#(why did tumblr double the tags I swear I did not do this myself)

[leahthedreamer]

Watching Kaori develop into the current most dominant women’s skater in the field has been incredible.

[sparktober]

Sparktober Bingo 2021!

Back for a new generation: Sparktober Bingo!

Instead of coming up with an Atlantis-specific list of prompts, I compiled a bunch of 2021 -tober prompt lists into one google doc here. (Links to original prompt lists are on the google doc.) Add in a list of Atlantis episodes and...

How to play:

Choose a “flavor” from the prompt sets below the cut, then paste it into this fandom bingo card generator.

Adjust your browser size til it looks right and take a screenshot, or use the html script if you’re familiar with using html on tumblr. Tag @sparktober​ if you want us to reblog it so everyone knows you’re playing!

  Sparktober Bingo Rules:

Complete a row/column, corners, or a blackout of your card by November 1, or not! Update as you go.

All fan-works are allowed: art, edits, fic, meta... bonus points to anyone who picks the “sprinkles” flavor and goes full mid-aughts by filling their bingo cards with 100x100 pixel icons.

You are allowed to pull multiple cards until you get one that inspires you, and you can also go through the prompt list of your choice in advance to pull out squicks or things you absolutely won’t write. I recommend not googling unfamiliar words from your work computer.

Use the prompts liberally! Episode titles can be treated as the episode or as generic prompts (e.g. “Epiphany” can be for an episode-related fic or a prompt for an epiphany of your choice).

  Flavor descriptions:

VANILLA: Gen prompt lists from Fictober, Inktober, Trektober Gen, and Trektober Trek.

CHOCOLATE: Zesty prompt lists from Trektober NSFW, Kinktober, and Whumptober. The multiple-prompts-per-day from Kinktober and Whumptober have been broken into individual prompts.

CANDY CORN: Fall / holiday themed prompts from TUA-tober.

SPRINKLES: Atlantis episode list (in order, in case you only want to copy certain seasons), along with characters and a few Atlantis-specific prompts.

TWIST: All of the above! (You can also manually mix and match different flavors, of course.)

Text blocks to copy into the bingo card generator are below the cut. Enjoy!!

VANILLA

“I need you.”; “You have no proof.”; “I’ve waited for this.”; “Fine, I give up.”; “I’m not saying I told you so…”; “Didn’t we already have this conversation?”; “That could have gone better.”; “This is it, isn’t it?”; “There’s no right side to this.”; “It’s so quiet.”; “I swear, it’s not always like this.”; “You keep me safe.”; “The things you make me do…”; “Your information was wrong.”; “I like that in you.”; “Not this again.”; “I’m with you, you know that.”; “This was not part of the plan.”; “I feel strange.”; “That’s what I’m known for.”; “What did I say?”; “No promises.”; “This time, do what I say.”; “Is this supposed to impress me?”; “Do you know what time it is?”; “I’m sure this has never worked, ever.”; “You could have died!”; “I don’t have to explain myself.”; “Why are we whispering?”; “Don’t ruin this.”; “Take me with you.”; Crystal; Suit; Vessel; Knot; Raven; Spirit; Fan; Watch; Pressure; Pick; Sour; Stuck; Roof; Tick; Helmet; Compass; Collide; Moon; Loop; Sprout; Fuzzy; Open; Leak; Extinct; Splat; Connect; Spark; Crispy; Patch; Slither; Risk; Meet-Cute; Amnesia; Age Difference; Pining; Sick Fic; Fake Relationship; Accidental Meeting; Epistolary; Secret Identity; Historical AU; Nightmares; Monster Hunter; Reunion; Soulmates; At Pride; Angst; Seasons; Fix-It; Coffee Shop; Movie Plot AU; Kid Fic; Actor's Other Crossover Work; OT+; Getting Together; Only One Bed; Pirates; Making Up; Forbidden Relationship; Tattoos; Halloween; Prime Directive; Lower Decks / Background Characters; Away Mission; Ship's Bar; Aliens Made Them Do It; Observation Deck; Crew with Family; Holodeck; Science Crew; Character Survives; Headcanons; Diplomacy; Decontamination; Trek Crossover; Replicator; Worldbuilding; Redshirts; Sex / Love Potion; Medical Crew; Transporters; Medbay; Interspecies Relationship; Mirrorverse; Uniforms; Mutiny; Stranded on a Planet; Rec Room; Academy Era; Second Contact; Command Crew; Off-Duty

  CHOCOLATE

A/B/O; Soft; Anonymous Sex; Penetration with Object/s; Sleeping; Intercrural Sex; Restraints; In/Under Water; Group Sex; First Time; Possessive Behavior; Dry Humping / Grinding; Overstimulation; Roleplay; Rimming; Stretching / Fisting; Power Imbalance; Food Play; Fingering; Body Worship; Sex Work; Voyeurism / Exhibitionism; Safewords; Technology; Oral Sex; Omorashi / Wetting; Crying; Underwear / Lingerie; Friends with Benefits; Pain Kink; Dirty Talk; Trick or Treat; All trussed up and nowhere to go; Talking is overrated; Sticks and stones may break my bones...; Trust fall; I've got red in my ledger; Touch and go; My spidey-sense is tingling; Coughing up a lung; Rumors of my death are greatly exaggerated; Oops, I did it again; Just keep swimming; It'll be fun, they said; That's gonna leave a mark; Under pressure; Feed a cold, starve a fever; On a need-to-know basis; Field care 101; The doctor is in; Just a scratch; Lost & found; That's where the blood's supposed to be; They made me do it; You break it, you buy it; One down, two to go; Hide & Seek; You will go down with this ship; “I'm fine, I prom...”; It's (not) just in your head; All work and no play; Digging your grave; Hurt & Comfort; “You have to let go.”; Garotte; Taunting; “Do you trust me?”; Betrayal; Bruises; Helplessness; Pneumothorax; Presumed Dead; Hospital; Adrift; Torture; “This is gonna suck.”; Crush injuries; Delirium; Recovery; “Please don't move.”; “Now smile for the camera.”; Bitten; Trunk; Bleeding through bandages; Cursed; Auction; Self-induced injuries to escape; Escape; Fallen; Passing out; “Good, you're finally awake.”; “You're still not dead?”; Major character death; Disaster zone; Barbed Wire; Choking; Insults; Taken Hostage; Misunderstanding; Touch Starved; Numbness; Exotic Illness; (Blind) Rage; Flare-Up; Drowning; Made To Watch; Burns; Beaten; Fever Dreams; Scars; Hemorrhage; Doctor Visit; Bleeding; Trapped Under Water; Pressure; Demon; Ransom; Flashback; Flight; Waterfall; Vertigo; Nightmares; Too Weak To Move; Left For Dead; Trauma; Bound; Gagged; “Who Did This To You?”; Pushed; Broken Nose; Hunger; Blindness; “Definitely Just A Cold”; Tears; Ice Chips; Dehydration; Begging; Cauterization; Force; Bees; Aftermath; Dread; Cpr; Stabbing; Solitary Confinement; Blood-Matted Hair; Obsession; Pursuit; Revenge; Hiding; Trap Door; Collapse; Panic; Overworked; Ghosts; Prisoner; Losing Control; Threats; Caning; Mercy; Forgotten; Head Injury; Screaming; Comfort; Self-Sacrifice; Trapped; Near-Death Experience; Regret; Tragedy; Battlefield; Anxiety; Gore; Petplay; Bimbofication; Panties & Lingerie; Bondage; Double Penetration in 2 Holes; Breeding; Humiliation; NTR; Incest; Emeto; Omorashi; Free Use; Crossdressing; Public; Three (or more) some; Daddy & Mommy; Double Penetration in 1 Hole; Distention & Cockbulge; Xenophilia; Shotgunning; Watersports; Pregnancy; Lactation; Waxplay; Grooming; Human Furniture; Feet; Prostituion; MacroMicro; Spanking; Cockwarming; Glory Hole; Somnophilia; Body Modification; Temperature Play; Leather; Size Difference; Sounding; Stockings; Tentacles; Medical Play; Stripping; Orgasm Denial; Master & slave; Scissoring; Titfucking; Frottage; Knifeplay; Formal Wear; Breathplay; Fisting; Pegging; Scat; Beastiality; Fucking Machine; Tickling; Boot Worship; Bukkake; Collaring; Foodplay; Non or dubcon; Feederism; Sensory Deprivation; Oviposition; Clone & Selfcest; Exhibitionism & Voyeurism; Impact Play; Sadomasochism; Bloodplay; Praise Kink; Body Swap; Sweat; Branding; Massage; Role Reversal; Armpit; Masturbation; Inflation; Sex Toys; Burnplay; Menophilia; Stuck in Wall; Deepthroating & Facesitting; Dacryphilia; Hate Sex

  CANDY CORN

Birthday; Sick Day; Autumn; Candles; Plaid / Flannel; Leaf Piles; Sweaters; Baking; Cinnamon; Pumpkin Spice Latte; Carnival; Movie Night; Candy; Graveyard; Black Cats; Goosebumps; Pumpkin; Party; Monster; Ghosts; Witch; Vampire; Traditions; Magic; Mask; Haunted House; Trick; Treat; Costume; Monster Mash; Halloween

  SPRINKLES

Rising Part 1; Rising Part 2; Hide and Seek; Thirty-Eight Minutes; Suspicion; Childhood's End; Poisoning the Well; Underground; Home; The Storm; The Eye; The Defiant One; Hot Zone; Sanctuary; Before I Sleep; The Brotherhood; Letters from Pegasus; The Gift; The Siege Part 1; The Siege Part 2; The Siege Part 3; The Intruder; Runner; Duet; Condemned; Trinity; Instinct; Conversion; Aurora; The Lost Boys; The Hive; Epiphany; Critical Mass; Grace Under Pressure; The Tower; The Long Goodbye; Coup d'Etat; Michael; Inferno; Allies; No Man's Land; Misbegotten; Irresistible; Sateda; Progeny; The Real World; Common Ground; McKay and Mrs. Miller; Phantoms; The Return Part 1; The Return Part 2; Echoes; Irresponsible; Tao of Rodney; The Game; The Ark; Sunday; Submersion; Vengeance; First Strike; Adrift; Lifeline; Reunion; Doppelganger; Travelers; Tabula Rasa; Missing; The Seer; Miller's Crossing; This Mortal Coil; Be All My Sins Remember'd; Spoils of War; Quarantine; Harmony; Outcast; Trio; Midway; The Kindred Part 1; The Kindred Part 2; The Last Man; Search and Rescue; The Seed; Broken Ties; The Daedalus Variations; Ghost in the Machine; The Shrine; Whispers; The Queen; Tracker; First Contact; The Lost Tribe; Outsiders; Inquisition; The Prodigal; Remnants; Brain Storm; Infection; Identity; Vegas; Enemy at the Gate; Ronon Dex; Teyla Emmagan; John Sheppard; Carson Beckett; Elizabeth Weir; Rodney McKay; Jennifer Keller; Samantha Carter; Aiden Ford; Radek Zelenka; Kate Heightmeyer; Evan Lorne; Laura Cadman; Kolya; Chuck; Peter Grodin; Steven Caldwell; Lantea; Ocean; Ancient(s); Richard Woolsey; Athosians; Daedalus; Wraith; Nanites; Asurans; Genii; DHD; SGC; Stargate; Earth; Antarctica; Ascension

 TWIST

“I need you.”; “You have no proof.”; “I’ve waited for this.”; “Fine, I give up.”; “I’m not saying I told you so…”; “Didn’t we already have this conversation?”; “That could have gone better.”; “This is it, isn’t it?”; “There’s no right side to this.”; “It’s so quiet.”; “I swear, it’s not always like this.”; “You keep me safe.”; “The things you make me do…”; “Your information was wrong.”; “I like that in you.”; “Not this again.”; “I’m with you, you know that.”; “This was not part of the plan.”; “I feel strange.”; “That’s what I’m known for.”; “What did I say?”; “No promises.”; “This time, do what I say.”; “Is this supposed to impress me?”; “Do you know what time it is?”; “I’m sure this has never worked, ever.”; “You could have died!”; “I don’t have to explain myself.”; “Why are we whispering?”; “Don’t ruin this.”; “Take me with you.”; Crystal; Suit; Vessel; Knot; Raven; Spirit; Fan; Watch; Pressure; Pick; Sour; Stuck; Roof; Tick; Helmet; Compass; Collide; Moon; Loop; Sprout; Fuzzy; Open; Leak; Extinct; Splat; Connect; Spark; Crispy; Patch; Slither; Risk; Meet-Cute; Amnesia; Age Difference; Pining; Sick Fic; Fake Relationship; Accidental Meeting; Epistolary; Secret Identity; Historical AU; Nightmares; Monster Hunter; A/B/O; Reunion; Soulmates; At Pride; Angst; Seasons; Fix-It; Coffee Shop; Movie Plot AU; Kid Fic; Actor's Other Crossover Work; OT+; Getting Together; Only One Bed; Pirates; Making Up; Forbidden Relationship; Tattoos; Halloween; Prime Directive; Lower Decks / Background Characters; Away Mission; Ship's Bar; Aliens Made Them Do It; Observation Deck; Crew with Family; Holodeck; Science Crew; Character Survives; Headcanons; Diplomacy; Decontamination; Trek Crossover; Replicator; Worldbuilding; Redshirts; Sex / Love Potion; Medical Crew; Transporters; Medbay; Interspecies Relationship; Mirrorverse; Uniforms; Mutiny; Stranded on a Planet; Rec Room; Academy Era; Second Contact; Command Crew; Off-Duty; Soft; Anonymous Sex; Penetration with Object/s; Sleeping; Intercrural Sex; Restraints; In/Under Water; Group Sex; First Time; Possessive Behavior; Dry Humping / Grinding; Overstimulation; Roleplay; Rimming; Stretching / Fisting; Power Imbalance; Food Play; Fingering; Body Worship; Sex Work; Voyeurism / Exhibitionism; Safewords; Technology; Oral Sex; Omorashi / Wetting; Crying; Underwear / Lingerie; Friends with Benefits; Pain Kink; Dirty Talk; Trick or Treat; All trussed up and nowhere to go; Talking is overrated; Sticks and stones may break my bones...; Trust fall; I've got red in my ledger; Touch and go; My spidey-sense is tingling; Coughing up a lung; Rumors of my death are greatly exaggerated; Oops, I did it again; Just keep swimming; It'll be fun, they said; That's gonna leave a mark; Under pressure; Feed a cold, starve a fever; On a need-to-know basis; Field care 101; The doctor is in; Just a scratch; Lost & found; That's where the blood's supposed to be; They made me do it; You break it, you buy it; One down, two to go; You will go down with this ship; “I'm fine, I prom...”; It's (not) just in your head; All work and no play; Digging your grave; Hurt & Comfort; “You have to let go.”; Garotte; Taunting; “Do you trust me?”; Betrayal; Bruises; Helplessness; Pneumothorax; Presumed Dead; Hospital; Adrift; Torture; “This is gonna suck.”; Crush injuries; Delirium; Recovery; “Please don't move.”; “Now smile for the camera.”; Bitten; Trunk; Bleeding through bandages; Cursed; Auction; Self-induced injuries to escape; Escape; Fallen; Passing out; “Good, you're finally awake.”; “You're still not dead?”; Major character death; Disaster zone; Barbed Wire; Choking; Insults; Taken Hostage; Misunderstanding; Touch Starved; Numbness; Exotic Illness; (Blind) Rage; Flare-Up; Drowning; Made To Watch; Burns; Beaten; Fever Dreams; Scars; Hemorrhage; Doctor Visit; Bleeding; Trapped Under Water; Demon; Ransom; Flashback; Flight; Waterfall; Vertigo; Too Weak To Move; Left For Dead; Trauma; Bound; Gagged; “Who Did This To You?”; Pushed; Broken Nose; Hunger; Blindness; “Definitely Just A Cold”; Tears; Ice Chips; Dehydration; Begging; Cauterization; Force; Bees; Aftermath; Dread; Cpr; Stabbing; Solitary Confinement; Blood-Matted Hair; Obsession; Pursuit; Revenge; Hiding; Trap Door; Collapse; Panic; Overworked; Ghosts; Prisoner; Losing Control; Threats; Caning; Mercy; Forgotten; Head Injury; Screaming; Comfort; Self-Sacrifice; Trapped; Near-Death Experience; Regret; Tragedy; Battlefield; Anxiety; Gore; Petplay; Bimbofication; Panties & Lingerie; Bondage; Double Penetration in 2 Holes; Breeding; Humiliation; NTR; Incest; Emeto; Omorashi; Free Use; Crossdressing; Public; Three (or more) some; Daddy & Mommy; Double Penetration in 1 Hole; Distention & Cockbulge; Xenophilia; Shotgunning; Watersports; Pregnancy; Lactation; Waxplay; Grooming; Human Furniture; Feet; Prostituion; MacroMicro; Spanking; Cockwarming; Glory Hole; Somnophilia; Body Modification; Temperature Play; Leather; Size Difference; Sounding; Stockings; Tentacles; Medical Play; Stripping; Orgasm Denial; Master & slave; Scissoring; Titfucking; Frottage; Knifeplay; Formal Wear; Breathplay; Fisting; Pegging; Scat; Beastiality; Fucking Machine; Tickling; Boot Worship; Bukkake; Collaring; Foodplay; Non or dubcon; Feederism; Sensory Deprivation; Oviposition; Clone & Selfcest; Exhibitionism & Voyeurism; Impact Play; Sadomasochism; Bloodplay; Praise Kink; Body Swap; Sweat; Branding; Massage; Role Reversal; Armpit; Masturbation; Inflation; Sex Toys; Burnplay; Menophilia; Stuck in Wall; Deepthroating & Facesitting; Dacryphilia; Hate Sex; Birthday; Sick Day; Autumn; Candles; Plaid / Flannel; Leaf Piles; Sweaters; Baking; Cinnamon; Pumpkin Spice Latte; Carnival; Movie Night; Candy; Graveyard; Black Cats; Goosebumps; Pumpkin; Party; Monster; Witch; Vampire; Traditions; Magic; Mask; Haunted House; Trick; Treat; Costume; Monster Mash; Rising Part 1; Rising Part 2; Hide and Seek; Thirty-Eight Minutes; Suspicion; Childhood's End; Poisoning the Well; Underground; Home; The Storm; The Eye; The Defiant One; Hot Zone; Sanctuary; Before I Sleep; The Brotherhood; Letters from Pegasus; The Gift; The Siege Part 1; The Siege Part 2; The Siege Part 3; The Intruder; Runner; Duet; Condemned; Trinity; Instinct; Conversion; Aurora; The Lost Boys; The Hive; Epiphany; Critical Mass; Grace Under Pressure; The Tower; The Long Goodbye; Coup d'Etat; Michael; Inferno; Allies; No Man's Land; Misbegotten; Irresistible; Sateda; Progeny; The Real World; Common Ground; McKay and Mrs. Miller; Phantoms; The Return Part 1; The Return Part 2; Echoes; Irresponsible; Tao of Rodney; The Game; The Ark; Sunday; Submersion; Vengeance; First Strike; Lifeline; Doppelganger; Travelers; Tabula Rasa; Missing; The Seer; Miller's Crossing; This Mortal Coil; Be All My Sins Remember'd; Spoils of War; Quarantine; Harmony; Outcast; Trio; Midway; The Kindred Part 1; The Kindred Part 2; The Last Man; Search and Rescue; The Seed; Broken Ties; The Daedalus Variations; Ghost in the Machine; The Shrine; Whispers; The Queen; Tracker; First Contact; The Lost Tribe; Outsiders; Inquisition; The Prodigal; Remnants; Brain Storm; Infection; Identity; Vegas; Enemy at the Gate; Ronon Dex; Teyla Emmagan; John Sheppard; Carson Beckett; Elizabeth Weir; Rodney McKay; Jennifer Keller; Samantha Carter; Aiden Ford; Radek Zelenka; Kate Heightmeyer; Evan Lorne; Laura Cadman; Kolya; Chuck; Peter Grodin; Steven Caldwell; Lantea; Ocean; Ancient(s); Richard Woolsey; Athosians; Daedalus; Wraith; Nanites; Asurans; Genii; DHD; SGC; Stargate; Earth; Antarctica; Ascension

[jaime-brienne-fic-exchange]

Exchange Posting Guide

Hello, friends and frenemies! We are less than three days away from the collection opening, which means I have a tension headache every morning I wake up and remember that I have to finish my exchange fic. The no-fault defaulting deadline has passed, but if you realise you will not be able to finish on time please, please let us know ASAP anyway so we can get a knight writer to write your recipient a gift.

On the other hand, if you have completed your exchange fic draft, please remember to tell us before the 1st! About a third of the participants already confirmed they’ve finished their fic, and we say:

Okay, now with the collection opening soon, here’s some FAQ on posting!

First off, how dare you?

Honestly, I ask myself that all the time, and the answer is there is no answer. We knew what an exchange would be like. Chances are, you did too when you signed up because many of you were here last year. We have no one else to blame but ourselves.

How does posting work?

The exchange portal will open on August 1st at 12pm AEST. Once it opens, use AO3 to upload your fic as usual:

Most of the upload process will be exactly the same as usual, but you need to fill in the following two fields:

Fill in the first with “JaimeBrienneFicExchange2021” (It should autofill, but please be careful to select the right collection! This one is the one we're using. Alternatively, you can go straight to that collection and click the “Post to Collection” button on the top right under the banner once the collection is open.)

Type in your recipient’s AO3 name in the second field. Double check your original prompt to ensure you have the correct name. A few people have different tumblr/AO3 names and we don’t want any fics to go awry.

If you've already made an AO3 draft before the 1st, make sure you add it to the collection and put in your recipient's username in the fields we mentioned above, and make sure you change the date when posting (or your fic will be buried). Be aware it can cause some shenanigans where the fic may not appear at the top of the page.

After that, it’s as simple as clicking post! Your fic will be submitted to the exchange and automatically be made anonymous. As the author, when you open your own fic, it will say ‘YourUsername (Anonymous)’, but to other users it will simply say ‘Anonymous’. Author’s names will not be revealed until August 21st, when we click the button to reveal them.

Feel free to reply to comments during that week. As long as you are logged into the account that posted the fic, all of your comments will also be anonymised.

If any of this process is confusing to you, PLEASE reach out to one of the organisers (nire-the-mithridatist/slipsthrufingers/firesign23/samirant/im-auntie-social)! We’re happy to hold your hand through the process 🤗

What about Lil’ Oathkeepers?

I’m glad you asked, imaginary exchange participant that’s totally not me talking to myself! A Lil’ Oathkeeper is a gift that can be any size and shape. It can be art! A video edit! A moodboard! A fic shorter than 1000 words! Or… a fic longer than a 1000 words, but you probably know that. Anyone (you don’t even have to be signed up to the exchange) can make and gift a Lil’ Oathkeeper. We’ll be releasing the prompt spreadsheet and posting instructions on the 1st!

Why is the exchange opening a day earlier than you said?

Because Slips has set the time on the exchange to suit her own timezone. She has to stay up till after midnight to watch F1 cars go vroom vroom and had to deal with being spoiled for every single episode of Game of Thrones on Tumblr and Twitter because it aired in the US while she was at work. This is her own petty little vengeance and she will not apologise for that.

Also it’s easier for her to keep everything straight in her head this way. Mathematics is not her strength. We’re kindly moderators though, so here’s a handy timezone conversion for you.

Why do I need to let you know by the 1st that I’ve finished my fic if I can post it anytime during the following week?

So we can find a knight writer ASAP. The sooner we know that you won’t be able to complete your fic, the sooner we can find someone to fill in for you. We don’t want anyone to be disappointed.

Do I have to post ON the 1st of August? I’ll be AFK for the day because my cat has a piano recital!

No, you can post it anytime between the 1st and the 7th. If you can’t or don’t want to post it on Sunday, then you can absolutely wait until later. We anticipate that the bulk of fics will be posted over the weekend, but if you want to post it on the 6th, then that’s absolutely your choice. Just be mindful that your recipient may be worrying why they haven’t received one.

Also tell your cat we’re rooting for them!

I really overshot the 1k limit and need to post multiple chapters. Should I post them together and drop my 40k prompt fill in the tag all at once, or can I stagger it throughout the week?

You must have a complete posted story by the 7th of August, unless you have reached out to us to make alternate arrangements. If you want to post your story over the week, you can. If you want to post it all at once, you can. As long as your prompter gets a completed fic in the posting window, we don’t mind.

(Also, look at your life, look at your choices! It was a 1k minimum!!! Buncha overachievers in this fandom, I swear 😂😂😂)

Can I thank my beta in the notes of my story?

Absolutely you can! The betas of the fandom be working HARD this week, they definitely deserve recognition. Just be mindful of including anything in your notes that might reveal who you are. You could choose to name your beta, or just thank them generally and add their name after authors have been revealed.

What if I don’t receive a story?

It might be because your author hasn’t posted it yet - they have the full week from the 1st to the 7th to post their story. It also might be because your fic needed a knight writer to write it. If this is the case, know that your knight is probably working very diligently to complete it, but might not be able to complete it within the window. If it looks like your fic will be significantly delayed (like until after authors are revealed) we will contact you directly to let you know what’s up.

What’s the etiquette around thanking my author?

A kudos and a comment is pretty standard. It’s up to you how long your comment is; we don’t write comments with our heads, we write them with our hearts. Just keep in mind that a person out there spent time working on something just for you and make sure you show your appreciation, even if the story isn’t exactly what you expected!

Can I promote my story?

Please don’t do this until authors have been revealed through the collection.

Can I rec my gift story?

Absolutely! Share the love! You can choose to rec it while it’s still anonymous, or wait until the authors are revealed. It’s up to you.

I’m not participating in the exchange, but I want to get into the spirit of the week. What can I do?!

Well firstly, read any of the 102 fics we expect to be posted that week! Read them and enjoy them! Leave a kudos! Leave a comment! Leave ten comments! Write rec lists and share them on Tumblr or Discord or TikTok, wherever it is that the cool kids hang these days!

What’s for dinner, nire?

Chicken, seasoned with my own tears.

I have another question that hasn’t been answered in the FAQs

Either send us a message through tumblr, or get in touch with one of the organisers privately. We’ll get back to you ASAP!

[boltwrites]

Warm Hands, Warm Heart

Fandom: The Legend of Korra Pairing: Bolin / Reader (feminine firebender) Rating: T Tags: Massage, Pre-relationship

fakelavish requested: first of all, i speak for all of the Bolin Lovers when i say we ✨live✨ for your account and writing, our mans deserves sm, THANK YOU! 🥺 i have a request for when you have the time for our 1# Himbo, something maybe borderline nwsf but really tender for a female reader who’s a firebender and gives really nice massages? 👉👈 like, heated hands w/ massage oils? anyways, our King needs to relax, he’s carrying the whole ass show on his shoulders 😌 just have fun with it, can’t wait for more content!

A/N: this was very fun to write! I decided to make Bolin a pro-bending personal trainer and reader a masseur that works at the arena sometimes! I hope you enjoy!

A/N 2: I saw this post get removed from the tag with my own eyes, so I’m posting again :/ tumblr! why!!!

You stretched, taking a deep breath as you loosened the muscles in your shoulders.

As a massage therapist, you traveled all across the city for different clients. However, your rotations at the pro bending arena were always eventful. Usually you were tasked with relieving factory workers of their pain – Future Industries treated their workers well, enlisting your services to assist with their work. But you also saw your fair share of rich families and hard working professionals, all whom carried stress in different ways.

But the arena was a different beast entirely. The patients you saw there were always stressed, and more than that, sometimes they needed serious physical therapy and extensive healing that their hectic schedule didn’t allow for. Your coworkers at the arena in particular all had their own horror stories – Raye, specifically. She was a water healer you coordinated with often, and whenever you saw her, she looked exhausted.

However, not all your coworkers at the arena were such downers. There was a specific personal trainer who always had a smile on his face, even when he referred patients to you. He would guide them into your workspace with a hand on their shoulder, giving them a hearty pat before telling them how you were the best that Republic City had to offer, and that you’d get them fixed up in no time.

You shook your head, trying not to blush as you thought of Bolin. You knew that catching feelings for a coworker wasn’t the smartest thing in the world, but he was just so charming. Whenever he passed by your small massage room and you weren’t with a client he would poke his head in and ask if you needed anything, sometimes bringing you an extra cup of tea from the concessions stand that he “ordered on accident” for you. He always greeted you with a beaming smile, and you had to admit, his work certainly kept him in shape.

You slapped both of your cheeks, shaking your head. You were here to work! You didn’t have time to be worrying about-

“Hey, Y/n!”

You jumped at the sudden introduction, clutching at your heart as you turned, only to be faced with the object of your desires. Your cheeks flushed, but luckily, you could explain it away through shock.

“Oh, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to scare you,” Bolin apologized, shuffling his feet as he stood in the doorway. He held a small bag in his hands, still in the loose clothing he wore to train his clients.

“It’s alright, I just wasn’t expecting you,” you assured him, crossing your arms and holding them close to your chest. Bolin only smiled, a small, gentle smile that made your heart skip. You wondered if he knew how handsome he was, especially when he directed all of his attention at one person in particular. He made you feel like the center of the world when he smiled at you like that.

“I just wanted to stop by and give you this,” Bolin placed the bag on the high table near the door, and you picked it up, peeking inside. “Haru – you know, from the concession stand – said he made extra, and I didn’t think I saw you get dinner tonight…”

The bag was filled with at least four dumplings, and you knew they weren’t the cheapest thing at the concessions stand, especially tonight, when there had been a double-header match. It was why you hadn’t gotten dinner – you didn’t feel comfortable spending that much money on yourself. But Bolin had gone out of his way to get you something nice.

You blushed, closing the bag and shaking your head at him in wonder.

“Oh – is that OK? Are you allergic? Aw, I should have known-“

You giggled, and Bolin’s eyes widened at the noise.

“I’m not allergic,” you laughed, covering your mouth with your hand, “I just feel like such a burden – you bring me tea, and dumplings, and water, and I haven’t done anything for you.”

Bolin waved his hands back and forth, denying your insinuation. “Oh, don’t worry about it! I just get worried about you all the way over here, since you’re so far away from all the other stuff. You don’t have to do anything for me, I swear.”

“I know I don’t have to,” you replied, tucking a stand of your hair behind your ear. Your cheeks reddened and you looked downwards. “I want to. What about this – I’ll take your dumplings, which I know weren’t just extra, by the way, if you’ll let me give you a massage.”

When you looked at him again, Bolin was as red as a beet, shaking his head as he wrung his hands.

“Oh, no, I couldn’t – “

“You spend all day training others, lifting weights, and trying to coach pro benders, and you’ve never once asked for my services,” you continued, frowning at him. “You’re probably just as tense as any patient you’ve referred to me – if not more. You need to take care of yourself!”

“I do take care of myself! I floss every day!” Bolin countered, and you had to stifle a laugh. What a dork.

“I’m sure you try your best, Bolin, but we all need some help every now and then. Let me help you,” you offered, gesturing to the massage table.

Bolin swallowed, tugging at the neck of his undershirt, unsure of the whole situation. You wondered if the reason why he had never asked for a massage was because of this – because he was so embarrassed at the thought of you touching him. The concept warmed you as you unpacked a few of the oils you thought he would benefit from, laying a blanket across your table. Bolin still stood in the doorway, pressing the tips of his fingers together.

“Uh, do I have to do that thing where I take all my clothes off and you put a towel over my butt? Because I don’t know if I’m comfortable with butt towel stuff-”

You snorted, shaking your head at him.

“No, don’t worry. I usually don’t ask patients to undress fully unless they need specific work – like a pulled muscle in the thigh,” you explained, rolling your sleeves up. You lit a stick of incense with the tips of your fingers, because the routine of it helped calm you as you worked, even as the thought of touching Bolin sent shivers through you.

“You’ll only need to remove your shirt. Please,” you gestured to the table again, and this time Bolin took a step forwards, undoing the clasps of his outer tunic.

“Once you’re ready, please lay face down on the table,” you instructed, as you turned back to your oils. It was typical procedure for you not to watch your patients as they undressed for you, but you made a conscious effort not to look as Bolin shed his tunic and undershirt. You needed to at least remain professional until he was on the table, then he wouldn’t be able to see your blush as you worked over his body.

You truly did just want him to take some time to unwind for himself. He was always so concerned about the young men and women he trained, so kind to you and the rest of the staff he worked with. He spent so much time thinking of others that you knew he didn’t take care of himself. The other trainers had stopped by your room before, had taken advantage of your service, even if they didn’t refer as many of their trainees to you. But Bolin had never graced your door except to give you food or drink, or refer a patient to you. It was actually a bit concerning, considering the amount of work he did. He was always in the arena, always helping someone, or training – he needed to take a moment to relax. And if you could get your hands on his broad shoulders while you helped him with that, well, that was just a nice bonus for you.

You rifled through your collection of oils before you found one that you thought would be soothing, and picked up the bottle, turning to the table. You took a deep breath before you finally looked up.

Bolin was laying face down on the table, his head snug in the headrest. You had to bite your lip when your eyes grazed over his shoulders and back – you knew he had to be muscular, what with his job, but you had never seen the source of his strength up close.

“Have you ever seen a firebending masseur before?” you asked, trying to start a pleasant conversation. Hopefully it would help Bolin calm down if he realized this was normal, for people to get massages.

“No, I’ve never had any kind of massage before,” he admitted, his voice a little muffled by the headrest. You smiled at that. Then he was in for a treat.

“The benefit of a firebending masseur, is that we can heat our hands,” you continued, rubbing the oil between your palms. “A trained firebender can regulate their own body heat, and that adds an extra layer of healing to our treatments. So, don’t be shocked.”

You took a breath, and placed your hands on Bolin’s shoulders, near his neck. You knew this was where a lot of men carried stress, especially those that did a lot of weight lifting. As you pressed your hands into the muscle there, Bolin gasped at your touch, tensing for a split second before you saw all the nerves seep out of his frame.

“Oh, that’s – that is nice,” he hummed. You grinned at him, working your fingers slow and gentle to loosen the tense muscle there. You were right – he was very tight here, and you would need to spend some time there to help him relax.

“Feels even better than water healing,” Bolin mumbled, wiggling a little as he relaxed into the table. You quirked a brow at him.

“Oh, you’ve been healed before?”

“Yeah,” Bolin groaned as you pressed your thumb into a particularly sensitive area, but continued, his voice only shaking a little bit. “I messed up my shoulder pretty bad in a match once.”

“It’s a completely difference experience when you’re not injured,” you agreed with him, taking a detour to work at his shoulder muscles, digging your fingers into the thick muscle there. He was built like a tank, but when you pressed into the muscle, he purred like a kitten, the tension leaving him in waves.

“Maybe you’re just good with your hands,” Bolin offered in rebuttal, and you were very, very happy that he couldn’t see your face as you pressed your fingers into his back. It was also a good thing that you could regulate your temperature under pressure, or else you were sure you would have burned him on accident.

“That’s very sweet,” you replied instead, your voice soft. He was very sweet, in general. But, at your words, he tensed again, his shoulder blades stiff and pressed closer together.

“I- unless that’s a rude thing to say!” You giggled at him, pinching at the back of his neck in jest. He was such a sweetheart.

“No, it really is sweet,” you assured him. “You’re too nice, Bolin, you know that?”

His skin felt hotter under your fingers as you worked down his back, over his ribs and to his waist. He was so strong – his muscles were firm under your hands, his chest broad and solid. His breath hitched in a few places where he was tense and sore, but other than that, you two settled into a comfortable silence.

It was awkward, in a way, because now you were alone with your thoughts. The only thing within your field of vision was an expanse of smooth skin, and you wondered what you would be able to do if you and Bolin were dating and you were to give him a massage. Would he let you press kisses between his shoulder blades, would he let your hands dip below his waistband?

Your cheeks flushed as your massage reached said waistband, fingers digging in above his hips.

Bolin moaned, his hips twitching at the attention, and you gasped, stilling. You both froze, before Bolin spoke up, trying to explain himself.

“Sorry! I- uh- I’m ticklish!”

The explanation was an obvious lie, and you could tell even if Bolin’s head didn’t thwack back into the headrest with such force. You turned away, doing your best not to laugh.

“It’s alright,” you assured him, chuckling a little. You lowered your voice, almost to a whisper, as you pressed your fingers against his hips again, this time softer, deliberate in a different manner. “You’re allowed to enjoy yourself.”

Bolin’s breath hitched, and you bit your lip, paying special attention to the muscles just above his hips. He shivered as you kneaded his sore muscles, and you grinned. Usually you wouldn’t focus so much on such a spot, but you had to admit that teasing Bolin was very fun. He was such a sweet boy – you wished he would stop by more often.

“That should just about do it,” you stated, wiping your hands on a small towel you kept tucked into your waistband. Bolin’s back shone with oil in the low light, and he had all but sunk completely into the table, completely relaxed. He tilted his head to the side to look at you, a little bashful.

“I feel like I should have bought you dinner first,” he admitted, with a dorky laugh. You replied with your own giggle, covering your mouth.

“You did, remember?” you gestured to the dumplings still sitting on the high table, and Bolin shook his head, sitting up, rolling his neck as he adjusted to his loosened muscles.

“No, I mean, like, properly,” he elaborated, scratching the back of his head. You smiled, looking up at him shyly.

“You mean, like a date?” you pressed. You wanted him to ask you out – you wanted to get to know him.

“If you’d want?” he replied, shrugging. You smiled bright at him, nodding.

“I would like that, very much.”

[bts-trash-blog]

Golden: Chapter 3~Badass

Summary: Watercolor splashes, and yet all that splashed on your skin was ink, while his was gold. Cold and warm. Sweet and sour. Love and lust. Yet it made so much sense..sadly he couldn’t see it.

Pariing: Min Yoongi X Chubby Reader

Warnings: Angst, mentions of depression, inscrurites, smut and some mentions of past toxic relationships. Just poor Yoongi tbh.

AN: Want to know when I update? I have a tag list! Also since tumblr deleted my original chapter and I had already cleared my ask box for this tag-list I’m sorry if you aren’t on it just ask again and I’ll make sure for chapter 4 I’ll add you! Again I’m sorry!

PREV ._. NEXT

Curled up on your bed, sad music playing in your headphones as you watch the rain hit against the building, watching the drops rundown your bedroom window. The sound of Hoseok coming home from work, made you try to silence your sniffles as you try to shuffle deeper into bed, ignoring the buzzing from ethier Namjoon or Jin. Both after Yoongi had run out, left with jaws dropped that quickly snapped shut as Jin moved to chance after Yoongi as Namjoon moved to sit next to you. You quickly lost your breath, and your mood went sour so you too got up and left, but not before Namjoon had promised he and Jin would ‘talk’ to your so called Soulmate.

Soulmate my ass. You thought as you whipped the tears that were resting on top of your cheek, a soft knock on your door made you shuffle and turn away from the entry of your room. Headphones slipping out, making you grunt as you toss them with your phone onto the floor, too annoyed at the world to even bother with them. When no answer from you came, Hoseok opened the door slowly, the sound making you bring the covers over your head as you hear his feet pad against the wood flooring.

“Y/n? I brought dinner...ladybug?” He asked, making you shuffle as you tried to fight a sniffle, but he still heard you as he stepped further into your room. “What's wrong?” He pushed as he sat down on your bed, letting out another sniffle as you let the tears start to fall again. Shaking your head, you felt his hand on top of your cafe as you tried to kick them away but your body felt weak. It felt broken. So you laid there fighting back a sob, till it came erupting out making Hoseok quickly move to wrap his arms around you, dragging you to lay against his chest as you let out heavy breaths. “Oh Y/n.”   Your back pressed to his front as he tangled his legs with yours, his lips pressed to the back of your head as you heard him inhale, ready to exhale questions.

“Please don’t, I’ll just cry more.” Your words had him letting out a breathy chuckle as he tightened his hold around you, one of his hands moving down your arm. Hand lacing with yours as you brought it to your chest, kissing the knuckles of his fingers making him sigh as he brought his chin to the top of your head. “I hate soulmates.”  Your words were mumbled as you closed our eyes, your body shivering as you heard him softly gaspe at you. You, the one person he’s known not to ever question the soulmate thing, the one who swore up and down that soulmates are the thing in the world that makes every bad thing worth it. You were the person who dreamed, and read about soulmates. Dreamed of one day being able to love someone, even if it was platonically, with every fiber in your being and it feeling just..just right. You made it sound so worth it, worth pain, worth the waiting. Yet the words you had just said, seemed to be so full of positivity it scared him. Your words scared him which made him shake his head as he looked down at the top of your head. There is no way you believed the words that just passed through your slightly chapped lips. No way.

“No you don’t.” He mumbled making you shake your head as you pushed away from him and sat up, your body resting against the headboard of your bed.

“Yes I do. I hate them. I hate the stupid red string of fate. I wish it wasn’t real. I wish it was all fake. I wish I didn’t have the university choosing someone for me. I hate them.” Pain. All that was laced with these words were pain, and it seemed to tunnel through his chest as well as he moved to sit up next to you kicking the sheets down away from the two of you. His body moving to sit criss crossed in front of you as his brown eyes stare at you, your knees pressed to your chest as you feel pain crave itself into your heart as you bury your face into your crossed arms. “Like why? Why are they a thing? Why are we made for someone who we’ve never seen, never met, never loved. I mean look at me, why would someone like me? Let alone love the idea that I’m somehow made for them. Like I look in the mirror some day and wonder why the fuck I’m made the way I am...and who would love me. And I fooled myself in thinking that someone out there is gonna love me. That they will hold me and paint my skin with their love, like my parents. But they see you and run away, not even trying to get to know past these fucking flaws. This fat ugly body. I wish I could’ve been born in a world where soulmates were a dream, and not the other way around, Hoseok.” You look up at him, sniffling as his hand reaches for yours that had fallen to the bed, his fingertips lacing with yours. His eyes closed as he took a deep breath in. “Why did they choses him for me, I thought that black ink color was so beautiful..I thought he thought the gold was beautiful on him too... But I should’ve known it was the sigh of rejection. Of this..this deadly pain. Why did the universe choose him for me?” His eyes blink open to stare at you, his eyes filling with his own tears as he gives you a frown.

“Cause, you are gonna be his everything one day. One day he’s gonna know every little thing about you. He’s gonna know how you are addicted to coffee and sour candy, and how you have this love for animals that goes far more than others. He’s gonna see the good and the bad in you and still smile. He’ll learn how to make you laugh, how to stop your tears. He’s gonna cause the greatest heart breaks in your life, and the most beautiful moments in your life. He is gonna be so lucky to even have every single ounce of your love, cause I know how lucky I am to just get the silver of the love you have.” he smiles at you, moving closer to cup your face making you look at him, glossed over eyes, red nose and chewed lips. “One day you’ll know everything about him, one day him running away will make sense to you. It’s not gonna hurt any less.  But you’ll be able to forgive him, because you’ll know his smile. His laugh. Y/n, he’ll know you as nothing but the woman who loves him so passionately, so deeply that he knows he’ll be able to just fall into you and you’ll make sure to  give him nothing but protection from the darkness around him. Do you know what being Gold means?” His question had you shaking your head as he chuckled, as he got up on his knees and pressed his forehead to yours before pulling away. “Gold..gold is the love that people dream of. It's like watching the sunrise after a gloomy day, it's that hug you get after a devastating day. It’s what your books you read about come from. To be someone's gold, it to be the air they breathe, the bed they sleep in and the one being in this world that they can tell their deepest secret too. Y/n you’re that person he dreams about when he needs to calm down. So don’t double yourself. Don’t throw away your idea of the red string of fate, cause you and I both know how worth this pain is gonna be, especially when you can finally call him yours.”

______________________________________________________________

Scrubs, the best pieces of clothing ever made. You swear by it, swear by them. Not only do they have so many pockets,more than you can count sometimes but the way they breathe has always made working long shifts easier.  You were at the front, your head peeking over Joy's shoulder seeing the patient chart of the day, your fingers crossing, hoping for no walk-ins.  Sighing you see Jimin walking to the still locked door as the clinic hasn’t opened yet, moving you open the glass door for him to be greeted with a brown small poodle in his arms. Your head tilts in confusion, as he hands you the dog, realization crosses your face as you look at your best friend with wide eyes as you pull the six month old male puppy closer to your chest.

“I forget to tell you didn’t I.” His eyes slightly wide, dark bags under them as he moves to the back, your body trailing after him as he places his stuff down in the break room. “She surrendered him, now I have a foster. He’s name is Holly.” Nodding you nuzzled your nose into the top of his head making him slightly brack at you, licking your cheek as you let out a giggle.

“He is adorable, how anyone could mistreat you or any little baby like you blows my mind.” You said, slipping into a baby voice making the poodle's tail start to rapidly wag as his body started to wiggle making you fight back a laugh as the head Vet came in, Minho. His eyes move to the puppy in your arms, and he smiles quickly moving to pat the top of his head as he looks at you.

“Busy day, and you are with me most of it.” Nodding you gave Holly back to Jimin, who was greeted with a wiggle amount of kiss making both you and Minho chuckle as the two of you leave the room. “We have three spays, a mass removal, and an eye removal scheduled for us today. Luckily we have Mina here today to pick up some of the other scheduled surgeries today as well. Bless that woman.” His eyes gleam at the mention of her, the memory of blues and teal hues painting across their skin had you thinking of the inky black. Thinking of Yoongi, and your thoughts slipped before you could stop them.

“I met my soulmate the other day.” Your word seemed to have made the still closed clinic freeze as you hear a gasp, and the sound of scuffing shoes making you look behind you to see Johnny had stumbled slightly from walking out of the bathroom. Your eyes widen as you  press your hand to your mouth, processing that you had just outly admitted that you had indeed found the one.

“Holy shit...I’m sorry..does Jimin know?” Johnny says, making you shake your head slowly as you look at Minho. His lips parted as the chart in his hand slightly dropped. Johnny's smiles grow as he lets out a loud yes, making you giggle as he points to you. “I know something before that little shit! Finally!” Sighing you watch as he moves to the back making you shake your head as you turn back to Minho. A large smile on his face as he looks at you, his eyes closing for a second till he takes a deep breath and the two of you start walking to the first exam room when the sound of the door dinging entered your ears.

“Congratulations, I feel like it was just yesterday you were interning here to get your hours to pass your tech class. Now here you are, one of the best techs I’ve ever had and you're the first of my techs to find the one. I hope he treats you well.”

“Same here.” You said with an honest breath, your eyes closing when you hear it, the loud gasp and the sound of a cup slamming against a table.

“Y/n found her what, and told your dumbass before me? Yo little bitch get your fat ass over here! I just want to talk!” _____________________________________________________________

“Moon!” Jin said with a smile on his face as you walked into the coffee shop, a smile spreading on your face as he pulled you into a side hug. Chuckling as you slid into your chair, your hand rubbing the back of your neck, your scrubs slightly tightening as you moved.  Looking you see soft caring eyes staring at you, his head tilted making you shake your head as he sat next to you. “I’m so sorry that he..I..I could beat his ass.” His words had your eyes widening as you grabbed his hand, making his closed eyes snap open as he stared at you. “He..he’s not a bad person just..I want you to find out things on your own but at the same time I need to at least let you know that it really isn’t it. He was with someone before and she..she literally tore him apart. He’s scared, and when he saw what color he put onto your skin seemed to make his fear worse..just know it isn’t you.” Smiling softly at the older male you squeezed his hand tighter.

“I get it I guess..I..I mean it made me feel like shit but I just have to think of the color I put onto his, its gold. I’m supposed to help him make his life golden, better, more positive. At least that's what I believe.” Your words had him shocked, as he pulled back and sat up straight, his smile growing as he looked at you.

“I’m so happy you said that. I was so scared, scared that you’d hold this over him. This fear of loving someone again.” He pauses as a boy brings a cup of black coffee out and sets it in front of you. His ash blonde hair falling in his eyes as he smiles at the two of you, as you take a sip you see a dark clad figure walk in. Your body seems to vibrate, making your eyes close as you place the mug down and look to Jin, his own eyes widening as he moves to get up. “You..just stay put.” Nodding you open your phone to distract you from the warm feeling spreading through your body, the shivers.

Taking a deep breath you hear hush whispers, and the clicking of someone typing on a laptop, laughter of a few friends and the sound of the espresso machine. Taking a deep breath you scroll through instagram, your other hand grasping the black hot mug. Hearing the scuffing of shoes, you look up to see downcasted coffee colored eyes. His hands dug deep into the pockets of his large coat, his ripped jeans showed just how thin his legs were making you slightly self conscious with how big yours were compared to his. Shaking your head you slip your phone into your scrub top pocket, he rocks a bit on his heel as you cast your eyes to the seat Jin was once in. He nods as he quickly sits down, your hand bringing the coffee up to your lips, sipping as you push a piece of your hair back behind your ear as he clears his throat.    

“So..your name is Y/n?”  His question made you nod as you let out a slightly cough as you look balck up to see Jin had set down another cup of coffee and a lemon cake for you making you smile at him.     

“You're Yoongi?” You ask after watching the board man leave, he nods as he clears his throat again and pulls the mask he had resting around his face off as his hands move to run through his black hair. “I’m not mad..about what happened.” You blurted out, your eyes closing as you mess with the mug in front of you. “I mean it hurt me a little..no actually it hurt me a lot. But I’m not mad.” Looking up you see him staring at you with parted lips and wide eyes, his hair slightly messed up, making you want to reach up and fix it. Let out a breath, place your hand onto the table, palm up. His eyes cast down to it, your chubby fingers making his thin ones crave to hold them, touch them. The fire in him matching your own, so he falls into it. His breathing slightly speeds up as he lifts one of his hands, letting it fall into your plan, watching the sparkling gold color spread across his hand as you wrap your fingers around his hand. Watching the black ink spread across your skin, made a smile lift on your cheeks as he looked as if he was gonna run again making you tighten your grip.

“Why are you smiling? It looks like I’m gonna kill you.” He whispers making you shake your head, the gold color climbing up higher on his skin as the black ink fades out slightly at the end of your wrist.

“I like it. Make me feel badass.” Your words had his eyes closing as he smiles softly shaking his head as you now hear your new favorite sound, his chuckle, entered your ears. “I like that sound.” You mumble making his eyes shoot up, as his cheeks begin to dust with a soft pink color as he looks down at his coffee slipping his hand away from yours for a second as he takes a big gulp of coffee. His hand quickly snatching yours before you could slip it back into your lap.

“I like holding your hand...makes me feel badass too.” Smiling brightly at him, you rest your head against the palm of your free hand as you look at him, his eyes doing the same. Though they flickered down to your hands every few seconds, as if to see the color disappearing, fading. Clearing his throat you watch him shift a bit as he looks at you, his lips parting as he closes his eyes for a second then opening them up again. “Are you a nurse?”

“Oh uhh no, not for humans at least. I’m a vet tech.” You chuckle slightly at your own joke as you sit up, your hand slightly slipping from his making him tighten his grip on your hand.           

“So you work with animals, that's cool. I..I make music.” He said, his eyes moving around as if trying to think about how to talk. You couldn't help but coo at his shy nature, his thumb moving to rub against the back of his hand as you look over to see Jin and Namjoons eyes on you. Rolling your eyes you look back to Yoongi and squeeze his hand and pull away.

“I’m gonna pay for our coffees, then we can go on a walk so those two,” You pauses as the two of you look at your idiot friends, “Don’t eavesdrop, and scare us.” Your words had him chuckling till he registered that you were gonna pay, making him shoot up and grab your arm gently.   

“I can pay.”     

 “You have a lift time to pay for things for me. Let me do it first.” Your words were soft, his eyes wide in shock as he nodded, his head looking downward as you moved to the front and pulled your card out. Paying , you see Jin smirking as Namjoon chuckles as he swipes your card. “Stop laughing, not funny.” 

“No but its fucking cute.” Namjoon said, making you roll your eyes as you shake your head, turning around you walk back up to the black haired man as you lace your fingers with his.  

“Where too?” he asks, making you smile brightly at him , though nervousness is hidden deep in his eyes as he looks around and up to the cloudy sky. You couldn’t help but swing your hand as you left the coffee shop.

“Anywhere as long as it's with you.”

Tag List:

@mirror-juliet  @heartblackerthancoffee  @4evahevah  @dariangarcia

[emeraldbabygirl]

Hanbin was accused, Hanbin was cleared

Wonho was accused, Wonho was cleared

Woojin was accused. Woojin is cleared

Illhoon was accused. I believe Illhoon too will be cleared.

I can finally speak out on of the things that has been bothering me since the news broke out. At the time it was very scary and stressful as we were dealing with the wildfires in our state at the same time so I was already having a hard time. Woojin was my bias and I never believed he would do something like that. I know everyone says to believe the victim but innocent until proven guilty is still valid and victims lie, it happens often and we all know how fans and antis get sometimes, just like Wonho and Hanbin people will do anything to throw idols under the bus.

The scariest thing for me to see was how quick everyone was in defending Hanbin and Wonho and how quick the same people threw Woojin away, immediately spreading hate and sending death threat and calling him fake and all these names and just obnoxious behaiver. I understand we were all upset but you can’t just believe someone right away with no evidence and so many holes in their story. And sometimes it’s best to wait it out and then make a decision.

It wasn’t just Woojin that was caught up in the whirlwind, Jungwoo, Chanwoo, Hongjoong, Seonghwa and a few more that I can’t remember were also names thrown out from so many people. Their biggest thing was when they claimed he was a member from the big three, had a w and two o’s in his name. This is not a good statement because for one thing Woojin left Stray Kids and JYP so not only was he out of the big 3 but he’s not the only one with those letters in his name. Jungwoo and Chanwoo are also under the big three and have a w and two o’s in their names.

Back when it was so big on Twitter the Jungwoo tags were all stating that Woojin was innocent but the Stray Kids tags were saying he was guilty. Even the supposed person themselves posted one last tweet before delete the account stating it was all fake but no one took that screenshot so people were led to believe it was all fake

And then on the bullying, I’ve seen a lot of videos saying ‘this idol bullying this group’ or ‘this group bullying this member for 8 minutes’ and multiple videos being taken out of context and people claiming that since Woojin doesn’t speak a lot in some videos it’s proof he doesn’t get along and the member don’t like him. Y’all that’s not how things work. Just because you aren’t fully engaged in an activity or if you aren’t getting along doesn’t make you a bully or a bad person, Woojin was going through his own shit and idols lives are hard enough, if they feel out of it sometimes it’s not okay for us to immediately accuse them of such things like ‘they don’t like their members, they don’t get along, they are bullies.’

Idols live together and are around each other often so what you might see as “bullying” might just be them goofing off I mean ffs there is a video titled ‘ATEEZ bullying Seonghwa’ and y’all fine with that because they are only goofing around and teasing each other but you automatically assume from any footage or out of context video of Woojin playing with and teasing the members that he’s a bully. Why are you putting double standards on this? Bullying is a very serious accusation and rumors and spreading false information or any information with no evidence can ruin an idols careers. Tara and Co-Ed School unfortunately we’re big examples of this. The Tara bullying scandal ruined those girls and all the rumors and accusations caused Co-Ed School to disband before anyone could say everything was false. You have to be careful with what you say and what you hear and see cause if it’s not true and everyone believes it is you ruined a whole idols career before it can even be fixed.

Ok so, yes I know everyone says “the victim is always right” and it’s okay if you want to believe that but remember there are two sides to every story and both parties are valid until further evidence or actual evidence and you are able to prove whether or not something actually happened. I had some other things to say but I’ll let those slide and it doesn’t matter not because Woojin is innocent and it’s great news. I’m so relieved because he was my bias and I was so heartbroken when he left and when I heard about the trouble he was going through. I was so afraid to even say Woojin because everyone was censering it, acting like it was a bad name and that’s not fair on Woojin himself and it’s also not fair on the other idols named Woojin because there are at least 5 Woojins so for people to be doing that is like, you’re invalidating the other Woojin’s just because you think one Woojin is bad. Seeing people tag Woojin like w***** or w**jin and woojail and tw woojin is really upsetting and that’s not okay, that’s like bullying, calling him woojail is not okay at all. Pretending his name is a trigger when it’s not and if his name was a trigger than all the idols named Woojin would have that and censoring his name, again you’re invalidating all the other woojins. And everyone that says “ot8 or get the fuck out” or “if you still support Woojin fuck off” like..he’s literally fucking innocent. It was a bunch of Brazilian antis that started all the lies and rumors and after all the stories that don’t make sense and people still think he’s guilty and they are still sending him hate and being absolute assholes towards him. If you don’t want to believe that he’s innocent, if you don’t want to like him fine. Don’t talk about him don’t make a bunch of woojail posts, don’t send him hate or death threats because you’re 1. Making things worse and 2. Care enough about him to make his life miserable which is exactly what antis do and what those antis did. It pisses me off and upsets me how fast everyone just turned on him and they continue to bully him and send him unnecessary hate. Also it’s ok to tag Stray kids and Woojin because he was a member of Stray Kids so don’t give people shit for tagging Stray Kids.

So I’m gonna end this posts educating y’all about the multiple Woojins and it’s okay to say and spell Woojin you guys. It’s alright, you won’t get in trouble. So Woojin, my boy who I miss so so much Kim Woojin who was in Stray Kids, there’s my Thot Woojin from Target, an amazing rapper btw, I do believe there is a Woojin in AB6IX and of course there is the hot Woojin from My.st who just has this whole vibe to him that is dead sexy. Also the Woojin from Teenteen/Ghost9 and also also your gurl found a sexy man, despite me not being into body builders, I found a man on Insta named Kim Woojin and he is definitely a fucking snaCC. So thanks and enjoy the Woojins. I can get back to making my memes again. I’m just sad that I believed and jumped to conclusions and deleted some Woojin posts. But I stopped myself before I deleted all of them

ALSO ALSO recently it’s been pointed out how did Woojin has been and someone described it as what Jonghyun looked like before he left us. Woojin is my boy and I’ve been worrying about him ever since he left Stray Kids and I swear on god Hui and my camera roll if he hurts himself in any way or we lose another wonderful person I will blame Bangchan. I will blame Felix, I will blame JYP and I will blame everyone that started the rumors, the lies, the people that sent Woojin mean messages, death threats, bullying him because you don’t need to like an idol no matter what they do but bullying them and sending unnecessary hate to them is not ok no matter what they did. Even if it’s bad just ignore it because you sending them mean comments doesn’t make you any better. I was already pissed off at fans and everyone else and Bangchan and Felix for all the mean comments and everything else they were doing and I’ll be even more pissed off if this whole situation was too much for him on top of his depression and he ended his life.

Ok you know what, I’m so fucking pissed off over these posts I’m seeing on tumblr and I’m upset and I’m still having thoughts on whether or not I should post this but you know what. I don’t care. It’s my blog, it’s my opinion and it’s my feelings that I need to get off my chest. Kim Woojin is innocent and if I get any hate of any kind my stomach will do flips but y’all should know better especially if you don’t agree with me so have fun I guess I’ll probably delete or block you so I don’t have to hear your meany-ness. It’s my opinion, my post and my blog and if you don’t like it then I have nothing to say to you.

[kustovshik]

Talking.

This post is informative in connection with a dispute that one of the parties decided to make absurd. If you don't want to get involved, just skip it. I don't force anyone to look into it or read it.

Kust is in touch. As many people have noticed, there was a small(not small now) conflict between me and a couple of other people, which could have already been eliminated, but was brought to total clowning. Names/nicknames named in this post will not be in order to avoid any negative towards those people. Also, no correspondence will be shown here, although they will be mentioned. If someone asks , I'm ready to go and personally collect all the screenshots of the two conversations, without losing any moments.

As a person in some way responsible for the current situation, I have a desire to illuminate everything from the side of my vision of things.

The conflict conditionally began three days ago. Let's call the person who initially had a small argument with me a certain person "A".

Well. in March. March 24th. We can assume that almost 5 months ago I published a post: https://kustovshik.tumblr.com/post/613504425335586816/i-want-to-be-in-fiars-stomach-he-looks-like-a

Many people remember it, I hope. I'll attach an old screenshot here just in case.

The whole conflict initially started because of the double meaning of the context behind the work itself. The problem, I was told, was the tags. Namely, in the tag highlighted in the screenshot above: ‘safe vore(or is it?)’.

This tag was originally put up there not because I didn't know what type of vore to call it, but specifically so that people themselves would sit and think: what do they want to see in my drawing. Simply put, a drawing with an open context. And it seems like no one has had any problems with it for few months.

That's what person A didn't like. I was told in a very unpleasant way for me personally that the person was very offended by this use of tags. And other problems with how they don't like 'fatal vore'. It was also suggested to me that I don't know about how fatal can be quite a painful experience for some.

I admit. My answer was quite abrupt. I can't deny it, and I won't, because that's the kind of person I am. My language is harsh on words and expressions. Instead of a thousand words and a selection of expressions, I usually tell people everything openly, or I am ready to openly indicate that something is wrong. Also, I fully admit that I have problems controlling my emotions, which makes it difficult for me to establish contact with strangers. I grew up in a different mindset, which is why I have a different view of many things. It's like putting two people who know the same language, but from different parts of the world, next to each other and forcing them to express their position on some moral principles or other things, and then wonder why their answers are different. A very exaggerated and crude comparison, but that how it looks like.

Why did I respond harshly? I am a rather rude person, and I do not like when people come to me in private messages, starting to talk about how bad they are feeling, because of things that can be safely ignored or blocked by them, so that there are no problems.

My first fatal mistake was when I decided to answer to "A". Afterwards, I talked to a couple of my friends and got cold feet. And then I apologized, trying to come to some compromise, adding the tag 'open ending' so that no one would be confused. But it seems that this was not enough, because “A” continued to say how it’s bad from what she found, even if not quite fatal stuff. Refusing to compromise in any way, as I suggested.

After that, we parted with apologies to each other, and neither of us wrote to each other again. I honestly thought it was over.

Now, before I go on to the man who has been driving me mad for the past two days, I will make a pure assumption and try to explain my indignation in a different way...

Out of human interest, I went through the 'safe vore' tag. Noted an interesting feature. Both tags had quite a lot of posts there. Namely, tags are 'safe vore' AND 'fatal vore'. Why did my post cause the problem? Have no idea.

Then another point became incomprehensible to me. How did a person get to this post at all? It would be difficult to find it through search, but you can: there is a lot of content by tag. I flipped the feed down from the second account for a long time and didn't come across my own post.

Then, in my little investigation, I looked into Tumblr's alerts. Likes, reblogs, well, you understand in short. And noticed it.

This is the first appearance of "A" in my notifications.

Hence, I dare to assume that "A" came across one of the reblogs of this post: https://kustovshik.tumblr.com/post/616227708116025344/a-new-player-has-joined-the-game And then "A" went to my blog, along the way ignoring the description specially written for such people at the very top of the blog, and came across my two-meaning post.

But after that, I had a rhetorical question: Why go to the blog of a person who has this written in the description, and hope that there will not be a fatal vore?

Of course, this theory is based only on my assumptions. But I think this scenario is quite real.

Thus, we can say that I have every right to be angry at the indignation expressed in my direction, because it is not my fault that the person ignored my preferences, scrolled down my blog page and started complaining.

Back to reality.

As you can understand, " A " shared our conversation with their friend, who the next day suddenly came to me with a long message about his position, offering help that was not needed.

Even then, I began to suspect that this person(let's call him "B") was somehow connected with "A". Moreover, the reason for the visit was the same for both of them.

I have already mentioned that I am an irritable and rather rude person. I was already stressed enough by the appearance of "A" and the consequences of my reflections that occurred after what I thought was an end to the conflict. And the repeated mention of the situation has already infuriated me.

I fully admit that I reacted very sharply to the "B" message. I had reasons for this that the other side chose not to consider.

Well. After receiving the message I gave sharp response expressing extreme dissatisfaction, but without insults to "B". Was there passive-aggressive speech? Yes. Were words said that I am not obliged to monitor the health of people who do not concern me? Yes. Do I have the right to think so? Yes. Does this fall under the moral code? It depends on the person's personal worldview.

Yes, I was rude due to the fact that on the second day I was exhausted and angry about this situation. I wanted to end this conflict and repeatedly asked both of them to block me and remain neutral. In addition, I tried to somehow explain that we are people of different mentalities and grew up with different life standards, so in this situation we see this conflict differently. Yes, in a rough way, but I tried to explain it.

I received a ton of direct insults, was accused of narcissism and high self-esteem, as well as refusing to take care of other people's problems. In addition, I received lines like, quote: "...but let me see you talk like you did to me or anyone else simply trying to converse with you over a serious topic and I will not hesitate to have your content and eventually your account removed from this site.".

Isn't this a direct threat?

I understand that passive-aggressive speech itself can offend someone. But you can't call it an insult. Passive-aggression is a hidden way of expressing negative feelings and emotions to a person. This is not an insult. But, Yes, I admit that this is a very harsh and rude way of communicating.

That's just after such an exchange of pleasantries, I snapped. 3 days of unquenchable conflict, when one side refused to listen to the other, at the same time. There were attempts on my part to end the conflict. There was one repeated request to block and disperse, so as not to inflame everything to the point of absurdity.

"Want to stay safe with your own preferences? "Please, God, don't touch me, that's all. Block me already and we will live in peace. "- This was the message of my answers. It's sad, but instead of just ending the conflict, I got the brand of a person with a capitalist mindset, the brand of a bitch-whiner, and other other charms.

And I swear that I was ready to just leave all this and stop responding to such outbursts in my direction, banal blocking "B", if they can’t themselves do it.

As here I get a notification with a post where this person changed my art / tags and basically uploaded the changed image to his blog, hiding behind good intentions. "B" did not receive permission for such actions. Even with an indication of authorship. I am most outraged by such actions at the moment.

Better look on the two images compared to each other. 

And after that, everyone wants me to try to understand how bad I was and how poor they are, that from a simple argument that could have ended without even starting, it turned into an absurd clowning with offended people, insults and changing someone else's drawings and whole character reaction. Just a note. Fiar is not so nice, he’s a wild monster leech and he just grumbles about everything as much as he don’t understands why some people willing to let him eat them. He’ll never say something as “I’ll keep you safe”.  

There it is. The comedy of a three days.

This post is for informational purposes only. Namely, how I see this situation.

All I want now is for "B" to delete the post, and for both sides to banal block each other, so that we never meet again.

I refuse to apologize to "B" for their latest act of outraging my drawing by completely distorting the meaning from a neutral drawing to something that only "B" and their friend like. In conclusion I can say, that I do not call myself a good one in that confrontation. I did some terrible mistakes while talking to both of those people. But it’s not only I’m here being on the bad side. People are not black and white. 

After this I’ll not respond to any of the continuation of that conflict anymore. I’m tired of this.

[talpup]

Summary: Yami Sukehiro just wanted to join the Magic Knights and make his mentor proud.  He knew there would be trails.  He knew trouble would come his way.  Knew he would be faced with discrimination for being a foreigner and a peasant.  What he didn’t know.  Didn’t expect.  Was that literal Chaos would come his way.  That he and his mentor’s sister would be at the center of world ending trouble.  Or that he would fall in love with his mentor’s sister and face more than discrimination; but the jealously of Nozel Silva who loved the same woman he did.

This chapter is a short one so I decided to do a double update this week. Mostly doing it because I wanna share the drama that happens in chapter76 and can't wait two more weeks to do it. lol

Please remember this fic is rated mature and has warnings of violence, abuse, sexual tension, eventual sexual behavior, and other possible triggers.  For a full list of story tags please check the fics AO3 (link to that at the top of my tumblrs homepage).

Chapter 75

Yami woke up the following day wondering how he had gotten up to his bedroom.  He remembered waking up on the ground propped up against a tree, a crowd of Magic Knights still surrounding the training field. He had made his way to the nearest tap of ale and given the man tending the barrel a silver coin with the instruction to keep his mug topped off.  The alcohol hit him quicker than usual given his empty stomach.  It had probably hit him on the first pint he had upon arriving which was probably why had acted the way he had with Teris.

Teris... Yami groaned, sitting up in bed.  He had really messed up there.  He just hoped he hadn’t done anything else he’d regret.  Getting on Teris’ bad side was bad enough.

He had been drunk before.  And as long as he was left alone, he was a quiet, subdued drunk.  But if instigated, his temper was near instantaneous.

Gendry entered with a cup of coffee and large glass of water.  “Good. You’re finally up.  The Captain and Bronn are due back soon and I didn’t want to have to explain why you’re still in bed.”

Yami took the water first, downing the liquid messily.  “You the reason I made it here?”

Gendry gave a single nod, taking the glass and handing over the coffee. “You’re even heavier than you look.”

Yami rubbed his aching head knowing he’d be feeling worse if he hadn’t been brought in.  “Thanks.  I didn’t do anything stupid.  Did I?”

“You mean more stupid than attempting to challenge Bronn one on one?”

“I could’ve taken him.  Bastard deserves a good ass kicking.”  Yami set down the coffee and got out of bed.

Gendry stepped back near the small writing desk.  “You’re set to take his place.  How would it look to everyone who was there watching? You and he tearing into each other.”

“I would think most would be cheering me on, while the rest would be rooting for him.”  Yami said.  “Neither one of us have many friends.  And most of those friends are right old bastards themselves.”

Gendry raised a brow.  “You call me a right old bastard?”

Yami smirked.  “I said most.”

“And the Captain when he found out?  Cause you know he would’ve.”

Yami waved, noting Gendry hadn’t even bothered taking off his boots. “Jax would’ve been fine.  Eventually.  He knows better than anyone how much Bronn deserves a beat down.”

Gendry shook his head.  “Not by you.  Not like that.”

“It doesn’t matter anyway.”  Yami said, deciding to stay as he was until he got some food in him and had a bath.  “The other Vice Captain's talked Bronn out of agreeing.”

Gendry watched Yami scrub his face and neck clean at the wash basin.  “You sing when you’re drunk.”

“What’s that?”  Yami turned, water dripping from his face.

“You sing.  Not half badly either.”  Gendry said.

Yami wore a crooked half smile.  “What was I singing?”

Gendry shrugged.  “Couldn’t understand.”

Yami chuckled, drying off his face and hands.  “Thought you said it wasn’t half bad.”

“That’s not the reason I couldn’t understand.  You were singing in a different language.  I’m guessing it was your native tongue.” Gendry said, looking almost sad.

Yami looked away, trying to remember.  He couldn’t.

“Don’t know.”  Yami took his belt with its grimoire off the bedpost, and his katana off the chest of drawers; the only two things Gendry had removed.  “Thanks for seeing me to bed.  And for the water.  Gonna get me another glass along with some food and find Teris.  Got some apologizing to do.”

“You can do both at the same time.  She’s in the kitchens cleaning up from breakfast.”  Gendry told.

Yami’s eyebrows pulled together.  “It’s not her week for that.  Was Tobin sent out on another mission?”

“He’s still here.”  Gendry answered.  “But you think Tobin’s gonna remind her of his chores when she’s taken them over and shouted him out?”

Yami made a face.  “She’s still mad, huh?”

“Don’t know what you did but good luck fixing it.”

“I’ll fix it.”  Yami said, passing Gendry as he left his room.

75.1.2

Standing in the doorway of the kitchens watching Teris wash dishes, Yami teased.  “I think you missed a spot.”  When she didn’t respond he signed and made his way to her.  Placing his hands on her hips, he nuzzled her neck.  “Come on, Ikigai.”

“I already told about calling me things I don’t know the meaning of.” Teris snapped, trying and failing to focus on scrubbing the plate in her hands.

Yami smiled.  She had spoken to him.  The first hurdle was complete. “It’s nothing bad.  I promise.”

“I don’t care.  I still don’t know the meaning of it.”  Teris grumbled.

Yami stood there a moment, watching her take up another dirty dish to scrub.  Teris didn’t mind doing household chores, but she hated doing dishes.  Given that she was willfully doing them when it wasn’t her turn, Yami had thought it would’ve been harder to get her to acknowledge him.

“I’m not going to apologize for enjoying my birthday for once.”  Teris said, staring at the soapy water.

“Nor should you.”  Yami said, feeling stupid for letting William bait him into jealousy.

“You’re the one who echoed Julius and made me promise to act proper and do what was expected of me.”  Teris went on.

“I know.”  Yami nodded.

“Then why--”

Yami pressed his forehead against the back of her head.  “Cause I’m a stupid, ill-tempered ass.”

Teris turned to face him.  “No you’re not.  Not with me.”

Yami huffed ruefully and smirked down at her.  As hard as he tried to be better when it came to her, they both knew that wasn’t always the case.  “I’m sorry.”

As badly as Teris wanted to accept his apology and move passed it.  She had to know.  “I thought we trusted each other.”

Yami placed his hands on her bare shoulders.  “I do trust you.  I was stupid.  Upset because I can’t take you out like that.  I know you did nothing wrong.  I’m glad you finally had an enjoyable birthday.”

“I would’ve enjoyed it more if you’d been there.”  Teris said, smiling shyly up at him.

Yami grinned at her.  “We’ll go together soon enough. Promise.  Till then,” he leered over her, placing his hands on the counter-top on either side of her, “I still have a belated gift to give you.”

“Stop it.”  Teris laughed, reaching back to grab a soapy rag.

As she turned to do so the light hit her bare shoulder and he caught a glimpse a yellowish, light purple bruise.

“Hold up.”  Yami said, his tone making Teris stop and wonder what was wrong.

Now that he was looking, Yami noted bruises on her other shoulder too. His hands lifted hovering over Teris’ shoulders lining his fingers over each mark.  He sucked in a breath.  A fire raged in his chest, much different than the heated rush he’d felt moments ago at the thought of kissing her.  Only seven circular discolorations could be made out; but there was no doubting that she had been grabbed roughly.  The light, ugly color of the bruises told him that they had likely been made two or three days ago.  He remembered what William said last night, that Nozel had pulled Teris into a room and locked her away with him.

“I’m gonna kill him.”  Yami swore his voice dangerously quiet.  He turned and made for the kitchens exterior exit.

“Yami! Wait!”  Teris rushed after him reaching out and grabbing his arm.

Yami didn’t pull away from her but didn’t stop his steps either.  Teris was forced to cloak herself in mana least she lose her hold on him.

“Yami. Please!  Stop.”

Yami turned back to look at her, surprised to see her using her magic to keep him there.  “Does his life mean that much to you?”

“Yours does.  Your future as a Magic Knight means that much to me.” Teris’ hold relaxed a bit now that he stopped but she still didn’t let go of him.

Yami stared down at her, taking in her pleading look of concern.

Stepping to him Teris reminded.  “A few days ago you asked me not to do anything that would jeopardize our being together here and now.  I’m asking you to do the same.  Please, don’t do anything that might see you taken away from me.”

Yami didn’t tell her that there was nothing in this world that could keep him from her.  That he would fight.  Kill.  Lay waste and destroy this kingdom and all the others to stay by her side.  His muscles and voice trembled with barely restrained fury.  “Royal bastard hurt you.”

“Who do you think you’re with?  You think I can’t take care of myself?”

Yami stepped to her.  “I didn’t say that.”

Teris shook her head in annoyance.  “I swear you and Julius!  At least he had the excuse of me wearing a dress at the time.”

“What does stupid clothes have to do with this?”  Yami asked.

“Nothing.” Teris sighed, thinking about how much weaker and needy she felt in a gown.

“So Julius knows Bird Braid did this?  That he hurt you.”  Yami questioned.

“He didn’t hurt me.”  Teris stressed.

Yami stared back at her having none of it.  “Then who gave those bruises?”

“It’s fine.”  Teris assured. “Over with.  Handled.  There was a misunderstanding which Nozel had a bit of an overreaction about.  He apologized. Profusely.”

Yami realized he wasn’t going to convince her that a simple apology, no matter how earnest, wasn’t good enough.  Not when she’d been hurt.  Not when the markings of Nozel’s hands were staring him in the face.

Yami took a breath forcing himself to relax.  “What was the Little Bird so upset about anyway?”

“He thought Mereoleona had told me about the birthday surprise to Racine that he had planned.  He went through a lot of effort to make it happen.  His father and my brother apparently requiring much convincing to give up the stuffy dinner and ball that’s always put on.”  Teris finally released her hold on his arm, confidant he wouldn’t take off in search of Nozel.

Yami looked at her.  She might have been telling the truth as she knew but he was sure Nozel would never get upset enough to harm her over such a misunderstanding.  There was another reason, a reason she didn’t know, that had caused the royal lose himself and react in such a way.

Yami took another deep breath, tamping down his anger.  He had waited months to teach Nozel a lesson for kissing her.  While he wouldn’t wait that long this time, he could force himself to hold off for the moment for Teris’ sake.

He took a step toward the sink, nudging her along in ahead of him. Hands resting to either side of her on the counter-top, Yami leered over her.  “Want me to help with the rest of the dishes?  All it’ll cost you is a kiss.”

75.2

“Again.” Fuegoleon demanded, out of breath and drenched with sweat.

“You’re tired and lagging.  I’ll end up sending you to the healers.” Nozel told.

“And since when have you had a problem with that?”  Fuegoleon asked, his stance ready for Nozel’s attack,

Mereoleona had gotten after him during the Crimson Lions squad practice this morning.  His Captain pointing out his lacking in defensive ability as only an older sister could. It was why Fuegoleon had asked Nozel to help him during their scheduled training session.

Nozel had been all too happy to agree knowing he could attack and Fuegoleon wouldn’t directly attack back.  But now the Silver Eagle was slowing his strikes. Using less powerful spells as if worried he would substantially hurt his friendly rival.

It only served to make Fuegoleon angry and more determined.  “Again.”

Nozel sighed.  “Fine.  But don’t blame me when you’re laid up for the rest of the day--”

“Silva!”

Nozel and Fuegoleon turned.

Yami entered the training yard, his anger flaring upon seeing the royal. It didn’t help his temper that he had first gone to the Silver Eagles base only to be told Nozel was at Magic Knights Headquarters training.  That had left Yami searching the many training yards at Headquarters to find the man.

Yami hadn’t lied to Teris about his plans when he had left the Black Bulls base.  He had stopped at the city of Aster to the few things he said he was going out for.

Fuegoleon watched Yami pass him without a glace and stop in front of Nozel.

The Black Bull reached for the Silver Eagle only to have Nozel blocked his hand.

“You won’t be doing that ever again.”  Nozel growled, thinking of the dislocations the last time Yami had grabbed a hold of him  “You want to fight.  Fight like a gentleman.”

Yami glared at Nozel not sure if he could control his temper well enough for an actual fight.  “You talk of being a gentleman after you’ve laid hands on a lady like that.  I told you what would happen if you were stupid enough to do something like that again.”

“You kissed her again!”  Fuegoleon exclaimed, wondering when that happened.

Nozel spun to face the Vermillion.  “No!”

“He hurt her.”  Yami rumbled, never taking his eyes off Nozel.

The only reason Yami wasn’t tearing into the royal on sight was because Teris holding him back from immediately acting had given him time to think.  Nozel wouldn’t intentionally hurt Teris any more than he would.  That much Yami was certain.  Teris had mentioned some sort of misunderstanding; only Yami doubted it was the misunderstanding she believed it to be.  He would hear Nozel out.  Then he would kick the mans ass.

Fuegoleon’s mana roared to life.  Fiery eyes on Nozel, he demanded.  “You what!”

Nozel turned icy blue eyes on the Crimson Lion.  “It wasn’t like that. Teris is my Intended.”  His heard Yami’s katana slide a couple inches out of its sheath.  Keeping his eyes on Fuegoleon but other senses on Yami, he went on.  “Do you really think I would intentionally harm her?”  His almost commented how much Teris meant to him but stopped.  “I gripped her a bit too tightly when I thought—you know—she knew.”

“And that makes it alright?”  Fuegoleon questioned.

“No. It most certainly doesn’t make it alright.”  Nozel stated.  “You think I’m proud of myself?  That I haven’t beaten and berated myself over it?”

“I’ll beat you if it’ll make you feel better.”  Yami offered.  “I’ll beat you either way.”

Nozel turned on him.  “When were you going to tell me that my father tried to have you killed again?”

Yami glanced at Fuegoleon wondering when and how the Vermillion learned about all that.  Turning back to Nozel, he shrugged. “Didn’t realize I needed to tell you every time your Daddy tried to take care your problems for you.”

Ignoring the dig, Nozel fiercely stated.  “When it comes to this.  I need to know.”

“Why? What difference does it make?”  Yami asked.  “You weren’t able to do anything the last time.  How was I to know you weren’t aware this one was coming too?”

It struck Yami then what he should have put together sooner.  That if Nozel had been aware of his father's plans the Silver Eagle would have sent him word of warning.  As much as Nozel wanted him out of the way, preferably through his death, Yami knew Nozel was too honorable to stand by and let such an attempt be made if he had the time and chance to inform him.

“You just—you tell me.  Is that understood.”  Nozel told.

Yami smirked at him, wondering if the braid of silver hair hanging down the middle of Nozel’s face ever made the royal cross-eyed.  “You think you can give me orders?”

“I out rank you.”  Nozel reminded.

“Oh? So we’re going to make this official?  I’d like to see Greywright’s face when that order comes across his desk.”  Yami teased.

“Shut up.”  Nozel snapped.

“Why’d you do it?”  Yami asked.

Thinking Yami was referring to the latest attempt on his life, Nozel expelled, voice low and harsh.  “I told you!  I didn’t know!”

“Hurt Teris.” Yami clarified, finding Nozel’s heightened emotional state both grating and gratifying. “Why’d you hurt Teris? She said it was cause you thought this birthday surprise of yours was ruined, but I know you’d never lose control over something like that.  So what was it that set you off?”

“He foolishly thought my sister had told her about all this.” Fuegoleon answered for the Silva.

“About his father hiring people to kill me?”  Yami asked.

Fuegoleon nodded.

Yami looked at Nozel.  “Just how many people know your father's tried to have me killed?”

“I overheard my father and sister talking about it.”  Fuegoleon said. “I confronted Nozel the following morning.  Far as I know that’s it.”

“How many on your side know?”  Nozel questioned, knowing even if Yami wanted to keep it to himself, someone in his circle had to know.

Yami thought a moment before answering. “Three. Possibly four or five.”

“What!” Nozel exclaimed.

“What? Three on your side know.”  Yami shot back.  “I’m the victim here.”

“You are far from a victim.”  Nozel sneered.

Yami shrugged.  “Besides, it’s not like I told them.  Julius and Tobin were at the bar the first time.  Julius put it together easily enough.  He’s the one that told me it was likely your father.”

“Julius knows!”  Nozel felt wobbly, the world spinning too fast.

“Tobin might not pick up on most things all that well but he’s quick on the uptake when it comes to threats and other unsavory stuff. No one told him out right but I’m pretty sure he’s put it all together.  Especially after this last time and all that went on between Bronn and I after.”  Yami soured at the memory of the Vice Captain knocking him out and taking his money to Nathyn Silva in his stead.

Nozel’s eyes narrowed.  “Why?  What happened with this last time and after?”

“You don’t get to ask that.  I’m not playing your sick game where I tell you all the details of where, who, and how your father tried to have me killed.  And I’m certainly not telling you what went down after.”  Yami said, thinking no one needed to know how stupid he had been in his plan.

As much as Yami hated it, he owed Bronn for knocking him out and delivering the money to Lord Silva.  Actually, he didn’t owe Bronn since the Vice Captain had called them even for Yami having saved Bronn's life out on the battlefield.

“So Lord Julius.  And I’m guessing your Captain and Vice Captain know as well.”  Fuegoleon said, figuring Julius would have informed them for Yami’s safety after the first attempt.

Yami huffed.  “Yeah.  Julius told Jax and Jax told Bronn.  Bunch of gossiping hens.” He muttered, complaining.

Ignoring Yami’s disrespect, Fuegoleon said.  “So the three of them and possibly Tobin. You said there could be five on your side.  Who’s the fifth possibility? Julius’ Vice Captain?”

Yami hadn’t even considered that Jon might know.  Well, he thought, that made possibly six; nine counting the three Vermilion's.

Looking at Fuegoleon, Yami said.  “My guess.  Greywright.”

Nozel and Fuegoleon’s eyes widened.

“The Knights Commander knows?”  Nozel expressed, looking like a startled hare.

“Shut up.”  Yami snapped.  “I said it was a guess.  Mana, you got to calm down.  I can see why you lost control of you senses and gripped Teris so hard when you thought she knew.”

“Which is something that none of us want.”  Fuegoleon stated firmly, staring at Yami.

“Agreed.” Yami said, eyes trained on Nozel.  “Look, I came here to kick your ass for bruising Teris up.  But seeing how adamant she was I don’t do anything.  The reason why you did it.  And,” he looked the royal over, “the state you’re in.  I’ll let it go this once.  Just know that if there’s a next time, I won’t give a damn why you did it or what state your in.  I’ll end you without question.”

Nozel glared.  “There won’t be a next time but that has nothing to do with what you said or what you want.”

“Don’t care.  Just so long as it doesn’t happen again.”  Yami paused a moment, considered the matter over and said.  “If you really want to know.  I’ll send you message next time your father tries to have me killed.”

“Hopefully there won’t be a next time.”  Fuegoleon said.

Yami looked at the Vermillion with interest.  “How’s that?”

Fuegoleon glanced at Nozel before answering.  “That’s what I heard Leona and my Father talking about.  It sounds like my Father spoke to Lord Silva and told him something that would stay his hand.”

“Well that’s good news.”  Yami grinned.  “So Teris and I can do what we want as openly as we want.”

“No. No!  That’s not what that means.  You go doing that and--” Fuegoleon saw Yami’s amused expression and stopped.  His eyes narrowed with angry disapproval.  “You’re having fun at my expense.”

“It’s not like you can’t afford it.”  Yami chuckled at his own joke.

“Get out of here.”  Fuegoleon snipped.

“Gladly.” Yami grinned, amused at the royals temper.

Nozel watched Yami leave the training yard.  “I’m going to executed that foreigner someday.”

Fuegoleon’s eyes slid to the Silver Eagle.  “So long as it’s a proper execution carried out within the bounds of the law, I’ll take a front row seat.”

Thank you to those who have left hearts.  And a special THANK YOU to those who have recently left comments or re-blogged. They really mean a lot.

Next chapter snippet:

Yami turned, swallowing a stream of curses at the sight of Teris, Nozel, Fuegoleon, William, and Randall.  He quickly fished a coin from his money pouch and tossed it on the bar.  Getting to his feet, he told the man he’d been talking to something and made his way to his fellows.

“You’re earlier than expected.”  Yami said, stepping forward and backing them up through the narrow entryway.  “Let’s go.”

[talesofphantombandits]

Zero to Six ~ Chapter Eleven.

CSorry, this feels really lame but I tried my best, then I was about to upload it when tumblr went down.

Here’s chapter Eleven though! enjoy <3 

Again, let me know if you want to be tagged.

Warnings: Swearing.

tags: @i-am-sarah​ , @whothefuckstolemykeds​ , @drowsyrrog​ , @culturefiendtrashqueen​ , @rogue-barnes-16--main-account​–main-account , @alliwantfromyouistomakelovetome, @valerie-weasley​ , @sueeatstheworld​ , @bleona2808​ , @pippin248​ , @myfatbottomedgirls​ , @httpfandxms​ , @cooliosmosh​ , @speckles-s​ , @walking-disgrace​ , @itsmeaudrieee​ , @fight-the-freaking-fairies​ , @irrelevant-pumpkin​ , @captain-sparkles-who​ , @podcasts-8-my-heart , @foulvintagenature​ , @imjustboredso​ , @loophoria​

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“So Billy eh, I mean it’s cute but it’s a little common.”

We were driving through a forest, Four in the driving seat with Five in the passenger seat. I was sat in the back in the middle, leaning against the seat with my tinted blue sunglasses on.

Four just scoffed.

“Well we can’t all be like you, miss my names unique.”

Five turned in her seat to smirk at me.

I looked from Five to the rear view mirror to find Four staring at me, I just smiled and raised my eyebrows. “Well I didn’t have a choice in picking it did I?”

“Well Neither did I with mine, sweetheart.”

I leaned forward, putting my hands on his shoulders. I was essentially back hugging his seat.

I leaned into his ear and whispered. “I love when you call me that.”

He peered over his shoulder at me as I sunk back, biting my lip.

He just shifted uncomfortably in his seat, double taking at Five who gave him a shocked but stern look.

“Hey you don’t have to tell me. She’s the one riling me up!” Billy defended.

“Let’s just get this over and done with, no distractions please Zero.” She looked at me pointedly.

“Sure.” I said with a smirk, catching Billy’s eye in the mirror again.

We got to the location about an hour later, parking 30 minutes out as to not cause suspicion.

We kept low in the brush when we finally reached the communications disc on top of Turgistan Mountains.

Guards where just at the top of the base but that wouldn’t be a problem.

“Hey, you afraid?” Five said breathlessly as Four got the wire cutters out of the bag.

He just looked at her with an unreadable expression and cut the chain. She looked to me, I just sighed giving her my best smile.

I managed to hack the cameras getting the screens up while also being in a position where I could keep an eye on the guards. Four had already started his acsent up the big disc.

In and out with no disasters, just how I like it.

On the way back Five decided to get in the back seat while I was packing the gear in the trunk.

Which meant was was sitting shotgun, about 10 minutes into our journey back she’d fallen asleep.

Four coughed shuffling in his seat. “You okay?” He grabbed my hand from my lap with his free hand.

“I’m fine, what about you.” He interlocked our fingers and rested them back on my lap.

“Am good just a little nervous. Listen about us? What are we.”

I stared at him. Why was he doing this now.

“I like you Billy.” I laughed. “Dam I’ve liked you from the first insult you threw at me.” He raised his eyebrows at me. “Crazy I know.”

Now was his turn to chuckle. “But?”

“I think we should finish what we started here first.” I raised our hands so I could lean my chin on them. “We never know how a mission is going to go, we’re nearly there though.”

I kissed his knuckles and he just sadly smiled at me.

“I guess you’re right. But as soon as this is over and we both come out of it alive. Which we will! I’m taking you on the best date you’ve ever been on. And if you’re lucky at the end.” He leaned in to me trying to be all seductive.

“I’ll give you that decking you’ve been asking for.”

I let go of his hand scoffing. “You’re such a cocky little shit.”

He just give me puppy dog eyes, to which I rolled mine and interlocked our hands together again.

“Happy now?”

He just deeply hummed at me and kissed my cheek.

I smiled at him, deciding I too would nap. We had along way to go.

Finally the day of the dead came, I just hope all the preparations where going to be worth it.

“And this is yours.” I looked up from where I was sitting to see Two holding up a very expensive looking green velvet dress.

“Oh shit, it’s gorgeous.”

“Fours going to die when he see’s you.”

“I think everyone will be too focused on the mission to care what’s on my body.” She just shrugged in agreement then left to get changed herself.

I just looked at the dress, sighing before changing and doing a natural but darker makeup.

Our first job was to accompany the same man, one woman on each arm. I stayed quiet while I examined the scene and let Two do the wooing.

He pulled me in by my waist, it took all the strength in me to not show how uncomfortable it was. I just started a conversation about how beautiful the boat was.

Hoping to god the guys would get here fast so we could get this show on the road. Luckily Two was here with me.

Suddenly a load explosion came from across the water, everyone stood shocked while me and Two just looked at each other. A faint smirk came across her features.

Everyone started running in a panic, we just stayed where we were. Calmly we made our way deeper into the boat.

We finally made it into the control room, as Two delt with the guard I started messing with the controls.

“Side doors open.” I mumbled flicking the final switch. God I hope Billy gets on board safely.

“Coms cut, we’re good.” I let out a sigh of relief at his voice coming through my ears.

We climbed back up going to meet the rest of the team, when Two opened the door she was met with a gun in her face curtesy of Seven.

“Bonjour.”

A round of heys and we were back on track.

“Hey Papi, don’t you ladies look nice.” Three came hobbling out of another door, winking at us.

I just stood there awkwardly while One and Three started having a little tiff.

“Children please, god and you have a go at me and Four for starting things.”

“Because that’s awkward.”

“What and this childish bickering isn’t?”

“I hate that she gets sassy and more sarcastic everyday.” Three groaned.

“Yeah I wonder where she learns it from.” One looked between Two and Three.

Two just raised her hands in a ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about’ position.

One stormed away.

I pointed between Two and Three. “Best adopted parents ever.”

We all followed One out.

Following Two again we made our way to the kitchen area, champagne glasses in hand this was where the acting classes would kick in.

Putting on our best drunken ‘am a lost guest’ act, I surveyed the area and found the back door to Rovach’s suite, radioing the information to the others.

I looked around to make sure the space was clear enough before I learnt against the wood, Two was about to take the men down that were surrounding Three and honestly I was excited for the show.

I’d heard and see little bits of how amazingly skilled this woman was, obviously watching now I was kind of wishing her skills were in something a little less violent.

She walked up to me to check I was okay.

“Why don’t I have a gun? I think I need a gun.”

They both just started laughing at me.

“What? What’s so funny?”

“Am not giving you a gun Princess, I know you’re probably fully capable. But! I’m definitely not giving you a firearm until we’ve fully tested you back at base.” Three lectured me.

“So how exactly am I supposed to protect myself?”

Three looked around and found a metal pole from god knows where. “Here, use this.”

I just stared at him, mouth open. “What. Am I the all powerful Rey now?”

“Hey don’t mock Rey! She’s amazing in Star Wars, plus she really knows what she’s doing with that stick.”

I just tilted my head and squinted at The tall dark dumb idiot.

“Enough with the movie references!” Two shouted, dragging Three away.

“Guess it’s just you and me now.” I looked down at the metal pole and prayed for the best.

Chapter Twelve

[mirkwoodshewolf]

Aladdin Queen fic John Deacon x reader Chap. 11; Final battle

*Author’s note*

Hey guys well here we go. The final 2 chapters of my Disney Queen AU fic are all ready and waiting for you all to read. So I hope you all enjoy this and I hope tumblr doesn’t screw up the tags below cause I’ve noticed that no one has seen the last chapter and when I type in one of the tags I’ve put down below, it doesn’t show up on the search result. So hopefully we can work this out this time around.

Warnings: Public humiliation, execution, violence, swearing, snakes. 

Taglist:

@plethora-of-things​

@waddles03​

@psychosupernatural​

@ixchel-9275​

@simonedk​

@jd-johndeacon-or-jackdaniels​

@queensdivas​

@geek-and-proud​

@queendeakyy​

@kairosfreddie​

@dancingcoolcat​

___________________________________________________________

*My POV*

I kept wondering through the snow calling out to Abu, desperately and hoping that he was alive somewhere since he was with me when the 2 of us got banished to this damned place.

I then heard the faint sounds of shivering just to my right.  There through the snow I saw something move.  I quickly raced over and began digging through the snow.

“This is all my fault. I—I should’ve freed Freddie when I had the chance.” Finally after digging away the snow, there was Abu shivering.  I gathered him in my arms and tried to bury him underneath my shawl as I said to him, “Abu, you okay?”

He nodded while still shivering.  I hugged him closer to me as I apologized.

“I’m so sorry Abu. I made a mess of everything. We—we have to get back and set things right.” I trudged on through the harsh winds and the building up snow but it was then we heard another sound.

It was—like a painful whine.  Just a few feet away curled up as tightly as it could I noticed a familiar creature.  The grey back with black and white patterns along the face and hands.  It was Prince Brian’s pet badger Lulu.  I quickly raced over to her and said.

“Lulu?” she looked up at me and immediately crawled up into my lap.  I quickly put her next to Abu and together the two of them cuddled together to try and keep warm. “How did you get here? Were you close to us when Paul sent us away?”

Lulu kept shutting her eyes and shivering frantically.  I had to find us some shelter and fast otherwise we’re all gonna perish in the cold.

I walked for what felt like miles, already my legs were growing weaker and I couldn’t feel any of my body parts.  My lips were probably beyond blue and my fingers must’ve been long frostbitten by now.  Then my legs just gave out and I collapsed into the snow.  Slowly I rolled onto my back and just felt the harsh winds blow across me.

This is it. This is how I would meet my end. John—I’m so sorry for everything. I wish that I could tell you that, and that I really do love you.  But it seems like I’ll never get that chance.

As my eyes slowly shut, I soon took notice that something was hovering over me.  A pure white figure but before I could even see what it was, my world went black.

Somehow I managed to open my eyes and that’s when I found myself in a large cave.  Wait—how……how did I get here? I was…..I was outside in the storm, how could I possibly be in a cave?

I felt something tickle my nose and give my cheek a lick and that’s when I turned around to see Lulu.  She let out a soft bark before nuzzling into my neck.  I slowly sat up and that’s when I heard the chatter of Abu.

But I was surprised to see Abu cuddled close to a large (and I do mean LARGE) white wolf.  She looked to be about the size of a full grown female tiger, her coat was double layers and thick, but what had me hypnotized by this wolf was its eyes. Most wolves have the golden eyes or deep brown.

This white wolf—it had blue eyes.  So blue that it could rival the ocean itself. It’s eyes never left mine as I stared up at this beautiful creature.

“Did—did you bring us here?” surprisingly the wolf bowed it’s head in a nod.  It’s ears turned backward as its eyes softly shut before opening back up. “Thank you.” the wolf then stood up and walked over towards me and curled itself around me.

We stared eye to eye with each other for a moment before she gestured with her eyes for me to lay on her.

“Y—you sure?” it nodded again.  Hesitantly I lay back down and felt this warmth suddenly embrace me.  I buried my fingers deep within the white wolf’s fur as well as my nose.  It reminded me back to when I would bury myself in my mother’s breast whenever I felt sad or alone.

With Abu and Lulu soon cuddling back into the white wolf’s fur the three of us soon fell into a deep sleep once more.

I don’t know how long it had been since we fell asleep but when I did a miracle had happened.  First thing was that I could finally feel my fingers, face, and legs again. It was almost as if I hadn’t even been out in the cold at all.

Another thing was that I heard the happy chitters from Abu who was hugged Carpet!?

“Carpet!?” Carpet turned towards me and mimed out a cheer as he came up to me and wrapped himself around me in a hug.  “How did you get here?” he then mimed out how he had asked Freddie to send him here to us shortly after Paul had sent us away. “Freddie sent you?” he nodded. “We’ve got to get to Agrabah and fast, can you get us there in time?”

He saluted and laid himself horizontal and Abu quickly hopped on while I picked up Lulu and set her on top of Carpet.  I then turned towards the wolf and bowed my head in respect.

“Thank you—for saving our lives.” As I got on top of Carpet, I heard a soft, warm female voice speak up.

‘My son will be lucky to have you as his bride, my dear (Y/n).’ I stopped in my spot and quickly turned back towards the wolf. It did a soft blink at me and I know it sounds crazy but I swear it gave me a soft smile.

“Wait—are you…….” the white wolf slowly nodded again before throwing back it’s head and letting out a proud howl before suddenly disappearing from our sights.  Abu and Lulu chattered to each other and I felt my heart swell and tears formed in my eyes. “Thank you…….Queen Lillian.”

I turned back around and fully got on top of Carpet and told him to get to Agrabah as fast as possible.  Soon we were out of that frozen wasteland.

When we got back to Agrabah I was in shock of how my home was now.  The village was practically burnt to the ground, structures of homes had crumbled down, and there was hardly anyone in the town square.  

Up ahead the palace that once was a gleam of prospect and honor now looked like something out of a dark story.  It’s spiked walls stood like a warning to stay away or face impalement.

Carpet landed us down into the Market place and there I saw Shanti, an old childhood friend of mine before we grew apart. Myself, Abu, Lulu and Carpet ducked behind a cabbage cart and I let out a psst towards her.  She stopped her walking and that’s when she turned to me.

“(Y/n)?”

“Shanti what’s happened here? Where is everyone?” She looked around before coming up towards me.

“Prince John is scheduled to be executed in ten minutes.” What?! “Ever since that—Irishman took the throne and gained those powers, he’s imprisoned half the people of Agrabah. Those that remained he’s chosen to enslave the men while the women are forced to watch as Prince John is executed.”

“Oh Allah help us.”

“If you’re planning on doing something, you better do it fast.”

“Hey I’m a street mouse remember? I’ve always got a plan.”

“What was that?” I heard a guard’s voice proclaim out.

“I think I heard it from over there.”

“Go now! I’ll distract them.” I nodded then the four of us quickly raced through the labyrinth of the city up towards the palace.  Abu chattered at me as he hopped up onto my shoulder.

“Yeah you’re right I don’t have a plan. But there’ll be time to come up with one. Just give me some time.” Hopping over walls and whatever buildings were left standing, I snuck my way into the palace.

Praying that I wouldn’t be too late.

*3rd Person POV*

As the dawn began to rise, John sat there in his cell silent and still.  The doors soon unlocked and there stood four of Paul’s guards.

“It’s time.” Spoke one rough looking Irish guard with a scar over his left eye.  The other three guards unlocked John from his chains and with him at the center, the guards led him to where he would be executed.

At the heart of the city just a short ways from the palace all the women of Agrabah were gathered around and they watched helplessly as Prince John was escorted through them.

“Nooooo!” a small female voice cried out.  Soon coming through the crowd of women was little Xara, the young girl who John first helped out when they arrived to Agrabah.

“Step aside brat!” a leaner guard with a beard demanded.

“Let him go! He’s a good Prince. He can’t die!”

“Last chance yah little rat step away or you’ll die first!”

“Don’t!” John commanded.  He knelt down to Xara’s height and she pleaded with him.

“Why must you die? Was it because you helped me with getting food?” John smiled softly at the young girl’s concern.

“No love. This—this is something else entirely. I……I’m protecting my family by doing this. Xara, I want you to promise me something. Don’t be sad for me, okay? Don’t cry for me, okay?”

“I’ll miss you Prince John.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him.  John pressed his head against hers and whispered.

“And I you my dear.”

“Alright enough of this get this girl away from the traitor!” the leading guard spoke roughly.  Two of the guards then took Xara roughly by her arms and shoved her into the dirt.  Two women around Roger’s age soon came and took Xara back into the crowd. “Get up you!”

John glared up at the scarred faced guard as he was forced back to his feet and shoved forward.  He soon arrived before a platform stage.

Up already on the stage he could see his father and uncles in one cage, while on the other end Roger, Brian and Jim were either tied or chained (in Roger’s case) to pillars.  Soon coming up onto the stage was Paul Prenter with Iago on his shoulder and Freddie close behind him.  John glared with pure hatred at the Sorcerer King of England.  In his hand Paul held a long dagger with a snake encrusted hilt.

“Behold, the Silent Prince.” John’s glare harshened and it was then the guards stepped away allowing Freddie to slowly come down towards John.  Freddie’s eyes shined with pure regret and pain as he stared down at the young prince he had come to befriend.  He looked up towards Paul who gave him a soft nod and a harsh glare.

Closing his eyes, Freddie delivered a hard punch right into John’s gut sending him straight down to the ground, curling in agony and even coughing up bits of blood.  

Some cries of horror came out from the women and King Arthur pleaded for his son while Brian, Roger and Jim struggled against their bonds, helplessly trying in vain to break free.

Meanwhile from a far point of where the execution was happening at the top of a building, (Y/n), Abu, Lulu and Carpet all stood there in horror.  When (Y/n) saw Freddie punch John to the ground she let out a gasp.

“Why aren’t you fighting back John?”

“Bind him to the cross!” With his magic, Freddie then brought out the large cross that John was to be condemned to till death. Once it was lay down, Paul’s guards soon came in and forced John onto the cross.

They bound his feet together and forced his arms to each side point of the cross before tying them up as well.  One of the guards soon produced the nails that would soon go into John’s hands, chest, hips and feet.  He positioned one nail to John’s right hand and he was just about to drive the nail in when Paul exclaimed.

“Wait!” John, who had his eyes shut prepping for the worst, opened his eyes in shock only to hear Paul continue. “Let him first be stripped and shaved.” Iago then flew straight over to John and took a strand of his hair and pulled it right off of his head.

As Iago now held a long, thick strand of John’s hair, the guards soon surrounded John as they either cut off his long hair or stripped him of his clothes.  Hair and fabric was soon seen flying about till finally John was in nothing but his underwear, and his hair was now cut to the point where it looked like he just had a tuff of hair left on his head.

“Bring him to me.” Paul spoke out.  Then working together, the guards dragged the cross along the dirt up towards the platform.  The slowly they dragged the cross up the stairs before finally pulling it horizontally which forced John to now dangle against the cross as a height of over 9ft.

Cries of women were heard as some of them were pleading for Allah to stop this barbaric act but they were silenced by Paul’s guards.  Roger and Brian screaming profanities at Paul, and John’s father pleading for his son’s life.  With a wave of his hand, Paul soon silenced everyone.

From up on the rooftop, (Y/n) then turned to Abu, Lulu and Carpet.

“Okay I’ve got a plan. But it needs to happen right now. Quickly and quietly. Abu take off your hat and fez. We can’t afford Paul’s guards to recognize you.” I helped him take off his vest while he handed his fez to me. “Alright here’s what I need you guys to do……” I then began whispering the plan to them.

Back on the platform, the guard who held the nails for the cross handed them over to Paul.  He took them before levitating himself up towards John.  He cupped the side of the now broke Prince’s face and he whispered to him.

“You know John, I’m rather disappointed in you. Did you honestly think that through all this I would spare your family’s life? You’re giving me your life and saving no one.” He let out an icy scoff. “So much for love.”

It was then John did something that Paul never expected him to do.  John spat right into his face.

Paul reared his head back and looked down at his cheek to see John’s saliva right in his palm.  As he turned towards the English Prince all he saw was pure hatred. His upper lip in a sneer as it trembled with anger, his eyes burning like Hell’s fire with rage.  It was like looking at his lion Nala when she gets protective over her master.

Paul dried the spit along his robe and sneered right in John’s face.

“I’m going to enjoy burning Brian like the witch he is and gutting Roger like a codfish. I’m letting you take the easy way out. Remember that as you burn in Hell.” He backed away from John and raised the three nails up with his powers, each aiming for either his hands or his chest.

From down below Roger continued to struggle through his chains still trying to free himself.

“Roger it’s no use. The odds of you actually breaking free of those chains are—”

“Spare me your logic Brian! Are you seriously giving up right now!? That’s our brother up there and he’s going to die!” Roger hissed lowly at him.  Brian was silent.

“I’m just……I don’t see any point of us getting out of here alive. Paul’s too powerful. With Freddie at his side, he has all the power in the world.” Roger looked down solemnly.

“Well I’m not going down like this. Not without a fight. Man I wish at this point I had gotten the ropes like you and Jim instead of these chains.” It was then Roger felt a weight on his shoulders.  He turned and saw a monkey sitting on top of him.

“The one thing I never really got about this country is how the monkeys just freely think it’s okay to hop on top of you.” Jim said.

“No wait, wait.” Roger said as the monkey now hopped into his lap. “Abu? Abu is that you?” the monkey saluted as he gave the blonde haired prince a monkey grin.

“Wait, if he’s here then that means……” Brian softly whispered.

“(Y/n)? She’s alive?” Abu then revealed a chain of keys that were attached to his tail.

“Alright atta boy Abu, now quickly unlock me out of these bloody things.” Abu went behind Roger and began fiddling around with the locks.

Jim then felt something beginning to untie his ropes.  He felt the sharp teeth and slight claw piercings from two very familiar creatures. When he turned around there were Simba and Nala trying to untie his feet and hands.

“Alright cubs. Nicely done.” Brian soon felt something tickle across his fingers and nuzzle his palm.  When he turned around there was his badger Lulu.

“Oh Lulu. I was worried I’d never see you again. Did you get sent away with (Y/n) and Abu?” Lulu gave a gentle grunt as she continued chewing on her father’s bonds.

Finally all three of them were free from their bonds. But to keep up the façade for Paul and his guards, they remained sitting with their hands around the pillars and their feet remaining crossed together.

“We’ve got to get Freddie’s lamp away from Paul. I read somewhere that whoever holds the genie’s lamp becomes their new master.” Jim said.

“Alright. Now to figure out how to get that lamp away from him exactly.” Brian said.  Abu hopped back on top of Roger’s shoulder and he chattered softly while pointing to the sky.  Roger looked up and saw the magic Carpet with (Y/n) riding on top of it.

“Abu says they’ve already hatched a plan. We just need to wait for the right moment.”

Paul kept his eyes on John and he proclaimed out loud so that everyone could hear.

“WITNESS FIRST HAND! TO THOSE THAT APPOSE ME SHALL MEET THE SAME FATE AS THE FORMER PRINCES!!! And in that knowledge, despair, and DI—” suddenly Paul was knocked straight to the ground by a powerful force.

When he looked up he saw (Y/n) on the magic Carpet and she flew straight to John and untied him from the cross.

*My POV*

After ramming my elbow behind Paul’s back, Carpet flew right to John and I untied him from the cross.  He fell forward and he looked up at me in confusion.

“You—you’re alive?”

“Yeah and so are you. Come on we have to get back Paul away from the people of Agrabah. Alright Carpet take us down to the rest of the team.”

Carpet flew us down and we came down to Brian, Roger, Jim, as well Abu, Simba and Nala (who were now baby lions. Must’ve been Paul’s doing), and Lulu.

“Get on quick!”

“But what about our fathers?” questioned Brian.

“Never mind us son.” His father King Harold cried out. “Just get that demon away from these people. We’ll be fine.” Brian nodded to his father and everyone aborded Carpet.  Carpet then took off for the palace.

When we got there, we landed at the roof of the palace and I could soon see Paul flying towards us.

“Here he comes!” I proclaimed.

“What’s the plan (Y/n)?” asked Roger.

“Get the lamp away from Paul.” I told them. “Abu, you managed to get the lamp away from him before, think you can do it again?” he chattered as he saluted and quickly ran behind a few of the vases as Paul landed before us.  I could see the glimmer of the lamp at his hip as he said to me.

“As Roger said earlier, it would’ve been wise for you to pack up and fuck off.”

“Takes more than a little cold weather to kill me.” I sassed at him.

“I can see that. No matter. You and the Princes will die. This time I won’t go for the dramatics this time.”

“Yeah cause God knows your full of it.” Roger sassed. Paul glared at Roger and that’s when I noticed Abu making his way towards Paul.  C’mon pal you got this.

“Tell me something Paul, was all of this really worth it?” I asked him.  He tilted his head slightly in confusion. “All this power? You’re not the only one whose had a taste of genie magic. Believe me I tried and—and failed at what I had longed for the most.” I turned to solemnly look at John who looked at me with sad eyes. “It only satisfies you to a point, but there will always be a hole left in your heart. You’ll never truly be satisfied. No matter how much power you gain.”

“See unlike you peasant I am King of all England. I am the greatest sorcerer who ever lived. I can take down kingdoms. Countries! I will build an empire that history cannot ignore!” I saw Abu reach for the lamp but suddenly he was grabbed in a choke hold by Paul.  He lifted Abu up, who was struggling in his grasp, I went to help him but Jim and Brian held me back. “Clever monkey. But I’ve grown tired of your thieving antics!”  He then tossed Abu over the balcony and I heard him scream.

“NOO ABU!!” At that point Simba and Nala raced towards Paul and began biting and clawing at his ankles.  While he was distracted, Roger made his move and tackled Paul to the ground.

As the two of them struggled, Roger somehow managed to get the lamp unhooked from Paul’s sash.  I then watched as Nala grabbed the handle with her mouth and quickly race over to me.

“OH NO YOU DON’T YOU LITTLE PEST!!” I watched as lightning began to spark from his hand and he went to fire a shot.  But before he could get a good aim on Nala, her brother Simba pounced on Paul’s face and scratched him as rapidly as he could.

The bolt of lightning struck the floor underneath her and she was sent flying in the air.  I quickly followed underneath her and caught her just before she could fall over the edge just like Abu did.  

I flung myself over the balcony and quickly wrapped my legs around one of the flag poled underneath the balcony and swung myself forward in order to catch Nala as she fell right towards me.

But unfortunately the lamp fell out of her mouth and went tumbling down the side of the palace.  But all that mattered to me right now was me and Nala not falling off and dying.  I held Nala close to my chest and her claws dug into my clothes, slightly piercing my skin.

I hissed in pain as I swung myself upward in order to grab onto the flagpole so that we weren’t upside down anymore.

Using my skills as a street mouse, I managed to get us on top of the flagpole and gripped onto the edge of the palace and climbed up.  All the while Nala clinging onto me until a hand came into view.  I took it and was soon pulled up into John’s face.  Our noses briefly grazing across one another’s. He helped me back over the balcony and Nala hopped into his arms nuzzling into his bare chest making those loving lion meows.

“Ahh true love.” Paul’s voice soon rang out. “It does always seem to conquer all doesn’t it? But not this time, in fact it would seem your time is up Princess.” Using his snake staff he then shot a blast towards me but I was shoved out of the way.

When the smoke cleared I soon saw John in a very large hourglass.  I shook my head at him in shock as the sand from on top began to pour down on him.

“Alright that’s it! No more mister nice guy!” I heard Roger snap as he withdrew his sword.  He did a battle cry as he charged right for Paul who retorted back at him.

“I agree, but let’s do that without your constant bitching Roger.” With a flick of his hand, Roger suddenly dropped to the floor and turned into a small dog.  He began barking a high pitched bark and when he found out he couldn’t speak normally anymore, his ears lowered before barking again.

“Roger!” Brian proclaimed.

“Don’t think I didn’t forget you Brian. You could use a little unraveling don’t you think?” with a point of his snake staff, Brian suddenly exploded into a ravel of streams.  Jim and I looked toward each other and he raced towards me. “I don’t think so Jim, you need to really get the point of where your placement is.”

Jim was then trapped in a wall of swords.  I raced towards him as Paul laughed manically. I spotted Roger’s sword and quickly grabbed it and charged at Paul.

“Oh and I’m just getting warmed up for you lass.” He soon blew fire right out of his mouth which trapped me in a wall of fire.

“Roger was right about you Prenter! You’re too much of a cowardly snake to fight your own battles!”

“A snake am I?” Paul suddenly appeared from through the flames. “Perhaps you’d like to see how ssss-SNAKE LIKE I CAN BE!!!” suddenly Paul began to morph into a giant cobra.

His hood expanded menacingly as his long forked tongue hissed at me aggressively.  The wall of fire soon began the rest of his body, Paul towered over me before striking down at me with lightning speed.

I quickly dodged his attack but Paul quickly swirled around me, lowering himself slightly before doing another quick strike at me.  Then another, and another.  I jumped out of the way each time then when he came down for one last strike, I used Roger’s sword and actually cut him across his face which caused him to rear back and hiss in agony.

From the room inside I could hear Roger barking frantically, almost like he was cheering.

“You stay out of thissss!” Paul hissed.  Roger growled and that’s when Lulu came behind him and dragged him behind the tail underneath the bed.  Soon flying in after the whole battle came about was Carpet.

He landed in front of me and I quickly got on top of him and he flew me above Paul’s strike range, but he soon managed to cut some of Carpet’s thread up.

“Carpet no!” As we soon began falling back towards the palace, Paul struck out again and this time began tearing Carpet thread by thread which left me to slide down Paul’s snake body.

Hoping to stop him from tearing Carpet up anymore, as I slide, I used Roger’s sword and allowed it to cut almost halfway across his body which caused Paul to scream in utter agony.  When I reached the roof once again, I saw that John was almost practically buried in the hourglass sand.  His head being the only thing sticking out.

I dropped the sword and quickly grabbed a bit of stone from where Paul had struck Nala at earlier and raced over to John.

“JOHN HANG ON!!” I reached the hourglass but before I could slam it against the glass, I was soon wrapped up in snake coils. I was then lifted up and a cackling Paul stood over me.

“Pathetic woman. You thought you could defeat the most powerful. Being. On Earth!?” I then saw as his bird Iago came flying in with the lamp in his grasp.

“Genie should witness.” Iago squawked out.  Paul sneered and extended his tail and rubbed the lamp which soon released Freddie.  He looked around at everything in confusion and shock when he saw me.

“Face it girl. Without Freddie, you’re nothing!” I was squeezed tighter.  I grunted in pain as I felt my ribs ready to snap.  As I looked to Freddie he looked broken as he showed me his gauntlets.

Wait. That’s it!

“That maybe so. But who made you a King?” Paul’s hissing ceased as he just stared at me. “Who made you a sorcerer? You may have power beyond mortal comprehension Paul Prenter. But there will always be some man, some being more powerful than you! Freddie gave you these powers, and he can take it way just as easily.”

I turned to see Freddie shaking his head at me. Paul squeezed me tighter to the point where my voice was now strained.

“Face it Paul Prenter…..when all is said in done…..you’re still just……Second best!”

“Second! Second!?” Iago squawked.  Paul’s hissing grew deeper as he snarled out.

“SECOND!? HE SERVES ME!!!” Suddenly I was released and fell to the ground.  I let out a gasp of air before coughing harshly.

“You said it yourself…..you’re either the most powerful man in the room……or you’re nothing.” As Paul soon morphed back into himself, I turned to see Freddie who was now smirking.

He looked at me now getting what I was saying and sent a wink my direction.

“I’ll show you. I’ll show all of you. I will ensure that NO ONE EVER SAYS THOSE WORDS AGAIN!!!” He took the lamp and turned towards Freddie and proclaimed. “Freddie. For my final wish, I wish to become the most powerful being in the universe. More powerful than you!”

Freddie softly tutted to himself as he said.

“Lot of grey area in that wish Paul but—the most powerful being in the Universe, coming right up!” with a wave of his arms black smoke began to surround Paul as he laughed manically.

While he was distracted, I quickly raced back towards the hourglass.  I slammed the bottom twice before it finally broke and sand began pouring out.  John soon began coughing out sand as he stared up at me.

“What have you done?” he choked out.

“Trust me.” I told him as I held onto him.  When the black smoke subsided, there Paul stood as a genie.  Black and red smoke surrounded him as his thunderous voice spoke down to me.

“THE MOST POWERFUL BEING IN THE UNIVERSE. AT LAST!!! SECOND TO NO ONE!!! AND I THOUGHT I HAD POWER BEFORE!!” He said as he looked down at his hands which were igniting with lightning. “FIRST I WILL LAY WASTE TO YOU TWO SO THAT YOU WILL NEVER STOP ME AGAIN!!!!”

He then let out a powerful cry as he grew bigger and bigger and a ball of lightning began to form in his hands ready to strike.

However a gauntlet came onto his left forearm which stopped him from using his powers.

As it weighed down his arm, his right forearm soon had a gauntlet on it as well.  Paul looked down at me with pure hatred as he hissed at me.

“What have you done to me?!”

“I didn’t do anything.”

“WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ME!?!?” He roared again.

“This was your wish Paul Prenter. Not mine. For you see a genie may have phenomenal cosmic powers,”

“But an itty bitty living space.” Freddie spoke. Paul turned to Freddie as he continued, “And you see a genie without a master, goes back in their lamp.”

Paul’s face grew with horror.  For it was then a black genie lamp appeared underneath him and he was slowly being sucked into it.  Paul fought as hard as he could and he threatened to both John and I.

“I WILL NOT FORGET THIS GIRL!! DO YOU HEAR ME!? WHEN I COME BACK I WILL END YOU AND THE PRINCES FOR LIFE!!!”

“Goodbye Paul.” His parrot spoke as he flew away.

“PARROT!! YOU’RE COMING WITH ME!!” he then grabbed Iago and soon the two of them disappeared inside the lamp.

John looked at me and he said.

“You knew that would happen?”

“Indeed she did. Oh (Y/n) darling you are a clever little minx you!” Freddie cheered as he ruffled my hair.

[kdlovehg]

From the angsty-ish prompt you just shared: Everlark “It’s all YOUR fault!” “Don’t fucking touch me.” Can't wait to read your little brain concoction, I just know it's gonna be amazing! :D xx

I’m terribly sorry for not answering this sooner, considering it was sent ages ago. I hopped on Tumblr a few days ago and noticed this lil prompt chilling in my inbox and I’m in retail now so I thought I’d put the two together. Please ignore the misspelling of the F word, I don’t swear so I just prefer to write it this way. Hopefully, anyone who sees this enjoys it, and again, I’m always open to new prompts.

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Katniss pov

“Don’t fcking touch me” I growl, as his body looms over me, his arm nearly whacking me in the face.

“Well maybe if you’d finished the returns yesterday we wouldn’t be in this mess”. With a click, he hangs an orange dress on the rail in front of me.

I squat down and begin rifling through baskets for any more tops.

The plastic boxes scrape as he drags them across the floor behind me.

“Quit making so much noise!”.

“It’s all your fault!”.

“What did I do?.

"Look at this mess Katniss”, he snaps. I glance over my shoulder to see him tossing cotton pads and shoes out of one of the boxes. Hats and baby socks go flying, and stained pajama trousers litter the floor.

“As if that helped” I reply snarkily.

“How complicated is it,” he says, scrubbing his hands through his blonde waves. He turns around to look at me. “This was all organized when I left. There are tags on all of this junk, how hard is it to put it in the right box”.

“That doesn’t matter”.

“To you! I’m the on putting up with Effie when she’s telling me off cause she keeps finding swimsuits in the winter department”.

“Oh please”, I roll my eyes and get back to digging. “Effie loves you”.

“Take some responsibility Katniss, I can’t bail you out all the time”.

I drag three t-shirts from beneath some damaged makeup and I attempt to brush the brown stains off of them. Do people really think we can’t tell that they’ve bought something and worn it for weeks before returning it. You’d think if they’d try to scam the system they’d at least chuck the clothes in a bucket of water. I lift the shirts to my nose and gag. They reek of sweat. I toss them over the railing, into a box at the back of the fitting room. I’ll get Gale to reduce them later, surely some fool will buy them.

Peeta starts humming behind me and I’m bumped forwards as he squeezes past me.

I jump to my feet. This space is too confined for two people let alone the six rails of returns, dozens of boxes, and four or so baskets that have been haphazardly left spilling onto the shop floor.

I throw my arm out to stop him as he tries to go past me.

“That’s meant to be folded,” I say nodding towards the dad jeans in his hands.

“No”, he reaches into a bin of hangers and retrieves one. “Jeans are supposed to be hung”.

“Give it to me”.

“No”.

I reach for the denim as he lifts his arm up, his green employee shirt stretching thin to accommodate for the movement. He’s not that much taller than me and I could easily grab the leg of the trousers but I know he enjoys these childish stunts.

“See you’re the one wasting time now”.

“A please wouldn’t hurt” he grumbles.

I go to grab the jeans and he leans backward, holding them out of reach, causing me to retreat. No way do I want to be near him. I glance at my watch. 11 am. Has it only been an hour? I have three more till my first break. This is why I don’t do double shifts, I somehow always managed to get lumbered with the goody-two-shoes who seems to take up all the space with his muscular build alone. Why couldn’t they have put me with Rue. The petite little thing who always did what was asked and scuttered around like a mouse, so she was never in your way.

“Look at the sticker,” I say gesturing to the one stuck on the right leg of the jeans.

“It’ll crease” he pouts. I hide my half-smile at proving him wrong. He’s never liked not getting his way. It’s just a shame I’ve always enjoyed it.

“Fold it”.

He drops his arm and begins doing as I ask. “I have a name y'know”.

“Not like that” I interrupt, trying to grab it, “No, you’re doing it wrong! Fold it in half”.

“I’ll fold you in half”, he grumbles shoving past me. Clearly, he’s still upset that I avoid using his name as much as I can but what does he expect. I’m not here to make friends, and the less I have to talk to a six-month retail newbie the better.

I squeeze into a small room adjacent to the fitting room and begin stacking some of the boxes so that they’re ready for being dragged back to the correct department. After a few minutes, a voice calls from the shop floor. I peak outside my room and see his head pop up from behind one of the rails.

“Do you wanna help me put some of this back?” he says quietly, gesturing to the rail that loaded with returned bras and teddies. Of course, he wants help with the women’s lingerie. Twenty-six departments and that’s the one he chooses. I ignore the warmth in my cheeks and struggle to get over to him.

“Only so I don’t have to stay late with you again”. I grab a handful of the underwear.

“Aww but we had so much fun last time” he teases sarcastically, bumping into me again. I almost snap at him to quit touching me but I know that’s what he wants. He just enjoys getting a rise out of me, since I’d been the one to start this nonsense his first week here.

“I’ll start with the…”, he starts looking through the hanged lingerie and then he glances at the one’s in my hands, “non-wired bra’s, Katniss you can start with the push-up bra’s. I’m sure we’d both appreciate that” he teases, with a wink. I avoid his gaze and bite my tongue as he swipes two items from my hands, a bunch from the rail, and sets off.

The nerve of some people.

The nerve of him.

Stupid Mellark.

As the hour goes by we trek back and forth, sorting the underwear by size and colors, everyday use and special occasions. Each time he passes me he tells a few lines from a story, something that happened to him years ago. At first, I found it annoying, not only that he talked but that he’d tease you with a few lines and then leave only to do it time and time again but as the minutes passed I began to look forward to the words that’d spill from his mouth. Sure, he could just shout it. The store isn’t that busy since its a Monday morning; the children are at school, and the men are sleeping after working most of the night, and he’s only a few rails over most of the time but I let him play his game and tell myself that it’s only so I can hear the end of the story.

By the time half twelve has rolled around, he’s finished his anecdote, and we’re on the last few items for this department. My cheeks hurt from hiding my smile and I eagerly wait for the fool to start a new story. I’m sure he’s got a ton up his sleeve and he’s just waiting for the right time to voice them. I glance around at the silence, confused as to why he’s stopped speaking.

“Well say something” I implore, searching for any hint of his head. I return to the fitting room and peak behind each of the rails before returning to the shop floor. Where did he go? There’s no mess of the floor indicating that he’s found another task to do and I would’ve seen him if he’d returned for more clothes. I stalk around, confused. Having someone leave isn’t that uncommon, considering we’re constantly understaffed but having been around Peeta for so long I’ve grown accustomed to his heavier footsteps.

I startle as a hand lands heavily on my shoulder. I whip around, flinching as my braid smacks me in the face. “Where’d you go?” I ask breathlessly. How did he sneak up on me? I need to pay more attention.

“I found a bag behind some of the nightwear. It looked like someone forgot their shopping and it had some er, adult toys from one of the other stores. I figured I’d deal with it so you didn’t have to”.

“You’re not supposed to be in nightwear”, I scowl, “You’re supposed to be with me”. It’s only after I’ve said it that I realize how that sounds. I’d meant that since we’re both on returns we should be sticking together but I know that I’ve just given him another thing to make fun of me for.

I ignore the odd warm feeling that settles in my stomach when he grins at me. “Aww you scared of losing me Katniss?”.

I stay silent, embarrassed at my poor choice of wording. I’ve never been good at saying what I think.

“It’s okay”, he says gently as he steps back. I almost sigh in relief, grateful that I don’t have him so close to me. Not that I didn’t enjoy it. It’s just, distracting.

“I’m not going anywhere”.

I evade his eyes and nod in silence. What a fool I must look like.

A voice breaks out over the intercom and I recognize it as Haymitch, one of the more lackadaisical security guards. “Staff announcement”, he grumbles “Peeta to childrenswear, ya got some clothes to fold”. With a crackle, it switches off and I hear Peeta chuckle. He stretches and I avoid looking at how the material clings to him.

“Good timing hey, you get your quiet at last” he teases, as he heads towards the stairs. “Give me a call if you need anything alright Katniss”, he pauses and it’s only then that I realize he’s waiting for my response. I nod and murmur a “yeah” but he’s so far away I know he doesn’t hear me.

He stalls for a moment longer and gives me another smile before turning the corner and ascending the stairs to the second floor.

I stand still, the smile no longer on my face as I realize I got what I’d asked for. Now I’ve got a pile of work and the next six hours - including my break - likely on my own. No stories, no-one interfering with my space.

Just what I’d wanted, and yet, for some strange reason I just… I miss him. And I hate being so alone.

[ubernoxa]

The Sip: A GNR Modern Day AU

Chapter 6: Just Friends

Previous Chapters: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5)

Chapter Summary: Alanah gets a call from her manager and Duff surprises her with some help.

Warning: Fluff

I sat on the couch in Sandy’s and my apartment wishing I was anywhere else.

Declan had surprised Sandy for dinner and they were currently out eating at some fancy restaurant.

A couple hours earlier, Declan showed up at our door with a dozen roses dresses in a full suit. Apparently it was their six month anniversary, but you wouldn’t know that if you saw Sandy at the party last night. There are times I wonder if she knows what the definition of committed relationship is. I can’t judge though, my last relationships was borderline fake.

Originally we were supposed to record, but they both looked so excited to go. Before Sandy could break the news to him on how she couldn’t go, I told her we could reschedule. We had some prerecorded stuff, so we could just post that instead. She was still hesitant, so I added on that I could livestream cooking. Eventually she caved and left for her dinner with Declan. I hope she didn’t cheat on him, but the way that stranger’s arm was wrapped around her led me to believe the worst. She was supposed to be the smart one out of the two of us. She didn’t leave without making a comment on how I should invite Duff over for the stream. I swear she just wanted me to get in a relationship again, so we could go on double dates and couples vacations.

I continued to stare in the mirror as I finished applying my foundation. My heart skipped a beat as the sound of my phone ringing echoed through my apartment. Duff?

To my disappointment, it was only my media manager..well both Sandy’s and my media manager. We hired her a while back to help us with the legal side of YouTube and to help with our social presence.

“Hey Alanah, hows it going?”

“Good, Good...preparing to do the livestream I just texted you about,” I began to begin working on my eyes as I spoke.

“Okay well...you know how I hate getting into your personal life Alanah, but...” God I wish she would just spit it out. I knew she was going to ask about if I was dating Duff or not. I know we’re not, but I....I don’t know. After this morning’s bathroom event, I needed to know what that meant to him. No way that was just two friends hanging out, or maybe that’s how a rockstar hangs out with girls? Fuck.

“Are you dating Duff,” I let a fake laugh escape me once she finally got around to asking the question.

“No, just friends.” Yup, just friends would had sex multiple times in the past 24 hours and then relaxed in a jacuzzi together. Just casual friend things.

My manager went silent for a couple seconds. Was she expecting me to say yes?

“Things just ended with Mark, and I just want to enjoy being single. I won’t lie, I shed a couple tears when I heard he said Alanah who....but I’ve heard worst things. Why are you asking?” I stopped applying my makeup and focused on my manager. She went silent again, and that wasn’t ever a good sign.

“Well, you were tagged in some social media posts.....” she once again paused causing my patience to go extinct. SPIT IT OUT.

“There was a video from the paparazzi, Ill send it your way. I know Mark is a celebrity, but he wasn’t a household name like Duff. If you two do start dating you are aware that you are going to lose your sense of privacy right? You’ll be added to his list of ex’s. That’s what you will be known for,” I let out a sigh as she finished talking. Jesus Christ, we aren’t even dating and I was already getting this talk.

“Just friends,” I faked the confidence in my voice before I heard her mumble something.

“Well I’m glad you’re doing well, I’ll send you a link to the video I was referencing. If you and Duff are JUST FRIENDS you should ask him to help cook for your stream tonight,”

“Really?” I sounded like a nervous middle schooler as I spoke. Why was I nervous?

“Yeah, could be fun. Have a good one Alanah,” she hung up before I could even say goodbye...typical.

I opened up Instagram and was immediately met with a bunch of notifications. Whoever ran the Gun’s Instagram page had tagged me in a couple of photos. Most of them consisted of photos from earlier in the night of us around the BBQ. I was surprised to see that I looked decent in most of them, and in a couple...only a couple of the photos...Duff and I did look like we were dating. He had is arm wrapped around my waist or I was sitting on his lap. We aren’t dating though just friends.

I went over to his page to message him, and that’s when I froze. I immediately clicked on the most recent post and scrolled through the photos. There was one photo that caught my attention. It was from when we were eating dinner last night. It must have been cropped because it was just the two of us, but I remembered this moment. He had just made a joke that was so stupid I couldn’t help, but laugh. Yesterday I didn’t notice it, but he was smiling down at me as I giggled in the photo and he had his hand wrapped around my waist. I couldn’t read into that much more. We are just friends. We are nothing more than friends. FRIENDS.

I logged into the Instagram account specifically for Sandy’s and my YouTube channel and began to record a video.

“Hey guy! Hope you’re haveing a great Tuesday. Sandy is out celebrating an anniversary so you’re stuck with me tonight!”

“Tonight I will be live-streaming me attempting to cook something you guys comment below! So comment your ideas and hopefully I won’t burn them!”

I then when to share the video on twitter and Tumblr to try to gain traction.

I put some music on and began to scroll through the comments trying to find an idea of what to cook. The comments started out as helpful but after some scrolling a lot of the comment were about Duff....I placed my phone out and let out a sigh.

“Are you and Duff dating?”

“Wow, talk about a rebound”

“Duff + Alanah... #upgrade”

Why did I have to deal with this bull shit? Not that I wouldn’t mind being his girlfriend....but he was a rockstar and we were JUST FRIENDS.

I was pulled from my thoughts as my phone began to ring. Speaking of the devil, it was Duff.

“Hey, what’s up?” I smiled as I looked at my screen. His hair was all over the place and he looked exhausted. It must had been a long practice.

“I’m about 30 seconds away from killing my bandmates, you?”

“Well I’m currently trying to chose what to cook for my livestream,” I quickly checked what I looked like on the screen. I was thankful that I put makeup on and did my hair, I looked pretty good..not to toot my own horn or anything.

“How about Thai Salmon?” I was caught off guard by his recommendation.

“Ohhh uhhh I don’t know how to bake that.....and umm...I don’t want to look like a fool on livestream,” I was tripping over my words, unable to cease talking.

“Well if you need help, I’m actually a decent cook. I could even show you some stuff if you want,” he wanted to help me cook?

“Yeah sure!” I could feel a smile growing on my cheek from ear to ear as I spoke. I watched a smile flash on his face as I answered.

“Great! So I’ll bring the ingredients we need and we also have to soak the salmon for two hours before it’s cooked!”

My stomach was performing backflips as Duff talked. He was excited. He was excited to hang out with me. Holy shit.

Time flew by as I began to setup the two cameras. The first was on a rather large tripod allowing you to see the entire kitchen, which wasn’t much, and the second was a small camera that would be used for more close up shots.

***Buzz***

I practically jumped out of my skin when I heard my apartment’s doorbell ring. I bolted towards my intercom to the lobby, “Hello?”

“Hey Alanah, it’s Duff I got the stuff, wanna let me in or we can try to cook in the lobby?” I chuckled as I hit a button on my intercom and buzzed in. What if he thinks less of me because of my small apartment? What if he thinks I’m below him? Is my apartment too dirty? Is it too clean?

A knock at the door pulled me out of my chaotic merry-go-round of thoughts.

I took a deep breath and opened my door.

“So this is what your apartment looks like,” he had a small smile on his face as he walked around looking at the photos that hung on the wall.

“It’s not much, but it’s home,” I shrugged leaning against the table for support.

“Its cozy! I got the food, shall we begin?”

“Umm...yeah..uhhh..yeah..so since the salmon needs to marinate I’m doing a little prerecording for the video to post later in the week if that’s fine,” I wanted to kick myself repeatedly for stumbling over my words. God! I felt like such a baffoon.

“How can I help?” I watched as he looked at my camera positioned to look at the entire room.

“You can do whatever you want! If you wanna help with the cameras it’s up to you. If you want to sit on the couch and be on your phone that’s fine too,” I shrugged watching his body language as I spoke. He actually wanted to help....the rockstar was looking to help..weird okay.

“So that camera there is for overall shots while this one is for like close up,” I held up the second camera showing him how to properly hold it.

“So this first part isn’t live?”

“Yeah, I don’t want to make everyone wait two hours. I usually take live-streams and create highlight videos,” I began to pull the items out of Duff’s cloth bag.

I looked over to see Duff fiddling with the second camera and eventually turning it on. Out of the corner of my eye I then watched as he turned on the second one. Maybe he wasn’t as unfamiliar with cameras as I expected him to be.

I then felt him wrap his arms around my waist.

“Hey...Duff,” I could feel my heart rate about to explode through my chest. I’ve had sex with him before, why was I nervous around him? Why the hell was him being so close to me making my stomach become an Olympic gymnast?

“Don’t mind me, I’m just turning on your mic,” and with that I hear a faint click from a small switch that turned my mic on. He then clapped once and went to pick up the second camera.

“I’m ready when you are,” I could feel my cheeks turning red as he spoke. His damn smirk never leaving his stupid face. He knew what he was doing.

“Alright, welcome to another cooking with Alanah and Sandy, but this time there is no Sandy so we will see what happens! My current goal is to not burn the food,” before I could continue Duff’s laughter echoed through my apartment.

“What? Also cameramen should be quiet!” I teased back pointing at the camera, only making his laugh harder.

“Alanah, babe, I’ve seen your previous cooking videos and I think your goal should be to not burn down your apartment,” I froze as I tried to make out what he said between laughing.

Babe?

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t get rid of the smile that had grown on my face.

“Alright so tonight we are making teriyaki salmon! The first step is to create the marinate!” I pulled out the cooking instructions I had made Duff write before he came over.

“Alright so for the sweet chili sauce we will combine water, white vinegar, cornstach, garlic clove, and.......maple syrup,” I looked over at Duff as I read the last ingredient.

“Are you messing with me Duff?” His laughter filled the room once again and I couldn’t help but join him. His laugh was contagious.

“If I was messing with you I would have either been more subtle or more outlandish,” I watched as he placed the camera on my mini tripod infornt of the bowls I had setup for mixing.

We spent the next thirty minutes preparing the sauce together, and I loved every second of it.

“And now we wait for two hours while the salmon soaks,” Duff said into the camera before smirking at me. He was good in front of a camera and he knew it.

“So now we have two hours,” I finished turning off the cameras and my mic as he spoke.

“Do you have anything in mind in how to spend the time?” This time I couldn’t help but let a smirk wander into my face.

Without hesitation, Duff pulled me in and we began to kiss as he dragged me to my bedroom.

[darks-ink]

Absurdism Chapter 13

Well, she’s called the Red Huntress for a reason, isn’t she?

Rating: Teen/K+ (a lil swearing, because teenagers, man) Warnings: - Genre: Family, Hurt/Comfort Additional Tags: Sibling Bonding, Family Bonding, Alternate Universe - Halfa Jazz AU, Jazz makes friends

[AO3] [FFN] [more Absurdism on Tumblr] First Chapter | Previous Chapter | Next Chapter

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Chapter 13: Doctor’s Disorders

Danny was in the middle of his usual evening patrol when he heard the roar of Valerie’s hoverboard again. He sighed but slowed, coming to a stop above a quiet street.

It wasn’t hard to guess what she wanted to talk about. Freakshow’s arrest was the big talk of the day, since it was breaking news this morning. And, well, he had sent Valerie to deal with it for him. He owed her that much, at least.

Before long, Valerie came into view, her bright red suit clearly visible even in the falling darkness. Some corner of Danny’s brain itched at the sight, but he dismissed it—he just hadn’t gotten quite used to seeing Valerie in her old suit, that was all.

And then she was in front of him, and his brain screamed and his core ached like an old wound and, oh, yeah, hm.

Because in her hand, she held a long staff, topped off with a large red crystal ball.

“Phantom,” Valerie greeted him when she drew even. Her hold on the staff was loose, but just seeing it prevented Danny from moving a muscle. “I’m glad you waited for me. Don’t think I could’ve caught up with you otherwise.”

If he tried, he could outfly her, yes, but he usually didn’t patrol at his top speed. Not that he could tell her that, with the ball present. Without an active command to follow, it just drowned the world out, dulling his senses. Everything felt muted. Well. Everything but Valerie and the ball.

“No response? Huh.” She cocked her head, then followed his line of sight back to the red crystal. “Oh, does it work even without a command? Guess I’ll get right to the point.”

She cleared her throat, and Danny’s eyes snapped over to her.

“Wow, uh, the unblinking stare is a little creepy. Wait. Why are your eyes red now? Is that because of the ball? Oh, shit, wait, I’m rambling. Phantom.” She cleared her throat again, then straightened her posture, as if she could dispel her nerves that easily. “Phantom, I want you to tell me if you and Specter are really threats. And be honest.”

“Well,” Danny started. He didn’t think he wanted to tell her this, but the buzzing in his mind, echoed in his core, was just so loud. He couldn’t find the words to say anything but what Valerie asked of him. “Specter is young still. Her core still has quite a ways to go before it reaches maturity, so she’ll slowly grow stronger over time. Her powers can still go a lot of directions based on the way she uses them, but she’s leaning towards more defensive powers, now. And she’s very true, very honest. Even if she had powerful offensive capabilities, she wouldn’t be a threat.”

He paused, just for a moment too long, because Valerie asked, “And you?”

“My core is fully matured, and I’m powerful, even for a mature ghost. Most of my powers are offensive in nature, and some are extremely destructive, or could be used that way.” He swallowed. His throat felt dry, all of a sudden. Memories of the would-be future, of Dan’s future, played through his mind, unbidden. “I… I could be a threat. I could be the most destructive ghost to set foot on this planet. I could lay waste to all of Amity, destroy it like it was nothing. Nobody would have the power—the inventions—to stop me.”

It felt like his throat had closed up, but still he kept talking. “But I… I promised I wouldn’t be. I would rather see myself destroyed than see that happen. My… my friends, my family. I promised them, Valerie, I said I would never be that person.”

“Jesus, Phantom,” Valerie whispered. “Man, you’re crying.” He was? “You can wipe that off of your face if you want, jeez. You don’t have to hold still for a statue for me.”

A numbness—he hadn’t even realized he was numb—ebbed away from his core. His limbs stopped feeling like they were made of lead, now, and when had that even started? He lifted a hesitant hand to his face, wiping away— yes, indeed, tears.

“Well, shit, you were maybe a little too honest there. Didn’t even realize that that was possible.” Valerie’s voice was quiet, low, like she was talking to herself. Did she know he could hear her? That his ears were straining to make out every word she spoke, looking for commands that he didn’t even want, but still needed? “Fuck, though. That was genuine distress. Definitely not a threat if he can help it.”

She shook the staff a little, drawing Danny’s eyes back to it. What was she…?

“Oh, Phantom,” Valerie said, louder now, and he turned back to her. “I had another question. Or, well, a theory? That I wanted you to confirm for me.”

He didn’t want to, and couldn’t open his mouth to tell her so. His head nodded of its own accord.

“Good,” she said, pleased, like he’d had a real choice in the matter. Didn’t she know? “So, Specter. She’s… not a proper ghost, is she? Or she can take up a human guise, or something? But she’s. She’s Jazz Fenton, right? Tell me if I’m right about that.”

No.

“Yes, Jazz Fenton is half-ghost, and calls herself Specter in her ghost form.”

Valerie nodded, slowly, like she wasn’t really surprised. Danny figured she wasn’t, not really, if she asked him to confirm. It didn’t stop him from feeling guilty about revealing Jazz’ secret, though, but it was hard to think about that with the buzzing in his mind.

“Okay, so you’re Danny Fenton, aren’t you?”

“Yes,” Danny said. He didn’t elaborate. She hadn’t asked for the whole truth. Hopefully this universe’s Danny wouldn’t mind.

“Well, that was all.” She turned to look at the crystal staff, then back to him. “Phantom, you’re free to go.”

Finally the buzzing faded away, and Danny immediately clenched his eyes shut. He refused to look at the ball again. Couldn’t look at the ball again.

“Valerie,” he gritted out, through his teeth. “Break that thing right this fucking second, or I will do it. And I’ll do it blind.”

“What? As long as no one’s using it to rob stores or whatever it’s fine, right?” She didn’t even sound apologetic. “Wouldn’t that be a way better method to stop dangerous ghosts from coming into the city?”

“Do you even know what that staff does?” he growled, fingers digging into the skin around his eyes. Double up on protection against the staff, so he doesn’t accidentally open his eyes and see it. “You can’t— You can’t imagine how it feels, to have control over your everything wrenched away like that! The moment a ghost, any ghost, lays their eyes on that staff, it’s like someone closes a vice around your very self. The world fades away and your mind is just a soft buzz, and it’s like nothing exists except that god damn staff and whoever is fucking holding it!”

“Oh.” Her voice was quiet now, too quiet for Danny to make out any emotions. He consoled himself that he wouldn’t be able to read her expression anyway, with the mask. “I didn’t… Is that how it works?”

“Yes,” he bit out. “And I refuse to let that thing exist for a second more. Break it, Valerie, or I will.”

There was a shifting noise, and Danny tensed himself, ready to make the shot. He didn’t know where it was, would undoubtedly hit Valerie, but…

A crashing noise, like breaking glass.

He opened his eyes automatically, peeking between his fingers to see the staff in Valerie’s hands. The crystal ball was gone, reduced to red shards on her hoverboard.

It still itched in his mind, the fragments of swirls sharp and cutting.

A whine, a flash of light. A sensation of hot-cold.

And again.

“Are you…” he blinked away the after-images of red, red, red, to shoot an incredulous look at Valerie. “Are you shooting the shards?”

“Making sure it’s really destroyed,” she said, flat. “I. Shit, man. I just wanted someone to tell me the truth for once, to be honest with me. Not… I didn’t…”

He heaved a breath, something that could’ve been a sigh. “I figured. I just… I trusted you to deal with that, to make sure it wasn’t an issue.”

“And I turned it against you.” Her voice was grim. “Shit, Danny, I’m sorry. I genuinely didn’t realize it was that bad. Fuck.”

“Don’t… worry too much about it.” He wanted her to realize how fucked-up that was, but… but drowning her in guilt wouldn’t do either of them any good. “It happened. Make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

“Yeah. I… yeah.” She nodded, her eyes wandering back to the scorched remains of the crystal ball. They had molten under the ectoplasmic blasts of Valerie’s weaponry, scorched black and misshapen. She still held the staff. “Is the rest dangerous too, or was it just the ball?”

“Just the ball.” He shook his head, like he could throw the memories off that easily. Well. At least it would be hard to have nightmares with how little he slept nowadays. “What… If you kept the staff, what happened to other ghosts? The ones Freakshow had under control?”

Valerie poked the shards with the staff, rolling them around on her board. “I let them go. Took the staff right from Freakshow’s hands, and told the other ghosts they were free to go, that it wouldn’t control them again. Was that… right? Okay?”

“Yeah. Yeah, that would’ve done the trick.” That, at least, was some comfort. And she didn’t mean it, not like that, and he got that, but still. Doing something terrible because you didn’t realize it was so bad doesn’t make it okay. “I… I’m gonna go.”

“Right,” she said. “Um. I’ll finish up your patrol for you.”

He nodded. Didn’t say anything as he left. Thanking her would’ve been polite, but then, she could’ve just asked for more information, instead of… that.

---

“Um, Phantom?”

Danny turned around, frowning at the person he saw there. “Sidney? What’s up?”

“I, uh.” The full ghost shifted, uncertainly. “A bunch of the kids at Casper High are getting sick, and developing ghost powers. Jazz asked if you knew more about that?”

“Dammit,” he swore, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Fuck, yeah, unfortunately I do.” He lifted up from the rooftop, thankfully already in his ghost form. “Come on, let’s go.”

“Oh, uh, yes!”

The flight back was quick—maybe a little too quick for Sidney—and left them hovering over the school. Luckily Danny didn’t have to worry about finding Jazz, because she joined them soon enough.

“Phantom! So, the sickness—”

“It gives them ghost powers, yeah. It’s a side-effect from something else, it’s not like being half-ghost.” He cast out his ghost sense, picking up the muffled effect of the overshadowing mosquitoes, but none were left out in the open. “It’s caused by tiny mosquito ghosts. They phase into students, almost like overshadowing but not quite. Their presence causes ecto-contamination, which is slowly poisoning the students.”

“And that will kill them,” Jazz realized, grimly. “So we need to get them out. But why? How?”

“They’re Spectra’s. She’s using them to farm human DNA from desirable targets. Everyone else is just… caught in the wave, I guess.” He made a face. “She’s trying to build a perfect human body for herself, that’s why she’s targeting the kids. Youth, y’know? We need to get the mosquitoes out.”

“Okay, so I repeat, how?” She gestured at the parents that were already gathering in the parking lot, all hearing about the sick kids. Coming to hear more about how their kid is doing. “And how do we stop Spectra?”

He hummed, thinking it over for a moment. “Alright, here’s my idea. First of all, we need someone we can trust to run the quarantine, or else Bertrand will do it. We can…” Oh, now there was an idea. Jazz was gonna hate it, but it would work. “We’ll get the Fenton parents to run it. You can use your ghost powers to pretend you’re sick, and I’ll come with as your brother. Put up a bit of a play like “wow, isn’t that strangely ghostly?” and they’ll jump to take control of this situation. If Spectra isn’t running the quarantine, she can’t access the DNA she wants, and she’ll be forced out into the open.”

“Oh yeah, because that went so well last time.” Jazz frowned, clearly hesitant. “I don’t know, Phantom. You haven’t interacted with anyone in your human form in ages. I’m not sure if that’s a good idea. And there’s no way my brother won’t find out. What would he think, when he hears about this?”

Uh. Did she not… Wow, Danny, what a screw-up. Did he seriously forget to tell Jazz that her actual brother knew the whole story? Good going, pal.

“We’ll deal with that when it comes to it,” he said, instead of trying to explain all that. They were in a hurry, now. Had to get their parents to take the quarantine before Spectra and Bertrand could. “We have to hurry, now. Come on, let’s find a quiet spot to shift back.”

---

“Your clothes like terrible,” Jazz said, the moment Phantom shifted to human form, and she felt like she could slap herself. “You should’ve told me! I could’ve bought you something less worn down!”

“It’s fine, Jazz.” He tugged on the hem of his shirt, clearly self-conscious now. “I’m usually in my ghost form anyway. Come on, let’s go find our— your parents.”

“Right,” she said, following him. She made a mental note to get Phantom new clothes after this was all done.

Luckily, their parents were easy to find. The two were to the side of the mob, clearly unwilling to join in just yet. Probably because they didn’t have confirmation that their kids were sick, too.

It made Jazz feel a little guilty about what they were about to do, but… Phantom was right. This was the best plan they had, and they couldn’t risk anything else, not with the kids as sick as they were.

“Mom, Dad!” Phantom yelled, and Jazz let herself go soft and pliable against his side. Time to act like her life depended on it.

“Danny, Jazz!” her mom called back, rushing their way. “Oh, Jazz, honey, are you sick too?”

She murmured something incomprehensible, bobbing her head in a limp nod. She flapped a hand in their direction, but turned it invisible, making the gesture useless. Useless for gesturing, but perfect for demonstrating.

“Oh, kiddo.” Her dad crowded against her, taking her weight from Phantom. “Shouldn’t you be with the other kids, if you’re so sick?” His voice was quiet with worry.

“Sorry, it’s just.” Phantom paused, gesturing at her. She took it for the cue it probably was, and flickered invisible for a moment. He nodded, almost imperceptibly, and continued. “I just thought the symptoms were… strangely ghostly? Like, what kind of normal sickness would make people go invisible, or intangible, or fly?”

A gloved hand pressed against Jazz’ cheek as her mom leaned in closer. “Yes, that is very odd. It’s almost like ecto-contamination, isn’t it, Jack? Except no one develops ghost-like abilities with that.”

Ha. Little did she know.

“That’s certainly concerning,” her dad agreed, wrapping an arm more tightly around her, like he could make sure she couldn’t go anywhere. She flickered herself invisible once more, feeling his grip tighten a little more in response. “We’ll have to set up some kind of quarantine, figure out what caused this and how to fix this. Danny, you aren’t sick, right?”

Phantom jerked, startled. “Uh, no, no, I’m fine. You go take care of this, I’ll stay clear. I…” He looked at Jazz, licked his lips. “I wouldn’t want to get sick too.”

“Okay. You go back home, then. You might need to make your own dinner, though. We might be a while.”

“Yeah, sure.” He nodded. “I, uh, better get going then.” His eyes darted between all three of them. “And, uh. Stay safe.”

“We will, sweetie.” Her mom pressed a kiss to Phantom’s forehead, before turning back to Jack and Jazz. “Let’s get going. The sooner we start, the sooner we’ll figure this out.”

They moved back to the crowd of parents, leaving Phantom in the hallway. He watched them go, blinking after them. Almost… stunned? And, oh.

He hadn’t interacted with their parents all this time. This plan, no matter how she might’ve felt about it, had forced him to talk to her own parents, to pretend that it hadn’t been months since he had seen his own.

And her mom had kissed him. On his forehead.

She snapped back to the moment when she heard her mom raise her voice, but she wasn’t talking to Jazz. Cold seeped from her core, and, ah. This sketchy doctor-looking guy was Bertrand. That made sense.

“I don’t care that you’re from the government,” Maddie said, sharply. “These kids are suffering from an illness of ectoplasmic origin. The government doesn’t have the resources, nor the experience, to deal with this properly. I will not see these kids suffer from your ignorance. Jack and I are ghost experts, and we will handle this. You can tell your boss that.”

The doctor sneered, but nodded, once, jerkily. Then he turned around and stormed out.

Soon, Spectra would know, and she would come. Jazz would have to leave as soon as possible, so she could help Phantom fight her.

Her parents brought her into the re-purposed gym, steering her into one of the makeshift rooms. Jazz stepped inside, already halfway through pulling on her core when she realized she wasn’t alone.

“Jazz?” Valerie asked, pushing herself up on her elbows. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m, uh. Sick.” She loosened her grip on her core again. Shifting to ghost form would not only reveal her secret to Valerie, but break all the trust they had built. Val wasn’t that trusting of ghosts yet. She would hate them forever, if she found out that Jazz was one—or part of one.

“Right,” Valerie said, sounding utterly unconvinced. She flapped a hand, red ectoplasm curdling around it. “Like I am?”

Jazz flickered invisible demonstratively, but Valerie’s flat look remained.

“Look, Jazz. You look like you’re itching to leave.” Which was true, but also, rude. “Just go. I know a ghost situation when I see one, and this one has ghostly shenanigans written all over it.”

“Fair enough, but…” She frowned at Valerie. “Why would that involve me going anywhere?”

Valerie’s look, impossibly, grew even flatter. “Because you’re Specter? Look, it’s pretty obvious when you get as many clues I picked up on. Just go, I’ll cover for you if your parents come back.”

She felt her heart skip a beat—or two, maybe—at Valerie’s admission. “You know? Since when?!”

“Since not that long ago.” Valerie shook her head, dismissive. “We’ll talk it through later. You probably need to be out there now, don’t you?”

“Yeah, well, you’re probably jumping to come too, aren’t you?” She quirked an eyebrow at Valerie. “Since you’re the Red Huntress and all that?”

Valerie tensed a little. “It’s not like that matters,” she finally said, hesitantly. “I don’t have any of my gear with me. I won’t be any help.”

Jazz snorted, gesturing at Valerie’s hand, which glowed with red ectoplasm once more. “What’s that, then? A night light?”

“You want me to join you?” Valerie shook her head. “That would out my identity. I can’t do that, Jazz.”

“Not if you don’t go alone, it won’t.” And, hey, that was an idea. Using those powers wouldn’t speed up the illness, but it would help her and Phantom. “I’ll shift, and round up a bunch of the students as Specter. You can join in inconspicuously.”

“I don’t even know how to fire a shot with this!” Valerie shook her glowing hand demonstratively. “How would I be any help?!”

“You guys might get in a lucky shot or two. At the very least, you’ll be a distraction to Spectra.” Jazz tugged on her core, shifted to Specter in a bright flash of light. “Keep an ear out for me, okay?”

“Fine,” Valerie muttered, standing up from the bed. “But if I accidentally blast you or your brother I won’t take responsibility.”

Jazz laughed, feeling lighter already. “Duly noted.”

She passed through a few of the rooms and was pleased to find that most students cheered upon seeing her. Few had powers that could be useful in a fight, but Jazz asked them all along nonetheless. And, shockingly, almost all came.

The sounds of a fight reached her once she got close enough to the gym’s walls, and she guided her small army of ghost-powered students to a nearby door. While they navigated there without being noticed, Jazz phased through the wall, finding the hallway beyond occupied.

“Specter!” Phantom greeted her, before pausing to shoot an ecto-blast at Spectra. “Glad to see you!”

“I came as quickly as I could,” she assured him, firing a few blasts of her own. “Where’s Bertrand?”

“Dealt with him first.” Phantom dodged left to avoid Spectra’s lunge, and Jazz dove right.

Faintly, she could hear footsteps approaching. Good. Backup was on the way.

“Aren’t you two precious?” Spectra crooned, grinning at them. “I feel like I could melt looking at you!”

“I wish you would,” Phantom muttered venomously, and Jazz laughed. “Seriously, can’t you just take the hint and stay gone?”

“Oh, like the two of you are any threat to me!” She laughed, honey-sweet and sharp as a knife.

A bolt of ectoplasm hit Spectra right in the chest, knocking her flat against a wall.

It was red.

“Good shot!” Jazz shouted down as the crowd of students cheered. “Come on, Phantom, let’s go show her how pathetic we are!”

Phantom grinned back. “Good thinking!”

They rained down ecto-blasts upon Spectra, gold and green and occasional flashes of other colors—Valerie’s red, but also blue and even pink—until the ghost was collapsed on the ground. Not once did the blasts let up enough for Spectra to move.

“Keep it up!” Jazz called, reaching for her Thermos. Phantom’s blasts grew faster, and the students in the crowd seemed to double their efforts, too. Paulina had found her way to the front, and apparently had some sort of ice powers, repeatedly freezing Spectra’s arms to the floor. Valerie, right next to her, proved her unerring aim by landing blast after blast of red energy against the ghost.

Her hands wrapped around the Thermos, one hand on the lid, ready to release it, Jazz dove. Just before she reached Spectra, she yelled, “Stop!”

Silence fell as everyone halted, and Jazz uncapped the Thermos. Spectra screeched, but couldn’t escape the beam.

Jazz re-capped the Thermos, huffing out an exhausted but satisfied breath. “Got her.”

The other kids cheered, the sound only broken by the occasional cough or wheeze.

“Thanks for your help, folks,” Phantom said, lowering himself to talk to them more easily. “Really, you guys did great. But please get back to your quarantine now, before you get any sicker, yeah?”

They started heading back again, taking the hint when she and Phantom flew up higher again.

“That was a clever idea,” Phantom complimented, taking the Thermos from her. “But now you gotta go back and hide with them. I’ll see if I can figure out a way to replicate the solution from last time, okay?”

“Yeah, alright. Thanks.” She ran a hand through her hair, her core constricting at the upcoming conversation. “Did you know that Valerie figured me out?”

Phantom flinched, almost imperceptibly. “I… Yeah. Is that why it took so long?”

“That, and gathering the other students.” Jazz looked at him, but Phantom’s posture had gotten stiff, defensive. Whatever happened, he didn’t want to talk about it. She would do him that favor. “I’d better get going. See you later, Phantom.”

“Yeah,” he said, then cleared his throat. Summoned an almost-real smile. “See you later, Jazz.”

She flew back down, invisible as she phased back in her room with Valerie. She touched down, dropped her invisibility, and shifted back in one swift movement.

“Welcome back to the land of the sick,” Valerie greeted her, sitting on the edge of her bed. “Now what?”

“I’m working on it.” She ran a hand through her hair, carding it. “I know how it’s caused, but I don’t know how to stop it. Phantom has more experience, he’ll figure something out soon enough.”

Valerie frowned at her, opened her mouth as if to say something, but the cloth that formed a door to their ramshackle room rustled, stopping her.

“Hey kids,” Maddie’s voice sounded from the opening. “We figured out a solution. Come on!”

“Coming, Mom!” Jazz assured her, and watched her mom disappear again. She turned back to Valerie. “Let’s go, before it gets worse.”

“What about you?” Valerie pushed herself to her feet again, wavering for a short moment before stabilizing. “You’re not really sick, are you?”

Jazz ducked under Valerie’s arm, offering a bit of support. “I’ll find a moment to duck out, or whatever. It’ll be fine.”

“Hm.”

They joined Maddie in the sort-of hallway, other sick students trailing after her.

“Hey, Mom? How did you figure out the fix so quickly?” Jazz asked, walking a little closer to talk more easily. “Wasn’t it a really weird thing?”

“Yes, that’s true,” Maddie agreed easily. “We weren’t sure how to deal with it, actually, but your brother had a brilliant idea! Our Fenton Ghost Catcher can filter out ectoplasmic contamination, and this is undoubtedly caused by such contamination!”

“Huh.” She wasn’t sure why she was surprised by that. Of course Phantom had come in to steer their parents into the right solution.

They entered the open space, where her Dad was waiting with the Ghost Catcher. Jazz hadn’t even realized that it did anything but, well. If it was Phantom’s idea, it must’ve worked. Now she just had to find a way to duck out.

“So now what?” Valerie asked, low. “Because that thing will deal with your whole half-ghost thing too, won’t it?”

“Probably,” Jazz whispered back. “Can you stand on your own? I’ll try to sneak out, or something.”

“Yeah, sure.” Valerie freed herself from Jazz’ grasp, but frowned at her. “But won’t your parents worry, if you’re the only person who didn’t get ‘cured’?”

She made a face. Yeah, they probably would.

“Oh, Jazz!” Phantom hurried up to her, in his human form, and took her arm. “I told our parents I would give you a proper decontamination at home. Come on, let’s go.”

Jazz blinked at him, then nodded. “Uh, yeah, of course. Bye Val, see you later.”

Phantom dragged her along, and they stayed quiet until they were alone in the hallways.

“Thanks, Phantom,” she told him then. “I wasn’t sure how to get out of that alone.”

He jerked to a stop, dropping her arm. Turned to frown at her. “Didn’t Phantom tell you?” he asked, and, uh, what?

“What?”

Sky blue eyes blinked at her for a moment, and, uh.

“Wait, shit. Danny?” What? How? When? How many people knew her secret but didn’t tell her! “Danny! When did you find out?!”

“I— during your last fight with Spectra?” He seemed confused. “Seriously, I talked with Phantom, or other Danny, or whatever. Did he not tell you?”

“No?” What the fuck? “Why didn’t you tell me?!”

“Well, he—Phantom—said that his older sibling held off with telling him for a while, so.” Danny shrugged, a little helplessly. “I figured I would hold off too, but I thought that Phantom would end up telling you anyway.”

“Oh my god. You’re the worst.” She pressed her head against his shoulder. “The both of you, by the way. You’re both terrible Danny Fenton.”

“Thanks,” Danny said dryly. “I’ll be sure to remember that next time you need help.”

She groaned into his shoulder.

“Why haven’t you told our parents, anyway?” he asked, after a long moment of silence. “Not be pushy or anything, but wouldn’t that be way safer?”

“Probably,” Jazz admitted, voice muffled by Danny’s shirt. “But they’re so hateful towards ghosts, still. And I know that they’ll accept me anyway, half-ghost or not, but. I want them to change their minds, first, and they won’t do that if they’ll blame all my goodness on being part human.”

Danny shrugged, dislodging her. “Fair enough. But you should probably plan for the occasion, anyway.”

“Yeah,” Jazz agreed, even though she hoped it was ages away. For all she knew, they already knew her secret, too. “I guess I should.”

[incarnateirony]

So now I’m gonna be that butch bitch.

Socially relevant wide topics is not a specific sub blog of anyone that happens to hold an opinion in that topic. I barely even touch my home tab because of how insufferable this fandom dialogue tends to be beyond scrolling through entire vats of whatever the hell is going on and addressing it in general address in a wide host of conversational points. Which literally anyone can see with how few blogs I engage and how rare a burst of gif reblogging even is. Did you tag me directly and land in my notification stream, no, then I probably have no idea what you’re saying. This isn’t hard.

This, on the other hand, is a petty gay sub blog.

Please note there’s a very distinct difference between these and LGBT cinema discussion someone may or may not take offense to.

I’ll give you a hint: my sub blogs are short, pointed, sassy, generally include a random media reference like a video game video or this little piece of art, and are doused in sarcasm. They’re the fandom version of “ok, boomer”. Sure, I do sub blog. We all do. Let’s be real dears. But nah fam. That ain’t it.

Anyone that insists on projecting themselves into a set of shoes left on the floor is free to do so, but they need to recognize that’s what they’re doing with general discussion. No, picking a fight with me on a different social media platform and then pretending any other conversation is targeting you isn’t how it works. I can’t stop anyone from recoiling to the content. And I’ve been EXTREMELY forward on where the door is if they want to continue using regressive angles or taking personal offense to general conversation points. This isn’t new.

Jesus fucking christ.

And for the love of fuck stop treating me like I’m some big name fan. I don’t do conventions, events, actors, I don’t give a shit about shipping culture, I don’t do FB groups, I’m literally not *here* for any of that bullshit. Respectively having a few thousand followers isn’t *shit* on a platform where the big blogs range 8-14,000. I am not. Here. For this clout. Chasing. Bullshit. And I don’t want it anywhere near me. And I didn’t ask to be any kind of leader, or want to be any kind of leader, and magically, this BNF leader that I am had a grand total of 0 fucking people coming at anybody. Just a few telling them to stop escalating their own internalized issues against someone else. If you think that’s unreasonable, I don’t know what to fucking tell you.

If you’re here for fandom drama or personal validation, please, leave me the *fuck* alone. I am not here to be the mother to 2000 grown assed people. Thankfully many of you are reasonable, but for whatever 1% is out there getting *mad* that I’m not conforming, I swear to god, leave me the FUCK ALONE.

I have never been a proper agent of fandom. I have never obligated myself to washes of fandom yelling regardless of if it’s “my lane” or “my friend.” And no, I’m not due to “self reflect” just because *somebody else chose to think I was talking about them.* That’s not how that WORKS. I can’t self-reflect to magically engineer intentions or thoughts somebody else put in their head and projected my way, holy shit balls man.

You wanna know why people talk bullshit about Destiel fandom? This narcissistic manipulative bullshit, this false extremization of talking points, all of it. And no, not every Destiel fan does that before someone warps that. But there’s a reason so many people are hiding from this shit in tag commentary, and it’s THIS. You can deadass say “While I agree we should aspire for better representation we should also make sure to not trample on the work of what people ARE fighting for right now” and SOME FUCKER, SOME WHERE, will turn that into “You’re telling us to settle and stop fighting! You’re a homophobe!” even though it says the opposite JUST ABOVE WHATEVER THEY’RE EXAGGERATING, and yet SOMEONE, SOMEWHERE, will be like “You know what, this resonates with my current feelings, now I’m going to make it dictate this real person’s reality even though that is clearly NOT WHAT THEY’RE FUCKING SAYING.”

I have. ALWAYS. Said. I am not here. For fandom bullshit. This 0 to 100, all or nothing, black or white, Fall In With The Hoard Or Perish By Us Lying And Footstomping And Demanding People Unfollow The Person Who Won’t Fite Me Nao *bullshit.* No, taking a strong stance or having a strong opinion contrary to the Borg is not hArAsSmEnt. What’s fucking harassment is intentionally stalking down people’s materials to pick fights across multiple SM platforms and trying to make it all about YOU while they’re minding their bullshit on their own walls. CHECK YOURSELVES. What’s ~~bullying~~ is trying to incite hive mind attacks. What’s abuse is demanding anyone else tolerate it, much less warping “them or me” choices just because someone *disagrees* with you. 

Nobody sent anybody at the person in question. In fact, they sent themselves, and continued to double down that it had to all be about them, then directed friends to engage and continue it afterwards. The only person that outted them was them, and they fucking @’ed me, so I don’t know what the *fuck* you expected from me. Even if I WAS sub blogging them -- which 1000% not -- not a soul on the fucking planet would have known them until they threw themselves out into the field because IT WAS ADDRESSING MULTIPLE FANDOM TOPICS; and even when they threw themselves out, nobody actually came at them. They just told them to stop. ... And then after that when their friends were told I won’t judge them? ESCALATION! YOU MUST COME ATTACK ME! uh, no. That’s not how this works. Maybe that’s how you’re all used to this working, but that’s not how this works. I can very well say “Kay, whatever you wanna do with yourself” and leave it there.

I don’t ask anybody to come to my wall. I don’t ask you to come pick fights with me. I don’t ask you to troll across multiple media platforms looking for an opening just to get mad when I’m already too exhausted to deal with you. 

I can tell you the one thing you probably shouldn’t do though, and that’s follow a fandom commentary opinion blog and head nod and bobble to it and go “YEAH, YEAH!!” until your own general behavior crops up into the discussion and then turn into a bunch of rabid bobcats and start saying you had a problem with that blog the whOEL tiEM. So, what, you... agreed when it suited you while having a problem with my methods? They’re only a problem if they apply to someone you prefer? 

Get out. I literally do not have the time and energy for this bullshit. I am literally in the middle of my second legal battle in a year while dealing with crippling pain, I can BARELY make my own content BEYOND this conversation, I haven’t even been able to edit for like two weeks,  my game and my projects are all indefinitely paused, I fucking PROMISE YOU that randomopinion dot tumblr dot com is not the highlight of what I’m just out here to inspire shit for, holy shit. Like sure fam, I can barely walk into dollar general to buy a pizza for dinner right now, my house is in limbo, I’m trying to work side jobs while my hip is literally falling apart and my spine is disconnecting from my ribs intermitantly, I might puncture a lung with the effort of sitting down, but you know what I want to do? Stick it to some random FUCKER on tumblr (who can’t keep themselves off of my content while pretending I’m coming at them.) 

If you’d like, with the magic Clap On Clap Off Gay TV invention, if we can also come up with “disability trade” for a feature to live one day in the life of someone, I would gladly invite you to deal with the pain of your anatomy trying to casually rearrange itself. I mean, if we’re all about shoving ourselves into random shoes, go ahead and try mine on. See if you have the patience for this kind of fandom bullshit, let alone to methodically do whatever the fuck a segment of fandom decided I did as some sort of machiavellian plan to sub blog someone I didn’t know fucking existed beyond some other random name account trolling into the middle of an existing conversation on a whole other social media platform.

Is it absolute bullshit to kick into the middle of a conversation, not catch up on the conversation, assume the worst of a conversation because you heard something applicable to you, and to start yelling at people having a conversation that had NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU? Yes, yes it fucking is. No, I don’t care you think I’m holding some grudge from when you farted wrong in the room earlier today, your self consciousness on that front is yours, not mine, fart the fuck away.

Is it even more bullshit to say you aren’t obligated to catch up to the conversation you entered with this angle to and pretend it’s everybody else’s fault? Sure the fuck is. Is it bullshit to @ someone and make literally famously socially abusive demands and then pretend anyone came at *you* after you superman jumped one, two, and five assumptions that it was ABOUT YOU? To just double down because someone’s your *friend* even when the barest application of logic would show they walked in yelling at someone unrelated to them before they set up their drama with a whole ass bass boosting entertainment boom box for everybody? Why yes, yes that is a huge pile of bull shit. I’m not sure why this is a hard thing to grok.

So sure, now I’m sub blogging you. Because somewhere, in the midst of me blogging on every platform about people’s application of bad faith arguments, you decided to bad faithedly attach some sort of fucking motivation to my posts that made it all about *you*. The irony is fucking mind blowing.

I’m so. Done. With this shit.

[just-come-baek]

Jewels 2 | final

Pairing: Jungkook x Reader

Themes: some angst with a sprinkle of fluff | adventure!au | archaeologist!reader | dodger!Jungkook

Word count: 5.1k

Warnings: nothing greater than what happened in the first part

Summary: Nobody said it’s going to be easy, but when Jeon Jungkook, the handsome troublemaker, tags along on my adventure, my simple trip morphs into a life-threatening mission. I was to find an ancient necklace and gain fame in the archeology field, but thanks to Jungkook’s mischeif, we attracted lots of unnecessary attention and plenty of enemies.

A/N I don’t know if tumblr links work again, but if you want to read the first part, you just have to do that through my masterlist

I was royally screwed, and it was all Jungkook’s fault.

Though I was caught, and later on tied up, I just sat there, thinking of getting my revenge. I was aware it was pointless since it was apparent that the smugglers would either rape me and sell me off, or rape me and kill me afterward, but I just couldn’t help myself.

If only I could have a moment with Jungkook alone, if only I could put my hands on him, damn, I’d shred him into pieces. He had lied to me – multiple times, he had put my life in danger – also multiple times, and on top of that, that son of a bitch had stolen the necklace out of my backpack, stripping me of my secret weapon against these men.

They had brought me to their campsite sometime in the evening; now it was the middle of the night. I was freezing, the robe around my wrists was scratching my skin, and I was thirsty as hell. Too bad, the smugglers gave no shit about my needs. Once in a while, one of them would come to check up on me, but it wasn’t because they cared. They would glance at me, (read: eye-fuck me), say something in their language (probably life threats), and then leave.

I was their captive, and I hated every second of it, and frankly, making up ways of getting my revenge on Jungkook was the only thing that kept me away from going crazy. If I ever made it alive, Jungkook would wish to be dead.

Sometime before the dawn, I dozed off.

At least, I tried to doze off because as soon as I closed my eyes, feeling the embrace of sleep, one of the smugglers poured a bucket of ice-cold water on me, jolting me awake.

“What the fuck?” I yelled at him, but he just turned around and left without a word. “So gentlemanly of you,” I muttered, being overly irritable so early in the morning. Judging by my attitude and willingness to crack jokes, I must’ve been getting better.

A bit annoyed, I tried to wriggle. Unfortunately, my attempts to free myself were fruitless. I only scratched my skin some more.

I felt like a damsel in distress, and it didn’t sit right with me; especially when my knight in the shining armor was a lying motherfucker who had actually put me in this situation. Instead of helping me out, he had only attracted more trouble, and as soon as he had got a chance, he had run off with my necklace hidden in his pocket.

This whole situation was hysterical. I should’ve listened to my guts. There had always been a mischievous gleam in Jungkook’s eyes; why the fuck had I ignored it all the time?

My train of thought was interrupted by another smuggler. Unlike all the others, he was taller, and generally better groomed. He couldn’t be good news.

With his eyes fixated on me, he dragged a chair across the ground, placing it in front of me. His intense stare gave me chills, but I tried to play it cool; he attempted to intimidate me, but I had nothing to lose, so I decided not to give him that satisfaction.

The man said something in a rough voice, and though he sounded kinda sexy, it didn’t help me at all with comprehension. It seemed similar to French, but I don’t speak it, so I had absolutely no clue what he wanted to tell me.

A little annoyed with me, he stood up, grabbed my chin, and made me face him. Slowly, he was losing his patience, but no matter what, I wouldn’t magically start understanding him. At this point, I could only speculate what he meant, and though I wasn’t sure he probably said something along, “don’t get used to such luxuries, doll face. My men and I are going to fuck you senseless, and then we’re gonna sell you off as soon as we reach land.”

It was just a random guess, though.

When for the tenth time he didn’t get any reply from me, he also left.

The entire day no one stopped by to check up on me. I hadn’t eaten since the energy bar the day before, and now, my stomach was growling loudly. Too bad they wouldn’t understand my complaints regarding their poor hospitality.

It was my second day without food and water and sleep, and I could swear I was starting to have sound hallucinations. It was impossible, but my deprived mind was assured that the bushes around the campsite buzzed a faint “psst” at me.

The smugglers had better give me some food or else they’re going to sell a lunatic, and I was doubtful that they would get a large amount of money for someone in my state of mind.

I was on the verge of fainting at this point, but once again, I thought I saw something in the bushes. First, it hissed at me, and now, something moved.

Oh my God, it wasn’t a snake, was it?

Judging by the commotion it was making, it was a god damn big snake. Moreover, this time around, I didn’t have anybody to hide behind. I was tied to a fucking pole, completely defenseless. Even if I tried calling for help, these smugglers wouldn’t understand me.

Was it an anaconda? A Cobra? A boa?

When to come to think about it, I’d rather have the smugglers kill me. One clear shot to my head and it’s over. Who knew what symptoms I would get after the snake’s venom?

“Psst,” once again, I heard it, and it was enough for me to lose it. I started to wriggle like a lunatic, scratching my wrists until I felt the blood slowly oozing out of my fresh wound, the robe now digging into my flesh.

Cautiously, it left the bushes. Then it hit me. The creature wasn’t zigzagging across the ground as a snake would; it was a man trying to sneak into the campsite. After a few steps, I could see it was none other but my knight in shining armor – Jeon Jungkook.

What the hell was he doing here? Did he realize that leaving me was the greatest mistake that he has ever done? Questionable. If he came back, it had to mean that he had some serious trouble with getting out of the island.

“Shh…” Jungkook whispered when he approached me. “Everything is going to be alright,” he added, but I didn’t believe him. It was beyond evident that his intentions of rescuing me weren’t pure. Somehow, it must’ve been to his advantage to help me out.

“Jungkook, watch out,” I screamed, but before Jungkook managed to react, one of the smugglers, the bigger and the best groomed, hit Jungkook’s head with a stick, knocking him unconscious. It was just perfect; my only potential savior was just as screwed as I was.

The smugglers tied Jungkook to a chair and put him in front of me so I could torture myself with his beautiful yet treacherous features.

At first, I recollected the good memories with him; I had fewer of those in my mind, after all. Ignoring all the bad things he had done, it was quite pleasant to think about our time spent in Casablanca. Unfortunately, as soon as we had left it, everything went downhill.

Jungkook was lucky that he was unconscious because if looks could kill, he would have been staked, buried, dug up, and then staked again for good measure.

Jungkook was really lucky that I was tied up because if I could lay my hands on him, he would have wished the smugglers had killed him before me.

In the middle of the night, Jungkook stirred awake. Hopefully, with a terrible headache.

“Hello, Jungkook, what brings you here?” I asked bitterly, genuinely interested in the motives behind his unexpected visit in the smugglers’ campsite. After what he had done to me, it seemed rather odd that he came here because he wanted to rescue a damsel in distress.

“I came here because we were supposed to meet by the chopper, yet you never showed up,” Jungkook explained, but I only snorted, knowing he was bullshitting me right now.

“Try again.”

“But it’s the truth,” he stated, but it was a blatant lie.

“Cut the crap, Jungkook. I know you’ve stolen the necklace from me,” I accused him, and Jungkook remained silent, not even trying to defend himself. “Let me ask you again, why the hell have you come back?”

“OK, fine, I stole the necklace,” Jungkook admitted, and I was quite shocked to hear Jungkook say something true for a change. “But you have to believe me that I came back to get you because I care. At first, I thought I would be fine, but as soon as I reached the chopper, I felt terrible. Now I know that I shouldn’t have betrayed you like that.”

I was speechless, but not because I was touched by his confession. I literally didn’t have anything I wanted to tell him. Maybe he realized his faults, but for me, it was too late. I didn’t need to hear the justification for his actions; I had already made my mind. He had let me down a few times too many, and no apology would make up for it.

“So what was your plan?” I asked, changing the topic. We didn’t have time before the smugglers would leave the island, and I didn’t want to waste it on talking about his feelings. “If you planned getting caught and dying alongside me then I have to congratulate you. Well done, Jungkook,” I added in a mocking tone.

“Have you always been such a bitch?”

“Yeah, if you want me to be nicer, maybe you shouldn’t have double-crossed me.”

“I’ve already apologized for that; what else do you want me to do?” Jungkook said, but I had no recollection of him ever apologizing for anything.

“I have a few ideas actually, but I’m pretty sure you’re not gonna like them.”

“Can you just stop being a bitch for a moment so I can explain my plan to you?” Jungkook asked me angrily, and I just shrugged, waiting for him to elaborate about his plan. “So, I have the necklace in my side pocket,” he started, tilting his head, pointing at his cargo pants. “I thought you could do the trick again and charm them as you did in the cave. When I tried it, it didn’t work,” Jungkook explained, and now, I knew the real reason behind his return.

Of course, he couldn’t use the necklace! Only women could use it to enchant men, so that’s why he came back to get me. He needed me to use it, and get us out of the island. Thankfully, I hadn’t believed in his single word, otherwise, I would’ve thought he could be selfless.

“Do you think you can get closer, so I can take the necklace?” I asked straightforwardly, keeping my emotions (read: animosity) in check. Right now, our relations were strictly business-like; we had a common goal, so we had to put all our differences on hold.

“I have to try, it’s the only chance we have,” Jungkook said before he tried to move toward me. It was very clumsy and loud, but the smugglers seemed to decide to ignore all sounds regarding their captives.

“Why do you think the necklace didn’t work on you back then in the cave?” I wondered out loud since it still bugged me. “Are you sure you’re completely a man?”

“I think I have proven you how manly I am back in Casablanca. Or have you forgotten how you writhed below me?” Jungkook answered cockily, being already half-way to me.

“What? It’s the only explanation I could come up with.”

“Then it’s a wrong explanation,” Jungkook quickly replied, offended by my attempts of hurting his masculinity. “As soon as we get out of here, I can prove you wrong once again,” he added, but at this very moment, I was repulsed by the concept of fucking him. He might’ve had the good looks, but given the circumstances, jumping into his bed was the last thing I’d do. Jungkook was disgusting.

“I think I’ll pass, thank you,” I said, trying to smack his repulsive smirk off of his face. “Do you think you can be a little faster? They can come here anytime,” I urged him, but my words didn’t make him move any faster.

Who knew when the smugglers would come to eye-fuck me again or check if Jungkook regained his consciousness?

“Can you reach it?” Jungkook asked me when he positioned himself behind me. The rope bored deeper in my wounded skin when I tried to reach into his pocket.

“It hurts like hell,” I spoke, biting on my bottom lip, trying to stop myself from crying out in pain. “Can’t you get a little closer?”

“I’ll try,” Jungkook whispered, as he tried to give me better access. “How about now?”

“I almost got it,” I said, stretching my arm as much as I could. “I got it.” With a broad smile, I squeezed my hand around the necklace. I’d never let it go again. If someone wanted to have it, they would have to take it out of my cold hands.

“Now we have to wait for the smugglers to come here,” Jungkook concluded, acting like his typical self. Apparently, he was still resistant to whatever curse the necklace had been hexed with. “Now when they are your little puppets we can leave the island safely.”

“Sure,” I replied, although a few evil ideas ran through my head. With the necklace in my possession, I could control other men.

Before I could let out a chortle, one smuggler came to check on us, and instead of panicking that Jungkook and I were plotting something, he looked at me with heart eyes.

The necklace was working.

“Untie me,” I commanded, and the man obediently fulfilled my request. “Finally,” I added, massaging my sore wrists. I had to have my wounds cleaned, but after a quick examination, I was sure I was going to survive.

“Didn’t you forget about something, sweetheart?” Jungkook asked, hurrying me up.

“Oh, right, how could I forget about you,” I spoke casually, smiling at him. “Slap his face for me, will you?” I ordered, and the man once again did what I told him to do. I watched Jungkook get slapped, and although it was petty of me, it was also extremely satisfying.

“Why would you do that?” Jungkook groaned when his cheek started to sting.

“Slap him again, but harder this time around, okay?”

“Don’t –“ Jungkook wanted to object, but his words were stopped by another powerful swing of the smuggler’s hand. “I came here to save you, and that’s how you’re paying me back?”

“If you didn’t steal the necklace, I wouldn’t need your saving,” I retorted, but Jungkook only snorted. “Bring me something to eat, please,” I ordered the smuggler, and he, with a bright smile on his face, walked away, happy that I chose him out of the others.

“How can you be so cruel?”

“I’m only getting started,” I jested, but Jungkook didn’t seem to be amused. Apparently, he didn’t have a sense of humor when tied to a chair. “But trust me; your fate would be much worse if you weren’t resistant to the necklace.”

“I thought we were a team…”

“We were,” I started, “until you double-crossed me.”

“Is it too late to start over?” Jungkook asked with a sheepish smile, but I ignored him, looking for the man who was supposed to bring me food.

Whatever Jungkook and I had, it was over. He didn’t seem to give up, though, and if he wanted me to talk to him, I had to eat something first.

It was strange to walk amongst drug smugglers, especially when they made me feel as if I were their queen bee. They stared at me with admiration, willing to bend over backward to fulfill all of my wishes. The attention they were giving me was slightly uncomfortable, but after what I had gone through, I deserved some luxuries.

“This way, miss,” the man said, showing me a way to the table which was packed with different types of food. “Bon appetite,” he added before he walked away, letting me enjoy my meal in solitude.

Though I didn’t particularly like eating alone, I found this meal quite enjoyable.

I ate until I was full (read: until I was on the verge of vomiting).

“Gather all men around,” I commanded, and within two minutes all men assembled around me, two of the smugglers even brought Jungkook. “Oh, you’ve brought my captive.”

“I’m not your captive, princess,” Jungkook retorted, but he didn’t speak again when he got slapped for the third time. “I deserved the other slaps, but this one was uncalled for.”

“I want you to pack your things. We’re leaving the island instantly. The drugs are staying here. Is everything clear?” I commanded, and the men quickly ran away in separate ways, getting ready to leave the island.

“You’re ridiculously sexy when you boss them around,” Jungkook commented, somewhat turned on by my behavior. “I like strong women.”

“If you don’t shut up, I’ll leave you here,” I threatened, and Jungkook immediately stopped talking.

Before the sunrise, everything was set. All the men boarded the plane, while Jungkook and I stayed behind to chat. Though I wasn’t planning to leave him here, I could scare him a little bit. He wouldn’t hesitate to leave me here if he were in my shoes.

“So… what now?” Jungkook asked, now seriously concerned about his well-being.

“Don’t worry; I’ll take you to Ziguinchor. Later on, you gotta cater for yourself,” I explained as I cut the ropes, releasing him. Silently, Jungkook followed me into the plane.

Shortly after, we took off.

“I think I know why the necklace doesn’t work on me,” Jungkook started when our flight was slowly coming to an end. Within thirty minutes, we were to land in Ziguinchor.

“At this point, I don’t really care,” I answered, depriving him of his last chance of messing with my mind. Jungkook knew how to talk, how to wrap women around his finger. He had done it with me once, but now, I was smarter, and I wasn’t going to repeat my mistake.

I just couldn’t let him fool me twice.

“Please, don’t be like that.”

“Fuck you, Jeon. You stole the necklace and let these men hold me captive. It doesn’t matter why you came back. Just shut up, we’re gonna land soon,” I interjected him before he angered me even more. I couldn’t care less about his motivations. For what I cared, he could be pregnant with my baby, and I still wouldn’t like to have anything in common with him.

Shortly after my outburst, the plane landed. I had never been good with farewells, but this time, I honestly didn’t care what Jungkook might’ve thought about me. All I wanted was to get him out of my sight.

“You will come back on the island to destroy all of the drugs, and when you return, you’re going to live a normal life,” I ordered these men, and they, like they always had, nodded their heads with utter love.

“Goodbye, Jungkook,” I added before I, with my head high, walked away.

Although Jungkook tried to follow me, I ignored him. After a few moments of absolutely no reaction given by me, he finally gave up.

  ***

  The journey back to my home was much smoother with the necklace. If I faced any problems, I just had to find a man within my sight range, and he would do whatever he was told to. On the way, one man had given me a ride to the airport, and another gave me his ticket.

Travelling has never been simpler.

Once I reached my modest apartment, I fell on my bed, ready to have the nap of the century. I was exhausted and jet-lagged, and I almost slept for over twenty hours.

After my return, everything seemed dull and monotonous. And though, it didn’t bother me right after I had come back, after a few weeks it began to bug me. The routine was slowly getting to me, and with each passing day, it was more and more challenging to deal with.

I was safe in the confines of my small apartment. I was successful in the archeology field. I even went on a date with my co-worker, Hoseok, whom I had been a serious crash before my expedition. At the very first glance, my life seemed perfect, but when I thought about it, it was dull and disappointing, and above all, it lacked excitement.

I showed my discovery to one of the professors who had used to teach me. Later on, he arranged a meeting with the custodian of the National Museum. Modestly speaking, the custodian was ecstatic to hear about the necklace.

Within a few days, I got a call from him.

They wanted to have an exhibition, my necklace being the main exhibit.

I agreed in no-time.

Moreover, he provided me with a skilled crew to get back on that island and get all the other exhibits for my very first exhibition.

At first, I was hesitant, but I agreed. I was desperate to feel the excitement again, and although it was fun, it wasn’t nearly as exciting as my previous expedition.

Two months later, the exhibition had its premiere. The necklace was inside a glass cabinet in the center of the room, surrounded by Aminata and Yaya’s skeletons, pictures of simulations of their faces, and plenty of writings which we had found written on the tomb’s walls.

Because it was my discovery, I was asked to give the opening speech, and though it wasn’t as scary as being held captive, I was anxious as fuck. I was having the peak of my life; only a fool wouldn’t be a little bit stressed in that kind of moment.

Having had two glasses of champagne, I successfully delivered my speech. People listened attentively to my story about the research and my solo expedition, people laughed when I cracked a joke, and most importantly, they clapped when I finished.

It was the most important night of my life, and it was a complete blast.

Two reporters even proposed me exclusive interviews.

“I am proud of you,” my professor congratulated me as soon as he found me in the crowd. “I saw your passion on my lectures, it’s no surprise to me that you did all of that by yourself,” he added, and I felt a pang in my chest.

Although Jungkook had helped me a few times, I couldn’t involve him in my report. Or anything else that he had put me through. It was unfair for me to take all the credit for the discovery, but I didn’t have any other choice. If I had confessed to all our faults, we both would’ve been screwed. Stealing somebody’s chopper, getting shot down into the ocean, being held captive by the drug smugglers, and the list went on.

“Soon the entire country will be talking about your discovery. You better get used to the attention you’re getting now because it will not go away easily,” the professor added, and I chuckled. Whenever I held the necklace, I struggled with plenty of unwanted attention; I was going to be just fine. At least they admired me because of my success, and not because of some curse.

“I didn’t think it would,” I added, and we both chuckled. “It’s not that bad, actually.”

“Maybe, but it’s different in the long-run. You’re a celebrity now,” the professor spoke, and I tried not to laugh. Me? A celebrity? No, Jimmy Fallon hasn’t contacted me yet.

Seeking for the right words to say, I looked around the crowd. It was odd; I thought I saw him. No, it was impossible. I had exclusively told him to leave me alone. Jungkook wouldn’t show up on this event, he could've figured out how significant this evening was to me. He wouldn’t ruin this for me.

“Excuse me after a moment,” I excused myself before I walked away, looking for the familiar brown hair, broad shoulders, and his bunny teeth.

No, he wasn’t here; I must’ve been imaging things.

I was running among people, trying to spot him, but I couldn’t find him anywhere. My mind must’ve been playing tricks with me. Jungkook was probably on the other half of the world, seducing and tricking other women.

The moment when I was ready to accept that Jungkook was only a hallucination caused by excessive stress I was experiencing during the evening, I saw him. Jungkook was standing backward to me, studying the necklace inside the glass cabinet.

Knowing him, he was probably trying to come up with a plan of how to steal it again.

“What the hell are you doing here?” I asked, and Jungkook turned around, taking my breath away. He looked marvelous in a suit and tie. Moreover, when his gaze met mine, I felt hot out of a sudden. It seemed as if I missed him.

What wasn’t correct; he was a lying asshole after all.

“You did it,” Jungkook said in genuine admiration. It was strange; after all, he had done, right now, he seemed to be proud. He was impressed with my achievement, even after I had taken all the credit for the discovery. “I am happy you succeeded.”

“Thank you,” I answered, completely confused due to his presence here and his unusual behavior. It was so unlike him to talk to me without any lewd innuendos. “What are you doing here, Jungkook? Haven’t I made myself clear?”

Jungkook smiled shyly; he was acting coy – that was new.

“You’ve made yourself crystal clear, but I just couldn’t let you leave without listening to my proper explanation,” he started softly, and I cocked up my eyebrow. It wasn’t unpleasant to see him. Actually, it was pretty nice. However, when I heard the melody of his voice, I was lost. Until now, I hadn’t realized how much I missed not only the adrenaline rushing through my veins, but also him.

“Is there anything left to explain?”

“I know why the necklace has never worked on me,” Jungkook started, and I crossed my arms across my chest, waiting for him to elaborate. I had thought about it many nights, but I had never come with a proper answer.

“And why is that?”

“When you hold the necklace, it turns all men within your sight range to change into mindless zombies who are so in love with you that they want to anything to make you happy,” Jungkook said, and I didn’t interject him; he was right after all. “It has never worked on me, or it has worked all the time because I was already in love with you.”

Maybe it was rude of me to snort, but it was what I did. Jungkook? In love with me? Puh-lease, it made absolutely no sense.

“You can’t expect me to believe in your confession,” I stated, hesitant to hear his voice again. I was a strong woman, and I didn’t need him to make my life complete. Unfortunately, as much as I was ashamed to admit that, I wanted him to make my life complete.

With Jungkook, I had felt the rush of adrenaline. Whenever he had been around, I had left excitement wash through me.

It was silly, but I actually missed the way he had made me feel.

“But it’s true,” Jungkook fought, ready to deliver me a thorough explanation. “I missed you like hell. Every day I wondered what you’re up to. I hoped you’re happy. It was incredibly stupid of me to steal that necklace, but I learned my lesson.”

Jungkook explained, and I wanted to slap myself for letting his words move me.

“I love you, woman.”

“Do you think love can fix everything?”

“It can’t, but it’s hell good of a start,” Jungkook admitted boldly, reminding me of his cocky side. God, I really missed this side of him. “There wasn’t a day when I didn’t regret what I did. I can’t get back in time to make different decisions, but I can stay by your side, support you in every part of your life, and try to prove that my heart is in the right place.”

“When have you got so sappy?” I asked with a witty smirk, and Jungkook smiled widely, knowing that I started to give in. “I barely recognize you. You’re dressed like a decent human being in that suit and tie, and now, your personality. You’ve done a 180, haven’t you?”

“It seemed appropriate to dress like that,” Jungkook answered, looking down at his attire. “And if my speech wouldn’t sweep you off your feet, my looks were supposed to be a back-up plan to make you droll over my sexy body. What do you think about it? Is it working?”

“You’re an asshole you know that, right?”

“I am an asshole in love. You can’t blame me for trying,” Jungkook retorted, and I couldn’t stop myself from smiling. Though I didn’t want to show my inner emotions, a broad smile crept onto my face. “What do you say? Do you want to leave this super boring party, and do something more fun?”

“It’s not boring,” I corrected him, now slightly offended by his sharp words. It was an event dedicated to my discovery; it was awesome.

“I know it’s all about you, but you have to agree that it’s boring as fuck.” Jungkook defended his point of view, and after seeing this through his perspective, I had to agree. The average age of the guests was fifty and more, and nothing exciting was happening. People just talked about history and/or art and sipped champagne.

This party was a bummer.

“What do you propose?”

“Normally, I’d take you to your house and fuck you all night long as we did before, but now, I know I have to prove myself to you, so what do you think about getting a drink with me? And tomorrow, I can take you on a proper date.”

“Ok, but as soon as I get bored, I’m leaving.”

“Don’t worry, love. It’s never boring with me.”

[got7teenexoticup10tionboys]

☽ Dreamer | Chapter 1

     ↣ Pairing: Jung Hoseok x Reader      ↣ Genre: Slight angst, future fluff | dystopian!au      ↣ Warning: There’s really nothing to warn y’all about, maybe just some bad writing here and there lol      ↣ Word Count: 1.929 words      ↣ M.List: In bio, because Tumblr isn’t showing posts with links in the tags...

“-and 3 chocolate muffins.” The oldest beamed.

A few days had passed and Hoseok finally started to come out of his house. The 7 boys were heading to their practise, but Jin insisted on stopping by his favourite bakery.

“Hyung! You know the double chocolate are better!” Namjoon whined. He reached out to grab his muffin, a pout visible on his lips, as the oldest turned away from him holding onto the bag with the 3 chocolate muffins. He reach into the bag and handed one of the muffins to Yoongi. “Ya! What about me?” Namjoon asked confused and slightly irritated. “If you want double chocolate go and buy one yourself, these two are mine.” The 3 youngest couldn’t help but laugh at their oldest hyung’s childish behaviour. “Are you kidding me?”

Hoseok already stood outside the bakery holding the door open and waiting on the others, letting strangers in in the meantime. He rolled his eyes at the others little argument, but stopped when something, well someone, caught his eye.

Never had he seen someone like that. Mysterious and intriguing. Of course no one could top the girl he was still mourning over. But something about this someone caught his attention. Why was he feeling this way? What was so special about this g-

“Finally! Can we hurry up now! We have practise in 5 minutes!” Jungkook yelled to the rest. “Hoseok? You okay?” Yoongi asked when he noticed how distant the boy looked. Hoseok shook his head a few times and looked up at his hyung trying his best to show a smile. “Yes! Yes. I’m fine. Let’s go!” Hoseok yelled taking the lead and walking next to a hasty maknae.

“Guys, go ahead and take a break! I’ll be back in half an hour.” The choreographer yelled before leaving the room. It didn’t even take a second before all the boys crashed down on either the couch or the ground, their limbs aching, their muscles burning and their lungs trying to inhale as much oxygen as possible.

“And then Joon-hyung tripped and I-haha it was hilarious” Hoseok didn’t even realise what Jungkook had said to make everyone laugh as hard as they were doing, his mind spinning. “H-Hyung, you okay?” Jimin said through ragged breathes, his brows furrowed a little in slight concern. “Yeah, just a little headache.” He said waving Jimin off.

His head lulled back onto the couch behind him, eyes pushed close to suppress the headache spurring trough his brain. The light behind his eyelids fading and breath slowing down as he fell into a light slumber.

“Hyung watch out!” Taehyung laugh-yelled as he pulled my arm towards him. Jungkook and Jimin came riding their bikes of the hill at a new-record-speed pace and almost crashed into me. They laughed loudly, trying to apologize. I don’t know how I ended up lying on the ground next to Taehyung, he probably pulled me too hard, but I didn’t feel the impact I made with the ground.

As I opened my eyes further, two grey cars passed by. Suddenly a girl appeared, walking on the other side of the road, she seemed familiar. “Hyung! I’m so sorry.” Jimin came running to me, holding out his hand for me to grab. As I looked back to the other side of the street I remembered, she’s the girl from before. From at the bakery. I grabbed Jimin’s hand, standing up quickly to run to the other side of the street. But before I could a car passes by and then the girl was gone. “Hyung?” “Hoseok-ah?”

“Jung Hoseok?” His eyes flew open, head popping up to fast as he felt another surge of pain going trough his head. “Shit.” He cursed holding his head. “Are you okay?” Namjoon asked worried.

Hoseok’s eyes scanned his surroundings, he was still sitting in the same sweaty practise room with his 6 friends. “Yeah, just had a dream or something.” He groaned. “Maybe you should take it slow from now on, come on guys. From the top!” Their choreographer, who suddenly appeared back in the room yelled.

Yoongi stood up first holding a hand out for his friend to grab. “Take it slow buddy, you seem a little out of it today.” Hoseok nodded, still feeling the remains of the weird dream roaming his mind. “Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.”

 “Y/n y/l/n!” Your head shot up from your book and you looked up to your best friend. “Yes?” “Help me.” She whined before sliding down into the booth in front of you. “What?” You chuckled amused and put your face in your hands leaning over the table and mirroring her pout. “I swear my boss hates me. She makes me do extra chores and makes me take the most busy and annoying shifts just to irritated me.” She sighs exaggeratedly. “Wait, doesn’t she pay you extra though?” You asked, putting your hand on your chin acting like you were deep in though. “Okay yes! But that doesn’t mean working sucks!” She moans again laying her head down on the table. You laugh at your over dramatic friend before snatching her apron from her hands and putting it on.

She eyes you from her position, a cheeky smile on her face. “You owe me!” You laugh before walking over to the bar, grabbing a towel and walking around the café cleaning tables and taking some orders.

“Y/n, you don’t even work here yet you do more than Seohyun does.” Your best friend’s boss tells you with a small smile gracing her lips. “That’s not completely true, though she should start sharing her pay check with me.” You quip as she nudges your shoulder.

Narae wasn’t a terrible women, she just loved making her employees suffer sometimes. But she repaid them well with their pay checks, the daily free drinks and the freedom they received both in- and outside of work. She had a particularly soft spot for you and Seohyun and treated you two like her own daughters, it filled up the empty space she got after her own child passes way too soon. It wasn’t because of the stupid wrist-time system, she just chose to hang out with the wrong people at the wrong time. But now Narae had a successful café that kept her busy and Seohyun who she could bother as much as she wanted, knowing Seohyun could handle it.

After a few hours of working for school at your usual booth, talking to Seohyun and doing most of her job, you were going to head home. Seohyun lived in the dorm a block away, so you often walked home together on days you hung out together.

“And then he asked me out!” She screeched. “Really? Your ultimate crush, lover boy 1.2!” You faked interest. “Yes! But I said no.” “What?” You asked dumbfounded. “You rejected the boy you have been talking about since last semester?” “Yeah, you were right. He’s a total jerk. He called Subin, the cute nerd that always hangs out in the library, not my type, but still cute-“ “What did he call him!” You groaned annoyed. “Oh yeah, he called him dumb for wearing glasses, but he didn’t even know the difference between poached eggs and soft-boiled eggs so nah, I’m good.” You laughed incredulously. “Hey! I’m serious about my eggs.” You just shook your head before someone caught your eye.

He seemed familiar, but you don’t recall really seeing him before. “Yah, y/n were here. What are you looking at?” Seohyun asked as she followed your gaze. “N-nothing. Okay, I’ll get going then. Get home safe.” You said before hugging your friend and running inside. “Well that was weird.” Seohyun breathed.

 After kicking of your shoes and taking of your jacket, you got comfortable on your couch. A few days back your dorm mate was called up by her parents, her little brother got really sick so now she was out of the city for a little while. You didn’t really need to talk to anyone, though you liked having people around so it doesn’t feel as lonely. You switched on the TV, grabbing some popcorn and wrapping yourself in a fluffy blanket and watched the movie playing before you.

You should’ve known better and turned the movie to something else when it started to get scary, but you were to immersed in it and now you were in your bed, your sheets covering your head as you winced at every single sound you heard. “Why do I do this to myself?” Tears were brimming in your eyes, it was stupid how scared you were and you wondered if you could even fall asleep.

“Y/n!” The voice echoed. “Y/n!” I ran as hard as I could, not seeing where the hell I was even going. All I knew was that the footstep behind me were nearing closer and this was going to be the end of me. I turned the corner the first chance I had hoping I had lost whatever was following me but the footsteps were only getting heavier, louder, faster even. “Please leave me alone-“ Just as I turned another corner I lost my footing, believing I was going to fall on my face and probably break my nose, but I felt myself getting pulled into someone and a hand covering my mouth when I wanted to start screaming.

“Don’t make a sound or we both die.” This voice sounded threatening but also… scared. Whoever this was must’ve been another victim trying to run away as well. He was probably hiding, trying to stay alive. I couldn’t turn to face him though. He had a death grip on me as he pulled me to his chest as close as possible. If I wasn’t deathly afraid right now of what was chasing me earlier I would’ve tried to get away from him.

It seemed to take a while for my heart beat to calm down, even after I hadn’t heard the footsteps for a good few minutes. It was as if the person behind me felt my heart calming down to, because only after my breathing calmed did he let go and I was free to face him.

“What was that?” I asked as I was turning to look at him, but when I did I only saw his opened mouth close as if he forgot what he was going to say. “A-are you okay?” I asked softly, my heart beat picked up again as I examined his face. The boy in front of me was gorgeous, but his beautiful face was littered in scratches. “W-who did that to you? Was it… that?” I asked pointing at my own cheek but mentioning his small wounds and then pointing in the direction the footsteps left. He only nodded softly like he wasn’t even fulling listening, away in his own thoughts. His face was so close to me and as I took in every feature ending at his lips that were slightly apart he finally spoke again. “Y-You…”

You jumped up at your alarm abruptly waking you, which was new since you almost always wake up before your alarm, never being able to sleep well. As you got out of bed and made yourself some breakfast and a morning tea you thought back at the weird dream you just had. “Weird… I never dream like that. Probably the stupid movie I watched yesterday.” You mumbled, silently scolding yourself for watching that movie the night before. You wondered how you even fell asleep then.