#Basics 6 Device

[icewindandboringhorror]

sneepy cozy....

[emeraldcreeper]

I love men who love obscure shit it’s so nice to google the most specific combination of things hoping it’ll work out the way I want and some guy will be like ya! It works! I did it like this! Or no, but here’s this thing that has the functionality you need that does slightly better than what you’re looking at that’s not like that much more expensive considering the trouble of syncing your shit with a script being a total pain in the ass

[butchlifeguard]

i dont wanna decide on a career unfortunately everyone wants me to soso bad

[coldmilkchoices]

using screens that dont have light filters on them

[an-undercover-bi]

Class is just starting up and already I am facing issues with my accommodations.

[hyunniesgirl]

Another Love | part 1

Summary: you've been hopelessly in love with Han since you were children. One night you confess your feelings to him.

Words count: 8,539

Warnings for this part: lots of angst, drunk people, drunk Han is petty asf

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6

A/N: So I made that pool asking if I should post this fic in chapters or a 20,000+ words chapter and the long ass chapter won but at the time my mind told me I would be able to finish the whole fic before posting it... Jokes on me I need validation and feedback for me to write so yeah let's do this in chapters, sorry

A/N2: I had this idea for quite some time now but got suddenly inspired listening to the song another love.

You're done. Really, you can't take it anymore. You've known Han Jisung since elementary school, you have been basically joined at the hip since then, your parents even became best friends because of you two.

You don't know exactly when you fell in love with him, was it on your second day at school when he invited you to play with him because he noticed you were all alone? Was it when someone made an awkward joke about your messed up hair cut in second grade and he picked a fight with them? Maybe it was the very first moment you laid eyes on him, joking around with everyone and being the most popular kid in the classroom. You really can't remember, but the thing you're sure of is: Han Jisung doesn't like you back.

You've always known that, but inside you there was a tiny bit of hope that one day he would wake up and suddenly love you back.

That didn't happen though. You are now 23 and he has never ever shown the smallest amount of romantic interest in you.

"That's fine", you thought to yourself, ever since you realized your feelings for him, "I'm going to stay with him his entire life, that doesn't sound so bad"

Until it started to sound really bad. What are you gonna do? See him getting a girlfriend, then getting engaged and eventually married? Would you always be there on the sidelines listening to his lovesick whines about the woman he loves so much? Would you be the godmother to his children? By then, would you have gotten over him already? Or would you keep this up forever, marrying someone just because you can't stay alone and being in love with your best friend for the rest of your life? That was the moment you knew you had to stop, you can't keep this up.

Coincidentally Han broke up with his last girlfriend a few months ago, you thought that would be a good opportunity for you to be his rebound, yeah, pretty dignified of you.

So you dress up really pretty, hair up, a dress that always made Han compliment you and to finish it off—the necklace he gave you on your 12th birthday.

You think this is it, this is the day you're going to tell him how much you love him and maybe, just maybe he will contemplate giving you a chance.

When he arrives at your shared apartment, with two cans of beer and fried chicken, you give him a cheerful greeting, setting the table and trying to gather courage to speak.

"So, how was practice?", you begin, maybe some small talk will help you relax.

"It was good, we are almost done with the album", he says, typing something on his phone. "How was your day?", he asks, putting the device on the table and looking at you.

"Good, I had class in the morning and tutoring in the afternoon", you take a sip of your beer, "one of the mothers actually recommended me to other parents and I'm gonna start tutoring more students next week"

He smiles, "that's good, you're really smart"

You blush, bringing the back of your hands to your face to try and lessen the hot skin of your cheeks with the cold of your hands.

"Actually, I want to talk to you", you start, it's now or never.

"Sure-", Jisung stops mid sentence when his phone buzzes. "Just a minute", he looks at the screen and smiles, your heart sinks at the sight. You know that smile too well, you have seen it dozens of times. You feel your insides turning over. It's the smile meant only for the person he likes.

"Hey, Lia. Yeah, totally, I can talk right now", he picks up the call and once again asks you for a minute lifting his index finger, he walks towards the balcony and closes the glass door after going through it.

He's laughing about something, is she even that funny or is he just trying to win her favor? She's pretty, you know it. All of his girlfriends looked like models. You sigh, looking at yourself and feeling awful, suddenly you don't feel pretty anymore, you actually feel ridiculous.

Why did you think things would change just because you got brave enough to speak up? Jisung sees you as a best friend and nothing more, you have to come to terms with that.

Your mind is rushing, thinking about what you're going to do now? Can you keep being friends with him? Yeah, of course, he's your best friend, you won't end your friendship because you can't control your feelings. But you'll need time, right? You won't be able to get over this unrequited love if you keep seeing him everyday, doing everything with him and sleeping in the same house.

"So, what do you want to talk about?", he asks, sitting again. You didn't even notice he had come back inside.

You sigh, you'll tell him about it all and then you'll find the strength in you to move on.

"I like you", you say so low you're not sure he heard you. But he did, he smiles and chuckles.

"I like you too, we're best friends for a reason", he stretches his arm to take a fried chicken.

"No, I like like you", you admit, hugging yourself, feeling cold suddenly, you look around and see Han left the door to the balcony open. "I've been in love with you since I can remember", you complete.

The look on his face would be funny if it wasn't tragic, his brows are furrowed in confusion and his eyes have a very familiar look: fear. Of course, he's afraid of losing his best friend, you already guessed that much.

"Y/N I-", you notice his breathing quickening. "I'm sorry, I never knew", he says, shoulders slumping, his arms dropping to the side of his body.

"Yeah, I know you didn't", you say. He's still staring at you with so much hurt in his eyes. Jisung knows he will have to turn you down and it's going to hurt him a lot, but not as much as it will hurt you and he never ever wanted to hurt you. 

"I'm sorry, I don't know what to say", he takes a deep breath, "I never thought about you in that way, I'm really sorry, I don't feel the same"

You're not going to cry, you decided that the moment you saw fear in his eyes. It's not his fault you like him, he can't fall in love with you just because you love him. You're not going to cry and make him feel worse than you can tell he's already feeling. But listening to those words it's worse than you could have expected, you feel like the world is crumbling around you.

"I know you don't", you smile sadly.

He looks more confused now.

"Then, why did you tell me?"

"It's just… I'm done with all this", you reply, getting up from your chair.

"Done with our friendship?" Han can feel all the air leaving his body while he waits for your answer.

You chuckle, fidgeting with your foot.

"No, I don't think I could ever be done with that", you smile trying to reassure him and he feels so relieved. "I can't keep doing this, I can't continue seeing you with other people and stay hurting alone"

"I can stop bringing people to the apartment and I'll never talk about them around you", he says trying to help and your stomach sinks a lot more. Why does he have to be so sweet?

"Actually, I'll need some time", you clear your throat, "I think I'm going to stay with Seungmin for the time being, he is looking for a roommate"

Han's eyes widen and he gets up, walking towards you.

"What are you talking about? Are you going to move out?"

"It's not something definitive, I'm going to stay there until he finds a new roommate and come back after that", you take a step back, noticing how close he is to you. "Luckily by then I'll be over you, I think I just need some personal space for now, where you're not there everytime I look, or your things aren't mixed with mine or your scent isn't around every room"

"Will you still speak to me?", he asks, he wants to hug you, to hold you in his arms and say how sorry he is for not feeling the same. But he knows he can't, the best thing he can do is to keep his distance from you right now.

"I think we should keep it restricted to apartment things for now, I'll keep paying my half of the rent since my things will still be here"

"You don't have to pay if you're not here"

Ever since Jisung started making good money he insisted that you didn't have to pay for rent since you only work part time as a tutor to pay for your living expenses but you always refused. Even though he earns a lot more than you it wouldn't be fair for him to be the only one paying and honestly, you felt that if he was the only one paying for it, you would feel too much like you were a couple.

"No, I'll pay you. This arrangement doesn't change the fact that we still share the apartment"

He nods, looking down, the awkward silence making you sick.

"I'm really sorry I hurt you", he whispers and all the crying you avoided over this whole conversation threatens to come out at that exact moment.

"It's not your fault", you say, "I'm sorry I made things awkward, just give me some time and we'll be back to how things were, okay?", you give him a reassuring smile even though you're not sure things will ever go back to the way it was.

You wake up feeling like shit, you cried your eyes out the moment you stepped into Seungmin's apartment. He was so sweet to you, staying awake until you calmed down and even offered you his room for you to sleep but you refused. He was already doing you a favor by letting you stay on his couch until he found a roommate.

You sit, stretching yourself, you slept pretty comfortably but all the stress from last night left your muscles sore.

"Are you feeling better?", you hear Seungmin's voice and look at the kitchen, he's making coffee. That reminds you of all the days you woke Han up with a nice and hot coffee so he wouldn't be in a bad mood waking up so early.

"I don't think so", you answer, shaking your head like that would make your thoughts disappear. "Can you get me some of that?", you ask and he smiles.

"Already on it", you start tidying up the blanket and the pillow you used.

"What are you going to do today?", Seungmin asks while you sit at the table.

"I have some tutoring to do and class in the afternoon, maybe I'll go shopping with Hannah later"

"That's good, try to keep yourself entertained at least for the next couple of days", he hands you the mug and you nod.

All your friends knew about your crush on Han and you made all of them swear they wouldn't tell him. You were afraid things would be awkward now, since Han was their friend before you met them, but they all showed you support now that you had confessed.

Hannah had offered you to stay with her, but she has a roommate that's really strict about everything in their apartment and you don't want to cause trouble to your friend by staying there. Luckily Seungmin's last roommate had moved a couple of weeks ago and he was looking for someone new, but by the way he's picky that's not going to happen so soon.

"Since I'll be staying here and you won't accept money because I won't be using a room, the groceries will be on me and I won't accept no for an answer", you say finishing your coffee and getting up. Seungmin sighs, rolling his eyes.

"I know you're going to buy it anyway, so I'll accept it"

"Then send me a list of whatever you need and I'll buy it tonight or tomorrow", you blow him a kiss, picking your bag from the floor and heading to the bathroom.

You take a long, hot, refreshing shower and pick some comfortable clothes to go to your tutoring session.

Seungmin's already gone when you go back to the kitchen, there's a message from him on your phone.

Minnie: I left some sliced fruit in the fridge for you, eat before going out.

Minnie: I'll send you the list later btw

You smile, having someone taking care of you is nice. For a second, it makes you forget the reason why you're there to begin with.

You feel like crying again, but you can't show up to your students house with red eyes and a puffy face.

The parents that are near each other usually ask you to teach their children together in longer sessions. That strengthens the bond the kids have while strengthening the connection between the families. That usually happens when the families are wealthy, they see an opportunity in their children's friendship to get on each other's good side.

Your parents started hanging out with Jisung's parents too, not because of connections but because you two were always in each other's houses. Once, you broke your arm falling from a tree you tried to climb following Han, his mother had to call yours and calm her down on the phone the entire time your mother was driving to the hospital to meet you. That day you got scolded by both and after they finished the lecture they looked at each other and smiled, bonding over the fear of something happening to their precious child.

When they went out to buy some coffee and talk, Jisung sat by the side of your hospital bed, lips pouting and tearing up.

"I'm sorry I dared you to follow me all the way up there", he says, taking the hand of your good arm and holding it.

"It's okay, now at least I have an exciting story to tell the others", you say and he smiles, whipping his eyes.

The noise of the gate opening wakes you up from your daydream, you have to stop thinking about Han if you want to get over him.

The kids come running in your direction the moment the housekeeper opens the door.

"Miss Y/N, look I got a 9.5 on my test", the girl smiles brightly showing you the paper with the grade marked in red.

"Woah, Misu, you're so smart, I don't think you even need me anymore", you bend to her height and she pouts, sometimes she acts like a little child when she's already 12.

"Of course I need you, you're the prettiest and smartest person I know", she says and you hear someone clear their throats by the stairs. It's Misu's mother.

"If I didn't agree with her I'd be hurt", she says and you smile.

"Good morning, Mrs. Kim, I only helped a little, Misu's really smart", you say and the girl shows you her white teeth, looking at her mother and waiting for some praise.

"Of course she is", she pats the girl's head. "Eun, aren't you going to say hi to Y/N?"

The boy is a few months younger than Misu but a lot more shy. You saw him coming with her when you arrived but got so engrossed in your conversation that forgot he was there in silence.

"Hello, miss Y/N", he says, polite as ever.

"Hi, Eun, did you get a good grade like Misu?"

He nods, showing you his test with 9.8 marked in red.

"He's smarter than me", Misu pouts.

"Congratulations, Eun", you say, patting his head, making him blush and you smile. "I think you are both really smart and I'm here to help you get even smarter"

Mrs. Kim tells you to go ahead and start the lesson and invites you to stay for lunch. You were pretty lucky with the parents you met till now, all of them were nice to you and cared a great deal about their children so it's a lighthearted job to do.

The kids are indeed smart, usually you don't have to explain the same thing more than twice and they always ask a lot of questions during your time with them.

A week goes by since you last saw Jisung, fortunately he didn't try contacting you. You're sure that if he did you'd break hearing his voice and would beg for him to like you back, giving up on any pride you still have left.

You arrive at school an hour before your classes begin, you're meeting Hannah at the cafe nearby so you can talk a bit.

You look at your phone, there's a message from her saying she's on the bus but the traffic is awful so she might be a little bit late.

You choose a table by the window, contemplating if you should order already or wait till Hannah arrives.

Looking outside, you remember the moment you heard the news that you got into this university. Yours and Jisung's family were at your parents house, you both were seated on the couch when you received the message saying the college entrance results came out. You couldn't type your information, you were trembling so much Han had to do it for you.

When you read your name and the word "accepted" you actually screamed, making your mother drop the plate she had in hands. Your father and Han's came running to see what happened when Jisung showed them the screen.

Your mother and father embraced you, telling how proud they were of you and Jisung's parents did the same, like you were their own daughter.

Jisung wrapped his arms around your waist and lifted you up, spinning you and making you burst out laughing. That moment was so good, you wanted to stay there forever.

"Earth to Y/N", you hear Hanna's voice and snap out of your thoughts, sighing. "Is everything okay?", she asks, worried.

"Yeah, I'm good", you say and she narrows her eyes, knowing you are not telling the truth.

Hannah left it at that though, you are going through a hard time and she doesn't want to push it.

Honestly, she don't expect you to be fine. Your lifelong crush had rejected you and to make things worse he is your best friend, so yeah, of course you are not okay.

"Then, I'm going to order", she drops her bag in the seat in front of you, "your usual?"

You nod, seeing her walk to the cashier. You met Hannah three years ago, when you started college. She's the total opposite of you, really outgoing and a total social butterfly, it seems those are the people you attract seeing how Han is the same.

She sat by your side on the first day, making a random joke and making you laugh, that's how she became your best friend. You didn't even have to tell her about your one sided love, she had to see only one interaction between you and Jisung to know exactly what was going on.

She is the one that urged you to tell him about your feelings and was very adamant about you moving on from him, she couldn't let you waste all your 20's being in love with someone that didn't like you back… or not the way you wanted to.

"So, I heard about a party", Hannah says, putting the pager on the table and sitting in front of you.

"There's like a hundred of those, you have to be more specific", you joke and she rolls her eyes.

"You know that guy from English literature? The one that dyed his hair pink last semester?"

"Yeah, it's kinda hard to forget about him", you laugh.

When Yunho came to school with pink hair a rumor of him becoming an idol started going around, everyone tried to be nice to him and all that shit but it turned out he just lost a bet.

"He's hosting this party in like a really big fancy place to celebrate his graduation", she finishes.

"That's nice", you say, fidgeting with your fingers under the table.

"Hmmm, are we going to go or what?", she asks and you glance at her.

"Were we invited?"

"Ahm, you're hot and I'm hot, why wouldn't we be invited?"

You laugh, knowing what she's doing. Hannah is more sensible than you give her credit for, you really thought she would ask about everything that happened on that night, but instead she has been trying to distract you for the past week and that is really nice of her.

She smiles, seeing you smile. Hannah knows you never give enough credit to yourself, you never think you're pretty enough, funny enough, cool enough or smart enough even though you're those things and much more. She approached you on your first day because there's just something about you, something bright and cheerful. When people are upset, mad or sad you always do your best to make them feel better, so Hannah felt this was her time to cheer you up.

The pager buzzes on the table and she gets up, going to the counter to get your orders.

You look at her coming back with a big grin in her lips, handing you the coffee with a note glued to the cup sleeve.

"To the girl with the yellow cardigan, I see you coming here often and I think you're cute, maybe we can hangout sometime? If you're up to it, text me: xxx xxxx-xxxx"

You blush, looking at the counter and seeing the cutest guy looking at you with flushed cheeks. He's so red you can see it from where you're seated. He smiles waving at you and you wave back.

Hannah has one eyebrow lifted looking at your interaction and you feel your cheeks even hotter.

"So, are you going to text him?", she asks, reading the note and you sigh.

"I don't think so", you say, sipping at your coffee.

"Why not?"

"I don't think it would be fair to someone if I start something with them when I'm still in love with someone else", you answer and Hannah sighs.

"Yeah, you have a point", she pouts, "but like, maybe messing around a little won't hurt? I mean, he's not in love with you or anything, you can talk with each other and see where things go"

Hannah's right and you know it. Even though it's still too soon, you should try meeting new people, you're not going to get over Han just by staying away from him.

This feelings, you have it with you for so long, it's hard to let it go. Loving Han is the only romantic feeling you have ever known, it's scary to walk off of this thing you know so well  to something completely new.

You have to, though. It's the only way for your friendship to keep existing. So you nod to Hannah, taking your phone out of your pocket and dialing the number written on the cup, seconds later you're typing a message.

You: Hey, it's the girl in the yellow cardigan, my name is Y/N btw

You send and hear a ping, you thought he would have his phone on silent mode and sudden embarrassment creeps up when you see him taking his phone out of the pocket of his apron.

Cute guy: Hey, I was afraid of making you uncomfortable, so let me apologize first. I just didn't know how to approach you

Cute guy: Ah, and I'm Heeseung

You change the name in his contact before replying.

You: it didn't make me uncomfortable and thank you for calling me cute.

Heeseung: you don't have to thank me for telling the truth.

You giggle, it's interesting to feel like this, even though you can tell it's something temporary.

You: lol, you're really smooth.

"Let's go?", Hannah says, smirking at you and you blush. You nod, picking your things up and getting up from the table, you wave goodbye to Heeseung before going out and he smiles brightly at you.

>><<

The morning after you went away, Han woke up feeling awful, all the things that happened the previous night coming back at him at the same time. He was sure the moment you walked out of the door, giving him your best smile and trying not to cry was the saddest he ever felt in his entire life. You were his best friend, you were everything to him, he felt like shit because he never noticed your feelings. He doesn't know what he would have done if he knew, but maybe he could have been better, talking less about his relationships and especially not bringing his hook ups to the apartment.

He got up, feeling like crying everytime he had to pass by your bedroom door, knowing you were not there and wouldn't be for far too long, all because of him. The bell rings and he runs to the door, hoping it's you, hoping you'll tell him everything was a joke and that you didn't actually like him. Even though he knows you wouldn't press the doorbell since you know the password and he knows the hurt in your eyes when he said he didn't feel the same as you was no joke.

So it was no surprise when he opened the door and found Chan and Changbin there. They did tell him they were going to stop by in the morning to pick him up but with all the things that happened he just forgot about it.

"Are you okay? You look like shit", Changbin says entering the house.

Chan looks at Han, worried.

"Are you sick?", he asks, "where's Y/N?" He knows you wouldn't leave Han alone if he were sick, but you would have shown up already by hearing Changbin's loud voice.

"She's gone", Han says, running his hands through his hair.

"What do you mean?", Chan asks with wide eyes.

"She- she confessed to me and I turned her down", he says, maybe he should have told you he could like you back, that way he wouldn't be feeling this way and you'd still be there with him.

"Shit", Changbin says, his lips pressed in a thin line.

Han looks at the both of them, why don't they look surprised?

"You guys knew about it?" He asks, a little louder than his usual voice and the boys exchange a look. "Woah, thanks for the heads up"

He shouldn't be mad at them, it's not their fault, but he's already too mad at himself so he doesn't know where else to put the blame.

"It was not our place to tell you", Chan says.

"Does everyone know?", Han asks and Changbin nods, "so I was the only one? Am I dumb or something?"

Chan sighs, "it's not really your fault for not knowing, you probably are used to the way Y/N looks and talks to you because you're best friends since you were children, but to the people outside it is pretty clear from the get go that she likes you"

"But where did she go? Are you not friends anymore?", Changbin asks the difficult questions and Chan glares at him.

"She said she will be staying with Seungmin till he finds a roommate and then she's going to come back"

"She probably just needs some time", Chan says, putting a hand on Han's shoulder trying to reassure him, and he really hopes that's the case.

>><<

You've been texting Heeseung for a few days now and he's pretty nice, he's a dance major and works part time at the cafe to pay for living expenses the same as you do with tutoring.

Hannah had convinced you to go to Yunho's party and get wasted, saying you need the college life experience the most now that you had your first heartbreak but you don't want to think about that, you want to forget that you ever loved Han Jisung.

So you drink a whole bottle of wine before leaving for the party, Seungmin's coming with you and Hannah will meet you there. You are looking good, or maybe it's the alcohol that makes you feel good, your hair is down, you're wearing a black lace cropped top you borrowed from Hannah, with a much lower neckline than you are used to, high waisted jeans and black boots.

The party is already crowded when you and Seungmin get there and it's really a fancy place like Hannah told you.

"Let's grab a drink", you yell to Seungmin.

"You should drink water, you're already drunk", he demands and you show your tongue to him.

"Nooooo, don't be a killjoy"

He sighs, it's hard to convince you of something when you're sober, it's even harder when you're drunk.

"You can have a drink after you drink a cup of water", he tells you and you nod, sounds like a win win for you.

After drinking a whole cup of water you show it to him, waiting for a praise and Seungmin rolls his eyes. What are you, a 10 year old?

"Good job, now you can drink", he gives you a cup with something mixed in it, "but you have to drink some water for each drink you take, okay?"

"Okay, dad", you joke, sipping your drink.

Seungmin knows a lot of people at the party and you feel left out every time someone approaches him so you're really happy when Hannah shows up, with a much taller boy accompanying her.

"Look who I found", she says pointing at him.

"Heeseung?", you scream, startling Seungmin who's close to you.

"Jesus, Y/N, calm down", he says putting his hand over his ear, "I'm a singer, I can't lose my hearing", he says and you pout, whining an apology even though you know he's not really mad.

"I didn't know you were gonna be here", Heeseung gets closer to you, side eyeing Seungmin.

"I didn't want to come, Hannah made me", you tell him, "this is Seungmin, he's my friend"

He nods at the boy by your side, relaxing to hear you call Seungmin a friend.

"Hey, Minnie, let's go dance?", Hannah says and Seungmin narrows his eyes suspiciously.

"I don't dance", he answers, crossing his arms and she sighs.

"For fucking sake, just come with me", she says and Seungmin follows her without more questions, he knows too well not to mess with her when she gets angry.

"You look really pretty", Heeseung says, bending a little to lessen the difference in your height. You blush even though it's not as good hearing him saying that as it was when Han complimented you, but you're trying to get over that, aren't you?

"Thanks, you look hot too", you hiccup, you don't have a filter when you're drunk. He smiles, turning around on the table and pouring you a cup of water.

"Drink this, it's going to help", he hands it to you.

"Thank you, you're so sweet and handsome", you yell again but he doesn't flinch like Seungmin did.

"You can't keep saying these kinds of things and not want me to kiss you", he says and you smile, sly.

"Who says I don't want that?", the moment he comprehends what you just said his face reddens, and he thought he was being bold.

"Once you sober up we can talk about that", he tells you and you pout. You wanted to kiss him now, maybe if you did all the hurt you were feeling would go away. Maybe you just needed someone to make you forget about Jisung.

"But I want it now", you cross your arms, behaving like a child that didn't get their way.

"Do you like dancing?", he changes the subject. Your face brightens with his question.

"I LOVE dancing", you show him the choreography to queencard that's playing on the dance floor and he laughs at your messy steps, he's sure you're much better at it while sober.

"Then drink this and let's dance", he hands you another cup of water.

"Seungmin told me I could have a drink after a cup of water, but this makes two cups of water and no drink", you point out and Heeseung can't help but find the drunk you really cute.

"This water will help you so you won't have a bad hangover tomorrow", he says and you nod, that's a good point.

Super by seventeen starts playing and you finish downing the water, grabbing Heeseung's hand and dragging him to the dance floor.

Being a dance major, of course he knows the steps and he's so good there are moments you just stop and watch him in a daze. Actually, he knows the steps to every song playing after that too, you dance so much you're all sweaty and your legs are tired. You're totally sober now, feeling ecstatic. It's so good being at a party having so much fun.

You're jumping and smiling until you see him.

You stop in your tracks seeing Han Jisung staring at you from the other side of the dance floor, your smile fades away as soon as your eyes lock with his.

He looks sick, he lost a lot of weight considering the short period of time you haven't seen each other and he wasn't smiling like he always did. He takes a step in your direction and you automatically step away, your stomach sinking.

You're feeling your heart beat so fast it's overlapping with the loud music, you gulp feeling your legs weaken, why the hell are you having this reaction? He's the same Han Jisung you've known since you were a child, the only difference now is that he knows how you feel about him.

You can't avoid him until you get over your feelings, that won't work and you know it, you have to get used to being near him feeling nothing other than friendship, but you can't see him at that moment, you just can't. You're having fun, there's a handsome guy with you and you want to like him and not Jisung.

You grab Heeseung's hand and pull him away from the dance floor, walking outside so you can breathe some fresh air.

"Did something happen?", he asks, looking confused and worried.

"It just felt stiff in there for a moment", you say and he nods.

You didn't want to explain to him why you were not speaking to your best friend and how messed up your relationship with Han is right now. You want to forget about it and your way of doing it is right by your side, handsome and available.

"So, about that thing you said we could do once I sobered up… I'm sober now", you say and he blushes, analyzing you for a moment to see if you are telling the truth.

The last drink you took was more than an hour ago and you drank so much water after that, it's a miracle you still don't have to use the toilet.

"I don't want to do something you'll regret later", he says and you appreciate how considerate he is. But right now you don't want someone considerate, you want someone that'll sweep you off your feet and help you forget what you so desperately want to. So you get closer, caging him against the wall and tiptoeing, trying to get closer to his face.

"If you don't want to, it's okay. But if you're holding back because you think I'm drunk, I'm not", that was his cue to kiss you. His lips crashing sloppily onto yours, hands cupping your face then moving down to your waist. You wrap your arms around his neck trying to get closer than you already are. He's good, you've kissed enough people in your life to know that, yet you feel sick.

You feel bad and like a horrible person because you just know he can't compare to Jisung even though you never kissed your best friend.

You feel bad thinking about someone else while kissing Heeseung, he's so nice and sweet and you know he's not fooling around, if you give him the chance he's going to truly like you and you're only using him.

You step away sighing, seeing his brows furrowed and the confusion in his eyes.

"Was it that bad?", he jokes but you can see he's feeling hurt. "I'm not trying to brag, but I never got a reaction like that after a kiss"

You smile apologetically, looking for words to explain yourself.

"It was great and you're great", you begin, "I think you're too sweet, that's why I can't lead you on"

"What are you talking about?" he asks, even more confused.

"I'm in love with someone else and I know it sounds awful, I did try to get over him with you but I feel like you'll really like me if we don't stop right now and I'm not sure if I'll be able to be that person for you", you look at him, seeing the disappointment in his face. "I'm sorry, I'm a terrible person and you can hate me if you want"

He stares at you for a few moments, sighing and giving you a reassuring smile after.

"I don't think you're terrible, I think you're truly brave for coming clean like that", you're relieved, you were afraid he would say something mean and even though you feel like you deserve it, you're really fragile right now. "Thank you for telling me before I got too deep into this and I don't know, maybe we can be friends?"

"Absolutely, I would love that"

"So, do you want to go back inside?", he asks and you shake your head.

"I don't think so, I should probably go home", you say, you don't want to go back there to see Han again.

"Do you want me to take you home?"

"It's okay, I'm going to text Seungmin and see where he's at but you can go inside, I'm going to stay here and get some more fresh air"

"Alright, I'll see you at the cafe"

You nod, seeing him walk away. Woah, you just let that masterpiece of a man go because you can't forget about a fucking unrequited love. You curse yourself, slapping your forehead.

After that, you text Seungmin telling where you are and asking where the hell he and Hannah went, sending the same message to her and waiting for their answer.

You sit on the grass, taking a deep breath. You feel a bit sick after seeing Jisung, you never thought you'd feel that way. Never in your worst nightmares did you think you would be afraid to talk to him, maybe you're scared of talking to him and feeling nothing, what if all of this was just in your head and you just needed some time apart to figure it out?

You hear steps close to you and pray it's not some horny couple trying to fuck near you, however, the moment you lay eyes on your best friend you actually wish it was a horny couple.

You get up in a jump, your stomach sinking and your head spinning. Why does it hurt so much suddenly? It feels like your chest is being torn apart and you can't do a thing to make it better.

Jisung looks worse up close, he has huge bags under his eyes and he's too pale.

You're worried about him, even though you can't have the luxury of that. Not when your insides are all messed up and you want to throw up. You walk past him without saying a word, you can't handle this right now, but he grabs your wrist holding you in place. You don't look at him, staring at the floor trying to get out of his grip.

"I miss you", he says and your heart drops to your stomach. Why is he doing this to you? It's not like being apart from your best friend is fun to you. "Can't you look at me?", he pleads but you can't find the courage to do that yet. "Please", but he sounds so desperate, you force yourself to do it.

You look at him, he's obviously drunk. Who the hell let him drink this much?

"What is it?", you sound more spiteful than you were planning and his eyes widen, releasing your arm from his grasp.

"Do you hate me now?", he asks and you sigh.

"Of course I don't hate you, you're my best friend", you say that but for some reason it doesn't feel right, it doesn't sound like the truth.

"Can't you come back home? I feel like shit everytime I wake up and you're not there"

"I told you I need time", you say, running your hands through your hair.

"Are you going to forget about me by fucking some random dude?", he asks and you glare at him, eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

"I don't understand how that's any of your business"

"It is, because you told me you love me but you act like you never want to see my face again", he scoffs.

You feel mad, what's he trying to say? Should you keep hurting just because you love him?

"I can't sit around forever, waiting for you to look at me", you say and he steps closer to you.

"I'm looking at you right now, I- I'll be good to you, I'll like you back", the moment he finishes saying that, you can't control the tears running through your eyes.

Is that supposed to be good? He would be forced to date you so he could have you close to him?

"Why are you doing this to me?" You ask and he takes a step back startled with you tears, suddenly sobering up, "it's not easy for me to be away from you, you're my best friend, but I do have some bit of dignity left in me and I won't accept less than I deserve, even if that less is the man I love with me", you wipe your tears seeing him step closer, trying to reach your hand and you step away, "don't come close to me right now, I could never stay with you knowing you don't love me, you should know that"

You turn around trying to get away from him but stop on your tracks seeing Hannah, Seungmin, Chan and Changbin right there looking at you awkwardly. Of course, the humiliation is the cherry on the top. You pass through them feeling so embarrassed you want the earth to swallow you.

The ride home is awkward and silent. Hannah and Seungmin keep exchanging looks while you look out the window trying to figure how your life became this mess.

You really should have dated Jeongho when he asked you out in middle school, it was around that time that you realized you liked Han more than just a friend—when Haneul asked to be his date to the school festival and you wanted to punch her so hard. Maybe if you had dated that boy at that time you would have forgotten the feelings you had for your friend, maybe you would have brushed it off as some childhood crush, but no, you rejected Jeongho while Han went with Haneul to the school festival and you third wheeled the whole event earning nasty glances from her every time your best friend played two times the same game so he could win you a plush too.

Back then you still thought everything would be okay, if only you had him everything would be okay.

You start bawling without notice, crying so much you can't even breathe. Seungmin stops the car and Hannah gets to the back, hugging you and caressing your hair while whispering that everything will be fine and you really want to believe her.

You don't know how you got into Seungmin's apartment, you guess he carried you inside after dropping Hannah home but you're not sure. It's sunday so he's not up yet for you to ask and it doesn't actually matter, what matters is the absolutely pathetic scene you made at the party and in the car. You want to bury yourself into a hole and never come back, how the hell are you going to face your friends after they saw you being humiliated by Han like that?

You know he was drunk, of course he was. You know he didn't mean it, he was hurt and drunk and people act on feelings not reason when they are like that. But does he think you have no pride? Does he really think you would date him knowing he doesn't like you back?

It's different when you confessed to him, you knew he didn't like you that way. But if he told you that there was something there, that he was not going to promise you anything but someday he may like you back, that's all you needed to hear. However, that didn't happen. He told you with all the words that he doesn't like that way, that he doesn't feel the same way as you do, there was no room for interpretation, no room for what if's.

You get up, in need to distract yourself. This week is going to fly by, you have tutoring lessons using up all your free time so you just have to get through the day.

There are a lot of messages on your phone, you really don't want to read them because you know that other than Hannah's, it's awkward comforting words from your other friends.

Hannah: call me when you wake up

Hannah: let's go eat something delicious, what do you think? It's on me.

Hannah: are you still not up or are you ignoring me?

You: I just woke up, calm down girl

You: why would I ignore you though? I just have to brush my teeth and eat something then I'll call you.

Binnie: morning babes

Binnie: Hannie is such an asshole

Binnie: I'll date you if you want, you're hot it's a win win for me

You chuckle to Changbin texts, he's so sweet in the weirdest way.

You: I mean, you're hot too

You: I think we'd make an awesome couple

Chan: good morning, Y/N

Chan: we didn't hear anything last night, so please, don't be awkward or embarrassed around us.

You: good morning Channie, I know you heard

You: you should have matched your story with Changbin before texting me though

You: it's okay, alright? Of course I'll be embarrassed for the time being, but we're friends I won't be embarrassed forever.

You leave your phone on the couch and go to the bathroom. You look like shit, smeared makeup, hair disgusting and you're still wearing the same clothes. You turn on the hot water, taking your clothes off and entering the shower, the warmth embracing you as you feel more relaxed.

You put on something comfortable, it's Sunday, you're going to ask Hannah to come by and you're going to order takeout.

You call her number while eating because you know she's anxious.

"Hey babes, good morning", she picks up, cheerful as always.

"Good morning", you say, biting the toast you just made.

"So, what about going out and eating something really good?", she asks.

"Hm, I'm actually not in the mood to go out? Can't you come by, we order something and watch that movie you've been bugging me for the last month?"

"Yeah, sure. We can do that", she answers and you are happy she doesn't sound upset or disappointed. With all the shit you're pulling lately you're scared your friends are going to get tired of your bullshit and stop talking to you. You used to think no one wanted a friend that's always crying and whining, but they showed you that real friends help each other.

"So what time are you gonna come?"

"I will just take a shower and wait for the bus, so in maybe like an hour?", she guesses and you nod forgetting she can't see you.

"Okay, see you then"

You decide to clean the house while waiting, Seungmin is pretty organized and clean so there's nothing too difficult. You'll just wash the dishes and vacuum a little.

Hannah arrives later than she predicted, Seungmin is already up and cleaning his room. He scolded you because it's his day to do the dishes and you shouldn't have done it because it's not fair to you.

You think he's being extra nice to you because of what happened the night before and it's true, he was really scared when you cried in his car.

He has known you for almost five years and he never saw you cry like that, even on the night you came to his house after confessing to Han you didn't cry like that. This time was different, you had a soul crushing cry, he wanted to stop the car and go to the back to hug you the same as Hannah, but he knew you were already being comforted by the perfect person.

Han is his friend, he could never choose between you two. But he couldn't deny it, that was a dick move, how could he ever say that to someone that likes him? He basically told you that he could pretend to like you if you stayed with him.

And of course, Seungmin understands the fear of losing a friend, but doing what he did just increases the chances of you never wanting to see his face again.

You are seated on the couch, watching the movie Hannah is obsessed with at the moment. She already watched it five times alone and asks anyone she can find to watch it again with her, she even repeats some sentences together with the characters.

The pizza you ordered is almost gone, you didn't know you were so hungry until the smell hit your nose. Luckily or thanks to Seungmin and Heeseung, your hangover is not that bad and you want it to stay that way so you keep drinking lots of water.

You got through the day thanks to your friends, they kept you entertained the whole time so you wouldn't overthink or even think about Han.

You are doing that just now, looking at the ceiling in the dark room. You want it all to be a dream, maybe you would wake up tomorrow and still be in middle school, you'd take the opportunity and get over him at that time, that would have spared you of some big problems.

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

A/N: So, I don't know how many parts this fic will have. If you like what I write please reblog or let me know in the comments, feedback give me motivation to keep writing.

[susiephone]

wtf is dracula daily?

i’ve seen a couple people ask this question on my posts about it, so i thought i’d go ahead and clear it up here!

ok so, the classic horror novel “dracula” is an epistolary novel - that means it’s told via letters, diary entries, ship logs, and news articles. (technically the term “epistolary novel” refers to works told solely through letters or emails, but many have expanded it to mean any work that is told via in-universe documents, hence why diaries and logs often get included as well. “frankenstein” is another classic example; the whole framing device is robert walton is recounting the story he heard from victor to his sister via letter. a modern example would be “several people are typing,” which is told via slack messages, or “the perks of being a wallflower,” which is told via letters from charlie to his anonymous pen pal, which is functionally more like you’re reading his diary.)

because of the nature of the narrative, we actually know the exact day nearly everything in dracula happens - the letters, news articles, diary entries, etc. are all dated.

“dracula daily” is a substack project where the novel is broken up into parts, with people who are subscribed to the project getting emails every day something in dracula happens - for example, the novel opens with jonathan harker’s journal entry on may 3, so on may 3, subscribers are emailed that entry. the action of dracula takes place from may 3 - november 6, plus an epilogue set some years later. the project started in 2021 (i think), but fucking BLEW UP in 2022, and they’re doing it again this year! lots of us are very excited - especially people like me who fell behind last time.

why not just read the book?

valid! due to some parts of dracula being told out of chronological order, dracula daily does reorder some things. for example, the first section of dracula is told entirely from jonathan harker’s pov, then the second section switches the pov to mina murray. their sections have some overlap in the timeline, so dracula daily jumps back and forth between their perspectives.

if you want to read the book as bram stoker intended, dracula daily may not be for you. but for a lot of people (myself included!), it breaks up a very long text into easily digestible chunks (....mostly. there is one entry that is 10k words), and the fact that it’s a big project means there are a lot of people reading along with you.

i think there’s also something valuable about experience the slow revelation of wtf is going on along with the characters. the book which you might otherwise get through in a few days is stretched out into months of suspense and agony as you wait for the other shoe to drop, and it’s great.

plus, the whiplash between “jonathan harker’s neverending horror” vs “lucy is basically on the bachelorette” that you get in dracula daily is very very funny.

how do i sign up?

right here! and if you sign up and fall behind in the emails, no worries - the dracula daily website posts past entries so you can catch up.

what if i prefer audiobooks?

have i got great news for you!

like i mentioned before, i couldn’t keep up with the emails last year. part of it is that it is much easier for me to focus on an audiobook or keep up with a podcast than it is for me to sit down and read, especially with longer entries.

this year, there is going to be a podcast titled “re: dracula” that was inspired by dracula daily. every episode will be a dracula daily entry, with a full voice cast! (seriously, if you listen to british podcasts, you will recognize some of these names. the magnus archives and wooden overcoats girlies are WINNING.) you can find that here.

there is also a podcast called “cryptic canticles” that has an already-completed audiodrama of dracula that i’m told is also extremely good, and was also broken up by date. you can find that here.

why do i keep hearing about paprika/the boyfriend squad/lizard fashion/cowboys?

you’ll see.

oh god am i gonna hear about this nerd shit for the rest of the year

yes. sorry.

[dandelionsresilience]

Good News - June 8-14

Like these weekly compilations? Tip me at $Kaybarr1735! And if you tip me and give me a way to contact you, at the end of the month I'll send you a link to all of the articles I found but didn't use each week!

1. Rare foal born on estate for first time in 100 years

“The Food Museum at Abbot's Hall in Stowmarket, Suffolk, is home to a small number of Suffolk Punch horses - a breed considered critically endangered by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust. A female foal was born on Saturday and has been named Abbots Juno to honour the last horse born at the museum in 1924. [...] Juno is just one of 12 fillies born so far this year in the country and she could potentially help produce more of the breed in the future.”

2. The cement that could turn your house into a giant battery

“[Scientists] at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have found a way of creating an energy storage device known as a supercapacitor from three basic, cheap materials – water, cement and a soot-like substance called carbon black. [... Supercapacitators] can charge much more quickly than a lithium ion battery and don't suffer from the same levels of degradation in performance. [... Future applications of this concrete might include] roads that store solar energy and then release it to recharge electric cars wirelessly as they drive along a road [... and] energy-storing foundations of houses.”

3. New road lights, fewer dead insects—insect-friendly lighting successfully tested

“Tailored and shielded road lights make the light source almost invisible outside the illuminated area and significantly reduces the lethal attraction for flying insects in different environments. [...] The new LED luminaires deliver more focused light, reduce spill light, and are shielded above and to the side to minimize light pollution. [... In contrast,] dimming the conventional lights by a factor of 5 had no significant effect on insect attraction.”

4. When LGBTQ health is at stake, patient navigators are ready to help

“[S]ome health care systems have begun to offer guides, or navigators, to get people the help they need. [... W]hether they're just looking for a new doctor or taking the first step toward getting gender-affirming care, "a lot of our patients really benefit from having someone like me who is there to make sure that they are getting connected with a person who is immediately going to provide a safe environment for them." [... A navigator] also connects people with LGBTQ community organizations, social groups and peer support groups.”

5. Tech company to help tackle invasive plant species

“Himalayan balsam has very sugary nectar which tempts bees and other pollinators away from native plants, thereby preventing them from producing seed. It outcompetes native plant species for resources such as sunlight, space and nutrients. [...] The volunteer scheme is open to all GWT WilderGlos users who have a smartphone and can download the Crowdorsa app, where they can then earn up to 25p per square meter of Balsam removed.”

6. [Fish & Wildlife] Service Provides Over $14 Million to Benefit Local Communities, Clean Waterways and Recreational Boaters

“The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is distributing more than $14 million in Clean Vessel Act grants to improve water quality and increase opportunities for fishing, shellfish harvests and safe swimming in the nation’s waterways. By helping recreational boaters properly dispose of sewage, this year’s grants will improve conditions for local communities, wildlife and recreational boaters in 18 states and Guam.”

7. Bornean clouded leopard family filmed in wild for first time ever

“Camera traps in Tanjung Puting National Park in Indonesian Borneo have captured a Bornean clouded leopard mother and her two cubs wandering through a forest. It's the first time a family of these endangered leopards has been caught on camera in the wild, according [to] staff from the Orangutan Foundation who placed camera traps throughout the forest to learn more about the elusive species.”

8. Toy library helps parents save money 'and the planet'

“Started in 2015 by Annie Berry, South Bristol's toy library aims to reduce waste and allow more children access to more - and sometimes expensive - toys. [...] Ms Berry partnered with the St Philips recycling centre on a pilot project to rescue items back from landfill, bringing more toys into the library. [...] [P]eople use it to support the environment, take out toys that they might not have the space for at home or be able to afford, and allow children to pick non-gender specific toys.”

9. Chicago Receives $3M Grant to Inventory Its Trees and Create Plan to Manage City’s Urban Forest

“The Chicago Park District received a $1.48 million grant [“made available through the federal Inflation Reduction Act”] to complete a 100% inventory of its estimated 250,000 trees, develop an urban forestry management plan and plant 200 trees in disadvantaged areas with the highest need. As with the city, development of the management plan is expected to involve significant community input.”

10. Strong Public Support for Indigenous Co-Stewardship Plan for Bears Ears National Monument

“[The NFW has a] plan to collaboratively steward Bears Ears National Monument to safeguard wildlife, protect cultural resources, and better manage outdoor recreation. The plan was the result of a two-year collaboration among the five Tribes of the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition and upholds Tribal sovereignty, incorporates Traditional Ecological Knowledge, and responsibly manages the monument for hunting, fishing, and other outdoor recreation while ensuring the continued health of the ecosystem.”

June 1-7 news here | (all credit for images and written material can be found at the source linked; I don’t claim credit for anything but curating.)

[cy-cyborg]

Tips for wring amputees: its ok if your amputee can't repair their own prosthetics

There's a trope in fiction for amputees to always be these mechanical geniuses who can make and repair their own prosthetics, endlessly tinkering away and improving them. This isn't a particularly trope, and i dont think its harmful or anything, but in reality, prosthetics are REALLY, REALLY complicated, and a lot of amputees cant do their own repairs. And thats ok. Like, prosthetic creation and repair is way, way harder than I think people expect. Well outside the skillset of your standard mechanic, handy man or craftsperson.

People who make and repair prosthetics are called prosthetists. To become a prosthetist, most countries around the world today require you to have completed a bachelor's degree in specifically in prosthetics and orthotics, which covers not only how to make a prosthetics (and orthodics) but a great deal of medical knowledge, physics, how different forces impact "non-standard" bodies, the additional biological wear-and-tear that comes with being an amputee and so much more. This will qualify you to do the job of fitting/making the prosthetic socket (the part that attaches to your body) and putting premade components together to make a functioning device. On top of this, many prosthetists are also expected to have artistic skills, sewing skills, good physical strength and dexterity, IT skills, and more recently, knowledge of 3D modelling and printing.

You want to make all the high-tech components the prosthetists put together to make the full prosthetic? The requirements for that vary country to country, but most will require at least some level study in the field of engineering and/or medicine, on top of what was already required for the prosthetics course.

The reason for all this is because even "basic" prosthetics are extremely finicky, and messing up one thing will have a domino effect on the rest of the body, especially in more complicated prosthetics. It can also result in people getting severally injured if anything is even slightly off. many leg amputees for example end up with spinal issues due to extremely minor issues with their prosthetic that weren't caught until years later, and by then the damage had been done.

Some amputees do learn to do basic repairs. This is most common in places like the US, where a visit to the prosthetist can cost hundred to thousands of dollars (depending on your insurance), but it's also quite common in rural parts of countries like Australia, where cost isn't an issue but access is due to vast distances between major cities. I was personally in this category; as a kid, my nearest prosthetist was 6 hours away. My prosthetist was able to teach my dad, who later taught me, how to do some of the simple repairs, but we still needed to go in every few weeks for the more complex stuff (Kids prosthetic need more adjusting than adults because they're still growing. Also I was rough on my prosthetics and broke them a lot lol).

But even after being taught how to do repairs and having my prosthetics for 20+ years, I only ever did these sorts of repairs to my below-knee prosthetic. I will not do any repairs of any kind to my above knee leg, which is much more technologically complex. Every time I tried, I made it worse to the point where the leg was unusable. I just leave those repairs to the guy who went to university to learn how to do it, and sometimes even he needs to send it off to someone with even more specialist knowledge when it's really badly messed up lol. Last time that happened Australia post lost the package. Not really relevant to this post, I just find the idea of it being sent to the wrong place by accident hilarious, it was one of my more realistic legs too so someone probably had a heart attack when they opened that package lmao.

Anyway, back on track lol.

This isn't even touching on the fact that on some more advanced prosthetics, many features are actually locked behind a security barrier only prosthetists can access. My prosthetic knee has an app on my phone I can pair it to, that allows me to change certain settings and swap between certain modes for different activities that tell the leg to change its behaviour depending on what I'm doing (e.g. a mode for running, a mode for cycling etc). but most of the more in-depth settings I can't access, only my prosthetist can, and he can only gain access to those settings with a security key given to him by the manufacturing company that requires him to provide proof of his credentials to receive it. I don't really agree with this btw, something about being locked out of my own leg's settings makes me feel a bit of an ick, but it's set up like this because people used to be able to access these settings and they would mess with things to the point their leg was virtually unusable. Because altering one setting had a domino effect on all the others, and a lot of folks weren't really paying attention to what they were messing with, all their prosthetists could do was factory reset the whole leg, which causes some issues too. Prosthetic arms are often similarly complex, as I understand it and have similar security barriers in place for more advanced arms. I don't know for sure though, so take that with a grain of salt.

All this to say these are incredibly delicate, finicky and complex pieces of equipment. There's nothing wrong with having a techy amputee character who can do their own repairs, but in reality, that is pretty rare, and its ok to have your character need to see a prosthetist or someone more knowledgeable than them. It's a part of the amputee experience I don't see reflected very often in media. In fact, the only examples I can think of in fiction (meaning not stories based on real people) where this is reflected are Full metal alchemist.

technically I think Subnautica Below Zero also mentions prosthetists are a thing in that world, but its a very "blink and you'll miss it" kind of thing...in fact I did miss it until my last playthrough lol.

[thepixelelf]

Oh Baby, You - svt smau

The birth of your son three years ago was what caused your breakup with Wonwoo, your longtime (and at that point, long distance) partner. Now, you're getting concerned that Orion is starting to look a lot like his dad, but that's not your only problem. Wonwoo is back… and he's living across the hall.

Genres: smau, romance, drama, comedy, angst, single parent au

Pairing: jeon wonwoo x afab they/she reader x mystery member(s)

Warnings: coarse language, conversations about sex, mentions of pregnancy, mama/mom/mother is used to refer to reader's parental status sometimes, infidelity, light alcoholism, miscommunication as a plot device, some of the teenies are not so nice at times, slut shaming, angst, everything is unrealistically dramatic because this is basically a kdrama in text/twitter form. warnings may be updated as they come, but I will label chapters properly if it's anything major

Note: unfortunately, I did have to make the mc for this series have female reproductive organs because, well... that's the plot. I couldn't find a good way around it :( if anyone reading this is discouraged, please know that pretty much every other fic I've ever posted is gender neutral. So, if you think you might've liked this smau, please check out my masterlist! hopefully there will be something you like there :) ALSO! if anyone makes fun of Orion's name just know that it's the name of a precious baby cousin of mine and if you bully smau Orion you are bullying irl Orion!! do not touch him!!!

(new!) Updates will post when I have the time and motivation

The taglist is full! Leave a comment under the post linked here if you're not on the main taglist to be notified when Oh Baby, You is completed.

Profiles I: Orion's Prettyboy(gn) Posse

Profiles II: Wonwoo's Famous Friend and the Other Guys

Profiles III: Gyu and the Rise of Capitalism

1. Everybody Loves Vernon

2. Tens Among Tens

3. Grown Ass Men

4. I Hate This FUcking Family

5. The Ones Keeping Secrets

6. A LITTLE Curious

7. You Go Girl Get His Ass

8. The Calm

9. The Storm

10. It's Been a While

11. Fucked Up Coincidences

12. Not... a BAD Guy

13. Still So Affected

14. Just My Type

15. Nothing to Hide

16. Fists Up

17. Act Natural

18. Girl, They Blocked You

19. Plot Relevance

20. Actually it is a Date

21. It's All Pretty Confusing

22. Scripted

23. All it Takes is a Smile

24. Yoon Jeonghan is Watching

25. Completely Surrounded

26. No Such Thing

27. What Does That Mean

28. A Name I've Heard Recently

29. Can't Risk It

30. Errand Day

31. One Day at a Time

32. Confrontation

33. Not Looking to be a Parent Any Time Soon

34. What if I

35. For This Little Guy

36. Get Blocked

37. I'll Take Care of You

38. Messed Up, Stupid, and Jaded

39. You Fucked Up

40. That's For You to Figure Out

41. Need to Try Something

42. Recovery Mission?

43. Your Everything

44. You're Cute When You're Like This

45. Not Sponsored

46. This is Nothing

47. Promise? Promise

48. Hhrk

49. A Busy Afternoon

50. Cherry

51. Don't Freak Out

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52. Bad Guys

53. Everything is Fine

OBY Ask the Characters Game

[wideeyedloner]

I've seen so many posts talking about the Honda scene being a visual metaphor for Deadpool and Wolverine having sex that I want to talk about the film as a whole for a second:

Deadpool & Wolverine is a romantic comedy.

There are a bunch of places (including this one) that describe the format of a romantic comedy, but the basic beats are as follows:

1. Introduction to your protagonist "Okay, Peanut, guess we're getting that team-up, after all." Deadpool and Wolverine opens on Wade digging up Logan's remains from Logan (2017).

2. The inciting incident "I'll do it." Paradox kidnaps Wade and blackmails him into locating a Logan to save his timeline. Cue "Iris" by Goo Goo Dolls, featured in City of Angels (1998).

3. The meet-cute "You two going to fuck or fight?" After initially failing to resurrect his own timeline's Logan, Wade travels to several other timelines to find another in a montage set to Huey Lewis and the News' "The Power of Love".

4. The new reality/new world "Let's fuckin' go." Paradox sends them to the Void, ruled by Xavier's insane twin sister, where it turns out many other mutants have also been sent. They need to escape in order to save Wade's timeline and try to undo the events of Logan's timeline, which Wade has promised is possible. This requires them to work together.

5. The mirror moment/recommitment "I'm going to fight you now." Logan finds out that Wade lied to him in order to secure his cooperation, leading to the Honda fight scene set to "You're The One That I Want" from Grease (1978). Logan is demoralized but Laura convinces him that he's still needed. He really is; it's his compassion that convinces Cassandra not only to spare their lives, but to send them back to Wade's timeline if they're willing to take a leap of faith together.

6. The crisis/all is lost "They do not play nicely with each other." Cassandra is still insane, so she follows them because she'd like to eliminate all timelines and rule over everyone in the Void. To stop this, Paradox tells Wade and Logan that someone has to cut power to the device she's using at the guaranteed expense of their life.

7. The climax "I got nothin'. Give me this." Naturally, Wade and Logan fight over which one gets the privilege of sacrificing himself for the other. Logan initially wins him over with a heartfelt speech, but Wade gets Logan with a sneak attack. Wade struggles to make the connection between the terminals because they're further apart than the wingspan of a single human, but they're conveniently just the right size for two (ಥㅅಥ). Of course, the choir version of Madonna's "Like A Prayer" is playing here.

This scene encapsulated everything I enjoyed about this film: that it was stupid, emotional, action-filled, filthy, and obviously about romance between men. My husband is straight and he left the theater with me in full agreement that a) this was a romantic comedy and b) they had sex in in the Honda.

8. The resolution "Althea, this is--this is Logan." It's the end of the story, they're about to part ways, and Wade will never see Logan again if he lets him walk out of his life. So he takes Logan home and makes him part of the world he'd been telling Logan he'd been trying to save all movie long.

❤ The end ❤

The Soundtrack I can't tell you how excited I was about the soundtrack. It's full of old, romantic songs. "Only You (And You Alone)" has to be on like every doo-wop or "Best of the '50s" compilation album. "Iris" (oh god this song is old now) was featured in the romantic drama City of Angels. Everyone and their dog has covered "You Belong to Me", and the most famous recent cover has to be Jason Wade's version that was featured in Shrek (2001). Chris De Burgh may not be crazy about "The Lady in Red", but I think it's fucking sweet. I grew up on musicals and LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE "You're the One That I Want" from Grease (1978).

The Honda Odyssey Fight Scene I wanted to come back to this because there is so much to it. I'm bringing up "You're the One That I Want" again.

There are intentional parallels made between this dance number in Grease and the fight scene. It's about the flirtatious push and pull between Sandy and Danny throughout after she's made her superficial transformation into the 'bad girl' at the end of the movie. It's the same in the Odyssey between Logan and Wade. They throw each other in and out of the car as they fight (and sure, go in and out of each other).

Just look at this:

Yup, completely intentional visual metaphors for fucking galore. Logan and Wade even have a post-fight bondage scene.

Also! These scenes end with the couples in moving vehicles.

In conclusion: Deadpool & Wolverine is a violent romantic comedy. Of course they fucked.

[okartichoke]

ace avian. that’s what we’re calling this 🗣️🗣️🗣️

please let me know if you have any thoughts or suggestions or input or anything! i’m happy to bounce ideas around (i'll post DL-6 someday soon i swear)

shoutout to the anon who sent in that ask bc i seriously fell in love with blue jay phoenix. SHOUTOUT TO TAKAHE PHOENIX TOO THO takahe phoenix, you will forever be in my heart and im glad you existed <3333,, (maybe in this au he’s got some loving adoptive takahe parents :3) (YKNOW WHAT YEAH that’s canon now)

but yeah, flight-avoidant jay phoenix still lends itself well to the common-man hardworking underdog vibe i want from him. speaking of flight-avoidant...

Phoenix's relationship with flying:

It's a bit complicated. Basically, Phoenix can fly, but he historically chooses not to. From the lack of any practice, he's an INCREDIBLY weak flier. (That hovering is really all he can manage)

For one, he's still afraid of heights. Can't help that. This fear means he was less inclined to practice flying, which made him a weaker flier. And being a weaker flier, in turn, made his fear of heights worse. And so on, in a loop. With flightless parents too (it's canon now it's canon), there's even less of a reason to learn to fly. At some point, not flying might've even become something he stuck with out of stubbornness lol, knowing Phoenix.

(I will soon be making a couple small world building posts, but) flying isn't necessary to get around in their society. Convenient, sure, but Phoenix realized he could make do without, and so he did. Phoenix, you icon. Slay. 💅💅

i know this probably isn't the popular take with wing AUs??, but Phoenix being flightless (or at least semi-flightless) sounded like a really fun take on the idea to me. His name is irony at its peak. I also look forward to exploring how other characters react to him not flying. The prosecutors are going to have so many cheap insult opportunities.

As I mentioned though, he still uses his wings a LOT, though. He's much more emotive with them than most people. His sarcastic inner-dialogue remarks are also betrayed by his wings lmao

I also imagine bird-folk never really invented bikes (riding would just be annoying with their wings, plus bikes aren't fast/efficient enough to outweigh just flying), so instead, Phoenix gets around on a little wing-powered scooter device (like scootaloo lol) (they're usually made for children who can't fly yet, but Phoenix still uses one)

finally, wow, stellar jay’s are quite literally just phoenix wright as a bird lmao? color scheme, hair, it’s uncanny. give it a pink tie and it just is Phoenix Wright, i used a blue jay since they’ve got a bit more striking wings but wow.

(ty again for the support and for reading my essay ! :3)

one more thing, but @kora-kat YES YES YES this. ^^^^ omg THIS. this is still true even though he's a jay now.

[inazuman]

it's too good and it's true

☁  alhaitham x f!reader x kaveh s.mut, genshin impact ☁  reader is afab and goes by she/her. alhaitham delays your orgasm for 5 days whilst kaveh is away. poly and established relationship. bits of alhaitham x reader and alhaitham x kaveh before the finale alhaitham x reader x kaveh. orgasm delay and denial (you cum at the end dw!!), alhaitham calls you his cumdump and cocksleeve, thigh-fucking (haitham), toys (just for a bit), overstimulation, oral (both m and f receiving), slight cervix bumping, slight choking, double penetration, slight dacryphilia, creampie, slight cumplay. alhaitham uses cameras to keep watch on u. there’s a alhaitham x kaveh shower sex section. alhaitham is mean at first but he loves you. kaveh is so sweet. they’re both very sweet at the end, they both use pet names: baby, love, pretty. aftercare at the end!! ☁ 6.k words. A/N: my pussy created this. also this is basically alhaitham delays readers orgasm and then both him and kaveh console u w sex LMAO /lh.

You agree to Alhaitham’s little game for the five days Kaveh is away, but you didn’t think it would be this bad.

Five days of no orgasms doesn’t sound that hard, really. You’ve got plenty of work to do, and a week won’t kill you.

But what Alhaitham failed to mention, was what he would do during that time. Because Alhaitham didn’t say anything about his own orgasms.

His smart and perverted ass set up a high-definition camera in the bedroom. So he could watch you, make sure you’re behaving, even when he’s not home. And for the first two days, you thought he might take pity on you and let you cum if you begged hard enough, begged pretty enough. His tongue swipes against your clit over and over again, fingers pressing deep into your cunt. And you ask oh-so-nicely if you can cum, tears falling down your face.

But he only plays with you long enough to get you slick, dripping, for his own cock to slide into you, his hands spreading you from behind to watch himself sink in.

He’s careful about it, pressing your face against the pillows, forcing your back to arch as he pounds into you. He’s careful to make sure your clit isn’t touched, that he’s maximizing his own pleasure whilst minimising yours. You sob as he cums inside of you, spent. And then he cleans you up like normal, takes you into his arms like normal, before falling straight to sleep next to you.

It takes hours for the throbbing of your cunt to subside. You look down at the camera at the bottom of the bed. You don’t dare disobey him, because if there’s anything you know, it’s that his punishments come even harsher.

You find out that there’s cameras in the bathroom and the office the first time you try to touch yourself, try to misbehave. You look at the showerhead and think about how good the pressure would feel, your hands sliding between your legs for not even two minutes before the Akasha terminal on the bathroom counter starts ringing.

Fuck, you think, before wiping your ear and putting on the device.

“What did I say about touching what’s mine?”

Alhaitham’s voice is rough with a dangerous edge, both making your stomach drop and your pussy even wetter. You swallow down your arousal with apologies.

By the third day, he doesn’t even need to prep you, really. It takes seconds of his hands pressing against your cunt when he gets home before you start to slick against his fingers, like your body remembers how long it’s been, what’s required of it.

He smirks at the touch. Makes it easier for him to slide into you for the night, holding one of your thighs up as you lie on your side.

“Just a little cumdump for me, aren’t you?” You moan against his cheek, your head falling back on his shoulder, your legs shivering as his pace gets faster.

“My precious little cocksleeve, taking my cock so well.” His voice drops low, breath ghosting over your ear. It takes everything in you to keep your hands to yourself. He presses deeper into you, fingertips gripping your thigh harder.

“This is what you’re made for, isn’t it? Ah, fuck.” You think it might be worse listening to him, hearing him get closer and closer to a climax that you will never reach. You moan wantonly anyways, crying into his neck.

“This pretty pussy’s just for me, wet and aching just for me,” he kisses your neck, “makes me cum every time. Fuck, baby, m’gonna cum.” He fucks you hard, your heartbeat erratic in your chest, your thighs clenching together, your walls shaking as it milks his cock.

He takes a sharp intake of breath and cums, his movements slowing but not stopping, taking in his minutes of satisfaction, ropes of white spilling inside of you, before he relaxes.

You swear it would only take one swipe against your clit to make you cum, and he seems aware of that too as he cleans you up, wet towel wiping your whole body first so your pussy can calm down before he gets to it, carefully cleaning up the mess he made.

“You’re so good for me, baby,” he tells you lovingly, and you wrap your arms around his neck.

“H-Haitham,” you sob, breath hitching, “I-I wanna…”

“I know, love,” Alhaitham coos, petting your hair, “when Kaveh gets home, we’ll all give each other some love. Think you can wait until then, baby?”

You nod into him, letting him make the decisions. Because you know, in the end, he’s always taken care of you.

-

On the fourth day, Alhaitham comes home late, at 2AM in the morning. You’ve been busying yourself with work all day, and you’re fast asleep, your lips pursed cutely, your cheeks smushed by the pillow.

You look so sweet, he feels his cock hardening in his pants. He just has to ruin you again tonight.

He goes to touch between your legs and smiles, glad to find you’re still wet. He’s had his own fill of orgasms from torturing you everyday, so he figures even when you’re asleep, you can help make his dick hard again, can’t you?

“That’s what you’re made for, isn’t it, baby? To take my cock whenever I want?” he whispers to no one.

He pets your hair, removing your soaked panties and replacing them with his own cock between your legs, sliding against your wet cunt and thighs. Archons, he thinks he could get off just from this, his jaw clackens as he gets his cock coated with your wetness, the soft skin of your thighs inviting him in.

“You’re so pretty,” he can’t help but mutter, even though you can’t hear him. You’re moaning quietly in your sleep, like you know without really knowing. He opens up the button-down you’re wearing, your skin shining under the moonlight, breasts bouncing with every thrust he makes between your thighs.

“H-Haitham…” you whimper into the night, not fully awake, making him even harder. He squeezes your thighs hard, pushing them together tighter.

“Fuck. Yeah, baby. I’m here.” He leans his body over you, breath ghosting over your ear, hair tickling your cheek. “You just rest, okay? You can- oh – you can go back to sleep. It’s okay.”

The first thing you notice is how warm and hard he is. You’re aware of how wet you are and at the same time sleep beckons to you. You wrap your arms around him, drifting in and out of consciousness for while, but moaning and whimpering his name all the same.

Alhaitham kisses you on the cheek, his nose bumping into yours. “Yeah, love. Gotta rest up before Kaveh gets back. Ahh, fuck, your thighs are so soft, your pussy’s leaking all over me. Got you all worked up and I’m not even inside you, huh?”

Your hand wraps into his hair at the nape of his neck, your back arching into him like it might grant you some kind of stimulation. You tense your thighs shut, squeezing his cock, and roll your hips up towards him, making him groan.

“Fuck, baby, just like that.” His cock moves past your folds again and again in long strokes, from the head all the way to the base. You whine at him for more, more, until he’s gripping the headboard, taking sharp intakes of breath through gritted teeth.

“I’m gonna come,” his voice catches between groans, hot breath puffing against your cheek. You feel his cock throb between your legs. His body tenses as he releases over your thighs, white spurts between your legs joining your slick that’s dripped down until he’s spent.

You whine up at him, holding him tighter like it’ll take away the ache between your legs. He holds you softly, lovingly, despite the torment he’s causing.

“You were so good to me, love. You’re so good,” he kisses the top of your head, uncharacteristically uncaring for the mess still between you both for the time he takes to console you. 

-

On the fifth day, you try and busy yourself with work, because all you can think about is Kaveh coming home.

But Alhaitham isn’t that nice, of course. You should’ve known it, should’ve seen it coming.

Your hands are tied to either corner of the bed, courtesy of Alhaitham making sure you’re spread open before he goes to pick Kaveh up. He leaves a very small, unsatisfactory vibrator inside of you before he goes. But after the week you’ve had, it’s enough to keep you wet, waiting for them.

Kaveh is greeted with the prettiest sight in the world when he enters the bedroom.

“Hi, pretty,” he coos, eyes wandering down your body and back up. You mutter a soft “welcome home” as he kisses your forehead, moving your hair back.

“Alhaitham and I are just gonna get freshened up, okay? And then we’ll be right with you.” Kaveh smiles soft and easy, his fondness making you relax as Alhaitham removes the toy from you, wiping it down with a wet towel.

“Awh, you kept her slick just for me?” Kaveh kisses your cheek, gently pressing his hand on the inside of your knee to see the mess you’ve made.

“Let’s get in the shower. Don’t want you to get your travel germs on the bed.” The toy is cleaned and put back in the drawer, and Alhaitham pushes Kaveh by the waist into the bathroom.

-

You think if you didn’t want Alhaitham so badly in this moment, you might punch him.

Because of course they’re having shower sex, and of course they’re being so goddamn loud.

Alhaitham presses Kaveh’s front against the shower wall, the cold shocking him for only a split second before behind even more shocked at the sight behind him. Alhaitham gets on his knees, pressing kisses to both sides of his rear, licking at the warm skin there.

“Alhaitham,” Kaveh pants, the shower water only an afterthought as Alhaitham’s tongue draws closer to his hole. “Oh, fuck. In the mood to spoil me, love?”

Alhaitham’s hand runs against the underside of Kaveh’s cock, making him shiver. “Moan louder, let her hear it.”

“Oh, is that what this is about?” Kaveh’s voice lilts teasingly, but it’s all the response he can manage before Alhaitham laps into his rim, pumping Kaveh’s cock at the same time. The shout Kaveh yells is almost real, his hands fisting against the shower wall.

“Oh, fuck!” Kaveh’s voice echoes off the shower walls and into the bedroom. “Your tongue feels so good!”

His tongue? You thrash against the sheets, moaning in tandem. How long has it been since you’ve felt that sensation? Alhaitham has always been methodical about it, observant, persistent licks over and over. And Kaveh has always been an artist, describing his situation so picturesque between moans. You can imagine it so clearly, the way Alhaitham would rile Kaveh up. The images flash in your mind side by side your fantasies of finally having them both again.

“Fuck, yes, touch me too. Ah, both places at once… it’s so much! Oh, please, more!” If you weren’t so wet right now, you might roll your eyes at how fucking annoying they are. But the sound of Kaveh’s nearing orgasm has your thighs clenching together, frustrated that you’re not allowed to cum and also that he is allowed.

“I-I’m gonna cum, ohh, Haitham. Spoil me more. Yes, right there! Oh, Archons, I-I’m coming,” you ache both in your pussy and your heart. You want to be spoiled, to be satisfied over and over.

You think that’s the end, that they’ll come out and treat you next, until you hear the sudden slap of skin and Alhaitham’s low grunts.

“It’s- it’s so big! Ohh, so sensitive… I think I- oh, harder! I’m gonna cum again!”

You huff as they finish and the showerhead turns off, mild jealousy and questions filling your mind. What if they’re too spent for you now? What if this is your punishment? What if-

The bathroom door opens to reveal your freshly washed partners. Kaveh smiles sheepishly, with Alhaitham smirking behind him.

You think you might cry. Kaveh’s eyes widen, his hands coming to cup your face immediately, and that’s when you realise you are crying. He moves quickly, untying you so that you can wrap your arms around him.

“Alhaitham,” Kaveh scolds his lover, who’s now standing very awkwardly next to the bed. “You tortured her too much!”

“You didn’t seem to think it was too much literally 5 minutes ago!” Alhaitham argues back.

“You made her cry!”

“She looks pretty when she cries.”

“Alhaitham!”

Kaveh redirects himself to you. “Shh, shh,” he pets you softly. “It’s okay, baby. We’re here for you now. And we’re gonna treat you so well. Aren’t we, Alhaitham?”

“That was the plan.”

“That is the plan!” Kaveh scowls at the man whose name he moaned 5 minutes ago before lying you down on the bed, his lips coming over yours.

His kisses are pillowy against yours, and you melt into his arms, your heart feels like it’s being put back together again. Alhaitham moves to behind you, stroking your back and moving your hair away from your face, laying kisses on your neck.

“Baby,” Kaveh whispers against your lips, “you’ve been so good. Five whole days like this? Love, you deserve the reward of a lifetime, don’t you think?”

You hug him again, sniffling against him.

“Aren’t you gonna apologize to her, Alhaitham?” Kaveh looks at him notably.

Alhaitham shifts to kiss down your spine, bringing your back flat against the bed once again. Kaveh situates himself with you in his lap, his hands moving over your breasts. Alhaitham mutters something about how “all I do is serve you both” as he spreads your legs, making Kaveh whistle low.

“Oh, baby, you’re still soaked,” Kaveh teases, tweaking your nipples between his fingers. “You get like that just from listening to us, pretty?”

“She gets that from not cumming for 5 days.” Alhaitham responds flatly.

“Tch. If you’re gonna take so long, I’ll get down there and treat her.”

Alhaitham smirks, pressing teasing kisses to your thighs. “She’s gonna cum so fast once I start. Aren’t you, love?”

And you hate knowing he’s right. Your hands grip onto Kaveh’s thighs, panting in response.

“Yeah, baby, you should hold on.” It’s the last sentence Alhaitham says before, gratefully, his tongue laps into your folds.

He moans at the taste immediately, humming against your core. You’re so warm, your pussy already pulsing under his tongue.

It’s heavenly, you think, the way he licks every crevice, cleaning up your slick and adding to it before grazing the tip of his tongue over your clit. You jerk up into him, his hands going to steady your hips.

“Mm. Sensitive, baby?” You can feel his smile against your cunt, his tongue testing the waters again, gently and carefully tapping the tip of it over your clit until the sensitivity becomes you moaning for more. 

And he gives it to you, gives you more, all that you’ve been wanting for the last five days. “You were so good for me, love,” he says between kisses, “you took my dick so well everyday, let me use you.”

Kaveh’s mouth comes down to kiss your neck, biting down hard enough to leave marks, then moves over your shoulder to lap your breasts, his fingers stroking your nipples. Your back arches, thighs threatening to close, you feel so strung up, breath haste.

“Baby’s getting close, isn’t she?” Kaveh uses his tongue to play with your nipple, bringing you steadily to the peak of your arousal.

“You can cum, love,” Alhaitham tells you, his arms wrapped around your legs to bring you closer, closer to his mouth. Your body shivers, shakes under both their tongues. Alhaitham quickens his tongue over your clit, tight circles with the perfect pressure that make you see stars. Kaveh pulls on your nipple a little harsher, sucking on the other.

It’s too much, you try to tell them between your moans and cries. But then you’re finally cumming, your thighs smushing Alhaitham’s head, though that doesn’t stop him from lapping up everything you have to give him. Your hands grip Kaveh’s thighs hard, and he lets you, continuing to suck and bite at your breasts. It’s an ecstasy you’ve missed for so long, that lasts minutes before your body finally relaxes. Your hands weave into Alhaitham’s hair apologetically.

But it’s not enough, you want another one, and you’re grateful for them because you don’t have to tell them. As soon as you come back to yourself, you realize neither of them have stopped. Your body jerks in oversensitivity, hands failing and grabbing at them.  

“W-wait,” you try to tell them, whimpering out their names, “it’s- it’s so sensitive.”

Kaveh gives you a tight squeeze and last little suckle before letting your head lie back on a pillow, moving under your leg to kneel next to Alhaitham between your thighs.

He kisses your thigh softly, as Alhaitham’s tongue starts to slow, looking to build you back up again. Alhaitham spreads your legs wider, to fit both his broad shoulders and Kaveh’s between them. The sight of them both between your legs together has you gripping the sheets, breath coming short.

“We’re gonna give you one more, mmkay?” Kaveh whispers, lips moving up and down your thigh. You nod aimlessly, leaning back.

“Look at us.” Alhaitham demands, and your eyes skim back to them.

Alhaitham’s darkened eyes meet yours as he removes his mouth from your cunt, wiping at your fluids dripping down his chin. “Tastes good,” he comments, admiring your body blatantly, kissing your other thigh.

“Yeah?” Kaveh comes closer to him, and like it’s a meal, has a taste. He moans at the touch of your soft folds against his tongue, the way they quiver slightly.

“Mm, does taste good.” Kaveh plunges his tongue slowly inside of you and back out, his thumbs spreading you slightly, kissing your abused clit.

Alhaitham comes back to join him, and your eyes widen as you realize what’s happening, both their tongues coming to pleasure you simultaneously. You think you might be seeing heaven. Kaveh kitten-licks at your clit, whilst Alhaitham moves to suck on your lower folds, copying Kaveh from before and sliding his tongue inside of you.

“You think you can come one more time for me?” Kaveh asks, smiling against your clit. You mutter a meek yes. Alhaitham replaces his tongue with his fingers, sliding one in before adding another, his head joining Kaveh’s as they lick on either side of your clit together.

Oh, Archons, you think you might faint. They’re not in sync at all, adding to your pleasure, making it so clear that both of them are down there. Kaveh’s licks are faster than Alhaitham’s, whereas Alhaitham’s are more sensual, their tongues brushing against one another. Alhaitham’s fingers curl inside of you, making them hold your body down as you try to move.

“You deserve to be spoiled,” Alhaitham whispers, so softly you almost don’t catch it. Your hands reach down to hold theirs respectively, big hands encasing your own. Kaveh uses his other hand to spread your lips a little wider, to make sure they’re licking every part of your little clit.

Lucky. You’re so lucky. It’s so much. Babbling comes out of your mouth, making them both smile endearingly. Kaveh takes over from your clit, and Alhaitham gets the hint, moving to focus on marking your thighs and moving his fingers, making sure they hit that spot inside of you that makes you see stars.

Kaveh builds you up faster, his tongue rapid and overtaking all your senses. Alhaitham matches his fingers to Kaveh’s pace.

“Look so pretty like this,” Alhaitham switches to licking lightly at your folds around his fingers. “Had to keep you like this all week, just because you’re so pretty.”

“Mm, go ahead, love,” Kaveh tells you. “Cum for us, whenever you’re ready.”

You grind into Kaveh’s mouth, once, twice, and on the third time, you cum again. A wave of pleasure rushes over you, crashing harder than before, your whole body tensing under their spell, tears about to fall. Kaveh looks so pleased, sucking on your clit and licking on it all at once. Alhaitham works you through your orgasm too, his fingers moving inside you relentlessly, only slowing down as your body relaxes.

You watch as Alhaitham removes his fingers from you and Kaveh takes him by the wrist, plopping the fingers in his mouth and sucking on them. Alhaitham’s sharp intake of breath and Kaveh’s greedy look says everything.

“Mm, I love the taste of my lover,” Kaveh grins.

“Get on the bed.” Alhaitham groans through gritted teeth.

“Oh, so bossy~”

Alhaitham opts for grabbing Kaveh by the arm and throwing him on the bed instead. “We’re not done yet.”

Alhaitham crawls over you, smashing his lips against yours to give you the sweetest sloppy kiss. He kisses like a demand for your attention, like only this moment exists.

He finally parts from you, hot breath with a hint of mint, and the energy in the room shifts.

He rubs his hand up and down your arm. “I hope…” he clears his throat, “that we are on our way to making, ah, an adequate apology.”

You wrap your arms around him, smiling and nodding, holding him tight, and Kaveh joins in, hugging you both.

“It’s okay, Haitham,” your voice muffled by their bodies. “Love you. Love you both.”

“Awh, see! She forgives you for all the torment you put her through. What a sweet thing~,” Kaveh pokes your face, making you giggle, and Alhaitham sighs in relief.

“Love you too, sweetheart.”

“Yes, yes. I love you both. Now!” Kaveh claps, “Could we please get on with the main course? Because I’ve been missing this pussy-”

“Didn’t you guys already…” you joke.  

Alhaitham rolls his eyes. “Oh, so us fucking just now wasn’t enough for you?”

“Hey! We all need our… special times! Okay? And you got to fuck her for the last four days! Whereas I was actually working out in the desert! I make the bread, bring it home-”

“But this is Alhaitham’s house.”

“Exactly. Where’s my rent payment? Or are you finally moving out?”

“This again?! And you!” He pokes your forehead, “Don’t side with him! I have been so nice to you. I could’ve let Alhaitham torture you more.”

“Ah, you’re right. Alhaitham, please don’t kick Kaveh out. How are you gonna have his dick if he’s not around?”

“Tch. I think you should both be more grateful that I’m so good at sharing.”

You all laugh together, giggles and kisses that move from innocent to heated. Kaveh grabs your hand and places it on his member, your shock apparent and arousal spiking as you feel him getting bigger in your hand. You wrap your fingers around his wide girth, pumping him gently.

Kaveh smiles alongside your lips at the feeling of your hands, so much smaller than his or Alhaitham’s, pulling you in for a deeper kiss, tongues tangling. Alhaitham kisses and bites your shoulder, his hands wandering all over your body, grabbing at your breasts and your thighs.

“Wanna fuck you so bad, sweet thing,” Kaveh moves to kneel between your legs, never moving his lips too far away from you, always pecking you with more kisses. Without effort, Alhaitham flips you over.

“Oh, is that how we’re doing it?” Kaveh teases, following Alhaitham’s cue and pulling you by the thighs towards the foot of the bed. You’re moved to be on your knees, and Alhaitham repositions himself to sit in front of you, your warm breath skimming over his growing member.

He pets your hair, thumb running over your cheek. “This okay, love?”

You nod, tongue darting out to the slit of his cockhead tentatively, before licking around the head. Alhaitham’s hands press into your hair, pulling you closer but not pushing. He smells like mint and musk, clean and pleasant and thick in your mouth, moans falling off his tongue with whispers of your name.

Behind you, Kaveh takes his time to warm you up, hands rubbing over your rear, grabbing your ass, massaging both globes in his hands. He pulls them apart to look at your glistening cunt, fingers swiping over to make sure you’re ready.

He taps your clit a few times, watching with amusement as slick pools in your cunt in response. “Looks like you’re ready, baby. I’m gonna start.”

His hands smoothen against your back, and you obey immediately, arching for him.

“Good girl,” he remarks, pressing the tip against your wet hole, then teasing away, using it to tap your clit over and over, moving it back again.

“So nice and wet… all for me, huh?” He smirks. “Haven’t even fucked you yet, but you’re dripping over me already.”

You whine around Alhaitham’s cock, and he grips your hair tighter by the roots, panting.

“Ohh, oh fuck,” Kaveh moans as he slides himself into you, slowly, inch by inch, making sure you’re accommodating for him. “Your pussy’s swallowing me in, baby. Miss me that much?”

You nod as best you can, your spit rolling down Alhaitham’s cock, tongue lapping against him. Kaveh presses himself deeper in, bullying his cock into you, and you try your best to focus on Alhaitham, moving to use your hand and letting out a yelp as Kaveh bottoms out.

“Fuuck, Archons, missed this pussy so goddamn much.”

At Alhaitham’s gentle bequest of tapping your cheek, you move back to his member, swiping your tongue over the pretty pearl of pre-cum before wrapping your mouth over his length.

Kaveh sets a slow pace first, savoring the feeling of your walls. “You’re so tight, baby. Feels so good,” he mutters, his grip on your thighs is strong, fingertips pressing in, his pace getting faster, pushing and pulling your body as your mouth continues to suck Alhaitham’s cock.

“Oh,” Alhaitham holds your hair, keeping it out of your face as Kaveh moves you. The shared pace gives some sort of unity, a shared pleasure being controlled by each brutal press of Kaveh’s hips as he crowds around your back, softly kissing your shoulder in contrast.

“This pretty pussy loves me so much, doesn’t she?” Kaveh smiles, voice sweet and words dirty, listening to your muffled whines, his mind clouded by the pure arousal zipping through his veins. His fingers reach around to slip over your clit, and you choke audibly on Alhaitham’s cock, throat constricting in a way that makes him swear under his breath.

“Holy shit,” Alhaitham breathes, “this throat is almost as tight as that cunt of yours.” He smoothens his thumb at the imprint of his cock in your throat, watch as it bobs, eyes flitting back to your face as hot tears fall down your cheeks.

Kaveh laughs, lightheaded as he gets close, evident in the way his breaths quicken and his heart beats rapidly against your back. But to your surprise, he pulls out of you and grabs you by the throat, sliding you off Alhaitham’s cock and turning your head back for a kiss, his tongue swiping behind your teeth and over your tongue. He moves his hands to your thighs, your back pressed against his front, cock still hard. He lifts you easily up in the air and lines up your cunt to Alhaitham’s cock, dripping your own essence as well as his onto Alhaitham’s spit-slick member.

You’re manhandled in the air as Kaveh brings you down over Alhaitham slowly, blunt head of his cock pressing against your entrance. Kaveh smirks as he watches both your reactions, Alhaitham’s mouth dropped in a pretty ‘o’, finally quiet for once in his life.

“Fuck, Kaveh,” Alhaitham’s pleasure is barely restrained, hot pants of air interrupting his words, “could you- be going- any slower?” He's barely inside of you, only about two inches in, but the way your slick and spit rolls down his cock has him gripping the sheets.

 “Heh, what? Can’t take a little bit of denial?” Kaveh mocks, but obliges, dropping you down the last multiple inches all in one go, your hands reaching out for Alhaitham’s shoulders with a soft scream.

Alhaitham groans, chest rumbling as he grips your sore thighs, his own legs tensing as you cockwarm him, waiting patiently as Kaveh brings a finger to your other hole.

You lean into Alhaitham to give Kaveh more space, the cum you both shared earlier makes it easier for his finger to slide in, carefully opening you up before adding another finger.

“K-Kaveh!” you press your head into Alhaitham’s shoulder, and he holds you tight in his embrace as tears start to form again on your lower lash line.

“Shh, baby. It’ll feel good in just a moment. You know that, don’t you?” Alhaitham runs one hand in circles over your back, the other sliding between you both to tap on your clit lightly, distracting you as Kaveh continues to prep you. Alhaitham almost regrets his actions from the way your walls tighten around him, and then he regrets trying to reposition himself as he shifts inside of you, willing his aching cock to come back down.

“You gotta relax, okay?” Alhaitham opts to wrapping a hand around your neck instead, playing with the constriction there until you look at him all doe-eyed before letting go, inhaling sharply. Kaveh has three fingers inside of you now, and he decides that’s enough as he presses his lubed cock to your hole, the mushroom head sliding in slowly as both him and Alhaitham shush at you lovingly. You hiccup and sob into Alhaitham’s chest at the first inch, so full of them both.

"So much... don't know if it's gonna fit..."

"It'll fit, baby. Just trust us, mmkay?" Kaveh swipes your hair back to kiss your cheek.

“You’re gonna be stuffed with both of us in here, aren’t you, love?” Alhaitham’s soft voice accompanies his hands cupping your face as Kaveh bullies in another inch, whiny moans and swears filling the room.

“Archons, she’s tighter than ever,” Kaveh whispers, and Alhaitham gets it because Kaveh’s dick presses against your walls and your walls tighten around his own member. You don’t know how but you swear your body is making space for the two biggest cocks you’ve ever taken, your back arching as you start to beg Kaveh for more, more. The burn becomes addicting, your mind empty except for them, Alhaitham tensing inside of you, the rise and fall of his chest, Kaveh’s whispers of “just a little more” as he whimpers, his voice shaking as he bottoms out again.

“Baby. Baby, are you okay?” Kaveh asks as Alhaitham sits up again, his back against the wall, watching intently at your tear-streaked face nodding.

“Y-yeah, just- just wanna feel good.” Your hands go over both of theirs.

You think you might die, you think this might be the reason you’re alive, because Alhaitham nods at Kaveh once and they both start to move. You think you scream at times, you’re not sure, but you do know that Kaveh’s whines and Alhaitham’s groans join you. They fuck you at their own respective paces first, sometimes in sync and other times not. You are at times half empty and half full, but you definitely notice when they start to fuck you together, being split open by them, your body craving them the minute they leave and begging for more when they come back.

“It’s- ah- so good,” you tell them, hot breath ghosting over both sides of your body. Kaveh pulls your thighs wider, and you don’t know if it’s the heat or the arousal, but you are much more flexible than you remember.

And then they give you more, Alhaitham moves a hand to grab at your breast, thumb swiping over your nipple, watching the nub harden with each movement, your breasts jumping with each bounce over their laps. He helps Kaveh hold up one of your thighs so that the blonde can press a finger to your clit, and pleasure sparks, the coil of heat inside of you pulling taut.  

“Fuck, baby, I feel you tightening around me.” Alhaitham pants. It’s so much more intense with both of them inside you, every squeeze of your cunt brings you all closer together, both their cocks pressing against each other through your thin walls.

“Gonna- oh- make you cum like this,” Kaveh gasps, “wanna feel you cum like this. It’s gonna- fuck- gonna be so tight, so good. Think you can be good for us, love?”

You nod erratically, bouncing over them, there’s so much stimulation, your core throbbing. You can’t even begin to speak, only whines and whimpers leaving your throat.

“Awh. This is what it takes to dumb you out, is it?” Alhaitham smirks despite not faring much better, the head of his cock nestled deep inside you, pace growing faster with each drop and pull of you. Hot arousal spikes through him at the realization that he hears no quip reply from you, your head lolling as you beg for “please, more, please, Haitham, Kaveh”, almost incoherent.

“Don’t worry, baby, you don’t hav’to think about a thing,” Kaveh’s words slur, “just gotta cum whenever you wanna, mmkay?”

You try to tell them you’re close, but you don’t have to. They can tell from the way you’re tightening around them, their hands working in tandem.

It’s like a shock fills your body, a loud whine that turns into a silent scream that leaves you as your whole body tenses and you release. Your only thought is of how full you are, their movements restricted but still riding you through with gritted teeth. They both want to stave off their own orgasms for the minutes your pussy tenses around them, but before long-

“Alhaitham,” Kaveh moans in need, and Alhaitham gets the message, forcing your body up and back down again despite the tight squeeze, and it’s so much stronger, has Kaveh reeling as he chases his own high.

“I’m cu-” Kaveh doesn’t get to finish before his jaw slackens and he spurts into you, painting the inside of you white and stuffing you full of cum, both watching and feeling as it drips down his cock with every squeeze of your tight ass, lengthening his own orgasm. It doesn’t all fit inside of you, but he makes it fit, fucking it back into you. His pretty voice praises you, whines as he kisses your cheek, telling you how good you are.

Alhaitham is only seconds away, groaning something that sounds like your name. His cockhead presses against your cervix as he cums, spilling as deep inside of you as possible. Your walls are still tense around him, your orgasm lasting throughout his as you milk his cock. “Fuck, baby, that’s right. Squeeze it all out of me,” he whispers, his hot load filling you up, more than he’s ever imagined.

You realize how warm their cum is inside of you as you relax in tandem with them, both your holes filled to the brim and dripping with their seed. Kaveh leans you down over Alhaitham to slowly. pull out first, gasping in overstimulation. He watches a glob of his cum drip out of your gaping hole. He knows he’s greedy as he catches it with his finger, pushing it back inside of you, watching as more of it drips out around his finger.

“S-sensitive,” you whine, “Kaveh, t-thought we were done…”

“Shh, just wanna play with you a little before I clean you up.”

Alhaitham groans above you both, your walls shivering with aftershocks around his still-softening cock. He feels the cum drip down from your ass to your pussy to his own cock, mingling with the slick you and him have created.

Kaveh runs his thumb over your rim before finally letting up, leaning you back on his own front for Alhaitham, kissing you softly.

Alhaitham does the same as Kaveh, sliding with care out of you, frothy white ring still present at the base of his cock. It’s dangerous, he thinks. Makes him possessive over you. He watches, too, at the cum that drips out with his cock, tapping on your clit experimentally only to see more of it slip out of you as your pussy tenses.

“How cute,” Alhaitham smiles sweetly, and Kaveh throws him a wet towel. Alhaitham thanks him with a nod, pressing your sensitive core, Kaveh hushing your whines with kisses between wiping down himself and Alhaitham.

The towels are discarded somewhere, you don’t know and you can’t bring yourself to care with how tired and spent you are, every inch of you aching. They lie down, finally, on either side of you, holding you and each other.

“Welcome home, Kaveh,” Alhaitham’s grumbly voice interrupts your thoughts, as he goes to kiss your forehead and then Kaveh’s.

“Thank you, my loves.” It’s the last thing you hear before you drift off to sleep.

-

It’s evening when you wake up next to a still-sleeping Kaveh, blonde hair caressing his face, his cheek squished against the pillow. He looks angelic in the night. He slowly blinks his eyes open, smiling at seeing you next to him.

“Good morning, beautiful.”

You giggle. “It’s 6PM, babe.”

He rubs his face. “Ohh. Ah, yes, that makes sense.”

You both hear plates being set in the dining room, cutlery clanking against each other and onto a wooden table.

“Archons, he’s not quiet at all,” Kaveh laughs, sitting up and throwing you the first shirt he sees (it happens to be his) and grabbing a set of clothing for himself (it’s Alhaitham’s).

You wrap your arms around his shoulders, kissing the back of his neck. “Shall we?”

Kaveh smiles mischievously, grabbing behind your thighs and picking you up on his back as you yelp, having to awkwardly open the door for him as he beckons for Alhaitham at the table.

“Ah, you’re both finally awake.”

“Did you even sleep?!”

“Yes.”

“If you were asleep, how’d you make dinner?” You ask in a mocking, smartass tone. Kaveh wiggles his eyebrows at Alhaitham.

“Yeah! That timeline doesn’t work at all!”

Alhaitham sighs as if in frustration, but his smile betrays him, “Just sit down and get ready to eat already, won’t you both?”

You look around as you sit and notice that Alhaitham is wearing Kaveh’s trousers.

“Is it just my clothing that’s not being worn right now?”

“If I recall correctly, you didn’t have clothing on when we started,” Kaveh teases.

“Ah!” Kaveh and you enjoy the moment, only to be added with Alhaitham’s presence and the stunning food he brings in his hands.

“A few sharing dishes, since I figured we were all hungry.”

“I think I’m in love with you.” Kaveh wraps a hand around Alhaitham’s wrist, kissing the inside of it.

“I definitely love you.” You tell him, and as you all dig in, there’s a unanimous feeling that… everything is as it should be. Everything is right, and good.

It’s too good, and yet it’s true. The reality is, all three of you have found family and love too.

[satoruhour]

BROTHER’S BSF !

a/n: older brother’s best friend trope always gets me muahahah it’s my absolute favourite. the tension, the lingering touches aaarrhrgggh. no beta. suggestive language at the end. / 1.9k ✶

you weren’t sure when your older brother and his best friend had changed so much, but you attribute it to the time when your brother invited you to his dorm, after ages of fighting for a double room because they were basically inseparable. it’s then when you realise how your older brother has grown into the ‘young man’ like all your relatives used to say.

but your eyes constantly flit to geto suguru’s area of the room, posters of bands and artwork littering his walls, a few vinyl records tucked neatly under his study desk, and then him.

you’re feigning your interest in whatever your older brother is babbling about but really you’re stuck on how geto leans against the doorframe of their 6-month old dorm room, trying to find something that altered his whole aura, but alas, the gods had always been kind to him.

geto never was able to shake off girls and guys that flock to him, mainly because of his kind disposition and gentle smile. they ask him about his ear gauges and soft hair when he was young, and then later on they enquire about his septum that looked like hell to go through, and all he does is to explain what they want to hear. you at least remember that much from all the times you spent with him when you were young.

he likes the attention just a little, but it never quite settles, that irksome feeling that something’s missing. it isn’t until he’s packing to head off to university and waving goodbye to you that he realises it’s your attention he craves. he doesn’t hold it against you either, however, because he’s not entirely sweet and smiles to you. it’s a byproduct of being his older brother’s friend, partaking in mischief and nudging each other with sibling rivalry — with underlying tension that’s never addressed.

that same tension returns when you’re standing in the middle of the overwhelming dorm room, his stature larger than it was in high school and the immense change hits you like a bullet. you feel giddy when he comes up to you, cologne filling your nose and the tattoos peeking out under his top makes you swallow your words.

“how’re you?” geto engulfs you in a hug, voice just above a whisper and he sighs just at the feeling of your body against his. he keeps his arms loosely around your waist even after the embrace and you’re glad he did, indulging in this moment. “haven’t seen you for years.”

you roll your eyes and smack his shoulder, “it’s only been six months, you’ll live without me.” and though it was said as a joke, geto wanted to laugh at the irony it possessed, because he knew it wasn’t true for him and he was sure it wasn’t true for you too.

you don’t see him for a while after that, left to your own devices of thinking of how he grew into his features, of how the tattoo ink of his dragon is still so fresh, of how his arms felt so inviting. geto was in a similar predicament, a certain blur over his eyes whenever he had assignments to complete and parties to attend.

those next six months were tormenting to go through, made easier by the occasional visits you made and the texts you exchanged with him and he feels like a schoolgirl with a crush again. the space between you closed more and more every time your brother called you over to the uni, the touches more personal, the words softer and secretive.

geto rambled about his favourite bands, let you trace the scales of his dragon before saying how he almost cried from the pain, he showed you his assignments because his major wasn’t entirely different from the one you enrolled in. you never miss how the touches always had that chilling spark, and how he’s so close to you sometimes you can feel his breath, and you’d never mention how it was all at the hands of your older brother’s best friend. 

your daydreaming is interrupted by the devil himself, who’s casually lying on his bed while you’re hunching over a project from your part-time job (that you aren’t even close to completing), “any chance you could ditch that project and entertain this poor guy?”

your brother’s out and it’s just the two of you under the slowly darkening sky, and you know the reason why you’re so focused on the laptop is because you wouldn’t be able to concentrate any longer the moment you look at geto.

“what’s this project about anyway?” he mumbles, getting up from the comfort of his sheets to look at your blinding screen, and he doesn’t realise the effect he has on you when he also hunches over (over you in fact), hand dangerously close to yours and the dangle of his necklace next to your ears is reason enough to turn your head towards him.

geto knows you probably want anything but to talk about your boring project, and he takes the leap by inching his hand close to yours, fingers igniting the jumps in your heart when his thumb finally meets your pinky and it takes everything in you not to lean in.

he holds your stare perfectly even when skin and skin makes its first contact and it’s so much fire in your bones that someone can probably smell the smoke, until the door bursts open and your annoying brother announces his arrival. the other jumps and stumbles back with a clear of his throat and you’re quick to mask your disappointment, not trusting yourself to look at the distraught on geto’s face.

the incident is never talked about, going back to your previous camaraderie before, but it was never quite the same each time you returned. you only could thank god your brother was always in since that day, until the next.

the next time you’re hanging out with the both of them is after a party, something you’re not too fond about, so they both suggest you come over after. at this point you’re familiar with the structure of the dorms, even more than the friends you’ve made at orientation — you have the two boys to thank for that. 

“has the loser finally arrived?” your brother speaks through foam and slimy skincare serums, voice echoing throughout the bathroom as you stop briefly at its door to give him the finger through the mirror. he wastes no time to flick some water and you recoil and laugh in disgust, placing down the cans of light alcohol and snacks they told you to buy.

you extend the greeting to geto, albeit a little more sheepishly who returns it with a lazy wave and smile, going back to whatever was on his phone. the friday night passes smoothly, the conversation ranging from your experience in the university to when you’d get your dorms, amongst many other things. it’s late past two when your brother calls it a night and the room is filled with protests.

“you guys are so dramatic, i’m just going to sleep,” your brother mumbles under his breath, and you feel a little bad for him.

“and what if i need to go home?” you scoff, downing the last bits of your beer, “can’t believe you’re leaving me stranded in your room.” there’s a faint chuckle from geto beside you.

you push him away when he ruffles your hair, and although you have some bite to your words, you know your brother would wake up in an instant to drive you anywhere. being a year younger than him does that, fights and banter and all, he still takes care of you like he did when you were kids. “wake me up when you want to go home, ‘kay?”

humming in response, you both bid your brother goodnight and the night continues with geto, a bit more tense than before. easy conversation still flows, though, laughing too hard at his jokes and talking about your interests.

it’s close to half past three when sleep starts to take over, words slurring and giggles softer as you take in the moonlight and delicacy of the moment, and in that second you’re sure to be content even if geto wasn’t yours, seeing him like this.

tearing open your last packet of snacks, you two sit (rather he’s sitting and you’re lying on his pillow) in comfortable silence. it’s not long before geto’s eyes can’t leave you and it’s like that day in the room all over again: the fan whirring softly, the creatures of the night going to sleep, the whoosh of the water travelling through the pipes, none of these are compelling enough to pull away from the effect of your name through his lips.

in the dark of the night, in the kiss of the rays of the moon, your beauty is unmatched, physique still so accentuated even with the oversized shirt you wear and the allure of your position just takes his breath away. geto isn’t sure whether it’s the tiredness or your finger leaving goosebumps along his tattoo, but he closes the gap until you’re an inch away, not before sparing a glance towards your brother who’s knocked out cold.

“do you know what you do to me?” your older brother’s best friend whispers, and your chest heaves in anticipation. your finger has switched to two, to three, and then to palm as your hand travels up his shirt sleeve. the skin underneath is hot, matching yours. you shake your head with feigned innocence as his hand closes into a fist beside you, gripping onto his sheets like it would do anything.

“why don’t you show me, suguru?” and all restraints that geto had before were instantly broken, muttering out a soft can i kiss you? before he finally indulges in everything that he’s ever dreamed about.

the hands that were holding back cup your face gently, and his body relaxes over you. it’s exactly like how he imagined and more, being able to at last feel the way your lips and body submit to him. a small whimper leaves your mouth when he pulls away, admiring the plump of your lips and the slight lustre of saliva on them.

he hums before leaning in to kiss you again, meeting your lips harshly as his hands travel to your waist. he’s pleasantly surprised when you switch the positions, leg going over to straddle him while your lips are still locked. air becomes scarce with the effort, forcing the two of you to break apart with short breaths.

“say my name again,” geto’s voice sends shivers through you, and whatever confidence you had just a second ago fades away when his chest vibrates under his sentence.

“suguru,” you whisper over him, the cute little pendant he bought for you dangling over his face — he swears he cannot wait to hear his name from your lips the next time and he has to close his eyes to compose himself until he tugs lightly at you, possibly to get you ready for bed.

“don’t w’nna…” you murmur, cheeks burning, your core aching and his half-hard bulge under you, as you bury your head in his neck. geto chuckles at your sudden shyness and it takes everything not to grind into you, larger palms stroking your waist as he plants small, quick pecks over the side of your head. he’s content to wait and enjoy the softer moments. “just want to stay here with you.”

“yeah?” geto sucks in another breath when you emerge from your hiding place, messy hair shaping your face and eyes so so flawlessly and he tries not to say the familiar three words. he brings you down for another slower kiss, faintly muttering the words against your lips like he’s thought of doing many times before.

“we can stay here as long as you want, baby.”

part 2

[deliciousangelfestival]

The Lady - 1

Character: Bucky Barnes x Female Reader, Eddie Horniman x Female Reader

Summary: After fifteen years away, a step-daughter returns for her Duke step-father's funeral, only to inherit a staggering 8 million pound debt and strike a risky deal with a criminal underworld figure.

Main Masterlist || support: Ko-fi

Chap 1, Chap 2, Chap 3 , Chap 4 , Chap 5 , Chap 6 , Chap 7.

Your ongoing support means the world to me! Reblogs are a fantastic way to help spread the word about my work. I'll do my best to reply to all your comments. Thank you for your continued encouragement!

In the heart of the military training ground, you, a seasoned Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technician, stand poised amidst a group of nervous soldiers. Among them is Private Jameson, a newcomer with trembling hands and apprehensive eyes. With unwavering composure, you take charge, your voice steady as you address the group.

"Today, we're covering the basics of bomb disposal," you begin, your tone reassuring yet firm. Turning to Private Jameson, you offer a patient smile.

"You, Private. What's your name?" Despite his nervousness, Private Jameson responds, and you guide him with a calming presence, instilling confidence as you impart your expertise.

"Jameson, take a deep breath," you instruct softly but firmly. "Remember, focus is key. You've got this." Private Jameson nods, his eyes locked on your reassuring gaze.

As he examines the device, you watch attentively, offering guidance with each movement. When he finishes, you nod approvingly. "Well done, Private. Now, let's move on."

As Private Jameson continues under your guidance, the other soldiers watch with admiration. They've seen you in action before, witnessed your dedication to the mission and your willingness to put yourself in harm's way for the greater good.

"Ma'am, what if the situation calls for immediate action?" Private Reynolds interjects, reflecting the group's curiosity.

You acknowledge the gravity of the question. "In a real-world scenario, there may not be time for thorough examination," you explain calmly. "Trust your instincts and make split-second decisions."

Private Jameson glances at you, newfound respect shining in his eyes. "But you always seem so calm under pressure, ma'am," he remarks admiringly.

You smile humbly, reflecting on the countless moments of uncertainty you've faced. "It's not about being fearless, Private," you reply earnestly. "It's about pushing through fear for those counting on you."

Your words hang in the air, a silent reminder of the sacrifices made by soldiers like you every day. With renewed determination, Private Jameson nods, his resolve strengthened by your example.

As the door of the training facility echoed with a sharp knock, you exchanged a puzzled glance with your comrades. The abrupt interruption stirred a sense of unease within you, a foreboding whisper of uncertainty.

"A lawyer wants to see you," the soldier at the door announced, his voice tinged with urgency.

You furrowed your brow in confusion. "Me?" you repeated, your mind racing to grasp the sudden turn of events. "Hmm, he sounds British," you mused aloud, your instincts sharpened by years of training.

With measured steps, you followed your comrade through the maze of corridors until you reached the visitor's area. There, standing before you, was a figure from your past, a familiar face veiled in the somber cloak of time.

"Miss," the lawyer greeted you with a solemn nod, his voice carrying the weight of unspoken truths.

Your heart skipped a beat as you recognized him, the memories flooding back like an unstoppable tide. It had been fifteen years since you last saw him, a lifetime of distance and estrangement separating you.

"I assumed something bad happened?" you ventured cautiously, your tone laced with concern and apprehension.

The lawyer, Cedric, nodded gravely, his expression betraying the gravity of the news he bore.

You and Cedric found a quiet place to talk. "Something's wrong?" you inquired, noting the somber expression on Cedric's face as he adjusted his glasses.

Cedric remained silent momentarily, his gaze fixed on the ground before meeting your eyes. "Duke Rupert died two days ago," he finally uttered, his voice laden with gravity.

Your heart clenched at the news. Duke Rupert was your stepfather, and the thought of his passing filled you with a mix of sorrow and apprehension.

Cedric continued, his words weighed down by the weight of the news. "On his will, he wrote that he wants all the family to gather. I came here as soon as I could. And you could attend the funeral too. He probably wants it too."

You nodded, absorbing the information with a heavy heart. The sudden loss of Duke Rupert had thrown your world into disarray, and the prospect of gathering with the family only added to the uncertainty swirling within you.

Taking a deep breath, you steadied yourself, determined to face whatever lay ahead with strength

You nodded in response to Cedric's words, a mix of emotions swirling inside you. "I'll gather my things," you said quietly, steeling yourself for the task ahead.

As you packed your belongings into your bag, Private Jameson approached you, his curiosity evident in his voice. "So, it turns out you're a noble," he remarked, his tone tinged with surprise.

You chuckled lightly, shaking your head in response. "I'm not. It was my step-dad. There's no noble blood in me," you explained, a hint of self-deprecation in your voice.

Jameson furrowed his brow, his curiosity piqued. "We've been working together for years, but you never mentioned anything about this," he observed, his tone filled with genuine interest.

You zipped up your bag, pausing momentarily before meeting Jameson's gaze. "It's just family stuff. Nothing interesting," you replied cryptically, a hint of sadness flickering in your eyes before you turned away, ready to face the uncertain future that lay ahead.

After a grueling 12-hour flight, you finally arrived back in the UK. As the car pulled up to Evergreen Abbey, your childhood home, a rush of nostalgia washed over you. The manor stood proudly, its historical fa��ade unchanged by the passing years.

Stepping out of the car, you took a moment to absorb the familiar sight before you. The memories of your upbringing flooded back, filling you with a sense of belonging despite the years of absence.

As you entered the manor, you were greeted by the sight of a middle-aged woman wearing a classic black dress adorned with a string of pearls. Her youthful aura belied the years that had passed since you last saw her. It was your mother, Susan.

"You're back," she exclaimed, opening her arms wide to envelop you in a warm embrace. The familiar scent of her perfume brought tears to your eyes as you returned her hug, feeling a sense of comfort and homecoming wash over you.

You nodded as Susan spoke, absorbing the news of Duke Rupert's accident with a heavy heart. The realization that your stepfather had passed away hit you like a wave, stirring emotions you had long buried.

"I'm so sorry. What happened?" you asked, your voice filled with genuine concern as you reached out to grasp Susan's hand for support.

Susan sighed her expression a mixture of sadness and frustration. "That silly old man's, I told him not to ride a horse, but he insisted and he fell," she explained, her tone tinged with regret. "Rupert always well-prepared, but I don't know why he really insisted on riding a horse that day."

Before you could respond, the sound of another voice broke through the somber atmosphere. "Thank God you're here," the voice exclaimed, drawing your attention. You turned to see your stepbrother, Charles, standing before you.

But your breath caught in your throat when you saw him wearing priestly attire. "Charles?" you uttered in disbelief, your eyes widening in surprise.

Charles opened his arms and enveloped you in a warm hug, his presence comforting despite the unexpected change in his appearance. "I'm glad you're here," he said, his handshake firm and sincere as he greeted you.

You were speechless, your mind struggling to process the transformation before you. There was a warmth in Charles's eyes, a genuine kindness that seemed to radiate from within him. He was different from the last time you saw him, and you couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at the sight of him in his new role.

"Are you wearing a cassock?" you finally managed to ask, your voice filled with curiosity as you glanced at Charles's attire.

Susan gently pinched your arm, her expression amused yet reproachful. "Silly girl, this is why you should reply to my letters, phone calls, and emails," she chided gently. "Charles has become a priest."

"I know you will find it hard to believe. But I went through a miracle that made me fully believed in God." As Charles spoke of his newfound faith, you struggled to reconcile this revelation with the memory of Charlie, who once hurled harsh words at you.

Then you heard a familiar voice, cutting through the tension like a knife. "You're here."

It was Charlotte, Charles's twin sister. Her gaze bore into you with the same disdain it always had, unchanged after all these years.

Charlotte was never one to hide her feelings about you. From the moment your mother brought you into their lives, she had seen you as nothing more than an unwanted burden.

Your mother's marriage to the Duke had brought you into a world of privilege and resentment. While your stepfather had become a father figure you'd never had, it came at the cost of your relationship with your own mother. Susan was desperate to fit into her new role as Duchess, and you were often left feeling like an outsider in your own home.

The Duke's children, Charles and Charlotte, had quickly formed a bond with your mother, leaving you feeling like an intruder in your own family. They resented you for stealing their father's attention, and the tension between you had only grown over the years.

Living at Evergreen Abbey had always felt like walking on eggshells. That's why, as soon as you came of age, you left for the United States and joined the army, seeking refuge from the suffocating atmosphere of the manor.

Charlotte's cold gaze was a painful reminder of the resentment that had always simmered beneath the surface. "Let's get this over with, please," she said, her words dripping with disdain.

"What does it mean?" you asked, scanning the room for answers but finding only silence and the weight of years of unresolved conflict hanging heavy in the air.

You couldn't believe your eyes as Charles stood before you, now a priest leading your stepfather's funeral. Rupert's passing seemed surreal, and as they closed the casket, you had a chance to see his face one last time.

His face looked different, smiling unnaturally due to the glue used to preserve it. It starkly contrasted the smile you remembered, and you regretted not seeing Rupert one last time before this moment. Placing a red rose near his casket, you whispered, "I'm going to miss you."

During the burial, your gaze wandered, and you noticed a little boy standing near your mother.

But someone standing alone amidst the gathering of family and guests caught your attention. Who is he?

After the burial concluded, the house filled with guests offering condolences. The strange man also disappeared. Susan and Charles gracefully accepted their sympathies, while Charlotte's whereabouts only God knows.

Amidst the crowd, you heard a gentle voice call your name. "Y/N?"

Turning around, you saw Eddie standing there. "Eddie? How are you?" You greeted him with a side hug, grateful for the familiarity in the midst of the somber occasion.

Eddie hugged you back, offering his condolences as you shared a moment of solace amid the chaos of the gathering.

Eddie's inquiry about your military service brought back memories, including a long-kept secret: you used to have a crush on him. It was partly why you joined the army, sharing a dream of serving alongside him. "Yeah," you answered, still groggy from the day's emotions.

"What about you? Did you join the army too?"

Eddie chuckled. "I did, but I left to pursue a business."

You nodded, finding it fitting for him. "You're looking more like a duke these days."

Taking a sip of water, Eddie revealed a surprising truth. "I am. I became a duke after my father passed."

Your shock was evident. "I'm sorry, I didn't know."

Eddie's chuckle held a hint of understanding. "Yeah, after you left, you sort of cut contacts with everyone."

You hesitated, recalling the mention of a will by Cedric. "What about your family tradition? Isn't your older brother supposed to be the duke?"

Eddie's expression shifted slightly. "It changed after my father's will."

Your unease grew as thoughts of Rupert's will resurfaced. Eddie noticed your worry and reached out, touching your hand. "Hey, if you need me, just call me."

Grateful for his support, you managed a small smile. "Thanks, Eddie."

########

As everyone sat waiting for the lawyer, a new presence entered the room. A little boy, perhaps around 10 years old, joined the gathering, taking a seat beside Charlotte. He stole occasional glances in your direction, his curiosity evident in his wide-eyed gaze.

Unable to contain your surprise, you turned to Charlotte and asked, "You have a child?"

Charlotte rolled her eyes in response, her annoyance palpable, while Charles chuckled softly at the exchange.

Feeling a familiar pinch on your arm, you turned to see Susan giving you a reproachful look. "This is why you should've answered my calls. He's your brother," she scolded gently.

Your eyes widened in disbelief. "Huh?!" you exclaimed, your mind struggling to comprehend the revelation as you glanced back at the little boy sitting beside Charlotte, a newfound sense of connection dawning within you. Now his face and future look similar to yours.

You found yourself at a loss for words, grappling with the sudden revelation of a long-lost sibling. The realization that you had cut off all contact when you joined the army weighed heavily on your conscience, leaving you with a profound sense of regret for the years of missed connections and lost opportunities.

Running a hand through your face, you let out a weary sigh, the weight of the past 15 years bearing down on you like a heavy burden. "Will there be another surprise?" you wondered aloud, the question hanging in the air as you braced yourself for whatever other unexpected twists fate had in store for you.

A few minutes later, Cedric, the lawyer, strode into the room with purpose, placing his briefcase on the table before retrieving the file. With a solemn expression, he began to read aloud the contents of Duke Rupert's will.

"Everyone will get a share of his insurance and investments," Cedric announced, his voice measured and professional. "Except Y/N."

You couldn't help but feel a twinge of resignation at the news, having expected as much given the strained dynamics within the family. Glancing around the room, you noted the acceptance in your mother's and the twins' expressions, as if they had anticipated this outcome.

But then, Cedric's next words shattered the calm facade that had settled over the room. "For the Evergreen Abbey Manor and the title, I hereby give it to Y/N L/N," he continued, his voice resolute.

Your shock was palpable, the expletive escaping your lips before you could stop it.

'HUH?!'

"What the fuck?" you exclaimed, unable to comprehend the sudden turn of events as the weight of Duke Rupert's decision settled heavily upon you.

As Charles let out a disbelieving "Hoo," and Charlotte expressed her relief with a curt "Great, not my problem anymore," the tension in the room seemed to escalate.

'Wait. The twins aren't angry?'

Your mother reached out, gently squeezing your hand and offering a reassuring look, her silent support a comforting anchor amidst the chaos unfolding around you.

"Why do I feel like I'm carrying a bomb in my hand?" you muttered, the weight of Duke Rupert's legacy pressing down on you like a heavy burden.

Cedric adjusted his glasses, his expression grave as he spoke. "When you became the Lady of this house... Your grace, pardon me that I have to tell you this," he began carefully. "The former Duke had debts, and he was involved in what we might call 'creative' work."

"You mean drugs, gambling, and the like?" you interjected, your voice laced with disbelief.

Susan shot you a warning glance, her lips forming a silent reprimand. "You shouldn't say that word in front of your brother," she whispered, her tone urgent.

Turning to her younger son, she leaned in closer, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's not drugs, but weed," she clarified softly.

"Oh, wow. Now I feel relieved," you replied sarcastically, the absurdity of the situation not lost on you as you struggled to come to terms with the unexpected revelations about Duke Rupert's illicit activities.

You ran a hand through your hair in frustration, the enormity of the situation sinking in. "How much is the debt?" you asked, your voice tinged with apprehension.

"8 million pounds," Cedricbreplied solemnly, his tone grave.

Charles made the sign of the cross a gesture of disbelief. "Oh Lord," he murmured under his breath.

"And he wants me to repay the debt when I never took a single cent?" you exclaimed, incredulity coloring your words as you struggled to comprehend the injustice of it all.

"Was he high when he wrote the will? Why me?!!"

Sighing heavily, you turned your gaze towards the imposing manor, its grandeur now overshadowed by the weight of Duke Rupert's debts. "Can I just sell this manor?" you wondered aloud, desperation creeping into your voice.

"It will take months or years, Your Grace. And the debt has to be paid by the end of this month," Cedric explained, punctuated by a sense of urgency.

But before you could act on your impulse, Susan's voice cut through the air, her tone laced with urgency and apprehension. "You can't sell the manor," she interjected, her gaze pleading with you to reconsider.

Confusion flickered in your eyes as you turned to face her, a mix of frustration and resignation bubbling up inside you. "Why not?" you demanded, your voice tinged with exasperation.

Susan's response was swift, her words carrying the weight of years of pent-up frustration and resentment. "If you sell the manor, I would lose my title as a duchess," she explained, her voice quavering with emotion.

The realization hit you like a punch to the gut, stirring up memories of the strained relationship that had defined your interactions with Susan over the years. Her obsession with upholding the image of a perfect duchess had driven a wedge between you, leaving your relationship fraught with tension and resentment.

As you stood there, grappling with the weight of Duke Rupert's debts and the expectations thrust upon you by your title, you couldn't help but feel a sense of bitterness creeping in.

You let out another sigh, resigned to the reality of the situation. "I need a drink," you muttered, the thought of seeking solace in the most potent alcohol near the lake seeming like the only reprieve from the turmoil raging inside you.

As you sat by the lake's tranquil waters, the weight of the situation bearing down on you, regret began to seep into your thoughts like a creeping mist.

Coming back here had seemed like the right thing to do at the time, but now, faced with the reality of Duke Rupert's debts and the burden they placed upon you, you couldn't help but wonder if it had been a mistake.

Taking a sip of your whiskey, you allowed the warmth of the liquid to wash over you, momentarily easing the turmoil in your mind. But even the soothing embrace of alcohol couldn't dispel the unease gnawing at your insides.

Lost in your thoughts, you were startled when a small figure approached, breaking the silence that had settled over the lakeside. You glanced up to see your little stepbrother, Hugo, standing before you with a tentative expression on his face.

"Uh, hi. Hello. I'm your older sister," you greeted awkwardly, the words feeling foreign on your tongue.

Hugo returned your greeting with a shy smile. "Hi, step-bro. Hugo. Ten years old," he introduced himself, his voice soft and uncertain.

An awkward silence hung between you, the gap between your worlds feeling vast and insurmountable. Sensing the tension, you made an effort to bridge the divide.

"You want to walk?" you offered, gesturing towards the path that wound its way around the edge of the lake.

Hugo hesitated for a moment before nodding hesitantly. "Hmm...," he murmured, his eyes brightening with a hint of curiosity as he took a tentative step forward, ready to embark on this uncertain journey with you.

As you and Hugo began to playfully throw stones into the lake, the tension between you gradually dissipated, replaced by a sense of camaraderie born from the simple joy of shared activity.

"So, Hugo, do you know what's happening at the household?" you asked, choosing your words carefully. You had learned in the military that children often possessed an innate honesty that could shed light on complex situations.

Hugo paused in his stone-throwing, considering your question for a moment before responding. "Walls have ears, and the workers always gossip," he replied cryptically, his voice tinged with wisdom beyond his years.

Impressed by his insight, you couldn't help but smile. "Wow," you remarked, genuinely impressed by Hugo's observation. "Do you want to share?" you prompted, curious to hear his perspective on the goings-on within the household.

As Hugo shared his insights, you listened intently, surprised by the depth of understanding hidden behind his youthful facade.

"Charlie doesn't want to take the house because of the debt, and he wants to become a pope," Hugo explained matter-of-factly, his words carrying a weight of resignation.

You responded with a puzzled "Huh?"

"And Charlotte doesn't care since she's going to marry a prince. She doesn't want anything related to Dad's 'creative work.' It will ruin her image."

"Her image? She's marrying a prince?" you interjected, your incredulity evident in your tone.

Hugo regarded you with a knowing look. "You're really ignorant, huh?" he remarked bluntly, his words stinging with a hint of playful teasing.

Feeling a pang of embarrassment at being corrected by a child, you cleared your throat awkwardly. "Hey..." you started, but Hugo continued without missing a beat.

"Sis Charlotte has quite millions of followers on social media," he elaborated, his voice tinged with a hint of admiration. "If her name is connected to weed and family debt—"

"It will ruin her image, and she'll have to pay the penalty," you finished, the implications sinking in as you processed Hugo's words. "Wait, how old are you again?" you asked, feeling a mix of surprise and amusement at the maturity of his observations.

Hugo raised both hands, a playful grin spreading across his face. "Ten," he replied, the innocence of his youth juxtaposed against the weight of the knowledge he carried.

You chuckled softly, taking another sip of your whiskey as you observed Hugo with newfound respect. Children were indeed frighteningly perceptive these days, and you made a mental note to tread carefully around him in the future.

You looked at the lake and sighed again. No wonder Charlie felt relieved upon seeing you. He wouldn't have to worry about these things. If his past caught up with him while pursuing his path to becoming a pope, it would ruin everything for him.

As for Charlotte, nothing ever seems to be enough for her. If her future in-laws from the royal family were to find out about this business, they would likely cancel her marriage.

So it's obvious they were relieved when Rupert chose you as the heir.

As both of you made your way back home, your senses went on high alert as you spotted a black Range Rover parked near the entrance. The sight of the familiar car sent a chill down your spine, and you felt a sense of unease settle in the pit of your stomach.

He's the man who watched Rupert's funeral from afar.

"Hugo, go inside," you instructed quietly, your voice tinged with urgency as you gestured for him to retreat to the safety of the house.

The man who emerged from the car was none other than the same individual you had seen at the funeral. James Barnes, or "Bucky" as he preferred to be called, approached you with a confident stride, his demeanor exuding an air of authority.

"Sorry to disturb your afternoon walk," Bucky began, his voice smooth and polite. "Allow me to introduce myself. I'm James Barnes, but you could call me Bucky."

You nodded in acknowledgment, your guard instinctively rising as you braced yourself for whatever news he had come to deliver. "How can I help you, Mr. Barnes?" you inquired, your tone guarded yet polite.

"It's difficult for me to say while you're still grieving," Bucky admitted, his expression sympathetic. "But the former duke owed money to us."

You resisted the urge to roll your eyes, pinching the bridge of your nose in frustration. "You see, Mr. Barnes, I just got here two days ago after 15 years," you explained wearily, the weight of Duke Rupert's legacy pressing down on you like a suffocating blanket.

Bucky raised an eyebrow at your revelation, his interest piqued. "Yeah, Rupert mentioned it a couple of times," he remarked casually.

"Did he?" you muttered under your breath, feeling a surge of annoyance at Duke Rupert's apparent penchant for gossip.

"Let's continue this at the office," you suggested tersely, eager to put some distance between yourself and the unsettling presence of James Barnes.

As you stepped into Rupert's office for the first time, a wave of nostalgia washed over you, mingling with the lingering scent of his cigar and the familiar musk that seemed to permeate the room. It was a scent you had grown accustomed to over the years, a reminder of the man who had once occupied this space.

Pouring another whiskey for yourself and a glass for Bucky, you couldn't help but feel a pang of melancholy as you reflected on the memories associated with this room. Duke Rupert's presence seemed to linger in every corner, his larger-than-life persona casting a shadow over the space.

Bucky took a moment to savor the whiskey, his expression one of appreciation. "Your step-dad always did have a good collection of alcohol," he remarked, a hint of nostalgia coloring his words as he raised his glass in a silent toast.

You nodded in agreement, acknowledging the truth in his words. Despite the complexities of his character, Duke Rupert had always taken pride in his impressive selection of drinks, a testament to his refined taste and penchant for the finer things in life.

Taking a sip of your drink, you cleared your throat, breaking the heavy silence in the air. "Do you have business with my step-dad?" you asked, your tone cautious as you eyed Bucky across the desk.

Bucky's admission hung heavy in the air as he spoke, his words carrying a weight of responsibility and obligation.

"I lent him my money and I protected him," he explained, his tone tinged with a sense of duty.

"Why? His weed business didn't work out?" you asked, curiosity piqued by the revelation.

Bucky shook his head, a rueful smile tugging at his lips. "It was successful. But he had a change of heart and wanted out. And his boss didn't like it. That's where I came in," he elaborated, his expression grave.

"Eight million pounds. Is all because of you?" you queried, the enormity of the debt now beginning to make sense.

Bucky tilted his head, his gaze meeting yours with a solemn intensity. "The price of the damage I got for protecting your step-dad. I gained more enemies," he admitted, his voice tinged with regret.

Setting down your whiskey glass, you felt a sense of relief wash over you. Despite the tangled web of intrigue and deceit surrounding Duke Rupert, at least his involvement in the weed business was not the cause of his debts.

You let out a heavy sigh, the weight of the situation pressing down on you like a suffocating blanket. Options seemed limited, and each path forward appeared fraught with challenges and uncertainties.

Glancing at the bank statements and stock reports spread out on the desk before you, a sinking feeling settled in the pit of your stomach. Duke Rupert's financial situation was far from ideal, and the prospect of producing eight million pounds seemed increasingly daunting.

Your mother's reluctance to sell the manor only added to the complexity of the situation. Despite the financial burden it represented, the estate held sentimental value for her, serving as a tangible connection to Duke Rupert and the life they had built together.

The twins' indifference to the predicament only further highlighted the sense of isolation you felt in confronting this dilemma alone. But then your thoughts turned to Hugo, the youngest member of the family, and the realization dawned on you that the manor held a special significance for him as well.

Selling off the artwork and alcohol collection was a possibility, but the process would take time, and the prospect of navigating the complexities of the open market and taxation only added to the uncertainty.

With few options left to consider, you knew that your best course of action was to confront the man himself. Despite your reservations, you couldn't ignore the fact that Bucky held the key to unraveling the mystery of Duke Rupert's debts.

As the desire to return to the U.S. gnawed at you, a sense of urgency washed over you, driving you to seek resolution as quickly as possible. But with time ticking away and the weight of responsibility bearing on your shoulders, you knew the road ahead would be fraught with challenges and sacrifices.

You sighed heavily, the weight of the situation settling upon your shoulders. "What options do I have?

Bucky's smile was almost too slick, his finger pointing at you like a loaded gun. "I really like your attitude, Your Grace. Straight to the point," he remarked, his voice smooth as silk.

As he unbuttoned his suit and slid his hands into his pocket pants, a sense of foreboding settled over you like a dark cloud. "I'm also intrigued by your career as an expert in bombs," he continued, his words sending a chill down your spine.

A knot of unease tightened in your stomach as you braced yourself for what was to come. "Go on," you replied tersely, the tension crackling in the air between you.

With a calculated gesture, Bucky brought his hands together, the glint of gold rings catching the light and adding an air of menace to his demeanor. "I will make the debt of 8 million pounds disappear. If you help me," he declared, his tone dripping with promise.

Your heart skipped a beat at the audacity of his offer, the implications of his words sinking in like a lead weight. "What do you want?" you asked, your voice barely above a whisper, the gravity of the situation weighing heavily on your shoulders.

Bucky hesitated for a moment, his gaze flickering with uncertainty before he finally spoke. "I've got more competition after I helped Rupert. Thinking about it gives me headaches. That's where you come in," he explained cryptically, his words laden with hidden meaning.

Raising an eyebrow, you regarded him with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension. The silence stretched between you, thick with tension, until Bucky finally broke it with a chilling revelation. "I want you to create an explosion. To get rid of them," he stated bluntly, his eyes boring into yours with unwavering intensity.

"Fuck!"

Cursing under your breath, you cast a wary glance at the painting of Rupert hanging on the wall. His eyes seemed to bore into you, judging your every move. As an army EOD technician, the thought of making a bomb for a criminal to pay off a debt filled you with a sense of dread.

Regret gnawed at you like a festering wound as you grappled with the weight of the decision before you. Coming back home had seemed like the right thing to do at the time, but now, faced with the reality of the situation, you couldn't help but wish you had never returned.

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[ns-games]

2024 CrowdStrike Incident

I just wanted to document my day today. Since I feel this is a pretty major historical event in the history of computing.

From my understanding, the update that CrowdStrike pushed occurred last night, but I wasn't made aware of it until this morning.

I heard the notification for Microsoft Teams go off on my work phone a couple of times while I was still in bed. I decided not to answer right away since employees are supposed to call me directly if there's a production issue. However, around 5:30 this morning, I got a call from one of my team leads telling me that a CrowdStrike update got pushed earlier that has now "BitLockered" a bunch of computers.

For context, my team uses the term "BitLockered" for any time a computer crashes and requires the BitLocker encryption key to recover.

In any case, I was asked if I could run over to our local distribution center right away to start mitigating the damage. I immediately got up, got dressed, grabbed my work laptop and bag and left. I skipped my morning coffee and shower so I could get there ASAP.

When I finally managed to get inside the building, I started taking a look around the front office and saw several computers stuck on the Windows Recovery Mode screen. Already starting to look like a bad sign. I started booting up my work laptop, which I thankfully did not leave turned over overnight, and headed upstairs to a bank of production computers. As soon as I got up there, I saw a sea of Windows Recovery Mode screens.

By this point my Microsoft Teams notifications started going off non-stop, and I started running the recommended fix on one of the computers. Basically I was trying to make sure I understood how to perform the fix. At this point, it became apparent we were going to have to touch every endpoint in our network at every facility.

Around 6:00AM, I got a call from a manager from a separate facility asking me about what was going on. This is someone that's constantly just called me instead of submitting a help desk ticket, and I've tried to be patient with. Today I had to be a bit more blunt and state that I couldn't drop what I was doing to come over and help, but that someone would be there later today to assist. This manager continued to try and call me throughout the day, but I had to keep telling him that I was not going to be available all day.

Around 6:30AM one of my co-workers made it to the distribution center to help. I ran the fix on his laptop and we started working to fix each computer one by one. A bit later I noticed my mom texted me that she heard about this in the news. So I looked up "CrowdStrike" on Google and found that not only were we affected by it, but many other major companies were.

As we started getting workstations back online, it became apparent that was only going to be half the battle, as this issue caused most of our servers to crash as well. But at this point, we figured it would be best to continue to get as many workstations back up and running one by one. But because the servers were down, I kept getting asked if I could restore a connection, which unfortunately we couldn't do until the server team could run the fixes on our servers.

Eventually I was asked to join a Zoom call so I could start providing other facilities with BitLocker keys so they could start running the fix on their own computers. Some machines we determined could be fixed by reverting to a restore point. Others we had find a way to manually remove the "C-00000291*.sys* file by booting the computer into Safe Mode with Networking. Those devices ended up costing us a bunch of time to get back up and running.

By the time 5:00PM rolled around, I asked if I could go home and continue to work from there. So I took the opportunity to go home, get myself cleaned up, and continue to work. By 8:30PM it seemed that things had died down to the point we could stop for the day. I'm sure we've got a few machines we still need to apply the fix to, but we managed to get our core business back up and running within the matter of a few hours.

So yeah, long story. But I just felt like documenting it, given that this is an event that's probably going to be pretty well remembered in the history books.