#I LOVE HIS BOSS FIGHT AND HOW STUPIDLY HARD IT WAS

[siribunbun]

"I'm putting down the bet. I'm taking the gamble. I'm claiming the win. I'll let fate spin the wheel, a daring gamble. Walking the brink of death...for rebirth.

All for the Amber Lord!"

[roseandxanderfics]

“Accidental Chaos (and a Brooding Werewolf)” - Derek Hale x Ditzy but Overpowered Reader

Summary: You’re clumsy, scatterbrained, and an absolute menace with your supernatural powers—except you don’t even realize how strong you are. Derek would like to strangle you, but unfortunately, he’s also madly in love.

⸻

Derek Hale has faced a lot of terrifying things in his life. Hunters. Alpha packs. Nogitsune.

But nothing—nothing—compares to the sheer force of destruction that is you.

And the worst part?

You have no idea.

Derek watches—helplessly—as you stare at the now-obliterated training dummy in his loft. A dummy that, just five seconds ago, had been perfectly fine. Intact. Functional.

Now? It’s dust. Particles. A memory.

“Oops,” you murmur, tilting your head in mild confusion.

Derek takes a slow, deep breath. His eye twitches.

“Oops,” he repeats, voice dangerously low.

You turn to him with an apologetic wince. “Yeah, that was, um… not intentional.”

Derek inhales sharply, fists clenched. Not intentional. Not intentional. As if that makes it better.

As if this is new.

As if you haven’t done worse.

Like that time you tripped and accidentally made the entire Beacon Hills library levitate. Or when you sneezed and caused a minor earthquake. Or the time you turned a whole pack of aggressive alpha werewolves into golden retrievers because “they looked scary.”

(They were very scary. But still.)

“You—you tripped and completely disintegrated my training dummy?” Derek demands, voice tight.

“Uh, yeah?” You glance down at your feet, frowning. “My shoelace was untied. Maybe that threw off my aim?”

Derek pinches the bridge of his nose. His blood pressure is skyrocketing. He can feel it.

“You were just supposed to practice restraint,” he grits out. “You promised to hold back.”

“I did!” you insist. “That was, like, maybe 10% of my power. Max.”

Derek stares at you like you’ve grown a second head. “That was ten percent?”

You nod enthusiastically. “Yup! I was trying really hard to be careful.”

Derek looks at the hole in his loft. The gaping hole.

Right. Sure. Careful.

This is it. This is how he dies. Not in battle. Not in some noble fight against supernatural evil.

No.

His mate—the person he is unfortunately, completely, stupidly in love with—is going to be the death of him.

He exhales slowly, trying to collect the last shreds of his patience.

“Just—sit down,” he orders. “Don’t move. Don’t breathe. Don’t even think about using your powers.”

You flop onto his couch with an exaggerated sigh. “Got it, boss.”

Derek watches you like a hawk. His heart is still pounding. He knows you don’t mean to be dangerous, but—

BOOM.

The couch explodes.

One second, you’re sitting. The next, you’re airborne.

Derek lunges forward on instinct, catching you in a blur of movement. His arms lock around your waist, his body shielding yours as debris scatters around them.

The loft falls into stunned silence.

You blink up at him, wide-eyed.

He stares down at you, jaw clenched. His heart is racing.

“…Okay, I might have thought about using my powers,” you admit sheepishly.

Derek groans, dropping his forehead onto your shoulder.

He is never going to survive this.

And, unfortunately for him, he’s never letting you go either.

⸻

Later That Night…

Derek has been brooding for hours.

Not an uncommon occurrence, but still.

You, however, have been blissfully unbothered—sitting cross-legged on his bed, scrolling through your phone like you didn’t accidentally cause massive destruction again.

And he wants to be mad. He should be mad.

But you’re also sitting there in his shirt, looking like the most innocent little menace in existence.

Derek grits his teeth. Unfair. So unfair.

“You’re staring,” you hum without looking up.

Derek scowls. “I’m monitoring you.”

You snort. “Sounds fake, but okay.”

His jaw tightens. “You blew up my couch.”

“I said I was sorry!” You set your phone down and shuffle closer to him. “Besides, don’t act like you don’t love it.”

His brow furrows. “Love what?”

You grin, flopping dramatically onto his chest. “Me.”

Derek groans, but his arms immediately wrap around you, pulling you closer.

Damn it.

You’re right.

He does love you.

Even if you’re a walking catastrophe.

[mapofthemazeinthemirror]

I have been meaning to yap to you about this because I am a certified mafia jjun enjoyer but….listen!

two things: one (1) reader is hired by said mafia group to protect the leader (yeonjun) gosh I imagine like enemies to lovers? she hates yeonjun at first, and thinks he’s so so mean. At first he thinks “how is she going to protect me?” but she’s protecting him more than physically. he eventually eases up on her and ends up being mean to everyone but her. gahhh something about meanie jjunie that has a soft spot gets me.

two (2) this might be quick but reader and mafia boss tyun being from rival families, but they cross paths and end up falling for each other. aaaah forbidden romance <3

ASH I LOVE YOUR MIND. Thank you for feeding me with this. I’ve been craving gang txt ever since the new gbgb choreo, the part where it looks like they’re fighting 🫢 Number two (2) with Taehyun is so yummy, just imagine the banter they'd have with each other!

words: 1.8k oops

warnings: a bit of workplace discrimination, mentions of attacks, criminal activity, blood briefly, treating wounds, probably too soft at the end

If there’s one thing you’re going to do, it’s do your job damn well regardless of your personal feelings towards the man you’ve been hired to protect – and especially if said man seems to think you’re not fit for the job. It appeared Yeonjun was not pleased when you first showed up to work, pulling a member of his team aside and having what looked like a tense conversation. It only made you more intent on proving your position. You often butted heads, unable to agree on the right approach to many things. Yeonjun prioritized quick gains, confrontations and aggressive plays, recurrently willing to forgo his security or the safety of the more expendable members of his organisation to get what he was after. On the other hand, you wanted him to undertake less risky tactics, ones that were better for his reputation, his long-term safety. There were a couple of instances where he tried to plan some dealings without you, locking you out of his office and leaving you to stand outside fuming and trying to hear what little of the discussion you could through the crack in the door. The men took you even less seriously after that stunt – if the boss didn’t respect you, why should they?

Using your intel, you cleverly plan out routes for the driver to take that steer clear of trouble. At first Yeonjun is annoyed and questions the detour, but later that night, he learns through his informant that police were doing a random car check on the usual route, due to the crimes of a gang in the area. When he thanks you the following morning, you think you've earned the respect you've been craving. However, the good feeling doesn't last. As the day goes on, not only does Yeonjun give you his drink order, as if you're a simple assistant or coffee runner, he also laughs at a joke one of his men makes about you, right in front of you.

And maybe from time to time you fantasize about the young, stupidly good looking, ridiculously well dressed mafia boss getting what he deserved; about letting his laundering fall through, letting his shipment go to the wrong country, or turning a blind eye to the betrayal of one of his most valuable men that you have discovered. But you're a professional, and professionals don't let their sour thoughts derail their career.

It's only when the truth about the disloyalty of Yeonjun's right hand man is laid out for him that things begin to change. You had supplied all the proof, having hired a private investigator of sorts to get the incriminating photos you needed, accumulating dirt on the man who was Yeonjun's favourite, his oldest friend in the business, until there was no room for doubt in his mind.

What you hadn't expected was for the boss to show up at your place a few days after your exposé, looking more exhausted than you'd ever seen him. The betrayal had hit him hard. He seemed despondent as he glanced around at the place you lived, showing no reflection of his opinion. You weren't even sure how much he was taking in with those tired dark eyes. His hair was not to his usual standard, and his coat which was usually tied fashionably at his waist hung open and loose on his thin frame. You felt more awkward standing before him in this state than you ever had when he'd been laughing at your expense. You offered him a seat but he turned it down. All you could do was stare and wait for him to speak.

“I'm very grateful,” he began. His voice was hoarse, bringing a deepness to it you'd never known. Finally he looked you straight in the eye for the first time since he'd arrived. “I never would have seen it for myself. I was blinded by my… If you hadn't disclosed this to me…” It was the first time you'd seen him struggle to articulate himself. You nodded in understanding, and he seemed relieved.

After that, you were given a raise – a silent one, since he applied it without saying anything to you about it – and an office of your own. Not only did the jokes and snide comments from the other men stop, but they seemed to eye you with caution, some with reverence. You had become the one Yeonjun trusted most, the one he came to with his concerns, and nobody would ever question your value again. Not unless they wanted to face the boss's fury.

Things have been good for a while: you love your job – and maybe, as much as you hate to admit it, your boss, just a little bit? – when something unforeseeable happens. You're busy handling communications when you spot Yeonjun's ride pull up in the underground lot on the security monitor. Watching as the two front doors of the vehicle swing open and both the driver and the ridealong dash to open the back doors, your anxiety is thrown into gear. Then Yeonjun stumbles out from the back seat. You're on your feet before you see them check him over, out the door before he can wave them off.

By the time he's in the building, there are more men around him, asking questions and putting their hands on his shoulders in concern. He shakes them all off in annoyance, ordering them to get back to work. As the men fall away he spots you standing by, and he softens. When he approaches, you see the sharp red lines that are scratched into the side of his face, notice the bloody cuts on his hand as it sweeps his black hair up over his forehead.

“What happened?” you ask when he reaches you, even though you have a pretty good idea in your mind. You need to know anyway, as you keep a record of all offenses committed against him.

“It was an ambush,” he says simply. He watches your hands take his bigger ones from his sides and turn them over, inspecting. His hands suddenly feel cold in contrast to your warm skin as you make contact.

“Are you okay?” You glance briefly up to his eyes, indicating that your question does not refer to his obvious abrasions.

“That bullet proof glass might need a touch up,” he states rather matter-of-factly in reply, looking away from you. He sounds so nonchalant, as if it's not a big deal. Your heartbeat has picked up significantly, an unexpected reaction to hearing about danger that has already passed, and you realise that a threat to Yeonjun's safety means more to you than it should; more than a professional responsibility for his security.

You usher him into his office and locate the medical kit. This is the first time you'll be putting your first aid training to good use, you muse silently as you pull the lamp down close to Yeonjun's face. It's an intimate position you've found yourself in; Yeonjun seated on the large plush sofa while you hover above him, one knee on the seat of the sofa to steady yourself. You don't even register that your knee is between his spread legs, so focused on treating his injuries. You've never touched him before, and yet it feels like one of the most natural things you've ever done as you work instinctively, the fingers of your non-dominant hand along his cheek without your noticing. His warm eyes, which had seemed distant just a moment ago, check your face occasionally, until he abandons subtlety and they unabashedly train on you as you treat him, lit by the glow of the lamp. You try not to notice it, though you definitely do.

“I usually do this myself,” he says quietly as you reach for a new cloth and the bottle of disinfectant once more. The tug of a lazy smile appears on his mouth. “This is much better.”

Your eyes meet his, and all at once you feel much too warm. Now that you're not concentrating, you notice the placement of your knee, and your whole body seems to come alive. Retracting it as casually as possible, you hold your hand out to him, hoping your flushed state will go unnoticed. The feeling of his palm against yours sends sparks through you, making you feel like a stupid high schooler. He's still smiling, which makes it even harder to ignore. You suppose he's used to his life being threatened, used to targeted attacks, and that's how he's so calm after the ambush. Unless the starry look in his eyes speaks of an oncoming concussion.

He doesn't flinch once as you disinfect his scrapes and cuts. You're glad there's no glass to be picked out of the wounds. He watches everything you do quietly, and you find yourself having to remind yourself to breathe occasionally. It's new to be this close to him, and you don't hate it – not in the slightest. Most of his wounds are superficial, thanks to the bullet proof glass, and once you've applied coverings to the cuts on his hands, you're all finished. When you go to move the lamp away, you notice that his face has changed. He looks drained now, all his earlier charm and blasé attitude abandoned, maybe a little paler than usual even under the warm light, and you wonder if he's starting to feel the effects of the ordeal.

“I'll get you some water,” you tell him. Before you can move away, you feel his fingers softly grasp your hand. Your eyes come back to his face in surprise.

“Wait,” he says, a little weakly. His eyes are looking away from you, his brow quirked as though he's trying to figure something out. “I'm fine. Can you- can you just…”

There's only been one other time he's not been sure of his words before, and he'd been through something rough then, too. Something inside you begins to warm up and slowly melt as you realise that Yeonjun is not as unbothered on the inside as he plays on the outside. He may be tough, but he's not invincible. He may have had this kind of attack on his life before, he might even be used to it or expect it, but his body still undergoes the shock, even if it’s a delayed reaction.

His eyebrows are still slightly furrowed as he looks up at you. Without words and with the gentlest, smallest tug at your hand which you may not have noticed in another circumstance, which could probably have been played off as nothing if it had been rejected, he asks you to stay. You can't hide the smile that twitches at your lips. With something that feels like courage coursing through you, you step towards him. Turning slightly, you set yourself down on his lap and feel him relax. His arm winds around you to keep you snug to him and you lean your head onto his shoulder, getting a breath of expensive cologne. He sighs deeply before breathing evenly, dropping into a deep rest.

You're content like this, though you never imagined being this close to him, glad that he's resting when he clearly needs it, and proud that you could help. If this is how you can protect him physically, even if it's only in this small way, you'll take it. Though, in your head you've already begun thinking through methods of retaliation to whichever rival faction made this attempt on his life.

[kunosoura]

top 5 soulsborne bosses

Honorable mention: Messmer may be recency bias inflated even further because he's one of the few well tuned bosses in the Elden Ring DLC but he absolutely leaped out first to me.

Second Honorable Mention: History may have left the Tower Knight in the dust, but I still have a soft spot for him. Back when the boss design philosophy was less "learn this boss's moveset and execute a counterattack" and more "here's a hectic encounter, how are you going to handle it?"

5. Burnt Ivory King (A ds2 boss? gasp!); for all that when you're 1v1ing him he's a lackluster sword duel with the jank you'd expect of his game, I love how much his fight really embodies the flawed ambitiousness of DS2. You spend the entire DLC recruiting the last of his knights to remain uncorrupted so they can follow you into the old chaos (the flame of Lost Izalith grown so wild and out of control that it's slowly eating the world underneath you), seal away those of them who've grown corrupted, and finally put their king to rest in this sprawling, chaotic brawl. At least when DS2 suffocated you in a boss fight, it did so with a certain ludonarrative ambition.

4. I love the design of the Leda fight where if you've been rushing things or if you do quests stupidly (IE side with the zealous knight of the guy who was literally just recently brainwashing you) it's a hopeless gank but if you've been exploring and engaging with the story it's a 3v3/4v4 (depending on Moore and if you feel justified popping out the mimic tear) where the character arcs of all the people you've met during the DLC campaign really crystallize. Especially Thiollier!

3. I like Margitt! I like how he's both a brick wall meant to chastise you you until you explore the open world and level vigor, and an eminently fair fight once you're savvy to his tricks. A hard obstacle to get you to recognize the new way of navigating the ER world on your first playthrough and a very good warm-up when you're dropping into a new playthrough on a second one.

2. Gael is the best of the like.. super hard DLC capstone bosses. I've played DS3 like 7 times to completion, and each build felt truly pushed to its limits by him without ever feeling like I was being punished for not playing a particular way other than Playing Well. He doesn't invalidate fighting him with sorcery or miracles or pyro with constant undending insufferable aggression with windows too small for anything but a soul arrow (like SOME more recent bosses), but at the same time he doesn't excuses casters from learning the fight.

1. Lady Maria of the Astral Clocktower. Absolutely phenomenal boss that brings both the narrative of the main game and of the DLC to a head. The voice/face reveal had me in absolute chills the first time, the way she grabs you by surprise then lets your hand trail away because what comes next can only be a clean duel (reprised later if she gets you with her grab attack and gently cradles your body as she removes the blade... brr). Conspicuously fair, never once do I die to her without knowing what I did wrong, no crazy gimmicks or bullshit phase change health bar refills. The apex of the melodramatic honorable 1v1 duel bosses which as is often memed about, is itself the apex of the soulsborne boss.

[soulsborne-pilled]

Finally beat the final boss of the DLC so here my final thoughts on that:

Let's start with the positive, he has a cool design. Like REALLY cool. Definitely is intimidating in the way a final boss should be. I also actually really enjoyed phase 1! This part of the fight was quite fun!

Now to the bad and goddamn where do I start??

Phase 2. Phase 2 of this boss fight is just absolutely horrible, just flat out bad.

Once in phase 2 the boss starts adding aoes after basically EVERY attack. And aoe stuff doesn't have to be bad, Radagon for example incorperates it quite nicely into his fight, and I very much love his fight, but the ones here are incredibly annoying as they clutter the screen to the point that I cannot see either my character or the boss, which you can imagine what happens then.

On top of that the amount of effects and shit actually fucked up my framerate. I had like barely frames occasionally and got hit repeatedly.

Even aside from how stupidly hard this motherfucker with like 50k hp hits, openings are a fucking joke. You barely get any as is in phase 1, but phase 2? Well fuck you and good luck with trying to find a milisecond of an opening with like 5 frames, your screen full of effects and a constant spam of aoe shit!

Like that is not difficult and challenging! If the difficulty of your boss comes from a fucking tank healthbar, aoe spam, frame rate issues and the fact I can't see anything it's not difficult at all and just bad design.

And it is so so so upsetting because the potential was there! It could've been a phenomenal fight if phase 2 wasn't such a disaster! Phase 1 was genuinely so promising and fun at first, but ultimatly I ended up disliking that too just because I knew that afterwards I'd deal with this garbage again.

It is easily, and I mean EASILY the worst boss in the entirety of Elden Ring and I'd rather fight multiple Goskin Duo's back to back than this dogshit piece of trash.

All in all Shadow of the Erdtree's final boss was an upsetting, unfun and incredibly disappointing mess that it did not have to be. Such a let down for me honestly.

[hazelestelle]

Fall 2024 and Winter 2025 Anime Review

I was on holiday a lot last year haha, so I only watched some of the fall 2024 anime now, but I still wanted to review them. I’ll start with winter 2025 though.

I may be a guild receptionist but I’ll solo any boss to clock out on time: 9/10

(What’s with these stupidly long titles? Can’t come up with anything so you just use a summary?) The ultimate power fantasy for any overworked customer service person. I too would love to smash everything with a giant hammer to avoid working overtime and dealing with stupid customers XD I loved Alina, she’s a great protagonist, and I loved the rest of the cast too. The reveal who the “man in black” is came too out of nowhere for me though, and they all acted like it was obvious… But of course that isn’t as important as not working overtime anyway. Definitely the surprise hit of the season for me.

Tasokare Hotel: 8/10

Okay, I’ll say it, Osoto was my favourite. And his relationship with Neko was so interesting. They really are too sides of the same coin. And I loved how they weren’t afraid to really go there. That episode with the two best friends? Woah. Unfortunately, I didn’t care about Atori though, otherwise it would have all had even more impact I think. I also haven’t played the game, so I don’t know if this is an ending you can get, but I think it made a lot of sense. If you like mysteries that are a little (or a lot) dark, this one’s for you.

Promise of Wizard: 6/10

There are a lot of characters, and they talk a lot and they talk fast, so it can be hard to track of. Also they talk so much that in some episodes nothing really happens? And the protagonist has less personality than a piece of toast and does absolutely nothing. The story would be exactly the same without her there. But that doesn’t really matter because they boys are all very pretty, and you can ship a lot of them, so I was still entertained enough to watch it every week.

Solo Leveling Season 2: 5/10

As you might remember, I didn’t like season 1 at all. So why did I even watch season 2? Good question XD I was promised “an amazing plot twist that makes it all worth it”. Did I get that? No. Season 2 is slightly better than season 1, I’ll give it that, but still, nothing really happens. He fights and he gets stronger, cool. I’ve seen that, now show me something new? Anyway, the animation is top tier and the soundtrack is really good. And can we talk about the ED? Not the music but the video? It was certainly more interesting than the whole anime.

Ameku MD: Dropped after ep 3

I was excited about this one, but Ameku is insufferable. “Oh I’m smarter than everyone, so that gives me the right to be an arsehole, ignore people’s boundaries, and do whatever I won’t even when told I shouldn’t.” Yeah no thanks. I know it’s played for comedy (like that scene where she bites her assistant for example), but I just didn’t find it funny, it was just uncomfortable and annoying. If I want to watch smart people solve murder mysteries, there’s about 500 eps of Det. Conan I haven’t watched yet. At least I like the people there.

Honey Lemon Soda: Dropped after ep 1

Look, I know this is a shoujou, and that’s what I wanted. But throwing your whole future away and going to a school where you know you will be bullied, just because a cute boy looked a you once? That was too stupid, even for a shoujou.

No 10 for me this season, but I still want to watch Medalist. If there’s anything else I should give a go, let me know :)

Fall Anime

Yakuza Fiance: 10/10

The surprise of the season. I went to it expecting a Haou Airen kind of story, because that’s what I was in the mood for, even though I knew it would be stupid, and I was so pleasantly surprised. They are both unhinged, and I loved it. I liked it so much I bought the manga.

The do over damsel conquers the dragon emperor: 7/10

It has the exact same premise as 7th Time Loop, which I loved, so I gave this a go. The difference is that it’s her first time travelling back, and that the anime focuses much more on comedy. I would have loved to see more of that goddess story, because that was the most interesting part, but I still had fun, and I liked all the characters.

The stories of girls who couldn’t be magicians: 7/10

I really liked the art style, it’s so pretty. But I feel it lost the plot towards the end. Okay cool, you defeated the evil guy, but (spoiler alert) those magic notebooks still use the life force of the non magical students. Does no one want to talk about that? You’re just going to continue like that? Okay then, I guess.

365 days to the wedding: Dropped after ep 9

I really wanted to like this one. The first few episodes were great and so funny, and then it became so boring that I initially dropped it after ep 5. I gave it another chance later, but it didn’t get better and I started to dislike Rika, so I gave up on it.

[featheredscorpion]

Fire Emblem Pilgrimage pt 3: Mystery of the Emblem

Welcome back to the mistake where I play every mainline Fire Emblem game, in order.

(I skipped Book 1 and I feel no shame. I can't play FE1 three times for this project, I'm sorry.)

"Remember all those cool new mechanics in FE2? Let's just throw them all away. We're keeping massive weapon ranges, though. But only for the enemy units. Sorry."

That being said, this is still leagues about FE1. Inventory management is streamlined (you get separate weapon and item inventories which is honestly overkill), shops work as expected, you can trade items around without ending your turn... lovely.

The level design kinda holds the game back unfortunately. Midgame is fine, but the end levels are either flooded with meteor mages + catapults, or nothing but Devil-axe barbarians and dragons. Medeus was also a breeze, especially since his attack didn't have good accuracy (though Hardin was stupidly powerful due to his high stats and speed).

By far the best parts of the game were the writing and the pixel art. All the character sprites and faces have so much personality, and the visual design of the final Medeus fight goes hard. The writing is hilarious, though it might be unintentional (or due to the english patch I'm using). I love how Marth is kind of an idealist idiot.

Overall, it was a bit of a slog. Several levels came down to Meteor RNG, and you'll spend probably half of your turns just moving units towards the battle or waiting for Marth to travel from the villages to the seize point. I'm glad I played it, but I don't think I'd play it all the way through again.

Favorite Character(s):

Michalis the CHAD. His entrance (in book 2) is absolutely hilarious: he flies his wyvern directly into a castle, yells at the guy in charge, gets the guy to give up Minerva (who was being held captive), says he hates all of them, and then just leaves. Then Marth spends the whole chapter trying to fight his way to the castle to rescue Minerva who isn't even there anymore. Absolute madlad.

Xane got a massive glowup in terms of design (though his power was slightly nerfed). Love his personality here, and that he gets to be a main speaking character for 3 levels. Bro casually drops the wildest lore imaginable, then says "dont worry about it". Also the fact that he's a divine dragon who just yeeted his dragonstone is neat.

Favorite Units:

MERRIC'S STILL GOT IT! The magic boi himself, and he's still great. He protecc (healing staffs), he also attacc (tomes), but most importantlly, he gives everyone their turn bacc (Again Staff is OP)

TIKI. Love my girl. The dragon designs go hard in this game, and her divine dragonstone is effective against all dragons, which made the endgame levels much more manageable. She also took down Medeus when Marth's Falchion barely did scratch damage.

Favorite New/Unique Mechanic:

Look. I like mount/dismount. I just don't like forcing dismount in some areas.

Manaketes fully transforming for a few turns instead of just during combat!

THE AGAIN STAFF. Only 3 uses but man. It gives every other unit in the army another turn, which is MASSIVE. By chaining with a dancer, you can do Some Shenanigans.

Least Favorite Part:

Meteor mages + catapults make every turn RNG. If they double your unit or attack a weak one, they're dead. But sometimes they didn't attack at all even though I had units in range. I hated how unpredictable and cheap it made the endgame levels feel.

Why were all the final boss maps inside. Forced dismount is annoying at best, but now lances are useless and all my units have lower move.

Needing to visit villages AND seize with Marth sucked. Spent like 10 turns on every map just moving him around.

[iyliss]

ALRIGHT LETS GET TALKING. You're done with every version of FFIV and want more official materials and don't know where to start? Here are my little recommendations !

First, check out the interlude and The After Years. It's a really interesting continuation of the main game exploring things such as Kain's path to self-forgiveness and finding a new purpose, Golbez' desire to protect Cecil, Cecil's desire to be protected, Rydia's torned heart between eidolons and humans, Palom and Porom's struggle to bond as they grow up, Edward's recovering from his grief... There are so many beautiful arcs and interesting little details. As for how to best enjoy it... If you're really into FFIV's gameplay and would love to get another round, with an even bigger and customizable cast and many challenges, I certainly reccomend playing it. A playthrough is fine (you can find plenty on youtube) but the optional dialogues and little details are worth playing the game yourself. Finally - 3D or 2D? You can find the 3D version on steam, regularly at a discount, and it cuts off the absurd length of the final dungeon. If you do want to spend hours on a boss rush and prefer the pixel artstyle you can get the PSP version (and if you don't have a psp... well i'd rather you avoid the very easy to find and completely functional emulators out there!!)

Have you seen the stupidly cool clip Kain and Cecil got in brave exvius? Now you have.

Not enough? Want more of Kain being stupidly cool (and hot) and angsty (and more beautiful knights and badass women to ship him with)? More of Cecil and Golbez intense siblinghood? Play Dissidia Duodecim Final Fantasy ! (please do it it's not funny this is one of the best game ever). I can't reccomend enough Dissidia psp, especially Duodecim, especially if you're an FFIV fan. The content covering Cecil, Kain and Golbez is incredibly generous, especially Kain (who is practically the other main character in the duodecim section alongside Lighting - YES MORE THAN TIFA OR VAAN) and Golbez (hey did you know dissidia make him one of more knowledged and influencial character of the ff1-dissidia-ff5 continuity? somehow?). I STRONGLY reccomend playing it, its narration is made for its gameplay and is hard to grasp the details of through a video. It's only on PSP though (and really, don't consider how easy it is to emulate that console). If you really don't feel like playing it, id reccomend this to just check out the duodecim section (where Kain is) or this to have the story in chronological order (which isn't the most interesting one...)

Also you can watch all of NT for a couple shots of Cecil being pretty and Kain's DLC. I guess.

Now - Opera Omnia is another story. I do not reccomend checking out the entire story as it covers many, many game and can be either confusing, spoilery, or both. However we have a wonderful fan-made website where every single scene, story, and dialogue is saved! I strongly reccomend going through each act, lost chapter and intersecting will and read through everything that shows a character you're interested in. If you'd like to see the cutscene, here is a quite thorough playlist. Some specific things I'd reccopmend checking out: the chapter where Cecil and the others regain their memories focusing on their guilt, grief, and Golbez's deathwish. Rydia's introduction that shows her relationship with Cecil and grief and Rosa's, on her bond with Cecil and Kain. Golbez joining the team, on his fear of becoming a danger again. Edge's side story showing his growth and maturity. Ceodore's main story part where he has to prove his resolve to save his father! Kain's side story practically saying that Ceodore cured his depression. Fusoya's introduction just to see him and Cecil meet again and Rubicante's for his absolutely beautiful love for Golbez. There's much more, for many more characters and games, so just dig in!

Just look at tiny chibi Cecil on his way to save "someone dear to him". Bonus: he's fighting against Zack! Featuring Edgar on a desperate quest to find a fellow straight man.

Now, an extra mention to FFXIV. I'm pretty sure many people have already played it but I do want to mention the whole game is VERY generous when it comes to hommage, respect and inspirations from FFIV, from the very first parts of the game. There's also a certain later section of the game that goes beyond inspiration and respect and borrow entire characters and locations from FFIV. Its controversial, I know, and I get the many criticism. But if you're a little insane about Golbez and the four fiends and if the words "Golbez identity theft selfcest yaoi" means anything to you, I can only reccomend that you check it out.

Oh also the card game. It's fun, it's easy, and some cards are absolutely stunning.

FFIV Week: Bonus discussion!

What are your ambitions for the fandom in 2025? Would you like to see more of here on AO3 and Tumblr? More art and writing theme prompts and challenges? Weekly/monthly meta discussions? A discord channel?

OR:

As a Final Fantasy IV fan, what of its media do you recommend? Is there a fanfic you absolutely love? Artwork in your inspiration folder? A series of prompts you’d love to see used by the creatives in the fandom? If someone hasn’t played an of the other FFIV games (TAY, Dissida, etc) where do you recommend they start?

OR:

Take this space to discuss anything you want! Tell us about a wild fan theory, your current WIP outline, your actor headcanon castings, ANYTHING!

[dilfartist]

Breaking up - Yandere Duwang gang. - Darling breaks up with the Duwang gang and finds another love

Warning: head-trama, abuse, yandere themes, dark writing, stalking, cussing, gaslighting,

A/n: got lazy during Jotaro’s and Rohan’s part, but don't judge me! This took almost two weeks 😒

Josuke

"How fucking dare they."

Josuke muttered under his breath. The livid teen stared long and hard at you and your new boyfriend. Josuke was infuriated by the fact you already managed to score a guy in just a few weeks.

Sure Josuke could date any chick he wanted since they were all desperate for him. He was sure they'd give up their life, only to have him glance at them. The problem was Josuke didn't desire a relationship with anyone else other than you.

What pissed him off the most, after months of-, no not even months, a year and a half; Josuke was the best boyfriend he could be. Yet after one fight, you leave him. Who was he kidding?! You had every reason to leave him!

He never meant to become so nasty. His hostility took over his actions; he would never harm you like he punched the wall next to your head. Josuke would never put his hands on you, his actions were in the heat of the moment. Now here you were hugging up to another man.

Speaking of your new boyfriend, Josuke was honestly curious, what did you see in him? The guy wasn't good-looking, nor did he have any personality to make up for it. This fact damaged Josuke's pride a bit. If you dated this guy didn't that mean Josuke was just as boring? Nah, Josuke was better than your new boyfriend.

Josuke felt a sharp flash of irritation. His jaw clenched, your boy-toy, and you started to kiss. In reality, the kiss was small. Josuke saw this as a full-on make-out session.

Josuke would find a way to get you back, but he needed help with a plan.

After a lengthy discussion between the three teens, they decided the best strategy to get you to break up with your boyfriend, is if he confesses to cheating.

Thanks to Josuke's popularity it was easy to spread rumors around the school like a wildfire. When a group of his fangirls formed around Josuke, he'd gossip to them. And just like he expected the girls told everyone in school.

Everywhere your boyfriend went, he was outcasted by other students. Everyone except you, you were faithful to your boyfriend. You were quick to realize Josuke wanted to end the relationship, so you never acknowledged a word.

Josuke recognized his plan wasn't going to be easy, so he needed to plan extra steps.

One afternoon, Your boyfriend was responsible for taking out the trash. The trash can was behind the school building which gave Josuke the chance to confront him. exactly like Josuke expected, your boyfriend came alone: with no one to be an eyewitness.

When your boyfriend noticed Josuke's menacing figure behind him, he quickly became anxious. Not only was Higashikata a known delinquent, but he was also your ex. You told him many tales of his tantrums, the way he behaved when you disrespected his hair: He once put three boys in the hospital for making a slightly negative remark about his beloved hairstyle. The last thing he should do was provoke the taller man.

"Hey, you, I wanna talk," Josuke called out to him in a cold voice. Stupidly, your boyfriend points at himself, whimpering a small "me?" as if there had been another person beside him. Josuke ignores his stupidity as he marches over, "I'ma warn ya' once. Break up with y/n." it was more of a threat than it was a warning.

Your boyfriend grimaced at him in response, "You think because you're all big and tough you can boss me around?" He matched Josuke's mannerisms, getting in Josuke's face as if Josuke couldn't stomp on him. "Trust me when I tell you this will be easier if you comply." Josuke pushed him back.

"Listen, dude, y/n doesn't want you. If they did we wouldn't be dating. So you and your shitty haircut can go on somewhere else." when his last words left his mouth, his eyes widen in the realization of the nasty remark about Josuke's hair.

The boys had a staring contest for a moment until Josuke swung a fist into the other boy's abdomen. Your boyfriend falls to the ground clutching his stomach. Josuke’s shoe crushes down on your boyfriend’s head, “Now you've really done it.” Josuke applies more pressure onto the boy's head. “First you take my girlfriend/boyfriend, then you insult my do’.”

Crazy Dimond and Josuke gave the boy a beating of a lifetime, he had various broken bones and injuries that could have been life-changing. Much to Josukes dismay, he still needed your boyfriend for the plan; he couldn't just leave him bloodied and bruised. Crazy Diamond healed the boy back to health. He looked like nothing had happened to him in the first place. Josuke grabs the boy by his uniform collar, “Now. You are going to fulfill my request. You break up with y/n tomorrow during lunchtime.” the boy nodded with a flinch in return.

The next day you glimpsed a note inside your locker. You were reluctant to open it at first, but curiosity overtook you. To your relief, it was a note from your boyfriend telling you to come to the rooftop during lunchtime.

You arrived at the rooftop on time. Your smile brightens as your boyfriend walks over towards you, the sorrow on his face was visible. “Hey...you okay? Why did you ask me to come here?” you questioned, placing a hand on his shoulder. He promptly removed your hand from his shoulder and pushed you away so there was space between the two of you. “Listen,” he commanded sternly, “I’m ending this relationship, I've found someone better.”

His statement was abrupt, you could have never seen it coming any time soon. Your boyfriend never was distant with you, nor had he ever shown investment in anyone other than you. Slowly, you registered his words, when you comprehended the situation, your feelings bubbled up in your throat.

You wouldn't show your vulnerability to him. Instead of showing your true feelings, you put on a harsh expression. “Who?” you folded your arms and squinted, “Hayami, from class 3-B. I'm sorry.” after his last sentence he walked away leaving you with your feelings. You fell onto a bench and held yourself, you quivered as a rainfall of teardrops flooded onto your warm cheeks. Not caring if your wails of grief were audible to others passing by you let out all your misery.

You jerked from the feeling of arms wrapping around your torso. The person who attempted to solace you was none other than your ex-boyfriend Josuke. You didn't even question his appearance, instead, you caressed him tightly.

Josuke sighed merrily at the contact. Finally, you are where you were meant to be: in Josuke’s arms.

Okuyasu

"This is just a load of bullshit!"

Okuyasu hardly got his words out because of his uncontrollable sniffing. The tissue he wielded was caked in snot and salty tears, Josuke unconsciously winced as he pinched the dry end, throwing it in the trash.

Okuyasu was heartbroken, you were the first person to honestly love him, unlike the other girls who only dated him to get closer to Josuke. Okuyasu had high hopes for your relationship: he dreamed of proposing to you after high school, and you even met his father. Unfortunately, all good things come to an end.

Okuyasu didn't understand the motive behind the breakup, mainly because you never gave him an explanation. When you left, you left him hurt and confused.

"I don't understand, what did I do!? Everything was all peachy and fine, yet they broke things off with me." Josuke released a pitying sigh, he hated seeing his best friend in some much pain. Josuke decided to question you on the subject, but you declined to tell him the explanation. "No idea man. Who knows, maybe you can convince them into telling you the reason."

Okuyasu did as told. Okuyasu searched every nook and cranny of Morioh, yet, you weren't anywhere. After the breakup, it seemed you disappeared from his life.

Until one-day Okuyasu chose to skip his next class, he wanted to hurry and complete the show Koichi and Josuke had recommended. Okuyasu did ask Josuke if he wanted to come along, but Josuke declined the offer, his mother threatened him the next time she had the school call her, he'd never see the light of day again.

The sun was unforgiving today. The heatwave caused Okuyasu's skin to become sticky so he took off the top of his uniform since there was a white tank top underneath; causing him to come to be cooler. On hot days like these Okuyasu and his older brother went to a gas station for blue slushies. Though it was occasional, he learned to enjoy it while he could. To keep the tradition going okuyasu went to the gas station to buy a blue slushie.

As he walked out of the automatic doors, he noticed a couple sitting near the trash cans. He couldn't care less about the love birds till he heard the familiar giggle of his ex-girlfriend. The blue slushie he held tightly in one hand plopped to the ground creating a giant mess of blue ice.

His blood boiled at the scenery. Okuyasu never really appreciated when you talked to boys other than him and his best buddies. Okuyasu wasn't the most charming guy, nor was he intelligent, which made him insecure. Due to his insecurities, he felt as if every guy you came across was his enemy.

Even if Okuyasu wasn't the brightest light, he was smart enough to figure out this boy was your new boyfriend.

"Dude, you're cheating!" you giggled trying to hold the Nintendo high out of your boyfriend's grasp. He rolls his eyes quickly snatching the Nintendo out of your clutches. "Nah, babe! You're just a sore loser." You both chortle in unison.

Okuyasu watched the scene with so many emotions. Anger, sadness, resentment, envy. He finally was given the reason you left him. what hurts him the most was the fact the boy was so much better than him. His hands ball into fists until his knuckles turned white.

Your boyfriend held you in his arms, his forehead against yours. Slowly he dipped down to plant a kiss on your lips. At first, the kiss was sweet and quick. When he dipped down for another one the kiss it became slow and fond. Gradually the kiss turns into a make-out session. You didn't care at the moment, only because no one was around you. Or so you thought.

Okuyasu pent up with wrath, charges at your boyfriend much like a bull would charge at the color red. "Just who the fuck do ya' think you are?!" your boyfriend is knocked out of your arms, he is plunged into the thick concrete with Okuyasu onto of him.

Alarmed by the sudden impact, you failed to notice the sound of your boyfriend’s head-splitting open on the concrete. At first, all you did was yell at Okuyasu to get off of your boyfriend. It wasn't until you discovered your boyfriend was unresponsive as Okuyasu continuously punched him in his face, did you notice the red crimson pool of blood leaking from the back of his head.

Okuyasu dismisses your cries of his name. He dismisses the way you tug him off your boyfriend. “Okuyasu, stop there's bleeding from his head!” you sob. Acknowledging Okyuasu wasn't listening to you, you tried calling for the gas station cashier to get help; unfortunately, the man slept quietly inside, unaware of the bloody scene outside.

Okyuasu finished beating your boyfriend. His face was disfigured, you couldn't even tell it was your boyfriend.

Okuyasu is focused on you now. You backed away until your back hit the brick wall of the gas station, frightened Okuyasu would harm you next. “This is why you broke up with me?!” Okuyasu cried out, tears trickling down his face. Okuyasu's mood switched from depressed to furious in a matter of seconds, “No! You won't leave me for that asshole, I won't allow you.”

This was exactly the reason you left okuyasu. Not because you fell for another man, no. It was because He was obsessed with you. He only wanted you to be with him, he'd hurt anyone who’d get the way of your relationship

Okuyasu was clingy, he never left you alone. And it seemed like you wouldn't be able to escape him anymore.

Koichi

"I-I don't understand, what went wrong?"

Koichi questions as he looks down at his beverage. You weren't an idiot, his tears were noticeable. Even though you aimed to be gentle as you could be with Koichi, you had already failed.

You grabbed his hand in an attempt to comfort him, your thumb gently rubbed the back of his hand. "Oh, Ko, It's not you, I promise. it's me. I just don't feel a spark anymore, and I don't wanna hurt you." you explained in a soft tone, hoping not to provoke any more tears.

Koichi's hands hold your hands in a grip, "wait, please! We can fix this if we just try-!" You could tell Koichi wasn't speaking to you, instead, he was consoling himself.

Giving Koichi one more look of sympathy, you kissed the crown of his head and left.

For the following days of school, you passed through the halls often seeing Koichi's best friends comforting him as he wept. As much as it hurt to see Koichi in pain, it was for the best. Plus, Koichi had numerous girls/boys with crushes on him, he'd find a special someone sometime soon.

You, yourself, looked for someone special. Bizarrely, whenever you went out on a date it would end with your date yelling at you for "messing around". They blamed you for strange occurrences happening during the dates; something pulling their chair and making them fall on the ground, random sharp pains from what felt like a person slapping them, and someone putting salt into their drinks.

You thought you'd never find another person to love you, till your friend set you up with their cousin. He truly was a dreamboat, he was kind and passionate, and had a great sense of humor. During your date together, the strange occurrences did happen, but he didn't seem to mind. After the date, you decide to become a couple.

The few months together were going great, you even had gotten to the "I love you" stage of the relationship. Much to Koichi's dismay.

Koichi quickly fell into a depressing state. No matter how much Echoes messed with the boy he didn't get fed up. Koichi wanted the relationship to end fast, so he went to obtain guidance from Josuke and Okuyasu.

They suggested spreading rumors about your boyfriend, but Koichi knew the rumors would affect you too. They brought up several ideas and stuck with the best one they could think of.

While your boyfriend was alone, Josuke and Okuyasu set the plan into action. Your boyfriend was putting his stuff away in his locker, then he noticed two large figures behind him. "Uhh...can I help you?" He closes his locker giving the boys his full attention.

Josuke was first to speak, "do you know Y/n?" He nods, a sick feeling building up in his stomach. "Sorry to break this to ya' man, but y/n is cheating on ya'," Okuyasu informed placing a stack of photos in his hand.

Reluctantly your boyfriend looked through the photos. There was his evidence, all the photos had you kissing and hugging up to another boy. He let out a huff as he handed back the photos, "thanks for the heads up. I'm ending things with her today."

True to his word, he walked straight to your house and knocked on the door. A smile engulfed your face after looking into the peephole and seeing your beloved boyfriend. "Hey, babe-" you barely got out your sentence, halting halfway through when you examined his features. He looked more than pissed off.

"What the Fuck, is wrong with you?!" you jump back, his voice was powerful and frightening. "We're over, I can't believe I'd date such a cheating whore." before you could ask him what he meant, he took off.

you felt so miserable after the breakup, you didn't bother returning to school. All you did for the day was lay in bed watching comedies, expecting it to lift your spirit.

Other than going to make food or using the bathroom, you hardly left the bed.

For the first time, you left the bed for something other than food and the restroom. You followed the loud echoing of knocking, aggravated by the constant pummel. Surprisingly, Koichi stood behind the front door, clutching the leash that wielded his dog.

"Ko?" you questioned incredulously. Koichi let out a slightly nervous giggle, "hey y/n. I got the homework for today and yesterday." he presented a stack of paper. You give a small "thank you" before grabbing the papers.

An awkward silence engulfed the atmosphere. No one knew what else to say.

Koichi went to leave, but you reached for his hand, resulting in Koichi looking back at you. "do you want to..come in?" you asked. Koichi smiles, "sure."

You and Koichi sat in your living room enjoying the now comfortable silence. The mug Koichi held stung his hands a bit, due to the freshly poured green tea, he didn't mind it. "So..what happened? Are you okay?"

Your cheeks warmed at his concern, it felt like he was the only one to care for your absence at school, no one else came by to check in on you.

"Yeah, I guess I'm okay. Just been depressed," you confessed, the tip of your finger traced the ring of the mug you held. Koichi's concern increased, "depressed, why!?"

Koichi switched from the couch across from you to sitting right next to you. Your lip trembles, "My boyfriend broke up with me. He says I cheated but I'd never do that!"

Koichi held your hands in his, "I'll be here for you y/n, I know this is a hard time for you. If you ever need anything call me, I'll be there in a flash."

The heat in your cheeks raised. Your heart hammered in your chest. He was the only one to care for you, he really did love you. You started to fall for him all over again.

Just as Koichi planned.

Yukako

“Open this fucking door bitch!”

You shrieked as your ex-girlfriend slammed her fists against your bathroom door. You covered your ears. All you could do was mummer prayers as the banging became louder.

Who were you kidding, what could praying do to get you out of this relationship? It seemed like all you had was bad luck. You weren't sure why you deserve such a punishment as being her beloved. Perhaps it was because you agreed to go out with her.

The relationship between you and Yukako was healthy for only three months, then she became controlling. Her temper was short and she envied of anyone you interacted with. Yukako started to get physical with you, usually for small things she viewed as unacceptable.

You had enough, even if you loved her, you wouldn't stick around anymore. When you broke up with her, outrage couldn't even describe the way she felt. It didn't matter what she got her hands on, it was thrown your way. Luckily you dodged the items she flung in your direction.

You managed to avoid her after that night, of course, it wasn't a walk in the park. Irritated with searching for you she decided to relieve her stress with a sweet treat at the diner you and her went on your first date together.

Anger poured through her when she found you on a date with another woman. To Yukako, this was cheating, even if you told her you were breaking off the relationship she never agreed. So you still belonged to her.

She went ballistic, she tossed chairs that surrounded her at your date’s head. You tried your best to keep your date safe by running out of the restaurant. You grabbed your date and instructed her to go home as soon as possible, you would take care of Yukako: she would give you mercy. you couldn't say the same for her

You hid in your bathroom, stupidly. You were so paranoid, you forgot to grab a weapon but managed to yank the house phone. Yukako was very intelligent, she cut the phone line.

That's how you were in this situation.

You're only hope was to protect yourself, you could take advantage of the fact she was weak, physically. You needed to act fast, the door was breaking! You couldn't see anything to hit her with until your eyes landed on the mirror.

You banged your fists into the bathroom mirror, little by little the mirror broke into both small and large pieces. You grabbed the largest piece and tried to defend yourself.

Yukako had already created a hole in the door, it was like the scene from the shining. You kicked her hand, attempting to stop her from getting inside. It didn't work.

She opened the door, which caused you to swing the glass shard around. With your luck, you only cut her on the arm, it wasn't deep, but it still pissed her off. She got a good grip of your hair and yanked you out of the bathroom.

You wailed until she punched your throw. “Shut up! You aren't the actual one hurt here.” she scolded. She threw you against the wall, “if you want to live, I suggest you get on your knees and beg.”

You knew what she wanted. She wanted to hear praises from you. You knew the consequences if she didn't, she already was livid, it would be dumb not to obey her.

You got onto your knees and hugged her leg, “I'm sorry Yukako, baby. I shouldn't have hurt you, I promise to do better...just, please don't hurt me.” tears trickled down your cheeks.

You achieved your goal of calming her down. She bent down until she was face to face with you, she placed her hand on your cheeks. She wiped away the tears and kissed the crown of your forehead. “Oh, I'm going to punish you, but since your confession wasn't faux, I'll go easy on you. And after we can go out for dinner.”

It was foolish to think you could get out of her punishment. At least you'd get ice cream after.

Rohan

Rohan - "you're being childish. Go downstairs and order takeout for dinner."

You gawked at Rohan in astonishment. Honestly, you were a bit upset at yourself for anticipating Rohan to take you seriously. He never saw you as an equal.

"Rohan can you stop your work for at least a minute and speak to me?!" you raise your voice to get your point across. Rohan lets out an aggravated huff slumping against his work chair, the chair twists around revealing an irritated Rohan. His legs cross and his hands clasped together: one of the ways he gives his full attention.

"Let me make this short," Rohan clarifies, " I have no time for this, I need to finish my work before the deadline. Therefore, I'll end this conversation promptly. No, we are not breaking up, I won't allow it." and with that, he returned to his stupid work.

"Last time I checked you don't have the right to say what I can and can't do Rohan!" You moved towards the door, ready to finally leave your toxic relationship, but paused when the ringing sound of Rohan slamming his palms against his work desk echoed throughout the room.

"If you break up with me who will want you?! Surely no one would want a bitch who constantly yaps like an abandoned puppy when given no attention. "Rohan, stop working!" "Rohan, pay attention to me!" "Rohan, I'm such an annoying bitch!" Rohan mocked in a high pitch to resemble your voice.

His behavior hurt your feelings. Was it too much to ask for a little quality time? Or to care for your partner who barely takes good care of themselves?

"Don't open that door!" Rohan shouts, noticing you attempting to leave the room. His comment only encouraged you to open the door, you looked him straight in the eyes as you reached for the doorknob."I mean it y/n! If I have to chase you down those stairs I will!" Rohan promised as he inched away from his desk, ready to snatch you back at any given moment.

You fling the door open and dart down the stairs. Rohan follows you, increasing his speed enough to match yours.

You rush to the front door of the shared house you and Rohan owned, Rohan trailed behind you, running like a track star. As you push open the front door, Rohan yells behind you. You didn't care what he had to say.

After you escaped from Rohan's house, you stayed with a trusted friend, one Rohan never knew about.

Rohan must have forgotten about you, he didn't even try searching for you. While it was reliving, it still hurt to think he didn't care enough to look for you.

Your friend was there to comfort you through the hard times. And soon enough he became your boyfriend. The relationship was going well.

Five months into dating, everything was perfect. Well for you. Your boyfriend was getting stalked, for some odd reason he didn't want to inform the police. He told you the reason was there wasn't enough evidence.

After a long day off work, you came home; something felt off. Your boyfriend was nowhere to be seen: He was usually home at this time. You called and called out for him, yet he never answered.

A large knock on the door startled you ending your search party. You answered the door, slightly opening it enough for your head to peak out.

To your surprise, a Police Officer stood at the door. “May I help you,” you asked. The Officer gave a look of sadness, “I hate to inform you, but, we have found [lover name] dead in an alleyway behind his employment.

You attend his funeral not long after. It was quick due to the lack of currency his parents had, but it was still sweet. From afar Rohan watched with a smirk, he’d gotten rid of the pest.

And now all he needed to do was wait for you to come crying back to him.

Jotaro

“...”

Jotaro pinches the knob of the car radio, turning it until the car fell silent. “What Jolyne?” he asks looking into the rearview mirror. “Mommy is going out with a man from her job tonight. I heard her tell her friend over the phone.” Jolyne repeats.

Jotaro felt his heart drop. Jotaro focuses on the road ahead of him while his daughter babbles on about school. The divorce hadn't been finalized till six months ago, and you had already forgotten Jotaro.

It wounded both his feelings and pride.

As the headlights of the car, showed two pathways, a light bulb went off in Jotaro’s head. Instead of returning home, Jotaro would show up to the date; he could drop Jolyne off at her babysitter’s house.

Grabbing his flip phone from his back pocket, he put in the phone digits. The phone rang for a couple of minutes until someone picked up from the other side. “Hey, do you mind watching Jolyne for an hour or two?” he started the conversation in a monotone. “Of course Mr.Kujo!”

The conversation ended quickly. Jotaro turns the car’s direction around, Jolyne notices immediately, “Dad where are we going?” She questions curiously. “Change of plans. You’re going to Samantha’s house.”

Jolyne sadly looked out the window. Of course he wasn’t going to spend time with her, he probably had work to deal with. “Do you know where Mommy went for dinner.” Jotaro inquires as they inch closer to the babysitter’s house. “She said she was going to the Red lobster near our house.”

Jotaro drops Jolyne off at the babysitter. He doesn't waste a second getting in the car, he drives to the Red lobster with the speed of a mad man.

He must have been early, you were nowhere in sight. Jotaro took this time to hide, after all the man stuck out like a sore thumb.

Jotaro’s heartm skipped a beat when you entered the restaurant. You wore a long tight raven black dress, it shimmered and shined and hugged all your curves. You were beautiful. It ticked him off you didn’t dress for him.

Rather, for an average-looking man. Jotaro didn't know the guy but could tell he was nothing but trouble. A man looking to get laid.

Jotaro watched the whole date, growing angrier by the second since the guys continually stared at your tits. Jotaro failed to comprehend why you even agreed to go out with the asshole.

The date was over, you and your date said your goodbyes. You rode home while your date walked back home unaware of the upcoming danger.

The echo of the phone in his pocket caused him to pause. Your date answers his phone, “Hey! You know the chick from that tea and coffee cafe? Just went on a date with her.”

Placing a hand in pocket, he listened to the person on the other line. He lets out a nasty cackle that reminded Jotaro of nails scraping a chalkboard. “Yeah, I’ll bang her next date! That hot bod is just callin’ me.”

And just like that, Jotaro was given permission to absolutely beat the living shit out of this guy. Starplatinum clutches the guy’s throat with a deadly grip. The phone drops out of the guy’s hand, falling onto the ground. “Hello?” the person on the phone calls out, Jotaro uses his large boot to smash the phone.

“I’m going to beat you until your dead.”

[sakuraryomen01]

Daddy's Good Girl /Toji Fushiguro x Reader SmutFiction/

warnings: toji and his tibbies are warning enough, toji fan service, (kinda want to make this a fanfic), husband! toji x wife! reader, mentions of distance, needy reader, affectionate but dom! toji, size kink, belly bulge, soft kisses, praising, hand kink, slight choking kink, suit!toji, short + chubby reader, (there's a slight age difference, but it's a few years), oral (m), OOC Toji-

reader: "bunny" female reader (short and chubby, with smaller boobs, cuz that's so stupidly cute)

plot: Feeling neglected for a full week, you beg Toji to stay home so you can have time with him. He complies with your wishes, but for a small price..

words: 4.61k

a/n: I'm in the mood for dilfs so I decided to make a one week SmutFiction. Idk if this is a thing, but I feel like it's a brand new idea. Whatever, it's basically a short fiction that's full of smutty scenes and such but I'm making it for an affectionate Toji cuz kjksjsjksjsk TOJI???

~~~

Thank you for reading! Enjoy!

It was Saturday, and Toji didn't work weekends.

And as always, you and him would finally get to relax with each other those days and cuddle. Do things like cuddle, watch movies and just talk to each other, but you didn't get to do that.

Toji's boss had decided it'd be in his company's best interests if Toji started working full time with his weekends included, starting that day. You didn't get a say in this, but you were not going to fight with Toji about it when it wasn't his fault.

His company was growing everyday; shipping and selling products and managing banking accounts for different multi-millionaires was difficult. You knew that, you always did.

But being alone for a full week made you go mad.

You didn't like that it was for a week, but then the working continued. Seeing the changes in your husband as you woke up in the morning and finding that he wasn't holding onto you tight during the weekends was killing you.

He used to wake you up by kissing down your neck, peppering your skin in light pecks while his fingers ghosted over your thighs. Tickling the small marks that covered the inner parts and telling you how much he loved them despite your thoughts. Toji was one of the only things that kept you happy, even during the work hours.

But not having him around to cheer you up during your time together made you feel sad. And without Toji's touch, you felt worse.

His touch was something you craved, sometimes begging for it.

And after a full month, you pushed your way between your husband and the front door. Looking up at him with wanting eyes and feeling your tummy tighten in sorrow.

"Baby, please." Toji said, a small sigh left him as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "I have work to do, go sit down on the couch."

"It's been a month, Toji." You responded calmly. "One month."

His emerald green eyes looked down at your half dressed figure and pressed his lips together. You could tell he was annoyed with you, but you didn't care. Toji needed to be home, or work would kill him.

Toji barely got dressed properly anymore, making you pick up where he didn't do things right. Such as fixing his tie up right; it wasn't even tied properly right now and it annoyed you to no end.

"I have a meeting to get to," He finally said after a long pause. Releasing his pinched nose and looking down at you. "It's important."

"You always say that, Toji. I miss you so much. Please, stay home for the day. I want you to hold me and talk to me again; I've missed it."

There was a small spark in his eyes at the mentions of touch. Toji loved touching you, sexually and not. Your small, squishy body was like a large stress toy after a long day of work. And seeing it in front of him, dressed in his clothing that you said was 'too tight' for a guy like him, it was hard to resist the temptation.

"..I'll be off tomorrow."

Scratching his neck, Toji placed down his bag full of office items and knelt down to your level. He always loved how short you were, but today he just couldn't stay. Once on the ground, he grabbed your small hands in his and kissed your knuckles.

"I promise that I'll take tomorrow off to be with you."

Your nose scrunched up as your brows knitted together in the middle of your forehead. This brought a smile to Toji's scarred lip, but your cute expressions weren't enough to stop him from leaving.

"Bunny," Toji started, caressing your rosy cheek with his large palm.

"I know you miss me, and trust me when I say I miss you, too. But this work isn't going to last much longer. I'm doing my part in the company by working this much and will be rewarded with a long break."

"How do you know?" You asked, squeezing his hand and looking down at his messy tie.

Toji being Toji smirked at this, his scar twitching upwards as he bent down to kiss your cheek. Was that a moan he heard?

"My boss said I'm getting three weeks of paid time to relax for doing this. It's double what I usually get, so this is important."

Pressing a soft, but firm, kiss to your warm forehead, Toji stood up and released his hold on your hands. Gently pushing you to the side and giving you a tight hug before he left.

"Love you, bunny."

And once that day ended, Toji kept to his promise those following weeks and made sure to keep you happy. You did what you normally did as a couple times ten.

Went out to the movies, lounged around at home, and even decided to go to a hot springs at the end of the last week to get one last shot of relaxation in before Toji went back to work.

Being the housewife left you lonely, yes, but at least you got Toji to recharge your battery.

"What's this movie about again?" Toji asked from the kitchen, preparing some snacks for you and him to share.

"It's a horror movie about a creepy ass clown," You answered, searching through the horror section of Netflix. "I heard it's a really creepy movie."

Toji rolled his eyes at this as he brought in the large bowl of popcorn and some chip bags. Finally finding the movie —just a few past Texas Chainsaw Massacre— you clicked on the play button for It and crawled up next to Toji.

His large arm flexed as he wrapped himself around you and pulled you into his side. Warm and comforting as you snuggled into his fit chest and rested your head on it, pulling up the comforter you had stolen from your bedroom to bring out into the living room.

"Comfy?" Toji asks, his green gaze flickering to you for a moment when you nod. "Good."

Minutes passed as the silence between you grew, simply enjoying each other's company until Toji's eyes began to wander. Wander away from the T.V. that was currently showing that creepy clown with a child's arm in his hand, all the way over to you.

Specifically your plump thighs underneath his shirt.

Blood pumped through his veins as dirty, dirty thoughts began to race in his head. It had been weeks since he's seen them. Fuck, it's been a full month, and he couldn't tell if he was desperate to touch you or just horny, but he wanted this thirst in his tummy to be satisfied.

Watching you watch the movie though, he couldn't do that.

He'd have to wait, at least a little longer.

"Eww!!" Seeing your face scrunch up at the clown and then to a sorrowful look for the kids.

Yeah, Toji would wait until later to taste you.

After making this decision, Toji began to start paying attention to the movie again. Seeing the many flashes of gore was honestly something he was used to —being a former assassin and all. But, even if he wasn't going to admit it to you, some parts spooked him.

Not many, but seeing that hobo with the diseases made him want to puke all over the clean carpet.

Once the movie was over, Toji blinked a few times and looked back down at you. Seeing your slumped over figure and hearing your quiet snores, he found you were sound asleep.

Or taking a nap, but he didn't want to disturb you either way.

Quickly, Toji picked you up in a bridal hold and took you —and the comforter— back upstairs. Once in your room, Toji climbed up his side of the bed and gently rested you in your spot beside the window. Pulling the curtains closed, he tucked you into bed with the comforter folded neatly at the end of the bed.

"Mnn.." You hummed in response, feeling Toji's lips press against your forehead gently. He never left you asleep without a goodnight kiss.

Toji grinned, slowly climbing off the bed until he was resting with both feet on the ground. Stripping free from his shirt and shorts, Toji pulled some sweatpants and a fresh pair of boxers out before heading to the bathroom out the bedroom and down the hall.

He never liked using the one in the bedroom, since he thought you shouldn't have to deal with his shit being in the shower.

Although, he did love when you randomly joined him in the shower to wash his hair for him, or clean his scars and abs. And as he was getting his shower ready, Toji couldn't help but miss your small and squishy body against him under the water. Feeling your soft chest against his firm middle.

You were so short compared to him —small, fragile, sweet— though he found so much comfort in it, it surprised him often how much it did. You, being his perfect little stress reliever, was also a little wild child. Many didn't think so, but Toji got to see your wild side in bed.

Asked for more, begged, pleaded for a hot release Toji was willing to give you with a price. That price being you scream his name out when that orgasm hit you, to forget you were on the planet Earth and just feel heaven for those few moments.

But, of course, he shouldn't be having those thoughts while he was showering.

Distracting himself with his greasy hair, he quickly got to work and lathered the shampoo and rinsed. Conditioning and working his soap up and over his abs and biceps. Taking extra care of his pits and any other area —ahem, his grand canyon— and washed off.

Getting out of the shower without the knowledge that you were stirring around in your sleep. Blinking your little eyes open to pure befuddlement. How did you get into the bedroom? Where was your husband?

But as you sat up, you were answered with the bedroom door opening to reveal Toji's lewdly clean figure.

"Oh, I thought you were sleeping. Guess I was wrong," Toji smirked, the scar on the corner of his lips twerking up with them.

He noticed how you stared a little too long at him; savored, in fact.

Toji knew your weakness for his body, and he exploited it every moment he could. He did work to make sure he maintained his figure, for you and himself, though he convinced himself it was just to see your flustered expression.

Even if you were a drunk little school girl, he knew you'd look at his V-line the same way.

"Like what you see?" The man himself questioned, seeing your eyes shoot down to his front then up at him. "Not gonna answer, bunny?"

"O-Of course I do," You said, folding your arms and staring at your lap.

Jesus fucking Christ, you're so damn cute.

"Make room, I'm gonna be in the bed soon."

Making his way over to the folded clothing on the bed, he picked up the shirt and unfolded it as he began to unwrap himself from the towel. And there you were again, sneaking glances over at his ass and cock as he dressed.

Toji wasn't above changing in front of you, and you didn't complain, so he didn't see the harm. And if you wanted some fan service, Toji was a-okay with giving it to you.

"Uhm, Toji?"

Toji pulled his shirt and boxers on, looking up at you once his eyes could connect with yours and quirked a brow. "Yes?"

Your cheeks flushed red as your bottom lips sucked between your teeth. "C-Can you leave those off?"

Pointing at Toji's clean pants, you hurriedly sat reclined and looked back down at your lap. "If you don't want to, that's fine-!"

"Bunny, it's okay." Toji chuckled, grabbing the sweats and placing them on the desk near the door. "Don't get flustered, it's cute as hell."

And what did you do? You blushed, whimpered, and curled up all at once. Toji's good at this.

He let out a hoarse laugh and crawled up onto the bed, noticing your flinch when you felt his weight press into the mattress. The smile on his face couldn't be wiped off, even if he tried. He was having too much fun teasing you.

"Bunny, face me." Toji ordered, a calm tone to his rough voice to which you complied. "There's my good girl."

You sigh, turning your body around to face him, looking down and letting your eyes trail the thick muscles and veins that stood proudly at attention. Unable to hide from him any longer, you finally surrendered and climbed into his lap.

Smiling at this, Toji's large hands found their place at your hips and rubbed upwards. Looking down and letting his eyes roam, Toji watched as your nipples hardened underneath the fabric of your make-shift nightgown and groaned.

"Shit, your nipples are so hard under here.." He growled, voice low and dangerous. Without a second thought, Toji lifted the fabric up and held it in place with his thumb. Bending his head down to suckle on your small breast and mold it's twin with his other hand.

"A-AH! Toji!" You moaned out, fingers entangling themselves in his nape hair and tugging harshly.

This didn't stop the male, he was on a frenzy. He wanted you from the moment his eyes lay on you weeks ago. He wanted you like he had you on your honeymoon, and wedding night.

Wanted you to cum, scream, cry. All of the above while you called out his name.

"T-Toji.. mmm.." Hearing your whimpers, Toji smirked against your erect bud and tugged at its partner. Sucking harshly on the one in his mouth, he tweaked and pinched at the almost rosy bud until your head tilted back and your slick came into contact with him.

"Oh.." Feeling your fingers gently pull at his locks, Toji looked up and watched your lust finally wash over your face and let his hand move from your pert breast and down to it's former position.

At your hip.

"Yeah? Like it when I suck these cute little tits, bunny?"

Giving him a nod, you let your eyes rest closed and tensed when Toji pushed your sex down onto him. Working your spongy warmth against his hardening erection through his boxers, practically dying to dry hump him to your high until Toji removed you from the spot and place you on his thigh instead.

You let out a whine of protest until Toji pulled you into a feverish kiss and ate up your mewls.

"Mm, bunny." Toji cooed, palming himself until your eyes trailed down towards the action and blushed. "Want daddy's cock in your mouth?"

You mumbled out a small yes as you climbed off of the male's lap and between his legs. Toji chuckled and yanked down his boxers, letting his fat tip slap him hard in the abdomen and letting your pearly eyes take it in all over again.

"So drunk on it and we've barely done anything," He mused, watching your small hands take him by the base and stroke upwards.

Squeezing at all the right spots and pumping his girth in your small hands. You never were able to fit it in completely in your hands, so it always led to you forcing Toji into your mouth to the fullest.

Beginning to pepper his near purple tip with kisses, you watched as Toji's eyes rolled and he let his head fall into the pillow beneath him. His still damp hair beginning to make them wet with shower water as you began to take him into your mouth.

A familiar ache formed in your jaw, though it was quickly ignored the moment his full girth was impaling your throat.

"Aah.. just like that, my baby bunny.." His words encouraged you forward, lifting your head as drool began to pool from your lips and coated Toji's cock.

He felt so good, having been so deprived of your lips for as long as he could remember. Toji was going to enjoy this, every bit.

"C'mon, you know how I like it," Toji teased, letting his big hand fall onto your head and pump you up and down.

"God, fuck— such a good cock-sucker, aren't you? Yeah? Like sucking that fat dick like a good little slut for me? Shit— Got me cursing and you just- fuck- put it in your mouth. Doing the God's work by sucking it that well, huh?"

Through the whimpers and moans, you could see his abs and thighs tensing. He was going to cum —lots of it— into your mouth and probably bust another afterwards just for fun.

Watching his glimmering eyes through the tears, you tried and failed to give a weak smile. But it was returned with a soft glow, though the moan that left Toji's lips only made you clench around nothing.

Giving a pleading look to Toji, he nodded and chuckled.

"Show me how you touch that pussy while you suck me off."

Without hesitation, you let your fingers travel past your navel and into your panties. A large pool of slick had collected in your undies, feeling out your puffy clit and circling around it once you got enough arousal collected on your finger.

It elicited a moan, or whimper, from you. Toji is groaning in response, feeling the tremor of pleasure waves from you to him. It was so good, too. Being this close again. So willing too, he should give you a reward for bending over so easily for him.

Licking his lips, he sent a sharp thrust up into your throat, feeling it clench around him and watch you sputter around the length. Fumbling with your hands to stick your fingers up into your puffy walls and suck him.

"Is that pussy feeling good, bunny?" Toji asked, pushing your hair away from your face and watching the bulging in your cheeks.

"Wanna cum while you suck daddy off? Bet you'd want that, being so dirty, huh?"

You could barely nod, working your fingers faster and faster until your toes were curling and you came undone. Eyes screwed shut tight as you sucked onto Toji's tip hard.

It was so hard to not cum, but he had too.

"...Sh-Shit, bunny." He chuckled, letting you release his cock with a pop. "Came on command? Fuck, I might use that against you."

Giggling through the spasms, you climbed up towards Toji.

"Go ahead, I don't fucking care." You responded, watching Toji's eyes light with that warm glow. "I want daddy's cock in me, please?"

Forcing a growl from him, Toji pushed you into the mattress and practically ripped off his shirt. Kissing and biting at your lips until you both release each other for a quick breath, panting and moaning to nothing until Toji flipped you onto your stomach.

Towering over you as he grinded your ass into his cock, groaning into your mouth like a lewd monster. Your lewd monster.

"Does my chubby little bunny want her carrot?" Toji teased, sucking hickeys into your neck as you responded with a mewl.

Spreading your legs apart, Toji dipped his fingers into your wet mound and cupped it. Grinding his palm into your aching clit and watching your thighs shake at the sudden touch. Before long, he was pumping his girth into your soft walls.

Hitting that spot deep inside and making your toes curl. Toji was hitting it so hard, you fell onto the pillows with your hands resting on either side of your head and your ass bent upwards. If you knew any better, he was damn near folding you in half. His hands curling into firm fists besides your hips, watching your ass jump with every pump.

Listening and feeling your sharp squeezes when he hits that soft spot just right, whimpering at your voice alone and getting closer to that god-sent high. Thrusting his hips down into yours and feeling your whole body pulse back into his and grinding against him.

Feeling his balls slap your clit in such a lewd way that it had you sobbing.

"Look at me, baby." Toji ordered, a groan leaving him once your eyes locked with his.

That hazy look, the one he craved every night, was on him. Knowing your thoughts were blank behind them, Toji asked you anyway.

"Does daddy make you feel like a fucking queen?"

You nodded. "Y-Ye- ooh~! D-Daddy's cock makes me feel good!"

"This is the only cock you want, right? No one can fuck you this way, right?"

"Y-Yes! Oh, please, J-Ji~!"

"Please what? Use your words, bunny."

With one last look up at him, you uttered out the words he's been dying to hear all night. "M-Make bunny cum, sir.."

Toji's grin widened, gripping onto your hips with a bruising force and holding you in place as he chuckled darkly. "Yes. Fucking. Ma'am."

Your eyes rolled, sobs of his name and your pleasure echoed throughout the room. Unable to even hold onto the headboard for support, you grabbed one of the pillows and bit into it. Muffling your screams until Toji ripped it from your grasp and wrapped his large hand around your throat.

"No muffling those fucking moans, baby." He said, squeezing on your neck. "I want to hear those cries for my dick. Quiet them, I stop."

You quickly nodded, grabbing at the sheets as Toji held your head in place. Squeezing you until you couldn't breathe only for him to release a little and pump the fucking breath from your lungs.

"Who's my baby? Who's my girl?" Toji asked, grunting and growling like an animal in rut fucking his mate sensless.

"I-I am! Fuck, I am!"

"That's right. You are. You're my little bunny."

You couldn't see it, but Toji's eyes were glowing a new gleam of emerald green. Bright enough to be light neon lights in the middle of the dark room, despite the one nightstand lamp on. Adoration and pride swelled in his chest, watching your drooling lips quiver as you came again and again.

Squeezing and milking his fat cock until he pumped his hot sperm into your awaiting womb. Your insides painted a milky white —like Toji's personal little canvas— and made your small tummy bulge as it was pushed into your cunt.

"Bunny! Fuck, Y/n!" Toji yelled, tensing up as he bit down on your shoulder and listened to your cries. "Cum on my dick, fucking cum like a good girl!"

"T-Toji!!"

Crying, sobbing, breaking, you didn't know what you were doing. Probably all of the above, since your cunt was holding onto Toji like you didn't want him to leave. Feeling his cum spurt out of your puffy walls, leaking down Toji's balls and past your clit onto the bed sheets that awaited below.

Panting and random moans soon filled the room as you and Toji held onto each other for dear life. Not wanting to release each other as your eyes were blown wide and white filled your sight, shaking and taking gulps of breath as you looked at each other.

"Y-You were.." Toji started, unable to finish once you locked lips with him and moaned into his mouth.

Swallowing the noises, Toji cupped your small head and clashed with you wholeheartedly. Pulling from your soft sex only to pump his fingers into you to keep his cum inside. Breeding kinks.

"F-Fank you... oh, fank youu.."

Toji chuckled, kissing you more gently now as you curled up into his chest and rested your head against him. Petting your head, Toji rested his head on the pillows and let a few shivers coarse through his body before he stood and grabbed a blanket.

After cleaning your clit and hole thoroughly —even dipping his tongue inside for 'further' shots— he tossed the dirty towel away again. Tugging up the discarded sweats and handing you some clean panties, Toji soon cuddled you and fell asleep.

Body and mind tired, you both slept in awe at the surprising amount of energy you had both spent. If only you knew that's how the next week would be spent..

a/n: So, this is part one of the Toji Smufiction Week Series. As you read before, it's mostly just smut for a small fiction, but it's going to have lots of fluff with it. The idea of a comforting Toji is nice, so I'm going to just fulfill a few daydreams for myself while writing these..

taglist: @jiminjamms

~~~

Song~ "Tag, You're It" —Melanie Martinez [Slowed + Reverb]

[poopyballz28]

Pool party like at night time shit yk when ppl play music n jus chill w all their friends n the person they like during the summer evening n djekekkekwkwkwkwkwkwmwkmw the drunk hc was so good

Some Baki characters at a pool party

i adore this idea okay lets do this (and thank u ❤️)

Baki

• He really doesn't go to parties much, if not at all. He acts really awkward the whole time, unless he's by your side.

• He'd try to stay by you or people he knows well, he's honestly not great with social stuff, especially social cues. Just an awkward little guy, he is.

• He'd love to play with water guns though, he's still got that silly playful side. He would get stupidly competitive with you, and he'll have a blast.

• He'd be like "Wanna see how long I can hold my breath for underwater, Y/N??" then almost drown like an idiot. This little statement would lead to all the karate boys trying to one up him (and each other) and almost drowning themselves in the process like the imbeciles they all are. But they are beloved imbeciles.

• He'd love seeing you in a cute bathing suit (if you're wearing one, of course) Sometimes you'll just catch him staring at you in a daze, you may have to snap him out of it. He's just really enthralled at your beauty.

• He may accidentally drink the punch, not knowing its alcoholic and he'd just get so dizzy and he will most definitely pass out immediately. He can't take his alcohol at all.

• "Does this punch taste weird to anyone else?" *THONK* (his head smacking onto the table)

Jack

• Definitely very secluded. Probably having a drink at a back table. He'd enjoy it if you just sat and had some punch with him. Enjoying the evening lighting and summer weather.

• Would love to see you (if you're a lady) in some kind of pretty bathing suit. Something kinda show-offy and extra is something he'd very much enjoy. He'd be looking at you a lot that whole evening.

• When he gets a little tipsy, that's when he'll participate in some water gun action with the others.

• Katou, Katsumi and Baki will be playfully shooting each other until they see a giant silhouette tower behind them with a two huge guns that Jack's just hauling hand in hand. He's like the ultimate final boss. The tank.

• He would demolish every competitor there. He doesn't really know how to play around too well. Someone probably ended up hurt. He just takes the battle too seriously.

• Imagine Baki and him having a brotherly stand off. The ultimate brother battle all over again. Except...Jack is the victor.

Kozue

• She's awfully nervous about wearing a bathing suit. She's not the most confident in her body and she's just, in general, super timid about showing so much skin in public. Nonetheless, she'll try super hard to find the cutest looking bathing suit that she'll know you would like.

• She'd probably pick something cute, but showy, to really get your attention. She'd look so nervous wearing it though, but she's so adorable that her timidness makes her look even better.

• She would put a cover up on almost immediately. She's just so nervous.

• She'll probably be sitting on the ledge of the pool with only her legs in. She'd enjoy it if you just sat and chatted with her there for a while. She'll get less and less nervous the more you talk and joke with her, but she'll still want to stay by your side the whole party.

• She'll be holding onto your arm while you two walk around. The crowd of people give her a little bit of anxiety.

• She would very nervously compliment your bathing suit. She'd fall in love with you all over again seeing you in it, but she'll be blushing seeing you show so much skin. She'll be a little envious of your confidence and she might open up and take her cover off.

• She'd get a lot of stares if she did, but only because she looks flawless. She'd be so anxious but she'll try her best to act a little confident.

• Unexpectedly, shes very good at water gun fights. Nobody would've expected until she came up and shot everyone point blank range with no problem.

Katou

• He is definitely the one controlling the music in the back. He's picking a bunch of American hiphop songs and stuff too like I don't know who the fuck let him back there but it's his territory now. He is the music controller, no one else can intervene.

• When he's not picking music he's hogging all of the punch (if its got alcohol in it) at the drinks table. He's just standing over there chugging like there's no tomorrow. You won't be able to get him to stop either.

• I feel like he isn't the most confident in his body and all, so he'll probably wear a tank top or something with his swimming shorts. He gets pretty embarrassed if he takes it off (he acts like he doesn't care though)

• If he ever does take off his tank top, it's to get your attention. WAIT. Funny idea where he try's to act hot in front of you but he just slips and falls into the pool like a doofus. That'd just make me fall for him even more, imo. 

• He's definitely the one doing shitty tricks and cannonballs into the pool at light speeds and spilling all the water out. He has 100% did a flip into the pool from the roof.

• Be careful around him when he's drunk though, he will haul you up and throw you into the pool with no second thought.

• Definitely kills it at beer pong with the rest of the karate boys. He does these lame trick shots but somehow manages to get them in.

Katsumi

• I like to think he's the one who planned the whole party to have some fun with everyone. Probably to get closer with you as well.

• He'd be grilling probably, with a cute pink apron on that says some corny shit like "kiss the cook 😛" cause of course he'd have that on.

• Oh god, he'd probably make sure you're watching and seductively take off his shirt to get into the pool. He tries so hard to be sexy but he's so silly, honestly.

• Swimming in the pool with him is fun, he would playfully splash you and stuff. Like Katou, he'd probably also throw you into the pool too. But in a less violent manner. A much less violent manner.

• He can't take his eyes off of you in your bathing suit. It makes him surprisingly flustered. He'd compliment how good you look in it or how good your body looks. 

• Let's pray to the gods he decides not to drink and doesn't get absolutely blasted and does something horrible. Katou is already a problem.

• He will water gun the shit out of you with no mercy. Be prepared to be soaked because he wont stand down.

• Him and Katou would definitely get into an argument one way or another and assault each other with water guns. Katou would pull out the huge machine gun blaster and absolutely massacre Katsumi and his tiny little blaster (and probably even more people, because he's a menace to society)

Retsu

• He's the one very awkwardly standing in the back. Not exactly knowing what to do.

• He would stay close to you. Parties aren't exactly his thing. At all. He may just sit at a table and have some punch with you, chatting about various things. He'd rather do that than do any crazy partying or swimming.

• He wouldn't even be in a bathing suit, he'd just be in his regular clothing (mayyybe with some sunglasses, give or take) He didn't exactly know how to dress the part, despite it kinda being straightforward. He didn't plan to do much swimming anyway, especially with a bunch of people in the pool.

• I can see the karate boys trying to pry him open, and get him to loosen up. Shove some more punch in his face and try to get him to communicate some more.

• Funny idea where he accidentally gets incredibly drunk and does a quadruple fucking back flip into the pool, causing a huge splash of water to spray up like a geyser. Half of the pools water is gone and everyone is soaked. Better to just keep him away from the punch altogether.

• He may or may not join in on the ongoing water gun battle, and take it waaay too seriously. He'd use some crazy Chinese Kenpo techniques just while playing with little toy water guns made for babies. It'd be strangely effective though, he would be a really tough opponent out there.

[darkmulti]

Hello I love your work so much, you are my fav writer I love your style and the way you paint your ideas! <3

I know you must have a lot of requests but could you please do a hard dom CEO jungkook, with innocent reader. Would be nice if you can add corruption kink, degrading and non con. Thank you!

⚠️: NON CON, DEGRADATION, CORRUPTION KINK, INNOCENT!READER, VIRGIN!READER, slapping, choking

-> I’m glad you like my work!! Sorry for the wait tho😭

-> I didn’t “add” too much corruption kink because it’s kinda hard to incorporate corruption kink and non con

-> sorry for any mistakes

“Y/N! In my office now!”

The moment you sat down on your chair, your boss called you again

You quickly stood up and hustled into his office

“Yes, Mr. Jeon. Is something wrong?”

You politely asked

“What the hell did you put in my coffee?”

“Regular, sir. Two milks and one sugar.”

“Did you check the expiration date on the milk?”

“Uh… no”

“God damnit! Are you trying to poison me, Y/N?! You can’t do the simplest tasks right! Get out of my sight.”

“Sir, I can make you another-”

“I said get out!”

You immediately left his office and sped off into your own

You closed the door gently before covering your mouth and bursting out into tears

The constant yelling and degrading was slowly breaking you down

He never appreciated any of your hard work, instead he focused on the small flaws you made

You knew you deserved better so that night you went home and wrote a resignation letter

The next day you went to work and gave it to Mr. Jeon

“Mr. Jeon, this is my resignation letter. I can’t work here anymore. It’s not good for my mental health.”

He poked his inner cheek with his tongue and crumbled the letter

“You have to give me a two weeks notice. That way I can start looking for your replacement. However, I have a business trip next week and you have to come with me.”

“What if I find someone that can take my place?”

“No, I want you to go with me and that’s final.”

Next week

You were at the airport with your carry on bag in hand and your passport in the other

Jungkook was in front of you, leading the way to the private jet

Once you both were seated, he poured himself and you a drink

“So, tell me why you want to quit.” He said, taking a sip of his Blue Label whiskey

You didn’t want to tell him the real reason, which was because of him

You thought it’d make the trip more awkward if he knew that you were quitting because of him and you also didn’t want to sound mean

So the best excuse you could come up with was that you found a more suitable job

You told him lies after lies, thinking that he was believing you

Little did you know, Jungkook could see right through you

He knew the real reason you were quitting was because of him

He was purposely cruel to you and you’ve finally reached your breaking point

It was amusing to him

Did you really think that you could trick him?

How cute

Jungkook knew that whole suitable job excuse was a lie because he keeps his eyes on you all day and night

While you were asleep, Jungkook broke into your apartment and installed tiny cameras all around

So he could keep an eye on you

He also hacked into your phone and installed a tracking app, just in case

He got access to all your emails, social media, phone calls, photos, text messages — ect.

Anyways, back to the private jet

You were in the back of the jet sleeping since it was a long flight and you get air sick

You felt something around your waist so you looked down and see a tattooed arm

You immediately recognized who it was and got up, waking up Jungkook in the process

“I- I’m sorry, sir. You should’ve woke me up and I would’ve given you the bed.”

“It’s fine, we’re about to land anyways.”

After you guys landed, you both headed towards the car in the hangar

The driver took you both to a luxury hotel

The building itself was super unique

The transparent, rooftop pool was definitely something you were looking forward to

Jungkook had paid for your hotel room

You guys had rooms right next to each other so it’s more convenient for him

It was still 10 in the morning, so Jungkook allowed you to sleep for a little while but by 12pm, you guys had to leave for an important meeting

The afternoon was packed with meetings, presentations & preparations for a small business party

You were exhausted because Jungkook kept you running back and forth while he was sitting on his ass

By the end of the day you were tired as hell, but luckily everything went smoothly

Jungkook seemed to be okay with how everything turned out

You were relieved to say the least

He’d usually find something to complain about

It was 10pm when you both arrived at the hotel

Jungkook said he was going to go shower and sleep so you bid goodnight and went into your room

Even though you were physically and mentally exhausted, your mind couldn’t fall asleep

You figured it was because of the amount of coffee you consumed

Since you couldn’t fall asleep, you decided to put on your swimming suit and go upstairs to try out the pool

Once the elevator doors opened, you were surprised to see so many people on the rooftop dancing and drinking

You still went to the pool even though it was loud and packed

On your way to the pool, you accidentally bumped into a group of guys

They notice your somewhat revealing swimming suit and offered a drink

You were going to reject but all of them were pressuring you to have at least one drink with them, so you stupidly agree

One drink turned into two and so on

You started dancing with the guys and they were all cheering you on

This was it

This was the attention you were craving for

You were a little wasted but still had your senses

You held one of the boy’s hand and took him to the swimming pool

“You said you were good at swimming… so make sure I don’t drown.” You drunkly said before jumping in

The man chuckled at your behaviour and jumped in afterward to make sure you don’t do anything dumb

After swimming, you had more drinks and danced more with everyone

The night was going so well until someone pulled you away from all the chaos

“Heyyyy, what’re you doing man? The party’s over there.” You said, pointing back to the crowd

He wasn’t responding so you tried to look at his face but the lights were burning your eyes

You looked down at his arm and recognize his tattoos

Once you realized who he was, it was too late

“M- Mr. Jeon, why’re you up so late?”

He brought you back to his room and shoved you in

Jungkook pushed you against the door and slapped you hard

It brought you back to reality real fast

“Are you dumb, Y/N?! Going upstairs without telling me anything, drinking and dancing with men you don’t know— do you know how dangerous that is?! Is your head hollow?!” He yelled in your face and hit the side of your head a couple of times, checking if it was hollow

“Do you know what they would’ve done to you if I didn’t come?! Let me fucking show you.”

He pushed you towards the bed and you slipped because of your wet feet

You started backing away from him, but you knew you were doomed when your back hit the side of the bed

“Mr. Jeon, please. I was just trying to have fun-” another hard slap landed on your cheek and this one was enough to make you tear up

“Fun? You want to have fun? Okay then, let’s have some fun.”

He pulled you up by your wrist and pushed you down on the bed

“Mr. Jeon, please! I’m so sorry! I don’t know how it all happened!”

You were sobbing at this point because Jungkook looked terrifying

He was beyond pissed and his eyes were showing it all

“You think a “sorry” can fix what you did?! You’re so fucking stupid! This is why I yell at you all the time because your dumb, little head knows nothing. Without me, you wouldn’t be living so comfortably. I give you a good pay, so you can pay rent, buy food and clothes without worrying about money. But, what do I get in return? A resignation letter…” he scoffs before continuing “… You’re just a dumb, naive, whore that would be homeless right now if I didn’t take care of you. Maybe this is why your parents abandoned you.”

Your bottom lip started to wobble and before you knew it, you were bawling your eyes out in front of him

His words were so harsh, you weren’t ready for it at all

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry!”

You apologized over and over and over but he still wasn’t satisfied

“H- how can I make it up? Please, give me a chance.”

His hand went towards your private area and you started shaking your head profusely

“No, no, no… anything but that please…”

“Well, there’s nothing else that you have that I want.”

“I’m n- not comfortable though.”

Jungkook grabbed your face and stared deep into your eyes

“Does it look like I care?”

Jungkook continued on

He ripped your swim suit off and pulled down his pants

“Please be gent-”

You screamed when you felt him push into you

You grabbed his arms and tried to push him away but he easily dominated you

He pinned your hands above your head and spat down on his cock for some lube

Without any warning, he pushed his full length in, causing you to squirm around and cry

Your purity blood dripped down onto the bed sheets while you kept pleading for him to stop

“Mr. Jeon, please! I- I was sa- saving till marriage.” You sobbed

“That’s even better. Now we can get married.”

“No! No! I don’t want that.”

Jungkook pushed your legs apart and started going at a fast pace

“You don’t want to get married to me? Well, that’s too bad because I don’t care about what you want.”

Each of his thrust were powerful and rough

He wrapped his hand around your neck so anytime you rejected him in a way, he’d squeeze until you’d shut up

Your face was hot and red from all the slapping and choking

He covered your neck in hickeys

All night, he was fucking you

The headboard was banging against the wall so hard, it left dents in the wall

There was cum overflowing out of you, but Jungkook still didn’t stop

He pounded you until your body gave up on you

You couldn’t fight anymore

You weren’t talking, crying or moving

All you could do was whimper softly when it really hurt

Jungkook noticed you were on the verge of passing out, so he quickened up his pace and came into you before collapsing on top of you

“You would’ve been in so much more pain if I didn’t save you from those guys. So what do you say to me?”

You weakly open your eyes and look into his

“T- Thank you.” You whisper softly before falling unconscious

Decided to end it here bc I don’t have the brain power to continue writing. Sorry for any mistakes. It’s 2am

[randomshenaniganery]

Placing different characters into TWST

Gonna merge characters from different books I’ve read into twst wonderland not even disney shit i dont care ( FT: howl pendragon, chrestomanci, wizard derk, melkor, feanor, sauron, maeglin, ezra squall, Prince Talithan, zaknafein, jerricho barrons, runaan, aaravos, viren, kaz brekker and the rest of the Crows, low key lothaire)

Howl Pendragon would be someone from another world who purposefully found some way to get through the mirror and become an NRA student. Every time for holidays he either hangs out to do research or spends his time back home in Wales lying his ass off about his college to his sister. And yes in school he uses his fake name he would at first be in Scarabia but later transferred to Octaniville. He’s also in the Spelldrive club and will absolutely join in the championship against RSA. He would go to RSA pretending to be Silvester Oaks and have this double life just to get as much shit as possible. 

Chrestomanci / Christopher Chant, he came here from another world (his own) he’s trying really hard to get back and is also lying his ass off about being a student and absolutely no one notices except for Professor Trein. He would be in Heartslabyul, makes friends with Howl since Howl seems to know a lot about dimensional magic. He would be around investigating everything and getting into everyone’s shit so that he could get closer to his goal of leaving. He definitely gets into hijinks with Howl to perpetrate Crowley’s office and living quarters. He’s very vague so Riddle gets pissy when he acts like that but he has very little against him since Chrestomanci knows all the rules and just uses as many loopholes as he can find. If we put Chrestomanci as his attitude when he’s an adult he’d be in Pomefiore but for teen Chrestomanci its absolutely Heartslabyul. (from the chronicles of Chrestomanci he’s not the main character not until the third book but he is an all powerful enchanter that had nine lives)

Prince Talithan, he’s an dark elven prince who is a little murder happy, loves pegasi, he’d be in Diasmonia because he’s an immortal all powerful elf. He doesn’t mind doing what Malleus says so but he definitely does not like it when Sebek bosses him around, has no opinion on Silver, at first didn’t like Lilia but Lilia schooled him and now he has massive respect for Lilia. (btw this is an elf from Dark Lord of Derkholm his role in that story was to lose his mind over a baby pegasus and to kill people). 

Wizard Derk, Ignihyde absolutely, he wants to live a quiet life and just goes along with the flow but he manages to be friends with Talithan because they’re both in the Horse riding club and Talithan is just blown over with how great he is with horses. He should have been in RSA but managed to get in NRC and he’s stuck here now. A very good boi all things considered has a girlfriend he’s devoted to and she’s very badass in his eyes. I want him to accidentally be friends with Malleus and now they just vibe together with Malleus going on about Gargoyles and he’s just like listening politely while wondering if he can make a gargoyle come to life or an animal that resembles a gargoyle. (he’s from the same story as Talithan and in that story he likes making hybrid animals with magic and giving them human sentience also he makes friends with the king of the dragons AND the king of demons) 

Ezra Squall, THIS BITCH would be in Scarabia. He’s is a conniving motherfucker and Jamil is stressed with his existence low key wants him to move to Diasomnia because he’s stupidly strong in magic. Very studious kinda full of himself joins no club because he’s off doing things on his own that no one really knows about. He would have taken over Scarabia but he saw what went down with Jamil and decides to think more on it later. (from Nevermoor by Jessica Townsend he is the main villain for the series and i haven’t read the latest one yet. He wants the main character of that story to join him and be evil and powerful and to fight some other evil force and also he used to be really hot so yeah)

Melkor, Diasomnia no question. Hates Malleus being the housewarden and challenges him pretty often, he’s actually almost on par with Malleus and gets really salty about not winning and talks on and on about might as well making his own dorm and being generally disruptive. Malleus is just there like oh well good game u did what u did. Melkor is also very intimidating so him and Malleus both have a infamous background but with him it makes more sense and its far more risky to talk to him. Spends his time trying to convince Mairon to either join in his idea to make up their own dorm or help him take over Diasomnia. (in my eyes he will be the rebellious teenager of Eru and created heavy metal and goth in fact he’s also literally called Morgoth to which my brain will attribute to More goth. if u didn’t know he’s from the Silmarillion written by jrr tolkien)

Mairon, is in Scarabia he’s very similar to Jamil except that he doesn’t really care for Kalim and his shenanigans. Ezra has tried to get him on his side but he’s already dealing with Melkor so he has no time to even bother. Very studious and is the only reason Melkor studies at all. He kind of likes the idea of a new dorm wouldn’t be so bad for the Great Seven to have a new addition wouldn’t it? I personally dont want him to be good at spelldrive skskksksksk. I want him to struggle on a broom dont ask why. He’s favorite teacher is Crewel I don’t know where i got this but I just FEEL IT. (sauron this is sauron )

Feanor, he’s also in Scarabia. Tells Melkor to fuck off regularly also tells Ezra to fuck off regularly. Studies a lot and is so pissed that Riddle is top at everything. It’s a one sided competition. Dislikes Azul’s study guides, he wouldn’t be part of the spelldrive club but in the vs RSA i think he’d try out because he would ya know. (silmarillion made many bad decisions he’s an elf, had a lot of hot sons)

Maeglin, he would be in Ignihyde. Idia is scared of him, Ortho thought he was pretty normal and doesn’t mind him too much. he’s got some kind of shit going on for some reason he got moved to RSA and it went BAD for everyone involved it went TERRIBLE. and then he dropped out of school never to be heard from again. (also silmarillion has an evil sword that says evil stuff to him also an elf but his dad is like evil or something)

Jericho Barrons, I’m including him because I feel like he’d be a villain anyway and also he definitely should die at this point like this bitch should not be alive for many good reasons. He’d be in Svanaclaw like no question, used to be one of Leona’s former vice housewarden but challenged him and didn’t win. which is GREAT because I get to humiliate him everyday with his failure heheh. He helps jack but he does it in an asshole-ish kind of way even WORSE than Leona but Jack is just like THANKS MAN and it throws him off. He thinks Ruggie is an opportunistic floormat so they don’t get along but Ruggie doesn’t give a shit about him lmao. (he’s from the fever series by karen marie moning)

Zaknafein, Svanaclaw this guy packs punch but is very low key doesn’t mind Leona that much helps Jack out with training and shit gives him tips and then goes off to be alone. I love him very much but man I bet he’s tired of just women in general because they’re kind of the biggest reason he’s got a lot of issues so being in an all boys school helps. He’s kind of in it for himself probably joins some kind of self defense club where he’s ridiculously good at. (this is the father of Drizz’t Do’urden he dies in literally the first book its called the Legend of Drizzt by RA Salvatore) 

Runaan, also Svanaclaw vibes with Zak they don’t do much and they do as they’re told. Definitely takes a distanced mentor role to a lot of the freshmen. (he’s from the dragon prince)

Aaravos, Octanivelle, vibes well with azul kinda doesn’t like Diasomnia and takes issues with Sebek but he doesn’t show it. goes along well with Azul but azul definitely thinks SOMEthing is up with him. Jade and him get along on the surface but deep down its a passive aggressive war. Floyd doesn’t care about him. Runaan already dislikes Octanivelle because of Azul and his shenanigans with the tweels but Aaravos just makes it worse ya know. 

Kaz Brekker, Octanivelle absolutely he’s definitely gunning for that house warden position and he’s plotting. Jade is the only one who suspects his intentions but he keeps it in because he thinks this could be interesting. Azul thinks he’s okay and he’s very business smart aa good and reliable member of Octanivelle. He hates Floyd because Floyd always breaks his personaly space and triggers him and Floyd thinks its funny. Help kaz somebody-

Jesper Fahey, heartslabyul that’s his general vibe would get along well with Ace and Deuce, is pretty chill with Cater but he doesn’t always follow the rules so gets in trouble with Riddle a lot. He’s friends with Kaz and Inej they hang out together a lot and does as Kaz tells him to. 

Wylan Van Eck, was in Pomefiore moved to Heartslabyul, he is a mess fails the rules not on purpose so he gets a lot of flack for it from riddle. He’s definitely friends with ace and deuce and trey just kinda lets him hang about because he feels bad for Wylan. Wylan manages to join in the group through Jesper and does his best.

Inej Ghafa, I was going to just do guys but I dont want to break up the crows so I’m putting her and nina here. She’s in Octaniville with Kaz but she was in pomefiore and was miserable so she and wylan connect over that. Kaz helped her move into Octanivelle and she helps him out with his stuff like distracting Floyd and he decides to plague Kaz. She’s on good terms with Jade and Azul since she doesn’t do anything bad but she never works on the floor she’s always on the back of monstro lounge. Jade thinks its hilarious to watch Inej and Kaz because he can tell they like each other but they dont act on it.

Nina Zenik she’s in pomefiore and enjoying herself she just blends in there very well and is okay with Rook. Nina helps out Epel from time to time. Vil doesn’t take issue with her unless she specifically doesn’t listen to him. She and Matthias got into trouble together and they managed to get themselves out of it but she had to throw him under the bus to avoid an even worse outcome which Matthias hasn’t really forgiven her for. Azul almost convinced her to take a contract to help her with Matthias but Kaz managed to sneakily give her a better proposition and one that doesn’t involve sacrificing her unique magic so she takes him on his request.

Matthias Helvar, he’d be in Svanaclaw he would be in the spelldrive club. Leona is far too laidback for his liking, Ruggie is okay but he’s wondering how he gets on in Svanaclaw, jack is a friend he hangs out with time to time. He joins in with Kaz’s group of people who are trying to one up the octrio in secret because Kaz helped him out of the trouble with Nina although it takes him a really, really long time to forgive her and become sensible. im too emotional to put anything further in here i have not moved on.

I was going to put in my favorites from the IAD series but all of them would be in Svanaclaw so im not even going to bother lol except for Lothaire he’d be in Diasomnia and he wouldn’t give a shit about anyone. 

I’m not gonna put every one I want to because there would just be so much and this list would be wayyyyyy too long. 

[canonical-transformation]

oh gods oh no oh no how could you do this to me Intelligent Systems [A'lear part 3]

(Spoilers up to Chapter 3 of Fire Emblem: Engage.)

A'lear has a weird dream in which everything is on fire and she's red (hair, eyes) and she's grinning menacingly at Lumera.

It unsettles her, but Marth is there to comfort her. He's there because he was watching over her as she slept. She wore his ring to bed, which he doesn't mind, and after a thousand years together it would feel weird to be apart.

Historians would later say Marth and A'lear were besties.

But never mind that! The castle is under attack! Unknown enemies have breached the defences and now they're almost at the Ring Vault! Where the Rings are!

But... how!? Wasn't this castle supposed to be magically warded against the Corrupted? And isn't it a castle? Like, an extra secure, extra-defensible building?

To answer the first question, it's humans attacking. As for the other questions, let's have Framme explain:

Queen Lumera is up ahead in the Ring Vault, fending off invaders. To reach her, A'lear and co. will need to fight their way across a long bridge-hallway full of soldiers.

They begin making their way there, trying to avoid the attention of the pegasus knights hovering outside the breached walls. It doesn't work, and at the end of turn 1, a lot of enemy soldiers start swarming towards them.

Thankfully, the cavalry arrives in the form of the crown prince of Firene and his retainers.

Prince Alfred (lance cavalry) is a gentle soul who's obsessed with strength training and putting on muscle. Etie (archer) is a gym junkie who attaches weights to her teacups so that she's always training. Boucheron (axe infantry) is a kindly big fellow who is not obsessed with workouts, but is already kind of buff.

They're fun characters, and I expect they'll mostly be on the backbench by Chapter 10 (*). 🥲

We're introduced to a few more types of unit class here. Of the four we've already seen, Cavalry is self-explanatory, Mystical is for infantry mages and ignores enemy terrain bonuses, Qi Adept is for special supports and grants Chain Guard, and Dragon is for dragons (really cool OCs with two-tone hair, and Queen Lumera) (**).

Archers are Covert, a designation shared with snipers and thieves. Covert units get twice the usual Avoid bonus from trees/etc, which this map has exactly zero of.

Axe fighters, and most generic melee infantry, are considered Backup units. They have access to Chain Attacks — when an ally attacks an enemy in Boucheron/etc.'s weapon range (adjacent, in the case of Boucheron's iron axe), he'll throw in a free attack before his ally's first attack. A Chain Attack is always 80% hit, 0% crit, and chips away 10% of an enemy's HP (***). To be clear, this ignores everyone's stats except for enemy HP, making it an amazing tool for taking down enemies with stupidly high Def/Res.

(On the flipside, the existence of Chain Attacks means you can't just throw a tank or dodge tank into an oncoming mob and expect them to last the turn. This is an amazing addition to the Fire Emblem formula and I love it.)

The battle begins in earnest.

A'lear has Etie kill a few enemy fliers here and there, but only when the numbers need thinning.

Framme punches a pegasus so hard its rider falls off, which is pretty sick.

And the whole team fights its way to the far end of the bridge, where the enemy leader tries to cut us off.

The boss has Veteran+, which makes her unbreakable and negates effective damage against her. (For example, Marth's "effective against armour" rapier is no better than the Libération.) The majority of the bosses we encounter in Maddening mode will have this skill, which is... infuriating. Saddening, even.

Thankfully, it's possible for everyone to do a bit of damage against Abyme, chipping away at her health bar. And Clanne the mage can pummel her around, because like most armored units, she has next to no Resistance to magic.

Abyme is defeated, to be seen again.

Finally, to the Ring Vault! Where the Rings are!

(To recap: this vault accounts for nearly half the world's Emblem Ring supply. Whoever collects all twelve Emblems gains untold power.)

In a cutscene, A'lear encounters a creepy dark mage. How creepy, you ask? Well, they use magic to disappear... and reappear behind her!

The creepy dark mage has little time for banter, and casts a spell at A'lear called Major Character Death.

(actually the spell appears to be Obscurité, the same one Sombron was using in the Prologue. It's characterised by that purple cylindrical shape and the miasma-looking effect. Perhaps... could this attacker possibly work for Sombron, the only character known to covet the twelve Emblem Rings?)

Anyway, A'lear stands there in shock. Don't just stand there, A'lear! Move!

Thankfully, Lumera is there to throw A'lear out of the way and...

...oh, oh gods, that looks like it hurt. They're... they're not going to kill her, are they? Intelligent Systems wouldn't just kill off the protagonist's parent like that, would they?

Lumera then scares the dark mage off with some form of dragon laser attack. With that, the attack on the castle is over, but... at what cost?

A'lear cradles her wounded mother in her arms. In the scarce moments they have left, mother and daughter weep.

The others arrive. (Framme tries using a staff on Lumera. It doesn't work, but now Youtubers can't add "just use Heal!" to their unimaginative "Top 58 Plot Holes" listicles.)

How could a Divine Dragon be unable to heal from this? In the scarce moments she has left, Lumera explains that she gave most of her lifeforce/power to A'lear, over the latter's thousand countless years of convalescence. "I hoped it would be enough to bring you back to me someday..."

"...but now, it would seem that I am completely spent."

And so that's it.

In the scarce moments she has left, Lumera tells A'lear not to blame herself. This is an expression of her unending love for her, that there is nothing she wouldn't do for her beloved daughter.

And here: the Ring of the Holy Knight. May Emblem Sigurd protect A'lear.

Lumera says she had really hoped to give A'lear that red and blue ring at some point, but...

Oh, the Emblem Rings! Don't forget about those!

Lumera uses the scarce moments she has left to entreat her daughter to collect the remaining Emblem Rings. Do not allow Sombron (presumably) to collect the other rings. Collect the 12 Rings and seal Sombron away. Only... with the power of the Twelve Emblems...

Then, through choked sobs, Lumera says:

“When your scattered memories return to you, you must fight on with the utmost divinity. I believe in you, my child!”

And... that's it. Lumera is dying. There's nothing to be done.

In the scarce moments she has left, Lumera reassures A'lear that no matter how brief their reunion, her heart is so full. She's so happy and full of joy.

Lumera pinkie promises A'lear that she'll always be with her. The two of them. Always.

Her grip slackens. "Mother!", A'lear cries out, but there is no answer.

(Before today, Lumera was the last of the Divine Dragons. Now, that woeful title falls to A'lear.)

In the scarce— nah, I'm messing with you, there's only so much death scene Lumera's allowed to have. She's gone now.

----

(*) The problem is growths (and the lack of Greenhouse). I like Etie's personality, but besides her good Strength growth she has median-or-worse growths for every other stat. (IIRC the only thing stopping her from being the worst return-on-investment unit in the game is that Vander exists.) Boucheron has the opposite problem — his strength growth is lower than everyone but a few of the mages. His HP basically always increases on level up, making him pretty tanky, but if he can't occasionally hit hard then tanky alone doesn't cut it.

Alfred's growths are actually ok, with his default special class suggesting a "heavy cavalry" defensive build. The problem is that he doesn't start with enough Def to fit that role at first, and by the time he catches up on defence he's behind on all the offensive stats.

(**) Dragon classes—which really just means A'lear's personal classes—get bonuses when Engaged with any Emblem that range from "okay" to "pretty good". Of the non-DLC Emblems, only Corrin or Byleth are noticeably different when engaged with A'lear like this.

I will probably be moving A'lear to Paladin in the mid-game. She'll be weak to dragon-slaying weapons and anti-cav weapons, and I'll miss her combo with Corrin, but I'll take the trade-off.

(***) barring DLC emblems and one niche case I will mention when I get there

[hansolmates]

a hero’s journey (m)

summary; jungkook and jisoo are the mightiest power couple. however, one drunken confession and that whole facade fades in an instant. you realize that maybe you need to break from your unvaried life for a bit and be the hero of your own love story pairing; jungkook x editor!reader (f) genre/warnings; best friend’s boyfriend au, slice of life, angst with a happy ending because im weak, pining pINING, everyone’s kind of a mess in their own sweet special way, alcohol use, mentions of ze weed, toxic relationships, mean friends, sex—slight dom!kook, food play, fingering, squirting, heavy use of the petname “pretty girl” bc im weak, strength kink, manhandling (oop!) w.c; 22.2k a/n; woof! my first fic for @goldenclosetnetwork​ 23 | jungkook’s birthday project! this goes out to all the closet romantics *ahem me cough* who doesn’t love pining between a cutie koo? a huge thank u for vivi @eerieedits​ for making this bbbBEAUTIFUL fic banner!  

prompt used: “I should’ve known.”

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It’s so easy to ignore the world. 

Maybe it’s a young-adult thing, but it gets difficult fitting into the 9-to-5 and playing to satisfy bosses that don’t entirely understand your work ethic. Maybe it’s out of complacency, or fear. But you prefer to let the world flow around you and when you’re needed, you’ll act. You’ve reached that point in your life where you enjoy the little things, satisfied by an extra hour of overtime tacked onto your paycheck, a new fabric softener, or finding the perfectly squishy yoga mat. 

You’ve finally started feeling comfortable in your shoes, uncaring as to whether you’re single or drowning in college debt, happy to live a relatively stable life. You’re grateful. There’s nothing more than you need than your happiness, and the love of your friends and family. 

Namely, your best friend from college. Jisoo always joked about how you two “won the lottery” as dorm rooms in freshman year were determined by lottery. Pulling numbers 883 and 884, you and Jisoo snagged a corner spot of the dormitory, leaving you two utterly cramped but utterly close as the years went by. Six years later and it’s still the case, the two of you have grown into talented working ladies. While you may not be able to spend time with each other the same way you did in school, you still care for each other. 

So when Jisoo shows up teary with a rumpled dress shirt and her hair waterfalling out of this morning’s bun, you break out the good alcohol and season three of Jane the Virgin for her. 

After the liquid is warm in your cheeks and you’ve fawned enough over Micheal and Rafael’s love triangle, you let Jisoo ramble. 

Jisoo has downed a whole bottle of soju on her own, while you’ve decided to have a tasteful glass of wine. You’d rather be tired wine drunk than wasted on soju. 

“Jungkook and I had a fight,” she warbles, stuffing a handful of popcorn in her mouth, “it was totally stupid.” 

Your eyes flash, picturing Jisoo and Jungkook in quarrel. They’re the epitome of an Instagram-worthy couple, beautiful and deathly charming to a fault. They show nothing but kindness and sweetness to you whenever you third-wheel, not a lick of anger between them when you’re all together.

So a fight is something surprising. Jisoo and Jungkook, J-squared are a power couple. Saying their names next to each other just emits a sort of energy you can only akin to famous small screen couples like Troy and Gabriella or Cory and Topanga. Jisoo’s Instagram is belly full with sweet selfies of them together, the doe-eyed man always looking completely sweet and gentle to the woman in his arms.

You never piqued Jungkook as the type of guy who would pick a “stupid fight.” And you know Jungkook pretty well. 

Maybe a little too well. 

“He surprised me during my lunch break and he caught me talking to Doyoung and he thought I was flirting,” Jisoo is practically eating her sweater, her head falling between her flannel pyjama sleeves. 

“Doyoung, as in your ex Doyoung?” you raise a brow. 

She groans, glaring at you in earnest. “Not you, too! I told him it was ridiculous to get jealous, and then I told him how jealous I get when he’s around girls and I don’t need to tell him that,” she rolls her eyes, twisting her feet petulantly in her fuzzy socks, “but then you know what he says back?” 

You wince, swirling your wine glass, “That you’re crazy?” 

“That I’m crazy, exactly! How did you—” her bloodshot eyes zero in on you, where you’ve tucked yourself in the corner of the couch. You swirl the ruby liquid in your cup, watching the feet web around the cheap crystal, “you think I’m crazy too, don’t you?” 

You swallow your sigh, taking your time to finish your liquid in languid sips. Uneasy, you wish you could just sink through the couch in order to avoid this conversation. Jisoo’s heart is generally in the right direction, but in terms of emotions she has the kind of sensitivity that you prefer to ignore rather than tread. Jungkook is also equally emotional, but in a different way. He wears his heart on his sleeve, preferring to keep things straight as opposed to bottling it up like Jisoo. 

However the theoretic bottle has reached it’s brim and Jisoo’s tipping, fast. 

“I need to tell you something,” Jisoo is swerving, crawling like an infant on wobbly limbs to reach your corner of the couch. You almost stop her, tell her you can continue this conversation in the morning, it’s what you normally do when she drinks into a stupor. But tears are swimming in her glassy caramel eyes and she’s grappling onto your blanket, resting her head in her lap. 

Her glossy russet strands curtain her head, so you don’t see the expression on her face when she says her next words: 

“Jungkook told me he liked you senior year, and I told him you weren’t interested so I’d have a chance.” 

Wow. So that explains everything.

The memories that you’ve tried so hard to brush away, the feelings you’ve tried so hard and continue to try to suppress, are laid out in front of you on a rusted platter. You could laugh, you could fling the rest of the Pinot Grigio down your throat like fresh water on a hot day and call it a night. 

But instead you choke back your tears, and push her off because you’re hurt.  

Deep down you know you would’ve been less upset if she told you the week after Jisoo and Jungkook called it official. If you knew from the beginning, it would’ve been easier on your heart. But it's been over two years since the past, thinking you’ve been needlessly, stupidly, delusional in thinking that you could’ve possibly had a chance with Jungkook.

Because it could’ve been you. And the reason why Jisoo and Jungkook fought today? Now you know it’s because deep down, they know they’re each other’s second choice. 

You can’t even recall a time where Jungkook and Jisoo were together alone before they suddenly started dating, remembering how it used to be you and Jungkook before Jisoo found him one day in your shared apartment, utterly smitten. And now you know you weren’t delusional, because the feelings and the signals you two were exchanging in senior year was real. 

But it doesn’t stop the fact that over two years have passed. Two years of a serious relationship between Jisoo and Jungkook, and two years of you secretly loving him from an arm’s length. 

“You hate me,” Jisoo removes herself from you, voice trembling. The quick, dark part of your mind wants you to snap back of course I hate you. You’ve trusted Jisoo with your life all these years, she was the reason you got through college so gracefully, why you enjoyed the past seven years of your life. 

But the sentiment is stained, and all you can do is deliver a tired smile and stand up. “I don’t hate you,” you say, “I’m just, really overwhelmed. I can’t lie and say that I’m not hurt,” your fingers clutch the fake crystal in your grasp, and for once you’re thankful you’re not strong enough to break it, “but you two love each other now and there’s no point in dwelling in the ‘what-ifs’.” 

Now that you think about it, when was the last time Jisoo treated you like a best friend? You stare at your wine glass, thinking that the only time comfort is provided in this apartment is when Jisoo is upset, never when you’re upset. 

Jisoo bobs her head senselessly, agreeing to every word. It’s pathetic, seeing her on her knees and her eyes glimmering with the hope that you’d forgive her straightaway. She must feel awful. That’s good.  

You sigh, needing to be the bigger person. “You need to call Jungkook and tell him he has nothing to worry about though, after all, you two have history now. As much, if not more than Doyoung.” 

“Right,” she replies, biting her lip. It suddenly feels like you're talking to a wall, carrying a conversation that's long ended.

“As for us,” you have half a mind to slam your glass on the counter, but instead you give it a heavy hand, letting slowly thump to the coffee table, “I don’t think I want to see you two, for a while.” 

“Understandable.” 

“And I don’t want to help you move out anymore,” I just want you gone.  

“Right,” she whispers. The both of you will be completed with your lease in two months, and Jisoo and Jungkook have decided to move into Jungkook’s apartment. As for you, you haven’t decided as to whether you want to go through the whole process of moving out or looking for a new roommate. 

“I’m sorry, I’m so so fucking sorry. I just was insecure as fuck in college and Jungkook was the first person I met in a long time that helped me feel more… like me.”

You want to say that she's right, she’s selfish. Her excuses aren’t palpable anymore. It’s too late. But if you were in Jisoo’s shoes, you’d think this apology is mere crumbs in comparison to your friendship. Why isn't she trying harder? Maybe because she doesn't know any better. After all, you never told her what you felt for him has morphed into love. 

You don’t even have to ask as to whether she’ll tell Jungkook this or not, you now know honesty is not her style. 

Jisoo doesn’t get a goodnight and a drunken kiss on the forehead like she usually does whenever you two have your late night talks. Instead, she seals herself to her own demise as you slam the door to your bedroom, effectively shutting each other out. 

Work is a bitch the following morning. You’re like molasses, rolling out of bed despite the whole world and its mother telling you to go back to sleep. 

Your feet are killing you as you make your walk to work, deciding to wear a pair of red-backed heels so you can stomp your way through your day. 

Your Wusband (Work-Husband) Kim Namjoon matches you step-for-step, eyes glued to his phone as he catches you on the sidewalk. “Woman on a mission,” he comments absentmindedly, eyes glued to his phone as he follows the click of your shoes to your favorite cafe. 

You spare a glance to your right hand-man, eyeing him appreciatively at his dedication to your morning routine. He’s your favorite co-worker, one who keeps you on time to your meetings and keeps you sane when you want to pull your hair out and dig out a coffin in your little cubicle. Namjoon’s long legs always seem to catch up with you during your workweek, whether it’s to get coffee in the morning or to talk shit about the latest gossip in the breakroom. 

The bell of the glass door tinkles in your ears as you enter the café, relatively busy for the morning rush. While you wait in line, Namjoon ticks off your activity list for today. 

“Meeting with Victoria is cancelled this morning,” you groan in relief, your supervisor Victoria always scares the shit out of you even when she’s not doing anything, “and just the usual proofing and whatever we have to do on the third floor today—can I get a large iced Americano with a pump of caramel? Thanks,” Namjoon moves aside so you can throw your order in as well, “and after work could you stop by Vernon’s? He took a sick day today and he has most of the manuscripts for the next issue.” 

“Done and done,” you swipe your card in the dip, tucking your card away in your zippered pouch. “So like, do Americanos taste any good? Like it’s literally watered down espresso how do you pay to drink watered down tar—” 

Jungkook’s at the pick-up counter. Jungkook’s at the pick-up counter swirling stray sugar crystals with his thumb and putting them in his napkin. What an impeccable display of Virgo energy, absentmindedly cleaning things he has no business doing. You scoff to yourself, recalling this morning that Jisoo got off the phone this morning with a stupid smile on her face. From the mirror image that Jungkook is excluding while he’s smiling on his cellphone like a smitten teenager, it seems like they’ve made up. 

Nevertheless the hurt from last night is still fresh in your bones, and you force yourself to look away despite the fact that your morning pick-me-ups are almost done and are sitting tauntingly next to Jungkook’s elbow. Does he really need to learn against the counter like he owns it? Hair slightly damp from the shower, your heart beats a little faster at the fresh image.His biceps are straining against his charcoal lycra long sleeve, which is slightly damp from his morning run. Snap out of it! You are a mature, working woman who does not swoon in the view of bulgy muscles, especially when the man who owns those muscles is taken. Suddenly there’s a call of your name, and two cups and a paper bag are put in front of Jungkook. 

He blinks, and you immediately pale when you see his eyes flit over your name surrounded by your favorite coral pink beverage. You feel struck as his head perks up at the name and he narrowly makes eye-contact—

“The fuck you’re doing,” Namjoon gripes, shoving your guava iced tea and croissant in your chest, “standing there like a moron as if we don’t got shit to do today.” 

“Sorry,” you mumble, pulling at the brown paper bag to tug a piece of croissant between your teeth. The warmth, buttery pastry melts in your tastebuds. Ah, bread. Nothing like a little bit of carb to make you feel better. 

You’re suddenly thankful for Namjoon’s gargantuan torso from effectively blocking you from Jungkook, hauling you out of the coffee shop like a petulant toddler. He doesn’t even give you a chance to catch another secret look at the object of your affections, making sure you’re back in your work game before you enter the building. Even if he doesn’t know it, Kim Namjoon’s always got your back. 

Or in today’s case, breathing down your back. 

Without your third editor and a hard deadline coming up by the end of the week, you and Namjoon are working in tandem throughout your 9-5 to complete drafts for Big Hit Publishings Arts & Media section. Both of you take turns to bring snacks and feed each other, feeling like reading zombies and slaves to your desk as you remind each other to breathe throughout the whole ordeal. 

In complete honesty you don’t totally mind. Namjoon is a great partner-in-crime, and you both love what you do and do a damn good job at it. You call it “Buzzfeed but with Benefits.” 

And at least for today, you could quell the feelings in your chest from last night and this morning. Sure, you’ve always been okay with the pining you’ve had for Jungkook. The feeling comes and goes whenever it pleases, and since yesterday you’ve been okay with just admiring from afar and being their third wheel. 

However, now the feelings are acutely comparable to a third-degree burn with the help of Jisoo playing with fire. 

With a quiet exhale, you concede in your gaming chair (because it’s just so damn comfy to keep in the office.) You’re an adult and not a petty child, and you will not let this piece of information derail you from your calm, stable lifestyle. 

But honestly? Fuck Jisoo. 

“Let’s go, buckaroo,” Namjoon logs off for you, the cinnamon-y smell of his shampoo effectively waking up your senses, “it’s already 5:30. And you said you’d stop by Vern’s to get his drafts.” 

“Right,” you blurt, mindlessly putting away your papers and snack wrappers in your bag. You can’t believe the whole day’s gone already. 

“Maybe you don’t even have to go to his apartment. Just text him or whatever.” 

“Sounds good, thanks Joonie.” 

“And y/n?” Namjoon gives you a look that causes you to force a terse smile, one you give one too many times to higher-ups at work. It isn’t to insult Namjoon by any means, but you guys are partners, the kind that tell way too much but hide just enough to remain close from afar. “Take it easy, will you?” 

“I will,” you concede, stretching your arms, “I’m def overdue for a massage.” 

“You don’t look sick,” you scoff, taking in the casual look your co-editor boasts as he leans casually against the doorway. 

Hansol Vernon Chwe is the epitome of fluffy, decked out in large electric blue sweats and his russet brown hair curling softly above his porcelain skin. Not only is he your co-editor, but also a friend from college. Not to the extent that you were with Jisoo and Jungkook, but you operated in the same publishing club and managed to get partnering internships that made you the co-workers you are today. You see a little bit of that collegiate youth in Vernon right now, as he looks well-rested and fresh faced despite the fact he probably didn’t apply moisturizer or drink enough water today.

“But you kinda do,” he tilts his head, noting the heels that adorn your feet, “you’re wearing your sexy shoes today, that means something’s going on.” 

“Gee, ever the ladies’ man,” you scoff, getting under his arm to invite yourself inside, “all I want is the completed interviews so we can pick out the best parts and draft them. Then I’ll be on my merry way.” 

“Oh c’mon, we’ve been talking nothing but work this whole damn month. What happened to college when we’d talk hours about House Hunters, the safeness of library sex, that little furry thing in Lincoln Hall’s urinal? That was prime conversation.” 

“Vern, I’m just here for the drafts,” you sit at his tiny kitchen table, glaring at his open laptop.  

“You could’ve just emailed me,” he teases, twisting around his chair so he can rest his arms against the back. “But since you’re here, that means you probably wanna spill some tea but you’re too upset to admit it.” 

“If I talk will you stop talking like that?” 

“Yes. Give me the juicy details. Need some juicy juice.” 

“Nevermind, get out of my apartment.” 

“Uh, this is my apartment.” 

“My point still stands,” you make another face at his outfit, “you look like the blueberry girl from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.”  

Vernon purses his lips, scooting his chair closer to yours. He’s unfazed by your insult, far used to your defenses being higher up than Fort Knox. He looks up at you with his pretty lashes and deceivingly sweet caramel eyes, leaning his head along the backrest. “C’mon, tell me what’s bothering you,” he says in a gentle tone, coaxing you open. 

He always knew how to do it for you, a little bit of sweet talking and that clear open gaze always reduced you to shreds in university. For him, it always took a good meal and some sci-fi movies to get him to talk. That must be why you’ve stayed friends for so long, you two knew how to connect. 

Finally you crack, kicking off your shoes and hoping the sharp end doesn’t land on his cat. You hear Luna meow in protest but she’s got great reflexes. Unbuttoning the first three buttons of your stuffy blazer, you air out your cleavage, not caring about Vernon’s gaze. He’s seen worse. 

“Remember Jeon Jungkook? Majored in graphic design.”

“Ah, yeah. The guy who like, lived at the gym and the dining hall? Haven’t seen him in a minute,” his eyes seem to glaze over the glory days, reminiscing in the simultaneous safetynet and stressor that made up your early twenties, “didn’t you guys hit it off real well? Like I remember you ditched like—three sci-fi nights to study with him. Who even studies at 1AM?” 

“Yeah, we did,” and you can’t help but frown at as you remember the 7-Eleven runs, the utter warmth you felt when he would wipe a stray rice grain off your cheek, and how happy you felt to laugh so much with him it hurt, “but uh. Jisoo got drunk last night, because they had a fight. And she sort of admitted to me that she sabotaged our relationship and told Jungkook I wasn’t interested in him so they could start dating. Two years later and here we are.” 

A pause. And then, “Want a beer?” 

Vernon doesn’t even wait for a response when he gets up, bare feet slapping against the tile as he prepares some drinks and snacks for you. 

“That’s pretty fucked up,” he practically sing-songs among the cacophony of popcorn pop-pop-popping in the microwave. The aroma of buttery kernels is all but a relief, reminding you of movie matinees, “and like, she knew you liked him! It was totally obvious, even if you didn’t spell it out for her.” 

“Yeah,” you practically gushed to Jisoo those past two months, every waking moment with heart-eyes over the talented graphic designer Jeon Jungkook. 

“I can’t believe Jisoo would keep that a secret from you for so long. Like, can you even trust her anymore?” 

“Don’t know, was she even my bestfriend or was I just a good roommate to her?” you ask. Vernon is holding two beers in one hand and a bag of popcorn by the tips of his fingers in the other, careful to not burn himself. Opening the beer for you, you thank him and take a long swig.

“Well, good thing you’re still not in love with him or whatever. That would really suck. Unless—”

The look on your face says it all. You’re practically snotting into your bottle, your face tucked into your chin as you fight hard to stop the tears you’ve been suppressing for the last two years. “Don’t give me your pity,” you garble, turning away from the sad look Vernon gives you as he wraps his arms around you. 

The tears are soft and gentle, flowing freely onto the cotton of Vernon’s arms as you let it out. 

“‘M’not,” he concedes, rubbing his chin into your neck. He really is a lot like Luna, just like his  cat ready to give you affection. “Let’s just, get some take-out and watch Hamilton or something.” 

He lets you wear his matching sweat suit, lime green, as you order Thai food and rap along to Hamilton’s sick beats. Vernon does a better job keeping the flow, but you’re having a good time being his hype man as he parades around the living room like it’s 1776. 

You go home that night around ten o’clock, feeling noticeably lighter and more relaxed. Be that it may you are still wearing the sweatpants and heels ensemble, you feel comforted. 

The apartment is quiet when you walk in, not a single light turned on. You get a slice of the city lights bleeding in from the organza curtains, which allow you to kick off your heels and hobble to where you think the kitchen counter is. 

Today is Jisoo’s day to cook dinner. You can tell she decided to cook today from the faint smell of Japanese curry and a small unwashed plate in the sink. Whenever it was someone’s turn, they usually left an extra bowl or serving in it for the other roommate when they got home. Unsurprisingly, you find no such thing on the counter or in the fridge. 

You’re not upset, but rather decided. If Jisoo is going to let your friendship fade off with no intention of redeeming herself, then you should give her the same amount of energy back. You realize now the apology she gave last night wasn’t for you, but empty words to make her feel better and mend whatever toxicity she’s created in her own relationships. People like Namjoon and Vernon reminded you that you didn’t need to try and earn other people’s friendships. 

It’s disappointing, but the feeling is all but too familiar. 

If you could describe Jisoo as anything, it would be the color pink. Blushing, beautiful, beguiling pink. The way she flushes when Jungkook does an uncalled for grandiose gesture of romance, or when she wears a hot magenta number when she’s hosting a fashion show. Jisoo is the personification of La vie en rose, unbothered and unabashed.  

But now all you see when you think of Jisoo? Nothing but red. 

With that, you go in your room and untack the polaroid of you and Jisoo at the carnival last month, putting it away in your junk drawer to be forgotten. 

“You’re running away.” 

“Am not.” 

“Are too,” that interjection comes from Vernon’s roommate, Jung Hoseok. He’s been watching you two bicker over work for the past hour while he plays GTA5, failing to get a good hard carry because you and Vernon are too busy discussing whatever finishing touches you need on your final draft. 

“No one asked for your opinion, Jung,” you throw over your shoulder. 

“I’m just saying,” Hoseok flicks his wrist and nabs a tank, “you never wanna go home, you eat all our food, and I found your pyjamas in my laundry basket.” 

“You said your basket was the blue one,” you hiss under your breath. 

“The navy blue one,” Vernon chirps unhelpfully, “not the electric blue one.” 

Hoseok hits “save” on his campaign, disconnecting from his PS4 and stretching his lean limbs. “I mean, we could use a third roommate,” Hoseok jokes, getting up from the couch and grabbing a handful of M&Ms from your bowl, “you do make a bomb mac n’cheese.” 

“Appreciated,” you relent when Hoseok presses a kiss to your cheek and tells Vernon he’ll be back late working, leaving you and Vernon alone in their shared apartment. When Hoseok is gone, you stare at the door, tilting your head, “y’know,” you remark, “Hoseok’s a cool guy, why did I never hang out with him in college?” 

“Because he was stoned the majority of senior year and you just didn’t vibe with that crowd.” 

“Oh, yeah.” 

“But, you’re trying to change the subject,” Vernon carefully untacks your hands from your keyboard, knowing that you two have already been done with this month's issue and you’re now just mindlessly re-reading emails. “You’ve been here since Thursday, and now it’s Saturday. And as much as Hoseok and I like having you around so you can wake me up before we go to work, it’d be nice to throw me a bone and let me in on what you’re thinking right now.” 

You frown, noting Vernon’s large hand covering your laptop closed. He isn’t going to remove his hand anytime soon unless you talk. “Jungkook’s helping Jisoo pack up her half of the apartment this weekend and I don’t want to be there,” you say, short and simple. 

“You miss her?” 

“Yeah,” you admit honestly. You hate this version of yourself, unable to even look at Jisoo nowadays despite the fact you’re under the same roof for the remainder of the month. It’s hard to believe that the roommate from six years ago finally got under your skin, cancelling out all the years of friendship because of one silly relationship, “sad she doesn’t want to be my friend anymore.” 

“Did you talk about it?” 

“There’s nothing to talk about,” you reply despondently, “if she cared at all she would’ve to apologize again by now.”

Vernon figures, and his neutral expression doesn’t change as he leads you to the couch, brushing away Hoseok’s things so you two can get comfy. You busy yourself with the remote, exiting the PS4 homepage to scroll Netflix. 

“And are you trying to get over him?” 

“I mean, yeah,” you have been, but it’s a little hard when you’ve been contentedly pining. It was easy to keep your feelings bottled up because you originally thought Jisoo and Jungkook were meant to be for each other for the past two years. Now you're still pining but ruefully bitter at Jisoo.

“It’s not fair, y’know. She broke girl code, bros before hoes. Or is it chicks before dicks?” Vernon shakes his head at his lame attempt to get you to smile, which works anyway because Vernon’s silly and his sense of humor always gets you a little loose. “It’s your house too, you shouldn’t feel like you don’t belong there.” 

“Well I was supposed to help her move out this weekend, and I’d prefer it if Jungkook didn’t know what was going on.” 

“What?” your friend furrows his thick brows together, tucking his hands under his knees as he leans into your stubborn expression. “You’re gonna let Jungkook go on with his life not knowing that his relationship is based on a lie. That’s not cool. Even if you’re into him, he’s still your friend.” 

Damn, when did Vernon get so good at giving advice? Truth is Vernon’s always been good at dishing advice, you’ve just been privy to what you wanted to reveal to him. The first year or so being together outside of college was always about work, saving each other’s asses to ensure you two got that promotion and aim higher and higher. Now that goal is out of the way, and what better way to reconnect over some shoddy romance straight out of a Degrassi special? 

“I know,” you hug your knees tight to your chest, “when I’m ready, okay?” 

“Okay,” he agrees, because he’s not a pusher, “do you know the best way to get over someone?” 

“What?” 

“The best way to get over someone, is to get under someone," he emphasizes that point with his hands, sliding one under the other with a wiggle of his thick brows.

You slap him on the shoulder, “Vern, you disgust me.” 

“But it works!” 

“I’m not going on Tinder to find a fuckbuddy.” 

“You don’t have to look on Tinder or Tumble.” 

“Bumble.” 

“Whatever,” and his eyes flicker to his lap, where his pale fingertips turn red as he grips the edge of a throw pillow. "If you really don't wanna find someone, I can help." 

Is Vernon offering himself up? He is offering to fuck your brains out in the hope that you could inevitably fuck out your interest in Jungkook? Your eyes flicker over to Vernon's form on the couch, who's tucked in the couch just as you are. 

It’s true that you find Vernon attractive, and to some extent he definitely finds you attractive as well otherwise he wouldn’t have suggested the idea. It’s just that in college you never viewed him in that kind of light, probably because you were always so caught up in Jungkook. But tonight you can’t seem to ignore the eagerness hidden in Vernon’s carmine gaze, and how shiny and touchable his chocolate locks look under the setting sun. 

“I don’t want our friendship to change,” you reply slowly, furrowing your brows. “I appreciate it, but I don’t know. It sounds like a temporary fix.” 

“Can’t knock it if you don’t try it,” and out of curiosity, you don’t shy away when Vernon leans over to you, squeezing himself between the couch so he can tuck you in his arms. “I want to help you, but only if you want to.” 

Maybe it’s the frustration you feel with Jisoo, Jungkook’s ignorance, or the fact that you haven’t felt physical pleasure in such a long time, but you soften into Vernon’s hold. He’s relaxed, nothing betraying him as he waits patiently for your answer. You’ve always admired how much he kept up his “cool as a cucumber” demeanor. He isn’t the type of guy to let life pass him by, but he’s the kind of person who walks along life, embracing the ups and downs like old friends. He’s the ocean waves that crest along the shore, pushing and pulling along without a care in the world. 

He’s the textbook opposite of Jeon Jungkook, which is why you give Vernon the okay to lean in and press his lips against yours. 

His kisses are soft, and he takes great care in making sure you’re comfortable with this new step in your relationship. It almost feels as if you’re cutting corners, and you can’t help but feel a little guilty that you revel in the way Vernon’s hands trail under your too-large t-shirt. 

The pleasure you’ve ached for is there, bubbling low in the pit of your belly. It’s hard to get you out of your mind however, because this man isn’t the one you love. His kisses hold no power, only brief reprieve. Your heart doesn’t palpitate and your palms don’t sweat, you’re just languid. 

You’re greedy and selfish, but you remind yourself that it’s okay to allow yourself of these freedoms, even for a little bit. As Vernon finds your sweet spot that has you rolling your hips against his, you find that temporary fix isn’t a bad start at all. 

When you trudge back to your apartment that night after much reluctance, your face is still flushed and you think you smell a little too much like Vernon’s cologne. But the fact that still stands is that you're satiated, and you feel a tiny percent closer to moving on. 

The television is glowing with a terrible reality TV show, angry brides upset over cake layers or whatever. Jungkook and Jisoo have fallen asleep on the couch, surrounded by half-empty boxes. Jungkook has his arm lazily over Jisoo, her petite body fitting perfectly between his chest and the crook of his neck. 

You scoff when you spy Jisoo's bedazzled manicure digging into Jungkook's bicep, as if someone's going to take him away if she doesn't hold tight.

With stiff muscles you spare one look at Jungkook, ignoring the pang in your chest as you weave between boxes to turn the TV off. Barely an iota of your feelings have dissipated since your previous tryst with Vernon not an hour ago. Looking at Jungkook brings it all back, unfortunately. You suppose the feelings will pass with time. The soft hum of the television ceases, and you’re bathed in a room that feels dark and empty, despite the apparent life in the room. 

There’s some bleary talk coming from the couch as you walk to your bedroom, and if Jungkook is sleepily mumbling your name in question, you pretend you don’t hear. 

“So, where’s y/n? I thought she was going to help us pack.” 

It’s an innocent enough question, as Jungkook scans the corner of the living room hallway that leads to the bedrooms. You haven’t come out yet. He knows that you love sleeping in on the weekends, but he hopes the smell of fresh food will coax you to the table. His pan is sizzling in protest, telling Jungkook to quit talking and flip the hashbrowns. He's fried up three, in the hopes you’d be up for some crispy potatoes. He knows how much you love potatoes, especially at 2AM when you’re craving fries and a McFlurry combo. 

Instead Jisoo mutters, “You toasted too much bread, you know I don’t eat bread like this,” she’s pulling slice by slice out of the toaster, until there’s a stack of six golden toasts in the middle of the kitchen table. 

A little part of him wishes to quell the precursor to the argument there. It would be so easy for Jungkook to say, “the extras are for me” because he’s trying to gain weight, and that would be that. 

Instead he continues with his unanswered question and replies honestly, “I made extra toast for y/n, babe. She was supposed to help us pack but I haven’t seen her all weekend.” But he’s pretty sure you came home last night, unless that was his imagination. 

Jisoo pulls a carafé of apple juice out of the fridge, pouring the amber liquid into two glass cups. “Ah, she said she had some last minute things to do for work. Y’know, Big Hit always wants a big hit.” 

He chuckles, tilting his head as Jisoo gives him a small smile from the kitchen table. Jisoo is always good at cheesy jokes. “She must love her job, huh.” 

“Yeah.” 

“Her articles are really good, too,” the air smells like butter and Italian seasoning, as he places one hash brown on Jisoo’s plate, and two on his. He knows you edit in the Arts & Media section, and loves how you make it a point to include video games and modern graphics when it’s deemed appropriate. “She did a piece on the evolution of RPG and I thought her commentary was really spot-on.” 

He brings breakfast over to the table, while Jisoo places two slices of toast on his plate, one buttered and one with strawberry preserves. Breakfast is a quiet, but peaceful affair. Jungkook takes note of how Jisoo takes extra long to complete her meal, her fork creating ribbons in her little blob of magenta jam. He allows himself to complete his first hashbrown and a slice of toast before asking the difficult question. 

“Are you and y/n okay?” and he also takes note when Jisoo’s ministrations on her jelly stop, as she looks up at him with her big brown eyes. 

“We’re fine,” she insists, “just normal roommate issues, I promise.” 

“Maybe I should text y/n,” Jungkook says, pulling out his phone. “Lemme help you fix this, wouldn’t want you and her in a bad place when you’re about to move out.” 

“Baby, why are you so concerned about y/n?” Jisoo croons while his thumb hovers over your contact, his screen showing a two-year old selfie you two took during a study session early on in your friendship. He can’t remember the last time you two took a picture together out of spite, one without Jisoo. Jisoo’s hand pulls him away from his phone, rubbing small circles between his palm. 

He wants to ask, why aren’t you? But he sees the terseness in Jisoo’s smile, as her eyes fix between the interlocked fingers. He has a feeling he’s hovering somewhere he isn’t allowed to be in. Maybe it really is roommate stuff and it’s none of his business, but he feels a little insulted being left out because you and Jungkook are just as much best friends as you were in college. 

Or are you? 

This question plagues him throughout the day, and when Jungkook packs enough boxes for the weekend and says he needs to go home, Jisoo for once doesn’t argue. Normally Jisoo would cling to him like a koala, murmur simultaneously adorable and dirty things in his ear and lead him to her bedroom to coop up for hours on end. But Jisoo says she’s tired and needs some alone time, which is also fine. 

He doesn’t feel like going home, and instead heads straight to the gym. A couple pumps wouldn’t hurt, and it would clear his head. It’s nearly five in the evening when his body is thrumming with the afterglow of his post-workout, and he decides to take a little cool down in the mall and treat himself to a smoothie. 

It must be kismet when he sees you coming out of the bookstore, looking a little winded but no less professional in your beige blazer set and rose gold iPad. Whenever he hung around your apartment with Jisoo and you’d come home from work, he’d make it a point to acknowledge your plethora of multicolored skirt-suits. He never needs to be professional in his place of work, and admires how much effort you put in. 

“Hey!” he jogs up to you, and he catches the way your shoulders jump at his voice. “We missed you today.”

Your smile curls into something dry, and you twist your spine like rusty hinges to face him. In turn, his smile dims a little, wondering if he’s doing something wrong. Maybe you’re tired? He catches the line of sweat that glistens your baby hairs, and how your hair is done up but has fallen a few centimeters with some pieces falling out. 

“Jungkook,” you exhale, “lifting boxes wasn’t enough of a workout?” 

“You know me,” he replies stiffly, hiking his backpack higher upon his shoulder. Why does this conversation feel so awkward? “So, finishing up work? Sucks you have to work on a Sunday.” 

“Ah, it wasn’t so bad,” you face relaxes a little as you explain your work, “it was children’s day at the bookstore and they were watching Disney movies. I’m writing a piece on how I believe Ratatouille is Pixar’s magnum opus. Interviewed some kids, I wanted an expert opinion.”  

“Ratatouille is the superior film,” he declares with a firm nod, “after all, anyone can cook.” He revels in the small smile he manages to retrieve from you, immediately understanding the inside joke. If he came out of the gym five minutes earlier, he probably would’ve been able to catch you in the bookstore. What a shame, he would’ve loved to see you play around with the kids. 

At the mention of food, the mall manages to silence itself enough for him to catch the grumbling coming from your stomach. He laughs when your cheeks heat. 

“I was on my way to get some smoothies,” he jabs a thumb in the direction of the food court, “wanna catch up and get a bite?” 

“Oh, I don’t know, I have a lot of work to edit,” disappointment pangs in his chest at your easy rejection, but he ignores it, “I kinda wanna save some money too, still not sure if I’m staying in the apartment after Jisoo moves.” 

He doesn’t know what compels him to take your shoulders and wheel you in the direction of the food court, much to your protest and whines. “C’mon, explain to me why Ratatouille is the magnum opus—I need to defend why The Incredibles is superior. I’ll treat you to dinner.” 

“What? I can pay for my own food—” 

“And I can’t treat my best friend to a nice meal once in a while?” 

That has you stopping in your tracks, and Jungkook nearly barrels his chest into your head if not for the grippy soles of his Adidas Ultraboosts. He can’t see your face, but his hands note how your muscles cord tightly between the cotton of your blazer. 

He doesn’t understand why you’re so tense. Was it because he called you his best friend? Well, you are? At one point he felt that way, early on in college. The position just stuck with you. And when Jisoo told him you weren’t interested, he was perfectly fine with the platonic relationship. It was nice to have someone to talk media and video games to, someone not as chaotic as Jimin and someone not as deterred as Yoongi. 

Although, maybe as of late he hasn’t been so much of a friend. It’s no one’s fault, he’s been caught up with work and Jisoo’s move, he hasn’t said so much as a “hey how are you” when you’re around. He can’t blame you. 

Suddenly his mind blanks, the mall fading away as he focuses on how small you look as your eyes dart between the parking lot and the food court. Jisoo and Jungkook have been so caught up on each other lately, that he fears you’re starting to separate yourself.

“Um, this place is good,” you tug him by the elbow and lead him to a fast food joint. 

When he picks up both your orders and comes over to your saved table, you’re talking animatedly on the phone. You’re laughing, looking at Jungkook as if he’s the one intruding and you’re muttering a hushed “sorry” as you continue the tail end of the conversation. 

“Yes, Joonie. Go with section two, I know my shit. I’m your Work Wife for a reason, Umji in PR could never compare,” you’re giggling like you’re five years younger, and Jungkook feels stuck in a timelapse. 

He watches you go, throwing around names and terms that he’s so lost on but so desperate to understand. He knows nothing about your life other than the one that’s tied with Jisoo, which is a damn shame. Since when did he inevitably downgrade you from “best friend” to “his girlfriend’s roommate?” 

“I’m sorry,” you turn your phone over and push it to the side, giving Jungkook a smile as well, albeit weaker, “let’s dig in!” 

To his relief the dinner goes as good as it should be. You have your tray practically overflowing at the seams, all on Jungkook’s dime. It has his heart swelling with pride, he hasn’t seen you eat in a long time. There’s fries spilling out from the corners, and two sandwiches because you couldn’t decide between a chicken sandwich and a burger. 

Food gets you amicable, and he doesn’t mind when he does most of the talking. You’re engrossed in his talk, lettuce hanging out of your mouth as you’re rapt with attention as he recalls a story that happened at work recently with Mingyu. You ask questions in all the right places and he sucks up all your attention like a happy pill, and it feels nice to be able to lead a conversation for once. 

“Jeez, I’m getting the burger sweats,” you giggle to yourself, and his smile brightens at your positive change in attitude. Food always helps. 

When you remove your thick high-collar blazer, that’s when he sees it. 

“Seeing someone?” he asks, eyes flickering curiously towards the violet bruises that bloom across your neck. 

“What–oh,” you have the audacity to look embarrassed, hands clutching your neck like a shield, “no, just a hookup.” 

A messy hookup, too. Unless you had a thing for showing off marks, which doesn’t seem to be the case. “Didn’t peg you for someone who hooks up,” he says more to himself than you, but you catch him on his impulse jab. 

Your eyes narrow and your defenses go up, “I’m trying to get over someone,” you snip back, busying your hands by crushing up your greasy sandwich wrappers. 

“Am I allowed to state my opinion?” 

“Since you asked so politely, no.” 

He sighs, “I just don’t think that’s the best way to get over someone,” heck, Jungkook doesn’t even know who exactly you’re trying to get over. He just knows that you’re far too smart and independent to let yourself resort to such matters. 

“It isn’t, but it’s really the best option as of now,” you reply curtly. 

And his gaze saddens as he sees you fold your blazer over your arm, indicating that your time is up. Jungkook is aware the comment he made is out of line, and it weakens him knowing that you don’t even want to pick a fight with him. He can’t even find it in himself to apologize properly. 

He doesn’t know if he’s more sad that you’re pining over someone unattainable or upset at himself for not knowing you’ve been harboring feelings for someone. If you really think hooking up is your only option, you must be really hung about whoever you’re into as of late. 

“If it’s worth anything,” Jungkook adds, wanting to leave on a high note, “fuck that guy. He clearly doesn’t deserve you.” 

A small, secret smile plays on your lips, “Yeah, I like to believe that.” 

“I’m anxious,” Namjoon’s mantra makes the whole energy in the room wobbly, paired with the fact the two of you are squished between cardboard boxes as Jungkook aimlessly moves things around like a Tetris screen. 

The only time you feel remotely comfortable basking in your home is when Jisoo is gone. Oh-so conveniently is the Big Hit building undergoing maintenance today, so you and Namjoon have decided to work from home in your apartment. Although you thought by now that Jisoo’s boxes would be long gone and tucked away in Jungkook’s place, instead you’re living in an episode of Ed, Edd and Eddy and the cardboard is practically wall-to-wall. You also thought by now that Jungkook would have no reason to show up unannounced anymore, but apparently that’s not the case. 

“I have, anxiety,” Namjoon adjusts his glasses for the nth time this afternoon, brain not fixed enough to focus on the screen of his chrome MacBook, “anxiety, anxiety. I can’t right now. I need my weighted blanket and a pillow.” 

“Namjoon, I can get both of those for you if we just send in this last spread,” you coo gently, as if placating a baby. You make brief eye contact with Jungkook from the other side of the room, his lips quirking in amusement as he stacks a box of clothes by the kitchen. 

“Do you feel my palms? My palms, they’re like a fucking fountain you need to feel them—” your Wusband approaches you like a zombie, leaning over you and tripping over his criss-crossed legs before he topples over you. 

“Blegh, get off of me you sweat giant!” you cry with a good-natured laugh, although the grip of Namjoon’s palms under your shoulders are damp and slimy, “Joon, I can’t get you your blanket if you’re crushing my boobs.” 

Namjoon finally relents, untacking himself to rest his chin on your glass coffee table. “Fine.” 

“Look over the last column and I’ll bring your blanket, okay?” 

Pushing yourself off the ground, you shuffle your way out of the living room through the maze of boxes and into the hallway. It feels like your apartment is less of an apartment and more of a storage space when you’re trapped in-between two lines of boxes, and Jungkook effectively blocking you from entering your room. He was just in the living room but now he’s come from the linen closet, standing between the entrance of your room. 

“Sorry,” he pops his head out from a smaller box, one filled with designer costume jewelry. 

“It’s fine,” you chirp, barely making eye contact as you shuffle over the boxes. 

Your toe drags over the lid of one of the open boxes in an attempt to move diagonally. You nearly crash your face into the hardwood if not for Jungkook’s arm stretching out to catch you. In seconds he manages to catch all your weight in one hand, pulling you to him with your hip pressed against his. Your breath traps itself in your neck. Your subconscious fears that if you speak now, you’ll babble about how attractive it is that he’s able to catch you as easily as grabbing a light sheet of paper. 

“Careful,” his voice rumbles in his throat as he regards you with a wan smile. 

Your “thanks” is barely uttered as you slip into your room, heaving your weighted blanket and a pillow in your arms to let Namjoon borrow. 

The burgundy quilted fabric is hunched over your shoulder, draped around your body so it’s easier for you to carry on your back. You try to eradicate the memory of Jungkook’s arms, lean and strong as he held you to him moments before.

Ugh, you thought messing around with Vernon would stop your silly pining. It seems that it’ll take more than a couple rounds to satiate your curiosity. For such a kind guy, Jungkook seems like a wolf in sheep’s clothing when it comes to the bedroom. 

You can imagine him being so kind in the beginning, coaxing you to wan and bend to his every wish and command. And then when you keen a little too hard at the attention, you bet a switch would flip and he’d grab you—

The blanket flops around your back, and you’re sorely reminded that you’re thirsting over a taken man, yet again.  

Jungkook makes it extremely difficult for him to be hateable. It’s by nature that he’s just so damn likeable. Heck, he’s pretty much packed seventy percent of the things Jisoo should be packing right now. 

Making sure not to trip again, on your feelings and your blanket, you successfully reach a tired Namjoon. You tuck your koala-shaped pillow under your co-editor’s arms, and drape the heavy blanket over him like a cape. He’s giving you a thumbs up and a toothless smile, the previous meltdown overcome as he focuses on finishing the last of today’s work. He’s slipped on some noise-cancelling earphones, presumably filled with generic coffee-house music or rain playlists. 

Wordlessly you go to your nook to prepare some tea. It’s getting late and a warm cup would distract you from the impending deadline. Despite the fact that you and Namjoon are 99% of the way done, his previous freak-out has you on live-wire and you could use a little caffeine. 

Placing three mugs on the counter you call, “Jungkook, tea?” 

“Yes please,” you stiffen when you feel Jungkook magically appear right behind you, his head peering over your shoulder, “with milk and honey.” 

Deciding to give Jungkook the beehive-shaped mug because it’s very on-brand for him, you begin to steep the leaves in your kettle while he spoons the honey. 

“So,” his words are slow as the drip of honey, the amber goo taking its time to descend into his mug as it falls from the dipper. “Is that the guy you’re trying to get over?” 

Jungkook lifts his brows towards Namjoon, who is softcore jamming to his white noise playlist. It’s cute as to how curious Jungkook is about Namjoon. While you try to keep your work life separate, there really isn’t much backstory to your personal life to warrant that kind of divide. 

“Namjoon,” you state aloud, watching Namjoon sing badly to himself, “why, are you gonna beat him up for me?” 

“I can take him,” you can practically hear Jungkook’s chest pop out. 

With a roll of your eyes, you reach to kill the heat off the tea kettle, “No need. He isn’t the guy I’m trying to get over.” 

“Oh, he’s your fuck buddy then?” 

“Shit!” being caught off guard, you grab at the handle of your kettle without a pot holder, burning your fingertips. In seconds Jungkook’s larger hand encases your own, pulling you over to the sink to soak your fingers in cool running water.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” Jungkook is chanting like a sinner at church, searching for any sign of pain in your visage, “I shouldn’t have asked while you’re working with a hot stove.” 

You suppress a sigh, relaxing your fingers as Jungkook soothes the burn with his gentle hold, “Shouldn’t have asked in the first place,” you mumble. 

“I know,” he replies, “guess I’m just feeling a little left out. We don’t talk like we used to. I guess I’m getting a little too nosy for my own good, aren’t I?” 

You don’t understand what’s going on with his incessant babbling as of late, but you chalk it up to work stress and Jisoo’s move. Having no answers to his honest reply, you gently untack your red palm from his grip, assuring him that you’re fine. 

Namjoon steps into your kitchenette, being surprisingly careful as he takes your potholder to pour himself a cup of tea. If the tea is oversteeped and bitter he doesn’t say anything, only leans against the counter as he regards you two with slow sips. “You alright?” 

“M’fine,” you reply stubbornly, avoiding Jungkook’s worried stare. 

Namjoon holds out his hand, “Hand.” 

“No—”

“Hand.” 

His deep voice coerces you, and you immediately slap the back of your palm onto Namjoon’s. Your partner brushes his golden hands over the tiny blister that’s forming over your fingertips. “Can’t have my Work Wife outta commission.” 

“Your Work Wife is fine,” you gripe back. 

Your co-worker’s eyes flicker over to Jungkook’s for a brief second, Jungkook regarding him in curiosity as he stares at your connected palms. “I have some aloe in my bag for sunburns,” Namjoon offers helpfully, ignoring the weird glances, “I’ll give it to you in a bit. Also, I’ve overcome my sudden bout of stress and I’m ready to email our progress to Victoria. We’re done for the day.” 

“Awesome, thanks Joonie,” you exhale, relaxing against the sink, “wanna go eat somewhere?” 

“There’s a niche place in Itaewon if you wanna check it out?” Namjoon offers.

Jungkook interjects, “Jisoo ordered pizza if you guys wanna share with us?” 

“Pizza also sounds good—” 

“We don’t wanna interrupt your alone time,” you gracefully cut in, stepping in front of Namjoon despite the fact that he’s easily towering over you. 

Jungkook snorts, “I’ll have enough alone time with her when she moves in, don’t worry. Besides, I ordered three pies because I wanted to try three different flavor combos. I need two additional judges.” 

“Thanks Jungkook but,” you stifle a cry when Namjoon jabs you in the back with his thumb. It’s pressing, digging into the small of your back as if he’s trying to telepathically tell you that you’re being rude, “but… I don’t know if I can eat three slices! Namjoon on the other hand, can probably eat enough to fairly judge.” 

“Great,” Jungkook’s smile is blinding, causing your grin to stiffen as he looks for his phone to shoot Jisoo a quick text that they’re having dinner for four. 

Once Jungkook’s out of earshot, Namjoon tugs you by the sleeve, “The hell was that?” he hisses in your ear, “you look like you’re about to shit and piss your pants at the same time.” 

“I just don’t feel comfortable eating with them,” you cross your arms in defiance. You think back to just a week ago where you and Jisoo reluctantly attempted to eat breakfast together one morning. You provided minimal small talk while Jisoo clinged to her phone, replying to you in non-committal clipped tones. 

“Do I want to know?”

“No.” 

“Do you want me to leave?”

“No!” you retort, “you got me into this mess, you’re gonna stay with me ‘till the end.”

“I don’t know what you want from me, woman,” Namjoon throws his arms out exasperatedly, oolong tea nearly sloshing onto his hand, “just suck it up or I revoke your bragging rights to that snag you got on our spread next Monday.” 

“Not my fault you couldn’t get Kim Taeyeon on the spread,” you smirk. 

“Well I didn’t so happen to stalk the Sephora she frequents for the past two weeks—” 

“I didn’t stalk her I just so happened to need a new Fenty Gloss Bomb every other day—”

“I’m home, Jungkookie!” 

Your face contorts, your playful energy melting to the hardwood as your previous banter with Namjoon evaporates into thin air. Work bags in one hand and three boxes of pizza balancing in the other, Jisoo kicks off her heels somewhere across the door and places the pizza on the dining table. 

Jungkook immediately appears by her side, and you look away and Jisoo plants a heavy kiss on his lips. She cracks open one eye as she notices you and Namjoon hanging by the kitchenette, “Oh,” she mumbles at her audience, “you’re here?” 

Yes, you bimbo. I’m here in my own apartment. 

“I guess you didn’t read my text that they’ll be joining us for dinner,” Jungkook cuts in good-naturedly, “we have way too much pizza anyway. Have a seat, guys.” 

Jungkook navigates the kitchen as easily as your own, and you slump in your chair while Namjoon exchanges pleasantries with Jisoo. She looks impeccable, hair in a tight chignon and a tight navy dress as she converses with your co-editor. 

“I’m starving,” Jungkook announces, making sure to place a slice on Jisoo’s plate. He shuffles through the other boxes, making brief eye contact with you when he decides to put a slice on yours as well, “you like these toppings, right?” 

You regard the greasy, hearty piece of cheese and bread with a curt nod. You feel Jisoo’s eyes laser on your skin, “Yeah, thanks Kook.” 

Namjoon, Jisoo and Jungkook mostly stir up the conversation, you opting to eat as slow as possible to avoid any conversation. It’s easy to blend back and let them take over, as Jisoo loves to talk about her fashion firm and Namjoon is a great listener. 

Jungkook and Namjoon make it a point to direct the conversation to you from time to time, and you let the ball leave your court as soon as it lands. You prefer to keep your responses short and simple, especially when Jisoo is so eager to talk about the new silk drapes she’s installing for Jungkook’s windows.

Your phone buzzes in your lap, and you discreetly look under the table to read the incoming text message. 

vernie bernie: would u like to do the devil’s dance tonight

vernie bernie: or a tickle to my pickle? 

vernie bernie: beatin ya bean? 

You: ohmyGOD 

vernie bernie: or y’know, u could just come ovr and chill. Hobi made some bomb tres leches

You: call. Ill come after dinner

“Are you okay, y/n?” your head bounces up to meet Jungkook’s gaze, “you’ve barely eaten and you haven’t talked much.” 

“Oh you know, she’s just stressed about the upcoming spread,” Namjoon steps in for you, and you send him a discrete, but grateful smile. He’s always impeccable at reading the room, “she’s just nervous about her interview with Kim Taeyeon, but I think you did her interview justice.” 

“No way, the singer Kim Taeyeon?” Jungkook gushes, regarding you with stars in his eyes, “your interviews are always so great, y/n. You ask really good questions. Like that one spread about  Lee Yonghwa’s art gallery? Really cool.” 

You notice the way Jisoo presses her lips together, a thin line as if she’s trying to seal away words that she’ll regret saying. She’s jealous, and you can’t help the blush of pride that fills your veins as you raise a secret brow at her. 

“Right, you got nothing to worry about,” Namjoon squeezes your shoulder encouragingly, as if you’d get his double-meaning. 

“Thanks,” you reply, pushing your plate away and standing up, “I’m actually gonna go head to Vernon’s for a bit, though. He wants to double check his work before we email Victoria.” 

It’s a bald-faced lie, Namjoon sent the files to Victoria right before dinner, but he isn’t going to argue. 

“Okay,” Namjoon thanks Jungkook and Jisoo for the meal, stacking his plate atop yours, “I’ll walk out with you.” 

“It’s only been twenty minutes, though,” you see the slight panic in Jungkook’s gaze as he watches you quickly clean up for you and Namjoon. You can’t quite pin why he’s so concerned, after all he has been acting strange as of late. 

“Yeah, I’m full,” you reply curtly, licking your lips and avoiding his gaze. You already know what he wants to say, that he’s been in your apartment all day and all he’s seen you eat is stale chips and tea, “but we can do this again.” But hopefully not. 

“If you’re coming home late again,” it’s the first time Jisoo has spoken to you directly. You tilt your head to her slowly, watching the plastic smile carefully carved onto her expression. You see the contrived care and concern between her brows, “please try to be quieter next time, the last time you came home late you woke Jungkookie up.” 

Snapping your gaze to Jungkook you plaster on a thick smile, “Sorry Jungkook—” 

“What? No, it’s fine!” he furrows his brows in confusion, finally able to detect the strange tension between the two housemates, “I barely heard you—” 

“Maybe I’ll just stay the night at Vernon’s,” your eyes trail over to the pajama set you immediately switched into when you got home today, “wouldn’t want to disturb you two.” 

“Good,” Jisoo’s tone is saccharine and clipped as she tacks on a, “have fun.” 

It’s laudable, how much Jisoo wants to make a fool out of you but you won’t have it. You revel in the perplexed expression as Jungkook’s gaze darts back and forth between the two of you, wanting to butt in but unsure of how to approach it. Not giving him the time to, you bid the couple a goodnight and make a fast getaway. Heck, you don’t even take your work stuff with you. 

Once you’re out the door, Namjoon wordlessly gives you a hug. You sigh gratefully into his embrace. 

The next time Jungkook sees you, he reads the room before anything. You and Jisoo’s apartment is scarily empty, almost clinical. He’s tried texting you a few times after his failed-not-failed attempt at catching up at the mall and his awkward conversation concerning Namjoon, but you always reply back with vague replies and an unpromised promise of meeting up sometime soon. 

It dulls him to think that you’ve given up on him as a friend. But can you blame him? He needs to keep an appropriate distance for Jisoo, after all, she doesn’t like it when he gets too close to other women unless it’s strictly professional. Usually Jisoo’s jealousy inevitably works itself out and Jungkook doesn’t pose any problems because he has very few girl friends, but for some reason your friendship with him specifically gets Jisoo stiff in the face. Is it because you and Jisoo are so close? Possibly. 

But it doesn’t mean you can’t join the same Valorant server with him at 2AM and accidentally bomb each other, or argue over the magnum opus of each film company. Is that not enough? 

Jisoo’s working overtime, and Jungkook suggested last night that he move the boxes to the front of the door for easy pick-up when the moving truck arrives. Jisoo promises to buy Thai food in return, and with a kiss emoji she leaves him to audit fabric budgets. 

As he glides down to Jisoo’s room he notes that the pictures along the wall have disappeared, and there’s double the amount of boxes in the hallway. It seems that you’re moving out too. To where, he doesn’t know but he hopes it isn’t too far. 

He chides Jisoo remotely when he sees that her room is completely intact, and he makes moves to pack up her things. 

That’s when he finds his letter. Not a love letter to Jisoo, but a love letter to you. Deep in the recesses of Jisoo’s junk drawer, is a faded lavender envelope with a pressed cream colored baby’s breath taped up in plastic. The glue is yellow and old, clearly served its purpose due to the fact that the letter is already opened and the contents rumpled. 

Hey Pretty Girl–

He immediately stuffs the letter back in its holder, stricken at his messy handwriting from two years ago. It feels like he found a time capsule, another version of Jungkook confessing to you. He used to call you Pretty Girl, not enough for you to catch on to his feelings, but enough for you to understand that he did find you attractive. It was early on in your friendship. 

When you first asked him to be study partners for some silly class that had nothing to do with each other’s majors, he gaped like a guppy and pointed to himself. That day he went to class in last night’s clothes and a nest of fluffy strands. “Me?” he felt like absolute trash, and you were probably desperate due to the fact you two were the only seniors in this class, “but you’re a pretty girl… and I’m pretty dumb when it comes to this subject.” 

But instead you scoffed and pulled him from his slumped figure, dragging him to the library, with a wink and a “you’re pretty, too.” Those words have burned in his brain since then, as he wasn’t used to getting such off-handed compliments, especially from intelligent girls that wanted more than one night. 

For whatever reason you continued seeing his dumb self, even after the semester ended and together registered for one more class for spring. 

Whenever you’d go out for ice cream you wouldn’t hesitate to stuff your face and add for extra Oreos and fries, you’d assure Jungkook you’re not normally this much of a slob. 

Jungkook would just smile and offer you a napkin and say, “You’re still a pretty girl.” 

He fell for you gracefully. There was no regret, no walk of shame, no cliché late night party where you or him could’ve instigated it into the physical. It was all by feel. 

However the two of you took your time with your relationship, languidly enjoying the hushed conversations in the library at 2AM, the late night McFlurry runs, the integration of each other’s friends like it was natural. Ergo the lavender love letter. It was a gentle declaration, one he felt pretty confident in. 

So color him stupid when you passed him in class with a happy wave, Jungkook dumbfounded at how well you handled his confession. You weren’t oblivious, you just never read it. 

But now he knows the declaration was for whatever reason, lost in transit. “I should’ve known,” he whispers in the air, the letter crumpling in his grip. Composing himself, he pinches his brows.  

There’s an electronic buzz and a sharp slam of the front door. Judging by the time, you’re home. 

You flop onto your mattress, folding an arm over your head to stop the sun from seeping to your eyes. Vernon’s exhausted you, and you barely got away before he could have any say in it. You need a little space, and some time to think. 

Just as you close the door to your bedroom, it swings open. 

You gape as Jungkook thrusts himself into your bedroom like a deer with horns, looking pale. You follow his gaze, darkened eyes that linger a little too long on your neck again, and you narrow your eyes at him to avert. He looks a little red in the cheeks despite his pallidness, looking like he just got out of bed with messy wavy locks and his signature sweats. Is Jungkook packing for Jisoo again? 

Acutely aware that you smell like sweat and sex, you clutch the blankets closer to your body. “Uh, rude.” 

He looks uncharastically frantic, waving a letter in his hand, “Did you ever read this?” 

“Read what?” you ask, hands reaching out for the envelope. 

“My confession letter,” he blurts, having no shame now that all the gears are running through his head. “I wrote you a letter asking you out, because you said you wanted to collect notes like in Letters to Juliet. But I just found it in Jisoo’s drawer, why would it be there?” 

And all the pent up frustration that never seemed to escape under Vernon’s sheets, the feelings that never seem to subside, all bubble back to the surface. Now that Jungkook knows, there’s no hiding. 

You’re in shock, hands reaching for the letter despite the burn that seeps through your fingertips. Jungkook’s shoulders slump when you do indeed look like it’s your first time seeing this, as if a missing puzzle piece in your timeline has finally been revealed.

“I, I didn’t think you’d write me a letter,” you take the lavender envelope, clutching the letter by your chest like it’s something precious, “that’s so sweet,” you say to yourself.  

It dawns on him, “Wait, you knew about this? I knew something weird was going on.” 

“Only recently,” you frown. 

“And you didn’t think to tell me?” he nearly shouts, causing you to flinch, “no wonder why you were being so weird all this time. How could you let me live the rest of my life knowing this? That my relationship is built on a lie? ” 

“I don’t know,” you suddenly feel very small in your mattress as Jungkook rounds up on you, pulling your desk chair closer to your bed, “because you love Jisoo, of course.” 

“Well obviously that’s not possible,” and while yes a two-year realtionship ending like this is going to hit him hard tonight, he’s focused on you and the fact that you failed to tell him, “somehow I’d find out. Why wait for me to find out on my own?” 

“Because I wanted to protect you!” 

“Protect me,” he scoffs, crossing his arms and sneering at you. It causes you to tense up, feeling the telltale signs of tears bubbling to the surface, “you don’t even want to be friends anymore, y/n. I’ve tried to catch up to you so many times, but you keep leaving me hanging. I know I’ve been a pretty bad friend and I get it if you just feel awkward that I liked you, then that’s a shitty reason.” 

“Have you ever considered that it’s too late to tell you?” you shoot back, sitting up straight, “yes, I admit I should’ve told you earlier and I’m sorry, but it was a lot for me to process to y’know? Jisoo and I haven’t talked properly in weeks!” 

“Oh, so you’ve stopped trying to be friends with Jisoo too, huh? Just like you’re trying to stop being friends with me.” 

“No,” you pinch your brows, “she stopped being friends with me! She doesn’t care about me because she has you,” conflict burns in Jungkook’s gaze, and you only serve to fuel the fire, “she’s tried so hard to not involve me in your relationship.” 

“Just tell me why you’ve really kept this secret instead of saying you want to protect me like a baby—” 

“It’s because I’m in love with you, idiot!” 

You blink and back up against the wall of your bedroom, as if you can’t believe that the words came out of your mouth. 

It’s quiet again. The sour look evaporates from Jungkook’s face as he watches you suppress your sobs on your mattress. The room seems devoid, sucked out of its color as you’ve cleaned up most of your things, the only thing left being some plain grey sheets and a pillow. 

Jungkook’s mind is absolutely reeling, playing back memories from a different point of view. 

“When Jisoo told me she sabotaged our relationship so she could date you, I was so upset and didn’t know what to think,” you manage to place the lavender note on your wooden desk, making sure no tears could mar it. “And I thought I could move on and eventually stay friends with the both of you, but the next day Jisoo put all her attention on you and completely ignored me or any attempt to salvage our friendship. She only told me to forgive herself,” you’re hugging yourself, wrapping the blankets around you like a weak embrace, “so I thought if I cut myself out of the picture and forced myself to move on like I should’ve, everything would’ve been okay.” 

“So, you would’ve rather kept all this pain to yourself?” 

“Yeah,” you give him a teary smile, “because I wanted you to be happy.” 

And with an equally sad smile he murmurs, “But I’m not happy.” 

 Your face falls, and you really look at Jungkook. He’s exhausted as well, slumped in his chair. Has he been trying to grapple along the threads of his relationships, while you’ve been trying to loosen them? 

“What a waste of two years,” he slumps in your chair, letting the pieces click into place, “a relationship built on fake love. I was really trying, y’know. I thought I was going crazy.” 

The three of you have unknowingly been playing a futile game of Cat’s Cradle, a game that no one wins. 

Jungkook looks wistfully out the window, noting the pleasant day that fails to present itself in your tiny room. It feels simultaneously satisfying and bitter when it falls into place, your thoughts finally fitting together for the first time in months. “We could’ve loved each other. For real,” he says, and you silently agree. 

You’re still crying, shaking like a leaf in autumn. Jungkook’s arms hover awkwardly over yours, his warmth palpable despite the fact that he hasn’t touched you yet. With a timid smile you allow consent, and you melt like putty in his arms. 

“Kookie, ‘m so sorry I didn’t tell you sooner,” you murmur into his shoulder, not caring if it hurts when you press your chin into his skin. “I’m sorry you had to find out this way.” 

It’s been so long to have him close like this, the friend you’ve always wanted but never needed. Since college you’ve always imagined a life without him doing just fine, but that doesn’t mean you want to live without him, roommate’s boyfriend or not. 

“I’m sorry too,” he sighs back, “this sucks right now, but we’ll be alright.” 

The two of you sit in your room until it turns dark and the sky muddles into shades of twilight and egg yolk orange. There’s lulls in the conversation, the two of you filling in the gaps and making sense of the mumbo-jumbo that’s been going on in your consciousness up until this point. Your insantities turn sane, and by the time Jisoo’s making her way back inside with the smell of pad thai, Jungkook is ready. With a squeeze to each other and a press of your lips because you don’t know what to say, you tuck yourself in and pretend to fall asleep. 

“Messy, messy, messy,” Vernon sing-songs, knocking his heels against the wall. 

The both of you are sitting upside-down, butts attached to the wall connecting to his mattress and your feet hanging in the air. Your mint floral organza socks pad against his Pink Floyd poster, while his yellow tube socks are heeling against some old Polaroids from college. There’s no prospect of sex today, not when shit just hit the fan. 

Today you and Vernon are just two old friends and very close co-workers. 

“Tell me about it,” you bemoan, frowning at the beige wall, “this whole week’s just been a whole mess. It’s like, warm tuna salad.”

“Gross,” Vernon grimaces at the apt comparison, “so what happens now?” 

You sit up on your elbows, looking down at Vernon’s peaceful expression, “What do you mean?” 

“Like, are you gonna get together with him?”

You snort, flopping back down on his bed. The blankets fluff around you and you inhale the pine scented sheets. “After all that? No.” 

“But you still love him?” 

It must sound dumb to still love him after all this time. You wouldn’t be surprised if Vernon thought you’re silly to still hold a place in your heart for someone who has fifteen million things on their plate now. After all the physicality and the space Vernon gave you in his home, your feelings haven’t wavered. 

Your companion doesn’t bother waiting for your answer, hearing your answer somewhere in the air as he gets up and throws on his denim jacket. Rolling over your stomach you ask, “Where are you going?” 

“Some friends down in printing want to meet up for drinks,” Vernon messes up his hair, making the waves part in that little coiff that makes his jawline look sharp. “I heard Yerin really wanted me to come, so.” 

You can’t help the little middle school coo that comes from your lips, causing Vernon to giggle and throw a pillow at you. “Yerin’s cute!” you declare, remembering the petite girl in overalls who’s all about pops of yellow and violet, “you're into her?” 

“Nah,” Vernon holds up two hats in his hands, gesturing for you to pick one. “Just figured it was a push in the right direction.” 

Crawling out of his bed you stumble in your oversized t-shirt, tucking a finger under your chin as you decide between the emerald bucket hat and the red Ralph Lauren baseball cap. You pull out both hats from his hands and set it down on his vanity, opting to smooth out the flyaways and ringing your fingers through his soft curls. “And what direction would my free-flowing friend be going today?” you ask aloud, “you look better with your hair out,” you declare firmly, “makes you look like a fluffy CEO.” 

He laughs at your silly comparison, and he gently moves your hand away from his hair when you linger a little too close to him. His gaze is solemn as he regards you with a gentle smile, “Keep your distance, I’m tryna get over someone,” he says simply, and your arm falls limp at your sides. 

Your heart thuds in a different direction, your mouth parting but no words coming to the surface. When was the last time you asked about Vernon’s needs, wondered if he was doing alright, making sure you two were on the same page—

“You’re spiraling,” he reads you like a playbook, smoothing down your hair to press a kiss to the crown. Suddenly you feel guilty for not having sparks in your belly, shaming your conscience for not even considering his sacrifices in your self-absorption these past few weeks. “Like I said, I wanted to help you. Stop looking like a kicked puppy, it’s okay to be selfish.” 

With transparent tears the two of you pack up and head to your next destination. Hands ghosting between each other you make your way to the exit of Vernon’s apartment, him to meet up with his friends while you have to unpack your new apartment. With a hug you tell each other you’ll see them on Monday, and as easy as that you go your separate ways.

Hey Pretty Girl—

I kinda wanted to tell you this in person but I know how much you liked Mamma Mia and all those other movies that have grand gestures in writing so I thought hey, might as well shoot my shot on paper. 

Not gonna tell you all the details, because you deserve to hear it in-person. But mayhaps this letter has something to do with how much I like studying with you, watching movies with you, doing absolutely nothing with you and all of that in-between. 

There’s a gift card to our spot attached. Meet me at McDonalds @12 tonight, so I know it’s real 😎

Hopefully yours, Jungkook

P.S. if you haven’t noticed already, I sprayed a little cologne and stole Taehyung’s fancy paper from Muji. That’s how serious I am about you. 

“Joon, we live in a bonsai garden. We’re like giants in a forest.” 

“Can you—can you stop spitting at them? Let them breathe, dammit.” 

“Not my fault they’re so tiny! I literally have to zoom 200% just to get a good look at ‘em.” 

The two of you are huddled in what used to be Namjoon’s balcony, now a sunroom for his succulents and bonsais. Your heart feels pink and swollen with affection as you regard Namjoon with interest, absorbing every bit of information you can as he teaches you how to care for his plants. After all, you’re co-parenting now. 

Having your Wusband co-sign as your roommate for the next year is probably the best decision you have made this year. Everyday is like a breath of fresh air. With Seokjin gone for the year to tour his restaurant franchises, his room is yours for the taking. The two of you are easy going roommates, filling the apartment with color and vigour whether it be in the form of baking sweets or watching Netflix documentaries. 

The only drama you ever have is when you two are having a meltdown over the same work-related issue, as if you two somehow share the same brain cell. It’s significantly less stressful, no need for unnecessary anger when  you have someone as mediating as Namjoon.

After today’s plant lesson, you two go back to the living room to finish up your work for the evening. Another perk of living together is that you can go home at normal work times and continue where you left off with the comfort of your couch and eating a whole pizza pie with no shame. 

Namjoon’s phone pings with a new email from corporate. “We got the new concept for next month’s spread,” he gestures to you with a grandiose wave of his arm, “drumroll please.” 

He pulls up the newsletter from corporate with a flick of his thumb. Your company put out every month’s concept out in an Evite, like every month was a themed party. A stressful, month long work party. In seconds, the page loaded and you’re met with next month’s title bathed in electronic glitter. 

The Most Beautiful Moment in Life: Class of Youth

The two of you say silent, absorbing the concept like a cookie to milk. It’s a personal spread this month, a real treat for the team to show off their normal non-professional life. A spread that reveals the masters behind the ink and text. Last year’s personal spread was about the staff’s vacation destinations, but this year’s is much more intimate. You can imagine all the ideas that will be thrown around on Monday’s meeting: pinning down shared ideas like Throwback Thursdays, late night munchie runs, drunk stories, and all the crazy college nostalgia that you’ve been trying to avoid as of late. 

But now it’s presented to you in a gold chalice, and while you’re sick of the past you think it’s about time to face it. You’re excited to tackle the dark monster you’ve suppressed since Jungkook and Jisoo’s breakup. 

“Did I ever tell you I was president of my university’s Mock Trial?” 

“No, I always thought you’d be president of the Comparative Literature Club or whatever. But Mock Trial is equally as nerdy.” 

“I’ll have you know Mock Trial got me tons of action,” he winked, “made me very convincing.” 

“Gross,” you sneer, “so that’s what your spread will be about? How the co-editor of the Arts & Entertainment section managed to bag with his skills from Mock Trial?” 

“Nah, I went on a penniless journey with Jin during spring break. Six days around Malta.” 

“That does sound so you,” you sigh, fingers slipping between the cracked screen as you mull over the overly happy Evite, “sounds like a cool story.” 

“I know that look,” Namjoon quips, snatching his phone under his nose, “don’t overthink your spread just yet, it’s still the weekend. Now to more important things, what do you want from Taco Bell?”

And because you can’t refuse the combined efforts of nachos and Namjoon’s dimples, you relent for the night and tack the unmade idea to the next workday. 

Unfortunately the next workday is just as disheartening. Today’s work meeting is the antithesis of icing on the cake. While your college life isn’t anything remarkable, you didn’t think it was a painfully dull time. With every passing moment and every excited co-worker throwing memories back and forth like ping pong balls, the more you felt inferior by competing with their amazing memories. 

“Who can even afford Aruba at twenty-one,” you mutter under your breath, stalking back to your cubicle. 

Filling up a whole spread is daunting to you, the thought of Victoria popping her head in your cubicle to ask what you’ve got for the day is practically eating you from the inside out. Maybe your college life was in actuality, super boring? You have no crazy drug trips to tell, any vacations that gave you a life-changing perspective, or an epic love story. 

“What’cha got there, partner?” 

The third musketeer of your editing team’s caramel eyes peer into your cubicle, causing you to jump in your chair. Vernon wheels around, chair and all to push you into your already cramped space. His gold button up gleams in the sunlight, effectively blinding you. 

“If by something you mean nothing, then yeah I got nothing,” you frown, spinning around your chair. “What are you writing about?” 

A fond smile melts onto your friend’s face, and you can’t help returning a smile that mirrors his own. You two have fallen back into a good place, as far as you know. He’s still easy, simple, sweet Vernon. When you dropped some boxes off in coloring, you heard that Vernon and Yerin have recently started seeing each other. 

“Thought of the idea as soon as the Evite came out. It’s more of a photo spread, but I’m gonna write about my study abroad in NYU,” Vernon ticks a pencil on his forehead, “a self-identity piece talking about how I felt like, not-white around my family n’stuff. And then felt not-Asian at the same time, s’complicated but I think I can make it work.” 

“Deep,” you pat his shoulder caringly, knowing that Big Hit is a good outlet for these kinds of subjects, “alright City Slicker, since you’re so full of ideas then tell me what to write about.” 

Vernon sits up straight, regarding you with narrowed eyes, “Aren’t you gonna write about your little love triangle with Jisoo and Jungkook?” and it seems like he’s already storyboarded the idea in his head, gesturing to the air as if he’s writing down a timeline, “I can see the headline now: How to Steal a Heart,” he’s grinning, nodding fervently as you cross your arms in distaste. 

“Vern, are you suggesting that I exploit Jisoo and Jungkook’s personal lives?” while the journalism business didn’t pride itself on sincerity, it did feel wrong to drag in your personal life to that extent. 

“Babe, you don’t understand. You have the perfect slice of life story. Everyone’s writing about expensive vacations and that one time they got cross-faded and ended up in Busan,” he squeezes your hand, “but your story, it’s relatable. It’s romantic. It’s angsty. It has closure. No one’s gonna be able to relate to an impulse spending on daddy’s money to Aruba. But first loves? Unrequited romance and all that ish? Everyone can speak to that. And you’re a beautiful writer, they’ll eat up that story like honey.” 

“I don’t know, it still doesn’t feel right.” 

“Change up the names, twist the story,” he offers easily, knowing you’d put up a fight, “besides, it’s not like you’re planning on talking to Jisoo or Jungkook ever again,” you open your mouth to retort, but Vernon’s phone beeps to the Star Wars theme song and he’s flying out of his chair. “Shoot, gotta go help Joon upstairs. Just think about it, okay? Good luck!” and he’s kicking his chair out with a brown loafer, leaving you with breathing room in your cubicle. 

Five seconds later Vernon is jogging back, pointing a finger at you, “And if you do choose to write it, you have to add that Jisoo copped your McDonalds gift card. Like, who does that shit? Couldn’t she have just given it to you and say it was from her and not Jungkook? Seriously fucked up.” 

For the next ten or so minutes you mull. Out of all the memorable college events you’ve participated in, the largest one by far is your (now defunct and debatable) friendship with Jisoo, and your (un)requited love for Jungkook. Reluctantly, you must admit Vernon has a sharp idea, busting in like a hero and offering you the most writable piece on a silver platter. 

It doesn’t feel morally right just to start writing, because ultimately you can’t feel comfortable until you get the consent of Jungkook. While you don’t want to touch Jisoo with a ten-meter pole, you do want to start talking to Jungkook again now that the waters have calmed.

Your life has moved gracefully up until this point, and you’d like to start being friends with him again. Decision made, you pull out your phone and make an important call.

“Hey Yoongi,” you say nervously. Min Yoongi is Kim Namjoon’s equivalent, Jungkook’s Wusband and former upperclassmen in college. 

Said man hums noncommittally on the other line, “Whaddya want, it’s been awhile.” 

You stifle a giggle at his apathetic attitude, knowing he’s someone who wastes no time in getting straight to the point. “I just wanna make sure Jungkook’s address is still the same? I know it’s been a couple months, but I need to send him something and I wanna make sure it gets to him ASAP because—”

“Because last time something was sent, your crazy roommate intervened and Jungkook ended up in a two-year half-toxic relationship? Yeah, let’s make sure that doesn’t happen again.”

“Yoongi,” you say slowly, “where are you?” 

“Working in the studio,” he tuts, “Jungkook says hi, by the way.” 

Typical, cat’s out of the bag. With a roll of our eyes you reply, “Thanks for outing me, Yoongi. Talk to you later.” 

“And y/n? Jungkook says he’s waiting.” 

With a stupid smile slapped onto your face, you hang up the phone and pull out your stationary kit from under your desk. You pluck out a vermillion red envelope, a color so bold and begging to be seen, you know it can’t possibly get lost in transit. Feeling a little bit like a high schooler as you pull out a glitter jelly pen, you get to writing. 

Hey Pretty Boy...

Jungkook and Jisoo are no longer together, evidently. 

Their social media runs in different directions, with Jisoo sporting absolute elegance in her work at her family-owned boutique. Her posts are full of shiny outfits and soulless gazes, betraying any pinch of emotion she may have felt over these past few months. Her profile is wiped of any personal posts, all traces of you and Jungkook evaporated from her page. You must admit that she looks good, like a real fashion mogul, but only at the surface level. 

Conversely, Jungkook is thriving. It’s evident. Normally he isn’t the type of guy to post so frequently, his habits being often sporadic and limited to sweaty gym stories. But whenever you scroll, it’s pictures of him smiling. Big bunny teeth broken into a genuine, full-bellied laugh. Cute selfies of him and his co-workers. You notice two familiar co-workers in those posts, Irene and Seulgi, two beautiful women Jisoo always felt intimidated by whenever she ranted to you. You conclude positively that Jungkook doesn’t feel tethered and can hang out with all the friends he wants, female and male alike. Jungkook looks free, and you’re happy for him. 

It’s another Instagram-worthy moment tonight at McDonalds, where you and Jungkook proposed to meet each other at 12AM. 

This time, the letter makes it to its desired destination. You make sure of that because this time you hand-deliver it, slipping under his apartment door knowing he lives alone and no one would be able to access it except him. 

You’re parked in an obscure corner, but you can see that Jungkook is currently having a great time with his co-workers for an after work meal. Yoongi is unbothered on his phone, while Jimin and Seulgi are taking turns throwing fries into each other’s mouth. Jungkook is squished between them, scrunching his nose cutely as he tries not to get in the fray of their fry-war. 

Your phone pings, and you laugh at what pops up on the screen.

Yoongi: come inside, u loser. 

You: can’t ur friend group makes me nervous stop being so dang cute

You: dw i’ll wait, it’s only 11:50

Instead of replying, Yoongi puts his phone down and resumes eating. In turn you pick a playlist, deciding that “summer time high mix✨✨✨” is a theme you need to subscribe to for the rest of the weekend. 

Busying yourself by sending some texts to Namjoon and checking some emails, you relax in your seat as you let your brain turn to sludge for the weekend. You’re tired, eyes glazing over as you watch Yoongi elbow Jungkook harshly, forcing him to look out the foggy window. 

Jungkook’s eyes light up like it’s Christmas Eve, but instead of Christmas lights it's your car’s lowlights. The graphic designer  pays no mind to his friends as they wish him goodbye and goodluck, throwing on his jacket with a wave. 

The night air whizzes by, Jungkook’s floppy black strands bouncing with each step as he bounds to your car. He throws your door open, bringing in the cold air as he regards you as easily as an old friend would. 

“Hi,” he chirps, placing his tattooed palms by the air vent, “c’mon, let’s order.” 

“You know, you could’ve ordered inside and brought it in here.” 

“Yeah but then it would take longer to get to you,” the cheeky grin that Jungkook throws at you is unmistakable, “c’mon, get out the car and let’s switch.” 

“Huh?” 

“You look tired, you didn’t come back from the office again, did you?” 

“I did tonight,” you say, “I just really wanted to get the soft copy of the article done and—” 

“Out, out!” Jungkook clicks your seatbelt off and he’s coming out of the passenger side, opening your car and pulling you out by the hand, “c’mon, I’ll drive.” 

You shake your head, hiding your smile in your hand as you let Jungkook do what he wants. Normally you’d be insulted that anyone suggests they should drive your car but Jungkook would always drive you around, saying he loved long rides. Above all, if you could trust anyone to drive your car, Jungkook is at the top of the list. 

Buckling in, you bite the inside of your cheek as Jungkook easily pulls out of the parking spot one-handed. His jacket is pulled up to his elbows, exposing his veins as he expertly whirls the wheel in the direction of the drive-thru. Since college he’s always looked very attractive driving.  

Doesn’t mean you have to act like you’re still in college. You tamp those feelings down, knowing that your article probably has you feeling stuck in time. 

“—coming along?” 

“Wha?” 

“I said, how’s the spread coming along?” 

“It’s pretty much done, I think. I’ll send you the hard copy when it’s ready,” you tap your fingers against the dashboard, “but are you sure you’re okay with me writing it? I know I’m using a pseudonym and everything for you two but I still feel weird—” 

“It’s fine, I think it’s a good thing,” and you still squirm in your seat when he flashes you a genuine smile, “I mean, it kinda is a funny story and I think it’s good for both of us. Like closure, y’know? Moving on and—hi, can I get two Oreo McFlurrys and a large fry? Thanks!” he pulls out his wallet to scan the total on the e-reader.  “I mean, didn’t it feel good writing it?”

“Yeah,” you replied honestly, relaxing in your seat, “like, college was fun and all, but when Jisoo kinda ruined all that… after awhile I didn’t think it was ruined after all, y’know? I still made amazing friends and ended up where I wanted to be. I want to show the readers that shit happens, and that’s okay. And if things are really meant to be, they’re meant to be.” 

The summer playlist hums in the background as Jungkook pulls up to the pick-up window. He thanks the worker and hands you the tray, and you make quick work to put the fries in the first cup holder for optimal sharing. He doesn’t park at McDonalds, but instead smoothly pulls out of the restaurant into the direction of his apartment. It isn’t a particularly long drive, but you figure it would be easier for Jungkook to go home first if you’re already parked at his complex. 

“What do you mean by that?” Jungkook parks in the driveway of his apartment, taking his McFlurry from your hands. 

“Mean by what?” 

“If things are really meant to be, they’re meant to be.” 

“Well, we’re here now, right?” 

Jungkook pops his spoon in, swallowing vanilla and a silly smile through his coral pink lips, “We’re here now,” he repeats. 

The night air is cool and your conversation is warm. You promise Jungkook that you’ll send him the final copy of your spread as soon as it’s done, and you two eagerly deviate away from the past and focus on the present. 

You can’t help the eagerness that flows between you, as if you’ve never spent time apart like this and it’s only now that you’re reuniting. It must be absence that makes the heart grow fonder, because you swell with affection and you find Jungkook’s presence sweeter than any kind of ice cream. 

Are you dating now? Maybe. You and Jungkook are going on dates, everything without the title. McFlurry runs, marathons of HGTV’s Design on a Dime, having lunch at each other’s respective buildings with the Wusbands. Whether these dates are exclusive or not is unknown, but you figure the question will present yourself one way or another. 

You’re in a good place right now, potential relationship or not. After all, your priorities are simultaneously positive and in order: family, work, friends, and any potential romantic trysts are at the very bottom. You could kiss the cover of this month’s issue (and trust, you have kissed your own copy multiple times) if it is not for the fact that this specific issue is for Jungkook. 

So, romantic trysts and friends have a tendency to flip-flop on your priority list, but only because it’s Jungkook. 

Unsurprisingly, there’s no guilt knowing that you’re dating your former best friend's ex-boyfriend. 

After a much deserved early work day, Namjoon and the crew arrange a hearty happy-hour filled with good food and enough relaxation to last the weekend. With your combined successes, your team felt like they made the best issue yet. At the heart of it, The Most Beautiful Moment in Life: Class of Youth became a reckoning of each other’s young life. Despite the love and the growth that occurred from your college years up until this point, you’re glad to close that chapter and move forward. 

You did not tell Jungkook when the issue would come out, so you think it’ll be a fun surprise for him when he sees it magically show up at his apartment. Bending down you move to slip the issue under his door, one hand pushing it under while one hand braces against the frame to steady your balance. 

Just as the shiny cover glides under the door it swings open, and you fall flat on Jungkook’s feet. 

Being the little shit he is, he simply giggles at the blunder, looking at you with excited eyes. “I’ve been waiting for you,” he says. 

“Creepy as hell, Jeon,” you mutter under your breath, brushing the dirt off your aqua pencil skirt. Looking at him from your spot on the floor and his large height, you grimace. “You look like a middle-aged serial killer looking outside your peephole.” 

“Now, we know that’s not true.” he finally offers his hand, easily pulling you up to your feet. You follow him into his kitchen, where he’s cutting up fresh fruit. He throws your issue on the counter, gentle enough so it doesn’t slide off the granite. He gestures to himself with both hands, “me, a dashingly handsome late twenty-something in Nike sweats who can bench-press two of you? Totally not a middle-aged serial killer.” 

“It’s in the eyes,” you chastise, “you look crazy.” 

“Maybe I’m just crazy excited to see you,” he says with a cheeky grin. 

You try your best not to choke on your spit at the cheeseball comment, throwing a blackberry in your mouth. Savoring the burst of tart flavor that fills your mouth, you wait for Jungkook to plate the fruit before meeting him on the couch. He’s holding a prettily arranged plate of berries, bananas, and mango with a huge dollop of whipped cream in the middle. In his other hand is Big Hit’s magazine. 

Throwing your blazer on the couch’s arm you don’t hesitate to cuddle up next to him, eagerly waiting for him to read your spread. 

The cover gazes back at the two of you like a reflection. The entirety of the staff is posed on the cover, made to look like a class photo. Some of you are holding balloons in your respective school colors, many of you grouping up with whoever happened to go to college together. You and Vernon are wearing matching university sweaters with silly grins on your faces. In the middle of the issue is the editor-in-chief, Victoria Song holding a placard that reads: Class of Youth. 

Jungkook spares you a glance from the corner of his eye, your head naturally tucked into his shoulder. With an exaggerated sigh, he fiddles through the glossy pages, “Hmm, which one should I read first?” 

“Of course you’ll read mine first,” you pout. 

“Ah, Namjoon’s looks really fun. Or Vernon’s? New York looks pretty cool,” he flips to a random page, “wait, Yerin’s spread is a Korean cookbook! I definitely want to make some tuna rice...”  

“Jungkook,” you whine, “read mine.” 

“I don’t know,” he taps his finger on his lip, “I mean, I pretty much know your spread because I’m already in it. It would be kind of redundant to read it.” 

“Kook, you’re being mean,” you glower, rubbing your cheek against his soft sweater. He’s just so damn comfy. 

“I’m kidding,” he tugs at your cheek, “where’s the table of contents, first page?”

“I’m on page eighty-three.” 

You speed up the process like an impatient child, leaning over to brush the pages to the desired spread. You even dog-earred it, a habit that drives Jungkook crazy as he immediately fiddles to iron out the crease. 

“Are you gonna read it to me too, mom?” he teases. 

“Okay fine! I’ll be quiet, but don’t take too long.” 

“Yes ma’am.” 

Eyes fluttering, you let Jungkook take his time to absorb your piece. A roommate by any other (rude) name: the lost letter. A cheesy, gimmicky title that Victoria insisted upon that you had no choice but relent to. The rest of the spread thankfully has a very authentic edge to it, your story laced with photos of you and Jungkook, your internship with Vernon, and most importantly, a scan of the lavender letter that got left in the past. 

Jungkook’s not silent through his read-through, either. He laughs at all the right parts, fueling your ego as his smile grows at your favorite lines. While he doesn’t directly engage in conversation, his positive energy is enough for you to make you feel like you’ve done your job right. It’s one thing to write about unknown celebrities and unnamed artists, but for people like Jungkook, the validation is personal. 

“It’s beautiful,” Jungkook says when he’s read it thrice through, running his thumb over a picture of you. “Really organic. Really, real.”

“Really?”

“Really,” he chuckles, having run out of adverbs. “It’s funny, too. I liked your little internal monologue. I wish I knew how you felt back then.” 

“I wish you did, too.” 

You’re quietly munching on a strawberry, looking over a polaroid Jungkook took. It was  sometime in the beginning of senior year, where you’ve fallen asleep on his mattress, drool drying on your mouth. Normally you’d be opposed to having such unflattering, grainy pictures amongst your writing, but it encapsulates the youth you’ve tried so hard to chase away. 

“How do you feel?” Jungkook says, switching out the magazine for the plate of fruit, placing it on his side. 

“Feel great, actually,” you muse, smiling to yourself. By no means are you a hero writing some grand gesture in an entertainment magazine, but you feel like you’ve saved yourself. You’ve savored your youth in four thousand words, cutting out the poison and keeping the moment as sweet as it can be. 

“I’m proud of you,” he reaches to ruffle your hair, and you don’t even get mad when it tousles out of your pinned style. 

Reveling in the attention, you simply close your eyes and feed yourself a handful of blueberries. 

“Love that I make money, but I definitely miss college from time to time,” Jungkook stretches, jostling you out of your comfortable position. “Like I remember Taehyung and I would take turns bringing backpacks to the dining hall so we could stuff fruit in it for later.”

“Yeah, but as much as I loved college I wouldn’t go back,” you nod to yourself, “I’m happy where I am now.” 

“What about when we stayed up for midnight breakfast? The dining hall was filled to the brim with food. Remember when I tried to eat a whole stack of pancakes?” 

“Jungkook…” 

“Or when our classes got cancelled and we went to Lotte World? You ate way too much funnel cake and I had to carry you to the car!” 

“Jungkook—” 

“And that one time we snuck out to the music hall’s rooftop?” words gush out of Jungkook’s mouth like a waterfall, unable to relent, “that’s when I realized I liked you. I liked you so much, I tried to tell you that night but choked—”

“Jungkook!” and he immediately zips up, frowning. You straighten up, on your knees as you reach over to run your hands through his onyx tresses, moving the styled strands to the back of his pierced ears, “Jungkook,” you repeat softly, “I’ve heard all these stories, I was there for most of them. As much as I love the past… can we talk about something else?” you give him a small, tentative smile to show him you’re not mad, but a little uncomfortable at his reminiscing. 

He leans into your touch, pressing your palm against the soft swell of his warm cheek. “Okay,” he agrees, resting one hand on your thigh. 

You’re roped in his gaze, and you have to force yourself to breathe when Jungkook moves closer to you. He hooks a leg behind his back, and another across his lap. A cool breeze kisses your inner thighs when your skirt exposes your cotton underwear. You should be embarrassed but instead you’re fixated, unable to understand what he’s trying to accomplish. 

“Then I’m gonna talk about the future,” Jungkook traps you between the couch, his thumb running hot circles to where your skirt has hiked up. It exposes a slip of the thigh that Jungkook has seen a million times. He’s seen you walking around your apartment in a large shirt, ridden up to your boyshorts. It’s different now, you feel exposed and tingly, thrumming with excitement. “I like you, obviously anticipated news and old news. I can’t stop thinking about how much I want to go on dates with you, re-watch Avatar, grumble when I force you to come to the gym with me,” he bumps noses with you when you scrunch yours, “I wanna be with you. Heck, I’ve even cleared space in my spare room so you’d have closet space for all your fancy designer suits if you ever need it.”

“You cleared space?” you manage to choke out. Visions of a shared apartment roll through your brain. Cooking meals together, having two toothbrushes side by side, and waking up to his face. 

“Of course I did. Do you know how financially attractive you are?” he says lightheartedly, “you’re a sexy working woman and it’s crazy to imagine you’d want to settle for me and my little apartment. But I have to try now because if I don’t, it’ll be too late.” 

“That’s not true,” you retort, “you’re not someone I’d settle for. I want you, and no one else.” 

He chuckles, running a thumb over your cheek. “Then what are we waiting for? Your key’s hiding under the mat.” 

“Jungkook…” on the tip of your tongue lays the words you’re going too fast but it doesn’t make its way to the air. 

“But do you really think it’s too fast?” he reads your face clearly, “these feelings never went anywhere. They were locked away, sure. And I loved her,” he can’t even say the name, not when you’re warm and flush against him, “but I loved our friendship more.”

“I… I don’t know what to say,” you breathe, letting the cogs in your brain roll until sparks develop. 

“You don’t have to say anything,” he concedes, “I just wanted to let you know. Could’ve done the letter thing all over again and let the past repeat itself. I know Namjoon wouldn’t hide a love letter for two years, but if I left another damn letter he’d definitely make a copy and tease me about it.” 

You snort, pressing your forehead to his. You’re practically buried in the couch now, tingly and vibrating with happiness. “And I’m not going to leave you hanging. I do want to say something,” and he looks at you expectantly, licking the leftover berry juice on his lips, nearly making you miss your train of thought, “I like you too,” you say, the other L-word is also applicable, but you feel like that phrase is reserved for another time, “I want to show you off on work vacations, bring you along as my date and show them you’re my muse,” you confess, “I wanna play video games with you ‘till 2AM, and eat ice cream in the comfort of our apartment instead of our cars because we’re too stubborn to admit we don’t wanna go home without each other.” 

Jungkook absolutely preens at the affection, sending you a heart melting smile that has your stomach doing backflips.

“Jungkook, I want to fall in love with you again.” 

Your squeal of surprise is swallowed by Jungkook’s lips, tasting of mangoes and berries as strong hands cup your backside, easily lifting you onto his lap. You plop under his strong thighs, feeling them flex against yours. The both of you are pouring in this kiss, raining with promises and hopes for a future with each other. His taste is concentrated, and you can feel the devotion practically injected in his embrace. 

When he pulls away his lips are cherry-red and shiny, looking up at you through clear coffee eyes. “This isn’t a dream, right?” he looks at you up and down, unable to decipher fact from fiction, “because I distinctly remember two wet dreams that involve you looking like this.” 

Looking down, you heat at the disarray you’re in. Hair wild and parted in different wavelengths, tired of the day’s efforts. Your slightly sheer dress-shirt is rumpled, the lace collar opened with two popped buttons revealing your cleavage, and your skirt is stretched so tight that it’s ruched all the way up your thighs. Sprawled across Jungkook’s lap, you’re dangerously close to something long and hard. 

Emboldened, you clutch at Jungkook’s collar, pulling him closer. 

“Show me what happens in your dream,” you whisper into his ear, barely brushing your clothed core against his crotch, “maybe we can make it come true tonight.” 

You can’t see his face, but you feel something dark and sensual overtake him. The grip on your ass tightens, a delicious pain that has you pressing your breasts against him and nipping on his ear, your tongue darting sensually through the cold silver hoops that dart through his skin. 

Within seconds, he rips you away from his neck and demands, “Open.” 

Dazed, you barely get a centimeter of your mouth open when Jungkook presses something cold and sugary against your lips. Whipped cream. You manage to take a small bite of the tart strawberry that he holds by the viridian stem, rolling the flavor between your mouth as Jungkook paints the leftover whipped cream over your lips. Once he’s satisfied he then creates a white trail that leads to your cleavage. 

Better than any dream, his eyes drink you in like the last glass of water in a desert. Your lips are swollen and parted like a baby kitten, covered in the creamy confection. “So pretty,” he exhales, his hot tongue licking from your cleavage to your lips, swallowing the flavor of you and strawberry juice, “such a pretty girl you are, and all mine.” 

“Yours,” you submit easily, rolling your hips against his. 

At that moment you think you’re meant to fall in love this way. You can’t imagine the shy, fumbly Jungkook and your equally confused self waltzing around a relationship when you barely had your lives together. The two of you still had growing to do. The wait is certainly worth it, because as you feel his arms tighten around you, you’re sure this love will stay strong.

It’s difficult for you to find a rhythm at first, what with Jungkook’s strength and need to be satiated, both of you are sloppy but the friction is nothing less than delicious. Your finger reaches over to swipe at the leftover cream on the plate, and you press your finger to Jungkook’s mouth, and he immediately complies. A dollop of sweet cream leaks out of his lips and your panties dampen further when you feel his tongue lick you clean, imagaining how good it would feel if it was your pussy he was licking. 

Your mouth waters at the feeling of his dick lining up against your core, as sticky as the strawberry juice that clings to your bodies. 

“C-can I make a confession? I—oh, Jungkook…” your mind is all fuzzed up when he snaps his hips against yours, causing you to shamelessly bounce on his length. 

“Yeah?” 

“I… I like it when you use all your strength like that,” his hips slow as your words sink in, but you don’t mind as it gives you time to make a long drag along the entirety of his member. “Everytime you pull me up when I trip, or you come back from a workout, I like it when you carry me around like I weigh nothing.” 

“Do—do you think about it a lot?” he grunts, and you stifle a moan when he does a slow, hard drag against your wet folds. “Tell the truth.” 

“It’s, it’s embarrassing,” you whimper, unable to think straight with the amount of stimuli you’re receiving.  

“Please, baby.” 

“Yes mm—oh! I do,” you try to get the words out as quickly as you can. He stops moving, and you groan in frustration so you just lay it all out on the table. “I, I love it when you hold me in your strong arms. And, ah, uh w-henever you come back from the gym you just look so sexy fresh from the shower. Sometimes I think about how you’re too damn nice for your own good but I bet you’d be so rough in bed.” 

“Really?” and then he’s shoving you onto the couch, air brushing against your bare thighs as your back hits the beige throw pillows. He’s hovering, dark eyes starting from the tip of your toes to your damp lips. “You like it when I manhandle you? Throw you around like a little doll?” 

“All that strength, and for what?” you try to keep your snappy remarks in check, but it’s hard when he’s pressing his straining dick against your thigh, weeping and needy. 

“You’re not gonna be joking about my strength anytime soon, baby,” emblazoned, he easily throws your leg over his shoulder, pushing your panties to the side to let your wetness leak out and onto his fingers, “are you gonna complain or be a good girl?” 

“Yes, I’m ah—” you wince when he inserts a finger, “I’ll be good for you,” 

“My good girl,” he revels in the way you melt under his touch, your previous sarcasm quickly dissolving into a puddle. You always had an inkling that Jungkook would be a sneaky fox in bed, all that muscle hidden behind a kind smile and a penchant for tea with milk and honey. 

Jungkook slips in another finger, stretching you and preparing you for what’s to come. He’s scissoring you at a sensible pace that has you squirming and wanting more. To prevent you from shimmying off the couch he holds you down with his free hand, and you love the way he practically feeds you to the couch, hands dancing over your neck as he shoves you further into the furniture. 

“You look so gorgeous,” he says, causing you to moan and keen at his attention, “you’re such a strong, gorgeous woman. Having you sprawled out like this, ready to do whatever I want to you is so fucking hot.” 

“I’m—I’m only weak for you Jungkook,” you say honestly, tears pricking when he dips another finger. The stretch burns deliciously, and your folds eagerly swallow him up until you’re filled to the brim. Your fingers or toys cannot compare to flesh, and you sigh in relief when you see his inked fingers pick up the pace once more. 

“You’re damn right,” Jungkook husks, and with a grain of love he murmurs in your ear, “I’m only weak for you, too.” 

And that’s when he snaps, thumb rolling against your bud as he slams his other fingers against you, going at a brutal pace. You cry out, not caring whether his neighbors hear as he pulls you back and forth through pleasure and pain. 

“T-too much, Kookie,” you mewl, your hand warbling to find his, “I, ah, ‘m gonna cum!” 

“That’s the plan,” he only goes faster, stretching your band further and further before your desired high is reached. His hand trails up to force your chin straight, looking up at him, “let go for me, baby. Wanna feel your pussy clench around my fingers.” 

In seconds, you gush. It has you in a slight panic, drunk on endorphins as you try to lift your head up but Jungkook’s hand is firmly pressing you on your shoulder as he fingers you efficiently through your high, the wet squelching sounds only increasing with your cries. His lap is drenched in your arousal, along with his chin and lips glistening with your essence. 

He finally releases you when you’re practically shaking, his hands sticky and creamy. You moan when he shamelessly licks them within your view, making sure to wrap his tongue around his ink-stained digits. 

“I,” your mouth is dry when you feel the dampness that hits your bottom, “I’ve never, I don’t remember ever—” 

Your babbles are lost between your throat and Jungkook’s tongue, shoved deep into your mouth. Tasting your arousal has you practically vibrating in your place, as you two rut against each other like hungry bunnies. 

“God, you’re amazing,” he says between pecks, kissing away your face of any tears you may have pricked, “Amazing, adorable, absolutely beautifulIadoreyousoso—” 

“Pleasepleaseplease,” you press your hips up, wiggling for more attention, “please fuck me, Jungkook.” 

You can’t help the witchy, satisfied smile when Jungkook’s eyes darken to a thick coal, “Anything for you,” he murmurs, swinging your legs between his arms as he lifts you like a feather. 

On his lap again, you soon accept that the way you two mesh like puzzle pieces is one of your favorite positions as it gives you both equal space to ravish each other. 

Just when your hand trails to the waistband of his boxer briefs and you’re rolling your thumb over its collected moisture, the moment is shattered when the doorbell rings. You jump in his arms, unprepared for your moment to be interrupted. 

He groans into the crown of your hair, and you soften in his relaxed hold, “I ordered us pizza,” he nearly forgot. 

Perking your head up to look at him you regard him innocently, as if you didn’t release a waterfall on his sweats two seconds ago. “You got us pizza?” 

“I knew you’d be coming over tonight,” he’s pouting into your neck, regretting ever having called the pizza guy if he knew this would happen, “Victoria posted the publish date on Twitter. I just didn’t think,” he gestures vaguely to the mess on his pants, “this would happen.”  

“Damn, and here I thought I was being sneaky,” you chuckle, flicking his ear playfully. 

He gives you an uncharacteristically subby whine, shamelessly upset he has to let you go so fast after he’s given you your first of many highs. Before he weakens further under your beauty, he unceremoniously shoves you off. “Sorry, pretty girl,” you melt at the easy way his pet name rolls off his lips, “can you wait in my room for a bit so I can pay the delivery guy? I don’t want them to see you like this.” 

“But I want to eat pizza,” you declare stubbornly, standing up to button your blouse and pull down your skirt. 

Before you could fasten one button or pull down one centimeter, his hand darts out to snatch your wrist away from your body. It doesn’t hurt much, but it causes your body to heat in more places than one. He’s sexy like this, demanding your attention. “No,” he rumbles definitively, “my room. Now.” 

“Why?” you throw your hands in the air, yelping when he slaps your ass. He makes sure to make it sting, cupping you fully. 

“Because,” he says firmly, “you don’t get to eat until I eat,” you whimper when his hand reaches to cup your sex, panties wet and cold without his warmth as he pushes you in the direction of his bedroom. 

Oh, you can’t wait for both of you to eat tonight. 

some time later.

“Ohmygod the view is beautiful!” Krystal, who works in advertisement, squeals. “No filter needed!” 

“Alright alright, make room Princess,” Namjoon teases. With a bump to Krystal’s tiny hips Namjoon shoves you two across the pavilion, putting his arm around you once he finds the perfect angle, “Umji, can you get a pic of me and my Work Wife? I want this on the Big Hit Instagram!” 

You hold your straw sunhat down from the salty wind, smiling beautifully as Umji takes multiple pictures of you and Namjoon from her Nikon. Another successful year under your notch, ending with a successful work retreat. 

“Namjoon, can I take a picture with my actual wife now?” 

“We’re not married, Jungkook,” you chastise, patting the chest of Namjoon’s floral printed Hawaiian shirt so he can switch. Instantly, Jungkook slides up next to you like a picture perfect stock model piece, and you wrap your arms around his trim waist, “we’re not even engaged.”

“You say that like it’s a bad thing,” he pouts, looking over the pavilion and adjusting the both of you so there’s a good amount of you and the resort in the background. The sun may be scathingly hot, but it looks beautiful perched over the crystal clear waters. “Namjoon, you got it easy,” Jungkook says when he hands him your phone, “every angle is our good angle, so you can’t mess it up.” 

Being the honest man he is, Namjoon knows better and doesn’t say anything to that. Instead he shoots down whatever pineapple-flavored concoction is offered to him on a silver platter, and starts shooting. 

“Is this swimsuit new?” Jungkook murmurs into your ear between shots, flicking your little red number by the strap connecting the back, “because I didn’t see this in the luggage.” 

You smile big, pearly whites as Namjoon demands to pop out your butt and work it, pressing your body closer to Jungkook’s. “Tiny enough so I could hide it in my purse,” you reply proudly, voice low for only each other’s ears, “why, surprised?” 

“Definitely not prepared,” his fingers dig deliciously in your bare flesh, “would Victoria fire you if she catches us doing it in the cabana?” 

Amused that your boyfriend now shares your combined awe and fear of your boss, you twist his nipple lightly. He yelps, and from Namjoon’s guaff he’s definitely got that on camera. “We didn’t come to Boracay to fuck in the cabana.” 

“Then the hotel room?” 

Namjoon hands you back your phone when he considers his job done, letting you and Jungkook have some alone time. You wave your phone in his face, trying to get him to focus on the task at hand. You wanted to post some cute pictures of you and your boyfriend, one to impress the family back home and the Big Hit interns back in Seoul who are absolutely pining for your position. 

“Jungkook, they have the water ski thing where you can flip in the water mid air! Doesn’t that sound fun? Or we can go scuba diving, have Filipino food, or get massages. LIterally, we’re on Big Hit’s dime, and the first thing you want to do is go back to the room?” 

“Yes,” he pouts petulantly, leaning into the hollow of your ear and whispering, “got a chub on.” 

Discreetly so, your hands brush against his navy trunks and you note yes, he’s half hard. “No!” you shake your head definitively, pushing him out of your arms. You’re not letting sex get in the way of your hard-earned vacation, you’re on company dime and you intend to milk every peso of it. “Namjoon, take him away!” 

You blow him a kiss and follow another group who’s decided to go eat, watching your boyfriend get dragged away by Namjoon’s long arms. Krystal, who’s been mildly watching the whole ordeal in-between taking selfies, looks at you in awe, “You got it good, bosslady,” she says, and you happily link arms with her in the direction of the restaurants. 

You and Jungkook definitely have it good. You don’t see him until dinnertime, looking utterly relaxed as he sips on a mango-muddled concoction. He must’ve gotten a couples massage with Namjoon, cute. Splitting up was definitely a good idea, by the time your meal arrives the two of you are practically leaning against each other, telling each other what events you need to do tomorrow and events you think will be fun to do together. 

“Joon,” Jungkook is throwing an arm over your Wusband’s shoulder, mildly tipsy. The image is adorable, as Jungkook long ago previously confessed that he felt a little jealous of Namjoon’s work relationship with you before you were dating. Now, it feels like they’re best friends and you’re third-wheeling. “What do you think about having halo-halo tomorrow? It’s like bingsu but with a bunch of other good stuffs. There’s red bean, mango, ube, ice cream…” 

Just as Jungkook begins his tirade of dessert ingredients, you pull up your phone to check on your social media. You smile back at your profile, seeing your latest Instagram post at the very top of the feed. Not to flex, but the two of you look pretty smokin’ since you’ve been keeping up with Jungkook’s insistence to join him at the gym. Jungkook and you are leaning against the pristine veranda, overlooking the clear blue water and a cloudless sky. The smiles you two sport are genuine and utterly in love. 

You scroll down the comments, most of them filled with sweet messages but one of them has you doing a double take. 

@sooyaaa__: 😒😒😒 knew something was goin on behind my back… good riddance

The smell of Jungkook’s detergent overtakes your nostrils, and you turn to him. He’s stopped talking, now immersed in whatever’s going on in your phone. 

“The nerve of her,” Jungkook scrunches his nose, disgusted at her latest comment. “As if anyone would believe her.” 

“Yeah,” you echo, “I feel bad for her, though. She’s probably lonely.” 

“Her loss, she put this upon herself. Not us.” 

You pout, “I know, but she was my friend at one point.” 

He frowns, putting an arm behind your backrest. It would be easy for him to say yeah, and she was my girlfriend and one-up you, leaving it at that. But now he knows better, and that friendship is a much better value than an ill-fated relationship. “Sorry baby,” it’s not his fault, but he sees your disappointment in putting out hope for an old friend. He gives you a little smooch on your temple, “do you miss her?” 

“The old her, yeah,” you sigh, clicking on her profile, “but now? I can do without her negativity.” 

“Okay,” he takes your phone from your hand, “have you ever blocked a person before?”

“No.”

“Well, today’s the day,” he says it so coolly, you barely have time to think when he clicks the ‘block’ button on Jisoo’s profile, then clicking off his phone to put in his pocket. “No more phone for today,” he proceeds to take your plate that was recently served, taking the time to cut your large vegetables into smaller portions. “Like you said, we shouldn’t waste your vacation time.” 

Your heart swells with butterflies for Jeon Jungkook, who’s meticulously cutting your food and telling you to relax and stop dwelling on the past. He’s right, if Jisoo’s not going to stick around for the future and continue to cause negativity in your life, why not keep the positives in the past while it lasted? 

“You know I love you, right?” 

He ceases cutting, and looks at you to pop a sweet potato in his mouth. “Love me enough to do it in the cabana?” 

He’s still on that? “Jungkook,” you warn, pretending to get up, “forget I said anything. I’m gonna go karaoke with Umji.” 

“Kiddingggg,” he whines, pulling you back down with an outstretched hand, “you know I love you too.” 

“You’re terrible.” 

“Only this way because I’d know you’d totally be into cabana sex if we were vacationing by ourselves.” 

“Yes, but you’re still terrible,” you giggle when Jungkook steals a kiss, just as easy as he’s stolen your heart.  

[thatbritishactor]

Adventures in Success (part 10)

Adventures in Success (part 10)

Paring : Ben Barnes x Reader

Summary:  Ben’s agent is retiring and the firm wants you to represent him. It’s going to be hard for you not to mix work with feelings.

Warning: None, language (cursing).

Words: 3,300

Type :  Fluff

Part 1     Part 2       Part 3       Part 4       Part 5      Part 6    Part 7   Part 8  Part 9

I.

You’ve been officially dating for two months, but it feels like you’ve been together for longer. You’ve met all of Ben’s close friends, and you’ve introduced him to a few of yours. You’ve had to deal with feelings of betrayal on their part: how dare you keep your relationship a secret for so long? You’ve been scolded and met with incomprehension, but as soon as they met him, they were instantly enthralled by him. Ben knows how to win people over: his effortless charm, wits and kindness conquer everyone around him.

You still spend most of your time at his place, finding it unbearable to be away from him. Thankfully, he seeks your company as much as you seek his, and time flies by when you’re together. It’s taken a toll on your work, you’re not as dedicated as before, and your boss is starting to notice. Before, your job came before everything else. You worked an average of fifty hours a week, dividing your time between script reading, meeting your actors, callings producers and casting directors.

Today, Ben comes before your work, even before your friends. You know that some of it isn’t healthy, and that you shouldn’t prioritize your relationship over everything else. But you can’t resist him, and you’re at your happiest when you’re with him. He seems to struggle as well, avoiding castings, not reading as many scripts as he used to. Whenever you start to get anxious about it, you quickly dismiss it, one glance at Ben is enough to dissolve all your fears. He’s everything you’ve ever wanted, and you intend to hold onto and fight for your relationship with everything you’ve got.

By the end of November, Ben has to leave for London, and the heart ache induced by your imminent separation keeps growing. You’ve spent the better part of a year wanting him so badly it hurt you, and now that you finally have him, you can’t imagine how you’re going to be able to go back to a life without him.

Your feelings for him scare you, for they seem to get stronger every day. You thought that you were already done for when you weren’t even dating him, but it’s getting even worse. Somehow, waking up next to him every day is even better than what you had ever imagined. Although, you know that this is the easy bit: the honeymoon phase. The part where you love everything about the person you’re newly dating and can’t imagine ever picking a fight with them. You know that someday, his flaws will get to you, and that you’ll find him annoying. But today, you just can’t imagine that you’ll ever come to hate anything about him.

Sure, he’s a distracted person. He forgets things, he daydreams a lot, and he’s a people pleaser. Something inside him pushes him to accommodate everyone around him, and you can see that it might trigger your insecurities someday. But for now, you simply adore him, and you want to indulge in those feelings as much as possible. You’re incredibly nervous about the upcoming separation: Ben has to be in London for at least four months, and you don’t know if you’ll be able to handle it. You’ve come up with a plan though, but you haven’t told him, wanting to surprise him.

The night before his departure, you’re lying in bed with him, tightly pressed against his chest. He places soft kisses on your forehead, and you can feel the regular pounding of his heart, lulling you to sleep.

You’re tired and your eyes close by themselves, but you refuse to drift away, because when you’ll wake up, you’ll have to take him to the airport, and you’ll be apart -again- for months. You’ve realized that apart from your anxiety, it’s the separations that pose the biggest threat to your relationship. But this man is so worth it, you think, his fingers slowly caressing your bare back; you’d do anything for him.

“Do you want me to turn off the light?” he murmurs, and you sigh, closing your eyes and rubbing your nose on his chest.

“No… I don’t want to sleep” you lie, and Ben chuckles.

“I can see you’re totally falling asleep, love” he says, and your heart misses a bit at the term of endearment. You haven’t told him you love him yet, although the words are demanding to escape your lips. You haven’t loved anyone the way that you love him, and your feelings for him are so obvious, it’s embarrassing. Something’s keeping you from uttering the words though: the fear that it’d scare him away. You’ve been together for two months, it’s too soon. You’re so deathly afraid of losing him, you don’t completely allow yourself to surrender to your feelings yet.

Ben calls you love though, and sweetheart, sometimes dear, and it’s the most beautiful things you’ve ever heard, making you melt into a puddle every time. You wonder if he wants to tell you he loves you too, but you dismiss the thought, distracted by Ben moving against you.

“All right, I’m shutting the light” he says, and you lift your head to protest.

“Nooooo” you whine, and he laughs, his arms holding you impossibly closer to him.

“What is it?” he asks, “I can see that you’re incredibly sleepy.”

“I don’t want to go to sleep, because I don’t want to be tomorrow” you reply, and you bury your face against his chest to hide your face. He sighs and rubs his cheek on your hair, and you raise your head to meet his dark eyes.

“I know, me neither” he admits, and you can hear the longing in his voice.

“It sucks” you reply, and he gently pushes a strand of hair away from your face.

“Tell me about it” he replies, pensive.

You let go of him and lean back, and he slowly lets you go, looking curious.

“At least you’re going to meet Phoebe Waller Bridge” you say, trying to change the subject, resting your head on your hand.  “I’m so jealous” you add.

Ben smiles, his eyes soft, and your heart clenches in your chest. He’s eerily beautiful, and you don’t think you’ll ever get used to that. He takes your breath away twenty times a day, and you still can’t believe that you’re the lucky woman who gets to be with him.

“Want me to ask her stuff?” he asks, his beautiful black eyes appraising you.

“I’d have to write it down” you joke “I have so many questions for her”.

“Go ahead” he replies, sliding a hand through his hair. “I’ll ask her.” He says with a smirk on his lips.

“You’d do that for me?” you mock in a high voice, putting a hand on your chest and dramatically batting your eyelashes.

Ben lets out a laugh “Anything for the one I love”, he replies, and you instantly stop breathing. Ben doesn’t seem phased at all, getting back to slowly caressing your arm, his eyes following the movements of his fingers, while your voice is stuck somewhere in your throat. When the silence thickens, he glances back at you, frowning.

“Is everything all right?” he asks, seeming worried.

You blink stupidly, a lump in your throat.

“Y… yeah” you reply, lowering your eyes, your heart beating fast in your chest.

“C’mon, I know you by now” he sighs “I know when something’s bothering you” and there is that smile again, the one that could make snow melt.

“You’ve just said you loved me” you mutter, putting a hand over your eyes, unable to meet his gaze. He laughs again, before placing a hand on the side of your face, forcing you to meet his eyes.

“Sweetheart, I’ve been in love with you for a year now, don’t tell me this comes as a surprise” he says in an incredulous voice, and you close your eyes, unable to handle the storm of emotions overwhelming you.

When you open them again, he’s still gazing at you, the softest expression on his face, and you lean in to kiss him.

“I love you too” you whisper against his lips, and his hands cup your face before they slide in your hair. You roll on your back, his weight on top of you, your heart seeming to burst in your chest.

II.

It’s become a ritual now: you play the music from Bo Burnham’s Inside in the morning while you’re both getting ready, and the two of you sing along to the soundtrack, knowing each song by heart. You’ve made the coffee and helped him finish packing his suitcase, something he’s told you before he struggles with. Being an organized, neat person, you secretly love packing and tidying things up, so you’re thrilled to help him. Ben has joked about you being perfect for each other, your orderliness completing his messiness, and you’ve laughed, pretending to be chill about it, ignoring your accelerated heartbeat and the warmth spreading in your chest. He could ask you to marry him right then and there, and you’d accept immediately. You’re so done for, you think to yourself, rolling your eyes as you watch him slide his backpack on, wearing his usual cap and sunglasses.

You sing in the car, and he teases you when the song “Sexting” comes on, taking you back to the time you got drunk and sent it to him. You were embarrassed at first, blushing and hiding your face away, before owning it and deciding that it was unintentional sure, but a badass move nevertheless.

The ride to the airport goes fast, and you hold hands while you walk through LAX. You’re less skittish than before about public displays of affection, thinking that if the world must find out about your relationship, so be it. You’ve lost so much time before because of your insecurities, you’ve promised to yourself that you wouldn’t let anything get in the way from now on. Ben registers his bags, and you arrive at the security gates when he turns over and holds you tightly in his arms. You hug him back, feeling like your heart is getting crushed with a hammer, struggling with yourself not to cry.

“It’s four months”, you say against his chest, “We can do this”. He nods and cups your face with both hands, staring into your eyes.

“I’ll call you as soon as I land?” he asks, looking uncertain.

“Yes, please” you reply, oddly out of breath. You stare into his deep obsidian eyes, your hands resting at his hips, and he leans in to kiss you. You close your eyes, surrendering to the soft feelings of his lips moving against yours, silently wishing for time to stand still.

“All right, I have to go” he whispers against your lips, and you smile, nodding.

“I love you” you breathe, looking back into his eyes, and he grins, making your heart drop in your chest. How is it possible for a person to be that beautiful? This should be illegal, you think to yourself, frowning.

“I love you too, sweetheart” he replies, and he kisses you one more time before he lets go of you, squeezes your hand, and turns over to go through the gates.

You stand there for a few minutes, your heart pounding hard in your chest, the sounds of the airport muffled around you before you find the strength to go home.

III.

“You wanna do what?” Rebecca asks, looking puzzled.

“I’ve been in touch with actresses in London for a few weeks now, and I think that I should go meet them to try and win them over” you explain, straightening your back against your chair.

You’ve asked for a meeting with your boss this morning, eager to submit your plan to her. You’ve been thinking about it for a while, but you’d be lying to yourself if you didn’t accept the fact that Ben’s departure for London had been the incentive.

Although your agency is always looking for new talent, and you’re currently managing some of the hottest British talents in Hollywood, you know that they’d trust your judgement.

“Which actresses?” Rebecca asks, narrowing her eyes.

“Michaela Coel and Daisy Edgar Jones” you reply without breaking eye contact.

Rebecca arches her eyebrows, seeming impressed, before she purses her lips and turns a bit to glance out of the window.

“Honey, you know that you’re one of our most successful agents” she starts, and you brace yourself, knowing that a “but” is imminent.

“But I couldn’t help but notice that you seemed distracted lately” she adds, looking back at you.

You look away, crossing your legs, feeling uneasy. Yes. You can’t deny that.

“I know, I’m sorry” you reply honestly, knowing that lying wouldn’t take you anywhere.

“You know that I try and pay no mind to gossip” Rebecca says, the ghost of a smile dancing on her lips “But I couldn’t help but notice that ever since you dropped the Barnes account, you’ve been a little… elsewhere”, and she looks into your eyes, a kind expression on her face. You try not to blush, a warm feeling spreading over your chest, and you decide not to reply anything.

“Don’t get me wrong, I’m thrilled for you” she says, still smiling “And Andrew was more than happy to take over as his agent.” You nod, not knowing where this is going.

Rebecca takes a breath and straightens her back before she leans against her desk, joining her hands.

“You were working too much before, anyway” she says, “But I’m wondering if taking new actors would be the right fit for you right now”.

“Oh.” You reply, taken aback. “I see.”

“Don’t get me wrong, I’d never say no to new clients, especially the ones you’ve approached. Promising, promising new talent, these two.” She says pensively, looking away.

“I know that I’ve been distracted lately” you start, wanting to be sincere “But I’m genuinely excited to meet them, and I know that I’d be the right fit for them”.

Rebecca glances back at you: “Are you sure? You already have a lot on your plate” she replies, seeming skeptical.

“Perhaps I just need fresh accounts” you venture, “Something new and exciting”.  

She stares at you for a moment, searching your expression.

“You know what” she starts “Go to London, try and broach them, and if you succeed, we’ll find a way to make this work” she proposes.

“Deal” you say, offering her your hand, and she shakes it.

“You’re going to London” she says gleefully.

“I’m going to London” you reply, smiling widely.

IV.

Ben was more than thrilled when you announced that you’d meet him in a month, impressed by your scheme. He told you that it was the most romantic thing anyone had ever done for him, and you had blushed and put your face in your hands, shaking your head.

“You don’t think that it’s stalky or creepy?” you had asked, watering your plants while you were talking to him on the phone.

“I mean, it totally is” Ben had laughed “But if it means that I get to see you, I don’t care” he added, and you hummed in agreement, distracted by the fact that you’d soon be in his arms, where you seemed to belong now.

December went fast, and you were glad that Ben was his family to celebrate Christmas. You’d fly two days before New Years Eve, and you’d meet Michaela on January second, and Daisy the next day. You’d spend a total of seven days with Ben, and you couldn’t wait.

You arrive Sunday morning in London, feeling tired and jetlagged, but seeing Ben’s face at the arrival gates fills you with more joy than you have ever experienced before. He joins you in quick strides and grips you tight, exhaling loudly and snaking his arms around your waist; raising you in the air like he had done months ago, before you had admitted your feelings to each other. You throw your arms around his neck and kiss him passionately, you heart threatening to jump out of your chest.

“God, I’ve missed you” he says against your lips, putting you back gently on the ground, his hands moving from your hips to your face.

“Tell me about it” you reply, out of breath, staring into his beautiful eyes.

“Ready to explore the city?” he asks, smiling widely.  “Or do you want to go back to my place and get some sleep?” he asks, raising his eyebrows.

You think for a split second, blushing a bit “I mean… We’ll have time to chill later” you reply, “Let’s do some sightseeing” and you smile widely.

“Are you sure?” he asks, and he puts a strand of your hair behind your ear, looking down at you tenderly.

“I’m up for anything as long as I’m with you” you say, shrugging, and you know that the answer is beyond cheesy, but you’re unable to restrain yourself. He chuckles and gently pokes your nose with his, and you distinctively feel butterflies swarming in your stomach.

“First, an English breakfast” he says, and you wince, dreading the British food “Then, let’s be tourists” he says, and he kisses you gently. You sigh, melting under his touch. He’s worth enduring British food, for sure.

Ben takes you to the Naval Royal College in Greenwich, wanting to show you the Painted Hall. It’s known as the British Sistine Chapel, and he plays the tourist guide again, like he had done in Venice. You hold hands throughout the whole visit, stealing kisses and being amazed at his extensive knowledge of art history.

“Did you research all this to impress me again?” you ask, teasing him. Ben rolls his eyes, smiling.

“Of course, I did, what’d you expect?” he replies, kissing your cheek, and you giggle, endeared.

He shows you the Millennium Bridge, asking if you want to go inside St Paul’s cathedral, but you’re starting to feel a bit tired from all the walking and the flight.

“All right, one more place I want to show you, and then you’ll take a nap” he suggests, and you nod, reaching for his hand to hold. You walk for fifteen minutes when you reach a pretty street, and you enter what seems to be a park with a church in it. You frown, perplexed, when you finally see why he’d want to take you there. The church is in ruins, vegetation growing everywhere. It looks beautiful and romantic, and you understand why Ben wanted you to see it so badly. You walk among the ruins, gasping at the shady trees and the quietness of the place. It doesn’t seem like you’re in the heart of the busy city, the place looks magical with the sun setting in the distance.

“Oh, this is so pretty” you whisper, and Ben takes you to a bench for you to sit. He throws an arm around your shoulder, and he places a kiss on your temple.

“This place reminds me of you” he says quietly, and you look at him, surprised.

“How so?” you ask. He seems to ponder for a while before he replies.

“It makes me feel safe, quiet, like nothing else exists.” And his voice is soft, making your stomach clench. You blush, feeling overwhelmed. What did you do to deserve him again? This is crazy, you think to yourself, looking away, feeling crushed with too many emotions.

“What is it?” he asks, still gazing at you.

“I’m just tired” you reply, and you put your head on his shoulder, breathing deeply and closing your eyes.

“What’s our plan for New Year’s?” you ask, opening your eyes. Ben has teased you before that he had a plan but wanted to surprise you. You feel him chuckle and look up at him.

“I was thinking… It might be time for you to meet my parents” he says easily, and your heart stops in your chest. You look at him, your breath shallow, and Ben laughs at your expression, seeming satisfied with himself.

“It’ll be alright, Love” he says, caressing your hair. “I promise.”

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Heyyyy heyyyyy!!!! Look who’s updating after two months ?? It’s meeee.

Hope you like this part, it’s just pure fluff. I want them to be happy and to explore the next step of their relationship.

Tell me your thoughts and feelings about this ? It might inspire me to write part 11 !!

Byeee <3

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