#I started to rethink my decision but talking to my friend about this just give me a whole lot of idea

[sokai-asuki]

Me talking with my friend about my Role Reversal AU of Yuumori: Would it be funny if Sherlock use an umbrella to hide his sword like William use a cane to hide his sword.

My friend: But how exactly can he put the sword in an umbrella???

Me started to rethink my decision: Well I'm not sure if the umbrella at that time is the same as our time but maybe he made a hole in one of umbrella handle and put it sword there. To open the umbrella he needs to turn the handle around a little to give it an access to open–

My friend:

Me: ... Umbrella it is.

[runningfrom2am]

michigan cherry // part seven

summary: walking into a saloon in a nowhere town, billy meets a singer who he just can't get off his mind after she slips through his fingers; onto another town, another show- following nothing but the stars in her path. until he sees her again. another nowhere town and equally dusty saloon, but this time, the band of kids who made up her family is nowhere to be found. he's running away from something, and she is storming full speed toward something else, and tangling into each other's lives may just get both of them exactly where they want to be.

pairing: william h. bonney x fem!reader

wc: 2.9k

masterlists / nav / requests

tags/warnings: singer!reader (she’s giving very much lucy gray), probably a little bit ooc billy but hey i tried- anyway he’s a sweetheart, use of guns and violence, murder and violence but i try to keep it non-descript, oh also she’s an orphan sorry (once again, lucy gray vibes), strangers to friends to lovers trope eee. also not thoroughly proofread oops

a/n: heyyy y'all little update, i just started school again for the fall and it is already a LOT. i'm surprised i got this out but i'm really glad i did!! i miss them :(

my asks are also open to talk about this series! (i do have emoji anons open now too!)

send me any and all of your thoughts! here!

series masterlist // pinterest board // playlist

Walking on eggshells around Billy has been a minor yet effective form of torture. You stopped singing for him, and he stopped asking. He still attended your shows, but you can't help but believe it's out of obligation.

It's endlessly confusing. When you first met he had most definitely been hitting on you, unless you were misreading that. You're rethinking every decision you've ever made because he won't talk to you anymore. Well, he does, of course, but it's small talk, mostly. It feels like you constructed a brick wall between you even though it was his fault for reading your stupid notebook in the first place. Every time you thought about it, you spiraled back to anger again.

It doesn't help that you're staring at his back as you lead your horses into a new town, wordlessly having cycled back East this week considering your savings were starting to get close to what you needed. Soon, or maybe even on the way to Michigan, you'd be able to make enough to get your family back.

You force yourself to look away from the way his body sways on the horse, your jaw tightening as you take in your surroundings in a new city. Without discussing it, the two of you cycle a fair distance around the schoolhouse on the edge of town, the old fence falling and tipping over in several places from years of children climbing all over it.

There are children playing outside currently, and you smile despite your foul mood. You missed your family. Those kids, Josie and Harvey and Sarah, and you remember talking about sending them to school once you and Max could finally afford a more permanent place for the five of you to stay. But that day never came.

Billy is lost in his own thoughts, mostly swallowed by the tension in the air that had enveloped you both for over a week now. He just doesn't know what to say, what to do, he wants to apologize but he doesn't want to risk what comes next. As long as you're here, as long as you're still with him, he's willing to suffer the silence.

Silence that's broken when he hears you gasp and shuffle, and as soon as you stumble down from your horse, he's got his gun out ready to stop anyone who's startled you. But you don't seem scared.

You're clambering off the ground from where you fell in your haste to dismount, and sprinting toward the fence of the schoolhouse with your guitar case discarded like it was nothing on the ground behind you.

"Harvey! Harvey!" You call out the boys name as you run to the boy you swore was for all intents and purposes, your little brother, and when he turns his head, you're even more sure it's him.

He hops the fence to meet you and you're crashing into each other, falling on your knees as you catch him.

He smells different, cleaner, and he's dressed in clothes you had never seen, but it's him- and you bury your face in his hair as he clings to you. The last time you held him like this was the night Max was killed.

You don't realize you're crying until you lift your head again, gently grabbing the boy's chin to raise it and get a good look at him. "Oh, honey, what are you doing here? I've been looking for you guys, I never stopped looking, I'm coming to get all of you." You say, brushing your thumb over his round cheeks.

He doesn't answer, and you don't think he can. You just smile, pulling him close again and pressing a kiss to his forehead. "I missed you, I missed you so much." You mutter into his skin, rubbing his back and holding him close to you. You'd never let him go.

Looking around at the rest of the kids watching the scene from the other side of the fence, you don't see Josie anywhere.

You hesitate for a moment before asking. "Where's Josie?"

Harvey shakes his head against you. "I don't know." He answers quietly, and your heart breaks more.

You were thrilled to see him, to see he was okay, but realization comes crashing over you and chills your bones in an instant.

They'd been separated. Adopted out, and there's no way of knowing where she is or if she's safe.

"And Sarah?" You ask, attempting to steady your voice.

Another small head shake against you. "They were both still there."

"Okay, okay..." You say, gently stroking his hair. "I'll get 'em, and if they're not there I'll find 'em, okay? And we'll all be together again, I promise. I been savin' up, I'm gonna get all of you back. I swear. It'll be okay."

You hear Billy's footsteps behind you, having just dismounted his horse and grabbed yours in his hurry to catch up. "Hey, doll, maybe we should be goin'." He says, a slight warning in his tone.

You look up past Harvey, seeing what must be a teacher coming out of the schoolhouse likely to scold you for grabbing one of the children. But she didn't know, she didn't understand- he was your brother, essentially your child, your responsibility in every form except for flesh and blood.

Harvey looks as well, before turning back to you and hugging you tighter. "I love you." He mumbles into your shirt, no doubt tearfully.

You kiss the top of his head.

"I'll be back for you. I promise." You whisper before letting him go again.

You couldn't stray far after that. You found somewhere that would let you play locally, and you used the first few shows to ask locals about Harvey as much as you could. You needed to know where he was living and who had taken him from Sarah and Josie, and you had gotten much of the same answers. The little boy, new in Crystal City, had been adopted by a kind older couple on a homestead outside of town. The Booker's were well-loved by everyone, it seemed, pillars of the community who had been around their entire lives. She used to be a teacher, and he once worked at the general store. Still does, sometimes, but they had never had children of their own despite their desire to.

Apparently, it had taken them ages to save up to make the long trip to Michigan- the woman had a cousin who lived just down the street from the orphanage you had been raised. The smallness of the world was both a blessing to you and a curse. A little boy would be a tremendous help around their home now that they were getting older, and they could love him as their own and keep him warm at night.

You knew, in theory, that you should be happy with these reviews. That they were good people, and Harvey was safe with them. But he wasn't with you. He wasn't with Max, or Sarah, or even Josie, and it hurt more than you cared to admit that he wasn't with his real family. The Booker's would never know him the way you did, couldn't sing him to sleep or teach him to write music and play the guitar the way you can.

Your fingers stray on the chord you're running, making a dissonant sound chime in the almost empty bar you were warming up in. You cringe, shaking your head and sighing as you relax your grip on the instrument. There was no use worrying about Harvey and the others now, if you couldn't play worth your salt, you'd never save up enough to get the girls back. You couldn't get him back if you weren't playing your best. Thank god the barkeep was the only one around to hear your mistake. It was minor, but you felt like it could cost you your life. Your show had to be perfect.

Shaking out your hands and cracking your knuckles, you're about to get back to practicing when the front gates of the saloon are shoved open, made louder by the force of the wind. It was a tempest afternoon, and you were starting to worry that despite the revelry your name had developed over the last few months, traveling and performing for anyone who would watch, that tonight you wouldn't make much in tips if it developed into a full-blown storm and no one could even make it to the show.

"We gotta go. Come on." Billy's saying quickly, practically running up to you from the front doors.

"What? What's going on?" You can hear the distress in his voice, making your eyes go wide as you stand up from the stool you had borrowed from the bar to drag up into the cleared area they had made into a stage.

He yanks your guitar from your hands and shoves it into the case, trying his best to be gentle in his haste. "Twister's comin', we gotta get somewhere safer. Find a cellar or somethin'."

"Doesn't the bar have one? I-"

"No, it doesn't, I checked. Come on. Let's get you out of here." Before you can say a thing, not that you'd know what to say, he's grabbing you by the hand and pulling you back out the doors with your guitar case gripped tight in his other hand.

You're holding tight onto your journal as the wind whips your hair into your face and the back behind you in the same second, giving you the chance to look out off the porch of the saloon and out to the west of town beyond the few buildings on the street.

It's like the air is sucked out of your lungs when you see the sky, a twisted yellow and green tint to it that falls over everything and tints the world in an unfamiliar way.

"Come on!" Billy shouts, not giving you time to bask in the sick quiet of it all as he tugs on your hand again, trying to pull you in the direction of the residences up the hill. It was about a mile away, if memory served, but closer than that was where Harvey was staying if you took a left off the main road and down a side path leading straight to the Booker's home.

You follow him, letting him lead you over to the horses you had tied up outside, which were clearly anxious from the storm.

You watch the sky again as Billy makes quick work of untying them both and throwing the flimsy rope on your guitar case over his shoulder, letting the more restless of the two animals take off running. He would find you another horse later, he thinks, as he grabs onto your hips and lifts you quickly into the saddle of the one he kept a grip on.

You snap out of your daze, adjusting quickly and holding on as he climbs up behind you and reaches around you for the reins. He doesn't waste a second, snapping the leather cord and kicking the horse's side to get you moving away from the main strip and up towards the residential area.

"We have to go for Harvey!" You shout over the wind, lifting one arm to cover your mouth and nose from the wind that's keeping you from getting enough air. "Left, up here!" You point at the almost indistinguishable trail, and Billy doesn't ask any questions as he follows your direction.

It takes longer than Billy would have liked for you to reach the house beyond a small forest and nestled in a field, a small cozy cabin drenched in the rain that started to pour. A sign you weren't outrunning this tornado as well as he may have hoped. You hurriedly hop down from the horse and keep your arm over your face as you run for the door, pounding on it hopelessly.

"Harvey! You in there?" You shout, moving quickly on to looking in windows that stutter and shake from the force of the wind when there's no immediate answer, not that you'd be able to hear if there was. "Harvey!"

Then Billy is grabbing your arm again, pulling you off the porch. "This way! They must be in the cellar!"

It made sense, it was smart of him to look for that first, but you couldn't think straight at the moment. You knew tornadoes were common in this area, often deadly in Missouri, but you'd never encountered one before like the one creeping up on the town that you could see in the distance through the field.

The cellar on the Booker's property was entered through a barn near the house, the front door of which was already open from Billy busting it open a moment ago before coming back for you. It's dark, mostly, the light seeping in from the door behind you as Billy pushes you in ahead of himself.

You're so overwhelmed, so scared as you stick as close to Billy as you can, that you don't notice there's someone standing in the open barn until you hear the click of a gun loading over the creaking of the unsteady barn in the wind. The last time you heard that sound, your best friend was shot dead moments later, and the fear that pulsed through your veins felt like a tangible substance- like the liquid felt thicker, heavier; weighting you onto the spot where you stood and holding you there.

"Hey, woah, we didn't mean to startle you, we just-" Billy says, taking a step in front of you and holding you back with one arm, his other hand raised defensively.

"Don't move," The man spits, and you peek over Billy's shoulder, gripping onto the back of his sweater. That must be Elliot Booker. "I know who you are." He continues, and your heart drops.

"O-okay, well, it's, it's nice to meet you, I-" You assume he was talking to you, talking about how you're Harvey's "real" family.

"We got a kid down there, I'm not lettin' you get a step closer. You best be gettin' out of here." As he speaks, he doesn't even spare you a glance. His eyes are locked on Billy.

You're confused, but neither of the men in front of you seem to be. Billy's expression hardens, you can see it in the slight tense of his jaw as he keeps the back of his hand on your waist behind himself, making sure you're still there.

"We need some place to shelter, that storm is comin' in quick. She's a friend of your kid's. If you won't take me, let her in with you." Billy says, nodding back over his shoulder toward you.

You glance back at the door as the wind roars behind you, swinging the door wide open again. Despite everything that was going on or not going on between you and Billy, you weren't going without him. You cared that much, and apparently, he still did too.

"Mister Booker, please, I know this isn't the best way for us to meet, but-" You try to cut in but he isn't having it, loading the rifle and aiming it at you again as you take a step out from behind Billy to the side.

By the time he's done cocking the gun in your direction Billy's own pistol is out as well. You didn't even hear him move, but it was loaded before you could turn your head to look at it.

"If you know who I am, you'll know that shooting her is far from a smart move." He says through gritted teeth, and you can tell he means it based only on that heavy feeling returning and pinning you in place as he corrects himself to stand in front of you again. "You'll be dead before the first hair on her head hits the ground, you hear me?"

Mr. Booker's grip on the rifle remains firm, and he doesn't back down. You don't even know what's going on, you can't even begin to process or try and understand what Billy meant by that besides the obvious.

"If you know who I am..."

You look up at the back of Billy's head and the hat you'd worn a handful of times over the last several months when the sun was a little too bright or too hot on your skin, and where the frayed old rope tied to your guitar case still held it over his shoulder, the rope rubbing red into the skin of his neck. His broad shoulders that you'd dreamt of running your hands over but had only done so when he was helping you up onto the horse he had got for you with a good deal, exchanged for an afternoons work on a ranch somewhere in Texas, and out of nowhere, you don't think you know him.

But you do. You know he lost his family and his best friend like you did, and you know where he went to sleep on nights he couldn't stomach being under the same roof as his mother's awful husband. You know how his eyes crinkle when he laughs, and that he doesn't shave often and he doesn't need to. You know his favourite songs, and you know he can kind of play the guitar and with practice and your help he's getting better. You know he likes to sing too, though he doesn't admit it. You thought you knew he was a good man.

"You're lucky I haven't shot you yet to turn in your body tomorrow." The man responds after what feels like an eternity, and you're hardly sure you can hear anything anymore. "Go."

Billy keeps his eyes and his gun trained on Harvey's new caretaker as he pushes you slowly back toward the door, out into the storm again.

no taglist this time around!! my fics usually get over a hundred requests to be added to the taglist so instead i made a library! follow me over on @runningfrom2am-library and turn on notifs to get updates when i post new parts!!

[busycucumbermelon]

The deadly  phone call that lead to blood….. and love 

Summary—your brother had told you a lot about someone he had met in prison you just didn’t imagine he’d be like this or that he’d even want you 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Your brother had told you countless times about his time in prison and how he wish he didn’t do what he did, you always brushed it off as him being paranoid or him just being nervous because it was his first time in prison, but now you’re starting to rethink all of that as you’re sitting in the back of a limousine with a strange Man’s arm over your shoulder, but this isn’t where the story starts. This starts the day your brother got out of prison.

You and your brother have been close your entire life. You were the only one there standing at the gates for him. The rest of your family had cut him off when they heard he had robbed a bank. They thought that it was a stupid decision, and he could’ve gone to someone in the family, but you didn’t care. Your  brother was the one that had made you who you are now who is the reason why you were writing and painting and traveling around the world  following your dreams

That night as you and your brother went home he told you a story a story that he said sealed his fate his he had made a deal with the Devil. It made him laying in bed awake every single night.

Waiting for Carmen to take his favor

Your brother had met Carmen in him federal prison. He seemed nice and had a particular Eifer artwork your brother often told him about you never going as far to say you were his sister, but he talk about you to him. Carmen was nice but he had a scary air about him but at the time your brother hadn’t noticed it not until the incident. he got upgraded. To a hire security prison one we’re Carmen knew many more people whoever he wasn’t friends with feared him. Your brother didn’t remember anything odd about the day that he saw Carmen in the prison with him Carmen was basically the Grim Reaper there, but he didn’t know that yet as he walked onto the compound, everyone knew he was to be feared, but your brother went up to him and hugged him, giving him a pat on the back. People would constantly ask your brother.

‘“ How in why he got to sit at Carmen’s table”

It would be an insult though if your brother didn’t eat with Carmen and no one left until they were done eating, no one even approach the table until everyone at the table was done eating except one day a big shot ready to make himself known, he walked right up to the table and spat towards your brother, and said he was dead just for something small that happened a couple days prior your brother had never told you what the incident was. a few of Carmens men stood up, ready for a fight carmen didn’t even bat an eye,he just continued with his lunch when he was finally finished Carmen slowly turned his head to your brother.

“Hey Josh, take care of it we’re trying to have a nice meal. He disrespected my family take care of it, or I will.” To you these words never haunted you, but it did for your brother, your brother could hear his thick Boston Italian accent even now what

Your brother told you that Carmen didn’t get to his state in life by being a good guy he got there by stepping over the body’s he buried and the only way your brother  could earn his respect, and stay at the table was by killing the  offender

was next happen next did scare you it was something you could never imagine your brother doing

Your brother had beaten a man almost 2 times his body weight, an inch to death with a pop in sock. You didn’t know what that meant, but you didn’t want to either. The man, we never came back to the compound, but his friends were quite mad at your brother, stabbing him five times and landing him in the infirmary. None of the injuries were more than an inch deep so after a week he was out of the infirmary. He didn’t even have any scars to show. Your brother, remembered the day he came back everything was silent. The men that had stabbed him weren’t at their table. Carmen turned to

your brother “you’re a standup guy I take care of standup guys.” This was the first time you’re brother ever really looked into his eyes and realize they were void of life like black holes. apparently Carmen had a few words with the people that stabbed your brother and the rest of them turned themselves in to protective custody. To your brother this means he was now in Carmen’s  debt and he was simply waiting for the day Carmen decided he needed a favor

____________

That was two years ago and now your brother has two adorable, twin daughters they’re so cute and full of energy. every so often you come over like Tonight was one of those nights you had gotten comfortable in the spare bedroom already although it wasn’t even halfway through the day. the twins were down for a nap although, at their age naps were trying to be slowly went out of their schedule. you and your brother had gotten comfortable on the couch watching a new show the two of you had decided was worthy enough for both of you to watch. Well until the house phone started ringing, sadly you had to go get it because your brother was in the bathroom so it was up to you  to be nice to whom ever was on the other side of the phone

“Hello”

On the other side of the line, you can hear someone with a deep Boston Italian accent, for some reason that rang a few bells for you, but not enough for you to hang up the phone

“ Well hello dearest . I’m so sorry I must’ve dialed the wrong number.”

“no it’s OK. It’s a common problem everyone has Good bye and have a nice rest of your day, sir”

Just as the phone call Ended your brother rounded the corner. “Oh hey,  who was on the phone.”

You just told your brother that it was someone who got the wrong number which was completely true for you. but if your brother had been the one who picked up that phone, it would’ve been the worst thing that has ever happened to him that would have made him completely go insane basically be death for him 

the two of you continued on with your night when it hit around 8:30 you decided that you were going to go to your room just to relax for a little while you knew you wouldn’t be going to sleep anytime soon, but it would just be good to at least get used to it because you knew you were going to have to wake up early to help out with the twins

——————-

You were woken up from your deep slumber by the sound of footsteps, heavy slow, methodic footsteps and if you focus, you could hear rushed ones moving close behind it but  you decided that it was nothing and probably just your brother, so you try to go back to sleep well that was until you could hear the sound of someone walking down the stairs and it sounded like they were going to the kitchen until they abruptly stopped and then there was nothing well nothing until you found someone shaking you like their life depended on it 

Your brother was standing above your bed shaking, and it looked like he might be crying. You didn’t exactly know what to do because you weren’t sure what the problem was. “what’s going on? What’s the problem? Are the twins OK?” all your brother could do was shake his head no before you heard a voice. that made your brothers knees shake it was a deep Boston Italian accent. The only thing  that the person said was his name and then well something snapped in your brother he realize that he wasn’t going to be able to do anything besides face his biggest fear. you were slipping out of bed as your brother finally reached the kitchen, where Carmen was, he was simply standing in the middle between the dining room and the kitchen a pretty big open space with multiple men around him, guns drawn and pointed towards your brother, just in case he decided he didn’t want to help out

You didn’t want to upset anyone or actually join in so you kind of just stayed around the corner your brother continued walking. You slowly follow behind him. Well you were going to follow behind him until you saw on the baby monitor that was still on showing a picture of the twins, slightly  stirring in their sleep if anything loud happened shots fired anyone screaming they would  wake up and your biggest fear was that their daddy would be gone you’re frozen in fear standing there, shaking not your fear not your brothers fear, but fear for the two little children that had no part in this just at this moment everything was clicking

The story, your brother had told you countless of times the story you had always imagined being fake. No, this was the man your brother had always talked about you too but now your brother feared more than anything.

‘Carmen?”

. “I simply came here at first, wanting a favor,  I know you’re experienced in stealing I wanted you to rob a museum for me. Well that was until I heard a very adorable voice over the phone.”

Your brother involuntarily went to look at the picture in the far corner of the room on a table with a lamp. It was a family picture your mom, your dad, you, your brother and your little brother. Carmen wasn’t dumb and his eyes followed your brothers.

This made Carmen a Tad bit sad. He was kind of hoping he would be stealing away his wife not just his sister, but he simply didn’t care. He wanted you either way so he was going to give your brother and ultimatum not that if he said, either thing you wouldn’t be coming with him, they were just be more violence And Carmen wasn’t going to lie he wasn’t a liar. That’s what he was looking forward to the violence in all of this.

“This is how it’s going either you can rob a museum for me and I’ll take your sister oh and I’ll kill the kids  or let me take your sister and you can just forget about all of this sounds good?”

Most would think your brother was speechless, not knowing who he should go with, but it was the complete opposite your brother knew exactly what he was going to do. Either way Carmen was going to have you, and he wasn’t going to go through all the trouble and put his children in danger.”y/n”

You were only in a sheer nightgown that you had thought you were only going to be sleeping in, your hair was tied up already, your face washed and you were not at all ready to be sold for ransom but you had heard Carmen as well, and although you loved your brother more than anything, you weren’t thinking about him, you were thinking of the little kids. so you walked up next your brother, knowing exactly what was going to happen next, exactly what your  future was going to be?

“Come here sweetheart” all the attractiveness that you could hear in his voice on the phone call was gone in this moment you didn’t know why maybe it was your fear or maybe it was just because the emotions you felt for him we’re gone. but all you could do now was walk towards him you stopped in front of him at arms length you didn’t know why but right now you really just wanted to feel secure and comforted and honestly a part of you really just wanted to jump into his arms. Maybe a part of him sensed that, because not even a few moments after stopping in front of him immediately pulled you into his arms. 

Carmen. dried your cheek and wiped away the tears that you didn’t even know were there they must’ve happened when you realized your fate……..or maybe before, before he pulled you close to his chest, placing his chin right on top of your head then you heard the words that are going to haunt you for the rest of your life

“kill them all”

You tried to pull away from him he said he wouldn’t hurt anyone. He said he wouldn’t hurt the twins or your brother except he was much stronger and bigger than you. you’re fight was pointless, and his men had killed your brother and the twins in a matter of minutes.You couldn’t do anything besides continue to sob? Carmen was very well aware of this and it gave him the perfect excuse and reasoning to pick you up. He carried you bridal style to the car putting you in the backseat with him and pushing your head on his

shoulder. He continued to rub your arm trying to comfort you for the entire car ride back. The only thing you could think of is, how could you let this happen? How could you beat it? So stupid to think someone your brother was terrified of And just believe him that he was going to leave the twins alone and your brother alone and now your life is ruined now this was your life. Well, you didn’t know what your life was yet You didn’t know how he was going to treat you all you could do is sit and wait and hope it wouldn’t be as horrible and as my numbing as it felt right now. Just as it kind of felt like you might be starting to understand a little more that happened. You felt another hand on my cheek, pulling my face towards him

“ let me hear that pretty voice of yours your brother told me you were into art let’s talk although if you don’t want to I’m sure I’ll be able to hear your voice in due time”

[harlowsbby]

I guess it’s f**k me

“Let’s make a bet shall we?” Jack grinned as the two of you sat in the middle of the basement in Sunni’s house while everyone was upstairs partying.

“What’s the bet?” You asked the amusement dripping off your tongue. Jack licked his lips before giving you a mischievous grin.

“I dare you not to fall in love with me.” You looked at him as if he had two heads, what was he on about.

“I need more of an explanation you can’t just say I can’t fall in love with you.”

“I dare you not to fall in love with me before the year is over, but I am allowed to take you on dates and kiss you whenever I want but the only rule is, you can’t fall in love with me.” You thought about it for a second, you knew plenty of girls that would be dying or going crazy for this opportunity, Jack was the guy everyone wanted nowadays.

“I accept your dare.” He smiled and stuck his hand out, you took his hand in yours and the both of you shook on it.

That night in Sunni’s basement was the night you made the biggest mistake in your life.

“Wait so you’re telling me you’re dating Jack but you’re not dating Jack?” Your friend Chloe was over your house the next day while you were getting ready for your date with Jack.

“Yes Chloe what part of that aren’t you understanding, yesterday at the party he took me downstairs and we talked for a bit and that’s when he brought up the dare.” Chloe wasn’t understanding why Jack would dare you to not fall in love with him, she knew Sunni and his friends had a reputation in Louisville for breaking girls hearts and she didn’t want him to break yours.

“I think you should rethink this Y/N.” Chloe begged she watched how you put the finishing touches on your makeup and smiled as you looked yourself over in approval, you rolled your eyes seeing Chloe giving you her puppy dog eyes from the mirror.

“Chloe it’s a little dare nothing else nothing more, I doubt I’ll fall in love with Jack, you know he’s some superstar now so he’s always on the road I won’t have time to actually love him even if I wanted.”

Chloe was a bit hesitant and iffy about it but she let it go and decided to let you make your own decisions.

Your phone started ringing, picking it up you seen it was a message from Jack.

Jack 🖤

- I’m outside baby

Your stomach did backflips when you read his message, maybe trying not to fall in love with Jack was going to be harder then you thought.

Jack was leaning against his car, his head looking down till he heard footsteps approaching him, he looked up and smiled at you, who knew something as simple as a simple would’ve had your stomach doing cartwheels.

“Well hello pretty girl, are you for our date?” Jack was dressed in a blue and white long sleeve flannel, paired with some black jeans and some white new balances. You wore a white long sleeve turtle neck shirt paired with light washed jeans and some white air forces.

“I think the question here is are you ready for the date? You’re the one spending all the money here not me.” Jack chucked and opened the car door for you.

“Oh is that so baby?” There he goes with that word baby again, your stomach started doing flips once again, you smiled bashfully at him.

“Is that a smile I see?” Rolling your eyes you pushed him back away from the car.

“Whatever just close my door so we can go, I’m hungry.”

“Alright, alright no need to get all sassy with me. I hope you’re ready for the best night of your life.”

The first stop of the day was the Louisville Zoo, you loved going to zoo’s when you were younger and you were surprised Jack remembered that.

“I remember in Mrs. Honey’s third grade class when we took our filed trip here.” The two of you were walking side by side just enjoying and taking everything in.

“You do? That was forever ago.” Looking up at him your heart started beating watching how the sun kissed his skin perfectly as he looked up at the giraffes.

“Yes, I remember how Urban tried feeding one of the turtles chocolate and you completely flipped out and started crying.”

“That’s because animals can’t have chocolate! Honestly he was so annoying that day I was fed up with him.” You smiled and shook your head at the memory, Urban pointing and laughing at you while Jack told him stop and offered you half his chocolate bar to calm you down.

“What have you been up to? How’s the celebrity life, I seen you’ve met Drake, Kanye and Fergie that’s like a full circle moment isn’t it.” Jack shrugged as the two of you made it to the aquarium part of the zoo.

It was quiet but in a peaceful way the two of you watching all the fish swim around the only light coming from inside the tanks.

“Life has been good, I’ve met a lot of celebrities seen through all the fronts realized a lot of them aren’t what the media makes them out to be.”

“That’s interesting I guess.” He laughed and looked down at you, he watched how your eyes sparkled with glee and wonder as the fish swam closer to your hand that was resting on the tank, the fish ended up hitting the glass making you burst into a fit of giggles.

Jack had this feeling in his stomach he wasn’t sure what it was but whatever this feeling was, it was being caused by you.

“So overall how was your day?” Jack had taken you to his upscale restaurant in Louisville, you honestly felt a bit out of place even though you dressed the part it just didn’t feel like you.

“I had a wonderful time today, I loved going out and getting to know all about the famous Jack Harlow. I can’t wait to tell all the blogs of how much of a softie you are.” The two of you laughed, both of you making eye contact. You studied his features maybe it was the way his freckles scattered across his nose or the way his blue eyes shimmered like the blue ocean. All you knew was that you were falling for Jack after one date and you were falling fast.

Jack was falling for you and falling just as fast as you were.

“Can I start you two with anything?” Your moment was interrupted by the sever, Jack blushed deeply and you looked down at your menu acting like you were looking it over.

“We’ll both take some water for now thank you.” Jack told the waitress she smiled and nodded and excused herself.

The rest of the night was spent joking and laughing about school and all of the crazy moments, the two of you were so wrapped up with each other that you didn’t notice you were the only two left in the restaurant.

“Well I guess it’s time we get out of here don’t you think Y/L?”

“I think you’re right Harlow.” He paid the bill and the two of you walked back to the car, you were so full you swore you could’ve fell asleep on the ride home and that’s exactly what you did.

Jack let you sleep the entire ride back to your house, he drove back in silence he occasionally drummed his fingers on the steering wheel here and there till he got an incoming call from Sunni.

He looked to his side seeing if you were still sleep, he chuckled hearing your soft snores coming from your mouth before accepting the phone call.

“What’s up Sunni?”

“What’s up lover boy, how did the date go?”

“It actually went good, today was definitely needed I had fun.”

“Fun? Jack do you remember were up against money here, I’m not letting Urban and his friends win this dare.” Jack sighed deeply sometimes he never understood why he left Sunni pull these stupid games he hated the way he treated women like object because that wasn’t Jack but he didn’t want to seem like he was Hollywood to Sunni and the rest of the guys.

“I know Sunni but okay look I have to go I’m pulling up to her house.”

“Don’t get attached Jack we don’t have time for you to be falling in love, sleep with her and break her heart, understand?”

“Yeah I understand Sunni.” As soon as Jack hung up the phone you had woken up. You moaned slightly as you stretched your bones making Jack’s face turn a bright pink.

“Are we at my house?” You asked softly while rubbing your eyes.

“Yes” he laughed “We’re at your house Y/L.” You unbuckled your seatbelt you got out the car, followed by Jack.

“I had fun tonight Jack, thank you for taking me out.” You told him softly, you fluttered your eyelashes at him, Jack couldn’t help but to blush and stutter as he spoke.

“T-thank I mean you’re welcome Y/N, I had fun as well baby girl.” The two of you stood there awkwardly the only sound coming from the crickets and a few cars that drove past on the road.

“Well I should get inside.”

“Yeah you should, but before you go lemme give you something baby.” Jack brought his hand to your face before leaning down and kissing your lips, it took you awhile to kiss back but when you did you could’ve swore sparks were flying. You were disappointed when he pulled away, you didn’t want it to end.

“I’ll see you in a few days baby girl.”

“I’ll see you around Jack.”

A few days past

Things between Jack and you have been go well, he was still determined to make you fall in love with him but the thing was he didn’t see it as a competition anymore, Jack was falling for you hard and he wasn’t sure if he wanted this feeling to stop.

As for you well you tried you best not to fall for Jack but you couldn’t stop what the heart wanted. You got to know more about Jack he opened up to you in more ways than one, he’s told you things that he hasn’t told Urban, the two of you complete each other.

Chloe and you were currently getting ready for your friend Jodi’s birthday party, every year since she was little she had her party at the local bowling alley in Louisville. Jack and the guys would be there and about half of Louisville.

“Honestly if I could I’d fuck myself right now.” Chloe smirked and looked over at you as you admired yourself. You wore a pink mini skirt with a pink top that matched, along with some white heels, you paired off the outfit with your white diamond chain and earrings.

“You do look good, shit if Jack and you weren’t doing this dare shit I bet he’d fuck you in middle of the party.” You rolled your eyes at Chloe but little did she know Jack and You have been sleeping around.

Flashback to that night

“Jack mhmm fuck.” Your chest rose and fell, you swore you were on cloud nine right now.

Jack’s tongue swirled around your clit, you moan even louder as he slurps and laps up all of your juices. Your toes started curling immediately.

“Jack please go faster, harder Jack.”

“You like that baby girl?” Jack teased and nibbled on your clit making you yelp and moan out even louder.

“Fuck I love it Jack.” He went back to spending more time latched on your clit he knew the simulation had you going crazy and knew you’d cum any minute now.

“Oh my god Jack.” You moaned out even louder if possibly, your mouth forming into an o shape. Jack flicked his tongue around you clit a few more times before you came all over him, you whimpered and moaned as he cleaned you up with his tongue.

“Damn baby you taste so fucking good.” Jack eyes were filled with lust and desire, that night the two of you were positive the entire block could hear Jack and You.

Flashback over

You squeezed your legs shut at the memory.

“Are you ready?” Chloe asked and you nodded before grabbing your purse and heading to her car. On the way there Jack was texting you the entire time.

Jack 🖤

- I can’t wait to see you I bet you look so good tonight baby girl 😉

You smiled and tucked your phone back into your pocket seeing the two of you arrived. Your nose scrunched up at the smell of alcohol and the people passing out drunk in the front, some couples making out on some of the couches that laid outside.

“See because that’s how Covid started in the first place.” Chloe shook her head at everyone making you laugh.

“Be nice Cho you know some people just can’t wait till they make it home.”

The both of you entered the house and if you two thought it was crazier outside it was even worse inside. People playing beer pong, people yelling and arguing all you wanted to do was find Jack and try to find a quiet room.

“Look who’s here Jackman.” Sunni tapped Jack’s shoulder, he looked up and smiled softly seeing you making faces while taking a couple of shots of liquor.

“You know what you have to do right?” Jack sighed but nodded, Sunni had told Jack that tonight he had to make you jealous and tell you that you were basically a mistake but in his heart you weren’t a mistake, Jack wanted to make you his but he didn’t want to go against Sunni and the guys.

He got up and found some random girl that was leaning against the wall with her friends and started talking to her, Jack hated this girl he didn’t have interest in her, she wasn’t you and honestly the way she over-lined her lips, the fake ass and boobs turned him off.

“Is that Jack over there?” Looking behind you made your heart break. There stood Jack making some random girl laugh and giggle like he did with you.

“Y/N? Are you okay babe, we can go home if you want.” Chloe asked you but you forced a smile on your face and shook your head no.

“No it’s okay Chloe trust me it’s okay.”

“Are you sure? We can leave now.”

“It’s fine Chloe, he isn’t my man anyways nothing got serious between the two of us.” Chloe let it go but for the entire night you weren’t yourself you kept looking over at Jack and the girl and each time you did, you got more and more upset.

“Everybody let’s play spin the bootle shall we?” Sunni smirked and made everyone get in a circle, there was only about ten people left since everyone eventually went home, you sat next to Chloe while Sunni, Urban, Clay, Coplean and Jack and a few girls sat across from you two.

“Clay you spin first.” Clay spun the bottle and it landed on one of the blonde chicks in the circle they both ended up kissing making everyone ooo.

“Jack your turn.” Jack spun the bottle and of course it landed on the girl from earlier, you watched how Jack grabbed the girls face, caressed it a bit before smashing his lips onto her lips.

You weren’t sure what came over you but watching Jack kiss that girl the same way he kissed you hurt you. One thing lead to another before you knew it you were throwing your drink at Jack.

“What the hell?” The girl that was kissing Jack yelled as everyone stood up, Jack and You made eye contact you instantly started crying.

“I can’t believe I fell in love with you Jack I knew this was all a bet but I actually had feelings for you I was hoping we could work something out but I guess not, fuck you Jack.” You stormed out in tears.

“Honestly Jack I expected this from Sunni and them but from you? That’s really wild. I hope you’re fucking happy.. but before I go.” Chloe grabbed her drink and tossed it at Jack again.

“Damn both of them threw a drink at your face.” Urban said but Jack didn’t care he followed after Chloe and You and watched how you got into the car, and looked out the window his heart broke in half seeing the broken look on his face when you made eye contact with him.

taglist

@hoodharlow @mortirolo @moody4world

@heavyhitterheaux @jackmans-poison

@jackharloww @jacksmoviestar

@nattinatalia

[hischierswhore]

you really have a gift when it comes to writing!

exestolovers! with mason, set after england comes back home after getting eliminated. mason is on the reader’s doorstep in the rain waiting for her to come back home.

she comes home but she’s with another guy (her co worker or something) and mason is all like i’m sorry i’ll leave you two. she stops him is like hey no come in and thanks her her co worker for walking her home. then in her house his word vomiting his disappointment and sadness to her because she’s truly the only person he can be vulnerable with. then mason asks if they can give them another try ❤️❤️❤️🥹🥹🥰🥰

another shot

pairing: Mason Mount x Reader

TW: none

A/N: thank you so much anon! i genuinely enjoy writing so much. i’m 90% sure the layout of this fic is messed up, but i am working on fixing the issue

He sat on the couch on your porch, waiting for you to arrive home so he could speak to you. His hair was disheveled, dark bags forming under his eyes as the rain poured down heavily, exhaustion written all over his face.

A few more minutes pass and he finally sees you walking into your yard, but you were wrapped up in conversation with your coworker who'd offered to walk you home since it was raining. You were laughing and smiling, two of the many things Mason loved about you, but you were doing those things because of someone else. Someone who wasn't Mason.

Mason stood up, the sight of you and another man immediately making him rethink his decision to come here.

"I'm sorry, I'll leave you two-" Mason shows a small smile before grabbing his umbrella and walking towards his car. A hand on his arm stopped him.

"No no, you're fine. Come in" You smiled before thanking your coworker and unlocking your front door.

From the moment Mason stepped inside, he felt like he was back at home. The smell of your favorite candle (that you always repurchased because you couldn't get enough of it) filled the air upon entry, causing a smile to form on his face.

“Would you like some tea?” You offered kindly as you walked around the kitchen. Mason shook his head before sitting on one of the bar stools you had set up at the island.

“So, you & him…” Mason started before you interjected.

“Just friends, Mase. He was walking me home because my car has been at the shop all week and he wanted to make sure I got home safely. That’s all. No need to go into ‘jealous ex boyfriend’ mode” You jokes as you put your kettle on the stove, leaving Mason silent as he kept his gaze focused on the countertop in-front of him.

“Sorry about the elimination, by the way” Mason lifted his head to look at you, clearly in shock that you watched the game.

“You watched it?” He asked as you nodded.

“Never stopped. You know I was a fan of the sport before you & I even got together” You smiled at your ex. Even after months of grief, you could never bring yourself to hate the man in-front of you, despite how badly he’d broken your heart a few months ago.

“Why are you here, Mason?” You inquired as Mason sighed.

“I miss you” He blurted out. Before you could respond, he spoke again.

“I was such a dick to you, Y/n. I thought that I needed to be alone and focus on football for a bit, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. You don’t know how much I’ve cried over my stupid decision to leave you, and I know you must’ve cried much more than I did, and I’m truly sorry for what I put you through”

“Wow uhm- that was certainly unexpected” You let out a laugh, but immediately frowned upon seeing Mason’s look. He was being serious.

“I accept your apology, Mase. I hope you know I couldn’t never find it within myself to hate you for what you did to me”

“Why’d you let me in?” He asked.

“Like I said, I can’t hate you, so there’s no bad blood on my end, so us talking wasn’t an issue for me. Plus it was pouring outside and you looked cold” Mason laughed as you said the last sentence.

"If you want, maybe we could this another shot?" He said as he gestured between the two of you, to which you nodded.

"I'd really like that, Mase" You smiled as Mason got up from his seat and made his way towards you, bringing you into his warm embrace.

You really missed this. This is what you'd been waiting for the second you broke up, and you finally had him back.

[thatseventiesbitch]

Hi!! I would love to hear what you think Donna's consistent main flaws are since people accuse the writers of making her too perfect?! I kind of love that Eric the 'softer' one in that relationship - it's a great subversion of gender roles, especially for that era!

Thanks for the question! I enjoyed answering it - it turned into a little essay.

Donna's Flaws

Donna, like all of the main characters, has flaws. I don't think she was painted as perfect at all, but rather as a realistic teenage girl experiencing her first serious relationship, the disintegration of her parents' marriage, and the social conflicts of the '70s.

For example, she was not always the best at communicating - especially with Eric. See: S2xE21 "Kelso's Serenade". She and Eric got into a massive argument because she wasn't honest about her feelings, and that she was bothered by him hanging out with his friends instead of her. Or in S3xE15 "Donna's Panties". She tells Jackie:

Why doesn't Eric understand that when I said I'm fine I meant I will be fine... so long as he kisses my ass for two weeks until I'm actually fine? He's like, brain damaged.

Donna expects Eric to read her mind, and then gets upset with him when he doesn't. Is it annoying? Yes. A flaw? Yes. Also highly relatable, especially for high school relationships? Also yes. Plus, Red and Kitty have shades of this in their relationship, too.

Another flaw? Donna's stubborn. (So is Eric)

In S3xE11 "Who Wants It More", Donna is the one who breaks their impasse and initiates sex at the end of the episode, but when Eric starts to gloat about winning their competition she's willing to walk away rather than admit she gave in first. In S7xE23 "Take It Or Leave It", she's upset by Eric's decision to go to Africa without talking to her, so she makes up a fake date with one of her co-workers to try to make Eric jealous/rethink his choice. In S5xE9 "Black Dog", she fights with Eric throughout the entire episode about whether it's better to give your partner attention/extra love when they're upset, or space. Etc.

And lastly, despite everything she outwardly projects, Donna ends up being a fairly dependent character. Is this a flaw? Not necessarily. It's just an interesting dichotomy - Donna yearns to be fiercely independent and seems to inherently value that, but at the core of who she is, she's not.

Unlike Kelso she doesn't enjoy the California beaches, but instead is miserable all summer until Eric arrives. She accepts Eric's proposal (in high school!). She doesn't get on the bus - she delays college to stay in Point Place with Eric. She buys the trailer. She waited around in Point Place for a year while Eric was in Africa. She says things like,

"My guidance counselor gave [these college brochures] to me, but I already told him that I'm going wherever you go." (S5xE7 "Hot Dog")

and

"I mean, Eric, I loved [Marquette], and when I was driving home, I was so excited to tell you about it, and then the drive took forever, and I realized that's how far away I'd be from you all the time, and I don't want that. So I'll just tell my dad I want to go to U.W. with you." (S5xE6 "Over The Hills And Far Away")

and

"I don't want you to go. You've always been like, twenty steps away from me my entire life. What am I supposed to do without you?" (S7xE23 "Take It Or Leave It")

I think to dismiss or deny this pattern as "out of character" is to ignore an important part of Donna's characterization: she's really dependent. On Eric, yes. But as soon as she and Eric break-up, what is her modus operandi? To start dating a new boyfriend.

I just think it's interesting, and not often (or ever?) discussed. Worth noting that these instances are most pronounced in the second half of the series, and that Donna wasn't this way in the earlier seasons. What happened midway through the series? Her parents split up/mom abandoned her/her family disintegrated. Hmmm.

[locoforshuri]

You Forgot? Pt 2

shuri x black!fem!reader

heyyy guys here’s the highly anticipated part 2 and hope you enjoy! love you bebs💓 (enjoy the plot twist)

warning: fluff

word count: 1 808!🤍

translations: sthandwa- love

nkosazana yam- my princess

After what felt like a while, you tears finally decided to stop creating a waterfall. The woman you loved most in the entire world, forgot you existed and the most important day of your relationship. The thought of it slowly brought tears to your hazel eyes. There was a silent knock on the door. You expected it to be Shuri. “Come in, it’s open.” You said while quickly wiping your tears and fixing your hair. The door slowly opened, revealing a worried Riri. “Hey, Y/N. Mind if we talk?”

Before Riri came, Shuri dashed to your room but started to rethink her decision and slowly turned and walked away, thinking you should have some alone time. Which led to this moment.

“Oh hey, Ri. Yeah of course. Make yourself comfortable.” You said trying to make your voice less trembly after crying. But there was no point. You couldn’t hide it from Riri. She always knew when you weren’t okay. She was your childhood best friend after all. “Listen Y/N. I over heard what Shuri and Okoye were taking about. I had no idea that you guys were even dating and I-“ she was cut off by you. “ Ri, relax. Its- Its… not a big deal” you said, trying to smile through what you know is a big deal. “So what are you gonna do? Your not leaving right?” Riri asked standing up with a worried expression on her face. “Well not really leaving. I just need some time to heal so I’m gonna move to the guest bedroom next door to yours.” You said with a thinking face. “But I promised myself, whatever happens I would give this gift to her so I’m gonna leave it on the bed. “ After hearing you say this, Riri sighed with the most guiltiest expression plastered on to her face. “Y/n, I can’t hide this from you forever. Might as well just come clean right?” You looked at her confused with your head tilted to your side. “Talk to me Ri, whats up?” “I like Shuri.” She said quickly, trying to avoid eye contact with you. You froze. Your breaths started to hitch. Your eyes were fixed on the girl you haven’t seen in 3 years. “…What? Your joking… right?” You said as tears started to blur your vision. “I know we just met but I felt we had this… this connection Y/n.” She said slight hesitation in her voice.

“What. The. Actual.” You said looking at Riri ragefully and only pure anger towards her. “Look, I’m so sorry- I never knew you guys were-“ You cut her off. “Where is she?” You said, staring at the door with angry tears in your eyes. “Uh, she’s in the lab, but look Y/n I’m sorry, I didn’t-“ You didn’t let her finish. You stormed out of your room, leaving her sitting on the bed.

You made your way to the lab, only to find your girlfriend sitting on her chair, with her hands over her forehead. You heard sobs that broke your heart into a million and one pieces. You made your way into the lab, Griot announcing your prescence. “Princess, Miss Y/N has arrived.” Shuri quickly turned her head towards you. You could see her beautiful eyes were bloodshot red. It hurt you too see her in this state. But, y/n always stands her ground. Shuri wouldn’t be an excuse. Or was she? You walked over to Shuri and sat next to her in the chair Riri previously sat in. “Shuri, all I have to ask you is why?” You asked her, looking deep into her irises. She knew what you meant by this and took a deep breath before explaining. “Sthandwa, I know nothing can clearly explain my actions and that doesn’t mean you should forgive me immediately. What I did was wrong. I broke your promise, I ruined our day and I brought a girl over on our anniversary which makes it way worse. My love, I am sorry. Deeply. I will find a way to make it up to you. Today. On our Special day. I-“ you cut her off with a curious smile etched on your face. “You knew she had feelings for you, didnt you?” She looked at you. With only pure shock on your face. “Yes, but obviously I just wanted to be friends with her. I knew but I have you. I just wish I could reverse time and make it up to you.” She looked at you with pain in her eyes. She hurt you. And she knew it. And you knew it. You found yourself melting at her. “I’ll give you one chance, Shuri. One. I will not entirely forgive you but everyone deserves a second chance.” You said with a more stern look in your voice but softly trying not come of as mean. Thats what Shuri admired about you. You always knew how to get the word across but in the right way. And that’s why the people of wakanda respected you. “Okay, sthandwa, thank you.” She said smiling with her eyes which she knew you loved.

12:03 PM

Shuri knew she wronged you. If she blows this, she knows it will never be the same between the two you. 3 years thrown down the drain. Just the the thought it broke her.

She needed the help of people who knew you best. Herself, Okoye and Riri. Riri offered to help in anyway she can. Shuri herself was shocked to learn that you guys used to be the bestest of friends. Riri needed to make it up to Y/N. Especially after everything Y/N has done for her. It feels right.

After brainstorming of what felt like forever, they made a list of everything you liked.

- picnics

- the color pink

- anything floral

- minimalistic stuff

- deep chats with eachother

- sunsets

Then finally, it hit her. The perfect anniversary date. Queen mother. Shuri remembered that her mother always used to talk about their shuri’s relationship with y/n. And she always helped her plan stuff such like this for her.

________________________________________

18:54 PM

Shuri had told y/n to get dressed in something on the more cute side. In something shes more comfortable in. She wore her kimoyo beads on her wrist and headed out.

(Try to imagine this)

Everything was set up. She really hoped that you would like it. Maybe even more than hoped. She prayed to Bast this would be the bandage of the neglect you had towards her. You were being taken to your date in one of the aircrafts accompanied by two Dora’s.

Your eyes were covered by one of the Dora’s, Aneka. You too were pretty close too. She slowly led to you to where Shuri had planned your date. As you were walking you could feel the fresh breeze of Wakanda hit you and smiled. The Dora removed her eyes but still told you not to open them. You could hear her walking away leaving you alone. Or so you thought. “Hello? Is anyone here? Shuri?” You said hoping someone could here you. “Evening my love, are you ready?” Shuri said out of nowhere which got you a little frightened as you gasped. “Ready for what?” You said with clear confusion. Before Shuri spoke again, she went to stand behind you and put her hands on your waist in a very gentle manner.

(Imagine this setting)

“3…2…1… You can open your eyes now Nkosazana yam” Shuri said with tenderness and softness in her voice. You were hesitant but slowly opened them. Only to be greeted with the most beautiful thing your eyes have ever laid on. There was a beautiful mountain your feet were placed on with a pink checkered blanket laid out on the ground with a basket filled with grapes, strawberries, melted chocolate and a glass of champagne. The blanket was surrounded by rose petals and as one rose laid in the middle. There was a purple, gold miniature box that laid in the middle with the rose accompanying it.

For a while there was silence. Even though this was everything you could have ever wished for, both of you knew you needed to talk at some point.

“Listen sthandwa, nothing can ever change what I did. After reflecting on myself, I realised I have not been the best girlfriend. Heck, I haven’t even been a girlfriend. Deep down from the bottom of my heart, I really am sorry. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me and no girl will ever replace you or even be in competition with you. My actions were wrong and I truly hope you forgive me. I love you y/n. I really do. I hope you know that.” Shuri stated softly with tears in her eyes looking at you and then shifted her vision towards the sunset in front of them” You looked at her with happiness and peace. “Beautiful isn’t it?” She nods. “Not as beautiful as you.” You blushed and Shuri smiled at your reaction. “Shuri, I love you and even though what you did was wrong, you remembering these little things about me and doing the right thing, thats more than enough. I forgive you.” You leaned over and gave her a peck on the cheek. She blushed but tried to hide it. “What’s in the box?” “Open it and read the note”

As you held the box you opened it and saw the most beautiful silver and purple ring encarved with your initials on it. On the top inside of the box, the note read in Shuri’s handwriting

“You are the one for me. You are the only one for me. Will you accept this promise ring as a token of my love?” You teared up as you nodded smiling and hugged Shuri like there was no tomorrow. She embraced your hug and pulled away wiping you tears and kissed your forehead.

“Well done Shuri, you did it.”

—————————————————————

Hey guys so im gonna finish the story here since I feel writing a part 3 would have been a bit unnecessary.

lmk what you guys think🫶🏽

taglist: @dejaonline @yvxmpire @inmyheadimobsessed @stevengrant-enthusiast @queenofsimpsblog (some usernames were not found)

[askstevella]

When did you know? // STEVELLA & SAMBUCKY Blurb 💍

“Hey, what’s up?”

“Uh hi, Steve, I need to talk to you about something..in private. You got time?”

“For you? Yeah, I’ll squeeze you in between laundry and building stuff in the basement.”

“You’re hilarious.”

“Where and when?”

“In an hour, at your old house in Brooklyn.”

An hour later, both Brooklyn boys arrived inside the living room as Bucky closed the door behind him. Steve raised an eyebrow taking off his coat containing his concerns for his friend.

After a moment he asked, “Alright, what is it?”

“Nothing. It’s nothing important, well it’s very important..oh I used to be so good at this stuff.” He asked, sitting down on the couch running his fingers across his hair before asking, “Uh, when did you know it was the right decision to marry Ella?”

“Wait what? Bucky are you serious?”

“Just answer the question please.”

“You dragged me here to listen to a sappy story why I love my wife? Okay fine..I guess, I wanted Elle to be the last person I see when I go to sleep, and the first one when I wake up. And I wanted the whole world to know that she is mine. Why are you asking me this?”

“Because you’re my best friend and one of the only superhero power couples or whatever is the press is calling it now. I wanted to know what it meant for us oddballs, who can’t exactly have a normal married life. I need to know what the risk would be saying the, uh I dos.”

At that Steve raised an eyebrow, “Uh risks? Buck, yes, there are risks in every aspect of a relationship even before marriage. But punching bad guys in our free time doesn’t mean we can’t have a normal life..I didn’t expect to find my place when I thawed out of the ice. Now, I have Stella, and I am the happiest I have ever been. It is worth to take risks with the person you love. It’s an added bonus when you get to save them or come back home to find them on the couch waiting for you.”

“Okay, yeah, that’s—that’s fair.” Bucky replied with a chuckle before continuing, “I don’t see it as much as a risk. I don’t want anything like that to happen if I do take the plunge. And I know, that’s not possible when being a superhero. So how did you really know you could do it?”

“I didn’t Buck. I just want to do it.”

“You weren’t nervous about it?”

“Terrified. I was terrified of messing up, I was that way in the very beginning of my relationship as well. But I did it. I felt like it would be a good thing.”

“Geez, why did I ask the guy who doesn’t use a parachute for advice on marriage stuff. You’re no help Steve.” He laughs before standing up and pacing nervously, “So you’re saying, I should just go for and ask Sam?”

That’s when it started to make sense for him. Yeah, sure, Steve had his high suspicions about that being the reason behind this trip but he didn’t want to assume or give his friend the wrong impression about the situation.

“You want to truly propose to Sam?” He asked trying to hide his excitement but his lips turned into a smile.

“Who else would I be proposing to, stupid?” He added stopped pacing around and chuckling, “Me and Sam have been together for a while now. So how do I know when to ask or even if I should ask?”

“Like I said, do it when you feel like it’s right. Hmm, do you have a ring? Or anything in mind?”

“Nope. I have no idea yet. I just need an opinion on this whole thing. How did you propose to her?”

Steve grinned briefly bitting his nails for a moment remembering his attempts at a proposal to Stella. He told Bucky it took him two times to get it right. He was going to propose to her one morning in bed with the ring and everything when Fury called everyone in for a mission, so right in the middle of battle, he panicked before leaping out of a window as he saw Stella on the ground and ready asked her. It was a freak accident that caused Stella to rethink her decision about her life.

Natasha stopped Steve before he said anything stupid like popping the question, as the idea was brought back into his head after the attack in New York that weekend. He remembers in the medical wing, Stella asked if he would ever consider marriage and going to the courthouse to get married that weekend, he said yes to the idea of being her husband. But rejected her proposal because he had plans of his own, at least he knew she wanted to marry him.

The next week after the battle, Steve took over the position of planning a simple dinner at his old house in Brooklyn as they ate in the kitchen, dressed in comfortable yet elegant clothes and planned on watching a movie with their friends later on. The two of them alone, no doubt in their minds about friends or relatives ruining their night. So in the end of dinner, Steve proposed by pushing the ring across the table and waiting for her answer. She was in complete surprise as she said yes.

However the night was cut short due to an accident downtown in Manhattan.

Bucky chuckled imagining how sweet yet humorous it must’ve gotten. He smiled softly, “Sounds like a wild two weeks.”

“It was like the universe didn’t want me to enjoy my time with her to propose.” He admitted returning the smile, “Anyways, that’s how I did. You don’t have to plan anything out or even think outside the box. Whatever feels comfortable enough for you guys.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah, you already live together and raise two beautiful kids. You don’t need to marry each other until you feel absolutely ready for it. It took me a long time to figure out my feelings for Stella to understand how to ask her out.”

“Now it’s all good?”

“Oh yeah. We’re pretty good.”

That whole talk made Bucky feel better about his decision to marry Sam because he knew at the end of the day they loved one another and that’s all that matters.

—-💍———

Sooo what do we think?

Tags: @missstrawbs2001 @purpleprincessonfyre @meiramel @gcthvile @rickb-chaos @gaminggirlsstuff @wizzzardofoz @cherrysft @thechoooooosenone @luna-d-marsh @rooster-84 @sherloquestea and etc

[jihyocentric]

fwb jeonghyos first time :)

-

"already chickening out? i knew you wouldn't be able to take all this." jeongyeon pointed at herself, plopping on jihyo's bed, right by her side. "where's the remote? there's this new show..."

"shut up. i want to do it." jihyo cut her off, noticing jeongyeon was trying to change the subject. the subject in question being that she'd just made out with her best friend and they were supposed to fuck.

now that they had gone that far, jihyo wouldn't give up. yoo jeongyeon has already seen her in baby blue lacy lingerie, and there was nothing more embarrassing than that. the worst part was that while jihyo was in a well thought sexy wear, jeongyeon was simply wearing a ragged rock band shirt and the very same old boxers she uses to walk around daily.

jihyo had thought about this thoroughly. it's not everyday that she got laid with the first friend she ever made in her life, and she thought that if they're having sex, even if that was just a wild experience with the college's number 1 heartthrob, she'd wear something worthy to be reminded.

people from outside talk. they talk a lot, and jihyo, while reserved and quiet with strangers, she had her own curiosity as to why 'yoo jeongyeon', the name of the most disgusting person on the planet, was always slipping out from her uni colleagues mouths so frequently.

their first conversation about it was weird. jeongyeon couldn't believe that jihyo, the same person who she basically grew up with, was asking to get fucked so blatantly, but it's how they ended up there. it didn't take long for jihyo to start rethinking her life decisions. the realization that she'd be topped by yoo jeongyeon because she asked for it was more than enough.

"just once." jihyo insisted, looking at jeongyeon with a serious face.

jeongyeon sighed, not moving her eyes away from her phone. jihyo sat close to her on the couch, forgetting about what she'd been doing before jeongyeon sat there, trying to get the older's attention. she couldn't get out of her head all of the things her colleagues told her, about how great jeongyeon was in bed and how they wanted to do it again with her, but jeongyeon wasn't the type of person to hook up with the same girl more than once.

"no!" jeongyeon replied, genuinely thinking jihyo was just joking around, because there was no way jihyo was serious about them getting laid.

jihyo tsked. "are you scared i'll be the one to say you're a scam?"

jeongyeon groaned, moving her phone aside and crossing her arms. her feet were over the center table, which was something jihyo hated when she did, although realistically jeongyeon was the one who always cleaned their place, so there should be no problem on that. even then, she removed her feet from there and placed them down on the floor.

"a scam? what even are you talking about, park?" jeongyeon's head fell to the back of the couch and she tilted it so she could look at jihyo. jeongyeon was clearly unbothered by her friend's attempt to push her buttons.

"i just want to know if what they say is true! i just told you that, weren't you listening?" jihyo replied, crossing her arms just like jeongyeon was. jeongyeon was doing it casually, but jihyo was getting stressed over jeongyeon's slowness.

truth to be told, jihyo was sexually deprived. she has tried many times to have a great time and really enjoy the whole... act itself, but every time she tried to have sex, she either didn't fully like it or it hurt or she just wasn't aroused enough. at times, she thought she just wasn't made to have sex and she was about accept it for good, but then she heard her classmates talking about jeongyeon, and she couldn't help but join the conversation and listen about their experiences.

"and who are 'they'?" jeongyeon asked, trying to understand what jihyo was implying. the only thing she really heard was 'have sex with me', and her answer was naturally a no.

"some girls from my class. you slept with them." jihyo said. "they told me some interesting things, and i want to know if it's true."

"that's it? nothing else?" jeongyeon squinted at her. "are you sick or something? should i be worried?"

jihyo slapped the hand that jeongyeon tried to take to her forehead, maybe trying to check her temperature.

"i am not!" jihyo rolled her eyes. "i... i'm serious. i want you to prove me you're that good."

jeongyeon was quiet for some time. she knows jihyo has had a tough time figuring stuff out when it came to her sexuality, so she guessed that having sex with jihyo would be a good way to show her that sex can be good and that jihyo just picked the worst partners. however, jeongyeon was worried. not about her own sex skills, but about the fact that they've been friends since school and now they are silly grownups with silly ideas.

"will it ruin our friendship?"

jihyo frowned at jeongyeon's question. "why would it? it's just sex."

it's just sex.

and so, jihyo stares at jeongyeon, straddles her lap and says it again.

"let's do it." her sharp eyes challenged jeongyeon, who smiled as if she was starting to enjoy herself when she sees jihyo loosen up, and placed the remote back at the nightstand.

jeongyeon starts off slow on purpose, testing jihyo's patience. she knew jihyo, has known her for years and if someone asked her to list jihyo's habits, things that she loved and hated, the foods she likes to eat the most and routine things such as those, jeongyeon would know all of the answers. but this was new, jihyo's reactions to her touches was entirely new and jeongyeon had to know how far she could go and how fast she was supposed to be.

jeongyeon doesn't try to flip them and get on top of jihyo right away. she settles right where she is and lets her hand wander over jihyo's body, stroking from her knees to her thighs, and then from her hips to her chest. jihyo says she wants it and her body corresponds to jeongyeon's touch, yet she's still reluctant. not because it's her best friend she's about to have sex with or any conventional worries people might have in a situation like that, but because her dignity would be stolen the moment she lets yoo jeongyeon take the lead.

"how sex usually goes for you?" jeongyeon breaks the silence, distracting jihyo as the younger tries to think about an answer.

"boring." jihyo answers simply, trying to find the right words to complete her sentence. "it's never too bad or too good. sometimes it hurts, when the other person doesn't know what they're doing, you know... it's..." jihyo notices what jeongyeon is doing when the cold hands touch her shoulders and pull the straps of her bra down. "it's why i prefer to give and not receive. what are you doing?"

jeongyeon moves her eyes further up. "if we're gonna have sex, we need to undress." she says as if it's obvious, noticing how jihyo flinched when she was about to open her bra. "jihyo, you know you can tell me to stop at any point, don't you?"

"no, i don't want to stop!" jihyo answers all too quickly. "were you such a softie with all the girls you've been with?"

jeongyeon sighs and sits up with jihyo still on her lap. "you're a friend i'm helping out, it's different! you're basically a virgin when it comes to good sex."

"you-" jihyo starts but then realizes she doesn't have an argument. "fine, whatever you say. but i want you to stop caring about my feelings and just..." jihyo tries to say it. she tries it hard, holds jeongyeon's shirt tightly, although she knows that it's almost ripping apart, and exhales. "just fuck me."

jeongyeon holds back a laugh, not wanting jihyo to feel bad. it was way too funny, the entire set up, the way jihyo was asking to get fucked and yet getting wide eyed when jeongyeon simply tries to take off her bra. "will you stop acting like you're hesitant?"

jihyo nods. "and you should stop touching me like i'm porcelain. or else i'll tell everybody at uni that you're a bad fuck."

jeongyeon gives jihyo a fake smile and flips them on the bed, so she was on top. "as if anybody would believe you." jeongyeon mutters, inching closer, so close that their lips almost touched. almost, because jihyo turned her head to the side and jeongyeon met her cheek instead.

"one more thing," jihyo says. "let's not kiss."

jeongyeon laughs this time. "why?"

jeongyeon doesn't want to waste time, and so she looks down at jihyo's laced panties. as though that set of lingerie looked beautiful in contrast with her skin, jeongyeon wanted them out, or else they'd be just a nuisance. while jihyo answers, she slips it down her legs and throw it somewhere else.

"because you're yoo jeongyeon." jihyo replies.

"so you want my mouth on your pussy but i can't kiss you?" jeongyeon then goes to the bra that jihyo hadn't let her take off before. this time, jihyo complies and allows jeongyeon to take the piece away from her body.

"exactly what i said." jihyo holds back a moan when the first thing jeongyeon does is squeeze her tits. predictable.

jeongyeon is great. jihyo hates to admit it, and thankfully she doesn't have to say it out loud, but even the voice in her head saying that jeongyeon is good makes her want to throw up. her body, though, reacts to the wet kisses jeongyeon places on her neck and the way she holds her wrists over her head so jihyo wouldn't move. it feels good, way better than her past experiences that didn't focus on foreplay, and it made her grow wetter.

at the same time that it was arousing, it was still weird. the faint yet expressive sounds coming out of jihyo's mouth fueled the confidence behind jeongyeon's actions, and then jeongyeon knew she was following the right path. while a knee made pressure against jihyo's bare core, jeongyeon's lips brushed against her chest, and then her tongue rolled around a nipple, lips wrapping around it and teeth tentatively giving a soft bite. it made jihyo moan louder this time, chest slightly heaving the next time she took a breath.

"fuck, yes!" jihyo moaned, keeping her arms in place when jeongyeon released her wrists and squeezed her tits once again.

"enjoying it, park?" jeongyeon teases.

"of course. that's the whole point, dumbass." jihyo retorts.

jeongyeon shrugs off and takes the other nipple in her mouth, tasting the pebbled bud and giving it the same bite she gave the other. jeongyeon spends way too much time giving jihyo's breasts the proper attention and she doesn't even realize how sensitive jihyo really is there, not until she feels a certain wetness coating her knee.

she licked her lips, kissing lower and making her way to the center of jihyo's legs. jihyo didn't have to know, but jeongyeon was taking it easier on her. for the sake of a decent sex experience for once in jihyo's life, she wasn't as rough as she was with the other girls she hooked up with, and if jihyo noticed it she didn't say a thing.

having sex with jeongyeon was already better than with the people she'd been with simply for the fact that jeongyeon actually gave attention to her entire body, and not just a couple of parts. jeongyeon got her worked up and needy before getting between her legs, and by the time she reached there, jihyo was impatient.

jeongyeon places a kiss at jihyo's thigh, then looks up. "so wet already." it didn't come out teasingly, her voice was raspy and deep and it made jihyo's tummy ache. she needed to be filled badly. "and it's all for me, isn't it?"

"hmm." jihyo moaned at a kiss placed right under her tummy and slightly higher than her clit. "yes."

"should i use my fingers?" jeongyeon asks.

jihyo nods, silently giving jeongyeon her consent. she gasps when jeongyeon slips one finger inside and takes her clit into her mouth, making eye contact with jihyo as she licked the sensitive bud. jihyo can't keep up with the eye contact, it feels way too intimate and she isn't there looking for intimacy. she breaks it by closing her eyes and moaning, while jeongyeon prepares her to receive another finger.

it wasn't new, having someone inside of her and giving her head. jihyo didn't know what made it so different to the point that she was writhing under jeongyeon, almost humping her mouth and moaning loudly for her neighbors to hear, but she wanted jeongyeon to keep going and never stop. perhaps it was the gentleness that her tongue caressed her clit in divergence with the firm thrusts of her fingers, sliding in to hit deep and then coming out, only to go back inside in a rough motion.

"i'm so close, fuck," jihyo grips the sheets, feeling her body getting warmer and warmer, the build up in her stomach ready for a burst.

jihyo pulls jeongyeon's head away just in time, but jeongyeon never stops thrusting her fingers. it's beautiful, jeongyeon thinks, as she watches jihyo's back arch and the way she squirts, something she'd never seen before and she guessed, by the sudden redness on her friend's cheeks, that it was just as new for jihyo as it was for her.

jihyo feels relaxed and satisfied. her walls squeeze jeongyeon's fingers tightly, and jeongyeon doesn't really care about taking them out. in fact, she was enjoying the welcoming warmth.

"so, what happened?" jeongyeon asks.

"i came." jihyo replies, as if it wasn't obvious.

jeongyeon pulls out when she feels jihyo's muscles relaxed. "is it the first time it happens, or..."

jihyo looks away. "yes. let's not talk about it now."

jeongyeon hums. "do you want keep going?" she asks, taking off her now wet shirt. "i can do a lot more." jeongyeon reasons.

jihyo shakes her head. "only if i get to top."

jeongyeon thinks about saying what she really feels about it — that she couldn't care less about jihyo's dilemma —, but she thinks it's funnier to play along. "maybe some other day."

jihyo manages to make jeongyeon lay down and straddles her. "and why do you assume this will happen again?"

jeongyeon shrugs. "they always come back."

"you're so full of yourself..." jihyo leans down and grabs jeongyeon's now bare tits. "show me what else you can do."

[sunstone-smiles]

Chipped my finger bone so this took a while to type, but! Hassel is bummed about the whole dragon family legacy thing and his students notice, so they come up with a plan to cheer him up and show how much they care about him. Love your work by the way!

A/N: Thank you Anon! Also, oh nooo! I hope your finger heals soon, or is already healed by the time this comes out! I actually didn’t know about Hassel’s family legacy until I started researching for this request because I haven’t gone back to do all the classes yet, Lol! But I’m glad I did a little research and speed ran Hassel’s art class because now I know more about him! I hope you enjoy!

The Art of Laughter

Series: Pokemon Scarlet and Violet

Characters: Hassel, Juliana, Nemona, Penny, Arven

Word count: 1,738

Summary: When Juliana and her friends learn of what’s weighing on Hassel's mind, the four students come up with a plan to cheer him up. Enjoy!

—

Mr. Hassel isn’t acting like his usual self. He’s not lecturing with the emotional gusto he regularly speaks with. He’s merely just stating facts as he motions to the stone sculpted Staraptor in the middle of the classroom. Something’s wrong. Definitely wrong. 

Juliana doesn’t like talking during class, but right now it’s important that she gets to the bottom of this. She leans forward to gain the attention of her three desk partners. “Hey! Nemona, Penny, Arven,” she whispers. Nemona perks her head up from the seat beside Juliana, while Penny and Arven do the same from their two seats across. Juliana’s focus on the teacher’s voice becomes muffled. “Does Mr. Hassle seem a bit…different to you today?”

Nemona leans in to whisper back, “Now that you mention it, I do see a difference. What do you think is wrong?” 

“I’m…not exactly sure,” Juliana admits. “He just seems off for some reason…”

“I noticed that too,” Penny leans in to whisper.

“Yeah,” Arven joins the whisper huddle. “It's weird not seeing Mr. Hassel so enthusiastic about art.”

So they were all in agreement. Their teacher is acting differently today. 

Before they can speculate any further, the school bell chimes. 

“Ah, that’s our class for today,” Hassel acknowledges the bell. Many of the students quickly begin packing, some scooping their school materials from the table right into their bags.

“And remember to look over the principles we went over earlier when it comes to the art of Tera Jewels!” the teacher raises his voice over the commotion of shuffling book bags, art supplies, and students leaving their seats. Many wave goodbye to Hassle on their way out, wishing him well for the rest of the day. Hassel returns a wave, but it seems weakened by the glum look in his eyes.

Juliana picks up her bag and signals with a head nod for her friends to stay behind with her. They wait as the rest of their peers empty the classroom, until only four students and their teacher remain. Hassel lets out a quiet sigh and turns to straighten out papers on the white table at the front of the class.

Juliana glances to Arven, Penny, and Nemona, then walks up with her friends towards their teacher.

“Excuse me? Mr Hassel?” Juliana grabs his attention in a very polite tone so as not to startle him.

“Hm? Ah, Juliana,” the art teacher gives her his full attention, also noticing her three other friends gathered around her. “I’m sorry, I didn’t see all of you there. Do you have a question?”

“I hope you don’t mind us asking,” Juliana prefaces her question, “but are you feeling alright? We noticed that you were zoning out a little during class, like you were thinking about something else, and we were worried.”

Hassel’s eyes droop a little. “Was I that noticeable? I’m sorry.” He lifts up his head to properly look at his students. “It’s true. I did have my mind on something else,” Hassle admits, “I was…thinking about my family legacy again.”

“Your family?” Juliana blinks. “But Mr. Hassel, I thought you had already made your decision to stay teaching,” she says, worried that he might be rethinking his choice.

“I did, I did! And I’m still happy with that decision, no doubt about it,” Hassel reassures her with vigor that eases her fears. “My mind had just suddenly wandered today about how my family may think of me sometimes.” The teacher’s shoulders slump forward.

Nemona speaks up, “Please don’t worry about that, Mr. Hassel! You’re an amazing teacher! Anyone would be proud to have you as a part of their family tree!”

“That goes double for me, Mr. Hassel!” Arven jumps in, “No question about it!”

“I agree,” Penny comments. “I know what it’s like to worry about what others think. You shouldn’t let it overtake you.”

Hassel puts on a brave smile. “That’s very kind of you all to say. I’m touched.” The emotional teacher holds back his tears. “I’m sure I’ll be alright and get over it eventually. It just takes time,” he glances away. The mind behind his eyes is still clearly cluttered with conflicting thoughts.

Juliana stares down at the floor, feeling defeated. But she won't give up that easily. Her eyes shoot up with determination. “Everyone, huddle up!” she announces to her friends like a leader. The four group together in a circle.

Juliana speaks first in a loud whisper, “There’s got to be something we can do to help Mr. Hassel.”

“Agreed,” Arven nods. “Something to cheer him up.”

“Ooo, good idea!” Nemona quietly expresses her excitement. “I’ll think of some of my best jokes!”

Penny shakes her head. “I’m sorry to say Nemona, but jokes probably won't work in this case. His mind is too preoccupied with his clouded thoughts that the jokes won't land.”

“Dang,” Nemona wracks her brain again. “You’re right.”

“Are we sure there’s nothing we can do?” Juliana looks at her friends with pleading eyes, desperately wanting to find a solution.

“Listen everyone,” Hassel steps forward to interrupt their overheard conversation. “I’m tickled that you want to help me, but I’m not sure what the answer would be to the question right now.”

Upon hearing Hassel’s words, Juliana’s face suddenly lights up; a new idea clings to her mind. 

Juliana signals her friends to quickly huddle up again. They speak in quiet whispers so, this time, Hassel is unable to hear them. As fast as they grouped together, they break away from the circle and turn to look at their teacher. 

Juliana smiles. “You just gave us an answer, Mr. Hassel!”

“Huh?” the man blinks. “I did? What did I say?”

Juliana throws a smile to all of her friends, then another one back to Hassel. Nearly in unison, the four lift up their hands and wiggle their fingers in the air.

Hassel’s eyes immediately widen. “Oh no-”

“Get him!” Juliana exclaims and the four friends pounce forward.

“Wait!” But that’s all Hassel’s able to say before the students surround him on all sides and dive their hands towards him. With a playful yelp, Hassel ends up bursting into giggles as the four start tickling him.

“Yes! The plan is working!” Juliana cheers as Hassel tries to twist away from her fingers scratching at his side.

Arven chuckles while he targets one set of Hassel’s ribs, “It’s working really well!”

Penny chimes in by his other side. “Better than I expected.”

“Yeah!” Nemona exclaims while she’s positioned at Hassel’s second set of ribs. “Mr. Hassel will be fully cheered up in no time!”

By this point, Hassle nearly doubles over in laughter, his arms wrapped around his middle while four sets of hands slip through his defenses to tickle him silly. 

“Hohohold ohohon yohohou fohohour!” He takes a step back to avoid their fingers, but he loses his footing and his arms rotate like windmills before he trips backwards with a “Whoa!”

Hassel crashes onto the ground, then sits himself up on his arms. However, just as he begins to sit up, he’s met with the faces of his students jumping down after him, who playfully tackle him back to the floor.

“Aha! Ha ha! Hey!” Hassel giggles from the contagious, joyful energy radiating from his students. Before he knows it though, the four classmates quickly surround him again and dart their hands towards him to tickle him once more. Juliana and Arven take his ribs and underarms while Penny and Nemona share his sides and belly. Hassle squeals with laughter, twisting from left to right as he attempts to prop himself upwards on his arms, before plopping down again in mirth.

Nemona giggles alongside her teacher, “Who knew that a tough dragon trainer would be so ticklish?”

“Certainly not me,” Penny shakes her head with a smile.

“Yehehehes! Yohohohu’ve discovered my drahagon trainer weheheEAKnehehehess!” Hassel squeaks in the middle of his words when Juliana scratches at the side of his ribs through his vest, his giggling increasing high in volume and his legs reflexively kicking like he was running on air.

“Hehe! I found a weak spot too!” Juliana giggles.

“Nice going, Juliana!” Arven cheers and follows her lead on the other side of his ribs. “We’ve got him now! No more gloominess on our watch!”

“Yohohohou gohohot mehehe! Yohohohu gohot mehehe!!! Hahaha!” Hassel plays along with a big smile on his face.

“What is going on in here?” an authoritative male voice comes from the doorway. The four look up and immediately stop their playful attack on Hassel.

“Mr. Clavell!” the students exclaim all at once upon seeing the white-haired director of the academy.

“What are you four doing?” Clavell says with concern as he walks over to assist Hassel back into a standing position. The four students stand to offer their assistance as well. 

The blonde teacher stumbles to his feet, an arm still wrapped around his middle while he catches his breath through leftover giggles. 

“Are you alright Hassel?” Clavell says as he grabs on to his arm to help stabilize the other man from falling.

“I’m alright,” Hassel says with a few more giggles slipping out. He then sees the four students ahead of him with their worried expressions. “Thanks to them,” he gives a reassuring smile, bright and genuine to show his appreciation. “I was feeling a bit down due to family matters, and the four of them helped me cheer up,” the teacher explains to the director. 

“I see,” Clavell pushes up his glasses, then looks to the four with his arms properly placed behind his back, a small hint of pride for the students in his gaze. “Then I commend you four for your kind actions. However, I would still like you all to apologize to Mr. Hassel for ambushing him unexpectedly and roughhousing in his classroom.”

“Sorry, Mr. Hassel.” The four students sincerely apologize in unison.

Hassel chuckles. “It’s alright. You’re all forgiven.” The students perk up after hearing that. “Now go on, class is dismissed,” the teacher nods towards the door. Juliana, Arven, Penny, and Nemona grab their bags and head out, smiling as they go. 

Before they leave, the four wave goodbye. “Thank you for today’s class, Mr. Hassel!” Juliana says and disappears behind the doorway with her friends. 

Hassel places his arm down from waving back and says to himself in a quiet whisper, “No, thank you all.”

[nestaismommy]

I really don't know how people put up with it.

Yesterday I commented on why Rhysand doesn't like Nesta, and of course someone came from the other side of the fandom. I really don't know how to fight, when I was little I was unable to give an opinion about something at home that my mother would start a fight saying I was wrong. I showed her evidence showing that I was right, but it was impossible for me to gain anything from her, she did everything to be right, even if it meant being wrong. We are very different in that, I know how to admit when I'm wrong but she doesn't. So I never learned to fight for myself, defend myself, defend my opinion and rights, even when I prove that I'm right, I still tremble whenever a fight starts, because of that, even if it's online.

But back to the person who came to fight me... As soon as I saw that they had commented I started to panic, and of course, to shake too - and I'm technically new to Tumblr, so I don't know how to use it very well, I didn't know I had how to deactivate the comments for nobody to comment - because as I explained well, I don't know how to defend myself. Another person came and then everything got worse, I started desperately looking for how to deactivate comments because I'm obviously a coward and I wanted to run away from any fights, when I finally figured out how to deactivate comments I just replied to this person and before closing them I asked him politely to leave because I was just giving my opinion and trying to join a community that understood me - this side of the fandom - and I immediately turned comments off.

How can you do that? Defend something/someone you like, defend yourself, how? As soon as I saw what they were talking about, I started to shake. I really don't think this is for me lol. I'd better stay in my lurking corner, agree with everything you say, and read the fanfics of this little community of ours.

Hi Anon ❤️

It’s not as easy as it looks. I used to be like that too, I thought I was the only one.

I think that by time, you get used to it. I’m always prepared for any response I might get, I also realized that haters say the same thing over and over again. Usually when I get attacked, I take it as more of a discussion rather than an argument because at the end of the day, you have to remind yourself that this is all ink on paper. That it’s not worth the stress. I made friends who help me defend my favorite character and myself. I think having a lot of mutuals who share the same opinion as you helps. My mutuals help me a lot, even if they don’t know that. I defend Nesta when people are being unfair and misogynistic, but I don’t defend her mistakes. I’m not doing anything wrong, that’s what matters.

I think the hardest part about TUMBLR is posting for the first time and not knowing anything about how the community is like here. I was clueless when I posted, I immediately got attacked. I deleted. I didn’t post anymore. Then I saw so many people defend Nesta with their blood, sweat and tears, and it made my rethink my decision. There are so many things I wanted to say but was always too afraid to. I think we should all have the chance to express our opinions without getting attacked. So I posted again, got attacked, and I didn’t stop. I kept on posting until I made a lot of friends here. I was told that their are certain people who go through hashtags just to hate on Nesta lovers. I was sent the usernames of the problematic accounts, I blocked them and I stopped getting hate.

Sometimes this isn’t for everyone. Some people prefer to turn off the comments, so that they can express their opinions freely. I support that, even I do that sometimes. Especially on TikTok. Also, I usually find it hilarious when I hit a nerve and everyone gets mad and pressed over a fictional character. I mean, there was this one person who told me that Nesta putting herself in danger by going near the wall to look for Feyre is the bare minimum because sisters are supposed to take care of each other, and she shouldn’t be praised for that, so I said “well Feyre putting herself in danger by going out to hunt for her sisters is the bare minimum because sisters are supposed to take care of each other” they got so mad and it was hilarious.

Either way, If you need help, don’t hesitate to message me. If you want those accounts, so that you can block them and decrease the amount of hate you can get, just ask and I’m here. If you need someone to support you, I’m here. ❤️

[danpuff-ao3]

New Goals!

While writing my dear friend Bethy this morning, I sort of made the decision to scale back and rethink all of my grand plans.

Now, I am a lady who can do a lot. That ADHD + OCD combo can be good for some things, I suppose, especially when properly medicated! Accomplishing a lot makes me feel good and happy and gets me all riled up to do more! What I at times fail to remember is that this energy and focus isn't endless. And my sense of responsibility and perfectionism will mean my doom when I inevitably slow down.

My therapist and I have been working on me recognizing and celebrating what I do accomplish, even when they're not on my "list." I have a bad habit of feeling useless when I did 10 things in a day but none of them were on my "list" or in my "plans" and so I chalk the day up as a failure. It helps me to stop and look and say "Hey! I did that! That is a thing that I did and that's very cool and good of me." And that helps.

But it also helps to recognize when my Brain (also named Brian, per my friend Nina, based on a misreading of a Tweet some months ago, haha!) is getting overexcited and dancing around and adding more and more grand plans to our plate. It also helps to verbalize because, for me, and my dang Leo Moon, I need to share and to be seen and understood.

So while there is plenty I'd like to do, I've narrowed down my goals for the year to 3 pretty solid goals:

Snarry-a-Thon

Snarry Bang

Project: Three of Hearts

While the plan is to complete and submit fics for the above fests, my Project is just what I plan to work on in between times. My goal is progress there.

So regarding the above goals, this is where I'm at:

Snarry-a-Thon: Rough Draft & Edit 1 done. Off for beta reading now.

Snarry Bang: teammate chosen and as of yesterday a plan nailed down!

Project: Three of Hearts: Very loose outline. And chapter 1 done! I figured my struggle with the outline might be helped by starting it, to help give me more of a feel for characterization and dynamics. I think it helped because my "vague outline" is starting to feel a bit more solid!

WIPs I would like to make progress on this year, but am refusing to to stress about:

Dralbus fic

Scarry fic

Lavmione fic

Contempt-verse fic (Kinktober?)

Contempt-verse fic (Christmas?)

The Christmas Prince 2

Goals I've cut: mostly Year of the OTP. I wrote Again (and Again) and Lovestruck to fill YOTP prompts, but while it seems fun, it's just too much. I have been panicking in the back of my mind about what to do for a March prompt and it's just not worth it. I don't want to feel obligations to finish things out. So I'm going to remove the Year of the OTP tags from those fics and try to forget I ever heard about it. The part of me that must finish everything it starts is deeply unhappy, but I need to scrub away all sense of needing to finish it, so I don't beat myself up when I fail.

The downside is that, with the idea of doing Year of the OTP and posting a new fic every month, I would definitely have reached 100 HP fics this year! I'm ever closer to that goal, but...if not this year, then certainly next year. There's no rush, really. Also: even though the OCD part of my brain rails at this a bit, I should at least celebrate that I do have 100 works on AO3! If we could my astro meta and my old Marvel fics, I'm actually at 103!!!! (Still trying to talk Brian into accepting that win.)

The thing is, I still do a lot, even if I don't get everything I hoped or planned to do done. Other plans for the year include:

More rec lists! (And I've already done rec lists for this year so everything here on out is gravy!)

More general meta (have I done this yet? Who knows. I'm sure I'll feel inspired sometime.)

More HP Astro posts (already done! All else will be bonus!)

2 fests to run! HP Chan will wrap up next Monday, and that same day HP Fruit Fest starts!

Reading and commenting! I've already done that! And I hope to do more!

Learn bookbinding! I still have supplies to gather, but I started doing test prints of short fics to play with programs and typesetting and printing and such. That's a start!

Mostly I just want to be involved in fandom. I want to interact with my community and chat with my friends and meet new friends. I want to give as much to the fandom as I can, in whatever form I can, be it recs or meta or fics or what have you. Or even just fangirling hard on Discord servers! It would be fun to do more podcasts this year (hint hint @careofmagicalshippers and @fanficmaverickpodcast LOL.) Or...idk, what else can I do? Idk, but no stress to me! I'm here to have fun and spread love.

And I need to keep that in mind. And give myself the love of self-care. And focus more on what's fun and what inspires me over how productive I am, or being self-critical.

Do I take fandom too seriously? Mayhaps. But only because I love it so much!

Anyway, 10 points to your House if you made it this far. Leo Moon = need to share. So thank you for letting me share with you!

[melymigo]

We are going to enter the final round of Bad Batch season two, and I think the next episodes are going to be the darkest of the series, with an amazing and exciting performance but a devastating impact. I think the series is going to start to put the pieces together for the season finale. For those who said the previous episodes were filler, I do not agree with you. I think, besides character development, they had a purpose for the main plot.

These are my theories and thoughts. I don't think any of my mind's ramblings will come true, but be warned.

Metamorphosis:

I think this is going to be the episode with the clone commandos (I believe this because they are the ones we have not seen yet from the trailer). I see the concept of "metamorphosis" as a type of change or transformation. The empire is going to "re-shape and transform the clones that are no longer useful for the empire into something that fulfills their goal to oppress the galaxy." This is going to be related to the Assassin's clones, like clone X. I am scared of what they could do to our beloved clones. I said it before in another post: I think this is going to be the early attempts to create the Purge troopers or Death Troopers, or in my wildest theories, a kind of retcon of Rezi Soresh's Project Omega with the X-assassins like (X-7). I also believe the chips are going to play a major role in this.

The missions of Echo with Rex and why he hasn't contacted with the batch are mainly because of this. They are the closest to the plot related to the clones and their futures. The fact that Echo has been away on those missions and decided to go with Rex to help the other clones wasn't just to give character development to Omega, Tech, Wrecker, and Hunter; it was meant to put one of the main characters (Echo) in the plot of the season.

And talking about change and transformation I think this goes for the Bad Batch as well; they will have to rethink their alliances with Cid and how they're going to "survive" without her. Maybe they're going to ask Phee for advice? Idk.  I wouldn't trust her either, but I want to believe that the producers didn't waste the opportunity to work more with Wanda Sykes.

The Outpost:

Crosshair-centered episode, ugly stuff about the empire and the replacement of the Clones with their new kind of troopers, heavily connected to the previous episode. Crosshair is going to suffer :'c

Crosshair knows the truth about the assassins' program, like the clone X, and how the chips are implicated. He is going to have to make a big decision here. He will be at a crossroads with the empire. Let's remember that Rampart is gone, and we don't know how that is going to influence Crosshair; he will have to reevaluate his place in the empire and choose if he wants to stay and be part of that, or if this is going to be the last straw for him. And if it is actually related to the chips, I want to believe that this is going to shake off Crosshair's world and make him realize that he was just a tool for the empire. 

This episode is making me so nervous.

Pabu:

I just can't help but think about a red panda and the one from Avatar: The Legend of Korra. Something to calm our nerves after the Outpost episode But at the same time, I don't think they're just going to let it be like a light episode; they're going to continue the plot from the previous episodes. If they didn't cut ties with Cid in a previous episode, this has to be the one where they do it. We know the Batch doesn't have a lot of friends to trust, but like Ezra back then in Rebels, he made quite a few unconventional friends along the way, like Vizago, Hondo, and the others. Omega has been doing the same in her own way. I don't think this is going to be like a blind trust, but they could use the help from Phee, Benni, and the others that they've helped along the way.

Tipping point:

Echo is coming back, and he is going to tell the batch what he found out about what the empire is doing to the clones.

We might get to see Crosshair again, either running from the empire or working for them. Tbh, I doubt the last one. It would be repetitive and pointless, and they would have to use a better explanation this time. 

Omega is happy to be reunited with her brother(s)?. Something really bad is going to happen, and they have to seek out for Rex or Cody (I want to see Cody again 😭😔) in order to get to see them in the next episodes.

The Summit and Plan 99:

We may get to see Crosshair. (I am begging, please; I need him.) Cody, Rex, and the rest of the clone force 99 work together.

They are going to need the help of some allies, clones who have deflected, and the friends they have made all along. I don't know. Maybe we're finally going to see what happened to Cody and why Rex had the PSTD episode in Rebels. It would be too soon. But I think, like the season 2 finale of Rebels, we are going to get a strong and devastating season 2 finale for The Bad Batch. It's tradition. 

Don't take me too seriously; I was waiting for my render to complete, and I had a lot of spare time to think nonsense.

😂😂😂

[twilightmalachite]

Twin Peaks - division by zero 1

Author: Akira

Characters: Hiiro, Kaoru, Hinata, Yuuta

Translator: Mika Enstars

Proofers: 310mc & feesh

"Hmm? What do you mean, “too”? No way, Hakaze-senpai, did you...!?"

Season: Autumn

Location: Starmony Hall Common Room

That night…

Yuuta: And so, this calls for a family meeting!

Hinata: Yup. We felt that there was no point in continuing from where we were, so we should rethink details, courses of action, and such.

Kaoru: And for some reason, we’re being pulled into your family meeting too...

Anzu-chan can’t enter the Starmony Dorms, and I’m in too deep to have the heart to leave, so now I’m here to accompany you guys.

Hiiro: Heheh, well, we live under not only the same roof, but in the same rooms as well, so I think we count as family in a broad sense![1]

Hinata: Yes, Hiiro-kun said something great once again! You’ve earned 50 Hinata-kun points! There’s somethin’ I like about the way you put things... ♪

Yuuta: Y’know, he’s perfect for you, Aniki—strong and simple. You’re too reckless, you’ll end up breaking anyone who needs to be handled sensitively.

Hinata: Oh no~, you’d even call Onii-tan something like brutish?![2]

Yuuta: It’s not like I’m any different, but I’m talking about how you keep up that act of yours…

Hiiro: Haha, I don’t fully understand what you’re talking about, but I’ve finished preparing our dinner for tonight. Why don’t we continue talking while we eat? Besides, even if nothing else, we all need nourishment to keep living.

Hinata: Thankies! Usually it’s Shiina-senpai makin’ something even if we don’t ask, but he’s on some expedition today, right?

Hiiro: Indeed. Crazy:B is still in a difficult position, so he’s been pretty busy as a chef.

He flew to Alaska because he apparently said he has to gather ingredients for cooking contests and the like.

Hinata: Why Alaska, of all places…? Though considering we’re talking about him, it’s likely he just blurted it out without thinking.

Hiiro: Yeah, Shiina-san tends to say thoughtless things when he’s hungry.

Kaoru: Alright now, I get you guys might not like facing your problems, but let’s talk about ourselves rather than other people, ‘kay?

Though I am a little concerned about Shiina-kun, too. We’ve worked together before, so I feel as if we’re friends.

Yuuta: Personally, I don’t really care about Crazy:B... I’d prefer to not involve myself with them as much as possible. It’d be a problem if they pour poison in me again.

Hinata: But Yuuta-kun, you think that poison is so delicious that you always slurp up every last bit of it!

Yuuta: Zip it...

Anyways, what should we do? I don’t think the idea of whoever wins a showdown between Aniki and I gets to appear on Volcano Island was a bad one by itself, though.

Hinata: Well, it doesn’t seem like the both of us making an appearance is an option, so we can’t really escape choosing which one of us gets to perform. They won’t wait for us to make a decision, either.

Yuuta: Yeah, the program originally had a policy to not let idols appear, so…

If we keep dawdling about some problem, the mere possibility of appearing on the program will likely go up in smoke.

Hinata: If we come to the conclusion that it won’t benefit us in any way, then that’s a way to solve this issue, as well. A wise man keeps away from danger, so we could ignore it, and move on.

Yuuta: But if we do that, it won’t be a good look for us regarding music programs, and even the Vice Prez. Going “Oh, we can’t do it after all” after we’ve already taken something on is just going to make them think, “The hell?”

Hinata: Mhm, not to mention, we practically forced Anzu-san into this mess, so it’s not gonna impress her if we don’t give her anything to come back with.

Actually, never mind, I don’t think anything would change, considering it’s her we’re talking about.

Maybe it’s ‘cuz of my move during the Repayment Fes, but I feel she’s even more stubborn than usual…[3]

The line drawn between idol and producer is starting to feel more like an impassable valley.

Kaoru: Huh, what? Did you do something like confess your love to her at Repayment Fes too, Hinata-kun...?

Hinata: Hmm? What do you mean, “too”? No way, Hakaze-senpai, did you...!?

Kaoru: No no no no, it’s not anything like that![4]

...Ahh, would you look at that! Anzu-chan’s calling me!

Hinata: Don’t change the subject, now~! How’d you propose? “I want to be your Yuuta-kun”, perhaps?!

Yuuta: You would confess like that, wouldn’t you? Do you really think that’ll make someone’s heart flutter?

Kaoru: Okay, quiet down a little! Anzu-chan’s voice is soft and quiet, so it’s hard to hear her over the phone—

Hmm? Ah, yes! I’m talking about the matter with 2wink and Hiiro-kun over dinner right now!

Hinata: Ah~... Did Anzu-san call because she was concerned about us?

Yuuta: Then why is she talking to Hakaze-senpai instead of contacting us directly...?

Does this mean you’re able to talk freely about even more sensitive matters? Congrats to the newly wedded couple!

Kaoru: Don’t tease… She’s genuinely worried right now…

It’s probably just because of what happened at the Setsubun Festival that she’s too nervous about interfering with 2wink directly.

Hinata: That’s gonna affect us forever, huh…

Yuuta: I personally feel like it had to happen, though. But okay, I get it now—she contacted you instead of Hiiro-kun, since he doesn’t know anything about the Setsubun Festival. So it was just a process of elimination.

Kaoru: Uu...! I’m happy she picked me, even if it was only just that…!

Hiiro: Hmm, at this point, even a process of elimination would be okay—we just need to decide who from 2wink will perform.

Kaoru: Yep, that’s why we’re discussing the matter together right now—To find the best way to do that.

Two heads are better than one—And we have four people with us now, so I’m sure we’ll come up with really nice ideas! ♪

Uhyah!? Anzu-chan says “there are five people!”

Should we let her participate in the meeting using HoldHand’s telework function, then?

Yuuta: Oh yeah, there was a function for that, wasn’t there? It was some sort of video call function like Skype’s. Then, let’s go ahead and invite Anzu-san to our room...

Hiiro: I see! Since the dormitory doesn’t allow women, Anzu-san can’t enter, but using data it becomes possible to invade and explore. You found the rule’s blind spot, huh?

Kaoru: Yep. I doubt we’d be allowed to do this in private rooms, of course, but this is a shared space, so it’s okay. ...Oh, it’s connected!

Hinata: Heheh~! Welcome to the rumored men’s dormitory! ♪

Yuuta: Ahaha, good evening, Anzu-san~! ♪ Are you at home right now?

Kaoru: Ggh, Anzu-chan looks so cute in casual wear...!

Wait, is that... is Anzu-chan in her room right now?

Oh right, you commute to ES from your home, right? I-Is this really alright for me to see?!

Yuuta: Get a hold of yourself, Hakaze-senpai. What happened, I thought you were supposed to always be reliable...?

Hinata: Hehe. But y’know, I’m happy. There’s all sorts of people thinking of us. It’s not just the two of us anymore.

Yuuta: But that’s also what makes it so hard. We can’t be burdening the people around us...

Though that doesn’t mean I want to return to that simple mindset where it’s just you and I, and everyone else are our enemies…

Hinata: Yeah, especially since we now have to fight amongst ourselves. I doubt we would’ve been able to survive this.

← prev | story directory | next →

Another reference to Ainu culture! Unlike large historical Japanese families, Ainu families would live on a single plot of land among one another, and reside in a single house. For example, upon marrying into a family, that person would move onto their land and into their house. If a couple had children, the house would be expanded to make room, so on and so forth.

The return of “Atai Hinata!” Refer to last chapter’s TL note.

During the Repayment Festival of the previous year, Hinata made a subtle move towards Anzu, asking her if she had a crush on any of the idols in Yumenosaki. She responded firmly that a producer/idol relationship is unprofessional and she cares about her work, as well as her idols, very much… It embarrassed Hinata a lot.

It is.

[middleearthpixie]

Lockdown

A/N: A Guy of Gisborne/John Porter Crossover, part 4 

The police code here is one I found for my home state and while the first fifty ten-codes are generally used in all 50 states, they can still vary. I may have also taken a bit of license with what the procedure would be in the instance of a school shooting. 

10-20 - advise to location 

Summary:You and John Porter have broken up, but when tragedy hits a little close to home, you’re both rethinking your priorities

Characters: John Porter, Guy Gisborne, Reader, numerous eight graders 

Warnings: Some tension, hints of gun violence in a school setting

Rating: T

Word Count: 3,889

***

You sighed as you tapped your pen against the blank notebook page on the table in front of you. You were between classes, listening to the din coming from the hallways that was sixth, seventh, and eighth graders all changing classes. 

A yawn worked its way to your lips. You hadn’t been sleeping well and hadn’t been for weeks, now. Not since the night you and John broke up. You tried not to think about it. Tried not to think about him. But that was, of course, easier said than done. You’d met on a blind date set up by mutual friends who were a couple and so thought everyone should be paired off. Unlike most blind dates, this one ended on the highest of notes and in a blaze of sinful passion that was the start of one of the most wonderful relationships you’d ever had. 

Maybe you should have seen the end coming, but you didn’t. After all, he seemed so absolutely supportive of your decision to go back to school and get your Master’s in American History so you could maybe teach at the high school level as well. But then as your workload piled up and your free time shrank until it almost disappeared, it took its toll on both of you. You began fighting over the stupidest things, until finally, in a moment of utter frustration, you told him, “Look, we want different things I guess. Maybe we should just take a step back for now.”

“Okay, tell you what. When you decide I’m as important as—” He held up the book you had to finish; All That She Carried, the Journey of Ashley’s Sack, a Black Family Keepsake—“this, give me a call.”

“John, you were the one who told me what a great idea you thought this was, that you’d understand if things got crazy. Well guess what? They got crazy.”

To which he said, “Sounds good. Call me when you’ve decided you’ve got time for me again.”

With that parting shot, he stormed out of your apartment. It was the last time you saw or talked to him and that was almost six weeks ago. He’d left a couple of terse voicemails but you couldn’t bring yourself to call him back. You tried not to think about what he was doing. Angel told you over coffee a week ago that he’d started seeing someone else and both she and her fiancé, Guy hated this new woman. She and Guy were planning their wedding and trying, she’d confessed, to find a way to keep John’s new girlfriend from coming to it. That conversation left you dead inside. You were Angel’s maid of honor. You would have no choice but to see John with your replacement and the thought alone made you want to throw up. 

The bell rang and your students filed in, laughing, chatting, texting without looking up from their phones or bumping into anything—which amazed you as much as it horrified you—and as they took their seats, you stood. “Good morning! Phones away, we’ve got a lot to cover this morning, beginning with your paper topics. Have you all decided what you’re writing about?”

The voices rose as one loud buzz and you smiled. “Okay. Let me try that again. Who here does not have a topic yet?”

With that, the buzzing dulled and three hands went into the air. You smiled. “Okay. Lisa, Deja, and Tyler. Good. The rest of you, take a look the questions I’ve written on the board and start answering them. Lisa, why don’t you come up and we can talk about what you might want to do. Deja, next, and then Tyler.”

The others grumbled, and two of the girls took out their phones instead, to which you said, “Elena, Donna—up here with the phones and into the basket they go.”

“Are you serious?”

“I’m dead serious, Donna. Let’s go.” You moved the wire basket that sat on the opposite corner of your desk to the other side of your desk. “You know the rules.”

They muttered under their breath, but each girl came up to drop her phone in the basket. “Anyone else think they might need to prevent themselves from becoming distracted?”

No one else moved and all phones went away. 

“Good. Now, get to work. Lisa, come on up and—”

The PA system crackled to life to interrupt you. “Good afternoon, students and staff. Brunswick High School is currently in a lockdown. Please lock all doors, shut off all lights, close all blinds, and move to the corner farthest from any doors and windows. Remain silent and mute or turn off all cell phones. This is not a drill. Again, Brunswick Hills High School is currently in a lockdown. Please lock all doors, close all blinds, and move to the corner farthest from any doors and windows. Remain silent and mute or turn off all cell phones. I repeat, this is not a drill.”  

You stood up. “You heard Principal Bailey. Phones off. Back corner, guys. And be quiet.” 

They stood almost as a unit and moved to the far corner of the room, where a low metal bookshelf stood just beneath the windows overlooking the courtyard. You skirted your desk to the door at the back of the room, pulled the shade, and then locked it, then flipped the lights off before moving to the door at the front of the room to lock it and pulled down that shade as well. Then, one by one, each window shade came down and the room sank into darkness.

It wasn’t a drill, but it also wasn't the first real lockdown you’d ever been through. Last year, there were two that wound up being nothing, so you weren’t really all that frightened. Your heart sped up a little, but you paid little attention to it as you moved over to where your students sat.

But then you heard it. 

Pop!

Pop!

Pop!

The noises were faint, but enough to make you jump and none of you needed to be told what you heard. And your heart sped up as you looked at the thirteen and fourteen year old faces in the corner. They knew it as well. 

“Keep quiet,” you whispered, putting a forefinger to your lips. “I’m sure the police are on the way, if they aren’t already here, and—”

“That sounds awful close,” Deja whispered.

More popping sounds. Louder this time. 

You looked around your room. You were on the second floor. The courtyard could only be accessed by way of the first floor, there was no exterior way into it. There were two cabinets that could hold two, maybe three of your kids each. That left fourteen students that would be sitting ducks. 

The commotion in the hallway grew louder. Boots sounded. Voices rose. The popping grew louder. Lisa let out a squeak, and Tyler clapped his hand over her mouth to quiet her. 

“It’s okay, guys,” you said, your voice far calmer than you actually felt. But you couldn't let them see you were scared as well. If you were outwardly calm, they would remain calm as well, and that was important. You knew the drill. You were ready. 

Of course, being ready didn't mean you weren’t scared as all fuck, because in truth? Your hands would be shaking like crazy if they weren’t balled against your thighs. You had to at least appear calm to keep them from panicking. You looked at those scared faces around you, some of whom had pulled their phones out and were texting like mad now, and you were supposed to confiscate the devices, but you couldn’t bring yourself to do it. Stories of previous school shootings flashed through your mind. Columbine. Sandy Hook. Parkland. Some of those texts were the last words their parents would ever hear. 

A shadow passed the back door. Your heart stopped beating as the door handle rattled. And rattled again. 

A hand caught yours. You looked over. Tyler. He was such a sweet kid. He was new to the school and hadn’t quite figured out where he fit in just yet, but the others in class liked him and little by little, he was beginning to bloom.

You put a finger to your lips. He nodded. 

The shadow moved.

To the front door. 

You’d never heard a gunshot up close. It rang out and deafened you for a moment as glass sprayed inwards. A hand came through the hole that used to be a window. 

“Stay down.” You whispered this as you got up. Your heart hammered your ribs hard enough that black dots actually danced before your eyes. You’d never been so terrified in your life, and would have thought you’d freeze in this moment.

But you didn't freeze. You looked over your shoulder at the kids who were instead frozen in place, phones forgotten even as text bubbles popped up on screen after screen. 

“If something happens, do whatever you can to protect yourselves,” you whispered. “The police are coming.”

The hand caught the lock and turned it and you stood there, just waiting, barely breathing. Barely hearing anything over the rush of your own blood through your veins, through your temples. You heart raced. Your mouth was beyond dry. 

You waited.

John’s blood roared through his ears as he and Guy pulled up to John F. Kennedy Middle School. SWAT was already there. Paramedics and ambulances were also already there, just in case. He and Guy really didn't need to be, but as soon as he heard the alert go out, all he could think about was getting to the school. 

About getting to you.

“Shit,” he muttered at the sheer number of responders. Police. Ambulances. All with their flashers going but without any accompanying sirens. This was his first time responding to an active shooter in a school situation and that it was your school… 

He wanted to vomit. 

“Come on,” Guy tugged the keys from the ignition and thrust open his door, “let’s at least see if we can get a status update.”

“I should have called her last night. I wanted to,” John said as he climbed out of the car. “And I can’t explain why, because she’s made it clear to me she doesn’t want to talk to me. But I just had the urge to call her.”

“She knows about Stephanie.” Guy slammed the driver’s side door shut. “Angel told her.”

“Knows what? There’s nothing to know. It’s not like she’s my girlfriend.” At Guy’s long look, John shook his head. “She’s not. I’ve done nothing with her.”

“Really? Not even a kiss?”

John almost smiled at the disbelief in Guy’s voice. “Not even a kiss. It’s just not there for me. I’m not the least bit interested in kissing her or anyone else.” John moved around to the trunk and popped it, then bent over to fish out the kevlar vests with the reflective letters BHPD and Police on them. “Here.”

Guy took his and eased it over his head. “Then fucking call your teacher already, will you? You’re miserable. She’s miserable. And Angel’s pissed at both of you, which means I’m always running the risk of being miserable as well.”

John adjusted the Velcro on his vest. “Guy, I just told you—she doesn’t want to talk to me. I’ve called her about half a dozen times since we broke up and have gotten only radio silence.”

The radio on his hip crackled. “We have the suspect pinned down. Second floor classroom. Two hundreds. He’s got a teacher and about fifteen kids trapped in a classroom. Over.”

Another voice came over. “Ten-twenty. Over.” 

“Room two-twelve. Over.”

Guy lifted his radio. “Unit Fifty-Seven reporting. We just arrived on scene. Status? Over.”

“Unit Fifty-Seven, stand by at this time. Repeat, Unit Fifty-Seven, stand by. We have officers in place. Over.”

“Copy.” Guy lowered the radio. “You okay?”

“No, I’m not fine. I want to storm in there and take this guy out and that I can’t is killing me, man. I have to trust these guys—” he gestured to all of the uniforms around them—“and that’s the last thing I’m really able to do right now. And what about you? You okay? I mean, Angel teaches here, too, doesn’t she?”

“Yeah. But she took a personal day. Wedding stuff. So, right now, she is at any given mall in the state trying to find whatever it was she was trying to find and don’t ask me what because I have no idea.”

John couldn't ignore the way his gut bubbled. “Do you know if she’s doing this wedding stuff alone? Maybe she needed her maid of honor with her?”

Guy just gave him a look. “She’s here, John. Sorry, man. Angel is solo on this one.”

“Shit.” He peered over the top of their car at the officers swarming into the building. School shootings were something he simply was not used to, would never get used to, and he’d be lying if he said otherwise and it took every bit of will he had to remain where he was, because in reality, all he wanted was to get to you.

The gunshots rang out and both he and Guy spun towards the building’s north wing. Their radios went wild at that moment, with officers shouting over the pop!pop! of gunfire and then everything went horribly silent. 

“Officer requesting medical assistance to room two-twelve,” a voice crackled. “Gunman breached the classroom door and just began firing. Over.”

“Copy that. How many victims? Over.”

“Two, but injuries do not appear life threatening. Repeat, injuries do not appear life threatening.”

“And the suspect?”

“Killed at the scene.”

With that, the first responders flooded the building and John was right behind them. He had to see you, and to make sure you were okay. That was all that mattered. 

Everywhere, uniforms swarmed, escorting kids and adults out of classroom after classroom in a relatively orderly fashion. They were all oddly silent, at first, but once they were outside the building, and they caught sight of their parents or other family members, they bolted. Students hugged students Teachers hugged groups of students. Teachers hugged one another. By now, civilians cars—parents, no doubt—lined Maple Street and as kids ran out, parents swept in. Reunions were tearful, with other officers trying to keep parents from going into the building itself.

He took a step toward the building and Guy’s hand met the middle of his chest. “Porter, wait here.”

“No, I’m going in.”

“You’re not. You know the drill. We aren’t needed and we wait right here.” 

“But—”

“Right here, John.”

He glared at Guy. “Would you be waiting if it was Angel in there? Because you know you wouldn’t.”

“No,” Guy shook his head, “I wouldn’t. But you’d make damn sure I did and you know it. Now, I know it sucks, but we wait. Right here.”

John knocked Guy’s hand from his chest and stepped back. Guy was right and John knew it, but that did nothing to calm his nerves at all. He couldn't stand still. He paced. Along the sidewalk to the end and then back, where he said,“Any word?”

Guy could only shake his head. “Not yet. But, they haven’t called for any more medical assistance. Just for the two and those were non-life threatening injuries, so she’s probably fine.”

John didn't reply. The words stuck in his throat. All he could think about was the last conversation the two of you had. He was pissed off because you were supposed to go to dinner and you canceled because your reading for school was piling up and you had to get caught up. He’d acted like a spoiled git because you needed to catch up on things. And why did you need to do so?

Because he demanded you put him first. 

“Okay, tell you what. When you decide I’m as important as—” He held up the book you had to finish; All That She Carried, the Journey of Ashley’s Sack, a Black Family Keepsake—“this, give me a call.”

“John, you were the one who told me what a great idea you thought this was, that you’d understand if things got crazy. Well guess what? They got crazy.”

He sighed now. “I should’ve never walked out. I should have stayed there and insisted we work it out. Fuck.”

“What?”

He looked over at Guy. “We broke up because I was jealous. She was going back to school and all of the sudden didn't have any time for me—at least as I saw it. And I got mad. Told her to get her priorities straight, meaning put me first. She rightfully told me to fuck off and here we are and Christ, now here we are and I don’t know if she’s one of the injured and I’m just supposed to sit here and wait?”

“Yeah, John,” Guy replied softly, “that’s exactly what you’re supposed to do…”

Your hands shook and Tyler tightened his about one of yours as he said, “We made it. We’re okay. It’s over.”

You couldn’t speak. Your throat seized up as you looked first at the hand wrapped about yours, and then at the kids still in the classroom. Lisa. Deja. Donna. Tyler. Suriya. Elena. Nicole. Cameron. Dante. Gil. Samantha. Cody. Jaxon. Mackenzie. They were all there, alive and well and in one piece physically. They all looked shaken up, pale and so very young. But you managed to smile. “Text your parents,” you said softly. “Tell them you’re all okay.”

“Are you all all right?” An officer came into the room. “Is anyone injured?”

“No,” you told him, shaking your head, tightened your hands into fists again to hold the shaking at bay. “We are all fine.”

“Okay. McMichaels,” he looked over his left shoulder, “escort them out to the main parking lot.”

“Got it.” A second uniform came into the room and you tried not to pay much attention to how they just stepped around the prone figure on the floor. Tried not to pay much attention to the blood pool that slowly widened under him. 

The gunman still lay on the floor, half in the classroom, half in the hallway. A small hole in the first window was the only evidence that a sharpshooter from across the courtyard had impressive aim.

“Come with me, guys,” you told them softly, catching Tyler’s hand to help him to his feet. “Don’t look at him. Just look straight ahead, okay? Go on. I’ll be right behind you.”

They followed McMichaels, and you followed them and you tried to ignore the controlled chaos around you of paramedics and stretchers, of shattered glass, expended shell casings, and the lingering acrid scent you assumed was from the gunfire. 

“Right this way.” McMichaels led you down the main staircase and past the main office, out into a deceptively sunny, beautiful November afternoon.

As you stepped outside, you saw John and your heart stopped. You’d never been so happy, so relieved to see someone. He was pacing like a caged tiger, but then he stopped and spun about and as his steel-blue eyes met yours, he made a beeline for you.

“Thank Christ,” he growled as he swept you into his arms, crushing you close, one hand buried in your hair, his other arm so tight about you, you could barely breathe. “You’re all right, love? Tell me you’re all right.”

“I’m fine. My kids are fine and I’m fine,” you managed to grit before your throat tightened and your eyes overflowed. Without thinking, you wrapped your arms about his neck and clung to him, breathing in the sinful scent he always carried—sandalwood, eucalyptus, cinnamon.

“I’m sorry, baby,” he whispered back, squeezing you until you thought he might actually squash you. He lifted you off your feet briefly. “I’m so fucking sorry…”

“I’m okay,” you told him, sniffling as he set you down and you stepped back. “You didn't need to come—”

“Yeah, I did. As soon as the call came over, we were on our way.” He cupped your face in his hands, his thumbs moving slightly along your cheeks in the soft caress that you loved so much. You just gazed up at him, at that handsome, angular face, into those pale blue eyes. He had a way of making you feel so tiny and delicate. Maybe it was his size—he was nearly six-foot-three and all broad shoulders and wide chest. Maybe it was that he was former military and just exuded that confidence about him. You didn’t know and you didn't care. All you knew was you’d missed him. 

“Can we talk?” he murmured. “I mean, once you’re cleared to leave?”

“Do we have anything to talk about?”

“I hope so. I’ve missed you.”

“Really.” You tried not to lose yourself in his beautiful blue eyes. “What about Stephanie?”

“She was a mistake. And will probably be very glad to never hear from me again because she knew my mind was on you the entire time.”

“Bullshit.”

“Ask Guy. I’ve been miserable. I don’t like sleeping alone any more. But, trouble is, the only woman I want to sleep with is you.”

Your heart skipped a beat at that. “John—”

“I was an asshole, love,” he broke in softly. “And I do hope you’ll give me another chance. I promise you, I will make it up to you.”

“John, I—” You sighed softly. “No, you weren’t an asshole. At least, not entirely. I was, too, and I’m sorry. I expected you to just sit and wait until I had time and that’s not fair to you, either.”

“So, why don’t we start over?” He leaned in to brush your lips with his. “Want to grab dinner or something tonight?”

You smiled. “I’d like that, yes.”

“Good.” He swept a light kiss against your lips once more, then as he straightened up, he said, “Come on, let’s get you away from here.”

“Please,” you said, shaking as your adrenaline finally slowed up and a sudden wave of utter exhaustion slammed over you, “I just really want to go home now. Go home and have a strong drink.”

“Are you okay? Do you need one of the medics?”

“I’m fine. Just shaken up. He never got into our room. He got the door opened and then a bullet came out of nowhere and—” The image flashed through your mind and you shuddered involuntarily, your gaze sweeping across the school lawns. You saw a few of your students still there, and your throat squeezed shut once more. “Thank God none of my kids was hurt.”

“From the looks of it, the injuries were all minor. You were all lucky.”

You nodded slowly. “I know, but still…”

“Come on.” He slid an arm about your shoulders and guided you away from the building, whose entrance was being cordoned off with crime scene tape. You had no idea how long it would be closed for, and you really didn't care at the moment. You just wanted to go home.

With John. 

***

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[asoulofatlantis]

Guess whos back? Back again? Monas back! Tell a friend! XD

All jokes and Eminem-Songs aside (did I just date myself? XD) after 3 blissful weeks off, I have reached my last weekend before my very much hated much calls me back to earn the money I need to afford being able to play games. And with recent Kai CVs and stuff and so close to Kais release, I feel like I have reached the usual point were I can only play one thing: A Trails game. And with my Twitter-Timeline (X? What is that? Never heard of it ;P) reminding me of all the great moments from the Sky-Games I've decided to finally go back and try to finish my rerun. (I probably kick my ass if a remake really will be revealed at the end of the year tho XD)

I am not really sure why I did stop were I stopped. Playing such an old game with not many quality of life improvements and some crashes here and there is surely not easy, but when I finished the last chapter I actually posted that it was nice. So why stop there? Well anyway... we have yet to met my second blond angel, so lets return to the land of Liberl...

Oh! We are not so far away from Tita, it seems...

Kloe was able to face and rethink her decision regarding a certain throne thanks to Joshua and Estelle. Thanks to them and their assistance she saw that her country needed her and finally started realizing that it was egoistic of her to refuse the throne and give it to her... uh... uncle? No... great cousin? No... Uh... he is the Queens Nepthew so... uh... her great Nephew? Oh whatever! You know what I mean! The man only ever thinks of himself and uses his position for his own benefits and that man is supposed to become King of Liberl one day because Kloe didn't feel up to the challenge and wanted to live a normal life.

Despite all my anger and frustration at her... I do understand her a bit tho. We've seen what the pressure of being heir to the throne can do to someone with Cedric. And we also saw multiple times the dangers such a title entails. I would likely be scared of it too... so that is one thing I certainly would not hold against her. But its still good that her experience with the Bracers made her rethink her situation.

We Trails-Players shall love all of our animal companions/mascots very much! That is the rule of Trails ♥

This tunnel gives me some serious PTSD because of the Dungeon it will eventually lead me to and I guess I remember now why I would stop here, so shortly before FINALLY meeting Tita.

Because Joshuas first kiss belongs to Estelle. His lips only belong to her. And we very much fight hard for her to finally kiss him, just to... yeah... I am getting ahead of myself here XD

Oh my dear sweet Trails-Protagonist... XD

Why oh why could she feel relieved about the fact that Joshua and Kloe did not in fact Kiss? What reason could there be? If we only knew... XD

Seriously tho, the way our Trails protagonists handle their feelings is ridiculous.

Estelle Siblings-Zoned Joshua, trying to ship him with every girl but herself until it FINALLY clicked with her that she wanted to be shipped with him.

Lloyd thought that he could bot be with Elie because she came from such a good prestigious family and he wasn't worthy or her and in the process of only thinking but not telling her that he digged himself a hole.

Rean on the other hand, rushed to save Alisa from an unknown danger and even tho it brought him a slap in the face and some dreadful weeks of wondering how to fix this little problem... it ended up absolutely in his favor with Alisa being THE girl of all girls for him and he still managed to obliviously flirt left, right and center with the girls surrounding him even if you make it so he does no other bonding events with any girl but Alisa XD

And then there is Van... talking about his relationship with Elaine like its just been them misjudging their feelings, being absolutely oblivious to that Dancer girl having feelings for him and not seeing Agnes as a woman and... we will see how this will play out but even if he ends up with Elaine (which is most likely the case - much to my dismay...) it still has been some road to get there ^^'

Tita! My girl! My child! My Angel! My Baby! I missed her so much! And look how adorable she was as a child. She is so darn cute!

Look who we have here! Many familiar faces today XD

I'd say I did miss you Killika, but you are still not dating Zin so... yeah... not so sure about missing you until you have done that XD Jokes aside, it is weird seeing her in that Asioan dress, given how she looks like a businesswoman in Calvard these days ^^'

XD

Professor Russel is seriously the only sane one among all those old geezers who do sciences and engineering ^^' I mean look at Alisas father... or Professor Smidt (how was his name written again?) and their is something screaming SECRETS about Hamilton as well - and no, that is not just me being paranoid because its always the guys with the labcoats XD

All jokes aside... Professor Russel might be the only sane person among the old guys, but his daughter on the other hand... how she could have produced my sweet angel Tita is still beyond me ^^'

Uhm... uh... maybe I take it back that he is the only sane one among them ^^'

Oh! Dorothy! I totally forgot that we see each other quite often. And that she is... a bit of a magnet for trouble XD

Its actually mandatory for a Trails game to have some sort of hot spring or hot bath or something like that. It makes me want to go to a hot spring one day too XD