#I really should have taken a picture of the moment we named the case The Hanged Man

[gamingofkenna]

Collection of Disco Elysium photos I've taken so far (the last one is particularly funny because my IRL legal name is Ronni)

[lemoncrushh]

We're Gonna Have a Baby

Summary: Telling Harry he's gonna be a dad.

Warnings: Loving couple sex, lots of fluff. 18+ ONLY.

Word Count: 2165

A/N: A sweet little one shot written in 2016. This is in first person, but no name is given.

I told him yesterday. You should have seen the look on his face. If I'd been smart, I would have had my phone with me to take a picture.

I'd taken the first test almost a week ago. I'd thought I was pregnant. In fact, I kinda even knew I was. We hadn't been using protection for a couple months, deciding we could start trying, but not really trying - if that made any sense. My period due date had come and gone. So, when I sat on the toilet that morning and peed on the stick, I should have been prepared. However, when I first saw the little plus sign, I sat in shock, blinking over and over in case my eyes were deceiving me.

So yesterday morning I decided to take another test, just to be sure. I'd decided not to tell Harry yet just in case it turned out to be a fluke. The disappointment he was bound to feel was not something I was willing to bear. His light-heartedness about the whole thing was just a facade, I knew. He wanted kids. Badly.

He kissed me before he rolled out of bed, announcing that he was going to start breakfast. Once he was out of the room, I hurried to the toilet and unwrapped the second pregnancy test. I waited just a minute or two before checking the results, even though I knew it didn't even take that long. I just wanted a moment longer to consider it.

This time, I wasn't scared. I promised myself that whatever the result was, I would be happy. Because I was happy. I had Harry. He loved me and I loved him. That was all I could ask for. If I was pregnant, I knew he would be ecstatic. We would have the most loved baby there ever was. But if I wasn't, that was okay too. We would just keep trying.

With a sigh, I rose from the toilet and washed my hands before finally taking a peek at the test. A plus sign. I was most definitely pregnant. I bit my lip and dried my hands with a towel, carefully picking up the test to inspect it closer. I was startled by a knock on the door, nearly dropping the test into the sink.

"Babe?" called Harry from the other side.

I cleared my throat. "Yes, love?"

"We only have a couple of eggs left. Should we go out, or do you want something else?"

"I'm fine with anything," I called back, still staring at the test. A baby. Harry and I were gonna have a baby...

"Well, tell me because I already have the bacon out and the-"

With a giddy grin, I turned to the door and threw it open. Harry stood with his eyes wide, his hand resting on the door frame.

"What would you like?" I asked him.

"I don't-" he began with a shrug until I lifted the pregnancy test in my hand.

"A boy or a girl?" I raised a brow.

Harry glared at me, his eyes shifting between mine and the test. His lips parted, but he made no sound. I noticed his chest rise and fall with quick, heavy breaths.

"Is...is that..." he stammered.

I giggled. "Yes, it is."

"Baby..." he breathed, looking back at me.

"Yep," I nodded. "We're gonna have a baby, Harry."

Finally finding his footing, he wasted no more time to erase the space between us and wrap me in his embrace. I wound my arms around his neck as he cried in my ear.

"Oh my God."

His body shook against me. I murmured in his ear that I loved him which he echoed in returned. When he finally stood up straight and I got a look at his face, his cheeks were wet with tears. My heart melted as I wiped them away with my thumbs, cradling his face in my hands.

"How do you feel?" he asked me. That was so like Harry. To have concern for me and my well-being before his own.

"I feel fine," I replied. "No morning sickness yet."

"No, I mean..." he swallowed, "how do you feel about becoming a mother? I know we discussed it before, but...this is real and..."

I shook my head. "Harry. I still feel the same. Actually, no. I feel even better. I'm having your baby. Our baby."

A smile took hold of his lips, revealing his dimples. "My baby's having my baby."

I giggled again, licking my lips. "That's right. And I've never been happier."

Harry seemed to study my face as he lifted his hand and let the back of it graze across my cheek.

"I love you so much," he declared, his voice cracking.

"I love you, too."

"C'mere," he whispered before sliding his hand around my neck and pulling me closer into a deep kiss.

When his tongue met mine, I immediately felt weak in the knees, the inevitable fire igniting within. I grabbed his forearm with one hand, my other pressing against his chest, taking a fistful of his t-shirt. His plump lips taking my bottom one between them, Harry's other hand slid down my shoulder and arm to my waist. Silently, he backed into the bedroom, taking me with him. When his long legs bumped into the edge of the bed, he finally released my mouth and rested his forehead against mine.

"Would it be completely unromantic if I said I want you so bad right now?" he muttered, his voice raspy.

"No," I answered. "Not at all."

I took it upon myself to grip the hem of his shirt and lift it, my fingers touching his bare skin. His stomach was warm. Harry then reached behind to pull the shirt over his head, throwing it on the floor. I stared at his face, his eyelids heavy as my hands roamed up his torso and back down to the waistband of his shorts. His jaw dropped slightly, the end of his tongue escaping the corner of his mouth as he gave me a sexy smirk. Slipping my hands inside, I cupped his bottom before rounding to the front of his shorts. His breath hitched when my fingers met his erection, gliding my hand up his sensitive skin.

"Mmm," he sounded, his eyes closed.

I pushed his shorts down and Harry stepped out of them. His hands on my waist then, he grabbed the sides of my nightgown, lifting it over my head. The fabric had barely hit the floor when he sat back on the bed, pulling me towards him.

Laying me down, he hovered above me, his beautiful face glowing in the morning light that shone through our large window. I literally felt my heart speed up in my chest just from the way he was looking at me, as though this was our first time, and everything was new again.

"I'm so lucky," he murmured.

For a split second I was about to ask him why. But I didn't have to. Never short on sentiments, Harry had spent the last four years of our relationship declaring his love for me. I never once felt slighted in the least, or had any resentment. He showered me with affection and repeatedly showed me how lucky he felt to have me. Now I was giving him the one thing he wanted that he didn't already have.

Lowering his lips to mine, he proved it once again in the tender way he kissed me. I tangled my fingers in his hair as he made his way to my jaw and neck, leaving a trail of kisses down to my collarbone. My breaths got jagged when he scooted his body down, his fingers threading through the sides of my panties. He nipped at my hips, dragging his teeth along my skin before adding the lacy garment to the pile on the floor. Then on his way back up, he made it a point to stop at my stomach, giving it sweet, soft kisses. Before he lifted his head, I could've sworn I saw him mouth the words "I love you".

When he reached my chest, he gently ran his tongue around one nipple, taking it into his mouth. I threw my head back, my back arching automatically at the sensation. Heat pooled between my legs as he switched breasts, giving it the same treatment.

"Harry..." I managed to say, though it was barely audible.

He lifted his head, his eyes mimicking the desire that was no doubt apparent in mine. Lifting one of my thighs, he situated himself between them. He entered me slowly, my body stretching to accommodate him. I watched him swallow hard before letting out a deep breath, thrusting a bit more.

"You okay?" he inquired when he noticed I was biting my lip.

I merely nodded, running my hands up his arms. After all this time, he still asked, always wanting to make sure I was receiving the same pleasure he was.

Our bodies rocked slowly and evenly as we became one. His skin was so hot against mine, yet I couldn't get enough of it. I began to feel the build-up as he hit my most sensitive spot. My eyelids fluttered closed, and I opened my legs wider, my toes curling. Moans escaped my throat, and I ran my hands down his sides to grip his hips, guiding him where I wanted him.

"Ohh my love..." Harry groaned in my ear.

"Yeah..." I whined. "Right there."

Quickly lifting his head, he gazed into my eyes. Usually at this point Harry would begin to thrust faster and harder, both of us screaming each other's names as we came. But we both knew this time was different. It was special.

Harry continued the slow pace. Though it was nearly agonizing because we were both so close, I also knew sometimes this was the best sex. Because it wasn't just sex. This was two people in love, bound together and committed. It only made it that much better. As did the slow, easy thrusts.

Finally, I felt Harry's body tremble above me as he bit his lip. His brows furrowed as he let out a deep groan, then another. His head fell beside mine again and his breath tickled my ear.

"Come," I whispered.

"Not before you," he moaned. "But God, I'm so close."

"I am too," I muttered. "Together."

I felt Harry nod before he lifted slightly and wrapped his arms around my waist. His thrusts then, though sloppy, were sped up and when he hit my spot again, I felt the orgasm rip through me. Harry followed, my name falling from his lips as his chest shook.

He laid on top of me for a moment while our breaths evened out. Then rolling onto his side, he pulled me to him, planting passionate kisses on my mouth.

"I'm so in love with you, baby," Harry cried. "You make me so happy."

"Me too," I said, lifting my hand to touch his cheek, my thumb swiping across his chin. "You're everything to me."

He stared back at me for a while, his fingers in my hair. I decided not to ask him what was on his mind, because I felt like I knew. However, when I caught a tear falling from his eye, I quickly wiped it away.

"Honey..." I whispered. "What's that for?"

Harry chuckled nervously, shaking his head. "I don't know. Just emotional, I guess."

I nodded. "It's gonna be okay, Harry. We're gonna be amazing parents."

"Yeah," he agreed, his face lighting up. "Yeah, we are."

I wrapped my arms around his neck and gave him one more kiss. With a sigh, he laid on his back and I rested my head on his chest, tracing his tattoos with the tip of my finger. Suddenly, I felt my stomach growl and Harry and I giggled at the same time.

"Guess I could go for some breakfast now," I commented.

"You never told me what you wanted."

I rose up onto my elbow and looked around the room as though it held the answer somewhere.

"I'm thinking eggs...and sausage...bacon...hash browns...fruit...toast and jam..." I listed.

"Jesus, that's a lot of food," said Harry.

"Well, I'm eating for two now, you know?"

Harry chuckled and pulled me back down on top of him. I giggled with glee as he began to tickle me, his morning stubble scratching my cheek. I folded my arms across his chest as I looked down at his handsome face.

"We're gonna have a baby, Harry," I cheered.

"I know!" he grinned, pushing my hair off my shoulders.

"Our love made a person." Even after saying that, I got choked up.

"Sweetheart..." Harry cooed. "You're gonna make me cry again."

"Sorry," I murmured, kissing his forehead, his nose, and finally his lips. "Just happy."

"Me too, my love," he whispered. "Me too."

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[serasvictoria]

Title: Roller Queen

Pairing: Eddie Munson x Female Reader

Summary: A heatwave has hit Hawkins and bored out of his mind, Eddie tries to find something to do. He finds that something in the Palace Arcade…

Word Count: 6997

Content Warning: 18+ mdni. Semi-public sex. Oral sex (male receiving). Vaginal fingering.

Notes: This is what you get when you spend quite some time on Pinterest during a heatwave and suddenly finding a picture that just inspires you. The picture is all the way at the end, it just worked for me.

There is also one mention of the name Arlo in this and that's what I called the unnamed Hellfire member aka Corroded Coffin’s bass player, also known as the titular “Freak”. There’s an entire backstory in regards to why I gave him that name, but I won’t bore anyone to tears with that particular HC.

Betaread by @adrille88 Thanks again ❤️ Any remaining mistakes are all mine.

If he was really honest with himself, Eddie had to admit that he kind of liked heatwaves.

All the assholes would leave the town of Hawkins, abandoning the hot and humid place like a bunch of rats leaving a sinking ship, and they’d go spend a couple of days at their log cabins near some lake, leaving all the less fortunate residents behind.

Not that he thought that he was less fortunate, fuck no. He wouldn’t want golden boy Jason Carver’s shiny life. Sitting next to mommy, wearing his Sunday best and listening to daddy as he preached fire and brimstone to the congregation as they clutched their crucifixes. Lord knew where the bastard was now. Probably forced to suck up to some senator’s kid whilst he pretended that he wasn’t from some backwater shithole in Indiana.

So yeah, heatwaves weren’t all that bad. Besides, you could dress for the heat.

He was currently lazing about on the porch in an old pair of jeans that were cutoff right above the knee. His Motörhead shirt (which he had also modified after he tore it making it sleeveless as well as a little bit too short) was in a crumpled heap right next to him.

The only thing that was bugging him at the moment was trying to decide what to do.

It was the first summer after graduation, so he should have been spoiled for choice, but sadly that was not the case at all.

Steve and Robin were at work, like Jeff, and he didn’t feel like bothering them at their workplaces. Again. Dustin was at some kind of robotics camp. Wheeler had joined the Byers family for their last summer in California before they moved back to Hawkins. The Sinclairs were visiting relatives, as was Gareth. Arlo had been signed up for summer classes by his mother because he was failing a couple of classes.

So there was currently no one that he could shoot the shit with.

Usually Eddie wouldn’t have any problems on his own, he’d almost grown accustomed to it when he was a kid, but he was bored out of his mind at the moment. Didn’t help that he was coming off his previous high as well.

Absentmindedly scratching his neck, he brushed away some of the locks of hair that had come loose from his ponytail and that were sticking to his sweaty skin. He’d already taken a cold shower earlier and even that wasn’t enough to fight the heat.

The AC had also gone on the fritz at the worst possible time so staying in his bedroom wasn’t an option. Which meant that jacking off was off the cards, too. Because hey, when in doubt, jerk off. It was basically an unwritten rule.

Everyone that was still in town had either gone to the community pool or the woods, but those weren’t really places where we wanted or could go to. Lover’s Lake and Skull Rock were places that were worth considering, but you never knew if you’d disturb anyone whilst there and some people didn’t take too kindly to having an audience. And even if they were keen to have onlookers, that didn’t automatically mean that they’d want him there.

There wasn’t really much else to do apart from aimlessly driving through town until he found something that was worth his while.

Getting to his feet with a groan, he stretched out, grabbed his discarded shirt from the couch and put it on. His keys and cigarettes were on the small table next to him so he pocketed the packet of smokes and then locked the front door (even if no one was insane enough to attempt to steal anything from them, what with them having the good old Munson name and all).

As expected the van was hot as hell, so he rolled the windows all the way down on both sides before starting the engine and heading out of the trailer park in search of something to do.

Driving around town, he’s reminded of that Ghost Town song by The Specials (Robin was going through a bit of a ska phase at the moment) and before he knew it he was humming it which was in stark contrast to the Megadeth song, Wake Up Dead, that was currently blasting through the speakers.

Despite having previously decided that he wasn’t going to go to Family Video, he found himself driving in that direction anyway. Maybe Eddie could convince Steve to give him access to his backyard so he could have a dip in his pool in exchange for a couple of joints? Worth a shot.

This brought him right past the arcade, which was practically next door, a place that he hadn’t set foot in for quite some time. Together with Harrington, he seemed to have earned the dubious privilege of dropping the kids off there quite frequently, but he never joined them despite Henderson asking him to do so every single time.

He wasn’t about to have his ass kicked by some kid at-

Eddie swore that his eyes were seconds away from rolling out of their sockets.

All that he caught was a quick peek through the open doors of the arcade, but it had been enough to make him punch the brakes of his van and he came to a standstill right in front of the building.

Eddie had never parked his van so fast in his life.

When he got out of the van and walked across the asphalt to his destination, nerves set in, which was insane when he really thought about it. Why was he even nervous? Was it because he was seconds away from shooting his shot and potentially getting horrifically turned down?

The name of the place was lit up in purple neon on the awning over the doorway. Unbelievable that this was something that could make him set foot in the place after all this time, having seemingly graduated from it many years previous, constantly proclaiming that it wasn’t “his scene” since books and board games were more his thing.

That was a better excuse than saying that he had simply been unable to afford it. Money had always been tight in the Munson household and wasting a couple of quarters on something that he couldn’t even take home with him or put in his belly seemed pointless.

There’s an acne stricken teenager sitting on a folding chair next to the open door, a look of annoyance on his face that betrayed the fact that he didn’t want to be here at all.

“There’s a change machine inside. You know where to find me if it stops working,” he says with a bored tone when Eddie passes him by. The kid doesn’t say it, but his line sounds well practiced, leading him to believe that the aforementioned machine must have some issues.

It also sounds like the kid has no intention of going inside unless he absolutely must.

So that means that no one will see Eddie crash and burn if he does. And if he doesn’t, there won’t be anyone to disturb him either, so it was a win-win situation no matter what.

It was cooler inside, but only slightly. The AC was old and far too small to cool such a large space, but it still tried to do its job to the best of its abilities.

There were plenty of noises around him, machines beeping in an attempt to make him look at them, to make him see what he could play if he would only give them a couple of coins. He barely even seems to notice them at all, not caring about what the games have to offer him.

Not now.

The row of games that were visible from the door are all vacant. No one’s there to pour over them, desperately trying to win, so he moves on to the row next to it as he tries to find what he’s looking for. He’s about to turn the corner into the third, already somewhat convinced that his mind had been playing tricks on him, that the heat had fried his brain, when he comes to a sudden standstill and simply stares at the image before him.

Eddie had not imagined it, hadn’t gotten a severe case of heatstroke, hadn’t witnessed a mirage or anything of the sort. Even if mirage was probably the best word to describe what he was looking at.

You were leaning over the controls of one of the machines, tapping away at the buttons and moving the joystick back and forth.

That in itself wasn’t anything out of the ordinary.

Dustin often spoke of you with awe in his voice, regaling everyone with how good you were at the games at the arcade. You and Max held a lot of the high scores and that was pure catnip to the younger boys who only cared about trivial things like that. The fact that you were older only seemed to make you more appealing to them.

A fellow nerd.

An older fellow nerd.

An attractive, older fellow nerd.

Eddie had never really gotten it until now, but that was more down to what you were wearing, which was a lot more revealing than what you had worn when you still walked through the hallways of Hawkins High. Hell, Principal Higgins would probably have a heart attack if someone wore that to school.

In an effort to fight the heat, you were wearing a pair of cut off blue sweatpants, which were so short that they might as well be hotpants, and a dark blue bikini top. And on your feet were the signature roller skates that were very much an extension of yourself as it were.

He doesn’t think that he’s ever seen you without them when you weren’t in school or working. There’s even a story about how you kicked Andy Collins in the balls with them once, but no one has ever been able to confirm that particular story since it was very much based on hearsay.

It is a fact however that Andy doesn’t seem to sniff around you quite as much as he does with every other (single) female in town. Had to be a reason for that.

The corner of your mouth twitches, so you definitely noticed that you had an audience of one by now. It would be rude not to go over to say hello, right? Right? So Eddie starts moving, unsteady on his feet all of a sudden, like he had forgotten how to walk simply because he was in the presence of such beauty.

“Hi,” he croaks out and he raises his hand in greeting. “Pretty hot outside, huh.” He mentally slaps himself for saying that, because why on Earth had he decided to state the obvious? Guess that meant that trying to act cool had gone straight out the window. His remark makes you snort though, which he supposes is a win of sorts. “Anyway. Hi.”

“Hi,” you say with a grin, doing your best not to laugh, as you look up for a few seconds before focusing all your attention back on the game. “Don’t see you round here a lot.”

“Not much of a gamer,” Eddie admits, which technically wasn’t true, but he didn’t think that he had to clarify that he was talking about video games. You would have seen him around the arcade a lot more if he was into those.

“So why’re you here then?”

“Thought I’d check the place out. Henderson’s always talking about it.”

“Ah, Henderson,” you sigh and there’s a hint of exhaustion there that almost makes him laugh. “And that’s enough to get you to show up?”

“Maybe not just that.” His eyes skate over the curve of your ass and when he looks back at your face again, he can see that your eyebrows are raised. Subtlety had never been his strong point. “Busted,” he chuckles.

“Hm,” is all that he gets out of you before you look back at the screen once more.

Eddie tries his best to feign an interest in the game that you’re playing, Bubble Bobble, by trying to keep his eyes peeled on the screen. Even thinks about commenting on the cuteness of the green dinosaur that’s blowing bubbles at his enemies, but he doesn’t out of fear of looking like a complete fool. He actually opens his mouth once with the intention of commenting on how well you’re playing, but what the hell is he supposed to say?

‘Good game, hot stuff, but do you wanna get out of here and play a real game in the back of my van instead?’

Bad idea. Really bad idea. He’d prefer it if his nuts didn’t meet the boot of your skates. That would be a horrible ending to what was turning out to be a pretty good day so far. He’d like to end it on a high if he could, preferably with your phone number scribbled on a piece of paper in his pocket.

Damn, this was easier when he could hide behind his usual bravado, but he’d already fucked that one up from the moment that he started talking to you. Hell, he couldn’t even hide behind his hair, because it was in a messy ponytail right now.

Still, you haven’t told him to fuck off just yet so it wasn’t a complete disaster. He leans back against the side of the machine next to yours and he really looks at you this time.

God damn, he had always thought that you were pretty, but fuck, you looked good enough to eat right now. He catches the glint of a bead of sweat as it rolls down your neck, following it as it makes its way down your skin and ultimately disappears into the fabric of your bikini top.

Eddie can almost taste the salt on his tongue if he thinks about it hard enough.

“Take a picture, it’ll last longer.”

Your voice cuts through the first wisps of the daydream that was forming in the back of his mind, one that already had his cock twitching in his pants, seconds away from begging him to excuse himself so he could jerk off in his van.

“I would if I had a camera,” he bites back.

You shake your head and sigh and a couple of seconds later the game makes a noise, something that even a newbie like him knew wasn’t good. As if to emphasize this, the words “game over” appear on the black screen.

“Thought you were good.”

“My heart wasn’t in it,” you say while the screen starts flashing the ‘insert coin’ message on the screen in an attempt to lure in new players. “It’s this damn heat.”

“Maybe you don’t do well with an audience.”

“You’re shitting me, right? You know how many times I have those little shitheads breathing down my neck?”

“I dunno,” he shrugs. “A lot?”

“Yup. I barely get any alone time as it is.”

There’s a sudden flush of guilt and he can feel his cheeks burn as they begin to color a dark shade of pink. He’s bothering you. You never said it, but that's what he reads between the lines.

“You want me to leave?” He’s already turning away from you, instantly apologetic, so he’s surprised when he feels your fingers touch his wrist.

“Did I say that?” He’s watching your hand, noticing the gentle pull on his arm which doesn’t stop until he makes no move to leave anymore. “Did I?”

Since you repeat yourself, you’re obviously expecting an answer. The only problem is that the heat combined with your touch are kind of short circuiting his brain.

Eddie eventually manages to get out a small “No?” which he considers a victory. At least it shows that he’s still capable of speech, if only a little.

“No,” you repeat after him and he’s instantly relaxed when he finds that his presence does seem to be wanted after all. He can’t stop his expression from falling a little when your hand lets go of his arm. “But you say you’re not a gamer. Maybe you just haven’t found one that you like yet.”

“Sweetheart, I haven’t been in here for years,” he says with a casual wave of his hand. “The flashing lights are about to give me an epileptic fit.”

“Was that a joke?”

“Yeah?”

“That was so funny I forgot to laugh,” you deadpan.

The flat tone of your voice makes him snort as well as make him wonder why he has never tried talking to you before.

He supposes that it was a form of thinly veiled jealousy over the kids liking you so much. But who cares about them? And why is he thinking about them so much anyway? Being in the presence of a hot girl combined with the stifling heat was really doing a number on his brain, that was for s-

You clap your hands together in front of his face, snapping him out of his thoughts for the second time since he was with you.

“Anyway!” you exclaim and clear your throat before continuing. “There’s a couple of old games in the back. Maybe you’d even recognise some of them, oldtimer. Want me to show you?”

“Which ones?”

“Pong, Death Race, Space Invaders, Asteroids… ring a bell?”

“Always was quite partial to Death Race actually.”

“Figures,” you grin. “Come on then,” you say as you push yourself away from the cabinet and start leading the way.

Eddie lets you take the lead, because it means that he can walk behind you and his eyes drop down immediately, unashamedly ogling your ass as you glide through the arcade.

On your way to the back, he hears the crinkling of plastic and watches you remove the orange wrapper from a lollipop before it disappears into your mouth. He swallows hard when your jaw moves, your cheek bulging as you keep moving the candy from side to side. He’s practically salivating as he tries very hard not to let his mind come up with images of how your cheeks would look if there was something else in your-

“There she is,” you break through his reverie again and he briefly wonders if it’s intentional, if you have some kind of inbuilt radar that alerts you whenever a guy is about to have some very impure thoughts in your vicinity. “Death Race.”

You point out the black cabinet at the end of the row of machines, the two steering wheels making it instantly recognisable. You come to a standstill right next to it and wave your hand over the front of it, like some bikini babe that they sometimes use to advertise cars.

“Goddamn,” he whistles in wonder. “Didn’t know they still had this one.”

“They do,” you reply as you stand to his left. “Don’t think they ever get rid of a game if it’s still working.” You dig around in your pocket and hold out a quarter to him. “Here. First game’s on me.”

“Thanks, sweetheart.” Eddie takes the quarter from your fingers and puts it in the slot. “I’ll try to make it last.”

Unfortunately it doesn’t last that long. Sadly, he’s a little bit rusty. Not that he was any good when he still came here, but he finds himself wanting to impress you as much as he can.

Eddie’s on his fourth quarter when there’s an almost sickening crunch from your direction. Eddie looks up from the screen to see you chewing on the hard candy of your lollipop and he catches you tossing the stick in a garbage bin behind you. He wants to say something, but the words die on his tongue when your hand suddenly connects with his chest and he’s pushed back against the wall.

“Hey, wh-”

-at the hell.

The rest of the sentence comes out all muffled, because your lips crash into his hard. There’s barely time to close his mouth and you enthusiastically take advantage of that by licking into his mouth, your tongue connecting with his, and he can taste nothing but oranges. When he starts kissing you back, he can taste the same artificial nectarine flavor in your lip gloss.

Wrapping his arms around you, he pulls you in closer and you sigh when his hands start rubbing up and down your back. You even giggle when one hand dips down lower and grabs your ass cheek.

There’s no opposition from him when you push him to the side, in between the opening between the black cabinet and the wall, one that the both of you fit into neatly, effectively shielding you and him from the view of others just enough.

Not that there was anyone else there apart from the bored employee that was still sitting outside and even he wouldn’t be able to see what the pair of you are doing from where he’s sitting.

��Aren’t-“ You pull away just far enough so Eddie can look in your eyes for a split second, see how blown out your pupils are, and then you dip your head down so you can drag your lips over his neck. “Aren’t you scared that anyone might see us?”

“No.” Your reply comes far too quickly and your teeth graze his Adam's apple slightly. “Why?”

“Wh- are you serious?”

“Mhm,” you hum against his skin. He gasps when you suck on his neck hard enough to leave a mark. “So sensitive.”

“Fuck.” At least Eddie can sort of peer into the space behind you now. He catches no movement whatsoever. And it’s not as if the arcade is rigged up with security cameras either. You stick your hands underneath his shirt, your fingers finding his nipples with ease and pinching them. “Damn, sweetheart.”

“What?” You look up at him, batting your eyelids almost too innocently, and when he doesn’t reply, you lick a stripe from the dip in his collarbone all the way up to his ear. “Cute,” you say directly into his ear before you gently tug on his lobe with your teeth. “You’re cute.”

Your intent couldn’t be more clear however. You wanted him and you were laying it on so thick that it was hard to ignore. It was all in the hungry way that you kissed him, filled with lust and longing, full of heat and desire.

Even though there shouldn’t be any mistaking your intentions, Eddie still wonders when it would be acceptable to invite you into his van. If he does it too early, you might smack him for being a perv, but if he does it too late, you might mistake it for disinterest, which would be a million miles off from what he wants. If only he had talked to you before, he would know what you were like a bit more, but all he has to go on are stories from Henderson and a handful of rumors.

There’s an unexpected brush of your fingers over the front of his jeans and it’s so light that he mistakes it for being accidental at first, but when it happens again and then again, it becomes a bit more difficult to ignore.

“Oh?” The triumphant tone in your voice is impossible to miss, because now you know that he was already half hard before and that was definitely because of you. “Thought that you had a couple of rolls of quarters in your pocket, but I think I was wrong.”

“You use that line a lot?”

The words came out too easily after all so naturally he’s curious, maybe even a little jealous, but he would never admit to that.

“Please,” you chuckle, “you think so little of me?”

“I don’t know. Don’t know you that well. Unfortunately.”

“You could get to know me. If you want to.”

“Hmmm. Tough question. Let me think about it.”

Eddie meant it as a joke, obviously, but he doesn’t miss how your brows furrow and how your hand stops moving, even if you can’t seem to stop your fingernails from scratching at the fabric.

His hips end up chasing your hand when you pull it away.

“Do you want me to stop?”

Eddie blinks, suddenly confused. “Is that a trick question?”

“Nope, just an honest one.”

“No.” It’s his turn to answer quickly now. And Christ, he feels like such a fucking dickhead for giving you the impression that he might not want this. “I don’t want you to stop.”

“Good,” you reply with a grin that’s bordering on feral, “because I really didn’t want to.”

“Then wh-?” He cuts off his sentence because your hand is back on his crotch again. You touch him with more intent now and he wonders if you can feel his dick twitching through the thick fabric. “Fuck.”

“Cause you looked a bit uncomfortable for a couple of seconds there. Figured that it was because of me.”

“It wasn’t, sweetheart. Trust me. Just never had a pretty girl seconds away from making me come in my pants like a schoolboy in a public place before.”

“Hmmm. I can think of something a lot better than that.” His eyes widen when you drop down onto your knees and start undoing his belt. “All you need to do is stay quiet.” A strangled kind of noise comes out of his mouth and it makes you grin even wider. “Think you can do that?”

“I’ll fucking try,” he squeaks out when you pull his pants down roughly to expose his underwear and his pale thighs. “I’ll really fucking try.”

“You’re gonna have to do better than that.” Your hand rubs over the front of his boxers and he groans low in his throat. “No louder than that, okay?” You pull the last cloth barrier down, unveiling his cock and it proudly stands at attention. “Oh god,” you say, obviously impressed, “prettiest cock I’ve ever seen.”

“Oh yeah?” You lick at the glistening bead of precum on the tip and your eyes close briefly as you taste him. The noise you make is exaggerated, but fuck, who cares? “Like it that much?”

“Uh-huh,” you answer as the tip of your tongue starts following the trail of a prominent vein on the side of his shaft, chasing it all the way down to the base and then back up again. “I do.”

Eddie lets out a sigh when you finally wrap your lips around his cock and let him slip halfway into your mouth. You sit there, looking all pretty, your eyes on his, and he already knows that he won’t be able to get this image out of his head for as long as he lives.

You bob down a bit further, a mere inch at most, and then release him with a soft pop. You spit on your palm, circle your fingers around the shaft, and start working him with your hand.

Ducking your head, you sink your teeth into his pale thigh and then lick the already slightly reddening mark. You repeat this a few more times, much to Eddie’s amusement. The slight sting of your bites in combination with the movement of your hand are pushing him ever closer to the edge.

Having teased him enough, you take his dick into your mouth again and he briefly wonders if you would have still done this if the place had been a bit more crowded. Not that he thinks that the sound of screaming kids would have done anything to kill his boner. If anything, the sheer thought of there being a greater possibility of getting caught only turns him on more.

When you cup his balls and start massaging them, Eddie hisses through his teeth. Fuck, he really wasn’t gonna last long. He also had no idea how he was supposed to stay quiet. He didn’t consider himself particularly noisy (he was), but he liked talking and there was no way that he would be able to control the volume of his voice.

Not when you kept eagerly sucking him off and especially not when you were pairing it with a look that was practically spelling out how much you loved having his dick in your mouth.

You also look like you want him to crack, like you desperately want him to make noises that are way too loud, like you want to get caught giving him head in the back of the arcade.

“Shit,” he groans as softly as he can and he can feel the corners of your mouth twitch upwards into a smile. “Can’t help it,” he says, softer now. “Feels too fucking good.”

Humming around his length, you hollow out your cheeks and when your hands lightly grasp the back of his thighs so your fingertips can dance up and down his skin, he shudders.

Saliva was bubbling at the corners of your mouth and fuck, it has to be one of the hottest things that he’s ever seen. His hand instantly moves of its own volition, moving to the back of your head, and he pushes you down for a split second, stopping when your fingernails dig into his skin. He loosens his grip, giving you ample opportunity to pull away, but you don’t and your eyes are almost flashing a challenge to him, practically daring him to do it again.

So he does.

This time he holds you down a little bit longer, forcing you to take him in a little bit deeper and instantly letting go when you make a gagging noise. You stay right where you are, his dick halfway in your mouth, eyes still a little defiant, so he does it again, harder, and forcing his cock in deeper still. The discomfort is plain to see and when your fingernails drag down the back of his thighs harshly, he can feel it, too, but your grip on his legs relaxes soon enough. He scratches your scalp affectionately.

Your eyes are glistening with unshed tears, threatening to overflow, and his hand releases you so he can wipe at the corners of one of your eyes, in an attempt to brush your tears away.

“Didn’t mean to make you cry, sweetheart,” he admits. “You just look so fucking good like that.” You blink once which finally makes the tears spill out. “Good tears though, huh?” You make an affirmative noise even if he already knows the answer. “Good ‘cause I’m seconds away from coming all down that pretty throat of yours.”

He catches a glint in your eye, as if his words spurred you on, but Eddie’s entirely unprepared for what you do next.

Your hands grab his hips and you plunge your mouth all the way down his length until your lips make contact with the thatch of hair at the base of his cock. You gag around him, but you inhale deeply through your nose and manage to stay down for a bit longer.

Your throat muscles contracting around his cock is what pushes him over the edge and he comes in thick spurts down your throat. He bangs the back of his head against the wall behind him, his lips pressed tightly together to stop himself from shouting as he climaxes. His hands are balled to fists at his sides and he slams them against the wall as a form of channeling the pent-up energy that has nowhere else to go.

It takes him a short while to come back to his senses and his hands shake when he relaxes his grip. When he hazards a glance down, you’re still on your knees, his now soft cock still in your hands as you’re lazily licking up and down his shaft.

Reaching for your face, he touches the corner of your mouth and mumbles the words, “Show me.” You stick your tongue out obediently, showing him that there’s not a single drop of his cum left. “Good girl.”

Exhaling shakily, he manages to say, “up,” a couple of times, his fingers hooking under your chin and pulling in an effort to make you move faster. As soon as you’re on your feet, his lips crash into yours, his tongue invading your mouth until he can taste himself on your tongue.

His hands are everywhere. On your ass, your hips, your tits. He simply doesn’t know what to grab first, and it’s not like you seem to care either with how content your sighs are.

Changing positions, he pushes you up against the wall and hurriedly pulls his boxers and shorts back up. Your hands take over to zip him back up this time, leaving his hands free to pull the cups of your bikini top to the sides and burying his face between your tits.

“Like that,” you breathe out when his lips finally find one of your nipples. “Just like that.”

“So sensitive,” he remarks with a grin, positively delighted that he can throw your earlier words right back at you this time. “I wonder…” He trails off and brushes a hand down your stomach, light as a feather, until his fingers come to a stop at the waistband of your shorts. “May I?”

You’re nodding before he even manages to get the words out, betraying your eagerness and perhaps your impatience. So naturally that makes Eddie move slower than he would have, taking his time to undo the bow that keeps the drawstring of your shorts tied together, and even when that’s undone, he slides his digits underneath the fabric painstakingly slowly.

“Eddieeeee,” you whine, “stop teasing.”

“Who’s teasing?”

“You are,” you pout. “Not like we have all day.”

“We don’t?” You’re ready to say more, he can tell, but he knows you’re right. And he doesn’t know what you’ll do if he keeps teasing, so he slips his fingers into your panties and slides them between your folds. “Jesus, baby, you’re soaked.”

“Mhm,” you bite your lower lip and nod.

“You got this wet just from having my dick in your mouth?” You moan affirmatively. “Poor thing. Seems only right that I help you out then, right?” One of his fingers probes your entrance, not quite pressing inside yet. Not until you answer him. “Talk to me, sweetheart.”

“Please,” you whimper. “N-need to feel your fingers inside me.”

“Come on,” he husks against your cheek, “spread your legs a little wider.” You give him some more space to work with and he slides the digit in with ease. “Good girl.”

Your head drops forward onto his shoulder, your mouth almost level with his ear so he can hear every shaky breath and strangled moan. It makes him add another finger, plunging them deeper inside and curling them upward until he hits your sweet spot. Your walls spasm and contract around his fingers, trying to keep them there.

“Really want to get my mouth on you, sweetheart,” he husks against your temple.

“No time,” you answer. “R-raincheck?”

“You’d better,” he chuckles. He just knew that he’d be taking you up on that offer before the end of the day.

Fuck, if he had his way, he’d be on his knees in front of you right now. Your ass pushed up against the controls of the Pong machine, his head buried between your thighs, until you’re screaming so loud that it drowns out every other fucking sound in this place.

If only he’d asked you to come with him, he’d have had his wish.

His thumb finds your swollen and neglected clit with ease. His touch sends a shockwave through you which makes your whole body jolt. You grab at his shoulders, his name on your lips as your fingernails leave crescent shaped marks in the sections of his skin which aren’t covered by his shirt.

Your breath hitches and you let out a choked sob, only to have Eddie cut off any other sounds that you might make by pressing his lips against yours and swallowing all your delicious noises, effectively silencing you. Your thighs convulse around his palm, trapping his hand between them.

Reaching upward, you grab at his tied back hair, wrapping the ponytail around your fingers and pulling until your hand, along with all the other muscles in your body, go slack.

“Mmmm.” You sigh against his lips and he pulls away just far enough to see your blissed out features as you float back down to Earth. “Always knew you’d be good with your fingers.”

“You wanted to get caught, didn’t you?” Your face splits into a grin and he shakes his head. “Fuckin’ knew it.”

You open your mouth to speak, but you’re distracted by Eddie sticking his fingers into his mouth and sucking your juices from them. Cupping his cheeks, you lean forward and your lips brush together when a loud scream suddenly cuts through the relative silence. Startled, it makes your eyes snap open, but you visibly relax when it dawns on you that the noise isn’t anywhere near where the two of you are.

“I wanna play that one,” an underage voice shouts and it’s answered by a decidedly more bored adult voice. “Come on!” The child sounds impatient and is probably dragging the adult behind him in the direction of the game of his choice.

“Shame that,” you say as you adjust your top, covering your chest up once more. You move away from him and he hates the fact that there’s space between you now. “I totally would have let you fuck me as I played the pinball machines.”

“I have a van,” he replies, helpful and hopeful at the same time.

“Aren’t you a charmer?” You stick a hand in your pocket and he thinks he can hear you jingle some coins. “Still got some quarters left so you’re shit out of luck.”

“You’re just going to play a couple more games after that?“

“Uh, yeah? I never leave until I’m all out of quarters. Sorry.” Eddie’s expression falls, but his smile returns when you press your lips against his cheek and whisper in his ear, “Can’t you wait a little bit longer like a good boy? Promise I’ll make it worth your while.”

“Promise?”

“Promise.” You give his lips a quick peck and wink. “If you think I’m going to end this day without having your dick inside me then you’re an idiot.”

Someone clears their throat loudly behind you and when you turn, you see what you can only assume is the owner of the bored adult voice earlier.

“There are kids in here, you know,” the man huffs.

“I don’t see any,” you say as you flip him off. “Or are you talking about yourself?” You grab Eddie’s hand and pull him along with you. “Come on, babe. Let’s leave these games for the kids, huh? We both got what we wanted. For now.”

The implication of what you’d done there hangs in the air as Eddie lets you lead him past the man and he barks out a laugh when he sees the furious, and dare he say frustrated, expression on his face.

Fully expecting to leave, he can’t hide his disappointment when you come to a standstill in front of a machine, Q*bert, and take a coin out of your pocket, obviously intending to still stick to your rule of not leaving until you had no coins left.

“You’re still going to- Jesus Christ.” He shakes his head as you put a quarter in the slot and start playing. “I’ll just get comfortable here then, shall I?”

“Uh-huh,” you reply, “just stand there and look pretty. Maybe it’ll help.”

“Okay, I can do that.” He folds his arms and leans against the cabinet next to yours, very much mirroring the stance that he had taken earlier. “But seriously, just one game and then I’m dragging you out of here.”

“Fiiiiine. One game,” you say with a loud groan that didn’t sound anywhere near convincing enough. “But you’d better settle in, pretty boy, because I can make these games last a lifetime if I have to.”

“Did you just call me out over not being good at playing video games? Seriously?” Amusement was dripping off his voice, because he honestly didn’t care that he was no good at any of the games here. But he could have sworn that you had just issued him a challenge and he had every intention of winning that. “Honey, I can last real long when I’m doing other things.”

“Sure.” If you were trying to come across as unimpressed, it wasn’t that successful. You looked more curious than anything else. You shrugged, a bit noncommittally, and threw in a, “They all say that.” 

“I actually do though.” Eddie took a step closer and he could see your fingers tightening around the joystick, fully prepared to try your damndest not to let him distract you. One more step and he’s so close now that his lips are a couple of inches away from your ear. He clears his throat and chuckles when you jump ever so slightly. “Baby, I’m genuinely not boasting when I say that I could be down there for hours and I don’t think that I need to elaborate on that now, do I?”

You release the breath that you didn’t even know you were holding, close your eyes for a fraction of a second, and then the telltale “game over” tune starts playing.

“Fuck.”

“Oh no, sweetheart, did you just lose? I was really looking forward to seeing you play as well, but… a deal’s a deal.” Before you could protest (which you wouldn’t dream of doing), Eddie grabs your hand and makes good on his promise of dragging you out of the arcade. “I just really want to show you what I can do now. Promise you won’t be disappointed…”

And here's the picture that partially inspired this one...

[tomorrowxtogether]

YEONJUN: “It’s the one and only time I’ve ever truly been in love with something I’m doing”

TOMORROW X TOGETHER The Name Chapter: FREEFALL comeback interview

2023.10.26

YEONJUN, an artist firmly planted in the now, took a look back at the times when he didn’t feel he amounted to anything at all.

​I heard you have some new hobbies, including photography and listening to vinyl records. Is there a reason you’re taking pictures with special equipment now?

YEONJUN: As you know, I’m always having my picture taken by cameras. One time I was hanging out with a friend and they showed up with their camera. I saw the photos they took when we met some time later and they were amazing. I wanted to be able to do that, too—to look back on memories of everyday moments that would otherwise just pass by and capture them instead. The photos I take will be more than simply what the other cameras capture of me—they’re my very own behind-the-scenes look at things.

You mentioned that you’ve become more introverted and that you’re devoting more time and energy to yourself.

YEONJUN: I used to always meet up with friends whenever I had some downtime, but now it’s like I keep looking for things I want to do alone. I mean, my job requires that I’m constantly in front of other people.. At some point I took a look and realized I didn’t have a single minute to myself. I felt like I needed some time exclusively for me. I never used to like eating alone, but at some point, it became something I felt comfortable doing, and I ended up with more time to recharge my batteries while quietly writing lyrics or cleaning up my room.

It sounds like the change happened while you were figuring out for yourself what your needs are.

YEONJUN: I habitually end up taking a look at how I’m doing, so I’m usually pretty self-aware.

Since you know yourself that well, you must be very aware of how you come across to others. Is there any special reason you carefully pick out your outfits, even on just regular days?

YEONJUN: With my job and everything, I always make an effort to dress decently, even on regular days. I think your outward appearance is important in this job, and paying attention to small details like that is one way I take care of myself.

​You’re very hard on yourself, so you usually aren’t totally satisfied with your own performances, but you said, for the first time “in the longest time,” you were “satisfied with” and “proud of” your performance of “Back for More (with Anitta)” at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards.

YEONJUN: We do the same dances hundreds of times for every song, so I can tell when I’m doing a good job or not. In most cases, there’s parts I’m a little unhappy with. Maybe I didn’t manage my energy properly, or I missed a move, or became a little stiff, and even if mistakes like those don’t show, we know. Those are the kind of small details only we notice, and even if people say we did a good job, we just feel bad about it no matter what. I feel like it’s hard to pull off as well as we do during practices because of the different outfits and our physical condition on the actual stage, but I felt like I actually was as good at the VMAs as when we practiced, so I was happy with the performance.

Did you plan every single thing in advance while practicing, like how to move your body without a single issue by carefully thinking through your movements down to the angle of your legs and the small details with your toes?

YEONJUN: It’s habitual now. You don’t think about how you should hold your spoon when you’re eating—you just eat. Similarly, the same thing applies to everything from angles to small details when practicing because all of those things have to be perfect. I don’t set out to pay special attention to any particular part when dancing—it just comes naturally to me now that I’m always paying attention.

I was really impressed the way you suggested to the other members of the group that you treat practice like the real thing for Lollapalooza Chicago, or how you actively contributed ideas on how to improve things when you were working together with the backup dancers from overseas.

YEONJUN: I think that was a result of me feeling like I’m responsible when it comes to matters of the stage. I want to be free and loose when performing at a festival, but looking back, it felt to me like we came across less like having a good time before and more stiff. So I thought, if we can’t just go in right away feeling loose, we need to practice that. And I naturally learned how to work better with backup dancers thanks to all the experience I’ve had. I’ve been working with all kinds of people ever since I was a trainee, and I learned that it’s better even for the people you’re collaborating with if you don’t hold anything back and just speak openly about your thoughts. I also feel like you have to know how to put a somewhat laid back, comfortable atmosphere in place in order for things to go smoothly.

You once said that “whether it be the biggest venue or the biggest stage for a singer, I want to perform in it.” Since then, you headlined Lollapalooza and performed at the VMAs. Would you say that, to some extent, your wish came true?

YEONJUN: Very much so. But I still want more. Humans are greedy. (laughs) I want to push our boundaries as far as we can. Playing on big stages is a significant source of motivation for me. Achieving one thing doesn’t mean it’s the end. I don’t want to slide back when we’re already up here. The more we grow and deliver good results, the bigger the expectations from the audience. I think the higher you climb, the harder the fall can be, and that pushes me to keep obsessing over getting better. But most importantly, I don’t want to let myself down.

our third studio album is about gliding down toward your dreams while also taking on the real world. Are you experiencing any “growing pains,” like in the lyrics to the single “Chasing That Feeling”?

YEONJUN: I know I have a lot of room for improvement, but I don’t really want to show that part of me to other people. I know just how much I still have left to work on. That’s why I have to work harder and why I’m so obsessed with the idea. It’s something that eats away at me sometimes, but I also know that it helps me grow, so I don’t shut it out. And that’s why I really want to capture that drive in our latest single. I want to be totally absorbed in the song when I’m performing it for people.

I’m reminded of when you were recording the previous album and you were frustrated because you were having a very hard time putting the direction you received into practice even though you understood it. What were things like this time around?

YEONJUN: It was like that this time too. Some songs are suited for my voice and easy to sing, but there’s also songs that make me go, What —am I seriously this bad? (laughs) “Happily Ever After” was hard because the really high and thin style is a bit different from my own, and yet “Growing Pain,” even though it was my first time trying something like that, was actually fine. I’m really into rock these days and it was fun because I think I really leveled up while singing it. I wanted to show off that I’m good at stuff like this, too.

You helped write lyrics for five songs on this album, and you always give your lyrics a really trendy, unique spin. What’s your approach to writing?

YEONJUN: I’m actually getting a little bit confused lately. The writing process didn’t go so smoothly this time around. (laughs) I don’t think it’s easy to incorporate my usual writing style with the kind of storytelling that the label is after. I actually thought I had a good grasp of that before, but not that much of what I wrote was a good fit for the album this time, I guess. (laughs) Bits and pieces of my lyrics made it in, but it feels like I wasn’t grasping the right feeling or like I wasn’t quite sure of myself when I wrote them.

It’s like the more you feel that sense of conflict, the more you crave to be creative.

YEONJUN: I’ve had that exact same thought lately. (laughs) I’ve also been working on a mixtape, but writing the lyrics has become a bit harder, and that’s because I’m trying to write good ones. I feel like I can’t really get going—maybe because I’m too worried about being perfect. It’s like I used to write freely before but now I have so many hang-ups that it’s like torture trying to write, like, Man … What now? Once again, it’s all because of the pressure I put on myself.

For all the pressure you’re feeling, you sure show a lot of pride and self-confidence. How can you consistently feel so proud of your group when you’re practically a perfectionist when it comes to your own work?

YEONJUN: I just … I just feel confident. Sometimes I feel like I’m not good enough and I lose some of my self-esteem, but I don’t think I’ve ever lost my sense of pride in the group or in myself. To be honest, there’s going to be some people who think we’ve had some things relatively easy thanks to how good our label is and the artists here that came before us. While it’s true that we got help from so many people, we’re the ones who made it through it all and we worked for everything we ever achieved. I have pride and confidence in that. Because, at the end of the day, we’re the ones who walked this road and made it all this way.

I think the reason you keep reaching for someplace higher without settling for what you already have is because you know that you can make it.

YEONJUN: I think I can—at least I’m confident I might be able to. You’ll never make it otherwise. You need to have spirit at least if you want to make something happen. (laughs)

When MOA recently asked you if it’s okay for them to watch the boy group survivor show that aired recently, you were quick to respond, “You can watch it. I’m not worried—I know you still love me.” Did you say that because you’re confident in yourself or because you feel secure in your relationship with MOA?

YEONJUN: Both. (laughs) Anyway, I mean, of course they can watch it. But I had this kind of confidence: “You would still love me more.” (laughs) And anyway, I know MOA is just joking around and trying to make me jealous. (laughs)

You sound like legit friends. (laughs) You’ve said you don’t feel the slightest bit nervous or any kind of pressure when you’re on stage and it’s just MOA.

YEONJUN: Just as you don’t second guess yourself or give a second thought to what you’re doing when you’re with your real friends, when we’re going to see MOA, I tell the other members “Guys, let’s just have fun!” They know and love everything about us better than anyone—everything from our personalities to the ways we sing and dance. So I don’t feel any pressure at all. Conversely, I feel a little pressure when there’s other people there because I want to make our fans proud.

What do you feel is your secret weapon for making your fans so proud? When you were on SUCHWITA with TAEHYUN, he said it’s your “charm and star quality.”

YEONJUN: My secret weapon? Well … I’m curious, too. I don’t really know, to be honest. Maybe just, I guess, that I’m equally not too bad at everything? (laughs) Now that we’ve been around a few years, I’ve heard so many times that younger artists really, really look up to me. It made me think, Am I really that great? What is it about me? (laughs) And I’ve thought about it from time to time, but the honest answer is that I just don’t know. But also that I kind of do? (laughs) If I were forced to choose, I’d probably choose what TAEHYUN said, but I think I’ll just keep working hard all the same, no matter what it is. (laughs)

When you and TAEHYUN said on the show that you’re determined to make it all the way to the top, it made me curious where you get that kind of ambition from.

YEONJUN: I used to be this kind of person who wasn’t good at a single thing. But then people started to pay attention to me for the first time when I danced at school. I was terrible at it (laughs) but the kids all said, “You’re good at dancing,” and that’s where it all started. I wasn’t ambitious and full of drive like this at first, but then I became a trainee, got a little better fighting through the steep competition, eventually debuted, faced even more competition, and step by step, throughout that process, it was only natural that I became so ambitious. I never wanted to do anything other than this, and that’s still true today. What would I do otherwise? It’s not because I’m not good at anything else but because there’s nothing else I love and put as much emotion and energy into. There’s plenty of times when this job gets hard, but I think I’d be having a much harder time if I weren’t doing it.

Did pursuing your dream have a direct effect on your self-improvement even when you had lower self-esteem?

YEONJUN: It must’ve had a big effect. When I first went to dance academy, I was so nervous that I couldn’t even sing. I couldn’t dance, either. I was really scared and had no confidence, asking myself if I was even capable. It felt like no one would ever notice me. But then, while I was there, I heard things like, “You have good facial expressions when you dance,” and, “Your tone is good when you sing,” and every time I was paid a compliment like that, it was a huge boost. I think that built up my self-confidence a bit, again and again, then more and more and more until I got to where I am today. So many people were by my side during those tough times. They became my friends and spent their time with me. Looking back now, that was both one of the hardest and one of the happiest times of my life.

Wow. It sounds like taking this path changed you completely.

YEONJUN: True. So true. It changed me a lot. It’s the one and only time I’ve ever truly been in love with something I’m doing.

You were asked who you would want to be if you could be one other person for a day, and you answered no one because you like yourself better than anyone else. What do you feel when you look back at everything that’s happened to you so far?

YEONJUN: The life I’ve led so far, the people I’ve met along the way, all the relationships, my job—I’m just so grateful for everything. That’s why I’d want to be reborn as me again. Even if I had to go through all the rough times again. Because I know I’d find the happiness in all of it anyway.

[mauvecherie-writes]

hey hope you well - love your work btw

i just wanted to say somethings as a lh44 girlie myself (from SA)

i’ve seen since the arrest of diddy that ppl many on some of the f1 subreddits are pull out some pics of diddy and lewis and to be honest i wouldn’t be surprised if some of these f1 media sites start writing articles about lewis linking to diddy as there’s pics of them together from like 2008 (all from public events like fashion shows or award shows) to the met gala in 2018 where lh posted something good about diddy on twitter

i just wanted to know what you think about this.

as i think this diddy case is extremely serious and i understand that everyone is having their tinfoil hats on and is saying everyo celeb that as partied or taken a pic with diddy was on it with him - but it think we should becareful cause we don’t know yet which of these celebs were in on it doing bad things, which were victims or which were not apart of it at all

sorry for the long post , thank you

TW: THE SEAN ‘DIDDY’ COMBS INVESTIGATION TOPIC.

I typically don’t like answering such asks on my page because this my only space of escapism away from everything going on. I really like keeping my page as positive as possible and strictly to just about writing.

However, I want to answer earnestly without bringing more people in my inbox with the same topic because that is a particular conversation, I’ve discussed this on my Twitter and my Instagram but I will share it here as well.

I think it’s very fucking weird that people are using the less than 5 times Lewis has been pictured with that monster at public events as a gotcha moment. They are celebrities - they will take pictures with other celebrities, that’s just all it is.

To the F1 subreddits I don’t engage with them at all because I find them (Reddit in general) to be a breeding ground for negativity, racism and other bigotry. They will always find a reason to bring down Lewis because that’s what they’ve been praying for. Any chance they can get to speak ill of Lewis and bring negative attention to his name, they will do it. As a fan, it’s within your best interest to either not engage or call it out.

Because at the end of the day, formula one is a white dominated sport - any chance to kick the black man out and tarnish his name, they will do it.

Also another thing I find disgusting of this whole situation - this whole bringing out pictures of celebrities with P Diddy takes attention away from the GRAVITY of the CRIMES he’s committed. Everyone is now focused on which of their faves stayed away from the gang rapes that were orchestrated as a way one up each other on the morality scale instead of actually holding Sean Combs accountable and making sure that he feels the full hand of the law on his back. But honestly Sean Combs deserves to DIE.

[mulders-too-large-shirt]

s2 episode 2 thoughts

woohoo! we are back for another s2 moment! each night i do my duolingo and then have mulder and scully time <3

so we open on a boat which is already awful. boats are lowkey horrific. and something grabs a man working on the sewage and pulls him under. what the hell! worst case scenario on MANY fronts

then we see our good friend mulder who is listening to audio recordings. and boy was this a scene, because he had sunflower seeds everywhere, cartons of takeout scattered, a million empty cans and cups, and a page of little doodles. all while he sits in the dark.

i figured perhaps this was the squalor of the single man apartment, but no! someone opens a door and light pours in, and tells him he has to leave and someone else will take over his case. and that poor man gets forced into his disgusting space. truly the king of not giving a fuck. please try and give one fuck for me mulder

skinner moves him to a murder case in new jersey and he's all "but why did skinner want MEEEEE"

anyway he goes into the sewers, which are thankfully now free of eugene tooms due to the hard work of that one escalator... everybody say thank you escalator... and he finds a body and says send that back to the FBI

mulder busts into skinner's office to yell at him while he was IN A MEETING oh mulder!!! i get ur mad but have some decorum! he's like WHY are you wasting my time! well mulder if you want to work your way back up the ladder i think screaming at ur boss is not a good place to start!

(we also see that skinner's first name is walter and that he has a picture of bill clinton on the wall which i know made sense at the time but in 2024 it's just really funny. there's old willy looking over business)

cutscene to mulder Pondering in the dark and look! enter our dear friend scully!

"is this seat taken?" she asks "no, but i should warn you i'm experiencing violent impulses" he replies. "well, i'm armed, so i'll take my chances" she answered, and i audibly said "AWWW" <3 how sweet

he says he wants to leave the bureau! but she is his only reason to want to stay! gasp! we are gonna have to unpack that later!

she's like but you have a body right...? can i see the body....? can i pls pls pls pls be involved in ur case?

girl's night: autopsy edition! this body was quite decomposed and it had me wondering how exactly they film these scenes, and while i was pondering the process of making a prop body, we hear a loud thunk of scully removing the dude's rib cage to which i nearly fainted but we were Fine it's okay

and i'm holding my breath trying to deal with seeing this dude's insides when we get a WORM JUMPSCARE crawling about in his corpse

back in new jersey we see more sanitation workers and another man getting pummeled by the sewer beast... have we considered giving these men a raise?

the man has a nasty wound and i wrote "i am not built for this" in my notes but mulder strolls into the doctor's office while he's being checked out to investigate... we see the wound that the sanitation guy thinks is a snake that got into the sewers... and i'm thinking that doesn't sound right but i don't know enough about sewers to dispute that information

scully calls and he has to hang up and he gets ANOTHER call and picks up like "scully not now >:(" BUT THE GAG IS... it isn't her... it's some guy saying he has a friend in the FBI....... um

scully has mulder come down to the lab to show off the worm she found and give the audience a nice PSA to not eat raw meat! thank you dr. scully! we then get some worm facts and she seems pleased

BUT MULDER IS MEAN and he accuses her of being responsible for the phone call and she looks so hurt! she says she wouldn't betray his confidence by talking about him wanting to leave! mulder i get that you're in your questioning era but literally one episode ago she picked up your mostly dead body from a jungle compound so?? let's be rational here???

the next scene involved blood coming out of sanitation man's mouth and mostly what i wrote at this point was a few variations of "AUGH" "i cannot look" and "cannot handle this"

at the sanitation plant they capture whatever this Thing is and oh my. well. all i can really think of are those fake mermaids. you know the barnum fake mermaid hoax? or is that too 19th century niche? well either way, it looks like that but Worse. and equipped with suckers. it's a gnarly beast to gaze upon and i wrote more "AUGH"s here

cutscene to scully on a computer reading worm facts. back when you used a big ol computer to research creatures. i miss the 90's (disclaimer: i was not alive for them at all)

mulder lets her see the creature (which they have put in a mental hospital?) and she is SO excited to see this sort of beast BUT she figured out it was connected to the first attack because someone slipped a magazine article with a hint under her door!!!! looks like there really is someone on the inside...

she also says "i'd consider it more than a professional loss if you decided to leave" WAHHHHHHH <- me crying like a baby at this line

mulder's sitting in skinner's office like a kid stuck in detention and skinner says they're gonna prosecute the worm monkey baby thing and i nearly cried at the mental image of putting that beast on trial. skinner was like "you want to put it in the zoo?" I fear that's far more reasonable.....????? like how is he gonna testify he's WORM MONKEY BABY THING

mulder is again very pissed off and tells skinner that they could have saved the second man (who died in the shower while i was looking away from his bleeding) because he had agents who could have handled it but he shut the x files down and skinner is like. i know. but i was just following orders... tea....

okay so i THOUGHT the worm monkey was baby sized but now they're taking him somewhere else and he is full man sized... but he breaks out of his restraints, we hear a gunshot, and he escapes into a toilet... NO, i yelled to the sanitation worker on my screen, THE WORM IS INSIDE (he couldn't hear me)

mulder's at the scene and gets another mysterious phone call telling him he CANNOT mess this case up because there needs to be undeniable proof the x files must come back... okay no pressure!

so the worm monkey is somewhere in the sewer plant and scully calls like "i think the little worm we found was a baby and it's looking for a place to lay its eggs so we CANNOT let it escape"

(mulder and another worker go into the sewers without any sort of worm monkey handling equipment, idk i was thinking a shotgun might be appropriate here. like what did they think they were gonna do? wrestle it?)

the other worker falls in so NATURALLY our hero mulder (who is still a hero even if he has been cranky af lately) jumps in after him

and mulder GUILLOTINES the worm monkey in what can only be described as an average fox w 🔥🔥

at the end we see scully and mulder once again meet on a public bench in the dark, where she shares that the genetic testing proved that this thing was actually a mixture of human and worm that came from radioactive waste at chernobyl??? so. that's fucked up. haven't they suffered enough.

(but i like that this is a monster made possible by humans and yet still very real, even if that seems... an unlikely story... still, for dana scully's sake i'm happy this is something that can be proved by Science)

((although i hate to know what the implications are for the chernobyl dogs in this universe...))

we end with a shot of worm monkey baby, who has been split in half, re-opening its eyes. now i do think sea worms can sometimes grow back so this isn't SHOCKING. but it is displeasing nonetheless.

overall, listen; mulder, you've had it rough. they've slashed your life's work and you doubt reality. but man. clean your desk up. be nice to scully. skinner is clearly on ur side. i need to shake his stupidly tall frame and knock some sense into him. that beautiful woman wants to tell you worm facts and you should be writing it all down intently.

(good angst though, love that she's the only reason he wants to stay. and love her little autopsy time <3)

[thesolarangel]

A touch of cinnamon and spice

Chapter 4

summary: Our boys awkwardly talk about their feelings.

3.569 words · Rated: EXPLICIT · Please read the updated tags on AO3!

Notes: Sorry, I totally forgot to mention this before: Robin and Steve are roommates! Also, Steve doesn’t know what D&D is! For the sake of this fic I will ignore the fact that they normally wouldn’t have their own bathroom at their dorm room. In case you didn’t know: putting a sock on the outer doorknob of a room means “Don’t come in, we’re doing spicy stuff!”

Read on AO3 here

Chapter 4 · November 6th 1987 

“Hey, I’m back!”

Jonathan shut the door and threw his backpack onto his bed.

“Hmm.” Eddie made a noise of acknowledgment but didn’t look up from his book. Not even his favorite story had managed to cheer him up, even though he had loved reading “The Hobbit” since he was a kid. Instead, he was staring at the sketch he had made of Steve, which he had kept between the pages… 

“Listen, you should come to the game with me.” Jonathan sounded determined. 

“Huh?” Eddie turned his head to see if Jonathan was joking. Football? Really? He wasn’t a fan of sports and Jonathan knew that.

“I just think some fresh air would be good for you… And to focus your mind on something else for a change…” Jonathan shrugged. 

Eddie frowned. It hadn’t even been a whole week since the halloween party. He had a hard time shaking off the memory of the kiss. Steve’s soft lips against his own and the fireworks in his chest… And the dreadful scene that unfolded in front of him afterward.

Since then, Eddie had run into Steve a few times in the halls or the cafeteria. He had tried to talk to him, but Eddie had bolted every single time. He had taken notice of Steve’s worried face, but he wasn’t interested in what he had to say. Eddie was still hurting and it was embarrassing. He shouldn’t care so much about a guy he kissed once. So he chose to mope about it in his dorm room and avoid leaving whenever he could.

“I gotta take some pictures for the school paper”, Jonathan went on as he prepared his camera with a new film, cleaned the lens, and stuck it into his camera bag. “You could tag along?”

“Ugh, alright.” Eddie sighed as he got up from his bed and stretched his back. “I guess I don’t have anything better to do anyway.”

…

The moment he stepped outside, Eddie regretted it. He had only thrown his leather jacket over his hoodie when he had left the dorm.

It had been an especially uncomfortable November day. The weather was grim and cold, large dark gray clouds were covering the sky. He pulled the hood over his unruly hair which helped a bit to keep the wind from his neck and face.

Unsure about how this could change his already miserable mood, Eddie grumpily accompanied Jonathan to the football field.

Jonathan took his place at the side of the field, all the way down the bleachers whereas Eddie was walking up a few steps, looking for a free seat. Despite the weather, it was very crowded since it was the last game of the season. 

“Hey, Eddie!” A familiar voice called his name.

Oh no.

Equipped with a dark blue coat and a burgundy scarf, Steve was sitting a few rows ahead. He was giving Eddie a small reluctant smile and offered the free seat beside him. His usually neatly styled hair was a little messy, due to the relentless fall wind. 

Eddie felt his shoulders tense up.

Just be casual, Munson. Like he didn’t consume your thoughts for the last few weeks.

“Hey,” Eddie said as his cheeks blushed slightly with embarrassment. He sat down, hands in his pockets, pretending to follow the game to avoid Steve’s view. Their college’s team had just scored a touchdown and everyone was cheering around them. Colorful banners and big foam fingers flew through the air as they shouted their team’s anthem.

After a while, Steve spoke up carefully: “Um, so I wanted to ask you… why did you leave the party so suddenly?”

Here we go.

“You seemed busy flirting with someone else, so I thought it was better if I left,” Eddie answered dryly. His shoulders felt tight as he waited for the impending rejection. 

“I wasn’t flirting though.” 

“Huh?” Eddie raised his eyebrows at him.

“I was catching up with some friends I hadn’t seen in a while. And when you were gone, I was so confused.” Steve said softly. “I was genuinely looking forward to meeting up with you again…” 

“Oh…” Something inside Eddie began to stir with hope. This was not what he had expected. 

Steve awkwardly scratched the back of his head. “I, um… I thought we had a moment that night.” And now it was him blushing and not looking at Eddie. “Sparks, fireworks, whatever you wanna call it…”

Eddie stared at his feet, letting his long curls fall into his face, hopefully concealing his flushed cheeks. He had to wrap his head around what he had just heard, but Steve sounded honest. After all, he could have just ignored Eddie and moved on, but here he was, talking to him, clarifying what had happened. It had all been a big misunderstanding.

“We did have a moment…” He glanced over at Steve, lips curling into a soft smile.

“So… are we good?” Steve asked, playfully bumping his shoulder into Eddie’s.

“We’re good, Stevie.” Eddie let out a huffed laugh. He sat upright again, relief flooding his body and he felt his shoulders relaxing. “Damn, now I wish I had stayed.”

“There’s always next time if you want.” Steve gave him a charming smile and their eyes locked.

One day Eddie’s heart was gonna jump out of his chest at how beautiful Steve was. He looked at him with kind eyes and this stupid grin on his face. 

What did I get myself into… he’s so pretty…

…

They watched together as Steve made a few comments about the course of the game. Eddie nodded along, pretending to understand the football lingo, but it gave him an excuse to look at Steve’s handsome face.

“So, how come Robin isn’t with you? The two of you seemed pretty inseparable.” Eddie asked, eager to find out more about Steve’s life.

“She’s currently at our dorm with her girlfriend, Nancy, the girl that you saw at the party,” Steve explained. “Also full disclosure, Nancy and I used to date in high school, but that didn’t work out, and now we’re friends.”

Their team scored another goal and the audience around them roared. 

“Honestly I have no idea what’s going on down there!” Eddie chuckled and gestured towards the field.

“Then why are you still here?” Steve laughed.

“It’s the excellent company for me, Stevie” Eddie smirked.

…

Eddie felt a few raindrops fall onto his nose and cheeks and he looked up at the sky. It had started to drizzle, but the dark clouds in the distance looked very ominous.

Those who were thoughtful enough to bring umbrellas and raincoats were fine, but Eddie groaned as his jeans and hood slowly got drenched.

What started as a light shower that was easy to handle, quickly developed into massive rainfall with heavy gusts of wind. Down on the field, the players kept slipping and losing their balance on the soaked lawn due to poor visibility from the rain and wind. 

At first, the announcer reported that they were keeping the game going, hoping the rain would subside soon. But with time, the injuries kept piling up and several players of each team had to be taken off the field to be treated by the paramedics. The breaking point was when one of the quarterbacks had hurt his ankle so badly, they believed it to be broken.

Once again, the announcer’s voice roared from the speakers: “That’s it, folks, we’re gonna have to pick this up another time! Please get inside safely and don’t rush!”

Steve nudged Eddie in the side: “Let’s go!”

…

Back inside, Eddie took off his hood and rubbed his hands together. He was completely drenched and freezing and Steve didn’t seem to have gotten away any better despite his winter coat.

Steve looked like a sad, wet puppy: Big eyes, hair deflated, wet strands hanging in his face, rain dripping from the tip of his nose.

“Are you okay?” Eddie chuckled, the sight that Steve presented was just too cute.

“I can’t go back to my dorm…” Steve let out a groan of frustration.

“Why not?”

“Robin has invited Nancy over to our room.” He glanced over at Eddie. “We have a deal: I watch the game, they can have some alone time…” 

“Ooh.” 

Steve looked at his watch. “I have like 2 more hours to kill at least”, he said with a frown.

“You can come to my dorm”, Eddie offered. “I can help you warm up”, he added with a cheeky smirk.

“You’re ridiculous”, Steve laughed but followed Eddie to his dorm room.

…

Eddie lent Steve some sweatpants, a faded Metallica shirt and showed him to the bathroom where he could get changed.

Meanwhile, he threw his own wet clothes on the radiator, slipped into comfy pajama pants, a Black Sabbath shirt, and then frantically tried to clean up the place. Once he was done, it was still a mess, but he hoped Steve wouldn’t pay much attention to it.

“Thanks for the change of clothes, I already feel so much better”, Steve said, stepping out of the bathroom. He was rubbing his hair dry with a towel which made the already very small shirt ride up at his waist and expose a gorgeous dark trail of hair from his bellybutton to the rim of the sweatpants. 

“No problem…” Eddie’s voice trailed off as he glanced at Steve’s exposed skin and the way his shirt stretched over his pecs and biceps. 

Steve put both hands on his hips and let his gaze wander around Eddie’s side of the room. Posters of his favorite bands, like Metallica, Judas Priest and DIO, magazine cutouts and a few concert tickets were plastered all over the wall. A large banner that said CORRODED COFFIN in black and red distorted letters had been hung in the middle. An acoustic guitar was placed next to the TV at the foot of his bed.

“Corroded Coffin is your band, right?” Steve asked and pointed to the banner.

“Yeah“, Eddie answered, delighted that he remembered the name. 

“I’d love to hear you guys play someday.”

“I’m gonna convert you to a true metal fan, just so you know.”

“We’ll see about that”, Steve laughed.

Next, he wandered over to Eddie’s cluttered desk in the corner. It was covered with drawings, weirdly shaped dice, pencils and books. He picked up one of his books and raised an eyebrow.

“Dungeons and Dragons, huh? Sounds kinky…”

Eddie snorted. “Right…” 

Steve sat down on Eddie’s bed, stretched out his legs and put the towel around his neck.

“Do you wanna watch a movie?” Eddie asked. He was happy to see that Steve had already made himself comfortable on his bed. “Here”, he took his blanket and threw it over Steve’s legs.

“Thanks. Do you have Star Wars?”

Eddie’s face lit up, excited that Steve was a fan, too. He went over to his stack of VHS tapes next to the TV. “Sure, which one do you wanna watch?”

“The one with the teddy bears,” Steve replied with a confident grin.

“Really, Steve?” Eddie rolled his eyes at him.

“What?” Steve shrugged. 

“You’re lucky, you’re cute”, Eddie commented while looking for the right tape.

The characteristic Star Wars intro blared from the speakers. The bright yellow writing on the starry sky slowly floated over the screen, introducing the premise of the story. Eddie sat down on the bed next to Steve, who, without saying a word, lifted the blanket and Eddie snuck under it with him.

Smiling to himself, Eddie felt himself buzzing with excitement on the inside. He was ready to take it slow, but he also really wanted to kiss Steve again… 

Throughout the movie, Steve kept asking random questions like “Who’s that old guy again?” and commented “I have no idea what’s going on…” when the rebels around Han, Leia and Luke met up to discuss their plan to bring down the empire.

“I thought you’ve seen this before?” Eddie laughed, but Steve just shrugged.

Eddie shifted in his seat and sneakily scooted a little closer to Steve, snuggling against his side. They were practically cuddling by now and Eddie felt the energy shifting slightly as Steve leaned into the touch. 

“Han Solo is so hot”, Steve remarked about thirty minutes into the movie. 

“Dark cheeky rebels do it for you then, huh, Stevie?” Eddie teased.

“Maybe”, Steve whispered and suddenly there was a broad hand on Eddie’s thigh, giving it a little squeeze. His heart started beating faster. They were so close… Breathing in Steve’s wonderful sweet scent and gazing deep into his longing eyes made Eddie feel warm all over. 

Steve’s gaze dropped to his lips. “Can I kiss you?”

“Next time sure is here faster than I thought”, Eddie gave him a cocky grin.

“Shut up”, Steve laughed and pulled him into a soft kiss. 

The way Steve kissed him was exhilarating, Eddie felt like fireworks were bursting in his chest. He tilted his head and kissed him back impatiently while tugging on his waist to get him to come closer. Steve climbed into Eddie’s lap, both of his legs on either side of Eddie’s. He was met with Eddie’s arms wrapping around him immediately. 

“For the record, it’s called Return of the Jedi...”, he mumbled between kisses.

“Hmm?” 

“The movie. Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi”

Steve looked at him confused and with kiss swollen lips and flushed cheeks. “Is this your idea of making me swoon?” He asked with a huffed laugh.

Eddie grinned and sealed their mouths again. Steve’s fingers wandered into his hair and started drawing patterns into the nape of his neck, sending shivers over Eddie’s sensitive skin. 

They made out with the movie still playing behind them, neither of them paying attention. When Eddie playfully bit into Steve’s bottom lip, then licked over it apologetically, Steve suddenly let out a small moan. 

Eager to find out what other sweet sounds Steve would make, Eddie did it again, this time biting a little rougher. Steve let out another soft noise of pleasure.

“Eddie…”, he whispered and then his lips were on Eddie’s again, kissing him hungrily. “Eds… I really like you…” Steve said in a low voice, rolling his hips slowly in Eddie’s lap.

“Would be strange if you hated me since you’re in my lap and…” he teasingly grinded his hips upwards and Steve let out a choked whimper “...hard.”

“You don’t seem unaffected by this yourself…” Steve licked his lips and gazed at Eddie from under his long lashes. Experimentally, he drove his hips down harder.

“Stevie…” Eddie groaned and his hands moved to grip Steve’s hips, guiding his motions. 

“God, you’re so hot, why are you so hot…” Steve was almost slurring his words between kisses and driving his hips down into Eddie’s crotch.

Eddie answered by pulling Steve into a filthy kiss, greedily sliding his tongue inside his mouth, earning him another moan. His hand found its way under Steve’s, well, his t-shirt and brushed over his nipple. The lewd noise that Steve made went right to Eddie’s dick. Something hungry was building up in his belly, yearning for more.

“You’re driving me insane, you know that?” Eddie growled against Steve’s hot skin while kissing down his neck, licking and biting gently. “Lie down for me, okay?”

“Okay…” Steve let Eddie maneuver him until he was lying on his back, splayed out, letting his legs fall open for Eddie to fit snugly between them. But instead, Eddie got up.

“Hang on a second…” he said, grabbed one of his socks from the floor and put it on the outer doorknob of the room.

“Woah, you have high hopes”, Steve chuckled and raised an eyebrow at him. 

“Well, Stevie, I’d say that’s entirely your fault, laid out like this on my bed, looking like a snack!” Eddie just shrugged and laid on top of Steve and kissed him again before he could say anything else about the sock on the door.

“I still wanted to tell you… at the party, hmm” Steve broke off mid-sentence as Eddie was attacking his neck with wet kisses. “You looked so hot… the eyeliner and no shirt, just the jacket… I couldn’t stop staring at you.” 

“You’re one to talk, I wanted to rip that tiny white shirt right off… that chest hair, lemme see, please?” Eddie was tugging at his shirt and Steve sat up so Eddie could take it off.

Eddie immediately buried his face in Steve’s beautiful chest hair. Steve was all broad and hairy, whereas Eddie was more on the lean side and just sported a few hairs on his own chest. Steve’s tanned skin was peppered with moles all over his torso like little kisses and Eddie was determined to find every single one and kiss it himself.

He let out a pleased sigh and began to trace the shape of Steve’s pecs and gently took his nipple into his mouth. He flicked his tongue over it, then the other one, making Steve squirm under his touch.

“Ahh oooh, Eds!” Steve bucked up his hips. 

Eddie came up again to kiss him and rubbed his crotch back against Steve’s whose hands flew to Eddie’s butt, squeezing, spurring him on to give him that delicious friction.

“Steve…” Eddie purred over him and propped himself up on his elbows, stroking with one hand through Steve’s hair that stood up messily from his forehead. “Stevie, baby” he whispered again to get his attention.

“Yeah?” Steve looked utterly ravaged, blinking up at Eddie, trying so hard to concentrate. Eddie knew he was close, he felt it and saw it in his gaze.

“As much as I’d love to mindlessly hump you, Stevie, these are my last clean pants. The ones you’re wearing and mine.”

Steve let out a small frustrated groan. “So what do you propose?”

“Good old-fashioned handjob?” Eddie suggested with a grin.

“I’m up for that” Steve smiled. “But first, take this off please, I wanna see you, too” he pulled on Eddie’s shirt and slid it over his head.

“You have more tattoos!” Steve’s eyes went wide as he traced the tattoo on Eddie’s chest with his fingers.

“I do,” Eddie chuckled. “Planning on getting more, too.”

“Hot…” Steve said in a low voice as he admired Eddie. He reached up to cup his jaw and dragged him down into another kiss.

Eddie helped Steve tug down his sweatpants and underwear as well as his own. He felt his excitement grow upon seeing Steve’s heavy cock again, this time hard and up close. 

His mouth began to water. Another time maybe…

“Here, let me”, Steve offered as he wrapped his broad hand over both of their shafts. Eddie moaned loudly when Steve began to slowly pump his hand, using their precum to ease the glide. 

“Steve… oh god”, Eddie rocked into his hand.

“Feels good?” Steve’s voice sounded rough and filthy. Eddie felt the blood rush through his veins.

“Yeah… you’re amazing” Eddie whimpered shakily. “I’m close, Stevie.”

Steve gently rubbed his thumb over the sensitive underside of his swollen cockhead, taking Eddie by surprise and with a sudden cry, he spilled across Steve’s stomach. Encouraged by this and Eddie’s wrecked noises, Steve moved his hand faster and soon he was shooting his own big load onto his tummy and watched it mix with Eddie’s.

Both of them were breathing heavily. Eddie bent down to give Steve a tender kiss. “I like you, too, you know… In case you didn’t know already.” Steve gave him a stunning smile, eyes gleaming, cheeks pink. Eddie peppered a few more kisses to the corner of his mouth and his cheeks. 

After cleaning themselves up, they cuddled up under the blanket again. They watched the rest of the movie while laughing, kissing, enjoying each other’s company and eventually Eddie asked: “Do you wanna stay here tonight?” 

Steve was sitting in his lap again, with his back to Eddie’s chest, Eddie’s arms around him. “Don’t you think Jonathan will be back at some point?” 

“I’m pretty sure he’ll just go over to Argyle’s and sleep there”, Eddie replied and gave him a suggestive look. “With the sock still on the door…”

“I guess I can stay then.” Steve smiled.

“Awesome! Let’s order some food and then… How about The Lost Boys next?” Eddie grinned.

…

Jonathan had been at the photo lab after the football game had been canceled and was now making his way back to the dorm. It was already dark out and he wanted nothing more than to lie down with a good book. As he approached his dorm, he noticed a white tennis sock hanging on the doorknob and he stopped in his tracks.

He did see Eddie and Steve sitting next to each other on the bleachers and he had hoped they’d talked things through. So hopefully it was them in there… talking.

He grinned to himself and turned around.

Jonathan knocked on the door, heart racing in his chest as he clutched his bag and waited.

The door swung open and Argyle, long dark hair flowing over his shoulders, stood in the doorframe. His face lit up once he saw it was Jonathan.

“Hey!”

“Hi,” Jonathan smiled shyly. “My dorm is occupied tonight, can I stay with you?”

“Absolutely, come on in!”

tag list: @starlady66 @fenharel-enaste @queenmeriadoc @elronds-pointy-ears @hbyrde36 @hammity-hammer @corrodedbisexual @spoookysix @rozzieroos @cranberrymoons

devider by @firefly-graphics

[delicatemusickingdom]

Book 1 Part 1 Chapter 1.2

Chapter 1.2

When people focus, their sense of time becomes warped. Long periods of time can pass by in the blink of an eye, while at other times an instantaneous moment can pass excruciatingly slowly. 

Yuri felt like that, facing Flynn. He started to lose track of how much time had passed. 

After assuming his stance, Flynn was completely motionless. Yuri started to wonder if time had stopped, but of course that couldn’t be the case. 

Behind him, Jareth and the other boys from the lower quarter were probably watching their match with bated breath, but he didn’t have the leeway to pay attention to them. 

If he lost focus for even a single moment, he would be taken down in an instant by a single powerful blow. There was no doubt about that. No, it might not be a single blow, judging from Flynn’s behaviour in Jareth’s match earlier. It might be a relentless flurry of blows that wouldn’t give Yuri time to surrender even if he wanted to. 

Will I even be able to make it back home without any help, Yuri wondered. It was a passing thought from the back of his mind, but he found it funny that he still had room to make such witty remarks to himself. 

To a casual bystander they might look like nothing more than children playing at sword-fighting. While that might be true, at the same time it was also a serious competition — the complete opposite of the words ‘for fun’. Yuri made a conscious effort not to dwell on the irony. Anyway, regardless of what he thought, the reality of his situation wouldn’t change. 

On the other hand, Flynn had also sensed that this second challenger was somewhat different from the first. Yuri was obviously playing at it by ear, and his stance was full of openings, there was something about him that made Flynn uneasy. Like there was some kind of hidden power within the boy. If he struck carelessly, he could suffer an unexpected counterattack. Flynn decided to be cautious, and wait for his opponent to move first. 

Another long moment passed. 

Although they appeared to be at a stalemate, the situation was anything but. Beads of sweat started to gather on Yuri’s forehead. 

If I knew this was going to happen, I would have learned how to use a sword at the very least. Though at the same time he thought that, he realised there wasn’t really anyone who could teach him. He hardly saw anyone in the lower quarter carrying weapons, to begin with. 

Outside the Imperial Capital, he heard it was essential to be armed in order to defend against monsters. With things like swords and armour. Or blastia. While such convenient and powerful magical devices were regulated by the Imperial authorities, people capable of handling a sword in the lower quarter should be common enough… Or so Yuri thought, but he had never heard talk about it. 

Perhaps among the residents, some of them were people who once lived adventurous lives. Well, even if they existed, Yuri had no way of knowing who they were. In the first place, all of the adults of the lower quarter looked like they had zero fighting experience. When he pictured Hanks holding a sword, he could only think of it as a funny joke. Violent weapons such as swords only befitted someone like Jiri. 

— Jiri?

The moment he became aware of that name, Yuri felt his thoughts being drawn to it, and he thought, Oh, crap, but it was too late. 

“Make sure you’re back by dinner time.” That terrifying voice resurfaced in his mind. 

He started to grow worried. What time is it? How much time has passed since then? If we don’t make it back in time for dinner, she won’t stop at just a scolding—

Suddenly, Flynn grew bigger. No — he’d only thought so because Flynn had suddenly closed the distance between the two of them. Flynn thrust out his stick fiercely, as if he was wielding a real sword. Yuri immediately leaned back, barely managing to dodge the blow. 

Immediately, Flynn twisted his hand, swinging his sword horizontally. Yuri barely managed to dodge this as well, almost flattening his body against the ground in the process. 

He isn’t trying to kill me, is he?!

Without a moment’s hesitation, Flynn’s stick swung down from above. Yuri managed to roll on the ground to avoid it, using the momentum to get back up while putting some distance between them. 

But Flynn had no intention of giving Yuri time to recover. He immediately stepped forward and closed in on Yuri, swing his stick without any shred of hesitation.

The attacks came in a consecutive sequence. Yuri managed to evade them by exerting every part of his body to the utmost. He didn’t bother parrying. A clumsy parry would only end up like what happened to Jareth. Until he figured out how to counter that disarming technique of Flynn’s, such a risky move was out of the question. 

Yuri knew far too well that Flynn’s technique and skill far surpassed his. Amidst his dodging, he looked for an opportunity to counterattack, but that was out of the question — it was already taking all he had to hold on to his stick, let alone think about attacking.

For a newcomer, he sure knows a ton of skills… and this is despite him being a kid just like us. Yuri licked his dry lips. Did Hanks and the other adults know? Well, even if they knew and told me, I doubt I would have remembered. 

Flynn’s movements were flawless and merciless. There was no doubt about it, he had received professional lessons from someone. I don’t know much about the ‘other side of the wall’, but I don’t think they’d teach all of the residents inside how to wield a sword. Which means—

The unrelenting attacks suddenly stopped. Flynn took a step back, readying his stance. 

Is he going to unleash a new attack? Careful not to show any sign of doubt in his expression, Yuri observed Flynn warily. 

But Flynn was also wary of him.  

Flynn had let out a series of consecutive attacks, but unexpectedly Yuri had dodged all of them, even if it was by a hair’s breadth. It’s true he had looked down on them for being rough and uneducated kids, but he hadn’t gone easy on them either. Though black-haired boy’s foundation was lacking and he lacked any sort of refinement, his movements were surprisingly agile, like that of an animal. Flynn still looked down on Yuri with contempt, but that fact alone had to be acknowledged in his favour. 

Yuri had no idea Flynn was thinking all this, but thanks to that he had acquired some breathing room. 

Taking advantage of the lull in the fight, Yuri voiced the thought that had been running through his head earlier. 

“……Do you, by any chance, come from a family of knights?” 

He was just blurting out his thoughts, and he wasn’t expecting it to have any effect. But upon hearing Yuri’s words, Flynn’s demeanour changed completely. It was as if a living and breathing thing had suddenly turned into stone, or water had frozen into ice. Flynn’s body stiffened, and his stance relaxed. He lowered his face slightly such that his golden-coloured fringe hid his expression. 

Yuri also realised something was wrong. Just as he was about to say something, he heard a sound akin to low growl. 

“…………up.”

“What?” 

“I said, shut up!”

With a yell, Flynn furiously attacked Yuri. The swing came in so fast, it made Flynn’s previous moves look like a trial run in comparison. Even if it’s just a stick, it can still be life-threatening if it hits me in the right spot! 

“H-Hey, wait just a moment!”

But it didn’t look like Flynn had any intention of listening. His once complicated expression was now filled with fury. He looked like he was planning on giving Yuri a thorough beating. 

Yuri desperately parried, somehow surviving the onslaught of attacks. Wait, I can parry them? Unlike before, Yuri was able to block Flynn’s stick with his own. Despite the anger-fuelled attacks growing in intensity, they were more predictable than before, Yuri realised. 

Something about his words must have triggered Flynn. His golden hair had puffed up in anger, to the point it was detracting from the finesse of his movements. 

Swordsmanship — knights — mother and son. So it was like that.

He could provoke Flynn even further. If he did it right, it could even expose him to a counterattack — No, that won’t work. 

Yuri firmly dismissed the idea. He didn’t like the idea of relying on such dirty tricks. 

Then what should I do? The attacks were easier to handle than before, but only by a small degree. It wasn’t like Flynn was giving him an opening big enough to exploit. And if he dawdled for too long, Flynn would eventually cool his head. If that happened, there would be no chance of winning. 

But then, what?

Yuri quickly leapt back, putting distance between them. before surging forward. He swung his stick over his head with all his strength and leapt forward. He got in front of Flynn’s face and, with a battle cry, swung his stick down at his opponent’s head. 

“HAAAAA!”

But Flynn blocked the incoming attack diagonally with the side of his stick. Then he twisted his wrist, hooking his stick under Yuri’s, and flicked it upwards. It was the same disarming technique Flynn had used on Jareth — the moment Yuri recognised it, he released his grip on his stick. 

Yuri’s stick flew into the air, and Jareth and the others let out a gasp. 

Flynn’s eyes widened in surprise. 

Paying no heed to his lost stick, Yuri continued his momentum and rammed into Flynn, hitting him squarely in the shoulder. The two boys crashed onto the ground in a tangle of limbs. 

Cheers resounded. 

Amidst the dusty ground, Flynn lay on his back, while Yuri sat on top, straddling him. His knee pinned down Flynn’s right arm so he couldn’t lift up his stick, and his fist gripped Flynn tightly by the collar. 

He was breathing heavily. Sweat dripped down his temple. He had taken a gamble and won — as expected, Flynn wasn’t on guard against attacks outside of swordsmanship. Now he just had to hope that Flynn wasn’t just as skilled when it came to a fistfight. 

Will he calm down if I hit him two, no, maybe three times? If so —

Underneath Yuri, Flynn suddenly relaxed, and all of the strength in his body went away. 

“!?”

With a confused expression on his face, Yuri looked down at Flynn, who lay underneath and gazed up at him with unwavering eyes. His eyes are blue, Yuri thought. It matches his golden hair perfectly. 

“Are you satisfied?” 

Flynn’s voice was cold, as if all the passion he had shown just moments before was a lie. 

As Yuri searched for a response, Flynn furrowed his eyebrows with displeasure. 

“If you’re satisfied, can you move out of the way?” 

Surrounding them, Jareth and the others started to get noisy.

“Yuri won!”

“Serves him right for acting so high and mighty!” 

One of the boys picked up Yuri's fallen stick and brandished it at Flynn. 

“Stop it!”

The shout came from Yuri. The boy holding the stick flinched as if struck by a whip, and threw away the stick. 

“We’re done here. No more of this. Understand?”

After seeing Jareth and the others nod with confusion, Yuri slowly got up. After a pause, Flynn got up too — leaving his stick on the ground. 

Flynn brushed the dust from his clothes and turned his back on Yuri and the others. Without saying a word, he started to walk back to his house. 

Should I say something? Yuri wondered. But what do I even say? Jareth and the others were holding their breath, waiting to see how Yuri would react. Dammit, how can they act so carefreely?

“Flynn?” 

A voice that didn’t belong to any of the boys rang out. 

Yuri turned around and saw a woman standing on the streets. She wore simple clothes typical that of the lower quarter residents, yet there was a certain air of refinement about her that made her look out-of-place.

“Mother.”

Before Yuri could recall who she was, Flynn spoke — and then the memory came back to him. Several months ago, she was the woman who came to the lower quarter with Flynn — Flynn’s mother. 

She looked haggard, as if she had just recovered from an illness, and there was a worried expression on her face. She shifted her gaze from Flynn to Yuri and the other boys. 

“And these children are…? Were you all…”

“It’s nothing. They just came to… play. They’ll go home soon.” 

Flynn said in a cheerful voice. It was the first time Yuri and the others had heard such a bright tone coming from him. Flynn was even smiling, even if Yuri could tell it was a little stiff. 

Yuri noticed Flynn staring at him. 

Please shut up and go home. That was what his eyes were saying. It was less of a demand and more of a petition.

Jareth opened his mouth to say something, but Yuri lightly elbowed him in the side, and he fell silent. He gave a small nod to Flynn’s mother, hoping he didn’t look too unnatural. 

“……I see. Thank you for coming all the way here.” 

Whether or not she knew what Yuri was thinking, she smiled faintly. However, that smile soon disappeared like vanishing mist. 

“I’m really sorry, but I have to start preparing for dinner now. Flynn, could you come in and help out?” 

Speaking quickly, the mother walked past Flynn. She went through the doorway and disappeared into the house.

It was just the boys once again. 

Flynn looked like he wanted to say something to Yuri, but he only turned on his heel and followed his mother, disappearing into the house. 

The front door closed. Yuri and the others stood there for a while. No one moved or spoke, like actors that had suddenly lost their turn on a stage. 

“……Let’s go home. Grandma Jiri won’t leave any dinner for us.” 

Yuri finally spoke. As if the tension had dissolved, Jareth and the others silently nodded. 

On the way back, Jareth and the others were quick to forget their lesson, running their mouths about how Flynn narrowly escaped with his life, as expected of Yuri, and so on. At first Yuri only listened silently, but soon he started to grow angry at Jareth and the others, who were the ones to instigate the whole thing. He felt like he wouldn’t be able to settle down unless he told it to their faces.

“Listen here, you all. I’ll let it go this time, but next time, you’re on your own.”

Now that they know what Flynn is capable of, if they choose to mess with him they’ll get what’s coming to them. Jareth and the others probably wouldn’t be able to win even if they all ganged up on him.

But soon became clear that Jareth and the others didn’t take Yuri seriously.  

“Don’t be like that, come and help us again.” 

“Yeah, yeah, and give that guy a beating again.”

Even Jareth, who had been thoroughly beaten by Flynn, acted like he hadn’t learnt his lesson. To them, Yuri was a person that, no matter how harsh his words were, when it really came down to it, he would always come in and save them. And that Yuri’s current displeasure only stemmed from the lingering feelings of his match. Yuri let out a sigh. 

“Today’s win was a fluke. I just got lucky.”

Of course, Yuri knew that luck had nothing to do with it. 

That confrontation. When he was straddling Flynn, he noticed that Flynn wasn’t even breathing irregularly. Yuri, on the other hand, was breathing heavily and sweating like crazy. Even though there was a moment where Flynn lost himself in anger, it didn’t affect him as much as Yuri thought it would. 

If the fight had continued, and they started exchanging blows with their fists, who would have won?

Yuri felt torn between feeling relief at having been saved, and feeling like he would have preferred to let it play out and see who would have won. 

Did I want to beat him? I’m not sure. I didn’t really go into that fight with that intention in mind. But then, what’s this itchy feeling in my heart? 

Yuri walked silently and alone, with a frown on his face, all the way until he reached ‘My Home’. 

It was well past dinner time by the time they got back. 

Yuri was prepared to receive a fist the moment he stepped through the entrance, but Jiri only glanced at his face and the faces of the children following him, and must have read something from their expressions, because she only let out a snort and said nothing. She reheated the food and served it to the boys.

In exchange, Jiri remained there and watched with her arms crossed in silence as the boys ate. Even though she hadn’t ordered them not to speak or said anything of the sort, not a single line or conversation was spoken during the meal.

Overwhelmed by the pressure in the air, everyone tried to finish eating as quickly as possible, barely even conscious of what they were eating or how it tasted. 

The dinner was more bearable than to a badly thrown fist. 

Unaware of the plight of Yuri and the others, Hanks sat in a chair in the corner of the room, snoring away.

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[blueteller]

Random Disney Theory: Hunchback of Notre Dame

So, you know how you re-watch your favorite childhood movies sometimes, and suddenly you get wild theories?

(No? Just me? ....Okay then...)

Aaaanyway, I just watched the Hunchback of Notre Dame again (specifically, I skipped to listen to all to songs, because they're amazing, obviously). And something important occurred to me, and I can't have been the only one to notice this:

Quasimodo... doesn't look like this biological parents at all.

(Keep in mind: I know that this movie is based on a book, so maybe there are answers about that in the original source material. I've never read the book, however, and we all know Disney just takes the general concept from their source materials anyway. So I'm just focusing on what we are shown in the movie, and that's it.)

Now, I admit: it's only a defult assumption that the Romani man in the beginning with Quasimodo's mom ("Romani" being the current official, non-offensive name for the "Gypsy" poeple, according to web info) was her husband, or Quasimodo's father. It doesn't mean that was the case.

Perhaps the man was her brother, thus Quasimodo's uncle. Perhaps the two Romanis were simply friends, or temporary companions. (Personally I don't believe that, since their body language when they saw Frollo seems to imply a close relationship). Or maybe they were lovers, but due to some complicated circumstances the man was Quasimodo's stepfather, his biological father being someone else.

All of that doesn't matter, however. Because no matter how I look at it, even if Quasimodo's father was some light-skinned, green-eyed, red-haired man... that's not how genetics work. Red hair is a recessive trait: meaning, he should have taken after his dark-haired-and-skinned mother. Even if Quasimodo was only half-Romani, he doesn't share any Romani, and it's clearly not because he's deformed. He has typical European descend.

Quasimodo just isn't... a biological Romani, and it's obvious.

The answer to "how can that be?" is simple, of course: Quasimodo had to be adopted. ...Twice, if you count whatever the heck Frollo. But if you put this information in the perspective of the whole movie... doesn't that make the fate of his mother unbelievably tragic?

Picture this: a Romani woman, obviously on the run from something – probably racial persecution – adopts an infant son. A deformed infant son, of a different race than herself. What does it tell you about Quasimodo's past...?

Quasimodo was actually abandoned before, by his real birth mother. Frollo was accidentally correct about that!!

...Of course, it's possible that his birth mother just died during birth or something, but like... wouldn't then Quasimodo be adopted by one of his relatives? Or family friends? If he was loved by his biological parents, there should have been someone. The Romani clearly weren't trusted folks in that time period, so sincerely entrusting them with a baby seems extremely unlikely. It's far more plausible that Quasimodo was abandoned on a street, and picked up by the travelling couple, who took pity on the child.

Naturally, the fact that Quasimodo's mother adopted him doesn't make him any less her true son. She was a real mother to him – as proven by the fact that she died for him. She was running with such desperation, and not for a moment did she consider abandoning her baby in order to escape Judge Frollo.

And this is what makes this whole thing so tragic... Quasimodo's Romani mother loved him sincerely, with all her heart, as a mother should. There is no doubt about it. And yet, not only did Frollo kill her, then tried to kill her baby, then raised Quasimodo so cruelly... he spent the next 20 years telling Quasimodo that she was the kind of person who abandoned him. That "Gypsies are not capable of real love". He sullied her name in the most despicable way possible.

Ah, Frollo, that disgusting man... I'm so glad he was so petty he revealed the truth to Quasimodo in the end. She really deserved to be remembered for what she did for him.

[daemour]

Pairing: Hongjoong x gn!Reader (but not really romantic lol)

Genre: Fluff, non-idol au

Word Count: 745

Warnings: None

Summary: A late night photo inspiration leads to something more.

an a new, long awaited tipsy drabbles!! this is actually my second draft because the fist one would have been far too long and not taken me 2.5 hours lmao

optional pt 2

-

It’s not recommended to walk in Manhattan at night. But when have you ever had safe, good ideas? As a self-proclaimed photographer, some things you must sacrifice for the perfect shot, and safety is one of them. (And not following that advice is also something you should ponder.)

The city's lights were just so brilliant tonight,and paired with the strawberry supermoon, you couldn’t help yourself.

You find yourself in a park, getting a gorgeous shot when a voice interrupts your artistic journey. “I guess we’re after the same thing, huh?”

You spin around, and a young man with grey hair smiles at you. He’s skinny and petite, and yet his smile draws you in and gives you a sense of fire in his heart. It’s only after a moment do you notice the Fujifilm in his hands.

“Maybe we are,” you offer him a small smile, clearly hoping he would leave you and your socially awkward ass alone, but he doesn’t seem to get the hint.

He nods at the camera clutched in your hands. “Mind if I take a look?”

Your bottom lip finds its way between your teeth. You’ve never really shown your work to others outside of your family and friends—you aren’t truly a professional, not like he seems to be.

As if sensing your hesitation, the man whose name you still haen’t got smiles reassuringly. “No pressure of course. Sometimes it really can feel like bearing your soul to someone.”

The complete and utter understanding in his voice does the exact opposite of what it was meant to accomplish, and you get a bust of confidence. “Here,” you say, offering out your old and worn camera. The stranger is surprised but takes it with a warm smile and a small ‘thank you,’ suddenly seeming less intimidating and more…human.

There is a moment of silence as he clicks through some of your pictures. “These are really good,” he says, looking up at you and you avoid eye contact, instead focusing on the streetlamp over his head. “You’re very talented and have an eye for composition.”

“Ah, it’s nothing special, I didn’t draw inspirationg from my–” you start to mutter, but he holds up a hand to stop you in the middle of your sentence.

When he finally is able to meet your eyes, it feels like you’re rooted to the ground and yet sinking into his gaze at the same time. “Don’t say that,” he says quietly but with such intensity that you wince. “Although it’s often said that the best art comes from one’s experiences, that’s not always the case. Even the most casual pieces hold just as much integrity as the more soulful ones. It’s clear you did your best, and that’s what matters.”

There is so much sincerity in his voice that you can’t help but look away. It’s not often you get a thought-out opinion on your work, and hearing it come from a stranger just makes those words mean even more.

“Thank you.” You almost whisper your words of gratitude but the man takes no offence, instead returning your camera with a smile. When you put it back into its bag and sling the strap around your shoulder, he raises an eyebrow.

“Done then?” You nod, and he fumbles in his pocket before pulling out a business card and handing it to you. “I know it may seem like a scam, so feel free to ignore it if you want, but I actually run a studio and I would love for you to come in and chat more. Have a good night.”

And just like that, he walks away and is gone before you can even blink. It’s too dark to look at the card, even under the flickering streetlamp, so you put it in your pocket and it weighs heavily until you reach your modest apartment.

It’s only then you pull it out and look at the name on the sleek, silver card. Kim Hongjoong. A quick google search later and you almost drop the card to the floor. You just had a three am conversation with a world-renowned photographer.

Almost a week passes before you have the courage to dial the number and it rings for such a long time that you think he may have forgotten when a click is finally heard. “H-hello?” you practically whisper out and there is such a long silence that you think he’s hung up when–

“City girl.”

[herrlindemann]

LEGACY - October 2005, Interview with Oliver

'Rosenrot' is the name of RAMMSTEIN's latest work, which will be released exactly four days after this issue of Legacy on October 28th. A top placement in the charts shouldn't be taken away from this album. Everything the band has touched has turned to proverbial gold. Where is it going, the motor ship RAMMSTEIN, in 2005? The predecessor 'Reise, Reise' was just under a year ago and questions were allowed to be asked.

After the music journalists present were allowed to listen to the album twice in the morning, everyone later turned up for their interview. I met bassist Oliver Riedel for an intimate meeting in private. I hope I do not disturb you? “No, everything is fine.” Already a year ago I heard - at least that's what I think - one or the other song here, which didn't make it on 'Reise, Reise' at the time. The most urgent question first: How much of 'Rosenrot' was there at the time 'Reise, Reise'? “For 'Reise, Reise' we recorded 18 songs. A total of seven songs remained, and we quickly came up with the idea of ​​making another album next year. But seven songs is a little bit for an album! In any case, the tour plan was already in place at that time and so the idea came up that we could write four more songs in the intervening, counter-free time. It ended up being quite difficult. Really new are 'Benzin', 'Mann gegen Mann', 'Spring' and 'Te Quiero Puta'.” Oh, the Spanish song is new? I thought this one in particular was left over from the last recordings in Spain. “No, that has to do with Till's interest in Latin America. He's in Costa Rica a lot and always annoys us backstage before the concerts with his Mariachi songs. Of course, it made sense that we would also write a Spanish song at some point.” Especially in this song I find the female singing successful. This is how witches should sound! “We said to the record company: We need a deep and smoky female voice. A bit 'slutty'. Suddenly a lady from South America was sitting in our producer's studio, singing her part and then she was gone again.”

All of the songs on 'Rosenrot' seem to take a step back compared to those on the predecessor. “Most of the songs that we don't release on 'Reise, Reise' are definitely quieter ones. ‘Reise, Reise’ had to be powerful for us! The idea then was to make the new album quieter overall.” Is it the calm before the storm? Is the MS RAMMSTEIN stranded, as one might assume from the new cover, or is she on her way to new shores under full steam? “Actually, the album should be called 'Reise, Reise Vol. 2'. We quickly forgot about that title. Since we see the new album as an independent one, we needed a new title. That was a bit unfortunate, since the cover was already finished. So the ship on the cover picture is now called 'Rosenrot' and everyone can think about what it stands for. Opposites? The cold world? Where has the love gone? No idea. But the ship does not symbolize the now and us as a band.” So on the one hand both albums belong together, on the other hand they don't? "Exactly. At the moment we are not planning an actual tour with our own stage design for 'Rosenrot' or anything like that. That will certainly change again in the distant future.”

Already with the last album I noticed that everyone can now show what a good musician they are. In addition, the band itself seems more relaxed to me. “In the end we were bored at times by the old and traditional Rammstein sound. Sequencer is running, drums play 'uff uff uff', guitar and bass play the same thing too. We didn't want to do that kind of groove anymore. It is also clear that the drums are looking for new rhythms. Our real strength is certainly the 'march', but you should always do what you feel like doing. Then you are authentic.” But you obviously have more fun together than when you were doing 'Mutter’, right? “Absolutely! 'Mutter’ was our darkest chapter. After a long time of touring we were at our limits, there was a real imbalance in the band. For example, it's nice now that Richard can make his solo record. There he can express himself musically in a way that he would never be able to within the band.” Was the band ever near the end? “No, it was only briefly put on hold. However, we quickly became aware of what we had already achieved and how the band can be missed.” Like in a marriage? "Somehow. But in a marriage, it's rare to just take a break. The positions are probably a bit harder.” How often do you bother? “If the points of contact allow it. Paul and I have children of the same age - that's where you meet. During rehearsals we see each other every day, on tour sometimes only in the evening and Richard is in New York right now — that's why you don't see him at the moment.” So more like a meeting in the living room. You come and go and if someone is there, then you are happy. "Exactly.”

'Benzin', the first single with a brutal video, fits like a glove to the current oil crisis. But it could also be a biker song. What does ‘benzin’ stand for exactly? “This is certainly a multiple topic. But fire is actually a part of our band history. It has been with us the whole time. Paul just went to Till and said 'petrol' would be a cool word. Can't you write a text about it? And that's exactly what Till came up with when he heard this word.”

'Mann Gegen Mann’ apparently has a same-sex background. It should be great when thousands of metalheads sing this song together at concerts. Because actually, in the metal scene in particular, prejudices are extensively cultivated. So why this topic? Is it just about the taboo or breaking it? “We don't want to discriminate against gays. The song is more for gays. We simply wanted to take the weight off the topic and make it more natural.” What should the fan take away from this song? “A normal understanding of the other.”

For example, the lyrics to 'Ein Lied' would force me to write a proper rock number. Then this piece turned out to be extremely quiet, with a nasty kid melody. How did music and lyrics come together here? “The lyrics are always hanging on the wall in the rehearsal room or studio and 'Ein Lied' was created in just 10 minutes. There was the riff, Till took the lyrics and sang. We recorded the piece and it was done. The text of 'Mann gegen Mann', on the other hand, already existed in the ‘Mutter’ times, for example.”

I could already read it in advance: the Brothers Grimm and Goethe connect in 'Rosenrot'. For me actually - as far as RAMMSTEIN is concerned - it is somehow obvious. “The news naturally wants to give us a level or a depth that we don't actually flirt with. Till has always used this old and romantic form of verse. That's why he doesn't just deal with the Brothers Grimm or Goethe all the time.” Are Till's texts untouchable? “Nothing is untouchable. If someone in our company spends a long time grappling with an issue, they are of course anxious to push it through. But it can also lead to tunnel vision and we only try to correct that a little. A lot of people had to listen to that.”

'Spring' not only has a wall of guitars, but also lyrics dealing with the topic ‘boss’ or 'the mean mob'. Is there a connection to the band? Is the song a criticism of the mob who are on the prowl and treating others unfairly? That's how RAMMSTEIN went before. "Clearly. The mob creates its own creature. He wants to push you in a direction. Therefore you are right.” Looking back, let's take the discussion about your first cover. “We hadn't dealt with this topic before. We were naive. Of course, that was good for us in the end. Otherwise our own aesthetics might not have come about at all. The discussions about Rammstein have never hit the core, but only aimed at the surface.”

'Rosenrot' masterfully knows how to damage surfaces and perhaps also penetrate deeper to the core. The ice has broken and the MS RAMMSTEIN is picking up speed again. Let's wait and see what kind of waters the men will sail into in the future. Perhaps sails will be set, perhaps there will be kerosene propulsion. You can be curious, because this band always causes discussions between love and hate. Where would the (music) world be today without RAMMSTEIN?

[gothroughthelookingglass]

Making it it's own post!

@ayoharuko Thank you for saving my life with your reblog!

Y'know, I really didn't like school festivals. Partially because all the ones I've attended so far had an Overblot occur, but they were also just boring in general. Especially those end of the year ones. Like the one I was attending at that very moment.

The whole island was jazzed up for the joint school festival, and I was just sitting on the bench in the square doodling.

"Oi, prefect!" I looked up from my notebook, flower doodles littering the otherwise blank page, to see Ace and Deuce walking towards me. When I saw the large book in the formers hand, I raised a brow.

"What's that?" I asked, closing my notebook and setting it down. One of Grim's ears twitched as the pair came and sat on the bench on either side of me, and he moved to Deuces lap when Ace passed me the book.

"It's the sage island yearbook." Deuce explained simply. "This is your copy, Ace and I already signed it." I hummed with a smile, opening the book.

I was a part of that years yearbook committee as a photographer because of the ghost camera Crowley gave me. Most, if not all, the pictures of NRC and its students were taken by me, and I got some good ones at RSA as well, there was this end of year dance thing being hosted there and a bunch of NRC students went.

"Oh awesome, thanks for bringing it over." I expected that to be the end of it, but both Ace and Deuce had a little grimace on their faces. I sighed "Okay, what happened?"

"You should see for yourself." Ace stated gravely, flipping to the student hall of fame pages.

All the students and staff in both schools could vote for random things like 'most introverted' or 'teachers pet' or 'most likely to commit a crime and get away with it'(My Idea) stuff like that.

I quickly understood why Ace and Deuce were acting so...odd. one of the categories was 'Most Beautiful' and instead of one of the two Actors you'd expect to see. My name and picture were there.

It was a good picture, thankfully.

"Oh, that's what happened." I said plainly, a little in shock. "Have either of them even..."

"Vil Senpai hasn't gotten one yet. I'm not sure about Neige." Deuce said confidently. I waved my hand at the mention of Neige.

"That's fine, Neige isn't who I'm worried about." I hummed nonchalantly, looking at the other people in the hall of fame pages. Iida got 'most introverted', some RSA student got 'teachers pet', and Epel got 'Most likely to commit a Crime and get away with it' which made me laugh a bit.

He could, and would, pull that off. Depending on the crime anyway.

"Hey you know what this means?" Ace perked up, a grin on his face. "This means that a majority of students and staff in both schools think that you're prettier than both Neige and Vil!"

"Yeah, I noticed." I sighed out. "And I do not want that, Vil gets homicidal when he's jealous."

"Ah, Prefect." I froze, looking up to see Vil approaching, yearbook and a cloth pencil case in arm. "Just who I was hoping to see."

"Hi Vil Senpai." I greeted calmly, closing my yearbook and standing up, putting my yearbook on top of my doodle book after it had fallen from where I wedged it. "Something I can do for you?"

"I was wondering if you could sign my yearbook." He mused, holding it and the bag out to me casually. "I have plenty of to choose from."

Taking the two items from him, I opened the bag to see a variety of different colours and styles of pens.

"Only if you sign mine." I smiled, picking up the, admittedly heavy, book with my free hand and passing it to him. He took it with a smirk.

Luckily, there was a table nearby that we could put the books on to sign them better. I picked out a sparkly purple gel pen and jotted down a little note. I didn't want to take up too much space, since there were probably a lot of people wanting to sign his.

"Just because you're the Villian of someone else's story, doesn't mean you can't be the Hero of others."

Signing my name with a little flourish at the end, I closed Vils yearbook, and we swapped them back once he was done with mine.

And of course, this is when Neige popped by with his own yearbook, asking both Vil and I to sign it. Vil begrudgingly agreed, but handed it to me first. I took the book and switched my purple out for red.

"Be the Hero for whoever you can, even if that means stepping out of the spotlight."

By the time I had finished writing my little note and singing my name, I found that my yearbook was being passed around by my other NRC friends, everyone wanting to sign it. Ace, Deuce, and Grim had wondered off somewhere, probably a food stall.

"Say, Prefect." Vil started out, holding his yearbook under his arms while everyone was using his pens for my book. "What are you going to do now that the year is over?

"I... don't know, honestly." I answered plainly. "I'm not sure if Crowley would be willing to let me stay over the summer. Especially not since Grim has to go to that rehabilitation centre for the summer break after...well, you remember."

Judging by the face Vil made, he did indeed remember.

"Oh well, we can't have that!" Neige piped up, claping his hands together cutely. "You can stay with me for the summer!

"Um, Absolutely Not." I sighed at Vils immediate interjection. "The Prefect barely even knows you. They'll stay with me."

"And be stuck on their own? I respect you, Vil Senpai, but you're always working. If they come with me, they'll at least get to have some fun!" Neige countered, grinning. "Honestly Senpai, you need to learn how to take a vacation."

I sat back down on the bench, grabbing my notebook and flipping it to a clean page as the two Actors got lost in their 'my horse is bigger than your horse' like bickering. I pulled my pencil out from behind my ear and leaned back with a small smile.

"Oh geez, what's goin on here?" Epel walked over to me, my yearbook in hand, and sat down next to me.

"Oh, they both invited me to stay and their place for the summer and now they're arguing." I explained simply. Epel let out an amused chuckle and leaned back, my yearbook resting in his lap.

"Hey if you don't wanna deal with either of em you can always spend the summer with me. MeeMaw would loveta see you again." I giggled and nodded at Epels suggestion, it had been a long while since I spent a summer of a farm. "How long do you think they're gonna go at it for?"

"Who knows at this point."

The answer: Long enough for me to sketch them, steal a black inking pen from Vils bag to ink that with, and for me to go buy quality art pencils from a booth an RSA student set up And colour it.

[leffee]

Day 24: Potted plant

“Anybody wants another slice?” Penny looked around at her friends sitting at the table but they all simply looked to the sides at each other. “Alright, then I think for now it’s over with the eating.” She put down the knife, letting it rest next to the few smaller pieces left of what used to be a birthday cake.

“So, what now?” Minka chimed in after having licked her plate clean. “Dancing? Partying? Gifts?!”

Penny chuckled softly. “I think that question should go to the birthday boy himself.” She turned to Sunil who had been wiping his mouth, a few crumbs falling onto his plate. Upon hearing his name, he raised his chin and looked between Minka and Penny.

“Hm?”

“What do you wanna do now, Sunil?” Minka bounced in her seat.

“Right…” Sunil looked around carefully, his eyes scanning everything in sight until their gaze stopped on the gifts’ pile waiting in the corner. “Let’s go with the gifts.”

“Great choice,” Zoe agreed. “Not to brag, but my gift will definitely be the best, go on, darling.” She waved at Sunil who started moving the decorative bags closer to the table. 

“Remember, Sunil, no peeking,” Russell reminded with a grin.

Meanwhile, Pepper mumbled under her breath yet still loud enough for everyone to hear,

“Right, not bragging at all.”

In that time, Sunil brought all the gifts around the armchair where he now claimed his spot. His friends turned in their seats to have him directly in their line of sight and observed closely as Sunil reached out his hand, but it lingered over every bag it went for.

“Come on, Sunil, just choose one, you need to start with something.” Sunil rolled his eyes half-heartedly at Vinnie’s hurry but did promptly grab the bag closest to him which earned a clap of approval from Zoe.

“Wonderful choice.”

Now allowed to check his present, Sunil reached his hand inside the bag and pulled out… a sweater? He unfolded it and inspected from all sides, all while keeping in mind Zoe’s eyes sparkling in the background. The sweater looked way too familiar. Sunil eyed the attire he was wearing and then his gift once more.

“Um… thank you, Zoe, but… isn’t this the exact same garment I’m wearing right now? I have to say, it’s astonishing that you found the exact same thing, but-.”

“Oh, please.” Zoe stood up and walked up to Sunil with everyone’s eyes on her. “That’s not the case at all. You see,” She took a hold of the new sweater’s sleeve, “I know how much you like that sweater of yours, so I went to this very famous designer I have worked with before and asked her to make it, but better, and she did, look.” She grabbed Sunil’s wrist and made his palm slide down the sleeve.

“Huh.” Now that Sunil was really focused on the tactile sensation, he could feel the difference. “It’s so unusually soft.”

“I know, right? Just wait until you put it on, then you will really see what I mean. No need to thank me.” But she did smile proudly when Sunil reiterated his gratitude.

After putting Zoe’s gift aside for now, Sunil moved on to the ones still waiting for him. A small beginners painting kit from Minka - so he can “learn how painting really works”, a book about some older yet forgotten magic tricks from Russell, of course, and a collage of all his “best” pictures as Pepper put it, though to Sunil they were clearly just pictures that didn’t work out for him - group pictures where he specifically had his eyes closed or Pepper’s selfies with him turned away behind her, not knowing about any pictures being taken.

“Really, Pepper?” He raised his brow at her.

“You’re welcome.” She gave him two thumbs up.

“Right. Thank you, I think.”

There were only two gifts left. Sunil reached for one and brought it closer to himself. He grabbed the bag’s edges and widened the opening, eager to see what awaited him inside.

“Let’s see, what do we…” His voice trailed off in the same moment as his eyes widened, all his movements stilling.

“Sunil-?”

“AAAH!” He yelled, dropped the bag, and curled up as far as he could on the armchair. “Vinnie,” He looked up at his best friend with an accusatory gaze, “why on Earth would you think a venus fly trap is a right gift, let alone for me?”

“Wha- me?” Vinnie straightened up on his chair.

“Yes!”

“It’s not from me!” He defended himself quickly. “I swear, I gave you those headphones you were eyeing that one time, they’re there.” He nodded towards the other bag which Sunil grabbed and checked the inside slowly. Headphones.

In this case there was one option left, however, it was not a logical one at all.

Sunil turned to the person who was now everyone’s center of attention.

“Um, tada!” Penny did jazz hands while staring at the floor, her cheeks adorned by a heavy blush. “Surprise…!” 

“I… why?” Russell was the first to find his voice back.

“No, hear me out, it makes sense, here.” Penny scrambled to her feet taking her place next to Sunil who remained avoiding her gift. She however reached inside the knocked over bag and brought out the potted plant. “Venus fly traps eat insects and arachnids, you know? Bug!” She addressed Sunil who nodded slowly. “And you’re afraid of bugs, yes?”

“...A little bit.”

“Sooo, having one in your house would be useful.” Penny positively beamed. “I mean, I’m not saying it will make that big of a difference, but it might do some.”

“Alright, I see your point…” Sunil started slowly, but while still keeping his distance from the plant. “It’s unusual yet weirdly thoughtful, b-but still, what if it bites me? It still needs watering, right? So, I will have to get close to it.” He gulped.

“I did my research, the little things rarely bite when it’s not their designed food, but even if they do, it doesn’t hurt one bit, look.” Before anyone could react, Penny brought her finger closer to the plant and wiggled it near its mouth which closed on the finger after a while, but she didn’t even flinch. “See?” She easily freed her finger, not even a bite mark lingering on it.

“So cool!” Minka gasped. “Can I try?”

“Oh, me too!” Vinnie waved his hand at Penny who smiled at them.

“Maybe in a second. So, Sunil, what do you think? I know it’s an unusual gift, but…” She looked down at the floor again, however for only a second because Sunil’s response was exactly what she was hoping for.

“You’re not wrong, but as I stated, it’s weirdly thoughtful.” He flinched when Penny brought the plant closer to him but after a moment of hesitation willed himself into holding the pot, though still at a safe distance. “I think I will place it somewhere where I’m most often, so my room most likely, maybe it will really help me sometimes.” Sunil placed the plant carefully on the floor for now and gave Penny a hug who happily accepted, almost picking him up with the sheer strength of her embrace.

“Woah!”

While those two were busy, Vinnie leaned towards Pepper.

“You know, I really was hoping those headphones were gonna sweep Sunil off his feet, but now I’m pretty sure that this venus fly trap has overshadowed them completely.”

“No kidding,” Pepper replied while eyeing Penny who now literally swept Sunil off his feet. And almost suffocated him in her hug.

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

Okay, so maybe this is my most random idea yet.

Why be a wallflower when you can be a Venus fly traaap? Marina stuff yet again.

[lilyoffandoms]

Crimes Drabble - Trystan x f!mc (Sofia)

Warnings & A/N: I got a request for a music shuffle and m!Trystan x f!mc. The ask disappeared (I think I deleted it 😬), but thanks anon for this request. Thanks @trappedinfanfiction for letting me borrow your Sofia. So let’s explore what happens if Trystan takes the throne.

The traffic is noisy outside my window. Countless cars honking to get to work, to home, to where-fucking-ever faster. The city that never sleeps, only exasperating my sour mood.

I scroll through the pictures on my phone. Too few. Far too few. I should have taken more of us but I always thought there’d be an us.

The city that never sleeps.

I used to love it.

But it only feels empty now.

I was stupid to think there would always be an us. Of course the day would come when we worked to clear his name. Hell, it was my job to do just that for countless others throughout my career. Why would it be any different with his case? Why would I be any different with him?

But that spelled the end of us. If there ever was an us.

I look up from my perch on the sill and watch as the rain streaks down the window. Curtains more fall outside.

My own words to his question, asked months ago, echo in my head.

Even if he was given the change to return to Drakovia, would I still want to explore us?

I remember looking at Trystan in that drawn out moment and knowing without a doubt what my answer was.

Yes.

Yes, I would want to give it a try. Give us a try, even if I knew without a doubt what the end result would be.

I’m the only one to blame. It was my decision and I can’t regret that decision even now that it’s all come crashing down.

The conversation in his room had been honest. We had been honest from the get-go what this was, even if we didn’t ever talk about it much. But we did that night, in his room, that night I will forever remember. We talked, honestly and openly for the first time. Talked about what we both wanted, how this may go, and….

…Fuck it! I hated his honesty then and I hate his honesty now.

I wish he would have yelled. I wish he would have made up reasons. I wish he had been anything but honest.

I wish it wasn’t this hard.

This whole situation makes me angry but also, I’m not angry. Instead I’m just sad.

I wish I could just be angry.

Neither of us did anything wrong.

So how do I move on?

—————

The birds chirp outside my window. Screeching, annoying things that only exasperate my sour mood.

I scroll through the pictures on my phone. Too few. Far too few. I should have insisted on taking more of us but I always thought there’d be an us.

My country, my home. I used to love it, I used to want nothing more than to leave New York and return home, but now I wish only to return to New York.

I was foolish to think there would always be an us. Of course the day would come when she would clear my name. She was a driven, remarkable woman. One that could not ignore an injustice without setting it right.

Lyddles dragging me back here spelled the end of us. If there ever was an us.

I look up from my perch on the large window seat and watch as the sunlight bathes everything it touches. The opposite of my mood.

I recall Sofia’s words from months ago as we sat in my car, waiting. She had asked if I’d return to Drakovia if given the chance and I had answered as best I could. I never dreamed she’d still agree to trying us and, even more so, I could not imagine a world in which I would return here, much yet, take the throne.

I’m the only one to blame. It was my decision to accept this role and I can’t regret that decision even now that it’s all come crashing down.

But I do. I regret letting her walk away. Letting her board that plane. Letting her walk from my life.

The conversation had been honest. Probably for the first time since we had reunited here in Drakovia. But really, we had been honest from the get-go what this was, even if we didn’t say it aloud. We were honest about what we both wanted, how this may go, and….

…Fuck it! I hated her honesty then and I hate her honesty now.

I wish she would have yelled. I wish she would have made up reasons. I wish she had been anything but honest.

I wish it wasn’t this hard.

This whole situation makes me sad but also I’m not sad. Instead I’m just numb.

I wish I could be sad.

Neither of us did anything wrong.

So how do I move on?

—————

I glance at my phone. At his number.

And I talk myself out of it. Setting my phone down and throwing open the window to go and sit on the fire escape.

—————

I glance at my phone. At her number.

And set my phone down and stare at it.

I wish it wasn’t this hard, I think as my finger hovers above the screen.

——————————

Choices Tag: @storyofmychoices @peonierose @inlocusmads @aallotarenunelma

Other Tag: @choicesbookclub

[stormoflina]

I'm that mean anon from last night. I just want to add some infos and perspectives 😁😅

Trent is a generational talent and his passing and crossing and all but he is not a defender or midfielder through and through to be honest. That's where the problem lies. Say whatever they want like the gimmick or one player advantage tactics or fk all non sense modern shit we don't care and it's the fact that he is neither fish nor fowl. And the fact Klopp not wanting to concede his defeat and to transform him completely as a midfielder and not buying a proper defender like normal human is one of my most frustrating parts of this Liverpool club. Everyone in my cycle knows how much I hate Southgate with passion but in Trent case I'm with him all the way and Klopp just doesn't want to admit his chronic mistake. Southgate is a wanker but having a team with plenty of resources for midfielder and RB how and where can he uses and gives him a chance as a starter? There are too many other natural options to not takes risk of then why should he takes risk of. In Salah case me and my buddies might be against the massive brigade of fanatics or running into the wall but we don't care. I don't want to say much more. One example that will sum up this issue is that Cristiano's second coming to United. I believe you know what I mean. For the long term future benefits, if we should sacrifice the short term convenience then we have to do it. Be brave and just get on with it. We have basis requirements enough. Nothing can be worse.

Hi anon!

I'm guessing you mean this? https://www.tumblr.com/stormoflina/737537669393973248/me-and-my-buddies-discussing-the-other-day-about I don't think you were mean at all, very respectful with your opinions. I do have to make some apologies tho, first with the late answer, second, because I just reread and I think I did misunderstood you a bit, especially on the Salah bit. I think I just really wanted to say what I was thinking at the moment, and didn't read properly what you wrote. Sorry about that!

It's a very sad picture you are painting, I hope it never comes to that.

I do agree with you on that the refusal to admit and adapt to how our team looks, the players, and then fixing immediately the problems and shortcomings instead of whatever we are doing (praying that teens will step up instead of singing a DM for example...), it's so frustrating! Especially, because again, you look at the quality we have, how the table is currently, EL, the domestic leagues, and we are so game for all.

With Tsimi now joining the ever growing numbers of our injured list, I swear, if the club doesn't step up this January and start singing players, I might have to rage quit that month all together, lol.

With Szobo, I just wanted to add one thought. I think he is being taken too granted at the moment. Besides Harvey, he is the only midfielder who managed to remain available thoughtout our whole season. No red cards, no injuries, he was always a starter and he just started to get his minutes managed a couple of games ago. I hope, for obvious reasons, that it never comes to that, but the moment he is not going to be an option in that midfield, it will show. Crazy that after the City game, where yes, he didn't not look good, but wasn't horrible by any means, people were crying for a Gravenberch starter instead of him. Saying how immense he has been for us all season, while Dominik has been off for games. I actually hate that I'm developing an agenda, but I was all raised eyebrows ever since. That man had one good dribble against a not on form Ruben Dias and people were acting like he is the next Messi. Now, all of twt is full with hate for him, because he had a poor game yesterday. And people put Dominik and his name together in one sentence, too, saying how both have been shit, meanwhile Domi has clips like this, where Ryan doesn't even TRY to defend.

Offensively, yeah, he has been bad, but if not for him and his defensive efforts, there would have been goals conceded. This is so not the point, but I still think signing Gravenberch is just panicbuying and they still have no idea how to play him into the team. It's crazy how he's also the 5th (!!!) most played in the whole squad. His agent must be good.

[ducknotinarow]

[Foot Clan AU] 2k12 Karai Casey - #

| send me “#” for cell phone headcanons about our muses including:        

   "And what makes you think you can just look through my phone? Fine. Not like you find anything it's not related to anything with the clan anyway."

- what your muse’s name is in mine’s phone        

 'Cae'

"Casey was annoying when we were kids" She pauses a moment and moves to change her wording. "Caseys always been annoying even when we were kids. He started to call me Rai so to get on my nevers why he thought it would I don't know. Not like it worked." It did. "So I figured if I was Rai, then he was Cae.  And well I guess it just kind of stuck for me to keep with the nickname? Sure I still call him by name, but i'll admit when Shredder and such aren't around or its just us, he quickly goes back to being Cae to me. Don't think much on it."

- what your muse’s picture is in mine’s phone                  

[image description] It's a quick shot taken just as Casey seems aware of a camera on him. There is an ice rink behind him, a few hockey players can be see in the distance. Casey seems to have a faint smile on his face even as hes catching Karai taking said photo of them. Of course she would deny it and tell him she was simply seeing if she had any bars. Claiming she was bored, but it wasn't a good lie for once.

"Sometimes the three of us just sneak out to get away from the compound. It drives Shredder mad when ever we do, claims he doesn't want anything happening to us. Which is why I point out I brought Casey along for a reason. In truth it just feel so damn cramped in that place at times. Like i'm suffocating. Don't get me wrong sometimes I get a kick out of how the foot soldiers seem to sweat and shake at the mere thought of getting on my bad side, because they fear" she gives a roll of her eyes "dear old dad." The word come out bitterly before she continues to talk.

"Not when I with them however, I don't get hockey in truth I can follow the basic rules at least but well. It makes Casey happy." She smiles a little "I know Casey got it pretty tough" She just never fully knew the extent "And well sure hes annoying, and a pest a lot. Always hanging around to annoy me cause he just can..doesn't mean I don't feel he should get a break himself time to time."

           

- what your muse’s ringtone is in mine’s phone                

Big by Betty Who            

If legends are loud and built to stand out Guess that's who I'm meant to be Ten feet tall and I'm proud of it

"Cause Casey's a gaint and take up space clearly." She wont say the real reason and normally for these one I have just been letting the charter talk. But I feel this needs explanation so imma expose her here today. When picking these ring tones its meant to be a song that makes the my muse think of your for one reason or another. I just really feel this song fits well for Casey in this AU. Because Casey in a sense is made to feel sorry for being who he is because of Shredder. Karai is one who sort of falls for how Casey portrayals himself though with this over bearing confidence hes hiding behind in part Karai isn't fully blind and knows its not the full case, seeing how she dose like to try and sneak them out to places that makes Casey happy. Reminds him of his real family and such. But this is very much how Karai sees and views Casey as well. As someone who should be loud and proud of who he is. After everything happens? She keeps the song because this is how she wants Casey to live after knowing the truth.

She wants him to live Big to be obnoxiously and unapologeticly himself.

- my muse’s last text to your muse

[text] look i'll cover for you so you can see Raphael but don't take forever again this time?

[text] if your staying out late with him just stay with the turtles so im not staying up to help you sneak back in

----

[text] I swear Casey if you took my eye liner i'm breaking all of yours!! and will sneak into your room to make your face look like more trash than it already is!

----

[text] hey

[text] I sort heard Dad getting after you eariler. So thought maybe

[text] well wanna sneak out?

----

[text] Casey, i'm going to find you no matter where you went I will find you.