#<- not really a machine one but i am not a professional so please keep that in mind

[fsnotes]

“If I skated for the sake of winning, I would do it differently”

On December 29th a morning radio programme Dome Square on Latvijas Radio 4 broadcasted an interview with Deniss (in Russian). They discussed figure skating in Latvia, plans for the future, ways to deal with tiredness and avoiding the burnout, and of course dived into personal and sports philosophy. There are also some New Year wishes to the listeners!

Full recording available here.

Translation into English below the cut.

In December Deniss Vasiljevs became a seven-time champion of Latvia. ‘If I skated for the sake of winning, I would do it differently’, says the athlete about his performances in an interview with my colleague Natalya Meshcheriakova for “Dome Square”. The talented athlete spoke about his rules of life, summarised the results of the past year, set goals for the future, and also shared how he prefers to recuperate.

DV: I really enjoy coming back to Latvia. When I see all the younger generations, it makes me very happy, and in its own way it motivates me to keep skating and to keep, in fact, skating for them too. And to come to Latvia… There are not so many competitions in December, and to skate at your home ice rink, to do a full competition and try new elements is always very, very nice and very important for figure skating in the country. And I have always been motivated to do something useful for society (Deniss used the English word here, then translated himself). So it is a great pleasure for me to be here.

NM: The languages are getting confused, aren't they? What's that about, is it because you spend most time outside of Latvia?

DV: I speak English practically all the time; also French, and I learnt Latvian, and I speak mostly Russian with my parents, so I have a little bit much [of the languages]. Even German manages to get in. Anyway, I'm still readjusting. I need a couple of days to fully come back and think in the language I speak.

NM: But you are in Latvia for a smaller part of the time. If you take a year, how much time do you spend here?

DV: This year, so far, I have only spent two days in Latvia.

NM: And where are you mostly based then?

DV: Now I'm in Switzerland, in Champéry, but I'm travelling a lot because of figure skating competitions, basically flying around the world. I've flown round the planet at least three times this year.

NM: Three times... Yes, I understand that there are competitions, there is a goal, motivation, but how do you fight fatigue? It probably requires a huge amount of, well, physical strength, and some special approach. How do you avoid the burn out?

DV: We have two opportunities to rest during a season; sometimes three. There are Christmas holidays, or New Year's Eve. These are very social ones. Then in the end of the season — somewhere in May — we get a real vacation, but usually it isn't longer than two weeks. And there's one just before the start of the season, two or three days, because the heavy summer preparation ends and seasonal work begins.

In a way, you get used to it. It's indeed very difficult when you can't sleep, when you have time zone changes all the time. Say, this year: I got a Grand Prix event in the US and another one in China. I went to China to compete for a week, came back for a week; went to America for a week, came back for a week to go somewhere else to compete again; spent a week again, and came back to China for a week; then came back to train for a week, and the next week I had to be [in Riga]. All this travelling, ice sessions, flying and training, it's hard enough. When it's not your first year like this, you adapt in your own way, but it's always very hard on the body. Just like now, when we're halfway through the season and you feel like you're already kind of a squeezed lemon.

NM: And how do you regain your strength? What helps you? What gives you that full-fledged rest, when you have it, yes, you said, in May, in December?

DV: Mostly I barricade myself in my room (laughs). Nothing but sleeping helps. So, my version of rest is mostly finding a quiet place and sleeping. Yet music is mostly used for work. I tend to relax, maybe, listening to classical music in the evening, or jazz, but…

NM: Probably with classical music you already imagine, like, how you would skate to this tune. It's a professional deformation already.

DV: Yeah, yeah, that's exactly what it is. At one point, especially a couple of years ago, everything I did was about figure skating. Completely. Listening to music, watching ballet, doesn't matter no matter. I was watching the body movements and imagining how it's all going to look like, which is a little bit…. It makes you go crazy. To me, studying helped a lot.

NM: What do you mean exactly?

DV: I completed my Masters this year. It really helped me to... get out of figure skating? To just study and then come back to train and work.

NM: Where did you study, and how?

DV: In Latvia, at Daugavpils Universitāte. I got a lot of help with timing there, so I was able to study relatively freely in general. It helped a lot to not go crazy with sports. But in general everyone survives in their own way. My option is to always be interested in what's going on around me; learning something, trying to do something. Drawing.

NM: In the context of the year, how do you evaluate yourself? We know about your achievements, successes. Were these the goals you set for yourself?

DV: I've been skating for quite a few years now, and I have my own opinion of the system which is perhaps different from how many people understand it. So I chose my aspiration a long time ago: to try to compete with myself only. If I skated to win, I would do it differently. I skate because I enjoy it and because I'm as supportive as my coach is of being... a little old school. It's all about charisma, beauty, performance. Sport is a culture in its own way, rather than just athletics on ice. That's why the attitude is different in many ways: how we create the program, how we do everything. We stick to certain foundations, you could say, a certain quality, and we are very proud that we do it with virtue (Deniss used the English word again, translating himself right after).

NM: Seems like this approach is justified. Your awards prove it's the right bet.

DV: Sport is so much more than any award. Sport is a way of life, it's a... path of excellence (the English phrase in original). You have to do it the right way. You have to be honest, you have to really live according to those views; they are not for the sake of results, they are much more than that. And they create a better society. You support society through actually living with these... I don't know, values (the English word again). It's a way of living, and in its own way it requires you to be a leader of your own self.

NM: Does your coach help you with that, or are you just that kind of person on your own?

DV: It's certainly cultivated at first. It's how we teach the kids. Current figure skating is too much like... you take a board, sand it down and make it into a stool ("taburetka" in original). That's not how sport was intended to be. Sport is when you plant a seed and you keep watering it, create sunny conditions, and it grows. That's why you create a greenhouse — so that the seed grows better.

The idea is that you develop yourself. You can be clumsy, you can be gawky, but you do it yourself. You create your own character from the way you understand and explore the world. It's not that you've been grown and made, it's that you've grown yourself. And the help was in telling you: there's a jungle over there, go cut through it. Not just telling you that there is a road over there, take it and follow it, and let everyone rush and stand in traffic. That's why sport is self-exploration, a kind of self-awareness. Freedom to develop yourself. A never-ending road. So being an athlete is more than just doing your sport. And to be a good athlete, you have to develop yourself in so many ways. Figure skating is one of the best options, because you have not only athletics, but also choreography, dancing, theatre art. You need to bring a whole idea of a program to life... And don't get me started on costumes!

NM: But not everyone can probably take it. Too many things at once.

DV: It takes a lot of discipline, which you choose yourself very early on. Someone has to give you a push, but the choice is your own. A lot of kids probably can't make their own choice: you have to know what discipline is, and then you also have to know what you want. I don't even know how to do it right, but so many get off the tracks right at this point.

So I've seen what, four shifts already? I've been to two Olympics. It's been eight... nine years in seniors, and that's quite a long road. But there's no perfect way; you find your own. I don't aim to rack up maximum points or run the maximum time or do the perfect technique. I look at it more generally [broader]. I must be magnetic in my own way; express the idea of striving for perfection, and honour the fact that one can't achieve perfection.

But you should always strive to do your best in whatever you do; it doesn't matter if it's sports, studies, whatever. You've got to build character. And it will epitomise what you do later on. In sports, on the ice, off the ice, everywhere.

NM: Based on that, what are your plans for next year? Are you setting any goals?

DV: For now, I'm just aiming to... Every day it's pretty hard for me to keep myself in control, especially when I'm tired, and I just want to qualify for the Olympics and give my best. I have plans that I don't want to announce yet because they still, well, need to be done, and there's definitely science (the English word followed by self-translation), scientific evidence as to why it shouldn't be done. At least I really want to qualify and go to the Olympics for the third time. To really showcase the Latvian culture of sport!

Sport is much more than what we see on the ice during the four minutes of skating. It is, after all, the way training happens; the way we live; in general, everything we do epitomises a whole different world. In its own way. One illustration would be, for example, if you make coffee, you work on it so intensely that it ends up being some of the best coffee you'll ever drink. A lot of people probably don't question how you can make it better, better, better, better. But if you watch athletes who do strive for something greater, they usually can't separate an ordinary commitment from the sports one. Such aspiration for perfectionism is the lot of athletes.

NM: And your wishes, for the people of Latvia, for the listeners? The next year is about to come...

DV: It is possible to start life every day. Basically... this will probably sound silly, but one of the philosophies is that when you live, you need to die every morning. Every day is the last day. That's the only way you can make the most of it.

I guess my wishes are these: move and aspire every day. Aspire to do a little bit better, and to do a little bit easier, because easier is better! Aspire to live in motion; direct life towards something.

[renren-006]

Dedication | Ethan Hunt x fem reader!

plot: you stuck by ethans side, and he finally tell you how much he appreciates it

SPOILERS FOR MI8- FINAL RECKONING

a/n: okay i really just wanted to say my thoughts in the movie and that starts with saying he looks great for 64 like good god. I also besides that loved how intense and suspenseful it was! second! I want to post some more stuff for Ethan so if you have any ideas pls send in a request! also I am doing my very best with plot and trying to remember the dialogue but it was just released so bear with me 😂

In the wake of things with the entity, your first thought was that this wouldn’t ever become as big of a problem as it had, at first, you thought you’d be home the next week, curling up on the couch next to Ethan. Life had other plans.

"I dont want to keep putting people in danger...let alone you" he told you as you sat together at the end of his fight.

"Well, that's not for you to decide," you told him, "Like it or not, Hunt, we are in this together." Ethan smiled at you, something loving. You smiled back the same. Life had been hard for the two of you; between the evil men Ethan dealt with on a daily, the secrets you kept from people, and your government daily, "We will disavow you if you keep going rouge," your life had always been bumpy.

The next few months were spent away from Ethan. Despite your arguments over it and Benji's practice of clogging his ears so he would not hear it, you spent them trying to keep an eye on Luther, Benji, and Grace. Gabriel was in the wind, and you had a hard time trying to find him. When you did, he would disappear.

****

"Are you real?" he asked after he had pulled himself out of the entity machine. He felt your face and pulled you close, trying to see every portion of it. You saw Benji holding him up.

"Yes, I'm real, Ethan," you told him before he pulled you in for a desperate kiss. In all the years you had known him, he had always kept your relationship and professionalism separate in front of others, but today, Ethan didn't care. Ethan's look made you realize this would be the last time you would see him for a few days.

"Don't go on the Ice, Please," he pleaded.

Ethan ran out of the building where he was being held to save Luther and get caught by the authorities. You went to run after him but Degs and Benji both stopped you

"You can't! You can't!" Benji said, making you face him as he held your arms together. Benji and you had been friends long before you met Ethan and fell in love with him.

That first mission with Benji and Jane out in the field was also the mission you met Ethan fresh out of prison. You remember the turmoil you fought on that mission and the way Benji talked your ear off about how you couldn't shy away from something in this line of work- especially when finding someone you could spend your life with. It wasn't until after that mission that you told Ethan, and he spoke about his own inner turmoil. The two of you worked together for quite a while before Ethan one day pulled you into an ally before a mission and kissed you. "It's stupid for me not to be with you, regardless of the risks," Ethan had told you, making you smile. The two of you were on the run together and you knew you would do anything for him after that.

"He can't do this alone, Benji. I need..." you told him, looking back at the ally he had run out of. You wanted to help; you needed to. "He needs us to do something else! You won't be any good following him" Benji told you. You knew he was right.

"Benji," a pleading voice escaped your thought. You felt yourself fall apart in Benji's arms in those moments.

"I know! It's okay!" he concluded you.

****

The plane ride was silent most of the way over to the island. Grace sat next to you with Paris nearby. Paris and yourself had somehow created an unlikely bond. You knew a part of it was because she knew about your relationship with Ethan and found herself becoming a bodyguard to keep you alive.

"How long have you known him?" Paris asked, her French accent thick as she spoke.

"I knew him about as long as Benji has," you told her, "I mean, we didn't officially meet till we went into the field together"

"What was the first mission you did together?" Grace asked, intrigued about learning about the two of your lives.

"We....had to recover stolen Russian nuclear launch codes," you told them, Grace's face fell. Paris laughed slightly. "That mission was the one that, uh, got the Kremlin blown up"

"You were there for that?" Grace asked, shocked, you nodded your head.

"I was with Agent Carter, so I wasn't in the line of fire like Ethan, but yes, I was there," you told him. "that mission was the most stressful, not the most out of all of them, but at the time, I swear I thought I actually was risking my life." "What about now?" Paris asked, clearly meaning this mission.

"This mission is the biggest one I've been a part of. If we fail this one, I don't know what I would do with myself"

****

You dove into that water to pull out Ethan. Grace and the woman watched and helped pull both of you out when you resurfaced. You crawled in the hyperbaric chamber next to him, brought him back, and cradled him during his fits.

“Where is it?” Ethan asked after his battle with hypothermia and hypoxia. He turned to find you lying beside him in nothing more than some biker shorts and a loose tank that didn’t hide anything. You pulled the drive up to show him. His face relaxed at the sight.

"Ethan, I thought I lost you," you told him, "the way you looked..." "I'm alive, y/n," he said, holding your face. "I'm here with you again."

"I have never been more thankful for that," you told him, pulling him close.

****

"I need you to stay safe," Ethan told you before he entered the underground base. You nodded your head and Paris stepped in close.

"I got her," Paris told him.

"Your team leader now, Benji. Keep everyone safe," Ethan said before the moments that you all had waited for so long.

In the end, Benji did protect his team, and you found Ethan alive and well. You ran up to him and hugged him close, the dust on your face matched the blood and overall exhaustion he was sporting.

"Despite all the risks, I've never been more glad that I am with you," Ethan said. He reminded you of all those years ago when you first met him and fell in love.

"What will we do now with all the risks gone?" you asked. "Who knows If they are," he said devilishly, knowing that danger always seems to find him.

[ssa-danhotchner]

please i need a least angstier version of happier maybe reader has to go to a mision like s7 aaron in pakistan a he sees how much he really misses her

What we left behind | Aaron Hotchner x fem!reader

note: I tried my best, I hope you like it!

english isn't my first language so please be kind

cw: BAU reader, beth is in here, angst, regret, past relationship struggles, unspoken feelings

wc: 1.5k maybe?

read part two here

It wasn’t like you hated Beth.

She was kind, warm, and approachable—the kind of woman people gravitated toward without hesitation. She seemed good for Aaron, too. For all his years of shielding himself, she brought out something softer in him. When you saw them together, he smiled more. He laughed in a way that had felt rare, almost forgotten.

But watching them together hurt in a way you hadn’t anticipated. It wasn’t jealousy exactly. It was grief.

Grief for what you and Aaron had been, for what you thought you might have been.

He was the one who ended it, after all.

You remembered the night so clearly it still stung, like a bruise you kept accidentally pressing. He’d invited you over, his voice softer than usual on the phone. At first, you thought nothing of it. But when you arrived, the heaviness in the air made your stomach twist.

Aaron wasn’t one to stumble over his words, but that night he did. “You mean the world to me,” he’d said, his voice breaking slightly. “But I can’t give you the life you deserve.”

You’d stared at him, stunned. “What are you talking about? We’re fine.”

“No, we’re not,” he said quietly, looking at you like it physically pained him. “You deserve someone who can be there for you, who isn’t constantly distracted by the job, who can give you all the things I can’t. And I... I can’t keep holding you back.”

His words shattered something in you. “I didn’t ask for perfect, Aaron. I asked for you.”

He closed his eyes, his jaw tight, and shook his head. “You’ll see, one day, that this is what’s best.”

You didn’t fight him after that. You couldn’t. And maybe some part of you even believed he was right. But that didn’t make it hurt any less.

--

For months, you carried that pain with you like a shadow. You buried yourself in work, throwing yourself into cases until you were so exhausted you couldn’t think about anything else.

It helped, a little.

But then Beth showed up.

The team was supportive of Aaron’s new relationship, of course. They were profilers—they could see how happy Beth made him, and they teased him lightly about it. Even Rossi, who had a knack for keeping things professional, cracked a joke now and then about Aaron’s “smiling problem.”

You played along, smiling and laughing at the right moments, even as it chipped away at you.

“You okay?” Emily asked one day, catching you lingering at the coffee machine longer than usual.

“Yeah, fine” you replied quickly, avoiding her eyes.

Emily didn’t press, but the look she gave you made it clear she didn’t buy it.

---

When the opportunity to work with the State Department in Pakistan came up, you jumped at it. The mission would take you halfway across the world for months, giving you the distance you desperately needed from Aaron, Beth, and the suffocating reminders of what you’d lost.

“It’s a great opportunity” you told the team, forcing a smile as you shared the news during a team meeting.

Morgan gave you a skeptical look. “You sure about this, kid? Seems... sudden.”

“I’m sure,” you said firmly.

Rossi, always perceptive, gave you a knowing look but said nothing.

Aaron, however, was harder to read. He’d been quiet during the meeting, his dark eyes flicking to you now and then, but he didn’t say a word.

Later, as the team dispersed, he stopped you outside the conference room.

“You’re really going?” he asked, his tone carefully neutral.

“I am,” you replied, meeting his gaze.

He hesitated, as if searching for the right words. “You didn’t mention you were thinking about this.”

“I didn’t think it mattered,” you said, your voice sharper than you intended.

Aaron flinched slightly, his jaw tightening. “Of course it matters.”

You sighed, softening your tone. “Look, this is a good opportunity for me. I need... a change.”

His eyes lingered on you for a moment longer before he nodded. “Be careful,” he said quietly.

---

Pakistan was everything you expected and more. The work was intense, the days long, and the challenges endless. But it was exactly what you needed. The distance, the change in pace, the focus on something new—it all helped you start to piece yourself back together.

And yet, there were nights when the loneliness crept in, catching you off guard. You missed the team. You missed Garcia’s bright enthusiasm, Morgan’s playful teasing, JJ’s steady calm.

You missed Aaron.

You told yourself you didn’t have the right to miss him, not after everything. But you couldn’t help it. You missed the way he grounded you, the quiet strength he carried even in the hardest moments.

---

Back in Quantico, Aaron found himself drifting. The bullpen felt emptier without you, and he hated how often he caught himself looking at your desk, expecting to see you there.

He tried to focus on work, on Jack, on his relationship with Beth. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t shake the nagging emptiness you’d left behind.

Beth noticed, of course. She was too perceptive not to.

“You’ve been quiet lately,” she said one evening as they sat on the couch, a glass of wine in her hand.

“I’ve just been busy,” he replied, though they both knew it wasn’t the whole truth.

Beth studied him for a moment before setting her glass down. “It’s because she’s gone, isn’t it?”

He froze, his heart skipping a beat.

Beth sighed, setting her wine glass down. “I’ve always felt like I was competing with someone who wasn’t even here.”

“I’m sorry,” Aaron said quietly, his throat tightening.

“I know you care about me, Aaron,” Beth said gently. “But it’s not enough, is it?”

He looked at her, guilt and regret twisting in his chest. “You deserve better than this. Better than me.”

Beth nodded, her eyes sad but understanding. “And so does she.”

---

When you returned to Quantico, the familiarity was both comforting and suffocating. The bullpen buzzed with the usual energy—Garcia’s colorful office lights glowed from the corner, Morgan leaned casually against Spence's desk, and Rossi greeted you with his characteristic warmth. But despite the smiles and hugs, there was a lingering sense of unease.

You tried to shake it off. You were home now, and that was what mattered.

But then you saw Aaron.

He stood at the far end of the bullpen, just outside his office, his dark eyes locked on you. The usual stoicism in his expression faltered as you met his gaze, something softer, almost hesitant, bleeding through.

Your breath caught in your chest. It had been months since you last saw him, and yet it felt like no time had passed at all. He looked the same—polished suit, perfect posture, the slight furrow of his brow that you’d memorized years ago.

He started walking toward you, his steps slow and deliberate. You tried to prepare yourself for the moment, but when he finally stopped in front of you, the carefully constructed walls around your heart wavered.

“Welcome back,” he said softly, his voice carrying a gravity that made your pulse race.

“Thanks,” you replied, forcing a small smile, though your throat felt tight.

There was a beat of silence. The bullpen buzzed with life around you, but all you could focus on was him—the way his eyes lingered on your face, the way he seemed like he wanted to say something but couldn’t quite find the words.

“Can we talk?” he asked finally, his voice low enough that no one else could hear.

You hesitated. Part of you wanted to say no, to protect yourself from whatever this conversation might bring. But the way he looked at you—vulnerable and intent—made it impossible to refuse.

“Yeah,” you said quietly.

He led you to his office, holding the door open for you before closing it behind him. The sound of the latch clicking seemed to echo, amplifying the tension in the room.

You stood awkwardly near the desk while he lingered by the door, as if trying to keep some distance between you.

“How was it?” he asked, gesturing vaguely. “Pakistan, I mean.”

“It was... intense” you admitted. “Challenging, but good. It gave me a lot to think about.”

He nodded, his jaw tightening as he seemed to weigh his next words. “I’m glad you’re back.”

“Thanks” you said again, the word feeling hollow on your tongue. You couldn’t take the tension anymore. “Aaron, what did you want to talk about?”

His shoulders rose and fell with a deep breath, and when he finally looked at you, his eyes were heavy with regret.

“I owe you an apology” he said, his voice low and rough.

You blinked, startled. “An apology? For what?”

“For walking away” he said, stepping closer. His gaze held yours, steady but full of something you couldn’t quite name. “I thought I was doing the right thing. I thought letting you go would... would give you the chance to find someone better, someone who could give you what I couldn’t.”

Your heart clenched painfully at his words, but before you could respond, he continued.

“But I was wrong” he said, his voice breaking slightly. “I thought I was protecting you, but all I did was hurt both of us. And every day you were gone, I felt it—I felt how wrong I was.”

You stared at him, your mind racing. “Aaron, I—”

“I missed you” he interrupted, taking another step closer. “Every day you were gone, I missed you. And I realized that I’d rather spend my life trying to be enough for you than spend another day without you.”

Tears blurred your vision, but you blinked them away, trying to process his words.

“You ended it” you whispered, your voice trembling. “You told me I deserved better.”

“I thought I was doing the selfless thing,” he admitted, his expression pained. “But all I did was rob us of the chance to fight for what we had. And I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

The rawness in his voice cracked something open inside you.

“Aaron, I...” You trailed off, shaking your head as you tried to gather your thoughts. “I don’t even know what to say.”

He stepped closer again, closing the remaining distance between you. “You don’t have to say anything. Just... tell me if there’s still a chance. If there’s even a small part of you that still feels the same way.”

His vulnerability was overwhelming. This was Aaron Hotchner—the man who never wavered, never let his guard down. And yet here he was, standing before you, baring his heart.

“I missed you too” you admitted finally, your voice breaking. “But I don’t know if I can do this again. I don’t know if I can survive losing you a second time.”

“You won’t” he said firmly, his hand twitching at his side like he wanted to reach for you but didn’t dare. “I know I don’t deserve it, but I swear to you, I won’t let you down again. I’ll fight for this—for us. Every day, if I have to.”

The sincerity in his voice, the way his dark eyes held yours, left you breathless.

And in that moment, you realized something: you still loved him. You always had.

Slowly, you reached for his hand, intertwining your fingers. His breath hitched at the contact, but he didn’t pull away.

“Okay” you said softly, your voice trembling but sure. “Let’s try again.”

Aaron’s shoulders sagged with relief, and for the first time in what felt like forever, he smiled—a real, genuine smile that reached his eyes.

And as he squeezed your hand, you felt a flicker of hope that maybe, just maybe, this time would be different.

---

[tobiosbbyghorl]

Hyper & Chill | psh

act 39: first day working

prev

Your first day of work was supposed to be exciting—a new chapter, a fresh start. But instead of waking up to your alarm, you woke up to the warm smell of breakfast and the sound of someone bustling around in the kitchen.

Groggily, you turned over, eyes squinting at the dim morning light filtering through the curtains. Sunghoon’s side of the bed was already empty, the sheets slightly rumpled from where he had slept.

Confused, you sat up, stretching before glancing at the clock.

5:45 AM.

You blinked. You weren’t supposed to wake up until 6:30.

That’s when the bedroom door slowly creaked open, and Sunghoon peeked his head inside with a proud smile.

“Oh, you’re up!” He walked in, balancing a tray in his hands. “I was gonna wake you up with breakfast in bed.”

You raised an eyebrow, sitting up straighter as he placed the tray in front of you. “Hoon… did you wake up early just to do this?”

He shrugged, clearly trying to act nonchalant but failing. “Maybe.”

You glanced down at the tray—perfectly golden toast, scrambled eggs, and a fruit smoothie.

Your heart swelled.

“Sunghoon…” you pouted. “You didn’t have to do all this.”

He rolled his eyes but couldn’t hide the small, pleased smile on his lips. “I wanted to. It’s our first day at work, and I know how nervous you are.”

You softened, reaching for his hand. “Thank you, Lolove.”

He leaned down, pressing a lingering kiss to your forehead. “Always.”

—

Getting Ready

As you sat at the vanity, fixing your hair, Sunghoon hovered behind you, resting his chin on your head.

“You look so pretty in business wear,” he murmured.

You rolled your eyes playfully. “I’m just wearing a blazer, Hoon.”

“And you look hot.”

You flicked his arm, making him laugh.

When you finally grabbed your heels, Sunghoon kneeled in front of you, holding your ankle lightly.

“What are you doing?” you asked, amused.

“Helping you put these on,” he said simply, sliding them onto your feet with care. “Can’t have my Lolove struggling on her first day.”

You grinned, reaching down to cup his face. “You’re really doing the most today, huh?”

Sunghoon kissed your palm. “You deserve the most every day.”

—

Heading Out

By the time you both were ready to leave, Sunghoon practically bounced beside you, beaming with excitement.

“You got this,” he said, intertwining your fingers as you both stepped out of the apartment. “We’re gonna kill it at this job.”

You sighed dramatically. “Or get fired on the first day.”

He gasped. “Take that back. Manifest success.”

You laughed. “Okay, okay. We got this.”

Sunghoon grinned, squeezing your hand before pulling you closer for a quick but sweet kiss.

“Let’s go, future CEOs.”

First Day Shenanigans

Despite the nerves bubbling in your stomach, walking into the sleek, modern office building with Sunghoon beside you made everything feel a little easier.

“Remember,” he murmured as you reached the elevator. “We’re keeping things lowkey.”

You rolled your eyes with a small smirk. “Yes, Mr. Professional.”

Sunghoon straightened his tie, looking the part of a confident, composed businessman. If it weren’t for the way he squeezed your hand right before stepping into the office, no one would suspect a thing.

—

Making Friends

By mid-morning, you had already been introduced to several new coworkers, all of whom were surprisingly friendly. Your team had a mix of experienced employees and fresh hires like yourself, making it easier to settle in.

You were chatting with a few colleagues in the break room when Sunghoon strolled in, grabbing a coffee from the machine.

“Park Sunghoon, right?” One of your coworkers, Yuna, perked up. “You’re on the finance team, right?”

Sunghoon nodded with a polite smile. “Yeah. Nice to meet you.”

“You two started on the same day, right?” Another coworker, Jaemin, asked, glancing between you and Sunghoon. “Do you guys know each other?”

You opened your mouth to answer, but Sunghoon smoothly replied first.

“We had a few mutual friends back in university,” he said casually. “But we weren’t that close.”

You fought the urge to kick him under the table. Mutual friends? Not that close?

Jaemin nodded, buying the lie instantly. “Nice, nice. Well, let’s all grab lunch together later. Might as well stick together on the first day.”

Sunghoon met your gaze briefly, a teasing glint in his eyes. You resisted the urge to roll yours.

—

Lunch Break

You sat with your new team, making small talk and getting to know everyone better. Sunghoon sat across from you, appearing completely normal to everyone else—but you caught the tiny details.

The way he glanced at you when you laughed too hard. The way his foot brushed against yours under the table. The way he subtly smirked when you almost choked on your drink after he sent you a quick wink.

You had to fight back a grin when Yuna turned to you and whispered, “I think our finance guy is really attractive.”

You hummed in response, pretending to think about it. “Hmm… yeah, I guess he’s okay.”

Sunghoon nearly choked on his water.

—

Celebrating Your First Day

After surviving the first workday, a few of your colleagues suggested heading to a nearby bar for celebratory drinks. You and Sunghoon exchanged a quick look before agreeing.

A few hours later, you were sipping on a cocktail, laughing as your coworkers recounted embarrassing university stories. Sunghoon sat beside you, listening with his usual calm demeanor, but you felt the way his knee knocked into yours every now and then—like a silent reminder of his presence.

At some point, Yuna leaned in and whispered, “Okay, but you and Sunghoon definitely have chemistry.”

You choked on your drink. “W-What?”

She smirked. “Oh, come on. The eye contact? The way he looks at you when you talk?”

You forced out a laugh, waving a dismissive hand. “You’re overthinking.”

Sunghoon, completely unaware of the conversation, leaned closer to ask, “What are you two whispering about?”

You shot Yuna a look before smiling innocently. “Nothing important.”

Sunghoon raised an eyebrow but let it go.

Later that night, when you both finally made it home, you collapsed onto the couch with a dramatic sigh.

“Keeping things lowkey is harder than I thought,” you groaned.

Sunghoon chuckled, pulling you into his arms. “Yeah? You seemed to enjoy yourself back there.”

You looked up at him, narrowing your eyes playfully. “Says the guy who kept sneaking glances at me all day.”

Sunghoon grinned, pressing a kiss to your forehead. “Can you blame me?”

You melted against him, feeling a warmth settle in your chest.

If every workday ended like this—with Sunghoon’s arms wrapped around you, whispering sweet nothings—you didn’t mind keeping your relationship lowkey.

Realizing You Need to Go to Work Separately

The morning after your first day, you stretched lazily in bed, feeling the warmth of Sunghoon beside you. His arm was draped over your waist, his face buried in the crook of your neck as he mumbled something incoherent.

“Lolove,” you whispered, tracing light circles on his arm. “We need to get up.”

He groaned in response, tightening his hold on you. “Five more minutes.”

You chuckled, running your fingers through his hair. “Hoon, we have work.”

At the mention of work, his eyes cracked open slightly, still heavy with sleep. Then, as if something clicked, his brows furrowed.

“…Wait.” He lifted his head, his morning voice raspier than usual. “We have to go separately now, don’t we?”

You bit your lip, nodding. “Yeah. We agreed to keep things private at work, remember?”

Sunghoon exhaled through his nose, clearly displeased. “I liked going to school together. Going to work together would’ve been nice, too.”

“I know.” You cupped his cheek, brushing your thumb over his skin. “But this is our first corporate job. It’s better this way.”

Sunghoon pouted, leaning into your touch before sighing in surrender. “Fine.”

Still, neither of you moved, reluctant to actually start the day. It was Sunghoon who eventually groaned and rolled out of bed, muttering under his breath about how much he already hated this arrangement.

—

Surprisingly Professional Sunghoon

Despite his complaints that morning, Sunghoon handled himself at work perfectly.

There was no unnecessary lingering, no stolen touches, no secretive smiles. He was all business—focused, composed, and undeniably professional.

You were… surprised.

“You’re staring,” Sunghoon muttered under his breath when he passed your desk one afternoon, setting down a report for the marketing team.

You blinked, realizing you were staring. “I just—” You lowered your voice. “You’re really good at this whole professionalism thing.”

A small smirk played at his lips, though he didn’t look at you for too long. “Told you I’d be fine.”

And he was fine. Throughout meetings, presentations, and even group discussions, Sunghoon never once slipped up.

And the crazy part? You were professional, too.

As much as you loved Sunghoon, as much as you wanted to sneak a glance or share a knowing smile, you kept your act together.

But that didn’t mean he wasn’t finding ways to tease you.

One day, as you were reviewing a proposal with your team, Sunghoon casually walked past your desk, dropping a note next to your laptop.

Curious, you opened it discreetly.

Miss you already.

You bit your lip to keep from smiling. This man.

Later that night, when you both got home, Sunghoon wasted no time pulling you into his arms the second you closed the door.

“You’re too good at this whole professionalism thing,” you teased, poking his chest.

Sunghoon grinned, pressing a kiss to your temple. “Had to make sure no one suspects anything.”

You raised an eyebrow. “No one suspects anything?”

“…Okay, maybe Yuna does,” he admitted with a chuckle.

You sighed dramatically. “We’re doomed.”

Sunghoon only laughed, holding you tighter. “Even if they find out, I don’t really care. As long as I get to do this when we’re home.”

And just like that, the stress of the workday melted away.

@ tobiosbbyghorl - all rights reserved

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[thatlittlered]

time warp | aaron hotchner

warning(s): none, just hotch being delicious

GIF by @katebeckets

part one

author's note: I have never updated a story this fast in my life. Another part is coming tomorrow.

Follow me @MadeofLilies on Ao3 and let me know if you want to be tagged here.

-.-.-

The door to his office is open, chatter from the bullpen reaching him when you all get too loud. He can tell Morgan is pestering you about something and the others have gathered around to listen.

“You only have one watch?”

“How many watches do other people have? You act like it’s insane.”

Spencer, like always, feels the need to interject, “I have three.”

You sigh, abandoning your pen and notes.

“I have another one but that’s my grandmother’s, I can’t wear it to work.”

Derek is not satisfied with your answer.

“You have a thousand pieces of jewelry.”

“I know!”

“You are wearing most of them right now.”

“I know, Morgan, you can stop bullying me now.” You pout at him and he pouts back, but his grin is indicator enough that he’s not even close to finished with you.

“Where do you even spend your paychecks, sweetheart?”

“Important stuff. Like shoes.”

“I only have one pair of shoes aside of my trainers.”

Emily laughs, “Yeah, we know that, Spence. Their time is coming to an end, by the way.”

Morgan zeroes in on you again, poking a finger into your knee to get a reaction.

“How many pairs of shoes do you have exactly? Fifteen? Twenty?”

“They were twenty… at some point.”

Triumph.

You almost can’t stand his shit-eating grin.

“There you go. Too bad you don’t get to wear them here.”

“Where do you spend yours? A lifetime’s supply of V-necks at GAP?”

You stand up from your chair, eager to get away from this conversation.

“You’re only mean to me because you know I’ll love you anyway.”  

“Maybe.”

He puts his hand over his heart in feign hurt. Garcia mutters something about a woman’s right to shoes in your defense and you kiss her cheek to thank her on your way to the kitchenette. Aaron still watches from his seat and squirms uncomfortably when he sees Morgan follow you.

You take his mug and pour you both some coffee while he takes a seat, thanking you. You don’t even see Hotch come in.

“Did your watch get lost?”

You almost spill your coffee at the baritone of his voice. Everything he says comes out so official, so professional, as if speaking orders, but not at that beach under the sunrise. Who was he then?

“Yes, it did. Totally on its own and not because I keep leaving my stuff in random places and not looking after them properly.”

“Maybe that’s why you spend so much on stuff, if you keep losing them.”

You quirk a brow at Derek, leaning over him menacingly from your position.

“I swear to God, Morgan, this might be the day you officially lose my affection.”

He takes the cup you’ve poured for him from your hand and slowly walks backwards in resignation.

“No, please, I didn’t mean it.”

You smile at each other and you point a finger at him. Hotch watches with a frown.

“Tread lightly.”

When Morgan’s gone, he can finally step closer to you. Getting to the coffee machine is only the excuse.

“You know, you’re really good at keeping him in check. Maybe you should be in charge here.”

You smile into your cup, “That’s alright, we already have a boss and he’s okay.”

“Oh, is he? Good to know, I can’t wait to have that all over my evaluation files next year.”

You nod. The fabric of his suit jacket brushes against your arm while he pours.

“Some might even use the words ‘pretty good’.”

He hums, “So eloquent.”

Your smile deepens, nose wrinkling upwards in a way that now really can’t be hidden in your cup.

-.-.-

It’s almost time for everyone to head home and for once, he’s trying really hard to make it out of the office before sundown; maybe spend some quality time with Jack.

There’s a knock on his door before it opens and he’s about to send whoever it is away but-

“Hi, sorry, am I interrupting?”

He looks up, uncharacteristically disoriented.

“Uh, no-no, come in.”

“Are you coming to Rossi’s tonight?”

He’s dumbfounded.

“I’m not really sure yet, I have some errands to run when I’m done here.”

“Oh, okay… I just found some old Marvel comics and I thought Jack might like to have them, but I didn’t bring them with me. Maybe I could give them to you tonight? That is, if you make it.”

“You didn’t have to do that.”

“Do you mind?”

“No, of course not, I just-”, he exhales, “I’ll be there.”

You smile and nod, ready to leave.

“Maybe I could give you a ride and you can give them to me then. I mean,” his thumb scratches his bottom lip uncomfortably, “your place is practically on the way.”

“Have you ever been to my place?”

Aaron laughs awkwardly, “No.”

“But you seem to know what you’re talking about, so I’m going to put my faith in you. Pick me up at seven?”

“That works.”

-.-.-

It’s not even half past six when he rings your doorbell and you open the door still clad in pjs.

“You are so early.”

Hotch suddenly looks so small for such a usually imposing man. He stands in your doorway with nervous hands in his pockets and you don’t think you’ve ever seen him act like this before.

“I’m sorry, I can wait in the car if you’d like.”

“No, it’s okay, come in. I think I knew deep down that you would be; just not by this much.”

 He clears his throat and moves inside to now stand awkwardly at the apartment’s entrance, “I’m sorry, I started way too early from my house. Overestimated how long it would take to get here.”

Your interactions do something to warp his sense of time.

“That’s okay, Aaron, really. You’re just going to have to give me a few minutes because I haven’t had the time to get ready yet.”

He watches, frozen in his place, while you walk towards the kitchen.

“Do you need anything? Coffee, orange juice?”

He almost smiles to himself. He just knew you’d be the type of person to always keep the fridge fully stocked even if you’re barely ever home. He likes the confirmation that he knows you, despite his inability to really make conversation and establish familiarity. He grasps at straws; little pieces of you that he sometimes finds and keeps them close to his heart.

“I’m fine, thank you.”

You still bring him a glass of water, freezing cold, just like he likes it, and rest it on the coffee table.

“You can sit, if you want.”

“Right.”

He smiles and sits almost robotically. When he picks up the glass, he softly wipes the ring of water that’s formed underneath with his hand but you don’t see it.

“Let me just grab the box.”

“It’s a whole box?”

“Yeah, I got it at a yard sale.”

“You bought it? You really didn’t have to do that.”

“Well, now that him and I are officially friends I have to do something to maintain the relationship, seeing how I never actually get to see him.” You sit beside him while he looks through the various issues. There have to be at least fifteen in here.

“Yeah, neither do I,” he really appreciates the comforting hand on his shoulder, “This was very nice of you to do, thank you.”

You smile and nod at him.

“Actually, I also have something I wanted to give you; I just need to get it from the car.”

“Me?”

“Yeah, give me a moment, will you?”

He’s out and back in a second. Practically runs back into your apartment when you open the door; a small gift bag in hand.

“I would have brought in with me, but I chickened out at the last minute.”

His fingers linger when he hands it to you. It’s almost a caress in passing.

“You got me something?”

It’s a digital watch, neatly sat on soft velvet.

Was that the errand he had to run?

“Oh, Hotch, thank you so much, but you really shouldn’t have. I know I joked around today, but I would have actually gotten around to getting one. I am not that financially irresponsible.”

“It’s nothing really, it’s not an expensive watch.”

“Oh, okay, as long as it’s the cheap, trashy stuff. Phew.”

He laughs and you realize you’re both standing in your doorway again.

“I just wanted to do something nice.”

“You’re nice to me all the time.”

His brows furrow, “It doesn’t feel like I am.”

“It must come easy then.”

“It does with you.”

He meets your gaze and you stay there for a while.

“Can you help me try it on?”

“Of course.”

He clasps it high on your wrist, just like he’s seen you wear the previous one. The color matches your jewelry and it’s excruciatingly sweet just how much attention he pays to details.

“I just wanted to thank you, I suppose, for the other day. It meant a lot to me.”

Aaron’s hand doesn’t leave your arm, instead wraps gently around it instead, as if one of your bracelets.

“It meant a lot to me too.”

His breathing is heavy, his voice barely a whisper. What you are doing feels like a secret; like it’s meant to be hidden from the rest of the world.

“I’m not sure you mean that in the same way that I do.”

Your other hand comes to rest on top of his, thumb passing softly over protruding veins and scars. He thinks, for a moment, it might wipe them away.

“Then you’re not the people expert that you think you are.”

His laugh is heartbreaking.

“Guess I’m not very good at that either.”

You hum, “You’re okay.”

Neither of you is moving but it feels like you’re getting closer.

“So eloquent again.”

You can’t help but beam with pride at how comfortable he’s getting with your banter. A whole world unlocked and open for you to see. His body is drawn to you, almost folds over and around you to be closer. As close as he can possibly get without touching you more.

“It’s the worst moment possible now, when you’ve just given me a gift and picked me up from my place, but I think it deserves to be said that I would very much like to be kissed by you.”

His eyes flutter close.

“It really is the worst moment possible,” his hand slides slowly from your wrist to elbow, taking in the feeling of bare skin, “but I would very much like to kiss you.”

“But you won’t.”

His hand stops traveling up your arm, drops back onto your wrist and without really meaning to, pulls you closer.

“No.”

You stay like this for a while. Nothing but soft breathing to be heard in the room.

“I should probably go.”

You look up in surprise, “Are you not coming with me?”

“I’m sorry, I just…” he touches the inside of your palm and traces the lines as if to remember them, “I wouldn't know what to say or do after this.”

You smile, but it doesn’t reach your eyes.

“It’s alright, I understand… I’ll see you tomorrow.”

The loss of his touch is like a sudden drop in the temperature around you. You both feel it.

He doesn’t meet your gaze again, simply gathers the box and clears his throat as if that will magically return him to what he’s used to being.

“Yeah. Tomorrow.”

You see him press his lips together before he turns to leave.

When you get to Rossi’s, the team is disappointed to know he’s not coming after all, but they’re not surprised. JJ asks you about the new watch and you lie. You can tell Emily is not convinced but she doesn’t say anything about it, merely smiles at you and inches closer with her chair.

Aaron spends another night alone. Jack is at a sleepover with a friend that he didn’t have the heart to pick him up from all of the sudden.

That’s the cost of being a stone, he supposes.

part three

[therocketeer0501]

Emptiness Machine

Starscream X Reader (mech pilot AU)

Warnings/TW: blood, weapons, mention of torture, robot gore, human experimentation (shockwave is shockwave), language, and peril. (I’ll add more as I post)

(Author note: Before I get started I wanted to get a few things out of the way. This is my own AU and doesn’t really lend itself to much existing media. Gonna mash a few continuities together. This is in no way a professional writing by any means. I am not running it past a beta or anything so it’s going to be rough. I wanted to write this for myself and share it with y’all! This is my silly nonsense. That being said if I don’t clarify something or if something doesn’t make sense please submit an ask and I will promptly explain! Now without further ado. Here is the anticipated first chapter of Emptiness machine! Thank you all for waiting.)

Read first

Data log entry #857

Date: 003029 Time: 0700

Time since first contact: 2 years, 4 months, 7 days

What began as a national defense strategy became one of the most complex military operations in the history of the world. Project Archangel, founded by Dr. Zinovy Antonov, began under the pretense of creating the world’s first mechanized army. He started his research long before we found out we weren’t alone out here among the stars. With the arrival of the Cybertronian visitors came the fear that humanity was not only vastly outgunned, but also grossly unprepared to deal with any threat from deep space. Dr. Antonov pleaded with the government to allow him near the deactivated body of one of the Cybertronians, who was discovered after a battle had broken out between factions.

He studied their biology and created what he dubbed the perfect exoskeleton. Fueled by chemical X, also known as Energon, and operated by none other than the human soul itself. There weren’t many volunteers to undergo the rigorous training and testing that these pilots had to go through. But with the help of Cybertronian Autobot scientists, Project Archangel was finally given the green light to move forward. Only three pilots made it through the initial testing.

Pilot: Seraphim, Pilot: Uriel, and Pilot: Michael.

With their functioning mecha, these pilots were meant to assist the Autobot Cybertronians in keeping earth from being terraformed by the opposing Cybertronian facton, the Decepticons.

Which brings us to the present. We have had zero contact with the other faction known as the Decepticons until two months ago. The Autobots insisted we keep our distance and only deploy Project Archangel as a last resort. Keeping the humans out of the conflict was essential if they wanted to stay neutral in the eyes of the Decepticons. As far as we know, no Decepticon has ventured down to the planet’s surface from their airship Nemesis to interact with the population. Only sending drones to wreak havoc on areas rich in Chemical X.

However, in recent months, there have been sightings of Decepticon officers and scientists (identified by Autobot command) on the planet’s surface. It was decided that we bring Project Archangel out of the shadows and deploy them on a scouting mission alongside several Autobots. We only hope that we haven’t made a grave mistake.

Chapter 1

You let yourself be pulled through the spiral of light emanating from the ground bridge. Traveling via the alien tech was a feeling that no one could describe. The closest thing to it was like having a magnet in your chest be pulled faster than your brain could register before spitting you back out on the other side. It had taken many practice runs for you to not throw off your stabilizers and stick the landing. Though it still made you dizzy and a bit sick.

After landing behind Bee in a heavily wooded area, you quickly scan the trees for energy signatures. Your scanners were only programmed to detect the Decepticon drones and of course the energy signatures of your comrades. Bumblebee signaled for you to fall in behind him and you promptly obeyed. You could feel the way your heart pounded against your ribcage where your body rested snug inside the metal chest of your mech. Your consciousness flawlessly divided between the two bodies. One living metal, and one flesh. Energon flowed steady through your lines as you tried to calm the slight tremor of your hand that came with the rush of adrenaline.

Ahead you could see the energon mine in the waning light. A clearing with a large metal structure in the center. The two huge metal doors at the entrance had been blown wide open to reveal the tunnel that went deep inside the earth to extract the precious ore. The human sentries, once posted outside, were nowhere to be found. Vehicles were overturned and some still smoldered where they had been hit with plasma bolts. You switch to internal comms so you can communicate with Bee without anyone on the outside hearing.

“Second wave in twenty. Nineteen….”

You slowly count down the seconds until the others arrive so you can rush the structure together. Adjusting your grip on your rifle you study entrance trying to imagine just what awaited you inside. Clearly a monster. Looking to your left you see Bumblebee gripping his null ray, an uncharacteristically stoic look on his face. You had some form of friendship with all the autobots, but you were closest to the little yellow scout. Perhaps it was shared interest or the fact that he seemed more your age. Whatever the case, you had shared so many things with each other over the two ish years that you had been a part of Project Archangel. Only once did you ask him about his home.

He looked saddened at the question and at first you thought he wouldn’t answer you. But he did. You spent the better part of a day listening to how he didn’t know Cybertron before it had been nearly obliterated by the war. It had been a planet filled with culture, music, and arts. No factions to speak of. A united Cybertron. But then came the slow divide of the classes. The divide grew until there were only the obscenely wealthy, and those who had nothing. That’s when, from the pits of Kaon, came the leader of the Decepticon faction.

Megatron.

Bumblebee described him as charismatic and well spoken. Someone bots wanted to rally behind. Many of the Autobots started out as Decepticons in the early days of the war. Taking down the government brick by brick until nothing remained. When it came time to build a new government, Megatron wasn’t satisfied. He wanted all the bots and their families who dared oppress him gone. Obliterated until nothing was left. He ended up doing exactly that. This cost him many followers and eventually after many thousands of years, his home. He didn’t stop. Blaming the Autobots for the lack of energon and destruction on Cybertron.

With a dead world and nowhere to go, the Autobots turned to the libraries in what was left of Iacon. There they found records of worlds seeded with energon by the 13 original Primes. A failsafe in case something were to happen to Cybertron. Optimus Prime lead the remaining Autobots off world to look for a suitable new home. Of course Megatron followed. They tore their way through 11 uninhabited worlds while trying to find one that suited them best. Stripping the worlds of their energon before moving on to the next. Earth was the first seeded world to have intelligent life. Optimus made it his sole mission to keep that intelligent life from having to endure the horrors of the war they brought with them.

It was nearly impossible due to the ever present evil that lurked in the sky. The Nemesis, like a dark cloud, hung overhead when you looked up. What kind of monsters would tear apart their home just to make a point? You were about to find out. A ground bridge portal appeared nearly blinding her as she adjusted her optics to its harsh blue light. Four bots landed and immediately began sprinting towards the entrance. Your peds began to automatically move. The yellow scout close on your heels as the two of you followed your comrades inside. Drones swarmed around you the instant you broke the entrance. Inside you could see Cliffjumper, Sideswipe, Sunstreaker, and one of your brothers in arms Michael. His mech was a heavy class. Not very good at maneuvering but excellent at breaking things. Throwing a drone into a wall with the butt of your rifle, you turn to Bee and chuckle over comms.

“I was expecting more of a fight. This is a fairly average number of drones.”

He didn’t reply right away as he tried to pull a drone off of one of the lambo twins. You couldn’t tell which one because of the sheer number of bodies trying to suffocate the bot. Using your jump jets you propel yourself forward and into the pile sending a good number of the drones flying. They broke easily, not filled with much energon either. It made you wonder just how the Decepticons managed to manufacture so many drones while the Autobots controlled the energon. With the last of the drones dispatched, you look around and regroup with the others. Slowly you start moving further into the mine. Eventually it would open up into a huge cavern. It would be beautiful if not for the dread that had settled over the group like a thick fog. Suddenly your comm crackled to life as Sideswipe replied to your earlier comment in Bumblebee’s stead.

“We’ll get a good fight eventually. These tin cans are just the appetizer for the main course. It’s confirmed, Shockwave is here. I’ve been itching to dig my fist into that lone optic of his.”

He emphasized his excitement by sending his fist into the shoulder of his brother. The golden bot gave him a sour look but didn’t retort like he normally would have. The energy of the Autobots had been stoic ever since it was confirmed that the first Decepticon on scene was Shockwave. You had no idea what to expect. You knew Shockwave was a scientist and known for his cruel and unusual experiments during the war on Cybertron. He created the most horrific weapons used in the Great War, so he must be someone to fear at the very least.

As you make your way down, you begin to hear a long drawn out noise. Almost like a squeaky door hinge but amplified, bouncing off the walls of the mine shaft. Then there was the screaming. You had wondered what happened to the sentries who were stationed outside. Now you knew. A deep voice rumbled from up ahead. It was cold, unfeeling, and filled you with dread.

“Test 8 unsuccessful. Most illogical. Send another.”

There was that horrible sound like metal rending and then another shriek cut short. Before a sigh of resignation came from nearby. It wasn’t Shockwave who made the noise of dissatisfaction. Another Decepticon. Your heart pounded as you look over at your fellow bots to see if they heard the same thing you did. If their wide optics were any indication, they had. Two Decepticons. Not just one. You listened closely as the other bot seemed to pace back and forth in front of the opening to the cavern. You and your companions were split on either side of the entrance, listening but not yet entering the space.

The other Decepticon doesn’t speak and suddenly he goes eerily silent. It made your hair stand on end and you almost felt like you were being watched. Could Decepticons see through reinforced steel? You shook your helm at the thought. No way. But after a heartbeat he said something that had your heart in your throat.

“Shockwave wrap it up. We aren’t alone.”

Cliffjumper growled into his comm in recognition of the voice.

“Spinster. He’s going to be trouble.”

[sxvual]

Felicity • n i n e

a/n: In light of recent events I completely understand this book and character may not be your cup of tea anymore. so if there’s anybody wanting to be removed from the tag list please let me know. I take zero offense, promise xx I want everyone to do what’s best for them, you can lmk in the comments or private message me ❤️

cw: Athena be raging ngl.

word count: 5.3k

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Athena sat at her desk, absently twirling a pen between her fingers as her gaze drifted toward the sprawling cityscape outside her office window. The skyline stretched endlessly, glass and steel standing tall against the afternoon sun. It was a sight she usually found grounding—something to keep her tethered to reality. But today, her mind was elsewhere, drifting somewhere between the cabin of a private jet, a little girl’s laughter, and the steady, magnetic pull of a man who had somehow wormed his way beneath her skin.

Natalie’s voice droned in the background, listing off meetings, deadlines, and obligations with machine-like efficiency.

“—Conference call with the Savino Group at ten tomorrow morning, followed by your meeting with the accounting team at one. Then there’s the keynote speech for the multimedia summit next week, which still needs to be finalized,” she rattled off, barely pausing as she scrolled through Athena’s schedule on her tablet like an automated machine.

Athena hummed in response, nodding vaguely.

Natalie stopped mid-scroll, her sharp gaze flicking up. “She’s not listening, is she?”

Across from Athena, Amina reclined in one of the sleek leather chairs, popping a grape into her mouth before smirking. “Not even a little bit.”

Athena scoffed, snapping out of her daze. “I am listening.”

Amina arched a skeptical brow. “Oh yeah? What did Nat just say?”

Athena opened her mouth, stalled, and then quickly pressed her lips shut. “Natalie said…Something about… a conference call?”

Natalie sighed, muttering something under her breath about overpaid CEOs who couldn’t be bothered to remember their own schedules. “Share it with the group.” 

Athena bit with a snarky smile, causing a slight flicker of annoyance to appear on the face of her assistant. But it’s quickly masked by a sickly sweet professional grin.

Amina paid it no mind though and grinned like a cat toying with a mouse. “Alright, spill it. Where’s your head at? And don’t even try to say it’s work, because we both know that’s a damn lie.”

Athena hesitated, her fingers stilling against the cool surface of her desk. She knew exactly where her mind had wandered—to the past few days. Gigi’s infectious giggles. The tiny, plastic tiara perched on Roman’s head. The way he had humored his daughter without an ounce of hesitation. He had looked utterly ridiculous. And yet, devastatingly sweet.

Then there was him as a whole. 

His presence was steady, reassuring in a way she hadn’t expected. His gestures—grand yet thoughtful—weren’t performative; they came from a place of knowing her. In such a little time he already seemed to know her. He listened to her in a way no one ever really had. The necklace, the trip to the Dominican Republic… those weren’t just gifts. They were proof. Proof that he saw her. That he had been paying attention when no one else ever had.

“It’s nothing,” she muttered, too quickly to be convincing.

Amina and Natalie exchanged a glance.

“Oh,” Amina mused, smirking. “It’s definitely something. You wouldn’t be chewing on that pen like it owed you some money if it wasn’t.”

Natalie leaned against the desk, intrigued. “Wait… is this about him? Because, by the way, your meeting with him is still on the calendar, but he hasn’t called to confirm.”

Athena’s brows furrowed. “He hasn’t?”

Natalie shook her head. “Nope. Which is weird, because he doesn’t seem like the type to forget. I mean flowers with sweet notes, messages to the office..”

That gave her pause. Roman was nothing if not consistent. If he hadn’t confirmed, it meant one of two things—either something had come up, or…

Amina studied her carefully. “So, what is it? Are you waiting for him to confirm, or are you hoping he cancels so you don’t have to deal with whatever this is?” She gestured vaguely at Athena, as if trying to physically point out the distraction Roman had become.

Athena exhaled slowly, tapping her nails against the desk. “I don’t know,” she admitted, frustration tightening her tone. “I spent time with him and Gigi, and she’s just… she’s such a sweet kid. I didn’t think I was the type to enjoy being around kids, but she made my heart feel…” She trailed off, searching for the right word.

“Full?” Amina offered.

Athena’s expression softened. “Yeah.”

Natalie and Amina exchanged another knowing look, but neither interrupted.

“And Roman?” Amina pressed gently. “Where does he fit into all of this?”

That was the harder question, the one Athena had been carefully avoiding. But the truth was, Roman had slowly become… something to her. More than a client. More than a friend. He was thoughtful in ways that caught her off guard. No matter how much she tried to convince herself otherwise, she liked it.

“…He makes me happy,” she admitted, voice quieter this time, as if saying it out loud made it more real.

Amina grinned. “Well, well, well. My ice queen sister has a crush.”

Athena rolled her eyes, but the warmth creeping up her neck betrayed her. “It’s not a crush. It’s… curiosity.” It was only then Athena took note of Natalie’s lingering presence. 

“Reynolds, I got it. You can go now.” 

Natalie snorted but took her leave with a smile. 

“Curiosity huh? That tends to be what people say right before they fall head first into something.” 

Athena groaned, rubbing her temples. “Okay, I’m officially done with this conversation.”

Amina laughed. “Sure. But don’t think I’m dropping this. Now, are you gonna call him? Or are you just gonna sit there pretending not to care?”

Athena glanced at her phone, lips pressing together.

“I’ll wait,” she finally said.

But deep down, she wanted him to call.

It had been well over a week now and Athena couldn’t help but expect Romans usual flirtatious antics, she got used to them before she even realized it. 

Yet he still didn’t call. 

An entire day dragged by at an agonizing, glacial pace. Conference calls. Contract signings. Meetings that blurred together. It was a ceaseless stream of work, but none of it distracted her from the silence.

No texts.

No flowers.

Not even a quick, Hey, we still on?

Nothing.

It didn’t matter. It shouldn’t matter. And yet, the longer the silence stretched, the more it gnawed at her.

Had she imagined things? Had she misread everything—the warmth, the gestures, the quiet intimacy of it all? Maybe it hadn’t meant as much to him as it had to her.

She hated that thought—hated the vulnerability in it.

Athena was almost over it. Almost. But if she was being honest? Not even close. Today had been a day—the kind that felt like a week compressed into twenty-four relentless hours. Award season loomed just around the corner, and the chaos had arrived early, dragging stress and long nights in its wake. Clients, particularly the B-list disasters, were making a sport out of self-sabotage, leaving her and her team to play cleanup crew. Every morning brought a fresh scandal splattered across blogs and gossip columns—cheating rumors, drunken tirades, social media meltdowns. And somehow, it always landed on Athena’s desk to smooth over. It was grating, infuriating. She wasn’t some glorified janitor, but lately, that’s exactly how it felt.

And then there was Amina.

If there was an award for persistence, her twin would have taken home the trophy and the lifetime achievement honor along with it. From the moment Athena’s eyes opened to the late evening hours, Amina had been relentless—poking, prying, dissecting every detail of the past weekend. Roman. Gianna. The way Athena had disappeared after the gala. And the most irritating question of all: Had he reached out?

That was the one that made Athena’s skin prickle.

Because the answer remained the same, unwavering and undeniable: No.

He hadn’t.

And every time Amina circled back to it, the annoyance chipped away at Athena’s patience, wearing her thin. She didn’t want to care, didn’t want to dissect the silence—but the absence of a message, a call, anything, sat in the back of her mind like a splinter she couldn’t tweeze out. It was irrational. So what if he hadn’t reached out? She had more important things to focus on. But the irritation built, slow and sharp, until it bit down too hard to ignore.

And by the time Natalie, her assistant,  opened her mouth to bring Roman’s name up again, Athena’s patience snapped.

“—And I just assumed you’d want to push the evening meeting with Mr. Reigns, considering he still hasn’t—”

“Assumed?” Athena’s voice was a blade, sharp and precise.

Natalie faltered, blinking at the shift in tone. “I just meant—”

“No, I heard what you meant.” Athena shut the folder in front of her with a deliberate snap. “But see, here’s the problem: You don’t assume anything for me.”

Natalie’s lips parted, but Athena was already standing, moving around her desk with slow, measured steps.

“You schedule meetings. You manage calls. You handle my calendar. That’s your job.” Athena’s voice was clipped, cold. “Your job is not to speculate about my personal life. Your job is not to make adjustments based on your opinion. And your job is certainly not to involve yourself in things that do not concern you.”

Natalie’s jaw tightened, color rising to her cheeks. “That’s not what I was—”

“It’s exactly what you were doing,” Athena cut in. “And I’m done with it. If I have a problem, I’ll handle it. If I need something changed, I’ll tell you. Until then? Stay in your lane.”

The silence stretched between them, thick with unspoken tension.

Natalie swallowed hard before nodding stiffly. “Understood.”

Athena held her gaze for a moment longer before giving a sharp, dismissive nod. “Good. Now get out.”

Natalie turned and left, the door clicking shut behind her.

And still, despite the blow up, Athena’s frustration lingered.

Because no matter how much she deflected, no matter how cold she made herself—

The truth remained:

She wasn’t mad at Natalie or her twin.

She was mad at him.

Athena exhaled slowly, pressing her fingers against her temples as the door clicked shut behind Natalie. The room was thick with the weight of her words, the sharp edges of her anger still lingering in the air.

For a moment, there was silence.

But such a luxury could only last so long. 

“Damn,” Amina murmured from her chair, drawing out the word like she was savoring it. “Remind me never to piss you off.”

Athena’s jaw clenched. “Don’t start.”

Amina tilted her head, watching her sister with measured curiosity. “I mean, I know Natalie has a tendency to push boundaries, but that?” She let out a low whistle. “That was brutal, even for you.”

Athena shot her a look. “She was out of line.”

“Maybe.” Amina shrugged. “But you didn’t have to tear her apart like that. You could’ve just reminded her of her place instead of—”

Athena scoffed. “That’s rich, coming from you. This is your fault, you know.”

Amina blinked, caught off guard. “Excuse me?”

“You’re too lax with them,” Athena accused, pacing toward her desk. Her heels clicked sharply against the marble floor, punctuating her frustration. “You let them joke with you, pry into your business, blur the lines. And because you do it, they think they can do it with me.” She turned, eyes flashing. “But they can’t. I’m not just their boss. I’m the boss. Everyone’s boss. Even yours.”

The moment the words left her mouth, she saw the flicker of something in Amina’s expression. A brief shift—annoyance, irritation, something she tried to mask but didn’t quite manage.

Amina let out a slow, measured breath. “Oh, so that’s what this is about.”

Athena crossed her arms. “It’s about making sure people know their place—”

“No,” Amina cut in, her voice suddenly sharper, less amused. “It’s about you being pissed off at something else and taking it out on Natalie. You know that, right?”

Athena bristled. “That’s not what happened.”

Amina let out a dry laugh. “Bullshit.”

Athena’s gaze hardened. “You’re missing the point.”

“No, you’re avoiding the point,” Amina countered. “You’ve been in a mood all damn day, snapping at people, walking around like a storm cloud, and I’m supposed to believe it’s just because Natalie stepped out of line?” She shook her head, exasperated. “Come on, Athena. I know you better than that.”

Athena pressed her lips together, unwilling to give an inch.

Amina studied her for a long moment, then exhaled, rolling her shoulders as she pushed up from her seat. “Fine. Be like that.” She strode toward the door, but before she left, she paused, glancing back over her shoulder.

“You know, for someone who prides themselves on control, you sure let your emotions whip you around like a ragdoll today.”

Athena’s head snapped up, her expression sharp. “Excuse me?”

Amina turned fully, her hand still on the doorknob. “You heard me. That wasn’t leadership, Athena. That was a tantrum in designer heels.”

Athena’s nostrils flared. “You think I threw a tantrum?”

“I know you did,” Amina shot back. “You tore into Natalie like she was the one who ghosted you. And let’s not pretend that’s not what this is about.”

“I’m not doing this with you,” Athena said, waving her off like the conversation was beneath her.

“Oh, but you are,” Amina said, stepping back into the room and letting the door shut behind her. “Because I’m not going to let you project your shit onto everyone else just because a man made you feel something.”

“That’s not fair.”

“No, what’s not fair is watching you burn everyone around you because you’re scared to admit you care. Scared that maybe—just maybe—he matters more than you want him to.”

Athena looked away, jaw clenched. “You��re reading way too much into this.”

“No, you’re not reading into it enough.” Amina’s voice softened slightly, but the steel remained beneath it. “You felt something real. And instead of sitting with it—processing it like an adult—you’re lashing out. At Natalie. At me. Hell, you probably barked at the barista this morning too.”

Athena’s gaze flicked up, guilt flashing behind her irritation.

“Look,” Amina continued, voice gentler now. “I get it. Vulnerability? It’s not your thing. It never has been. But what Roman gave you this weekend? That wasn’t just a fling or a PR stunt. It was connection. And it scared the hell out of you.”

Athena’s hands tightened into fists at her sides. “It didn’t scare me.”

Amina tilted her head. “Didn’t it? Because the Athena I know—the real you—doesn’t get quiet over men. Doesn’t let silence rattle her. And she sure as hell doesn’t get so worked up that she snaps at people who’ve done nothing wrong.”

Athena looked down, her voice brittle. “I didn’t mean to—”

“I know,” Amina cut in gently. “But that doesn’t make it okay. Natalie’s not the problem here. Roman is. Or rather, how he made you feel is.”

Silence stretched between them, thick and unrelenting.

Finally, Athena let out a slow breath, her voice barely above a whisper. “He made me feel seen. Like really seen. And I think… I think I liked it more than I should’ve.”

Amina’s expression softened. “And now he’s gone quiet.”

Athena nodded, folding her arms tightly. “And now I feel stupid. I don’t do this. I don’t let people in. But I let him in—just a little—and now he’s disappeared like it meant nothing. And I’m the idiot sitting here waiting on a call that might never come.”

Amina crossed the room slowly, placing a hand on her twin’s shoulder. “You’re not an idiot. You’re human. And believe it or not, that’s not a weakness. It’s just proof you’re still capable of feeling.”

Athena’s eyes glistened, but she blinked the tears away before they could fall. “I hate this.”

“I know,” Amina said softly. “But you’re not alone in it. You’ve got me, remember?”

Athena looked up, the tension in her shoulders loosening just a bit. “Yeah. I know.”

Amina gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze. “So maybe go a little easier on the people around you, huh? We’re not the enemy.”

Athena managed a faint, rueful smile. “Noted.”

“And maybe,” Amina added, stepping back with a wink, “instead of waiting on a call, you pick up the damn phone and make one.”

Athena didn’t reply, but as Amina left the room this time, there was no slamming of doors, no sharp retorts—only the quiet hum of possibility left in her wake.

Athena prided herself on never waiting around for a man. That was her excuse for not calling. 

She was too busy, too important, too focused to waste time on something as trivial as 

And yet, as the hours of the day slipped away, she couldn’t shake the gnawing irritation that settled in the pit of her stomach.

She wasn’t expecting much—she never did. But after everything, after the weekend, after the way he looked at her when she agreed to try… she figured he’d at least say something.

Instead, she got nothing.

By noon, she brushed it off, too immersed in a brutal negotiation call to care.

By two, she had silenced her phone entirely, forcing herself not to check it between meetings.

By four, she was staring blankly at the pages of a contract while Natalie’s voice droned in the background.

“…conference call with the Zurich team at ten tomorrow—Ms. James?”

Athena didn’t even look up. “I got it.”

There was a beat of silence before Natalie cleared her throat. “Right. I’ll email you the details.” She hesitated, gaze flickering to Amina, who was perched on the other side of Athena’s desk, watching her sister like a hawk. “I’ll leave you two to it.”

Athena barely registered her assistant’s exit, flipping a page in the contract like she was actually absorbing any of the words in front of her.

“I think you’ve traumatized that poor girl.” 

“Bite me.” Athena's words were quick and cutting almost. 

“Like you’ve done the head of every employee we have today, no little sister I’m the nice boss remember? They’re boss at least.” The shade was obvious. 

Amina let the silence stretch before she finally sighed, setting down her cappuccino.

“So, we're gonna talk about the brooding thing you’ve got going on, or are you gonna keep pretending that you’re not pissed off?”

Athena didn’t look up. “I’m not brooding.”

Amina arched her brow. “Right. And I’m not your twin. With a matching face and brain?’

Athena turned a page scoffing.

Amina snorted. “Girl, give it up. You’ve been about as present as a deadbeat dad today. And I know why.”

Athena’s gaze finally lifted, sharp and unimpressed. “Do you?”

Amina smirked, crossing her legs. “Nothing still.”

Athena exhaled sharply, shutting the folder in front of her. “I have work to do, Amina.”

Amina ignored that entirely, leaning forward. “You really thought he’d call, huh?”

Athena’s nails tapped against the desk, slow and deliberate. “I wasn’t expecting anything.”

It was a lie.

They both knew it.

And Athena hated that Amina saw right through her.

Her sister tilted her head, examining her. “You’re mad.”

Athena scoffed. “I’m not mad.”

Amina grinned. “Oh, you big mad.”

Athena leveled her with a look. “Drop it.”

Amina just studied her, unfazed. “I never thought I’d see you like someone so much.”

Athena let out a humorless laugh. “I never said that.”

Amina lifted a brow. “Oh, honey. The fact that you’re spiraling over radio silence says everything for you.”

Athena opened her mouth ready to argue, but nothing came out. She did like him. 

Athena didn’t dignify that with a response, pushing up from her chair with a curt, “I’ll see you later.”

Amina didn't push further, but the glint in her eyes told her that her sister knew exactly what was going on.

As she walked to the door, she felt the weight of everything pressing down on her—the work, the disappointment, and the unresolved feelings that had begun to crowd her mind.

Once in the hallway, Athena stopped, taking a deep breath to steady herself. She'd spent so much of her life building walls around her emotions, making sure nothing ever got too close. But Roman… he had breached those walls in ways she hadn’t even noticed until now. The way he made her laugh, the quiet moments with him that felt like they held more weight than anything else, and the way he’d shown up for her when it mattered most. It wasn’t just the attraction—though that was undeniable—it was something deeper, something that made her feel like she might not have to do it all alone anymore.

But the silence… the lack of any communication since that weekend? It gnawed at her. And now, it felt like a cruel test. Was she important enough for him to reach out, or had he simply moved on?

By the time Athena got home, the silence in her penthouse was suffocating. Her exhaustion went beyond the physical.

She went through the motions—shower, skincare, moisturizing, then dressing in one of her dark silky midi robes. Her mind was still reeling a thousand miles away—she didn’t like this feeling, waiting. It made her feel beyond vulnerable.

Any yet, she still sat at the edge of her bed, hand fisting her freshly washed and detangled curls in frustration. Checking her phone like a schoolgirl waiting for the boy she liked to text her back. 

She had been stupid to think he was different.

Stupid to think it had meant anything.

She glanced at her phone, expression impassive, thumb hovering over his contact. 

Don’t do it.

She locked it and set it down.

Then—

FaceTime Incoming: Roman Reigns.

Her heart stalled.

For a second, she considered ignoring it. Making him wait the way he had made her.

But she wasn’t that childish.

So she answered.

The screen filled with his face, hair pulled into a messy bun, dark circles under his eyes. Despite his obvious exhaustion, he still looked… good.

Annoyingly good.

He exhaled the second she appeared.

“I’m so sorry.”

Athena’s face remained neutral. “Are you?”

Roman hesitated, caught off guard by her clipped tone.

Then he nodded. “Yeah. I meant to call, but Gigi—” He sighed, rubbing a hand down his face. “She got sick. Stomach bug. It’s been hell.”

Athena remained still, unreadable.

Then, quietly, “Is she okay?” her voice was soft and concerned.

Roman nodded. “Getting better. Just been a rough couple of days.”

A beat of silence stretched between them.

Then—

“You should’ve just said that,” Athena said evenly. “Would’ve taken two seconds.”

Roman blinked.

Athena tilted her head, eyes cool. “I get it. You were busy. But you could’ve said something.”

Roman held her gaze, something unreadable flickering behind his own.

Then he sighed. “You’re right.”

Athena waited, watching him.

Finally, he exhaled, voice softer. 

“I didn’t mean to leave you hanging, babygirl. I’m sorry.”

Something in her expression wavered, just for a second.

But then she nodded, as if satisfied.

“Alright.”

Roman studied her.

“…Alright?”

Athena shrugged, but there was something distant in her eyes.

“Nothing else to say.”

A pause.

Then, “Meeting’s still on tomorrow?” she asked, businesslike.

Roman’s jaw tensed slightly, as if he wasn’t sure how to read her shift in demeanor.

“Yeah,” he said. “But at my place.”

Athena stilled.

Roman saw the hesitation, so he pressed.

“I can’t leave Gigi. And I don’t want to put this off.”

A moment passed.

Then another.

Athena finally exhaled, nodding. “…Fine.”

Roman’s lips twitched, but he didn’t push his luck.

“Good.”

Another bout of silence stretched on between them. Roman of course being the one to break it, flashing her a teasing smile. “Hey, beautiful.” 

“Don’t hey me, asshole.”

“Don’t do that beautiful. You know I missed you right?”

Athena rolled her eyes, of course the handsome bastard would try and charm his way out of this. “Cut the crap, I still don’t like you right now. I just feel bad for Gigi.” 

“So give her poor dad some slack would you?” 

Athena leaned back onto her perfectly coiffed pillows, her face still stony, while the handsome devil just grinned on. 

“She threw up on me twice.”  

“You probably deserved it.” 

“She didn’t even apologize, just demanded more blue gatorade.” Finally she cracked and let out a high pitched squeal of a laugh that slightly shocked them both. But Athena couldn’t be bothered to care; she giggled without abandon and Roman enjoyed every second of it. 

“I like it when you laugh like that.”

“What are you talking about, a laugh is a laugh.” He shook his head, smirking. 

"You're not fooling anyone, Athena," he said softly, his voice carrying a hint of amusement mixed with something else, something heavier.

Athena shot him a glance, trying to maintain her composure. "And what’s that supposed to mean?" she asked, her tone sharp but laced with a thread of curiosity.

He leaned back slightly, his posture casual, but there was an intensity to his gaze that made her feel like the room was getting smaller. "I think you know exactly what I mean." He paused for a moment, his smirk softening into something almost unreadable. "But maybe you're just too proud to admit it."

Her breath hitched slightly at his words, a mix of frustration and something else tightening in her chest. "You're full of yourself," she muttered, but the words didn’t feel as strong as she wanted them to. Roman's smirk deepened, a knowing glint flickering in his eyes.

"Maybe," he said, his voice lowering, "but I’m right, aren’t I?"

For a moment, they stood in silence, the tension hanging thick between them. Athena tried to look away, but something in his stare held her captive, a pull that made her heart race in a way she wasn’t prepared for.

Before she could respond, he took a step closer, the space between them closing rapidly. "I don't bite, you know," he said with a quiet chuckle. "Unless you want me to."

Her pulse quickened, a mixture of irritation and something more dangerous bubbling to the surface. "You think you're funny?"

His hand brushed against hers as he passed her, his touch barely there, but it sent a jolt of electricity through her. He didn’t look back, but his words lingered in the air.

“Come to mine tomorrow, we can talk shop over dinner.” 

“Absolutely not.” 

Roman just grinned at her hard “no,” like it was a dare instead of a denial. “C’mon, Athena,” he said, voice low and coaxing. “Let me cook for you. One dinner. At my place. Gigi will be asleep by the time you get there.” He leaned closer into the camera, the screen filled with those ridiculous eyes and that cocky mouth, and she hated how much power they had over her.

“I’ll make the steak the way you like it,” he added, like he had any damn business knowing that. Athena narrowed her eyes. “You don’t know how I like my steak.” “I do. Medium rare, cast iron, garlic butter. Simple.” She blinked. “How—” “I pay attention.” His voice was softer now, and it tugged something loose in her chest.

But still— “That’s not the point,” she said quickly. “We have a meeting, Roman. This is business.” “So we’ll talk business,” he said easily. “You help me prep for your interview, I’ll handle dinner. You’re busy, I get it. That’s why I’m making it easy. You don’t have to think, don’t have to get dressed up, don’t even have to wear shoes. Just show up.” Athena bit the inside of her cheek, trying not to show how much she was wavering. “And if I say no?” “I’ll probably still send a car. Might even guilt-trip you with a sad dad text. Maybe a picture of Gigi making her ‘please’ face.” Athena rolled her eyes. “You’re impossible.” Roman smiled. “But charming. Admit it.” “No.” “Admit it just a little.” She exhaled a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding. “Fine. Dinner. Meeting. That’s it.” Roman beamed. “Yes ma’am. I’ll even wear a real shirt this time.” He looked down at his stained white beater with some of Gigi’s spilled gatorade and probably snot as well. “Please do. You looked like you just crawled out of a swamp.” “Still look good though.” Athena glared at him, but her lips twitched. “I’ll see you at seven.” “I’ll be ready.” He paused, then added, “And Athena?” She met his gaze through the screen, the smallest tilt of her head. “I’m really glad you picked up.” She didn’t respond right away, but her face softened. “…So am I.”

The call ended, leaving her staring at her screen in silence. And despite everything—the radio silence, the tension, the frustration—she felt her chest lift, just a little.

Not because he had charmed her. Not because he apologized. But because he showed up, again.

And maybe, just maybe… She wasn’t as alone in this thing as she thought.

Roman stared at the empty screen long after the call ended, the faint echo of Athena’s laugh still bouncing around his head like a melody he didn’t want to forget.

That laugh… it had cracked through the distance between them, just for a second. And God, he’d missed it more than he realized.

He leaned back against the couch, one arm cradling Gigi’s small frame where she dozed on his chest, knocked out from the fever and exhaustion. Her breath was slow and steady now, but Roman had been on edge for two days—up every hour, washing sheets, cleaning up messes, making soothing sounds when she cried. It had been chaotic. And in the middle of it, he’d gone silent.

He hadn’t meant to. But his babygirl commanded nearly all of him and Roman would always happily give it. 

But Athena didn’t deserve radio silence. Not her. Not the woman who carried steel in her spine and grief in her eyes like a secret language only a few would ever understand.

He let his head fall back against the cushion with a low exhale.

There were a lot of beautiful women in his world. Loud, magnetic, carefully crafted illusions that all seemed to blend together the second he left the room.

But not her.

Athena wasn’t just someone you noticed—she was the one you remembered. Not because she demanded it. Not because she tried. But because the second she walked into a room, he didn’t see anyone else.

And more than that—he felt her. Even in silence. Even now.

Roman glanced toward the soft lamp glow spilling across his living room and imagined her here. Her heels kicked off in the entryway. Her face pinched from the weight of her day. Her body stiff from holding too much tension for too damn long. He thought about what he really wanted tomorrow to look like.

Not just a meal. Not just business.

He wanted to cook for her, plate her favorite food—even if he had to Google ten recipes just to get it right. He wanted to sit her down, take off her shoes, and rub her feet while they argued over something dumb on TV. He wanted to learn what movie made her laugh without thinking, what comfort film she watched when she was too exhausted to keep pretending she didn’t need anyone.

He wanted to hear how she liked her tea, if she slept with a fan on, if she always twisted her hair like that when she was thinking.

Because caring for her didn’t feel like a responsibility.

It felt like a privilege.

And yeah, he’d messed up by not calling. He owned that.

But tomorrow… tomorrow he’d make it up to her. With dinner. With quiet care. With small things that added up to something bigger than words.

He glanced down at Gigi, brushing her hair back from her warm forehead. Then he looked back at his phone, thumb hovering over the Notes app.

Athena’s favorite comfort movie – Ask her first thing.

*Foot rub. No arguments. No negotiations. She needs it.

*Something sweet after dinner. Not just dessert. Say what you feel, don’t hide behind charm this time.

Roman smiled softly to himself, locking the screen.

He didn’t just want her in his bed.

He wanted her in his life.

And if tomorrow was the first step to proving that—then he’d make damn sure it counted.

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[torahoes]

(IDOLiSH7) Torao Mido - La'Stiara Rabbit Chat

Please note that I am not a professional translator. If you come across any mistakes, feel free to let me know and I will make the necessary corrections.

Touma Inumaru:

Touma Inumaru: Toraaaa

Touma Inumaru: Remember the other day when we talked about going for a drive soon now that the weather’s getting nicer? I found a day off next week 👍

Torao Mido: What’s this? Are you that eager to go on a drive with me?

Touma Inumaru: Oh, would it be better if it’s not so soon? 🤔 If that’s the case, I guess we can just do it another time

Torao Mido: Huh?

Touma Inumaru: Eh?

Torao Mido: Just say you want to go! You said "soon", so next week is perfect, isn't it!?

Touma Inumaru: So that day works for you!? Why can’t you just say you want to go like a normal person!

Torao Mido: If you want to go, I can join you.

Touma Inumaru: Geez, fine, fine! I really wanna go to the beach with you, Tora! 😆

Touma Inumaru:

Torao Mido: The beach, huh. Not a bad idea

Torao Mido: I know a quiet, peaceful spot in Kamakura that doesn't get many visitors. It’s the perfect place to enjoy the view of the ocean.

Touma Inumaru: That's our Tora! 👍 I wonder if they sell Ramune somewhere near the beach… or maybe it's out of season already?

Torao Mido: Ramune? Like the candy?

Touma Inumaru: Not that kind; I mean the one Haru was drinking the other day!

Torao Mido: Ah, the one he said he received after helping out the neighborhood association with his grandma?

Touma Inumaru: Yup, that! Ever since I saw him drinking it, I’ve been craving it too 😆 Drinking it outdoors just makes it taste even better!

Torao Mido: Why do they have a marble ball inside them?

Touma Inumaru: Huh, good question…

Touma Inumaru: Why do they…? Maybe it's because the clinking sound makes it feel refreshing… or something...?

Torao Mido: Well, it did make a nice sound…

Touma Inumaru: Right? Sometimes they sell bottles without the marble, but it's just not as exciting 🤩

Torao Mido: Can you take the marble out?

Touma Inumaru: Nope, you can’t! When I was a kid, my friends and I tried so hard to get it out~~! Man, this brings back memories! 🤩✨

Torao Mido: I looked it up. Apparently, it's there to seal the bottle and keep the carbonation inside

Touma Inumaru: Is that so?!?! The marble actually has an important job, huh

Touma Inumaru: We’re definitely buying ones that have the marble ball! You’re coming shopping with me, Tora! 👍

Torao Mido: Got it. For food, let’s go to that restaurant you recommended before. That’s in Kamakura too, right?

Touma Inumaru: Sounds good, let’s go!! Their seafood rice bowls are insanely good 🤤

Torao Mido: Is it a ticket machine place?

Torao Mido: I should bring cash too. I’ve learned that many older places often don’t accept cashless payments

Touma Inumaru: Tora~~! You adapt way too fast LOL

Touma Inumaru: Nah, it’s the kind where you just place your order with the sweet old lady there. But you’re right; they only accepted cash 😳

Touma Inumaru: Man, you’ve really settled in, Tora!

Torao Mido: Well, there’s nothing I can’t do.

Touma Inumaru: But still, here you are talking about ticket machines and stuff, yet in "La’Stiara" you were looking all cool and glamorous holding that jewel… it's so unfair! 😆 ‼️

Torao Mido: "La’Stiara" has been close with my family ever since I was a kid, and we've been in their care. I doubt there's anyone better suited for this than me.

Touma Inumaru: Seriously!?

Touma Inumaru: So while I was desperately trying to get the marbles out of Ramune bottles and getting excited about pretty pebbles I found lying around, you were already holding actual jewels… 😳 ‼️

Torao Mido: It’s not like I wanted them. I was just supposed to have such things.

Torao Mido: But

Torao Mido: What kind of “pretty pebbles” are you talking about?

Touma Inumaru: Hmm, well, they don't compare to the jewels we held in our photoshoots, but sometimes you find these really clear and beautifully colored stones just lying around! 😳 ✨

Touma Inumaru: Or even ones that are super smooth and shiny! ✨

Torao Mido: Interesting…..

Touma Inumaru: Wanna go look for some next time!? We can invite Haru and Mina too!

Torao Mido: Think they'll come?

Touma Inumaru: Of course they will!! Stuff like this is fun no matter how old you get! 😆

Torao Mido: Is that so?

Torao Mido: Guess I’ll give it a try then

Touma Inumaru: Awesome! I’m happy I've got even more plans with you guys now 👍

Touma Inumaru: I mean, I never would've imagined this was even possible considering how we used to be!

Torao Mido: Touma, you get emotional about this kind of stuff a lot, huh?

Touma Inumaru: Yeah, but can you blame me?!! 😂 Tora starts liking the stuff we like, Haru eats sweets like they’re the tastiest thing ever right in front of us, and we go to the cool restaurants Mina finds together!

Touma Inumaru: What could possibly be better than this? 😂

Torao Mido: Yeah, maybe you’re right

Torao Mido: I think I get how you feel now, Touma

Torao Mido: I have a feeling the pretty pebbles we find together might be worth more than any jewels.

Touma Inumaru: Tora…

Touma Inumaru: I’m reaaallllyyy looking forward to our drive!!!

Touma Inumaru:

Torao Mido: Yeah. I am too

Torao Mido:

The End.

[userlofyy]

[AKNK] Initial Yuuhan SSR

⚠️ Please note that I am by no means a professional and there may be mistakes/mistranslations along the way.

🚫 DO NOT use my translations for Machine Learning/AI training or repost them anywhere.

優しさに触れて

Touched by Kindness

Episode 1

 - Devil Palace Garden -

One day, a little while after Yuuhan and the others became demon butlers… As I was strolling around the mansion in the morning… I could hear Yuuhan and the others training from the garden.

Yuuhan: Well then… let’s go, Bastien-san.

Bastien: Yeah… Come at me anytime, Yuuhan.

Yuuhan: Bastien-san… I’ve seen your ability many times in previous battles. I don’t know how effective my sword skills will be… As a swordsman… I will stand up to you with all my might.

Lono: Do your best, Yuuhan! Don’t lose to Bastien!

It looks like Yuuhan and Bastien are having a mock battle. Despite the training… There is a tense atmosphere between the two.

Yuuhan: Hah..!

Bastien: !! He’s fast…!

Yuuhan was the first to move. Just when he closed the distance in a low stance…

he launches attacks over and over again at a speed you can’t even notice. His supple movements were beautiful, like a dance.

Yuuhan: *pant*… *pant*… As expected of Bastien-san. I can’t believe you evaded all of my attacks…

Bastien: I’m used to fighting opponents who push me with their moves since I often train with Lono. Well then… I’ll go first this time.

Yuuhan: Alright… Don’t hold back, Bastien-san.

Lono: Go Yuuhan! I’m sure you’ll win!

After that. a back-and-forth battle continued for a while, but… Yuuhan, who was tired of attacking, runs out of energy first… In the end, the battle ended with Bastien’s victory.

Yuuhan: *pant*… *pant*… As expected, it's hard to match… I knew that, but… The difference in ability is obvious.

Bastien: No… that’s not true. After blocking the first attack… The timing for the second one was deliberately different, right? Honestly, that made me nervous. I never thought you could imitate such dexterity in battle… I really can’t do that. It’s part of Yuuhan’s natural talent.

Yuuhan: Hehe… Even if someone who sees through this tells you, it will only make you lose your confidence.

Aruji: Both of you were amazing!

Yuuhan: Arijusama? Were you watching…? I apologize for showing my unreliable side.

Lono: That’s nonsense. If it’s Yuuhan, you can become even stronger if you train!

Yuuhan: Thank you. Of course, that’s my intention. I can stay calm even if I keep losing… I’m not the type of person to give up.

Lono: Oohhh… You’re surprisingly competitive, Yuuhan. Yuuhan: Yes. Was that surprising? In addition… I have to become stronger… So that I can protect my loved ones.

Aruji: Yuuhan…

Yuuhan: Oops… That reminds me, Berrien-san called for me. Well then, arujisama. Please excuse me.

Yuuhan bowed to me and returned to the mansion.

Bastien: …I’m worried. About Yuuhan.

Aruji: Eh, why?

Bastien: After crossing swords with him I felt that his sword doesn’t have enough leeway. Somehow I understand that… because that was how I used to be…

Lono: Hmmm… Well, it certainly does feel like that. He looks calm, but I feel like he’s in a bit of a rush… He just became a demon butler… I guess he’s thinking about a lot of things… Yuuhan seems to have a strong sense of responsibility…

Bastien: Yeah, it seems like it. He is pushing himself too hard… I hope he doesn’t end up like me…

Aruji: Like Bastien…

I got worried about Yuuhan, while listening to their conversation… We overcame all kinds of hardships, and we were finally able to become friends… I didn’t want to lose Yuuhan. With that thought in mind… I started thinking about the ways to help him.

The next day… I invited Yuuhan out… The two of us had come to Espoir.

Aruji: We arrived, Yuuhan.

 - Central Earth Espoir -

Yuuhan: Y-yeah… It seems so, arujisama. But… Why did arujisama choose me alone to be his companion…? I’m embarrassed to say that I don’t know much about the geography of Espoir… I wonder if I can guide arujisama well…

Aruji: Today I will be the one guiding you

Yuuhan: Eh? Arujisama will guide me…? Um… I apologize, arujisama I’m a little confused… What do those words mean?

Aruji: I thought it would be nice to take a breather

Yuuhan: Was it for me…? …Is that so…

Aruji: Maybe, was it meddlesome?

Yuuhan: No. Not at all. It… I was just confused. To have someone you serve care for you like this… It’s not something that I have experienced before.

Aruji: I want to become friends with Yuhan.

Yuhan: Arujisama… Thank you very much. Those words… make me feel very happy. If you would forgive me… I think I too want to get closer to arujisama.

Aruji: Then let’s take a walk together.

Yuuhan: Yes. Understood, arujisama. Hehe… Actually, I’ve always wanted to take a walk around this city someday. What is the culture of the central land like? I’m really looking forward to it.

･──✽──୨୧──✽──･

Episode 2

After that.. Yuuhan and I strolled around town for a while… We decided to go to a cafe along the street and take a break on the open terrace. After ordering all the food… Yuuhan who was sitting next to me. spoke to me in a low voice.

Yuuhan: I apologize, arujisama… We ended up sitting together like this. Normally, it would be impossible for a butler to be sitting with the lord…

Aruji: I want to be with Yuuhan.

Yuuhan: A-arujisama… It would be rude to decline your request after you have expressed it to such an extent… Thank you arujisama for the kind words…

Aruji: I’m glad we can spend time together.

Yuuhan: I feel the same way. Just… I have to be careful to not make it too noticeable.

Aruji: [Unnoticeable?] [Why?]

Yuuhan: Under the instructions from Berrien-san…  In the city, he said to not stand out as a butler. Because if the people around us knew that I am a demon butler… It might cause unnecessary trouble…

Aruji: There are people that would say terrible things

Yuuhan: I wouldn’t mind what they say, but… It would be terrible if something happened to arujisama. If anything happens, I will protect you… please do not worry.

Aruji: Thank you, Yuuhan.

Yuuhan: Hmmm… Even so… I never expected I would be having a meal with arujisama. I hope I can do it properly.

Aruji: What do you mean?

Yuuhan: E-eh… Actually…

Waiter: Sorry for the wait. Here is the seafood pizza and spaghetti soup.

Delicious looking dishes are lined up on the table. But when I look at Yuuhan… He looked nervous as he watched the food.

Aruji: Yuuhan, what’s wrong?

Yuuhan: R-right… actually… The table manners’ class… I haven’t finished it.

Aruji: Eh?

Yuuhan: That… In the eastern lands, people always used chopsticks. For example, this spaghetti soup… When I was in the eastern lands… We would use chopsticks and slurp it like soba noodles.

Aruji: I-is that so…

Yuuhan: Yes… However, right now I am arujisama’s butler. I have to maintain good manners so as not to embarrass arujisama. Hmmm… In this case… Using a spoon and fork, like this… Well… In this case it was held in the wrong hand. I-I apologize. One more time…

With that said, Yuuhan begins to use the tableware with stumbling steps His appearance was different from his usual relaxed demeanor… It was somewhat of a delightful feeling.

Yuuhan: Ugh… This is surprisingly difficult. If this was the case… I should have taken more etiquette classes than just sword training.

Aruji: You don’t have to be so stiff.

Yuuhan: Y-yes. I’m sorry, arujisama.

Drunk man: Arujisama, you say?

Then, a man walking down the street suddenly turned towards us. While looking closely at my face…

He started walking towards me, as if he noticed something.

Drunk man: *hic* I thought you looked like I had seen you somewhere… I’m pretty sure you are… The one called “lord” to the demon butlers?

Aruji: U-um…

When I was confused as he suddenly talked to me… Yuuhan stood up and stood in front of the man.

Yuuhan: Wait there. I will not tolerate any further disturbance to my lord. If you have something to say… I will be the one to listen to it.

Drunk man: Hah? What are you? ‘My lord’  means… Are you also a demon butler? *clicks tongue* always walking around with a butler like a guard dog…  Without these guys, can’t you even go out alone?!

Yuuhan:....... Shut up, bastard.

Drunk man: Ha..!!

Aruji: Yu-yuuhan…?

At that time, from Yuuhan’s mouth… A cold and intimidating voice that I had never heard before was uttered. He was glaring at his opponent with sharp, piercing eyes. Due to Yuuhan’s intimidation… The man froze in place, like a frog being glared at by a snake.

Yuuhan: If he was swearing at me, I would have just ignored it as drunken nonsense. But… I will not allow you to insult arujisama. Shall I chop off your head so you can never speak in such disrespectful manner again?

Drunk man: HIiiiii…! The moment Yuuhan placed his hand on the hilt of his sword… The man turned pale and ran away at once. After seeing him off… Yuuhan returned with his usual gentle smile.

Yuhan: Huh.. Please excuse me, arujisama. Normally, I would have gotten rid of people like that before they would have gotten close… Now that I am a demon butler… I cannot afford to damage arujisama’s reputation by recklessly resorting to violence. As a result, I have made arujisama feel uncomfortable. I’m sorry this had happened while I was by your side.

Yuuhan bows his head deeply. However, I was actually impressed that Yuuhan had put that much thought into it. In order to not make the problem worse, he deliberately pretended to get angry and threatened the other party.

Aruji: I thought you were really angry

Yuuhan: Eh? W-well…

Aruji: Huh? Was I wrong?

Yuuhan: Let’s see… To tell you the truth… I don’t even know to what extent my anger from earlier was an act… Arujisama who took me out into the city, for me, was being talked badly about like that… I couldn’t help but get emotional… Even the threats became more powerful. If it was me before… I never got angry because of my master, but…

Yuuhan seems confused by the emotions that rose inside him.

But to me… The fact he was angry for me made me feel happy.

Aruji: I guess we’ve become a little closer…?

Yuuhan: Arujisama… Hehe… that’s right. Everytime I feel arujisama’s kindness I strongly feel that I want to do more for this person…

Aruji: But forced training is no good, okay?

Yuuhan: Yes, I understand. If arujisama says so… I will never push myself too hard.

Aruji: Really?

Yuuhan: Of course. I am your butler. If arujisama commands it, I will obey it. Hehe.. Even so… Arujisama who gives such nice commands… is a really kind person [Name]-san is my lord… I am really grateful.

Aruji: I-isn’t that too much praise…?

Yuuhan: No. I’m just stating facts. I will never lie to arujisama. Because… I am arujisama’s butler.

[mierulii]

˚*  ੈ✩‧₊ Charon's (Translated) Bio

I was reading through the dppt documents and came across Charon's bio among a few other platinum characters and some interesting diagrams.

I wanted to focus on Charon's in particular though because I found some tidbits interesting! Please do read more if you're interested―

(Keep in mind though that I'm relying on a machine translation as I am not fluent enough, I also tried to make sense of some shakier translations by adding additional context/alterations, those will be in blue. Please do not view this as a professional translation, I really just want to share what I find and learn as I go.)

please click on the image for better viewing!

* Meiōsei (冥王星) refers to the dwarf planet's Japanese name btw^^

A lot of the character bios in the documents list the Japanese pronouns they use to refer to themselves and others, Charon uses the following:

* "washi" is used by older men and is often (stereotypically) used in fictional/western dialects to denote characters of old age. Apparently this pronoun isn't very common anymore. * "watashi" is a more common pronoun but he rarely uses this. It's also used mostly by women but (supposedly) can come across as stiff when used by males in a casual context.

The second-person pronouns are where it gets interesting, but I'm not sure if one or the other isn't used or if both are unused in JP versions of Platinum.

* "onushi" which literally means "Master", is an archaic pronoun used by samurai and elders when speaking to people of equal or lower rank which seems fine, but reading a bit more into it, this could be seen as a turn of phrase that comes off as rude? Like maybe Charon would use this to talk down to others in a sort-of condescending manner. * "sonata" is a mesial deictic pronoun, so this was used in previous eras as a lightly respectful one but not so much anymore. What makes it interesting is that when used now, it carries a pompous and old-fashioned tone when used in speaking to inferiors (which in this context could be the grunts or maybe the other commanders and even Cyrus if we're going by the age differences.)

Again, while these second-person pronouns may not have been used if we're going by the translation in the bio, it does make sense for Charon considering the way he speaks to the other Team Galactic members in-game and why many of them are visibly put-off, even more so when we remember that he only recently joined Galactic and is the most junior among his fellow commanders.

This part's a bit more ramble-y (and mildly speculative) mainly because it's got me thinking a lot about his presence in-game and how it ties with his bio.

We now know why we don't fight him story-wise. He's a novice when it comes to battling, which also explains why he only ever seems to accompany the other commanders throughout the main story and has grunts do the dirty work for him in the post-game's Stark Mountain. (We can also say that it's mainly because he's old and just a scientist, but that didn't stop the other scientists in the HQ from engaging the player in a fight, what more for trainers like Spenser and Drayden who are 88 and 69 years old respectively? Surely even a spry, young...71 year old can pick up a pokeball if they wanted.)

On the topic of his motivations, we're all very much aware of his love for money, but the bio also makes mention of a philosophy regarding happiness being tied to science along with the distortion of this through greed. Of course, both Pokespe and DPA focus on and highlight his greed and need for control through capturing legendary pokemon or usurping Cyrus. Or both. We also see this in-game. However, If we go by the anime, Charon seems less invested in his boss's goals and more on the scientific discoveries to be made in pursuit of said ambitions. While his greed and backhandedness is on the spotlight for most of his appearances, we do get glimpses of another side to him where he does show some genuine interest in whatever he is immersed in, such as the Valley Windworks mission where he comments on the electricity he and Mars had stolen or even the Mysterious Notebook he authored (NOT the Old Notebook, mind you), where he goes over his "findings" on Rotom. Make no mistake, it's all done in the name of getting all the credit for its discovery, but it does say a lot that he's willing to do extra/extensive research on Rotom beyond what he "found". With the bio in mind, I wonder if the belief he carried was always distorted or if it somehow came to be that way down the line and that he used to be more into it for the knowledge and discovery in the past rather than for personal gain/profit.

This is the part I wanted to go over the most, but it'll also be the most speculative one because there are still pieces to the puzzle that are missing buuuuuut―

So it's very much established in both Platinum and his bio in the design document that Charon is amoral enough to steal and plagiarize for his personal gain; the latter mentioning that it wasn't just research papers, but inventions as well. The Mysterious Notebook is what makes this interesting, because Charon writes the following at the beginning and end of the entry:

With this in mind, it brings into question just how and where he acquired information on Rotom in the first place before he added in his own tests and findings. Pure chance is a stretch to be sure, there is only one Rotom in-game and only one other account of its existence, The Old Notebook. So now the question isn't a matter of where and how, but from whom. After all, why would he need to "keep his research a secret" to "ensure he gets all the credit" if he was the original author? Another thing that the bio establishes is that Charon judges people based on how useful they are to him, and in Platinum, he has (somewhat indirectly) mentioned his reasons for joining Team Galactic in the first place:

What I'm getting at here is that Charon determined it was in his best interest to join Team Galactic because he figured that with the resources at his disposal as a commander along with his boss's ambitions, he would have a lot to gain from doing so. And now that we also know of his penchant for the theft of anything related to his field, who among the ranks of the organization is the most useful to him in terms of both the means and the ends? His boss. Cyrus.

Whose to say that Charon hadn't tried to steal anything from him? Platinum had also gone out of its way to establish that Cyrus possessed a knack for tinkering along with a keen intellect from the times the player interacted with him along with supplementary information from certain objects and accounts from NPCs:

Fellow staff and scientists aside, Charon's best bet for finding something worth plagiarizing and stealing would be his own superior's works. Suddenly, Rotom's Room being where it is makes sense, it's far from the main HQ on the other side of the region in a backwater town where there aren't a lot of staff nor grunts posted. Even with his junior standing, Charon still most likely held some form of authority and could pull a few strings to either build or repurpose a spare room just to stash his haul away from Cyrus's eyes. (Or at least, as far away from it as he could manage.) And despite the lack of concrete, definitive confirmation, it's clear that the Old Notebook's entries were written in a way that did not reflect Charon's own manner of speech and writing; especially when taken into account that it was written long ago by a child with an unusually advanced vocabulary and stiff formality in tone. There really is only one person who would fit the child's description perfectly. We all already know/have an idea of who this is of course, but it's an interesting thought nonetheless; how Charon managed to get his hands on something that should never have reached him.

This is all just speculation, though! But if you made it this far, thank you for reading.

I'd love to see people talk about Charon a little more since he's honestly the most neglected (and forgotten!) commander, but surprisingly amusing and refreshing to see him stick out as a more Team Rocket-esque villain rather than how the rest of his colleagues act and present themselves.

If I made any errors with the translations, feel free to clarify or make additional remarks.

Also it's 10 in the morning and I haven't slept at all since yesterday. Help.

[clegfly]

Woo, it’s about time I made one of these… *cracks knuckles*

MORE ABOUT ME!!!!

HIIII!!!! My name is clegfly, or just cleg!!!! I’m an artist/ writer / professional paint drying critic/j. I’m just a silly person doing silly things, don’t mind me. I use they/them pronouns and I am aroace!!!

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BULLET POINTS BULLET POINTS BULLET POI

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That goes for bacon too

JELLYYYYYYYYYY!!!!1!1!1!

Why are these all foods what else do I like uhhhh

Warm. And cosy bed. And fire. And all that stuff

OLD COMPUTER AESTHETIC!!!!!! N64!!! WINDOWS XP!!!! ALL THAT SHIT

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Okay now this is too long

Oops

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JELLYFISH JELLYFISH JELLYFISH

The ocean full stop actually

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IS BREA LIOM GAEILGE!!!1!1!2!!1

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anything on my DNI >:((((

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All day every day, baby.

MAINS

OMORI- main interest as apparent by one peek at my blog… The brainrot is immeasurable and everlasting. Send help. It’s been almost four years. I love this game, its characters, story, EVERYTHING so fucking much. I’m like a billion pounds in debt to it also. I will be homeless but at least I will have my big ass heromari collection.

PMMM/ Madoka Magica- my favourite show! Consisting purely of sparkles and sunshine!!!! Why are you crying??? I’m sure not!!!!

DDLC/ Doki Doki Literature Club- another favourite of mine!!! I see a well-written cast of characters I deeply relate to go through extreme horrific horror beyond any of their comprehensions and I’m SOLD!!!

Coraline- the horrors are all consuming, but at least it’s both a visual and extremely well-written treat!!!!

TADC/ the amazing digital circus- won’t lie, watched this show when the pilot dropped and LOVED it, but forgot about it after a while as it didn’t stick with me. Then episode three came out and I’m now reduced to a blubbering mess whose brain is now significantly comprised of two fictional chess pieces. What happened? I don’t know. Send even more help.

LITTLE GUYS THAT HURT MY BRAIN SOMETIMES

Petscop

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BSD

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Hawaii: Part II

SUBJECT TO CHANGE BECAUSE IM PROBABLY FORGETTING LIKE 20 AND ALSO HAVE LIKE 20 STILL TO DISCOVER

HOBBIES?!2!2!

Ya!!!! :D

Art

The main thing I do on my silly little page!!

…in which the art is mostly unfinished doodles… but that’s okay!!!! We ball anyway

YOU CAN SEND THE CLEG REQUESTS!!!!! ALL DAY ANY DAY UNLESS I SAY OTHERWISE!!!! Do not expect premium quality though lmao. (And also nothing related to DNI. Shouldn’t have to say this but. Uh. Yeah)

You cannot yet commission the cleg :(

you can view all of my art via the my art tag on my blog!!!!! most of it should be there :)

Writing

Currently on a writing hiatus and have been for a little while (5 MONRHS WHAT) but… i do!!!! That!!!! Aka I write fan fiction AGH

Mostly. Heromari stuff. Actually all heromari stuff. I think I have one fic that isn’t heromari and it’s one I co-authored I love them your honour…

Yeah

DNI

Bit of a bummer, but I gotta set my boundaries to keep the riff-raff out!! That being said, do NOT interact with my blog whatsoever if you:

Are a shotacon, lolicon, pedo, etc etc etc. (yucky. Yuck yuck yuck. Fuck off)

Are a proshipper

Are homophobic

Are transphobic

Are aphobic/ arophobic (why. Why are you even still here)

Queerphobic in general actually get OUT!!!!

Actively shit on any of my main interests. Like ACTIVELY go out of your way to tell me how bad it is (what. What is the point. Just go)

NSFW is on thin ice but I will likely just block the tag if you post about it so it doesn’t really bother me!!... however PLEASE keep it away from me I am very sex repulsed and WILL block you ON SIGHT!!!

Are racist/ xenophobic

There is likely LOTS more I’m forgetting so I will update this later… also just saying I reserve the right to block ANYONE no matter if you fit into this criteria or not. If I don’t vibe with you I will politely block you and look the other way!!! No theatrics required, I just want to curate my experience and NOT cause needless conflict hsjshshsh…

Anyway with all the negative stuff out of the way… I really hope you enjoy my blog!!! I’m just here to have fun honestly and express my ideas and passions and work on a little page of the internet so!!!! Hope you have fun too!!!! :D

[xenocorner]

(If you're someone who enjoys my work, and also happens to like/support AI generated images, please give this a read? Just hear me out, please. This is not a bashing post, I promise. It's not pro-ai either though. But please hear me out)

This whole AI art stuff is just getting... Honestly exhausting. If you are someone who supports AI generated images, I beg of you, hear me out? I'm not here to bash, to say you're a bad person or a thief. I know it's more complex than that. I'm just, trying to express how I feel about this whole ordeal. I'm not here to get angry either. I don't have the energy for that. I'm also not trying to change your mind. Just, hopefully help you see/feel a different perspective? That's all.

Long rant under the cut because. There's a lot.

I'm not even angry anymore. I don't have the energy for that. But I keep seeing AI images all over, everywhere. The thing is getting better (because of course it is). And I see more and more people support it. And sometimes those people are also artists or people who like art and support artists.

And then I also see artists be laid off. I see how it gets harder and harder to make a break in the industry. And even after you make it you get laid off because... People don't wanna bother with it anymore. Corps would rather cut costs.

And then I see people defend AI images. Say it's okay, that it isn't stealing from artists, that it is just a tool, ignoring a huge part of the problem (whether willfully or not).

And it just makes me so incredibly sad. So utterly devastated.

I was angry. I really used to be angry. I'm just hurt now. Hopeless for the future. And tired. Really really damn tired.

Tired of artists having to justify their existance in the professional world. Tired of people just saying... No.

No, you don't get to thrive. And you're selfish and entitled for wanting to thrive. No, you don't get to feel hurt when your work gets scrapped without your permission to feed a data base designed to replace you. No, you don't get a say in this. Don't like? Bohoo, don't see.

Well, how can I not see when this issue directly affects how I live? How can I not see when this issue affects my future? It's not just a matter of "Don't like x kind of content, don't interact with it". It really is not. I really wish it was, I wish it was that simple. But it's not. Because this is not something like a ship or a trope that one can ignore and not be affected. This is like trying to ignore a dumpster fire in your neighborhood. Yeah, you can avoid looking at it. You can avoid talking about it. But the smoke is still getting into your house. You're still breathing it. It's still hurting you. It will have effects on your life, whether you like it or not.

I threw away 12 years of my life building up my skill to work in a field that feels like it's dying out. Am I (and countless other artists) just supposed to start over? How? Time is unforgiving.

Bohoo for your bad choices, suck it up. Your fault for pursuing art as a career.

Was I supposed to just, KNOW, somehow, that the career I choose, that used to be viable, would just... Take this turn? Was I supposed to have a 10 year look into the the future?

You should create for the joy of creating!

I do. I love creating. I love making people happy with my work. Work I spent years perfecting. It's the most beautiful feeling in the world to know that someone smiled or cried or felt something because of something I did. It makes me smile and cry too.

But I also like to be able to eat. To have a roof. To pay for my meds. And the joy of creating honestly dwindles each time I see people talk about AI images the same way they talk about a painting in the Louvure.

Becaus they do. I've seen people talk about images generated by a machine (built upon stealing artwork from unconsenting artists) like they're the work of God. And they write such beautiful things too. And I'm left baffled, confused, uneasy.

And then I go to see artists, living, breathing, feeling artists, who create marvelous pieces, who pour their heart into their work, who shed sweat blood and tears to get their skills to where they are, who are still shedding sweat blood and tears to keep improving... And they don't even get a 'nice'. They've been job searching for 3 years. They can't get a steady flow of commissions. They're scrambling to be able to get a table at a con.

And it hurts to my very core.

It hurts in a place I don't even know how to describe, because it's so deep and so personal and so raw that I don't think there's a name for it.

I love art. I love it so damn much. I love making it, I love sharing it, I love teaching it.

I think many other people love art too. I think many other people who love art don't even consciously realize they do.

And it hurts seeing art just... Become this.

It hurts seeing the artistic souls of this earth be pushed down and down again and again over and over and be told to just. To just suck it up.

To die off.

Because when people support AI images, they are telling us to die off. It feels like they are telling us to die off.

And I don't think the people who do realize it at all, because a lot of people who support AI images are not bad people. They are not. They enjoy art too. But they are, consiously or not, directly or indirectly, hurting the artists whose work made the data base AI generators use possible.

They're telling us to die off because they already have our work. And they can use it to generate new, regurgitated work faster, cheaper. They don't need us. So while they may like what us, artists, do, they're feeding a system that is killing us off. Both metaphorically and literally. Metaphorically by killing the will to create. Literally by taking our living off of us (or at least to those who's art is their living. Like myself).

And again.

It hurts so damn much.

And I don't think a lot of people manage to see the hurt past all the anger.

I, personally, have grown exhausted and there's no anger left in me, only sad and hurt.

But I promise you, behind every angry and fighting and barking and bitting artists there is out there, there's hurt. There's some form of hurt behind each and every one of them. Of us.

I really hope this reaches the right people. Whether that be a fellow artists struggling to get their feelings into words to let them know they're not alone. Or someone who supports AI images, and supports artists too, and can maybe get a glimpse into a side of this whole issue. Not necessarily to change their mind but, maybe help them understand better where all the anger from artists may be coming from.

Please, I'm not here to start any fights or debates. I really am not. I just need to get this sort of thing out there, because I think talking about it is important.

[mika-shion]

Thoughts on the aftermath...

As much as I've tried to fight it, I've found myself reverting to a mindset of secrecy. Not online, but in public.

I came out in 2017 to my friends, 2018 to my family, and a little less than a year after, got started on HRT. Since then I have had the privilege to do almost anything but hide who I am... 

Now we're coming to a point where that's likely to be taken away, for so many of you, it already has. For a few more, you never even got that privilege. 

I stand here now, with 6-8 years of mixed experience in being authentic to who I think I am, having a massive club of anger, fear, and resentment towards how my trans siblings have been, currently are being, and will be treated...

I stand here with a burning desire to smash and destroy in their name, lash out at the people and forces limiting us, and no clear plan of attack. I'll be honest, even if I did have a plan, I'm far too spent from simply feeling what I feel to act on most of it.

Taking action has always been difficult for me for a number of reasons, and while I want, or feel as though I need that to change, I'm barely sustaining myself. The best I can hope to do in my current situation is work to balance on my siblings shoulders while we slowly limp to the next checkpoint... and even that I feel like I do poorly. 

While I'm aware it looks somewhat different from most experiences right now, I'm struggling with the recent changes in my home country as well. 

I'm not good at being a leader, not yet anyway. But what I can do is attempt to give y'all a little hope. Keep your spirits up. 

And I know, so many of us still need to grieve right now, that's okay! You're allowed to. In fact I'm encouraging that, take time for yourself however you need to. I'm only asking you for one thing:

Stay.

Those who know me know what type of demons I've been struggling with, so I know there's a lot of folks who are thinking what I was - but it's not time for that. 

Us staying around is the biggest "FUCK you" we can throw at these shit-heels right now. Stay and refuse to change. 

Give up and sit in your corner for a while if you really have to, but please don't leave. Do everything you can to stay out of that space. Talk to friends and family, play games, eat or drink your fav things, play with yours or someone else's pets, look at beautiful pictures of the things that make/made you happy. But do NOT go there. 

I've wanted to so so SO badly the past few days. The two days since hearing election results have felt like a week on their own. But I know I owe myself more than that, just as you owe yourselves. 

If anyone has any resources for this, please send them to me and I'll add them onto this post. For now, I've got this, and my DMs are open. I'll do what I can, but I'm not a machine or professional, so resources would be appreciated.

Please take care, know that you are loved and wanted by so many, despite what you may hear, and we will find a way forward - together.

[the-tmnt-ficfinder]

Heya! I hope you are doing well and are taking care of yourself. Please do not feel bad about feeling unmotivated right now, it is okay if you need to take a break and unwind, not only from the blog but also anything else if you need to. Breaks and rest are important!

These two questions caught my eye because I use music a lot to keep me grounded. So, I am a little curious about 31 and 34.

Aw thank you!! I am making sure to take good care of myself (even if it is frustrating to actually have to sleep a decent amount of hours lol). I'm really only having a bit of burnout with this blog right now, and luckily not anything else. I've actually been on a bit of an art streak lately, so that's been nice!! Thank you for the kind words ^^ <3

31. What type of music keeps you grounded?

To be honest, comfort music/comfort artists. I love a wide variety of songs, but if I'm really struggling, I always default to my Alan Walker exclusive playlist (cause he's my favorite music artist ^^), or my number one comfort song, Not Ok by Robert Grace. Aside from that, I usually go for music that suits my moods best. Lately, I've really been enjoying wild and fast paced Hyperpop songs^^

34. is there a song you know every word to by heart?

I do!! I know a lot of songs, as I'm big on singing (not professionally though, I's all for fun) so here's two that I feel are worthwhile mentioning for this question. Not Ok by Robert Grace. As I said earlier, this song is a MAJOR comfort song to me, and it got me through all of 2024. It came out February last year, and from then to the next year, I had almost 700 listens on it. So uh, that really helped with the memorization lol. The second one is a little cringe, but I am still proud of it lol. When I was younger, I was a HUGE Bendy and the Ink Machine fan. It was all I thought about. So naturally, I completely memorized Build Our Machine, by DAGames. I'm not kidding, I memorized that song like 8 years ago, and I still know the entire thing XD

Anyways, those are my answers, thank you for asking!!

Ask Game Questions

[starvity]

hi! i really like you work🥺 if reqs aren’t open ignore this but if they are could i please request a taeyoung vity fluff? maybe something like MC’ing with his crush or something! ty and have a good one❤️‍🩹

— ☆ mc'ing with crush!taeyoung

idol gn!reader x cravity taeyoung

genre: fluff, idol!au // warnings: mutual crushing!! who cheered?! just taeyoung being a flirt, did i forget anything...?

author’s note: thank you sooo much!! <3 took me a moment to get inspired for this one but it was so fun to write!! i'm so sane and normal about taeyoung like, that did not make me delusional at all... (★ω★)/ [requested♡]

you let out a sigh of relief as your promotions for your new album have ended after 3 weeks. the past few months have been particularly tiring for you ; you had to prepare for your comeback while being on tour and record the tracks and film the music video as soon as you were back in seoul.

you were so happy to finally be able to rest as your company announced a two-week break for your group after your hectic schedule. unfortunately (or not), you were offered a 6-month contract to host 'after school club' every tuesday!

you show the staff a mixed facial expression at the sudden news. you knew this was a good opportunity to get your group known, especially since your last title track got popular. but that also meant that you were unable to go back to see your family for the holidays. suddenly, something sparked your interest as they were explaining you what the job consisted of ; "who am i going to work with?". you’ve been training alone for quite a long time, seeing all your friends debut before you, so you thought that it wouldn’t be too bad to make some new friends in the industry. "taeyoung from cravity will be working with you, you will get to meet him next week."

friends, you said? you nod at the staff, finding it difficult to hide the light tint of pink creeping up your cheeks. taeyoung and you had in fact already met, without your company knowing about it. you were promoting your debut album on music shows at the same time and randomly met in the hallways. it was still really early in the morning and all of your other teammates were sleeping in the waiting room. you decided to go get a drink from the vending machine just outside the door when you ran into him. he smiled shyly, two cinnamoroll pins still in his hair as he had probably gotten his makeup done just now. he suddenly bowed down, greeting you "hello, i’m taeyoung from cravity". you bowed back and smiled, hinting with your eyes that you were waiting to get yourself a drink. "can i get you something, i accidentally took too much money." what a weird request, you thought. if he has too much money, can't he just keep it for next time? you don’t know why but you found his question quite endearing and accepted the offer.

finally, the live broadcast for your first appearance as a mc is starting in 2 hours. you try to calm yourself down during rehearsal so you can appear as relaxed as possible on camera. however, that was not an easy task since you could basically feel taeyoung’s knee graze against yours when you were sitting together on the sofa, reviewing the ments for today. he was close enough for you to hear his soft breathing and smell his cologne. "you seem to be quite distracted today. nervous?" he asks softly. without you knowing, taeyoung and you have become quite close, close enough for him to notice when your vibe is slightly off. you sigh "i really don’t want to mess this up." he chuckles, "i’m sure you’ll do great. we’ll do great!" he pats your thigh reassuringly. god, was he trying to make you less nervous? while looking at you with such eyes? you had promised yourself to stay as professional as possible with him when you started working together. you didn't want any stupid rumors ruining both of your new careers. but when you see how his eyes shift to your lips with a small grin growing on his face, you wonder ; does he feel the same way about me?

the show went much better than you expected. you happily thank the staff and head back to the waiting room. "you did great taeyoung! i think you're going to gain a lot of fans." you giggle, taking a sip of water and finally feeling your nervousness disappear. "are you not afraid of me stealing yours?" he asks jokingly but with a somehow serious face and you take notice of the abrupt silence that had settled in the room, as you two were alone. he then turns his phone screen towards you, showing how both your names were trending on twitter. you click on the hashtags out of curiosity and suddenly feel your whole face heat up when you see what the netizens were talking about. "first day on the job and people are already shipping us" taeyoung laughs while you were hiding behind your hands, unable to look at him. a few seconds pass and you feel a pair of warm hands coming to rest on top of yours before forcing them off your face. as you open your eyes, you see that taeyoung is standing ridiculously close to you with a stupid smirk painted on his face. "if we kiss now, how many months do you think it'll take for them to find out?" he blurts out, his eyes serious and teasing. "can you keep a secret?"

[xxstorywriterxx]

Your local barista / Part 1

Larissa Weems x fem reader fanfiction

You´re a barista working at Weathervane. A tall blonde, beautiful woman comes in from time to time to get a coffee and talk to you. She seems nice at first but after a while you find yourself wondering if you could become more than friends?

I was inspired a little by the game "coffee talk". Please enjoy!

Link to following chapter is at the bottom.

Warnings: none

It was 7:30 am and you just opened the cafe. The coffee machine was already running, the main floor was smelling like fresh coffee and you cleaned the tables like every morning. And just like every morning a tall blonde woman opened the door and greeted you with a "Good morning, Darling!" You smiled at her. "Good morning to you too Larissa! Please, take a seat. Would you like a coffee?" Of course she would. You just asked to be polite. "Oh, yes please! Last night was ruff and I need something to keep me awake throughout the day." Larissa Weems placed herself at a table on a window, legs crossed. No other costumer has arrived at the shop so you two were alone. You usally were but it never got easier to be around the tall beauty. Everytime she would visit, you could only admire her. Of course you never told her that. You were a professional and didn´t want to cross any boundaries. "Is that so? What happened? If you want to tell me of course" you said while placing a hot coffee with milk and two spoons of sugar in font of her. "Thank you, Darling! Oh, we have a student at our school who has been causing trouble since they´ve arried non-stop. I love my job but she really makes my blood boil sometimes. I had a meeting with a few other teachers because of her actions last evening and it got pretty late. When I got up this morning I knew, only your coffee could make my day better." She smiled at you. And she looked so lovely while doing so. You felt warmth spreading in your chest. "Well, I´m glad to hear that. And I´m always happy to have you around. Everyday you´re the first customer here and I got really used to having a nice morning chat with you!" You both smiled at each other, happy to have such nice company.

Larissa took a sip of her coffee and closed her eyes while enjoying the taste of it. "Mmh, your coffee really is something else. How do you always ge it to taste this perfect?" You leaned against the seat in front of Larissa while talking to her. "Well, I use overpriced products, put in some cheap sugar and the rest is a secret." You winked at her when you said the last word. Larissa smiled at you with slight reddish cheeks. "Is that so? Well, maybe I get to figure it out one day. Your 'secret'." "Maybe." You smiled back at her with confidence though you felt your tummy going crazy. Larissa continued drinking her coffee and you got behind the counter to refill a jar with cookies. "How long are you shifts usally?" Larissa asked you. She looked at you with her bright blue eyes. You felt your knees shaking a bit. "Because I work in the mornings I get off at around 2 or 3. It really depends wether we have a lot of costumers or not." Larissa nodded and turned back to her coffee. "How long do you work per day? Being a principal must be hard work." You leaned over the counter, looking very confident. Larissa looked at you for a few seconds, then she smiled while she answered. "I don´t really have regular shifts or anything like that. I work all the time. Sometimes a bit more, sometimes a bit less. But taking care of students is my dream job. It doesn´t feel like working most of the time you know? How about you? Do you enjoy being a barista?" She asked with genuine interest. "It is fine most of the time but it´s great when you´re the costumer." You smiled at her with confidence but in your head you were screaming at yourself. You are at work, no flirting! But sometimes you couldn´t handle yourself. Larissa laughed and nodded, then took a last sip from her coffee. She sighed. "Alright. I think I have to leave now. Nevermore needs it´s principal and I sadly finished my coffee already. But it was wonderful. Thank you for the quick chat!" The tall blonde got up from her seat very elegant, stroked over her greenish dress and got to the door. "It was my pleasure. See you tomorrow!" Larissa turned around and blew you an air-kiss before she headed out the door with long graceful steps. You looked after her a bit too long before you got back to work and cleaned the used coffee mug with red lipstick stains on it.

"And, was the blonde goddess in today as well?" Your friend Isaac asked when he picked you up after your shift. He brought you a veggie sandwich and a coke and you were heading to a park bench near the Weatherwane. "Yes, yes she was. And my god. This woman never disappoints me. She always looks... flawless. Like, how does she do it? It´s crazy!" You both chuckled as you sat down. "Man, I wish I could see her one day. The way you talk about her makes me feel like I would faint or something if I would see her." "Well, we can find out right now. There she is." You pointed to the other side of the road. Larissa was leaning against a car, looking at her phone. She looked even prettier than this morning. Seriously, how does she do it? "Oh my god. That´s her?" "Shhh! Isaac, would you shut up? She might hear you!" You blushed and looked away, trying not to raise her attention. At work you had always something to do while talking to her. But outside of work you got really nervous when she was around and tried not to talk to her. You didn´t want to do or say something embarrassing. Isaac on the other hand didn´t seem to care. "Wow, she really is pretty! No wonder you´ve got a huge crush on her!" "I don´t!" You and Isaac looked at each other. He raised his left eyebrow. You chuckled. "Ok, maybe I do. But SHE doesn´t have to know. So. Shut. Up." Isaac laughed and turned away from you to look back at Larissa. Her dress fitted her perfectly and revealed her beautiful curves. Her long and elegant legs were crossed while she leaned her back against the car. Her blonde tide-up hair moved a little while a slight breeze touched it. Her long fingers were typing on her phone. She was beautiful. So, so beautiful. You would give everything just to be with her, you thought to yourself. Just then she turned her head to the left and looked at you. Your heart sank and you felt yourself blush. She smiled a big and bright smile and waved at you. You waved back. You felt so... special. A woman like that recognizing you and even greeting you? It was like winning the lottery. Isaac looked from her to you, back to her. "Aaaand apperantly she has a crush on you as well." You looked at him, shocked. "What? No she does not." "Uhm, yes. She absolutley does. Didn´t you see her face light up when she saw you? And I saw her blush a little, when she saw you looking at her. She definetly has a thing for you." You looked at Larissa who was texting on her phone again, this time with a little smile on her lips. "I... I don´t know. She´s very nice to me, yes. And we chat every morning. But that´s it. She´s just polite." "Oh, yeah? Well, how many people do you know who come into a coffee shop everyday very early, while no other costumer or barista is there? And if anyone would do that, would you think they would do it just because they´re 'polite'? I wouldn’t." You looked away from Larissa and watched a few white puffy clouds on the blue sky. Maybe Isaac was right. You wouldn´t think so either.