked her up in his car, and you waved goodbye from the porch. There were moments where it could have felt strange. But it didn’t.

Because somehow, over the months, it settled into something stable. Something whole.

You loved Yugyeom.

And Taehyung — he loved Nora. Loved her so fully it filled the space that once belonged to the two of you.

You were no longer lovers.

But you were in each other’s lives.

Together or not together — you were family. And that, somehow, was enough for you.

The soft murmur of laughter and the clinking of glasses ripple through the garden, lit gently by fairy lights that flicker like fireflies captured in a dream. The scent of jasmine drifts on the evening breeze, mixing with the subtle perfume of freshly cut flowers arranged in delicate bundles across each table.

You stand near the center of it all, your hand resting lightly on your fiancé’s back, feeling the quiet thrum of his presence. It’s surreal—this moment, this celebration of love forged through heartbreak and healing. A chapter once unimaginable now blooming in the glow of second chances.

Nora toddles nearby, wrapped in a flowy white dress that brushes her ankles, her little arms flailing in delight as she spins unsteadily beneath the lanterns. She giggles wildly—high-pitched and unfiltered—before crashing gently into the legs of Yugyeom’s younger sister, who catches her with a warm laugh and scoops her up without hesitation. She’s growing so fast—still your baby, but already showing glimpses of the fire in her spirit. Your eyes. Her father’s stubbornness.

Your gaze drifts across the gathering, landing on Yugyeom deep in conversation with your parents. He’s laughing, dimples on display, but his eyes keep sneaking toward you—each glance a silent affirmation. There’s something steady in him now, a quiet kind of strength that only comes from weathering storms you once thought would never end.

At the edge of the garden, tucked just beyond the golden halo of light, you spot him.

Taehyung.

He leans against the trunk of an old tree, his silhouette still and composed. Alone but not aloof. When your eyes meet, he offers a faint, wistful smile. It holds no bitterness—only years of memory and a tangle of what-ifs. His hands come together in polite applause when Yugyeom raises a toast, but his movements are a touch slower, as if he’s swallowing more than just champagne.

It’s messy, this past you all share. A web of moments and mistakes that no longer define you, but still linger in the corners of memory. Tonight, though, you choose not to let the past speak louder than the joy in the present.

Nora stumbles over to you, cheeks flushed and curly hair damp with sweat.

You crouch down, scooping her into your arms. “You saw the fireworks, huh?” you whisper against her temple, breathing in the soft scent of baby shampoo and vanilla cake.

She nods with exaggerated seriousness, her tiny fingers pressing into your collarbone. “Pretty lights. I love 'em.”

“I love you,” you whisper, her giggles filling your chest with warmth.

And it is—the best day.

You glance at the ring glinting on your finger—a promise not just of forever, but of choosing love again. Not perfect, but real. Tangled in truth. Built on effort. Surrounded by people who stayed, and those who showed up when it mattered most.

As the night winds down and the crowd thins, you find yourself on the porch steps beside Yugyeom. Nora is asleep inside, curled into a blanket on the couch, thumb in her mouth.

“You okay?” he asks gently.

You lean your head on his shoulder, watching the last sparks of a distant firework fade into the sky. “I am. Really, truly okay.”

Her soft breathing filters through the open door behind you—a reminder of all that’s been lost, and all that’s been found.

In this quiet moment, you believe in tomorrow.

The days after the wedding and honeymoon slipped by in a strange blend of routine and quiet reflection.

Nora kept you on your toes �� diaper changes, snack-time negotiations, sticky little hands, and sleepy, warm snuggles that somehow made the chaos feel sacred. Yet, in the still, slower moments, your mind wandered more than you’d expected.

To Taehyung.

One afternoon, with Nora curled up in a sunbeam on the living room rug, fast asleep, and Yugyeom out running errands, your phone buzzed. The name on the screen caught your breath, a sudden flutter you hadn’t quite prepared for.

“Y/N?” His voice came through, softer than you remembered — gentle, careful, as if weighing every word before it landed.

“Taehyung,” you replied, quiet, steady, like meeting an old song you both knew by heart.

“I just wanted to say… I’m really happy for you. For Nora. For Yugyeom, too. You all deserve this — all of it.”

Your throat tightened, a knot of gratitude and something else — something you hadn’t expected to feel.

“Thank you. That means more than you know.”

A silence stretched between you. Then another.

“I don’t want things to be awkward. I know it wasn’t easy — none of it was. But Nora... she’s always going to be part of my life, one way or another. And I want you to know — I’m here, if you ever need anything.”

You closed your eyes, feeling a swirl of emotions settle in your chest. He had hurt you, yes. But he had loved her, and maybe, in his own quiet way, he still did.

“I appreciate that,” you said softly, voice barely above a whisper.

When the call ended, you sat there for a long moment, phone resting on your knee, heart strangely light, like a door had quietly closed and left a sliver of space for something new.

Life had shifted — changed in ways none of you could have predicted. The past was still there, etched into memory and woven through your story, but it no longer weighed you down.

Now, it was only a shadow.

Now Nora was five. Five years of small hands reaching for both of you — five years filled with laughter, scraped knees, and bedtime stories that only the three of you truly understood. Whether you liked it or not, you and Taehyung were forever intertwined—not by love anymore, but by Nora.

Family dinners had become a delicate balancing act. Yugyeom sat beside you, quiet and steady, his hand occasionally brushing yours in a soft reassurance. Across the table, Taehyung was there too, a familiar presence that somehow both comforted and unsettled the edges of your world.

The unspoken rules between the three of you were complicated — sometimes awkward, sometimes fragile — but always real.

After Nora had asked Taehyung to pass her the bread roll, Yugyeom caught your eye and gave you a small, knowing smile.

“She’s a lot like her dad,” Yugyeom whispered under his breath, just loud enough for you to hear.

You nodded, a bittersweet smile tugging at your lips. “She’s stubborn too.”

Taehyung chimed in softly from across the table, “And just as curious. Like when she stays up asking a million questions no one has answers for.”

There was a pause. A comfortable silence that spoke volumes.

Later, as you and Taehyung walked Nora to bed together—one hand each on her small shoulder—you caught his eye in the dim hallway light.

“I know this isn’t what either of us imagined,” he said quietly, voice rough with something like regret, or maybe acceptance. “But I’m grateful we’re doing this—for her.”

You smiled, tired but sure. “Me too. We’re all learning. And she’s worth every messy step.”

Holidays like Christmas were always a mix of joy and bittersweet memories. Nora’s wide eyes sparkled as she tore open presents, her excitement bridging the distance between past and present.

On one Christmas evening, while Nora played with her new dollhouse, Taehyung leaned closer.

“You know,” he said softly, “I never thought we’d get here. Not like this.”

You met his gaze, steady. “Neither did I. But here we are. And we have her.”

He smiled then, a genuine warmth. “Yeah. We have her.”

Birthdays, celebrations—they weren’t just about cake and candles anymore. They were reminders that your lives, your histories, and your futures were forever linked. Not just by Nora’s presence, but by the complex, shifting bonds between you, Taehyung, and Yugyeom.

Through the smiles, the occasional arguments, and the quiet, heavy moments, one truth remained clear: no matter how far your heart had moved on, no matter who stood beside you now, Taehyung was always part of the story.

Because Nora, your daughter, was the tie that held you together — tangled up in a family no one could have predicted, but all of you navigated as best you could.

The air was crisp with the softness of early autumn, the sky painted in a gentle wash of golden light. Taehyung found himself standing at the edge of the vast school field, the very same one where memories lingered like shadows between the blades of grass. The old tree stood tall and proud, leaves whispering quietly in the breeze.

It felt impossible but undeniable... he was back. Back to when they were seventeen, before everything had become complicated, before the weight of time pressed on their hearts.

You were already there, sitting beneath the tree with your legs curled to one side, sunlight catching the strands of your hair, making them glow. The familiar sight stirred something raw inside him. A mix of warmth and ache. It was like stepping into a photograph where everything was still moving, breathing and alive.

His feet carried him closer almost without thought, until he was beside you. The grass was cool beneath his palms as he lowered himself next to you, the quiet between them filled with the soft rustling of leaves and distant laughter from a time long gone.

You glanced at him, eyes wide, clear, shining with the same spark that had drawn him in years ago. There was something vulnerable in your gaze, as if you carried a question you'd been holding for a lifetime.

"Tae," you said, voice barely above a whisper, "do you think... do you think we lasted forever?"

Taehyung's eyes fluttered open, the softness of the dream still lingering like a fading echo beneath his eyelids. For a heartbeat, he reached out, searching for the warmth that wasn't there anymore.

His room was quiet, the early morning light barely seeping through the curtains. The weight of the dream settle deep in his cheat. His phone buzzed softly on the bedside table, jolting him fully awake.

With a slow breath, he picked up. The screen lit up with a message from you.

[Y/N]: Come over tonight. Nora's been talking about having a family dinner with all of us. You, me, Nora and Yugyeom. She really wants it.

Taehyung stared at the words for a moment, his fingers trembling slightly. A small, tire smile curled at the edges of his lips.

This was his normal now.

A life woven with the unexpected. Co-parenting Nora, sharing moments with you and Yugyeom, and building something new from the pieces of the past.

He typed back.

[Taehyung]: I'll be there.

And for the first time for Taehyung, he felt a quiet peace. The dream was gone, but the love, the respect, the growth, the hope was still here. Alive and waiting.

Seventeen was when you met Taehyung. He had that smile, the one that made your heart race and your insecurities shrink for a moment. The world seemed smaller, simpler, with him beside you. You were innocent then, and maybe that’s why you were so willing to believe in the fairytale. Maybe that’s why you stayed even when cracks started to show.

You were just kids, and it felt like you had all the time in the world. But time doesn’t wait. And it sure doesn’t spare anyone. It doesn’t ask if you’re ready to face betrayal, if you’re prepared to carry the weight of lies. Time doesn’t check if you’re emotionally mature enough to navigate the pain when someone you love breaks your trust.

Questioning the very love you once thought was the center of your universe. Back then, you thought love was enough. Enough to survive fights, enough to push through mistakes, enough to make it through anything.

But now, you see what you were too blind to understand at seventeen. Love isn’t just about chemistry and shared dreams. It’s about respect. Trust. Consistency. And somewhere along the way, those things were lost.

You spent so many years trying to fix Taehyung, to fix you both. Trying to see the good in him, in the relationship, in the moments where he promised change. In fact, he has grown and trying. But you can’t keep waiting for someone else to evolve into the partner you deserve. You’ve outgrown this. You’ve outgrown him. And that realisation cuts deep. But it’s also freeing.

Then there was Yugyeom. Not the boy you met at seventeen, but the man who came later. The one who showed you what love could really be. The kind that doesn’t just make your heart race but makes you feel safe. Seen. Understood.

With him, it wasn’t about castles or fairytales. It was about quiet mornings and honest conversations. It was about someone who met your scars with gentle hands, not judgment. Someone who didn’t expect you to be perfect but loved you exactly as you were.

Yugyeom wasn’t your first love. That title belonged to Taehyung. But he was your first true love. The one who stayed when everything else faded. The one who showed you that love isn’t just a feeling, it’s a choice. A promise you make every day.

You realised that sometimes, the first love is the one who teaches you how to love, but the true love is the one who teaches you how to live. With Yugyeom, you learned that love could be steady, kind, and real. And with him, you finally felt like home.

You carry pieces of Taehyung with you. How could you not? Nora is proof of that. But Yugyeom is the one who holds your present and your future, steadying your hand as you write the next chapters of your life.

You are whole. You are loved. And this time, the love feels like it’s here to stay.

[kaisersbestglazer]

✶ ₊🍑⋆.˚.ᐟ A BOY WHO'S JACKED AND KIND .ᐟ.ᐟ

- Rensuke Kunigami

୭˚. ᵎᵎ a/n - hi guys!! I know long time no see, I’ve been so busy this past week its insane!! Anyways here i have a new kunigami one shot thing. I have three more short stories i want to post tonight and im hoping i post atleast 3 of my 4 stories.

୭˚. ᵎᵎ word count - 634

୭˚. ᵎᵎ synopsis - Kunigami loves the gym, but even more then that he loves going with you and he has a pretty unique way of showing that.

୭˚. ᵎᵎ content - kunigami x fem reader, gym date, some suggestive things, some praise, ultimately sfw!!

Kunigami.ᐟ Who spends so much time in the gym its almost admirable. It’s his favorite thing to do, besides being with his girlfriend.

Kunigami.ᐟ Who always invites you to the gym with him, and of course you never hesitate to say yes.

Kunigami.ᐟ Who acts like he could care less when you say you’ll go with him but in reality he loves it when you come. It brings him so much comfort he prefers it no other way.

Kunigami.ᐟ Who always makes sure you have everything you need before you leave. Bag? Towel? Clothes? Hygiene products? He remembers it all not forgetting a single thing.

Kunigami.ᐟ Who loves it when you request making a gym playlist together adding both of your favorite songs to the playlist so you can enjoy it while you work out.

Kunigami.ᐟ Who knows how much you hate doing cardio so when you guys start on the treadmill he doesn’t hesitate to sing you words of praise along the way. Whispers of “You’re doing great princess” and “almost there keep going baby” your almost tempted to leave the gym and take him back home…

Kunigami.ᐟ Who knows exactly what hes doing when he offers to “spot” your lifts while you’re squatting making sure to press his body right against you, touching you in ways that aren’t very necessary for this specific lift.

Kunigami.ᐟ Who only bench presses what you weigh or more, nothing lower. It’s his way of showing how strong he is, and making sure he’s always able to lift you whenever he wants without a struggle.

Kunigami.ᐟ Who loves taking gym pictures with you, documenting just about every time you two go there together. It’s the place he likes the most and above all he gets to go there with his love. So why wouldn’t he take pictures to savor the moment?

Kunigami.ᐟ Who unexpectedly says yes when you jokingly tell him to lift you. He’s ready for it, it’s the moment he reached his 495 pound pr for which is beyond impressive.

Kuni.ᐟ i was just joking you don’t have to

He doesn’t even listen to you as he begins to pick you up and position you in his hands like its nothing.

“stop put me down this is embarrassing!!” You say yelling at a whisper as to not draw attention to yourselves.

“Is this not what you wanted??? Ill do 5 reps of 10.” He says beginning his first rep.

“1”

“2”

“3”

“4”

“5”

“6” he grunts, his arms are beginning to get a little sore but not too much.

“7”

“8”

9 he starts really feeling it towards the end of the 5th rep, his breathe becoming labored causing tiny sounds to escape.

“10” he says confidently sounding relieved finally able to catch his breath.

That was the last rep and unfortunately for you he kept his promise 100 percent doing all 5 reps of 10 bench presses with you as the weight. And the cherry on top?? He didnt look fazed at all, like it was no struggle for him.

When he finally put you down the ground felt weird, it honestly felt like you were flying while you were up there.

“So how’d i do??” Kunigami asked trying to sound humble but you can hear the slight cockiness in his voice.

“It was amazing, what a show off you are, you made it seem so easy” you chime.

“It was that easy, next time i want to see you try benching me.” Kunigami says chuckling.

“oh absolutely not, are you trying to kill me??” You say jokingly offended that he would even risk your life like that.

“Enough jokes im sure your tired now lets go home pleaseee.” you say flashing him a smile and giving him a quick kiss on his lips.

He grabs your belongings making sure you dont leave anything at your last spot. Grabbing your hand and walking out the gym doors.

THE END

୭˚. ᵎᵎ a/n - I hope you guys enjoyed this even a little!! And stay tuned for anything else i post love yall!! :)) { ps sorry about any spelling mistakes i didnt catch <3 }

୭˚. ᵎᵎ tag list - @appl3-0rchard

[whatusername00]

Which Baldur's Gate Characters Know How To Lace Up Their Clothing - Others

Other people I've run into that lace some part of their outfit. This might be the last part, it might not, it just depends on if I find more as I replay the game. On we go.

Starting with the man who put this in my brain, Lord Enver Gortash. Couldn't even be bothered to lace his shirt properly at his ceremony to become Archduke. Did he lace it while wearing his gloves? That's fun to imagine. This man is just straight up skipping eyelets while doing up his shirt. There's also a bit of lacing missing that should come from the third eyelet from the bottom right, and some lacing that should come from the bottom of the eyelet above that. I can't believe I didn't notice this monstrosity until my 7th playthrough. 0/10 get your shit together.

Nine-Fingers has the same lacing on her arm that Lakrissa and Zorru have, so my gripes are the same. One side laces over while the under laces under, when they should match. Why did she use two separate lacing strings? At least there are visible knots. 7/10.

I really hate this man, so it irks me that Lorroakan's lacing is really good. I feel like it would fit his character if it was just a little off. But really, the only thing off I can say is that there's no knot. I will begrudgingly give him a 9/10.

Barcus wears the same outfit that Cal wears. He's perfect, everything is beautiful, 10/10. Oh, 10/10 on the lacing too.

The shoulder lacing still bugs me because the ends aren't even, so 8/10. And honestly, the more I think about it, the more I feel like I would constantly feel the weird gap even over whatever he's wearing underneath. Maybe that's just me.

Omeluum and Blurg both wear the same undershirt that Asharak, Danis, and Kanon wear. And this lacing just isn't possible without tacking it into place, which would defeat the purpose of lacing at the neckline. It's not possible because threading into and then out of the same eyelet just pulls the lacing back out. So I love these two, but 0/10.

And finally we have Helsik. I almost didn't include her because her gauntlets don't lace through eyelets, they lace through these little loops, but look. The rare, elusive knot. And the lacing is physically possible. Also, I didn't notice the lack of eyelets until I put the picture on this post. But listen. Maybe I'm sick of eyelets after putting 120 into a pair of pants earlier this year. And putting some into two corsets on top of that. Maybe I need a break. 10/10.

Like I said earlier, this is probably it for now unless I notice lacing on someone else. I'll be starting a new playthrough when the next patch drops, so we'll see. Bye for now!

Camp Companions

Tieflings

[hugshughes]

Patience is a Virtue C. Loveland

Colston Loveland x fem!Minter!reader

synopsis - Colston gets the trophy, and finally gets the girl.

wc - 3.8k

contains - UNEDITED! this is based off of this request! READER IS COACH MINTER(michigan defensive coordinator)'S DAUGHTER!!!!!!! kissing, hugging, fluff, cursing, stress over the game. guys if u don't like my cute outfit i picked then #1 ur a hater and #2 it's not a big deal! think of something else🤞🤞🤞 cause my Adidas navy handballs with gold accents ARE STAYING. there IS a picture of the outfit im describing but im obvi not gonna stick it in the middle of the fic so if anyone wants that i guess request or message me lols?

an - GUYS PLEASE LET THIS POST LETS PRAY TOGETHER. THIS WAS CUTE. i've been getting the BEST requests lately. i'm on my Michigan FOOTBALL grind. ive spent a long while introducing the jesse minter daughter reader.... she might have to stick around. i want to write for Blake Corum but don't know what to do because literally all i have written for the past week is like "girlfriend or friend of player reader comes to watch their playoff game, reader and love interest kiss after love interest wins game" so... DONT GET ME WRONG I LOVEEEE WRITING THAT SHIT. but it feels so repetitive. BUT THIS? I LOVED THIS. daughter of the coach is so scandalous and i love it. minter is only 40 so like we're just saying he had his daughter (reader) pretty young, like 21. hope u enjoyyyyyyyy ;)!

-

You woke up with a start. Your body jolted as you brain registered a shout somewhere in the room. You sucked in a breath, opening your eyes, only to close them again. You squinted, trying to orient yourself. You were in a hotel room, your brothers were the ones shouting.

You groaned at the realization, then let out a shout when you felt three small bodies land on top of you.

"Holy shit, get off of me!"

They immediately scrambled, most likely going to tell your mom you cursed in their presence. You loved your 3 baby siblings, but they were pains in your ass sometimes.

You heard a faint "she said shit mommy!" in the conjoining hotel room, and rolled your eyes. You sat in bed, stretching, grabbing your phone before grabbing your bag and locking yourself in the bathroom before your mom could scold you so your siblings shut up about it.

Today was the college football playoff championship, and it was safe to say your family members above the age of 8 were stressed. It was 8:11, and you had to be out the door by 9:50. You showered, drying your hair after and then starting to pick your outfit. You brought a lot of different gear, you had not clue what you wanted to wear to the game. You had so much Michigan gear, and even more maize and navy colored clothing, courtesy to your father.

After almost 30 minutes, you decided on a cute denim skirt, a maize long sleeve, and your navy Adidaas Handballs. You perfected your hair and makeup, successfully erasing any signs that you'd only been awake for about an hour.

You came out of the bathroom all put together, your bag and pajamas in hand. Your siblings were sitting on your bed, watching something on the TV. Since you guys had 6 people in your family, you'd gotten two hotel rooms with the connecting door in the middle. You slept in one room with your little sister on the other bed, and your parents and brothers slept in the other room. You walked through the connecting door, checking the time. 9:17.

Your mom was getting ready in the bathroom when you walked into it. You sat on the closed lid toilet and started talking to her about the plans for today.

"You really gotta stop cursing in front of the littles!"

Your mother scolded you, a grin wide on her face. She was joking, of course. You and your parents had always been close, you'd been their baby for the longest. You'd been with them since they were two just married 20 year olds in college. Not that you remembered it, but you were there for all of your dad's junior and senior year games when he played at MSJ. You'd been there through all the coaching jobs. From Cincinnati, to Georgia State, to the Baltimore Ravens, you'd been there through all of it.

You sat with your mom until it was time to go. Your dad corralled everyone together, taking a photo before you all headed to the elevator. When an elevator came, it opened up and there was barely any room unless your parents held two of your siblings, so you told them to go ahead and that you would wait for the next one.

You only waited about a minute before the doors slid open again, revealing none other than Colston Loveland. His eyes lit up, a grin shining on his beautiful face. You'd always had a weird little thing with Colston. No words were ever said about it, but there had always been a vibe between you.

Being the daughter of the defensive coordinator definitely drove a lot of the guys, even ones you had classes and other school related things with, far far away. The boys knew how protective their coach was of his family, and didn't want any bad blood on the team. Something about you just attracted Colston so heavily. He knew he shouldn't even think about it, but he never could help himself.

"Hey coach."

You rolled your eyes at him playfully as you stepped into the elevator. He always called you coach, he had to remind you he was one of your dad's players. You would've loved to forget that for two seconds.

"Hi Cole."

He could've died. You'd called him Cole, instead of Colston. It was the smallest, most insignificant little thing, but it made him melt.

"Where's your family at?"

You tilted your head towards him, he wanted to talk, okay. You smiled at him, he loved it.

"The other elevator was too full, some of the guys were on the way down too."

He nodded, the smirk never leaving his face. You thought about kissing it off of him, then realized you had just thought of kissing his smirk off of him. Shit. You were in deep with this kid, and there was little to no chance anything would ever happen.

The elevator reached the lobby, and Colston gestured for you to step out first. You exited the elevator, the boy hot on your tail. You were immediately greeted by a hallway packed full of Michigan players, coaches, families, and more.

You have Colston one last glance and smile before finding your mom, taking your baby brother out of her arms and into yours, playing with him. Colston's eyes followed you, he admired you as you smiled and laughed with your brother. You were perfect. He was gonna have to find a way to get around the fact that you were his coach's daughter.

You held your brother with one arm and your sisters hand with the other as you smiled at the cameras, walking through to the buses. Your family followed behind the rest of the coaches and families, the team trailing behind you.

The ride to NRG took longer than you assumed it would, almost an hour because of the traffic, and it didn't help that everyone could tell that the buses were transporting one of the CFP Championship teams in them.

Everyone went into the stadium together, through some backstage type area. You walked with the team until you had to go separate ways. You hugged your dad, squeezing him tight. You would see him again before the game, so you saved your 'Good luck, I love you Dad.' sentiment for then.

You'd always had a special connection with your dad, you were closer to him than almost anyone else. You were his baby, his first baby. Still, you were his baby in his eyes. Your dad would do anything for you, and he was quite protective. Though he was protective, all he wanted was for you to be happy, and if it meant dating one of his guys, he would have no problem with it.

Your family sat bored in the box of the stadium, looking down on the field as Washington practiced. There was over 6 more hours till the game started, and there was practically nothing to do.

You took a nap on the carpeted floor of the box with your siblings for a couple hours, your mother snapping photos that although you were embarrassed of, were undeniably cute. Once you guys had woken up, there was about 2 hours till game time. You voted with your family on whether you guys wanted to stay in the box, or sit way close to the field. You all wanted to be closer to the field, you wanted to see the action head on.

Your family departed the box, along with a few others to see the team one more time before the game. You got down onto the field in about 20 minutes, and stood with your dad for awhile. When you were being told it was time to go, you quickly hugged your dad.

"Good luck, I love you!"

He thanked you, saying the three words back as you guys waved at him, going to leave. Your eyes caught on a certain brunette as he ran off the field, his eyes finding you quickly. He smiled at you, ugh, that smile.

"Good luck, Cole!"

You smiled at him, right before you turned to go up the tunnel. More and more fans started to pour in as you got settled into your bleacher seats. You were three rows from the bottom with a perfect view of the field. You settled in as the national anthem ended and the game began.

As the game progressed, you were so happy to say that Michigan was winning, the entire time. You'd caught Colston's eyes multiple times during the game, letting it linger for a few seconds before giving him a stern look and gesturing towards the field. He'd mouth back, 'okay, coach.' and turn back around. Your mother caught the interaction once, her heart warming seeing her baby with a crush.

You stood up, your brother in your arms as you jumped up and down, shouting, Michigan had finally won! You cheered and danced around with your little siblings as you celebrated. You were all so insanely proud of your dad. Soon though, you were being escorted to the field, eager to see your father and congratulate him.

Blood was pumping and hearts were racing as you exited the tunnel, smiles burned onto your faces as you went to look for your dad. You held your sister's hand as you two ran around, trying to find him. Your mom shouted, and you turned to look at her. She pointed to your left, and there stood your dad, hugging one of his players. Your sister went back to your mom, to walk over to your dad with her as you all but sprinted over to your dad, weaving in between sweaty boys and families.

Your dad saw you incoming and held his arms out accepting your forceful hug. You both laughed, your dad squeezing you tightly. Your best friend had finally done it.

"Literally told you you would do it."

He laughed again, agreeing as he laid a kiss to your temple, pulling back with one arm to accept your other siblings into the hug, who'd finally made their way over. After a minute, you took your siblings from your dad so your mom could hug him, and kiss him, much to your brothers' disgust.

After talking with your dad for a little, you spotted a familiar 6'5 frame standing by himself as his teammates walked away from him. You sauntered over, shouting his name when you were in earshot. The brunette quickly turned around, the smile already gracing his face deepening.

"Well hi, coach."

"Congratulations, Cole. You know your catches were pretty legit."

You gave him a slightly impressed face, shrugging your shoulders. He laughed, rolling his eyes playfully.

"You can't win 'em all over, can you?"

You laughed in turn, stepping closer to him. Colston's heart was racing as he looked down into your eyes.

"But really, Cole, you were incredible, serious."

He nodded, accepting your praise with a grin, before he looked around, over-exaggerating a look of being in thought.

"You know, coach, I think I might just deserve a reward, for my quote incredible performance."

Your eyes widened, your heart starting off, faster and faster.

"Really? What might that entail, Cole?"

Shit, he was gonna have to kiss you if you kept calling him that. He was about to take the leap. He knew he had to at some point, and he was on an adrenaline rush, that just chanted at him to do it.

"Well I think it entails you accepting a date with me back in Michigan."

Your jaw dropped slightly, you were dumbfounded. Colston really wanted to go on a date with you?

"For real?"

Colston nodded, seemingly confident, though he was shaking in his boots on the inside.

"Well then, I think we can make that work."

Colston's heart erupted. He literally could not have been happier. He'd just won the Natty, and got his dream girl to agree to a date, holy fuck. You got nervous all of the sudden, leaning up to kiss his cheek, before turning to leave.

"Just text me, Cole!"

He nodded, his eyes following you as you went to go find your family again. His family came back over to him, they'd been gone for just a second but stopped and waited when they saw him talking to you. His family, especially his mom, knew quite a bit about you.

You found your family, immediately grabbing your moms hand to pull her a few steps away. You looked at her with the biggest eyes ever, still in shock over what had just happened.

"What's up, sweetheart? Why are you all, thousand yard stare-y?"

"Mom Colston just asked me out, and I said yes! And then I kissed his cheek! And then I left!"

Your mom laughed, her baby was finally growing up. You'd had a few boyfriends in all your days, but you'd never been proper crushing like you were right now.

"That's so good! I knew this was coming, we just had to wait for one of you to get the courage."

You blushed, hiding your face in your hands. Your smile suddenly dropped, a realization coming to you.

"Is dad gonna hate me?"

"Why would I hate you?"

Shit.

You ended up telling your dad later on in the night, when you were tired and sitting in the back of a restaurant the team was celebrating in. Your family didn't party for too long, having a 4, 7, and 8 year old didn't exactly allow you guys to stay out for too long. Even your parents 19 year old daughter got a bit cranky if she stayed out too late.

When you told your dad, he just laughed. He knew you and Colston had things for each other, he was waiting for the tight end to make a move.

-

You were stressing. Tonight was your date with Colston. You sat at your vanity, ranting to your roommate over it. You put on makeup and did your hair, wanting to look cute but not over the top.

Colston had told you to wear comfy clothes, so you were in one of your most common outfits. Leggings and a Michigan sweatshirt. You stared at yourself in the mirror, doubting yourself. You had known Colston for over a year, almost two, but you didn't really know him that well. You wanted him to like you so badly.

"Babe, you look fantastic. He's going to stare at you all night."

You sighed at your roommate's encouragement. But before you could respond, you got a text from Colston. He was outside your dorm building. Your roommate pushed you straight out the door, saying bye.

You went down the stairs quickly, making your way out of the complex. You saw Colston as you opened the door, slipping out. He looked up and smiled at you, his stupid beautiful smile.

"Hey, Gorgeous."

You felt the heat on your face even in the Ann Arbor cold. You smiled, shaking your head as you gave him a spin, showing off your extra casual outfit.

"Even in this ensemble?"

He nodded, his smile deepening. He pulled you into his side, hugging you. You were immediately enveloped in his warmth. You ducked your head down to hide the shock in your eyes. He smelled really good.

When you pulled away Colston led you to his car, opening the door for you before going around and getting in. You two buckled up before Colston pulled out of the parking spot, setting off into Ann Arbor. He gave you the aux, warming your heart. You both knew he probably didn't listen to the same music as you, but he wanted you to listen to whatever you liked.

Smaller Acts by Zach Bryan came on when you hit shuffle on your main playlist, making you smile. You resonated with the song, always having thought that smaller acts of love were more important than any grand gestures. You got to really look at Colston while he drove. He kept his eyes right on the road always, until you got to a red light, that's when you'd jerk your head back forward as he turned to look at you. He was really pretty, his jaw was so insanely defined, he had a strong neck, and the deepest brown eyes. You stared at the tattoo on his left forearm, he was hot, to put it simply.

You drove for around 40 minutes before the car slowed, pulling onto a gravel driveway. You looked out of your window, seeing a large screen and projector, and lots of cars. He had brought you to a drive in movie. You could've cried when you saw the sign reading the movie you would be seeing. Ocean's 11. The very first time you ever talked to Colston, he'd asked you your favorite movie. You said you couldn't pick one, then settled on Ocean's 11 because it was one you'd seen so many times you could quote any scene.

You couldn't believe he remembered. You'd never mentioned it since then. That was the kind of smaller, seemingly insignificant thing that meant the world to you. You jerked your head to the left, staring at Colston with wide eyes. He was dealing with the tickets for a few seconds before you pulled into a spot, then he finally looked to you.

"Cole, I cannot believe that you remembered."

Colston smiled, and on the inside he was celebrating that you loved it. What he hadn't expected though was you leaning over the console and hugging him. It was honestly the sweetest thing any guy had ever done for you, you were beyond grateful for this boy, and it was your first date.

"This is the sweetest thing a guy's ever done for me, I'm being serious."

Though you were mostly saying that about the fact that he'd remembered, the date itself was also amazing. Colston knew you enough to know that you'd have preferred this over any fancy restaurant, and that meant a lot.

"It's the least I could do, coach. You mean something to me, 'm gonna take care of you."

You just squirmed in your seat, getting more comfortable and smiling as you looked ahead of you. You wordlessly reached over and slipped your hand into his, pulling them into your lap.

Colston was so happy he could've gotten out of the car and started dancing. He acted as cool as he could on the outside. You two settled in as the movie began.

At some point, Colston had reached back into the backseat and grabbed a blanket that he tossed into your lap, and a bag of food and snacks.

You traced your free hand over Colston's tattoo, admiring the line work and shading. The movie ended, and Colston's hand stayed with you as you two began the drive back. You fell asleep on the drive, your head leaning against Colston's arm.

You woke up slowly about 5 minutes out from school. You kept your head on Colston's arm, but allowed yourself to carelessly stare at him in your tired state. At a stoplight, he turned to look at you, smiling deeply when his eyes met your sleepy ones.

"Hey, coach. Nap good?"

You smiled and nodded, yawning at him. He laughed lowly, turning his head back when the light went green. You parked outside your building, dampening your heart. The night had been perfect. You sleepily got out of Colston's car, after he told you to not dare opening your own door. He walked you up to the entrance with his hand on your back, rubbing his fingers back and forth lightly.

When you got to the door you stopped and turned around, wrapping your arms around his middle.

"Thank you so much Colston. This was like, the best date I think ever."

He smiled, hugging you tightly. Colston had the best time, obviously you were gorgeous, but getting to talk to you one-on-one without interruptions was his idea of a good time. His insides melted whenever you fell asleep, and before then, he could've swore he was in love while you traced over his tattoo.

You pulled away from him, looking at the boy through heavy eyes. He looked absolutely handsome in the dim lighting of a street lamp. You put your hands on his shoulders, leaning up and kissing him. You probably wouldn't have if your drowzy mind hadn't commanded you to. Obviously you wanted to, but you weren't sure if it was 100% mutual yet, but it was.

Colston's hands went to hold the back of your head, his hands in your hair. He kept the kiss shorter than you would've liked, knowing you were tired.

You looked up at him with stars in your eyes, a smiling fighting its way onto you face. Colston's hands shifted from your hair to your jaw, rubbing his thumb over your cheek.

"I'll see you tomorrow baby."

Your blown out eyes widened at the name, your heart clenching in your chest. Colston saw the reaction, his lips quirking up the slightest bit.

"I'll see you, Loveland."

You let go of him, turning towards the door. You paused for a second, quickly turning back around and kissing Colston again. Colston's hands grabbed at your hips, pulling you closer. Colston smiled brightly into the kiss, giggling to himself.

You pulled away from him, a grin falling to your face.

"You ever gonna let me leave, coach?"

"Thinkin' about it."

"You get inside, gorgeous. It's too cold for you to be out here."

You smiled, nodding at him, letting go of him for the last time.

"You gotta go too, off season just started. You gotta stay on your A-Game Loveland."

He laughed at you, shaking his head as he watched you walk into the dorm complex, turning the corner and out of his sight. You ran back up the stairs and to your room, squealing like a 13 year old as you described your date to your roommate.

Colston sat in his car, texting his mom that everything went well. When he put his phone away, he finally let himself think that you were the girl he'd want to be with forever. It was finally real. The boy just had to be patient.

[mellosdrawings]

Sorry for the inconvenience but could you make a tutorial on how to draw Kalim please?

Alright, time for a Kalim tuto!

I'm gonna do a bit differently compared to the usual, because there is something interesting about Kalim and Jamil.

They are, quite literally, polar opposite even in design.

Long straight dark hair vs short fluffy white hair

Little dark eyes vs big soft eyes

Red and dark colors vs light and blueish colors

Fire motif vs water magic

Apart from the eyes, those are all things they have control over too. Things they can't decide for themselves (skin color, size) are similar, but things that partake in choices (hairstyles, colors) are completely opposite.

Think about it when you draw either of them. You might want to draw them with that opposition in mind.

I'm going to keep coming back to Jamil's design (since I draw him all the time he is my base reference when I draw Kalim. You can find Jamil's tuto HERE if you wanna compare)

0. Face's general shape

Not pictured here coz it's not as obvious seen facing, but I like to give Kalim a heart shaped face. High yet round cheeks and pointy chin. That's what gives him a cute side and makes him approachable (unlike Jamil who would be straighter and thinner).

1. Turban part 1

Unlike with other characters, we're gonna start with the main accessory here since it changes the shape of his hair. For that I suggest that you draw the ears first. His turban doesn't actually touch them, so place the vague shape slightly above it. Don't make it symmetrical, the left side should be higher than the left.

2. Turban part 2

Here you add the little left over from his turban. Make it go slightly further than the middle line to make it more natural. Once more, no symmetry. Keep the distinct left-right for Jamil, Kalim is more natural and imperfect.

3. Hair

Kalim has short fluffy hair coming from a point to the left. They all go toward the same direction. Keep your lines flowing, make soft waves. They tend to fork outwards at the end.

4. Turban part 3

I only close the turbans here, otherwise I tend to put the edges too close to his head. There is matter here between his hair and the actual turban, so keep it in mind. Don't draw the edges with straight lines. Remember: natural and imperfect. Add a little wave to make it look like a fold.

5. Bangs

Kalim's bangs can be separated in three parts, two framing his face and one at the center going right. His bangs are short. Just like for the top hair, keep it fluffy and cute.

6. Turban part 4, the bow

Yes, the turban is half of Kalim's design so we're still not done with it. Kalim has a cute bow to the side, so seen from the front you only see one loop and one end of the fabric. Make two vaguely squared shapes and add a little curve at the bottom of the upper square to shape the loop of the bow.

7. Feathers

We're almost done with the turban! Where Jamil had on feather to the right of his face, Kalim has two. They come almost from the ear, behind the bow, and reach slightly lower than his chin. Try not to draw them completely parallel (natural and imperfect!)

8. Eyes

Once more going to reference Jamil, but they actually have the same eye shape, with round lower lids and straighter high lids. The difference is that Jamil has lazy eyes (meaning his eyes aren't opened fully) while Kalim's eyes are more open. It gives him bigger, softer eyes.

The pupils are also huge, once more in complete opposition to Jamil's little pupils.

As for the eyebrows, Kalim's are very short but a bit wide. Make it about the side of his pupils, lower inside and higher outside.

9. Earrings

His earrings are 6 shaped with three chains falling from it. They're actually pretty long, going down to his chin. You can keep it simple.

10. Finish the face

Make him smile. Seriously, Kalim is smiling more often than he is not (while Jamil is scowling more than he is not). I make his smile all round, once more to accentuate the cute side. Most everything is round in Kalim's design, so don't hesitate to lean toward it. (Remember, he's based on the Sultan, a character whose character design can be surmised in one word: round)

Once more not visible from the front, but I give him a hooked nose just like Jamil.

11. Correct details and finish

Kalim doesn't have much hair at the neck but I give him a few strands just to finish framing his face. Add flourishes to the turban. You're done!

[winterflowersftw]

ITOSHI RIN X READER

COULD YOU EVER FORGIVE ME?

Synopsis:

Childhood best friends to lovers to strangers. Itoshi Rin is fixated on soccer. Itoshi Sae ruins things.

You had known Rin since you were 9 and he was 8. You were in his older brother, Itoshi Sae's class in elementary and middle school. Sae was a very nonchalant guy, barely said anything. But boy, did he have a talent for football. He won all the districts and state competitions. He not too good at studies to be honest. He was ....above-average at best.

You were in the school's baseball team. To be frank, you HAD to choose a sport so you chose baseball because it seemed the least demanding. You were an extra and you had no motivation to be in the playing nine. The football field was just adjacent to the baseball field and one day while watching Itoshi Sae play during a match, you said:

"He's so weird, not passing the ball at all. A selfish guy most probably."

Sae heard this and took a note to give you a piece of his mind later. Rin was standing nearby, star-studded by his brother's talent. He used to watch his every mgame and even told him about you once his match was over. Sae, being the football genius he was, scored 6 goals.

Itoshi Sae made it his motive to make your life in school hell. He didn't do much, but it was enough to ruin your day. Sometimes he'd come over to your desk and call you names, sometimes he'd bitch about you to your classmates even telling the other girls to keep their distance from you. Even with all that, you had two friends and they were your ride or die.

This petty rivalry went on for years. You became somewhat frienemies. But there were times when Sae would cross the line and you would leave crying. And when Sae was not looking, Rin would quietly come up to you to apologise for his brother's immature behaviour. You were more comfortable with Rin than you had ever been with Sae to be honest.

And slowly with time, Rin started coming to you even when there hadn't been a fight. He liked spending time with you. He did not have any friends except his brother so he made sure to visit you whenever he was not hanging out with him.

And then Rin got the most devastating news of all: Itoshi Sae was leaving for Spain for his football dream at age 13. Rin himself never considered playing football, but he did love watching Sae play. When Sae told him he had a talent for soccer and asked him to play, Rin agreed. The brothers dreamt to become the best strikers in the world.

With his brother gone, he clinged to football as if it was him. And soon, football did become his everything. And so did you.

You and Rin became much closer when Itoshi Sae left for Spain. Now that there were no petty fights, you did not had to meet Rin whenever you had time. But you did. That boy was so lonely you thought. But soon you started meeting him because you genuinely liked being with him. If Rin was not playing football, he was talking to you. It wasnt until he was 14 he realised he had feelings for you.

It took him 6 more months to come to terms with his feelings and to confess. When you heard his confession, you did not know what to say and just stood there; bewildered. But soon you realised you had fallen for him too. And almost immediately, you both went from best friends to lovers. Your mother was a calm woman and did not disapprove of Rin. She believed he was a good influence. Your relationship had been going well and it had been 6 months when you heard Itoshi Sae was coming home. Rin was overjoyed and texted Sae,

" I'm so excited omg omg. Before you come to visit mom and dad, please come to (y/n 's address). We'll have a party! "

To which Sae replied,

"Ok"

When Sae came to y/n's room only to find Rin sitting on her bed, he realised they both were dating when he saw their pictures on the bedside frame. To say he was pissed was an understatement.

His trip to Spain made him realise how average he was. If anything, he was of middling talent. And he wanted to be the best or nothing. He had come back a changed man. A pessimistic guy.

Then seeing you carrying a big cake which had "welcome back Sae!" written on it was his last straw. He threw the cake and shouted;

"Rin!! How do you expect yourself to become a world class striker when you're trapped here playing house? I did not know you threw away your dream of soccer." When he said it, he sounded angry; but by the end he just sounded disappointed which was much more saddening.

You were sad and crying. You tried your best to hide it, but you couldn't. So you ran out of that room. Then Sae told Rin;

"I'm going to be the best mid-fielder, not striker. My dream changed."

To Rin this was absolute betrayal.

"What about our dream then? That you'd be the best striker and I'd be after you?"

"My dream changed and you are here having fun playing house so I assume you'd never even make it to the top 10. "

Itoshi Sae had gotten a reality check in Spain. He knows what a player like him had to give away to be the best. He just wanted the same for his brother, to be the best. But Rin's attitude towards soccer made him feel like a fool for worrying about him. For him, it was probably just a hobby he thought.

The brothers went to the nearby football practice ground where Sae made his bet.

If Rin won, he'd go back to trying to be the best striker.

The one-on-one didn't last a minute.

Sae won effortlessly.

That was the last day you saw Rin. He never called, never reached out.

The next time you saw him was when you were in the Blue Lock stadium seeing the U-20 VS Blue Lock Eleven match.

When it ended, you were so happy for Rin. He finally defeated his brother's team. And yet, the expression on his face had never been more dull.

While leaving, you ran into Itoshi Sae.

"Hey y/n"

"Hey"

"I wanted to say that....."

And Sae saw the look on your face. It was not forgiving, not in the slightest. It was pure hate and rage.

Seeing that, he swallowed his words

"Never mind, bye."

And he left.

Seeing the match made you remember every memory you shared with Rin all over again. How easily had he thrown away 8 years of friendship? As if it was nothing. As if YOU were nothing.

And yet, you couldn't hate him.

You never forgave him either.

After the big match, the blue lock boys were given 2 weeks off. As Rin was going to his home, he realised the place which actually felt like home to him was you. He had so much to apologise for.

He came to your house and rang the bell. When you opened the door he said,

"I made the biggest mistake of my life. Could you ever forgive me?"

[estebanocon]

Another Singapore GP, another selfie dump.

[1] Nico Rosberg - 2016 WDC gave us a jump scare when he showed up, shoutout to my friend who's a big fan of his who he remembered and was probably the reason why he turned around to smile for this pic because I was so sure he was just going to keep moving down the line. 🥲

[2] Alex Albon - my fellow March Aries: always kind, always obliging and generous with his time, also came prepared with his own marker!! A true professional.

[3] Nico Hulkenberg - I've seen this man every year since 2017 and he's ignored me every single time and I was just going to accept that he was never going to give me the time of day when finally, this year he deigned to take a picture with me. 💀

[4] Franco Colapinto - this man could not be less interested in taking this photo BUT Y'KNOW WHAT? I give him major props for doing it anyway when he could have just ignored me.

[5] James Vowles - the last selfie I took at the Singapore GP! Luckily there weren't a lot of people where I was, so he kindly stopped for a second to take this before going on his way.

[6] Mick Schumacher - another fellow March Aries: most of the time he just signs stuff but that particular day he decided to take pictures with fans as well, which I'm so glad he did. 🥺

[7] Ayao Komatsu - we almost didn't recognise him because he was dressed in civvies on race day?? Anyway, please take good care of Esteban. 🙏

[8] Maya Heug - the only F1 Academy driver I asked for a picture and gotta be honest, I was just stalling so I could ask Rene as well. 🫠

[9] Rene Rosin - after we took this he immediately roasted me for not waiting until they left the paddock because "the picture will be nicer without the gate". 🤡

[10] David Croft aka Crofty - another one for the "I see them every year but I finally got their attention" folder. He always has earphones in so I had to wave my entire arm for him to notice.

[11] Martin Brundle - see above, except he doesn't have earphones in and usually just zips past us.

[12] Simon Lazenby - I just missed him in 2022 so it was good to catch him this time!

[13] Jamie Chadwick - I was surprised that nobody else seemed to recognise her this year but maybe it was because she's not driving? Anw, a nice surprise to see her again!

[14] Anthony Davidson - a friend of mine is a big fan so I've seen him a lot but this was the first time I asked for a pic. 😬

[15] Tom Clarkson - aka the guy who had to tell Max to mind his language during the Thursday press conference. 🙊 I know him as the host of Beyond the Grid and got to tell him I love the podcast, and he thanked me for listening.

[16] Lee McKenzie - Lee, Rosanna Tennant (who was also around!) and Ruth Buscombe (who I saw multiple times but the timing was never right 😭) are probably my favourite track-side reporters. This was my first time seeing Lee in person and I was so glad she took the time to stop for this pic!

[17] Aurélie Donzelot - I've been a fan of her work for years, since she was at Renault/Alpine literally changing the motorsport social media game. She's independent now and I still love following her work spotlighting women in motorsport on her podcast "Racing Lives" as well as her stories on Substack.

[18] Susie Wolff (featuring Jennifer the marshal) - I felt bad at first because my friends also wanted a photo with her and we could have taken a group photo but she was in a rush and only stopped for me. Later that night she saw us again and asked security to step aside so she could take pictures with my friends, which was very kind of her. 🫶

[ more of my F1 experiences ]

[honeywinesims]

Season 1, Episode 5: Not So Darling (part 6)

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Keep reading below for image descriptions/script, credits, and final thoughts/notes. Feel free to skip the rest of the post if none of that interests you.

Image Descriptions/Script

Image 1: A starry sky above Goth Manor. Image 2: Frida is standing outside, looking thoughtful. [Frida]: “What did you want to talk to me about, Gunther? I can’t leave Xander alone too long—Cornelia will eat him alive.” Image 3: Gunther standing outside, holding a glass of whiskey. [Gunther]: “Cornelia can be heavy-handed at times, it’s true. She means well, though. But Frida, there’s something you need to know . . .” Image 4: Zoomed out picture of Frida and Gunther standing the Goth Cemetery in front of a tall gravestone. [Gunther]: “The man Agnes is marrying is . . . Erik Darling.” Image 5: Frida looks distressed. [Frida]: “What? And you’re okay with that? I almost died because of him. He—he ruined my life, Gunther! Or have you forgotten that he once left me to drown simply because he thought it would be a funny prank?” Image 6: Gunther, facing the tall gravestone with his whisky in hand. [Gunther]: “‘A Goth Never Forgets.’ Our family words. Father hammered them into our heads often enough.” Image 7: Frida, crossing her arms unhappily. [Frida]: You can’t seriously expect me to attend Erik Darling’s wedding, Gunther. There’s too much bad blood. No way. Everything that happened to me after that prank he pulled… Mom and Dad sending me away… Image 8: Looking down on Gunther and Frida from above. [Gunther]: “What Cornelia said about our enemies—she’s right. There’s a storm brewing in Sunset Valley, Frida.” Image 9: Gunther speaking to Frida, who looks very uncomfortable. [Gunther]: And we need you by our side when it hits.

Credits

In this scene, I used poses from FL Club, Noelyely, and Simmeronnie.

Thoughts/Notes

That's finally a wrap on Episode 5! It definitely took me longer than expected to complete it.

All current chapters are now uploaded on Simblr.cc, so you can read them all at once instead of across mulitple tumblr posts.

Alternatively, I have a new Table of Contents to help a bit more with navigation.

Thanks for reading!

[hedwig123]

Ranking The Quarry Counselor Outfits By Late-August Practicality

OK, so. This has been bugging me. I blame SMG's British-ness for this, but so many of the counselors' outfits are just... ridiculous for late August.

(Apparently the weather in the area- West Kill, NY- that day was a high of 75, a low of 68, and humidity was 100 FUCKING PERCENT. So. My concerns are not unfounded.)

So now I'm going to rank all the character outfits by how likely I think it is that normal human people would put them on during the latter half of August, tyyyyyyyy

Excluding Max & Laura because the only time they got to pick their own outfits was June- which, still not great, but. I'll let it slide. Also excluding Emma's overalls, because again, she didn't pick them.

So of the other 21 AUGUST outfits:

21. Nick's 80s Outfit

Dead fucking last is the letterman jacket. Aesthetically it looks cool, and I want to give it bonus points for being a Matt Taylor reference, but I can't. That's a coat. A coat, SMG.

20. Jacob's Modern Outfit

First can I just say how weird it is that Jacob doesn't have a single 360 look uploaded? In ANY of his outfits???

Anyway. This was going to be a little higher because I thought he was wearing a sweatshirt, but looking at it in the close-up that is a fucking sweater. NO!!!!!

19. Nick's 50s Outfit

That is just a full-on nearly-cable-knit sweater. The only reason it ranks above Jacob is that it's at least not visibly layered. But still.

18. Abi's 50s Outfit

Listen, I love that they made Blygbank into Velma & Daphne as much as the next person, but Abi's still wearing a turtleneck in August. They couldn't at least shorten the sleeves? Or pair it with shorts?

17. Emma's Modern Outfit

OK, so I love this outfit out of context. But. Even as a crop-top. It is a turtleneck sweater. With jeans, no less! Jeans, no less!

16. Kaitlyn's Modern Outfit

Why the layers. Why. It's cute, sure, but August.

15. Dylan's 80s Outfit

I'm told this is a rugby shirt, which people do play some sports in. So it's almost passable. But the slacks... the sleeves... the shoes...

14. Ryan's Modern Outfit

Again, almost passable. The shirts look thin, even if there's two of them. But the two shirts combined with the skinny jeans & shoes would just... suffocate him :(

13. Abi's 80s Outfit

This outfit is awesome, but not pictured here are the COMBAT BOOTS SHE'S WEARING ON HER FEET.

No.

12. Dylan's 50s Outfit

OK, listen.

Listen.

I love this outfit. You love this outfit. That shirt was made for him.

But the pants!!!

11. Jacob's 50s Outfit

T-shirt good. Pants BAD.

10. Ryan's 50s Outfit

Same as Jacob's 50s outfit, the shirt is fine. The WOOL PANTS are a no.

9. Ryan's 80s Outfit

This one is almost acceptable. Despite the dark colors, the material looks light. The shoes are OK (not great, but OK). The t-shirt is perfect!

But the vest. The vest. Does he look good in it? Of course. But NOBODY ADDS LAYERS IN AUGUST!

8. Emma's 80s Outfit

We have reached the Acceptable Eight.

I love this outfit. Really the only things putting it at the bottom of the top 8 are the lipstick and the socks, which like... who cares? But these things have to be considered for the ranking.

7. Nick's Modern Outfit

There's nothing wrong with this outfit. The only thing putting it at 7 is the sleeve length, but. It's fine. It's acceptable.

Leagues better than his other 2 outfits.

6. Emma's 50s Outfit

This outfit is great. The shoes are light. The pants are open on the side. The shirt is cropped and tied off!

Only thing edging it out of the Top 5 is the scarf. It's cute, I love Daphne!Emma with my whole heart, but it would get hot.

5. Kaitlyn's 80s Outfit

5th through 2nd place was a toss-up. They're all perfectly appropriate August attire.

This one's great. The jeans are light wash and ripped at the knees. The polo is perfect. The only thing that might give me pause are the converse but honestly??? They're fine too.

4. Abi's Modern Outfit

This outfit's great too! The only counselor outfit with shorts besides #1. The tights don't bother me, they look very light and breathable. 10/10 good job modern Abi!!! (Give 50s Abi some tips she's gonna die of heatstroke)

3. Dylan's Modern Outfit

Another great choice. Light t-shirt, skinny jeans that aren't too tight, and vans. ✨10/10 great job Dylan✨

2. Kaitlyn's 50s Outfit

THOSE ARE OPEN-TOE SHOES I REPEAT THEY ARE OPEN-TOE SHOES THIS IS NOT A DRILL

ONE FUCKING CHARACTER GOT SHOES THAT OPEN AT THE DAMN TOES

I don't even care that it's just a peep toe, I'm fucking counting it

Jacob's 80s Outfit

Was there ever any doubt?

Honorable mention goes to:

Nakey Jakey. Honorable mention only because he didn't reeeeeeally pick it as an OUTFIT outfit.

But still.

[parkerpeter24]

the swim quotient

pairing ➳ swim instructor!peter parker x reader

w.c. ➳ 4.6k

summary ➳ peter’s your swim instructor and even though you want to keep a professional relationship with him, feelings– and your best friend– get in the way.

okay so this is supposed to be my birthday present to myself (even tho it was like a week ago so belated birthday, me) this fic could be read for mcu as well as tasm peter

“8 to 9 am is the time for kids. if you want one-on-one lessons, you need to come at 7 am.” the guy behind the desk told you that as he pushed down his glasses to get a better look at your face. you nodded and filled the form for one-on-one classes and paid the fees.

it would be just easier without all the humiliation, you thought, that’s why you chose to learn alone. it was a reasonable price even if it cost you a few more bucks than learning with the others.

“your trainer will be mr. parker.” he informed you and you thanked him, “you’ll find his number in the list outside.” exchanging smiles with the older man before you left the office of the community club. you checked out the list, clicking a picture of number under the name ‘peter parker’.

you hoped the guy wasn’t too harsh on you. you still remembered the time your dad taught you how to drive. just the thought of it made you wince. the constant jabs at your sanity and judgement, it all was just too much to handle. but you were hoping for the best now.

when your friend called you on your way back home, you told her about your idea of learning how to swim, “you know, i would have saved you in case you were drowning.”

you rolled your eyes but her comment made you chuckle, “what if you weren’t there?” you held the phone between your shoulder and ear as you fished for your keys in the tote bag you were carrying, “i’m a little nervous, what if this peter parker guy is horrible?”

“there’s a guy?” you could practically hear your friend’s raised eyebrow but you continued your ramble, not stopping for her to elaborate on her thoughts.

“you know, i don’t really trust any guy to teach me anything.” you entered your apartment, placing the keys in the keyholder and kicking off your shoes, “they’re just not that good at teaching.”

“maybe he’s a cute guy?” she chuckled at the other end.

“it won’t matter if he’s not a good guy!” you sighed, plopping down at your couch, your legs instinctively going up as you placed them one over the other on the couch.

“what if he’s a really good guy.” your friend could not have sounded more suggestive and you almost wanted to gag at that comment.

“gwendolyne.” as you’d guessed, a whine sounded from the other side of the phone. she hated when anyone called her, her full name.

“it’s gwen for you. anyway, just give it a try and if you don’t like his way of teaching, then you can just ask for another coach.” she said and you thought it over. she was right, you could always ask for a different person to teach you.

“thanks, gwen.” you smiled, “okay, i have to go now but i’ll call you later.”

the next day you were on your way to the community club pool and even though you had hated waking up at 6 am, you were also a little excited– and nervous– to experience something new.

you entered the facility, carrying your swimming costume and other equipment in your tote bag. as the swimming pool came into view, your eyes searched for your trainer– he has to be around here somewhere.

“excuse me, miss?” the voice came from behind and you turned to find the source. your mouth parted to say something but no words came out. if anyone else was in your place, you thought, they would have had the same reaction. a gorgeously tanned guy, brown mop of hair swept across his forehead in a way that was messy but as if on purpose. and oh, he was not wearing a t-shirt.

his swim trunks hung from his waist perfectly, carved abs and a chiselled torso above that. you were almost mesmerised by just one look of him.

“um… you’re (y/n), right?” you noticed his tinted cheeks and snapped yourself out of your daydream.

“that’s me.” you answer, standing up straighter, “you must be mr. parker?”

“oh, call me peter, please.” he smiled at you and you were bound to give him one back, “why don’t you go and change and we’ll get started.”

“yes.” you nodded, quickly making your way to one of the changing rooms. your mind was racing with thoughts as you changed into the swim gear. he seemed in his early twenties, very close to your age but finding him attractive felt against your morals. you were supposed to have a professional relationship with him and if he was a good teacher, you would just suppress your feelings deeper inside you than the depth of this swimming pool.

“all ready.” you said, walking out from the changing room only to find peter was already in the swimming pool, his hair falling in front of his eyes as he emerged out of the pool. he pushed his hair back, away from his forehead, as it sat perfectly over his head.

“hey!” peter gave you a smile as you walked to the side of the pool where the pool ladder was situated, “you excited for your first lesson?”

“a little nervous.” you chuckled, telling him the truth for some reason. you should probably trust the guy if he was going to be the one who pulled you out in case you were drowning.

“hey. no need for that.” his voice was comforting as you climbed down into the pool, the water level reaching your chest, “just breathe… while your head is above water.”

“what?” you couldn’t help but chuckle at his little quip.

“sorry, that was a silly joke. anyway, let’s start with holding our breath underwater, alright?”

“you’re the boss” you smiled.

“okay, i’m not the kind of person to be all like, ‘i told you so’ but i told you so!” gwen exclaimed before you even finished your sentence.

“i was going to say he’s a good teacher!” you were back at your apartment and it was after you had breakfast that you received a call from gwen.

“and?” she waited for you to go on as if she already knew.

“and… he was kind of cute.”

“i knew it!” she cheered and you couldn’t help but laugh along with her, “you should totally kiss him.”

“i- he doesn’t even like me! i want to keep it professional.” you had said it with an affirmative tone but you doubted your own voice.

“maybe tomorrow?” you groaned at that.

“you’re mad. bye.” you chuckled.

“maybe tomorrow you can make out in the-” that was the last you heard of your friend’s voice before you cut the call.

the next day you made it to the pool on time. there was no sign of peter and you didn’t know whether you should get in the pool or not. you waited, sitting patiently on the bench near the pool until you caught sight of peter. he was carrying a bunch of equipment almost too much for a single person to carry.

you rushed up to him, “hey.” you said. he smiled when he saw you.

“sorry, i’m late.”

you just shook your head at his apology and held out your arms, “need some help?” him handing you a few of the kickboards and a few goggles.

the two of you carried those to the store room and placed the certain items in their assigned boxes. peter checked the time on his phone once you both were done, “we only have 40 minutes left, why don’t you go change and we’ll start right where we left yesterday?”

you gave him a nod and quickly went to change into your swimming clothes.

once the two of you were inside the pool, peter told you to hold onto the wall, “i need you to relax your body and hold your breath for as long as you can.”

you nodded and slid your pair of goggles over your eyes before doing as he told you. estimatedly 30 seconds later, your head was out of the water as you released your breath, standing beside your instructor.

“good! that was good. almost three seconds more than yesterday.” he gave you a grin and you chuckled, “now what i want you to do is breathe out through your nose slowly while you’re underwater.” he explained.

again you did as he said, pulling yourself up every time you needed a breath.

“don’t push your limits.” peter said once after you had tried to hold your breath for longer than 35 seconds, “my arm is right here in case you need to hold onto something.” a blush appeared over his cheeks as he realised what that must’ve sounded like, “you know! i-in case you need help.”

maybe it was you, reading in between the lines, but the chuckle he let out made him sound kind of nervous. you were definitely not going to tell gwen about this.

over the next two days, you continued to practice breath holding underwater until peter proposed you move on to the next step. as soon as you entered the pool that day, it was the first thing he said.

“leave the wall?” you gave him a look of uncertainty, “are you sure i’m ready for that?”

peter nodded simply and held out his hands for you to take, “here, i’ll help you.” you took his hands but he could probably notice your nervousness– which he didn’t need to know was partly because both your hands were in his– and hesitancy as he said, “just trust me, okay?”

“i trust you.” you replied before his sentence was even finished.

he smiled, pulling you away from the edge of the pool slightly, “i won’t leave your hands until you’re completely ready.” he smiled and guided you to relax your body and let it float just like you had been doing up until now. this time, however, it was peter’s skilled hands that you were holding instead of the dull wall.

he walked back, pulling you along the surface of the body as you let yourself float against the water. It was only a few seconds in that you pulled yourself up from the water, holding tightly onto peter’s hands, “s-sorry, i-” you expected him to be frustrated or scold you for not doing better. but he didn’t do any of that.

“you okay?” he squeezed your hands gently, “did you accidentally breathe in water? it happens when you’re a beginner.”

“i’m okay. i just thought i was going down instead of floating.” you chuckled a little awkwardly.

“oh! that means that you need to push your head further down. if your head is down, your legs will automatically float close to the surface.” he explained, all the while holding your hands and you nodded, letting him know that you were listening to him even though you were zoning out, a fluttering heart in your chest as you outlined his slightly wet curls.

thankfully you had understood the basic points of what he was trying to explain to you which made your session go smoothly from that point.

when the two of you were out of the pool and the kids had started filling in, you walked over to peter, who was standing with another guy and talking to him.

when you reached the two men chatting over whatever they were chatting over. the other guy nudged peter’s side with his elbow, giving him a smirk as soon as you reached there. He quickly turned, eyes slightly wide, “oh. hey (y/n)!” he seemed nervous again but the other guy cleared his throat before you could say anything, “right! (y/n), this is my friend ned. ned, (y/n).”

ned leeds. you’d read his name on the list of employees outside the community club office, just below peter’s name.

“i’ve heard a lot about you, (y/n).” ned gave you a smile, extending his hand for a handshake.

“oh?” you looked over at peter, shaking ned’s hand, but the brunette’s head was already turned towards his friend in what you could only assume a warning. it made you chuckle, “i teach the kids.” ned gave you a smile and you could tell why he was the one assigned to teach the kids. he seemed like the kind of person who was good at making people around him comfortable just with his presence.

“you wanted to say something?” peter was the one to ask after ned parted ways with the two of you to look after all the kids– there were way too many.

“i just wanted to ask whether i did well today…” you gave him a little smile.

“oh, you’re a natural.” he grinned back, “i was impressed!”

“yeah?” you asked, not really believing his words, even though a warmth covered your whole body. you felt a deep sense of accomplishment and the smile on your face increased tenfold.

“yeah.” he confirmed, a smile covering his own face.

“thank you.” you smiled, eyes staring into his beautiful brown ones, “you look nicer when i’m not wearing the goggles.”

peter looked at you, “w-what?”

was that a nervous ‘what’ or a disgusted ‘what’? god, had you messed up already? how could you have said that out loud? it was probably one of those stupid moments of confidence boost where you ended up telling an answer to the whole class in a very firm voice only to be told it was wrong.

you gave him a pursed smile, “uh.. i should get going. see you then.”

the look of stun was still written all over his face as you turned to leave, but you didn’t give him a chance to say something. you weren’t ready to face rejection from a guy you hadn’t even asked out. not that you were thinking about asking him out. for all you cared, you didn’t care at all.

you felt a small splash of water on your leg, wetting your jogging shoes. you let out an offended, “hey!” before you noticed the little girl leaning against the wall of the pool. you raised your eyebrows at her as she beckoned you closer with her little hand. you leaned forward in a squat position in front of her to let her say whatever it was she wanted, “hey kid, is everything alright?”

“i’m cassie.” she introduced herself before asking, “is he your boyfriend?”

even though peter could not be seen around anymore, you were certain whom she was referring to.

you chuckled and shook your head, “oh, no. he’s not my boyfriend.” yet you wanted to add but somehow refrained yourself from doing so.

“i think he is cute.” she gave you a challenging look, making you chuckle at her adorableness.

“hey, i’ll back off if you like him.” you promised, giving her a finger gun. she shrugged.

“if you really like him then, i can let you have him.” she said, her elbows holding onto the pavement that was beneath your feet.

“oh, really? that’s very sweet of you, cassie.” you smiled at her.

“but you have to buy me ice-cream.” she grinned before quickly turning away and swimming away at the sight of ned walking towards that side of the pool.

it was raining heavily the next day. you thought to call peter before going to the pool unannounced in case it was closed. you called him once at 6:23 am but his phone was busy. who could he be talking to this early in the morning?

he called you back at 6:24. you picked up after counting to five, not wanting to seem too desperate, “hello?”

“hey, (y/n).” you could hear the small smile he was holding on the other end, making you think if he had forgiven you for what you blurted out yesterday, “what’s up?”

“hey... peter, it’s raining pretty heavily, are you going to the swimming pool today?”

“oh, i’m already in! but i understand if you can’t make it today.” he stated and you nodded, realising after a moment that he couldn’t see you.

“yeah, i can’t today… and tomorrow’s sunday so i guess i’ll see you monday?” you asked.

“sounds good!” he said.

you held the phone close to your ears, not really knowing what else to say. you couldn’t think of anything as you silently heard all the background commotion on his end. he didn’t say anything either and for a moment the thought that he didn’t want to end the call either crossed your mind.

but you pushed that out of your head.

“i’m sorry about yesterday.” you finally spoke, “i shouldn’t say that to-”

“i appreciated it… it just came as a surprise.” he chuckled, “and you left too quickly.”

you couldn’t help the smile that covered your face after hearing his comment, “sorry about that.”

“hey, stop apologising already. maybe i can give you a compliment next time so that we’re even.”

it was your turn now to fall silent. your heart skipped three beats at once as he said that. despite that, you found yourself smiling, “sure, i don’t see why not.”

there was another beat of silence but peter decided to break it before it could get uncomfortable, “so, you busy?”

and so the conversation continued. you told him you were just looking out to the street where small water puddles had already formed. you told him that you loved the rain. he told you that he hated it since the time it rained so much on his birthday that he was stuck at school for five straight hours until his uncle ben came to pick him up.

it was almost an hour later when you had to excuse yourself from peter as your doorbell rang.

“i’ll see you monday!” he said before hanging up and you quickly made your way towards the door. whoever it was had rung the doorbell twenty times in five seconds.

so probably gwen.

“i cannot believe this!” was the first thing she said as she welcomed herself into your house. no ‘hello’s or ‘how are you’s, “a car went right past me and almost stained my lab coat!”

“um... good morning to you too?” you chuckled, watching her get comfortable over your couch as she removed her shoes. she was clearly going through a rough week, “what’s wrong?”

you sat over the couch and her head immediately rested on your lap, “i can’t smell any more chemicals. my brain will explode.” she complained as you ran your hand through her hair.

“you were at the lab all night again?”

“slept on the couch” she sighed and relaxed further, feeling your fingers thread through her hair comfortingly.

“maybe you should slee-”

“coffee.” she mumbled, “i need some coffee.”

getting up from the couch, she made her way into the familiar kitchen, the white tiles reflecting enough light for her to wince and squint her eyes.

“are you sure you should have coffee right now?” you asked, leaning against the counter as she pulled out her favourite coffee mug from your cupboard.

“yes.”

soon the two of you settled back onto the couch, this time with your respective coffee mugs as you talked about her work. then gwen decided to shift the conversation to you, “so how’s swimming going?”

“it’s alright.” you tried to hold back your smile but gwen kept staring at you, making you break out laughing.

“and how’s your sexy trainer?” she took a sip from her coffee unbothered whereas you almost choked on yours, coughing slightly, “come on, you can tell me.” she pushed a little.

“he’s alright.” you replied, trying to sound disinterested but who were you fooling. gwen knew you better than that.

“so, when are you asking him out?” once again you almost spat your coffee out, deciding to place the coffee mug on the coaster at your coffee table for good.

“okay, you need to stop. we’re just friends. he’s supposed to be my trainer, that’s all.” you rambled out and gwen gave you a look that told you to cut through all the bullshit, “and i like him.” you whined, falling against the armrest of your couch.

“ask. him. out.” your best friend said, emphasizing on each of her word.

“he doesn’t even-”

“how do you know! have you ever tried… oh, i don’t know, asking him out?”

you rolled your eyes at her stubbornness. it was a trait you simultaneously loved and hated about her, “i’m not doing that.”

“ask him out.”

“what if he has a girlf-”

“ask him out and he’ll tell you.”

“but what if he doesn’t want to-”

“ask him out!”

“gosh! gwen i can’t.” you shook your head, mostly to yourself.

“(y/n). come on. ask him out before someone else does.” gwen said, a soft look etched over her features despite being deeply sleep-deprived, “have faith in yourself.” she smiled

“i-i’ll see…” you gave her a smile back, feeling an ounce of confidence, “maybe i will ask him out.”

“now that’s my girl!” gwen grinned and threw her arms around you.

you spent your sunday taking gwen out to dinner and then shopping because she deserved the break and you knew the second monday’s first minute illuminated on the digital clock beside her bed, she would start worrying about working her ass off on her new project.

and you were right as she called you just as you were about to leave your house for your swimming class, complaining about the horrible coffee in the lab, “i would have picked up some on my way here but it was too early.” she groaned.

“maybe i can bring some over after swimming today?” you offered, locking the door to your apartment and throwing the keys into your bag.

“unless you’re too busy with your peter guy?” gwen snorted at the groan you let out at her comment, “you’re asking him out today.”

“yeah, yeah, yeah.” you dismissed and quickly added, “and i’m never too busy for you, you know that.”

“i know.” she said, making you smile. the two of you bid each other a goodbye once she had to get back to work.

you found peter sitting in the same spot you had waited for him that day as soon as you reached the pool. you quickly changed and walked back out, noticing that he was still busy scrolling through his phone. walking up to him, you tried to not look into his phone as he texted someone, “watcha doing?”

he jumped at your question, looking up at you with wide, brown eyes, “oh. you scared the crap out of me.” he chuckled, registering that you had asked him a question, “i was just texting my aunt… about groceries and stuff.”

“oh.” you said, your mouth forming an ‘o’ shape.

“so, you ready?” he asked and you nodded.

You climbed down the stairs of the pool ladder until your feet touched the tiled floor. Peter jumped in after you.

“i think it’s time we started kicking.” was the first thing he said, “i’ll show you how it’s done then you can do it too.” you nodded and watched as he dived inside, kicking the water with his legs as he slowly moved forward, leaving behind small splashes in his wake.

swimming back towards you quickly, he wiped back his hair from his forehead and you somehow forced yourself to not lend him a hand, “your turn!”

you gave him a smile, breaking out of your chain of thoughts, “okay then.” taking a deep breath you got ready to go underwater but peter’s hand wrapping around your wrist stopped you. you looked at him this time with slightly widened eyes, “uh…?”

“you’re not wearing your glasses.” he laughed and this time you were pretty sure that he seemed nervous as he held onto your wrist.

“oh.” you realised and pfft-ed at yourself, “silly me.”

he released your hand then but before you could do anything to adjust your goggles, his hands went up, fingers grabbing at the edge of the eyewear, gently propping it over your eyes carefully, “that okay?”

you weren’t quite sure if you’d noticed right but just before the glasses covered your eyes, a tint of pink covered his cheeks. or it could have been just your rose tinted goggles. damn uv protection.

“o-oh. yep.” you replied, feeling your cheeks heat up. he smiled sweetly at you and you almost wanted to grab his pretty face right there and kiss over those upturned lips of his. but you couldn’t. not like this.

“you okay?” he asked, looking slightly concerned but you quickly nodded, not feeding into his worries.

“yeah.” you dived in then, keeping your hands straight as you kicked your legs up and down. you remembered his advice for keeping your head low and you applied that. almost thirty to forty seconds later, you resurfaced and took a deep breath, “was that alright?”

“yeah! that was good for a first try!” he gave you an encouraging smile, “just let your waist move freely.”

“how?” you asked, a little confused.

“is it okay if i place my hands on your waist?” the question made you cough even though you were several inches away from water. peter’s hands raised in defence, “i don’t need to-”

“no, it’s fine!” you blurted out, feeling on fire which even the water surrounding you couldn’t put out, “you can.”

“okay, just do what you were doing, i’ll guide you.” he said, seeming as nervous as you were feeling.

you did as told and this time peter’s hands placed themselves on either side of your waist as you started kicking. he helped you with the movement, moving your waist a little in tandem with your legs.

after the hour was finally up and you had changed into your regular clothes, you found peter talking to ned and contemplated going up to him for all of fifteen seconds before deciding to go up to him.

you waited until ned was gone and walked in his direction, “peter?”

he immediately looked in your direction, “oh, hey… you’re leaving?”

“yeah. well, i actually… i needed to talk to you about something.” your heart was going to jump out of your chest. you couldn’t even meet his eyes, your gaze fixed upon the dusky floor.

“what is it, (y/n)?” you could feel his curious eyes over yourself.

“well, i… it’s kinda…” you waved your hands around, trying to find the right words to say until he disrupted you mid-sentence.

“is it about that compliment i owe you?” he said, letting out a small laugh. he was probably trying to lighten the mood but this was not helping your situation, “well, i’d say you’re really-”

“i kinda like you-” you shut yourself up after that, looking up to see his reaction. his face changed from one of shock to a confused one.

“wait, you-”

“i thought i would keep a professional relationship with you. but i… you’re just really pretty and it’s unfair!” you complained, not holding back now. this was your last chance. you considered he might not want you around here anymore.

“how is it unfair, exactly?” you looked up at him to catch his raised eyebrows, however, a small smile played over his lips.

“well, for starters i wish you would go out with me. but that’s-”

“yes.”

“what?” you were sure you looked like a raccoon caught red-handed stealing food.

“i wanna go out with you. afterall i do owe you a compliment.” he smiled, making you smile too.

“i might owe a little girl an ice-cream.”

———

masterlist ✨

[perpermintttt]

Lantern of Wishes: Episode 2:8 ~ Translation

Warning! Spoilers for the event, obviously. Originally I wanted this to just be moments I wanted to share but it turned into me just adding the whole chapter so... translation...sorta...😭🙏

Chapter title! "What is the purpose of this?"

The chapter starts with THIS??? THE BOING SOUND EFFECT LOLLL What the fuck 😭🙏

"Just for you, I went all the way to the library window. I've come all this way yet..."

"WHAAAAAAA" "Thank you for the wonderful response. It was worth flying all the way here." Jade is unable to go any higher so he sits on the windowsill wearing that shit 😰😰Floyd asks where he got the headgear from and Jade simply replies "I'll just say somewhere in the school. Isn't this fitting to mimic the actions of the princess?" Riddle is unimpressed ww he tells Jade that it isn't said anywhere that the princess wears a mask. Someone says that there was a description in the book they read. A gush of wind. A new visitor appears! IT'S AZUL!!!! Kalim's happy Azul came here himself and there's the chapter's title reference!

"A foolish question, of course to help you all!" Azul answers. Then he goes on to name positive aspects of the library gang 😭🙏 Kalim is generous and well-liked, Riddle is at the top of the class and respects rules, etc. Azul says when he realized these oh so very great people were trapped in the library, he was shocked.

Azul tells them that pranks on days that isn't Halloween is unlikely but the list the principal have out had pranks on it 😭😭😭😭😭😭 He's going to help out with the prank part of the princess routine I'm crying. Jack was worried and all Azul says in reply to that is "Yes, yes that's why I brought these two to be examples."

The picture above is so goofy omg. Riddle tries to tell Azul that "the set of people" that he brought is inconvenient for him.

THAT'S AZUL RESPONSE TO THAT SKKSKSKSK FLOYD INCHING CLOSER TO RIDDLE IS SO FUNNY TO ME STOP "I can get 4 people into my debt at almost no cost. There is no reason to waste such an opportunity!" Jack thinks that Azul is unbelievable and unwavering LMFAO Kalim seems to be the only one fine with this 😭

Now, Riddle asks Azul about the details of the book he read. Azul then tells Jade to scoot over on the window sill so he can tell Riddle about it 😭🙏🙏🙏 Jade finally removes that headgear of his and tells Riddle how they researched about the princess and found something about a chameleon! Pascal!!! They say that the princess would act like the chameleon / puppet (??) was talking. Azul didn't even share the details but he still asked Jade to scoot over HELPP Jade says that he hopes the pranks and information they shared will be helpful. Please escape quickly.

Jade twists some facts, Floyd threatens them to not fail to escape, and then Azul says goodbye. The octatrio leave on their brooms. (Only now did I realize the gush of wind every time a new character appears is them on a broom ww) THEY'RE WOBBLING ON THEIR BROOMS AHAHA HELPP??? KALIM SCRAEMS AT AZUL AND JADE NOT TO FALL. Riddle and Deuce talk about how the information they just got seemed like it was all one big prank.

End of chapter. Another long one!

Previous ~ Next

Episode 2:1, Episode 2:2, Episode 2:3, Episode 2:4, Episode 2:5, Episode 2:6, Episode 2:7, Episode 2:8, Episode 2:9, Episode 2:10, Episode 2:11,

[topsyturvy-turtely]

✨The Sherlock Holmes Museum✨

221b Baker Street, London

!!! this is part 2 !!! (link to part 1, part 3)

continuation of Holmes' bedroom

above Holmes' bed hang these pictures (1). the guide didn't tell us anything specific about those.

opposite of the bed hang portraits of people (2&3). you might think they'd be from family members or friends. this is not the case with our lovely Mr. Holmes'. These portraits picture (serial? can't quite recall) murderers. They hang on Holmes' wall, because he wants to fully understand them, know how their minds work.

funfact about the woman in (4) (the guide just said "that woman over there" - there are two pictures of women tho... i assume she meant the woman that hangs higher... because her photo is bigger but i am not sure): she killed part of her family. but nobody believed a woman could do such a cruelsome act, so she was never arrested... and lived with the other part of her family until she died. (victorian sexism is almost funny ngl)

oh and my ABSOLUTE FAVOURITE PART was that SHERLOCK FREAKING HOLMES owns a TURTLE STATUE (5) and it CHILLS THERE IN HIS BEDROOM. (guys it's me. i don't know if you realize but trust me... sherlock holmes has a pet turtle/tortoise and it is me. )

now to Mrs. Hudson's room (6)

(please forgive me for the people in this picture. i felt kinda rushed and way too excited to take a better picture...)

after the living room and Holmes' bedroom (see part 1), the tour ended. imo this room is the most like a museum. it doesn't feel personal like the living room or the bedrooms (yes Dr. Watson's room will be included in the part 3), instead there were show cases and some decorations... i didn't get a picture of it all but here are my favorites. (focusing on the more personal items in this post)

oh! and if you look at (6) between that person in pink and that person in red, you see a little desk. on this desk was "Mrs. Hudson's guest book" (right underneath the window) and you could write your name in it!!! i loved that little detail! 🥰

there was a hat (7) and spinning wheel (8).

then the fireplace in victorian style with a painting above (9),

and before i move on to the more museum-like items in the next post, here is a (bad and blurry, with people in it - i am sorry 😭) wide-angle shot of the room (10) from the opposite side of (6).

this post is part 2 of a series.

-> part 1

-> part 3

(other parts will be linked once they have been uploaded)

keep reading - tag list

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