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melisa-may-taylor72 · 3 years

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QUEEN BEFORE QUEEN

THE 1960s RECORDINGS

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PART 4:

THE OPPOSITION

JOHN DEACON WAS THE QUIETEST MEMBER OF A MIDLAND-BASED FIVE-PIECE WHOSE GREATEST AMBITION WAS TO PLAY ANOTHER GIG.

Initial research John S. Stuart. Additional research and text: Andy Davis.

John Deacon was the fourth and final member to join Queen. He became part of that regal household 25 years ago this month, enrolling as the band’s permanent bassist in February 1971. His acceptance marked the culmination of a six-year ‘career’ in music, much of which he spent in an amateur, Leicestershire covers band called the Opposition.

From 1965 until 1969, Deacon and his schoolmates ploughed a humble, local furrow in and around their Midlands hometown, reflecting the decade’s mercurial moodswing with a series of names, images and styles of music. The most remarkable fact about the Opposition was just how unremarkable the group actually was.

Collectively, they were an unambitious crew: undertaking precisely no trips down to London to woo A&R men; winning only one notable support slot for the army of chart bands who visited Leicester in the ‘60s (opening for Reperata & the Delrons in Melton Mowbray in 1968); and managing even to miss out on the option of sending a demo tape to any of the nation’s record labels. The band’s saving grace is its solé recorded legacy: a three-track acetate — although even this was done for purely private consumption, and has rarely been aired outside the confines of their inner circle.

It is perhaps indicative of the Opposition’s modest outlook that their most promising bid for stardom, a beat contest, was called off before they had the chance to play in the finals. For John Deacon and friends, it seems, merely being in a band was reward enough.

Considering of all of this, it’s easy to imagine the response to the following story, related in the ‘60s to one of the Opposition’s guitarists, Ronald Chester:...[ ]

...[ ] “There was a teacher who worked at Beauchamp School, which John attended, who told fortunes. They went to see her one Saturday and were told, ‘John Deacon is going to be world famous and very, very rich. Of course, they all fell about laughing. She was determined that this was going to happen. But they all thought it was a joke."

What particularly amused Deacon’s colleagues was the unlikeliness of this scenario, given the plain facts of his demeanour. John was born in Leicester in 1951, the product of affluent, middle-class, middle England. As a youngster, he was known to his friends as ‘Deaks’ and grew up to be quiet and reserved, what Mark Hodkinson referred to in ‘Queen — ‘The Early Years’ as “a ghost of a boy".

“He is basically shy,” confirms Richard Young, the Opposition’s first guitarist/vocalist, and later keyboardist. “I suppose he was quieter than the rest of us — but he was fairly static with Queen if you look at him on stage.”

Ron Chester agrees: “John was quiet by nature. His sister, Julie, was the same. Once he got going, though, he wasn’t any different from anybody else. But on first approach, you really had to coax him out of his shell. We’d have to pick him up. He couldn’t walk down the road to meet us."

CONFIDENT

Despite any lack of personal dynamics, Deacon was a capable teenager: “He was very confident," recalls another of the band’s guitarists, David Williams. “But in a laidback sort of way. He didn’t have a problem with anything. ‘Yeah, I can do that’, he’d say. We used to call him ‘Easy Deacon’, not because of any sexual preferences, but because he’d say something was easy without it sounding big-headed. I remember saying to him once, I’m going to have to knock off the gigs a bit to revise for my ‘A’ levels. What about you?’ ‘No’, he said, ‘I don’t need to. I’ve never failed an exam yet, and I’ve never revised for one’. Ultimately, he was just confident, with a phenomenally logical mind. If he couldn’t remember something, he could work it out. And, of course, he got stunning results.”

John’s earliest interest was electronics, which he studied into adulthood. He also went fishing, trainspotting even, with his father. Then music took over. After dispensing with a ‘Tommy Steele’ toy guitar, John used the proceeds from his paper round to buy his first proper instrument, an acoustic, when he was about twelve. An early musical collaborator was a school mate called Roger Ogden, who like Roger Taylor down in Cornwall, was nicknamed ‘Splodge’. But his best friend was the Opposition’s future drummer, Nigel Bullen.

“I’d first got to know John at Langmore Junior School in Oadby, just outside Leicester, in either 1957 or 1958,’' recalls Nigel. “We were both the quiet ones. We started playing music together at Gartree High School, when we were about thirteen. We were inspired by the Beatles — they made everybody want to be in a group. John was originally going to be the band’s electrician, as he called it. He used to build his own radios, before we had any amps, and he fathomed a way of plugging his guitar into his reel-to-reel tape recorder. He was always the electrical boffin."

The prime mover in the formation of the group was another Oadby boy they met on nearby Uplands Park, Richard Young. “Richard was at boarding school," recalls Nigel Bullen. “He was always the kid with the expensive bike. He played guitar, and what’s more had a proper electric, with an amplifier. He instigated getting the band together. Initially, we rehearsed in my garage, and then anywhere we could. John played rhythm to begin with. He was a chord man, the John Lennon of the group, if you like."

SWITCH

Despite his later switch to the bass, Deacon’s technique on the guitar also developed, as Dave Williams reveals: “Later on, I remember he could play ‘Classical Gas’ on an acoustic, which was a finger-picking execise and no mean feat. It’s a bit like ‘McArthur Park’, a fantastic piece of music, and when I heard it, I thought, ‘Bloody hell. You dark horse!’ Because he never showed off."

The Opposition’s first bassist was another school friend of John’s called Clive Castledine. In fact, the group made its debut at a party at Castledine’s ouse on 25th September, 1965 (their first public performance took place the...[ ]

...[ ] following month at Gartree’s school hall). Clive looked good and appreciated the kudos of being in a group, but he wasn’t up to even the Opposition’s schoolboy standards. “I was the least proficient, to put it mildly,” he admitted to Mark Hodkinson.“His enthusiasm was 100%,” adds Richard Young, “but his actual playing ability was null, so we had a meeting and got rid of him.” Deacon took over, initially playing on his regular guitar, using the bottom strings. “John was good,” Young continues. “It was no problem for him to switch to bass. He hit the right notes at the beginning of the bar, and we were a better band for it. Whereas Clive made us sound woolly, as anyone who just plonked away on any old note would, John was solid.”

DIARY

Young turned out to be the Opposition’s archivist, keeping a diary of each gig played, the equipment used, and the amounts of money earned (as indeed did John Deacon). Richard’s diary documented the day Deacon — now, of course, bassist in one of the world’s most famous groups — first picked up his chosen instrument. “In an entry for 2nd April, 1966,” says Young, “it reads, ‘We threw Clive out on the Saturday afternoon. Had a practice in Deaks’ kitchen, and Deaks went on bass. Played much better.’ John didn’t have a bass, so we went down to Cox’s music shop in King Street in Leicester, and bought him an EKO bass for £60. I paid for it, but I think he paid me back eventually.”

“John’s bass style with the Opposition was the same as with Queen,” reckons Nigel Bullen. “He never used to play with a plectrum, which was unusual, but with his fingers, which meant that his right hand is drooped over the top of the guitar. Also, he plays in an upward fashion, which I’d never seen before, certainly when we were in Leicester. Over the years, I’ve watched many bass players adopt that style. I’d say he has been copied a lot. I’ve mentioned this to him, but he doesn’t agree.”

Clive Castledine wasn’t the last member of the band to be dismissed. “The vocal and lead guitar side of the Opposition was changing all the while,” recalls Nigel. “Myself, John, and Richard Young were always there — as were Dave Williams and Ron Chester later on — but we had a succession of other musicians who I can hardly remember now. There was a guy called Richard Frew in the very early days, and a young lad called Carl, but he didn’t fit in. After we began playing proper gigs, Richard decided he wasn’t happy with his singing and wanted to move onto keyboards, so we brought in Pete Bart (formerly with another local band, the Rapids Rave) as a guitarist and vocalist. He was good, but again, didn’t last long.”

“Bart was a bit of a rocker, while we were all mods,” remarks Dave Williams. “We were impressed by mod bands like the Small Faces and the original Who. Bart seemed to come from a different era altogether.”

“Deaks had the Parka with the fur collar,” remembers Ron Chester. “And short hair, a crew cut. Mirrors on his scooter.” Richard Young agrees: “John was more of a mod than us. But you couldn’t really pigeonhole the band, because our music went right across the board”.

”Buying Deacon his bass was no one-off, and Richard Young is remembered as the group’s benefactor. Being older than the others, he had a steady job working for his father’s electronics company in Leicester, which brought him a regular, and by all accounts, generous wage. He rarely thought twice before splashing out on equipment for the other members.

RECEIPTS

“Richard bought me a P.A.,” recalls David Williams. “But he didn’t ask, he used to think that the group needed it. He’d buy it and then say, ‘You owe me this’. My mum used to get really annoyed. She’d was at that going- through-my-pockets stage, probably looking for contraceptives. She once found a receipt from Moore and Stanworth’s, a local music shop. It was for a Beyer microphone, which cost about £30. I was still at school, getting pocket money, and my mum said, ‘What on earth is this?!’ Receipts on the Sunday dinner table, that sort of thing. It was good, though. The group needed it.”

“I was dead serious about the band,” claims Young, who switched to organ with the arrival of Williams in July 1966. “Perhaps more so than anybody else. I could see it going nowhere if money wasn’t pumped into it.”

“Dick Young was an accomplished organ player,” adds Dave, “and he improved the group quite a lot. He always had plenty of dosh, and a car. But he was totally mad, a crazy bloke. He’d come round with an organ one week, then next week, he’d have a better one. He ended up with a Farfisa, with one keyboard on it, then one with two keyboards — one above the other. Then he had a Hammond, an L 100. which was really heavy. Then he had a ‘B’ series one. The ‘L’ was top-of-the-range and he sawed it in half to make it easier to carry!”

Dave Williams helped to improve the group as well. “He was at school with us,” says Nigel Bullen, “but in another band, who we always looked up to.” That band was the Leeds-based Outer Limits (who went on to issue several singles — without Dave — in the late ‘60s). “I joined the Opposition after they asked me to watch them and tell them what I thought,” recounts Dave. “The Outer Limits were older lads, all mods, but I was after something a bit more easy going, and the Opposition were my own age. They were okay, but I first saw them at John’s house, when they were still practising in bedrooms, and they were absolutely awful. I said, ‘Have you thought of tuning up?’ They said they had. But it sounded like they were playing in different keys — totally horrendous. It was so funny. They were so conscientious, they’d all learned their bits, but hadn't tuned up to each other. That was my first tip.”

“Our first proper gig was supporting a local band, the Rapids Rave, at Enderby Coop Hall,” recalls Nigel Bullen. “They used to play at this village hall every week. and then we ended up doing it every week for quite some time.” Richard’s diary records the Opposition’s debut taking place on 4th December 1965, and that the band’s fee was £2. Thereafter, they began to offer their Services in the local ‘Oadby & Wigston Advertiser’, which led to bookings in youth clubs and village halls in local hot-spots like Kibworth, Houghton-on- the-Hill, Thurlaston and Great Glen.

SCHOOL WORK

By spring 1966, the Opposition were playing every weekend, school work permitting. The peaks and troughs of their career are illustrated by the following memorable gigs: one at St. George’s Ballroom, Hinckley, on 23rd June 1967, when just two people turned up and the band went home after a couple of numbers; and a September appearance in a series of shows at U.S. Airforce Bases in the Midlands, at which they were required to play for four-and-half hours with just two twenty-minute breaks. It was nothing if not diverse.

“It didn’t seem to matter what you played,” says Dave. “People would clap simply because you were making music. They never said, ‘Do you do Motown, or soul stuff?’ ” The band’s repertoire initially consisted of chart sounds and the poppier end of the R&B spectrum. “Although we were inspired by the Beatles, we never did any of their songs,” claims Nigel. “But we covered the Kinks, the Yardbirds, and things like Them’s ‘Gloria’, and the Zombies’ ‘She’s Not There’.

They also altered their name slightly to the New Opposition, which they unveiled at the Enderby Coop Hall. “The name-change was decided overnight, when John moved from rhythm to bass guitar,” recounts Richard, whose diary records the date of the transition as 29th April 1966. Interestingly, though, it makes no mention of another local group also called the Opposition, long thought to have been the reason for Deacon’s crew adopting the ‘New’. The change did act as an impetus for further development, however, instigated by Dave Williams, who soon took over as the group’s lead vocalist.

“When I joined they were doing all Beach Boys stuff,” he recalls, “and I think I may have brought in a little credibility. In the Outer Limits, I’d been playing John Mayall, the Yardbirds, that sort of thing, plus that group was into really good soul like the Impressions, and fantastic vocal bands from the States. So I had a broad musical knowledge by then, whereas the Opposition had been a bit poppy.” Appropriately, the words “Tamla” and “Soul” were now added to the Opposition’s ads and calling cards.

Towards the end of 1966, the New Opposition were enhanced further by the arrival of Ron Chester, who’d previously played with Dave Williams in the Outer Limits, as well as in an earlier band, the Deerstalkers. “Ron Chester was a bit eccentric,” claims Richard Young. “He never used to go anywhere without his deerstalker. He was a really good guitarist (“stunning”, adds Dave Williams). We were probably at our best when Ron was in the band.”

On 23rd October 1966, the New Opposition entered the local Midland Beat Contest. They won their heat, landing themselves a place in the semifinals on 29th January 1967. They won this, too, and steeled themselves for the finals, which were due to be held on 3rd March 1967, when they were to be pitched against...[ ]

...[ ] an act called Keny. The stars of the show would have been the nearest the Opposition came to having a rival: an outfit called Legay. (A year later, incidentally, this band issued a now collectable single, “No One” (Fontana TF 904,£80J.) Unfortunately, for all concerned, however, the contest never took place. “That was a fiasco,'' laughs Ron. “Somehow we won those heats, but in fact, I don’t remember seeing anybody else playing. I don’t know whether we won by default or not. After that, they pulled the plug on the competition — probably because they knew we’d be playing again!”.

CASINO

“The heats took place in a club in Leicester called the Casino, which was the place to play,” adds Nigel. “The guy who ran the competition was an agent for the club. His company was called Penguin (or P.S) Promotions and he walked like a penguin too, with his feet sticking out. The final was going to be held in the De Montford Hall, which is still the main venue in Leicester. We thought, ‘Crumbs, this is it, perhaps we might make the big time.’ But the guy did a runner with all the money — people had to pay to come to the heats. So the final was called off.”

David Williams wasn’t too fussed, as he scored another prize that night: “I remember taking a girl back to Dick’s car on the strength of us winning our heat. I said, ‘Can I borrow your keys, Dick? He said, ‘What for? You can’t drive!’ “

Were the New Opposition — or the Opposition, as they dropped the ‘New’ again in early 1967 — left in limbo by the cancellation of the Beat Contest? Having achieved the most public recognition of their talents so far, were they disappointed with the loss of the chance to prove themselves further?

“No. It was almost insignificant,” reckons Ron. “We didn’t really look upon it as a stairway to stardom.” And what would John Deacon have thought? “Nothing really,” suggests Chester. “ ‘It’s cancelled. What are we doing next, then?’ That would have been about the depth of it. We were a village band, all gathering at the church hall to try and improve our abilities. The financial aspect of it wasn’t in the forefront of our minds. We were more concerned with our music, and if we could get a booking doing it as well, to pay off some of the equipment, then that was a real bonus. Three bookings a week was enough for us while we were working or still at school.” Despite any dodgy dealings, history does have the Penguin promoter to thank for the only professionally-taken photograph of the Opposition. (“We didn’t go much on photos in the band,” remembers Dave Williams.) On Tuesday, 31st January 1967, two days after winning the semi-finals, the ‘Leicester Mercury’ dispatched a staff photographer over to Richard Young’s parents’ house in Oadby. Here, the group lined-up in the front room, looking more like refugees from 1964, rather than 1967. The only indications of the actual date are perhaps Ron Chester’s deerstalker hat and the ridiculous length of David Williams’ shirt collars — seven inches, no less, from neck to nipple.

“Dave was very extrovert,” recalls Nigel. “But we all had those silk shirts with the great long collars made by our mums and grandmas for our stage gear.” Dave admits: “Our clothes were all a bit mixed up. We had silk shirts with tweed jackets — which were fashionable for a while — and bell-bottoms. Musically, we were pretty good, better than...[ ]

...[ ] most of the local bands around that time, but we had this squeaky-clean, schoolboy image which let us down. I used to get frustrated when we were billed with other bands, and they’d all play with so many wrong chords but had a better image and still the punters applauded. Were they stupid? We were still at school — we didn’t leave until we were eighteen — and weren’t allowed to grow our hair long”.

“After the mod thing,” he continues, “long hair became really important. Bands were growing their hair right down their backs. I remember getting to one gig with John and Nigel a year or so later, and the other group were already on. And when they saw us they turned round and said, ‘Look! They’ve got no hair!’. We were quite upset about that”.

“We also went through the flower-power look,” Dave adds. “And then we got into those little jumpers without any sleeves that Paul McCartney used to wear, the ones so small that half your stomach showed. And then it was grandad shirts without the collars and flares.” Ron Chester: “The flowery shirts and flared trousers were everywhere. We looked like a right shower of poofters. But so did everybody else. You stood out if you didn’t wear them.”

1967 also heralded the arrival of an additional attraction to the Opposition’s stage show: two go-go dancers. At least, it did if the existing literature on the subject is to be believed. “I vaguely remember it,” admits Richard, “but speaking to Nig, neither of us can recal who those dancers were”.

Dave Williams throws some light on the subject: “They were the jet-set girls of the sixth form, they came from the big houses. They came to a couple of gigs and just started dancing. Somebody who booked us for the following week actually advertised us ‘with go-go girls’. But they were never really part of the show.”

ART

On 16th March, 1968 for a gig at Gartree School, the Opposition changed their name once again. “We called ourselves Art,” reveals Nigel, “because Dave was arty, that is, he was training as an artist. It was as simple as that.” Dave agrees: “It was my idea, because I’d been doing art at school.” Nigel Bullen was aware of another band using that name around the same time (the pre-Spooky Tooth outfit), but assuming them to be American, reckoned they’d be no confusion. As the Leicester-based Art never made it to London, there wasn’t.

Despite wording like “A time to touch and feel, to taste and experience, to hear and understand” appearing on the group’s tickets, Richard maintains that Art was “just the same band” as before. “Nothing changed."

“It was mutton dressed up as lamb, really,” admits Ron Chester. “We thought if we were called something different, people might come because they were curious. But it didn’t make a lot of difference. The audiences were captive at the places we played anyway. There was nowhere else to go on a Friday or Saturday night. Everyone used to roll up to see whoever was on, whether they’d heard of them or not.”

1968 was the year psychedelia caught up with many provincial British bands. The Art were no different, but their acknowledgement of what had been last year’s scene in London was via sight rather than sound. Their light shows seem to have been particularly memorable, as Dave Williams explains: “They were brilliant. We used the projectors from school, filled medicine bottles with water and oil, and projected through them to get this lovely golden, amber backdrop. As the image came out upside down, when we poured in some Fairy Liquid, it dropped straight through in a blob, but came out on the wall like a giant green mushroom cloud. It was amazing, and we had about four of them at the back, projecting over the band.”

John Deacon was party to another of Dave’s exploits. “One day,” recalls Williams, “John and I bought a 100-watt P.A. — which was pretty big for those days — and took it into the lecture theatre full of kids at Beauchamp School (which Deacon had attended since September 1966) for our version of Arthur Brown’s ‘Fire’. We cranked it up as loud as we could, put the light show on, and let off these smoke bombs, which were DDT pellets we’d got from the chemist. All the kids started choking, and then the headmaster walked in...[ ]

...[ ] with a load of governors. You could see the fury in his face. One of the governors asked what we were doing. ‘It’s a demonstration in sound and light, sir,’ I said. ‘We’re using these ink bottles turned upside down, but we’re a bit worried about these DDT pellets so we might knock the smoke on the head, but we’re still experimenting.’ And he fell for it!”.

INFLUENTIAL

Towards the end of 1968, a crop of new groups began to have a profound effect on the maturing schoolboys: Jethro Tull, the Nice, Taste, and in particular Deep Purple. Ron: “We used to buy Purple records and learn to play them. We’d seen John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers and the Downliners’ Sect in Leicester, the Nice, King Crimson. These sort of groups. We learned a lot from just watching them. They were influential. There was always a big discussion in the band as to whether we should do a particular song. Once we’d decided that, there’d be another big discussion as to how we should do it. Everybody had their say.”

Hair, too, had finally began to grow: “John grew his quite long,” recalls Ron. “We all had longish hair, but not shoulder length. We couldn’t look too unkempt for the normal side of life, but we didn’t want to be too prissy for the other end of the spectrum. That was when we started playing universities, and we went a bit heavier. The audiences were far more serious minded about music and more enthusiastic. In some of the youth clubs we’d been playing, the audience would be moving around on roller skates, or peeling bananas all over the place, things like that”.

“We felt we were making an impression towards the last year or two of the band,” he continues. But it went no further: “We were at school, some of us had jobs, and there was an element of common sense overriding what we would have liked to have done. None of us wanted to chuck in our apprenticeships or courses. If we’d had a flair for writing our own material, we might have taken off. But we just played what was popular, nothing different from most other groups. That wasn’t a basis on which to launch ourselves. So it never happened."

“We didn’t think that far ahead,” admits Richard Young. “I just thought of playing and getting repeat bookings. John was probably the least ambitious of all of us, to be honest. I think he felt that there was no mileage in what we were doing, although it was good fun. I think he had the impression that this was a hobby, a phase he was going through.”

Sometime in the Sixties, possibly 1969, but maybe earlier, Art recorded an acetate. Whatever the date, the crucial point is that John Deacon was present at the session. “We weren't asked to do it,” recalls Nigel. “We just wanted to make a disc. I think it cost us about five shillings.”

The venue was Beck’s studio, thirty miles south east of Oadby in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire. “I’d never been in a studio before and it seemed awesome, really,” recalls Dave Williams. “It was a fairly decent-sized room for acoustics. It was all nicely low-lit, with lots of screens. The guy knew what he was doing.” Richard Young was less impressed, though: I’ve been in studios all my life,” he says. “That was just another session. Nothing about it stood out.”

The “guy” Dave remembered was engineer Derek Tomkins, who informed the group that they could record three tracks in the time allotted. “We’d only gone in there with two, ‘Sunny’ and ‘Vehicle’,” says Nigel, “and we didn’t want to waste the opportunity, so Richard knocked up a little instrumental called Transit 3’ — named after our new van, the third one — right there in the studio. Although we were purely a covers band, everybody had a bash at writing, but we never did anything of our own on stage. The exception was Transit 3’, which was incorporated into the set after this session.”

“ Transit 3’ was about about the only track we ever wrote," reckons Richard Young (“Heart Full Of Soul”, as reported in ‘As It Began’, is in fact a Graham Gouldman nurnber). “I initially had the idea, but I can’t really remember anything about it. It’s very basic. It wouldn’t take a great deal of effort to write something like that.” To the objective observer, “Transit 3”, taped in mono but well recorded, is a fairly uncomplicated, organ-led scale- hopper, reminiscent of Booker T & the MGs.

“Everybody was listening to ‘Green Onions’,” confirms Nigel, “so Booker T would have been an influence there.” But for all that, it’s well- played, with memorable lead and twangy, wah-wah guitar passages courtesy of Dave Williams. And, crucially, John Deacon’s thumping bass is plainly audible throughout. On this evidence, the Opposition were clearly a tight, confident outfit. “Transit 3” could have been incorporated into any swinging ‘60s film soundtrack, and no one would have jumped up shouting, “Amateurs”!.

UNFAMILIAR

The other two tracks, covers of Bobby Hebb’s ‘Sunny' and the more obscure, soul- tinged ‘Vehicle’ (later a hit for the Ides of March), featured a vocalist, but an unfamiliar one: another of the Opposition’s fleeting frontmen. “We had a singer for a while called Alan Brown,” recalls Nigel. “He came and went fairly quickly. He was good, really good. Too good for us, I think. That wasn’t him saying that. We just knew it.”

On both songs, Brown is in deep, soulful voice, sounding not unlike a cross between Tom Jones and the early Van Morrison — if such an amalgam can be imagined. The Art’s reading of “Vehicle” is edgy and robust, dominated by Richard Young’s distinctive keyboards and Nigel Bullen’s bustling drum work. Dave Williams is again in fine form, delivering more sparkling wah-wah guitar, while on the cassette copy taped from Nigel Bullen’s acetate, at least, John’s bass is very prominent, over-recorded in fact, booming in the mix.

“Sunny” goes one better, breaking into jazzy 3/4 time halfway through, before slotting back into the more traditional 4/4. It’s an imaginative arrangement, with alternate soloing from both Dave and Richard, while the whole track is underpinned by swirls of Hammond organ and John Deacon’s pounding bass.

“We did ‘Sunny’ as part of our stage set,” says Nigel, “but I don’t recall us ever going into the jazzy bit. That’s quite interesting. We might have talked about that before we went into the studio, but I think it was just for this session. Dave had two guitars, a six-string and a twelve-string, or it could even have been twin-necked. I still quite like the wah-wah he played on that track. By this time Richard would have been onto his second or third organ — he was heavily into Hammonds and Leslies."

Operating as they did in a fairly ambition- free zone, and having prepared the listener for a mundane set of recordings with their trademark laid-back approach, Art’s acetate comes as something of a revelation. Let any bunch of today’s schoolboys loose in a studio for an afternoon and defy them to come up with something half as good!

Just two copies of the Art disc are known to have survived. John Deacon’s mother is believed to own one and Nigel Bullen has the other. “I’d forgotten all about this record,” admits Nigel. “We know that one copy was converted to an ashtray!. We stubbed out cigarettes on Richards at rehearsal one night.” Although treated with anything but respect at the time, the importance of the disc is now apparent to Nigel Bullen: “This is probably John Deacon’s first recording, apart from tracks he did in his bedroom on his reel-to-...[ ]

...[ ] reel, which are probably long gone. Although, knowing John, they’re probably not!”

The beginning of the end for Art came in June 1969, when John Deacon left Beauchamp. With a college course lined up in London, his days with the band were obviously numbered. He played his final gig with the group on 29th August at a familiar venue, Great Glen Youth and Sports Centre Club. By October, he’d moved to London to study electronics at Chelsea College of Technology, part of the University of London.

Another blow was dealt in November, when the band's lynchpin, Richard Young, left to join popular local musician Steve Fearn in Fearn’s Brass Foundry.

“They were a Blood, Sweat and Tears-type of group,” recalls Richard, “and paid better money than I’d been used to. I was out five nights a week, on about £3 per night, against an average of about £10 between us.” The previous year, Richard had played session keyboards on the Foundry’s two Decca singles: “Don’t Change It” (F 12721, January 1968, £10) and “Now I Taste The Tears” (F 12835. September 1968, £8).

SAVAGE

Ron Chester departed shortly afterwards, and gave up music: “I left in the early 70s, after John Deacon moved to London. John was replaced by a bass player was called John Savage, who unsettled me. He had different tastes and drove us a bit hard. His approach was totally different from Deaks's, and he was much more interested in the financial side of things. We’d all been mates before, we didn't just knock about for the band. It just wasn’t the same.”

Nigel, Richard and Dave pushed on into 1970 with the new bassist, changing the band’s name again, this time to Silky Way. They returned to Beck’s studio to record a cover of Free’s “Loosen Up” with another vocalist, Bill Gardener, but that was the band’s last effort. Dave left after falling into Nigel’s drumkit, drunk on stage at a private party one Christmas. “I waited for them to pick me up the next day,” he recalls sheepishly, “but they never carne.”

Richard and Nigel moved into a dinner- dance type outfit called the Lady Jane Trio — “Corny, or what!”, laughs Bullen — but Nigel left music altogether soon afterwards to concentrate on his college work. Richard turned professional, moving into cabaret with the Steve Fearn-less Brass Foundry, before forming a trio called Rio, finding regular work on the holiday camp and overseas cruise circuit. In the late ‘70s, he joined a touring version of the Love Affair.

Down in London, John Deacon caught a glimpse of his future world-beating musical partners as early as October 1970, when he saw the newly-formed Queen perform at College of Estate Management in Kensington. “They were all dressed in black, and the lights were very dim too,” he told Jim Jenkins and Jacky Gunn in ‘As It Began’, “All I could really see were four shadowy figures. They didn’t make a lasting impression on me at the time.”

While renting rooms in Queensgate, John formed a loose R&B quartet with a flatmate, guitarist Peter Stoddart, one Don Cater on drums and another guitarist remembered only as Albert. The new band was hardlv a great leap forward from Art: they wrote no originals, and when asked to perform their only gig at Chelsea College on 21st November 1970, supporting Hardin & York and the Idle Race, they hastily billed themselves — in a rare fit of self-publicity for the quiet Oadby boy — as Deacon.

A few months later in early 1971, John was introduced to Brian May and Roger Taylor by a mutual friend, Christine Farnell, at a disco at Maria Assumpta Teacher Training College. They were looking for a bassist. John auditioned at Imperial College shortly afterwards. Roger Taylor recalled Queen’s initial reaction to Deacon in ‘As It Began’: “We thought he was great. We were so used to each other, and so over the top, we thought that because he was quiet he would fit in with us without too much upheaval. He was a great bass player, too — and the fact that he was a wizard with electronics was definitely a deciding factor!”

How did the members of the Art/Opposition back in Leicester, view John’s success with Queen? “It wasn’t sudden”, says Ron Chester. “First we heard he’d got into another group. We couldn’t believe that — were they deaf? There were all these sort of jokes going along. Then we heard he’d got a recording contract and the next thing he had a record out. It was a gradual progression. No one dreamed he would end up the way he did.”

“I don’t think we expected success for any of us" admits Nigel Bullen. “Richard maybe. He was the first one to go professional. But when John left for London to go to college, he left all his kit here. I thought that was the end of it for him. He had absolutely no intention of continuing. His college course was No.1. It was only after he kept seeing adverts for bass players in the ‘Melody Maker’ that he became interested again.”

He also seemed to lose some of that ‘Easy Deacon’ touch which so impressed Dave Williams in the ‘60s. “He’d ring up these bands,” continues Nigel, “but when he found they were a name act, he bottle out. When he went to auditions for anonymous bands, where he would queue up with about thirty other bass players, he had a bit of confidence. He just wanted to play in a decent band. Once I heard what Queen had recorded at De Lane Lea, and John played me the demo of their first album, I thought they were well set.”

CABARET

By early 1973, Dave Williams had forsaken a career in animation to join Highly Likely, a cabaret outfit put together by Mike Hugg and producer Dave Hadfield on the back of their minor hit, “Whatever Happened To You (The Likely Lads Theme)”. While Dave was in the band, they recorded a follow-up single which wasn’t released, before evolving into a glam rock outfit, Razzle, which later become the Ritz, who issued a few singles. “During Queen’s early days, before they’d had any real success, John came to see us once,” recalls Dave, “and said, ‘I wish I was in a band like this which could actually play some gigs’.” Dave concludes: “I remember John coming round once around that time, saying I’ve got a demo’. ‘So have I!’, I said. So we put his on first, and the first track was ‘Keep Yourself Alive’. My mouth dropped wide open and I thought. ‘Bloody hell! What a great track’. I remember saying that the guitarist was as good as Ritchie Blackmore — who was still our hero then — and thinking ‘They’re serious about this. This is the real thing’.”

RECORD COLLECTOR Nº 198 FEBRUARY 1996

⬅PREVIOUS: SMILE

https://melisa-may-taylor72.tumblr.com/post/639672109315014656/queen-before-queen-the-1960s-recordings

➡NEXT: IBEX, WRECKAGE & SOUR MILK SEA

@natromanxoff, @mephisto92, @moviestorian, @x5vale, @39-brian, @onegoldenglance, @crosmopolitan, @an-abyss-called-life, @his-majesty-king-mercury, @i-live-for-queen, @brian-39-may, @toomuchlove-willkillyou, @brimaymay, @sail-away-sweet-sister, @drummerqueenrmt, @old-fashioned-roger-boy, @briianmaay, @inui-mycroft, @deacytits, @iminlovewithrogscar, @drowseoftaylor, @brianmayislongaway, @balticlover, @astrophysicist-guitar-god, @miez-lakatz, @brianmayoucease, @jesus-in-a-life-boat, @aslongasthereismusic, @roger-taylors-car, @silapril, @sherrifanciesfriskyfreddie, @tenderbri, @brianmydear, @thosequeenboys, @millionairewaltz-carpediem, @painandpleasure86, @bribrifrenchfry, @xlucylennonx, @a-night-at-the-abbey-road, @inthedayswhenlandswerefew, @madformeddowstaylor, @queenrogertaylorfan, @let-roger-get-a-lunch, @queen-for-life, @rethought, @drivenbybrianmay @mymakeupmaybeflaking, @old-but-still-a-child, @let-roger-get-a-lunch, @warriorteam1924, @funnydressesweirdhairanddance, @painkiller80, @thefanhuman13, @yourtieddownmother, @hgmercury39, @brimi-stardust, @thefairyfellermercury, @retroromantics, @sailawaysweetbrimi, @sophiaintheskywithdiamonds, @holybrianmaywritingbear, @lydiannode, @39-yellow-daffodils , @ure-gonna-loveme-when-u-seeme, @kaykaybeachgirl, @foxmonkey, @deakysgurl, @redspecialandclogsandcurls, @briansrainbowsocks-deactivated2, @delilahmay39, @ohmybribri, @bless-the-queen, @everythingaboutfreddie, @doitforthevine67, @recordsoftheseventies, @rhysjoejoshtomfarisblog, @tenementfunsterwithpurpleshoes, @drummah-in-a-rocknroll-band, @beatlegirl1968, @maylorsqueen, @autumnscenemcyt, @gralto, @alittlepeoplemagic, @rainbowsockbrian, @frejudy, @drivenbybri, @yourlocalmusicalprostitute, @saik-ava, @omb-xx, @sassymaylor, @somekindofroger, @starlightmay, @freddiemercuryismylife, @sunshine112, @chrysochromulina, @glitteryloveravenue, @deakyislife51, @0-primejive-0, @just-a-skinny-lad, @bluewillowmom, @sassiesillie, @stesichoreanpalinode, @farrokhbulsaramercury, @tayloredofqueen, @rushingheadlong, @izzy-is-slightly-mad, @scandalacious, @0-my-fairy-queen-0 @39-volunteers-to-space@zodiacaldust, @deakytaylor, @queenband70s, @deakyeveryday, @drivenbybrimay @70smay

#Queen Before Queen #Pre-Queen Series #John Deacon #The Opposition #🎤🎵🎸👑⭐

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visit-ba-sing-se · 3 years

Text

My contribution to the “what happened to Kuzon?” question, I guess. No canon, just me making myself cry. Kuzon was old. He knew that, and with every move he made his body reminded him. Still, he was crouching over to clean the dust from a statue. The monk that it resembled had his eyes closed and seemed to be mediating, blissfully unaware off the world around him. Kuzon sighed. What would he give to just trade spots with him. Once more, he was not sure if he was supposed to find it rather funny or tragic that this small shed, in a small village between somewhere and nowhere, was where his life had led him. His parents had been a merchants. But not the kind of merchant you would meet on the city market and who'd sell you cabbage or fish. The kind of merchant that travelled to Ba Sing Se or Omashu and returned with ancient relicts that they'd sell some fire nation nobleman. Or the other way around, trade spices that would be used to for the spicy pickled kelp severed to earth kingdom royals. And Kuzon had been accompanying them for as long as he could remember, and a lot of it, he had loved. Counting heavy coins while sitting on his father lap, helping his mother chose between different colored pieces of cloth to buy and sell again for more, crossing items from a list before he even could read the words. And of course, he had met two of his best friends on their journeys. Bumi and Aang. And he had believed that that would be how things would stay, and that one day, he would grow up to be a merchant as well. Of course, in his mind he then imagines being the greatest merchant there ever was, who would have dinner with the king of Omashu and make his parents proud. And of course, that dream shattered as childrens dreams do. One conversation it had taken to tear his world apart. One conversation that he had listend to from the closet in their living room. Kuzon had used to hide when his parents welcomed wealthy clients, as they had never wanted him around then. Today, he still remembered that one trade as if it had been yesterday, not a century ago.

“You know, the prices for those artifacts are going to increase rapidly soon,” his mother had said, her you find my price to high but there is nothing you can do about that voice as he called it. “It is not like new once will enter the market. And I even heard that the government is striating to seize and destroy those that are currently one it.” Kuzon was angry at himself for not taking a peak at what she was selling earlier. Now they were standing with their backs to him and the view was blocked. “Even if you are right, which is not unlikely”, that buyer, a fire nation noble, had responded, “don't feel any bad at all profiting from that?” His mother had snapped back directly “Oh, don't strike that chord with me. You want to invest. I have an investment to offer. Nothing more, nothing less. This little intermission won't fool any of us, and you know it.” “Fine.” The nobleman than had sighed, as Kuzon had moved his head slightly, desperatly trying to get a glimpse of what had being sold. “A pity they had to kill all of them.” “They just made the best fruit pies. And they were so fun at parties.” None of this had made sense to Kuzon. Not until he finally had seen what the noble man had just bought. An air glider. Like the one Aang had had. And with that, it had hit him. Fruit pie. Air glider. Aang. Killed. Kuzon had not left that closet until finally, after he had missed lunch and dinner in there his father had discovered him and ordered to go to bed. Of course, looking back, it was childish. But In that moment, he truly had thought that as long as he stayed in the closet, the reality would stay out. The reality in which Aang, his best friend Aang, the funny, caring and genius Aang, Aang who he had spent some go the happiest days of his life with, was dead. And his parents were selling air gliders for profit. But of course, the reality was there, and it did not care if Kuzo accepted it or not. He was just 12, and one might say that a kid that age would not understand so much anyway. But Kuzon felt like in fact, he was the only one who did. The only one who saw all the places in which the air nomads were missing. The only one who saw how fearful the merchants from the earth kingdom that used to be good friends of their family now looked. The only one who did no pretend that their firelord was nothing else but a liar and murderer. All of that had made him wanting to yell. Or cry, Or both. But his parents had taught him not to do so very soon very well and so he did neither. But he wrote it down. He started with everything Aang had told him about his people, and what he could remember from the times he had visited. He continued with everything that happened then. When his father got drafted for the war. When they started having to say this weird pledge in school. When the man with the serious face brought the letter that made his mother cry. When they had to leave their big house in the capital and move back to his grandparents into a smaller house in a small village. And how despite all of this, the first thing his mom did in her new, small room was to hang up picture of Sozin so that he could stare down from there as well. He wrote down how after that picture changed from Sozin to Azulon, he applied to university to avoid getting drafted himself. The thought of that made him chuckle now. How smart he had found himself to be. Only too find out that at university they may did not teach him how to kill someone with a sword. But to kill his mind with some words. Of course, he had written that down as well. Just as he wrote down the rumors of the deserted admiral, and the drinking songs the other students were singing about bravery and burned towns. Finally, he got into one last fight with his anthropology professor that got him kicked out of university and close to being arrested. After more or less fleeing town, he cut his hair, hid in a few more closets and stole the passport of a poor lad named Lee. Like that, he escaped his military service scrubbing floors, serving tea and unloading ships on docks. He spent some nights in prisons as well, after fights he had picked at night and after assaulting governmental officials. For jokes about Azulon that he alone had found funny. As the result of trying to convince people that attacking Ba Sing Se would not be right. But no one wanted to be convinced, so once more, all he could do was write down what he observed. The cheering masses and tea sipping towns people just as the polluted rivers and starving fisherman. The children playing war in the streets, already so eager to kill and die for honor and glory just as the factory workers with dark circles under their eyes. He hated to admit it now, but during that time, he had been giving close to giving up more than once. He woke up in the morning not knowing which town he was in, nor how he would pay for dinner there in the evening. He had given up his home, his studies, his name. All because he had not been wanting give up on Aang. He could not betray his friend. When he was not able to fight all of them and stop the war, the least he could do was not to become one of them and instead bear witness for future generations to come. But is just got harder and harder each day, and more and more times he scolded himself for being just stubborn and stupid. His friend was dead. The Dragon of the West was at the walls of Ba Sing Se. And everyone just loved Azulon. What difference would it make if he joined them in? Or if he just stopped trying completely? What saved him was a small clay figure of a sky bison. A woman sold it on the market in a town which's name he did not even know. What he knew, however, was that these kinds of toys were only made by air nomads. And that that woman clearly had no idea how much the piece she was offering here was worth. He bought it without thinking twice. And that was how he finally became a merchant. Trading goods became his explanation for traveling up and down the country, searching for traces and hints, gathering artifacts that one way or another that found their way into the hands of people who had no idea what they were holding. Of course, he had to start small. Very small. But he had learned from the best there were. And he had a goal. “Maybe I am naive to think that one day, the war will be over and the firelord defeated. That one day we can speak freely again and that people will come and learn about the airnomads.”, he wrote down during this time, but when that day comes, they need to have something to learn from. After many years, when Ozai already replaced Azulon, Kuzon settled in a small village, where he lived in a small hut with an even smaller shed in which he kept the artifacts hidden. People quickly started avoiding him as the weird old man who in any other place would have already been arrested but here just served as village idiot. He continued writing, but news travelled slow and when they arrived were usually not reliable at all. Because of that, he nearly did not dare to write the first hopeful line after what seemed to be an eternity. Word has it that the Avatar has returned.

And then after another year, despite all odds and just like that, the war suddenly was over. At least so he heard. And noted that the war was over. And then finally, he put the pen down. Everything suddenly had changed. Yet still, it remained the same.

Kuzon was still alone in his hut and with his books, and still no one seemed to care. He had a testamony to make, but no one wanted to listen. They all just wanted to forget so fast. And he was a disturbance, since they knew that he remembered. There were rumors that the new firelord, Zuko, 16 and like that himself half a child, wanted to change things and own up the crimes that were committed. Some people pretended to support that. Others openly complained. Kuzon just would like to believe it was true. But he just had stopped trusting in firelords a long time ago.

Still, he tried his best to maintain the artifacts in good shape, but he was old. He had no family. No friends. And the thought that they would remain hidden here after his death, abdomend and forgotten, broke what was still left of his heart. But here he was, and here they were. Alone. Suddenly, when Kuzon could already feel his eyes filling with tears, he was interrupted by a voice. A very familiar voice.

“Somebody here?”, it asked. Kuzon was sure that it was only in his mind, brought back by all the memories. Still, while scolding himself for being a stupid old man, he slowly turned around, expecting to see nothing except for the wall of his shed. But his mind had not tricked him. There he stood, smiling that familiar smile that Kuzon never would have thought he would see again. Aang. And Kuzon cried.

#avatar #Avatar The Last Airbender #aang #kuzon #My writing #atla fanfic #atlla #avatar aang #why did I do this? idk #the good thing is that I cannot sleep anayway #the bad thing is that is is 1:48 am and I really need to get stuff done tomorrow #also I am sad now

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wastelandcth · 3 years

Text

Lay it On Me - cth

part of nation of two

summary: Petra stays up one night while Calum's away thinking back on all the happy moments she wishes she could relive. Meanwhile, Calum's dealing with the fear of loving someone after so long.

author’s notes: I hope you guys enjoyed chapter one of Nation of Two and that you enjoy a closer look into Calum and Petra’s little world!

warnings: Not much, just two lovestruck fools missing one another.

masterlist || request || previous part || next part

Sometimes, Petra’s life felt like it was something out of a cheesy romance novel, she felt herself craving to reread the pages that made her cheeks flush and heart race. The pages that had made up her life. She’d stay up at night when she was alone, staring up at the ceiling as she tried to relive the moments she’d treasured so much. She wasn't sure how long she'd been doing this, maybe she had done so her entire life trying to remember the little details of precious moments so they couldn't slip past her.

Most recently, those memories included Calum and his soft laugh.

If she closed her eyes and focused, Petra could almost live through the flower shop exchange. She could feel her heart race as she turned the corner into the vase aisle and was met with a familiar face of a stranger. Calum had been wearing a shirt she'd remembered seeing him wear at some show online, the soft white shirt lined with red fitting his arms and chest so snug it made her lose her breath. His hair was blonde and cut short, making his jaw seem soft and the perfect place for Petra to kiss. His tanned skin was smooth and the tattoos on his arms decorated him like a piece of art. If Petra really concentrated, she could still smell his cologne, the woodsy scent that seemed to be mixed in with something sweet. It wasn't too strong, but she had been close enough to Calum that she could smell it over all the flowers in the store.

When Petra opened her eyes again, the darkness of her room brought her back. The moonlight was filtering in through her window and gave a soft blue hue to everything. Her arms spread out at her side and she felt a pang in her heart as her left hand didn't bump into the warm body she'd gotten used to being there. Calum had been gone for almost a month now, leaving the side of his bed cold and empty. He'd been busy with work and Petra appreciated when he'd have the odd minute or two to call her so they could catch up, even if it had to be two in the morning and her sleep-filled brain could only come up with strange answers. Not that it mattered too much because before the conversations turned into anything meaningful, Calum was saying goodbye and promising to call when he could next.

But Petra still loved him. She loved Calum and the short phone calls, where the only thing that mattered was that he ended them with a quiet I love you and kissy noises. She loved the Calum who was living his dream every night out on a stage in front of thousands of people. The Calum who at the end of every show would snap a picture and sent it to Petra with another cheesy pickup line or a joke he'd heard that day. Petra was in love with the Calum who would call her in a rush and babbled out some story where his brain worked faster than his mouth and his giggles warmed Petra's heart from halfway across the world. Even in the darker days, when they both craved to feel the touch of the other and their usual happy interactions were clouded over with a pang of sadness. Petra knew it would all be worth it when she was in the arms of her lover in a week's time.

"Can't sleep?" Calum's groggy voice rang out into the darkness of the room.

"I got too used to having you sleep next to me, jerk," Petra laughed, her eyes falling back onto the small screen next to her head, "You're seriously not gonna let me see your new haircut yet? I'll see it all over the internet by lunchtime tomorrow, you know that?"

"Yeah, you might," Calum laughed, "It's a surprise though! You love surprises,"

"I also love running my hands through your curls," she snorted and shook her head, "I just miss your cute face."

"I miss your cute face too," Calum chuckled, letting out a sigh as Luke called his name out from outside the tour bus, "I've got to go, but I'll talk to you soon, okay? Try and get some sleep, darling."

And with that, Petra was thrown back into the silence of her dark room. The sun would be up in a few hours and that would mean she definitely wasn't getting any sleep so she closed her eyes and begged her brain to let her drift off. Eventually, her breathing evened out and the pillow she'd been using as a replacement for Calum lulled her into sleep.

Arpeggiated chords rang out from the room next to the entrance where Petra had been standing, the chill from outside hitting the back of her neck as she pushed the door closed with her foot. The house was warm and Petra could smell the soup that was brewing in the kitchen but her legs lead her towards the soft music that was playing in the living room. In the corner of the room, near the big windows that show the snowy landscape that Petra had been out exploring just a few minutes earlier, Calum was sat by the piano. His eyes were focused on the keys in front of him, his fingers working over them as if he'd played the piano his whole life. With every note he played, Petra felt herself drawing closer and closer to him, her hands landing on the softness of his shoulders with a soft squeeze.

"How was your walk?" Calum asked, the soft music coming to a stop that left the house feeling empty and Calum was glad Petra's hands were on him, the shiver he'd felt earlier replaced with her warmth.

"It was nice," Petra mumbled, her hands massaging his shoulders and working Calum as he'd worked the keys a few seconds ago, "I like it here."

"I do too," Calum mumbled and leaned back against her touch, "I like being here with just you and the snow and the piano."

"It's nice," she agreed, her eyes looking out the window as the snowfall began again, "Complete opposite of our beach dates,"

"We can just stay in and watch the snow, eat some delicious soup," he mumbled and hit a few more notes on the piano before standing up to wrap his arms around Petra, "Maybe watch a movie or read a book."

"That sounds lovely, we can keep warm by the fire and hope that no bears find this place too cozy and try to break in," Petra laughed.

In the haziness of her sleep and the sunlight hitting her face, Petra could still hear the warmth in Calum's voice when he'd read to her that night next to the fireplace. She could still feel the way his arms were wrapped around her as he read about the highlands of Scotland. How his voice felt like a warm blanket and how the grassy hills of the Scottish countryside filled Petra with the urge to explore them with Calum. As the memory of her dreams slowly faded and the sunlight warmed her face, Petra found herself alone in bed, wishing she could hear Calum's soft voice and his best try at a Scottish accent.

Calum had been staring out the window of the tour bus for hours, watching as the landscapes changes from desert mountains to a lush forest with trees that went back as far as his eyes could see. He'd been sitting in the backroom for so long the sun had gone down and the stars were twinkling above him, the room now dark and the bus silent as his bandmates slept the night away. Calum usually never had trouble sleeping on the bus, he was usually exhausted from the busy days tour had him working. But ever since the start of this tour, where he'd left Petra behind for a few months while he left to promote the latest album the band had released, he'd had trouble sleeping.

The silence on the bus hadn't helped either, it had made Calum's thoughts louder and even the movie playing quietly in the back room hadn't stopped his thoughts from running faster than the cars that sped past them in the night. Calum was exhausted, how could he not be when the band had done back-to-back shows for the past week paired up with endless interviews during the day. The only time the band had a real break was during the drives between stops and even then, it was only a few hours spent sleeping or reviewing what that next week would look like for them as a band.

Calum had noticed how tired he looked. He saw it every morning when he washed his face in the tiny bathroom, how his eyes were puffy and the darkness under them gave away just how exhausted he was. He saw it when the label sent them promo clips to approve and his smile didn't reach his eyes. He saw it when the other guys laughed and joked around with one another while he stood off to the side, quiet and yearning for a nap. He was pretty sure that if he could see how tired he was, the rest of the world could see just how far gone he was. And that meant that Petra could see how tired he was.

Fuck, Calum missed Petra. She had been such a constant source of Calum's happiness in the months leading up to this promo tour that Calum hadn't realized how much he'd miss having her around. Petra's name meant rock, something Calum found ironic since she was the one who was always grounding him, and in many ways, Petra was his rock. She was the one that Calum found himself drifting towards when he needed to feel more like himself again. She was the one who would always hold his hand when he needed it and would listen to Calum's mumbling whenever he'd decided to let his brain talk. She was his rock and Calum missed the hell out of her.

He'd been trying to write more while on tour, figuring he might as well put his insomnia to use. His old journal had been used up and Calum had been regretting having to buy another one. That was until Petra had shown up with a going-away present, the brown paper bag she'd been holding was decorated with flowers and hearts. At first, Calum had been confused, because he didn't know going away presents were a thing and he hadn't gotten Petra anything. But after she'd kissed his cheek and told him it was nothing serious, Calum's nerves settled and he opened the bag to find a leather journal, much like his old one, with his initials stamped on the side of the binding.

"So you can keep writing those pretty songs," Petra had mumbled, her cheeks flushed as she played with the bracelet that Calum had given her a few weeks back, "Or just to keep your mind off of things."

Calum had been writing in the journal every chance he got, the unlined pages filling with song ideas and little doodles that Calum found helpful. He'd write about his day sometimes, whenever something memorable happened that he wanted to remember in order to tell Petra or his mom later on. He even sometimes sketched what he saw out the window of the tour bus, although those were never really any good. It wasn't until that night that Calum had been lost in the landscape that he noticed a page near the back of the book had been folded. It was only on the top corner, a fold so small Calum had wondered if he'd done it himself on accident and it wasn't until he turned to the page that he realized what had happened. The page, which had been filled with doodles and handwriting that wasn't Calum's, warmed his heart and made him smile for the first time in weeks. His fingertips traced over the words, almost as if he could feel Petra's touch through them, almost as if he could see her writing in the middle of the night much like Calum did nowadays.

"I know you might be tired and stressed. That you might miss home and Duke and everything that brings you warmth. But your dreams will always be important to not only you but those who you make come true as well. I don't know when you'll read this or if you'll even find it while you're away but I hope it brings a smile to your face. The world deserves to see that pretty smile you reserve for only special moments. They deserve to hear your thoughts and that laugh that makes my heart race. I hope you don't mind that I stole one page from your notebook, it seemed like a fitting gift to give you, better than a piece of paper in your coat.

Thank you for letting me into your world and letting me find your love. I'll forever be grateful.

I love you to the end of the universe and even further.

Petra."

Calum's smile, the one he'd reserved for Petra apparently, hurt his cheeks. He'd reread the note over and over, soaking in her words and if he closed his eyes and tried hard enough, he could almost hear her saying them to him herself. The promo tour might long and lonely, but that didn't mean that Calum hadn't had a piece of home with him the entire time. With a deep breath and his blanket wrapped around his shoulders, Calum walked back to his bunk. The journal was tucked under his pillow as if Petra herself had been captured between the pages and Calum could just open it and see her again whenever he felt alone.

Calum's eyes felt tired and the more he relaxed on the bunk, the more he realized just how much his life had changed since finding Petra. He'd never had to deal with leaving a loved one while touring. He never had to deal with the time zones fucking up his calls or having to wait hours for a text back from someone because they were asleep as he was waking up. He never had to worry about whether his partner was missing him and much as he missed them. But then he met Petra and that all changed. Leaving her bed that morning had been hell, he'd dragged himself out of the apartment, trying not to convince himself to turn around as he hit traffic on the highway and go back to the warmth of her bedroom. He'd closed his eyes and held her a little longer as he'd said goodbye to her by the kitchen that morning and it was all so new and different that Calum hadn't expected to have it hit him so roughly.

He hadn't expected to push all his defenses down and become so vulnerable for someone before. So when his plane had taken off and the city had become a blur of streets and then hidden beneath clouds, Calum wanted nothing more than to be back with Petra. But he had her note, safe in the journal with his initials and the page smelled like her perfume so maybe it'd be okay. Maybe Calum would smile a little brighter during the meet and greets and he'd chuckle a little louder during the interviews and make sure he spoke his mind a little more often. Even as his eyes squinted at the dim screen in front of him, his fingers typing out a message to the love of his life, he couldn't believe how lucky he was to have Petra in his life. With his phone set next to him and his heart happy, Calum's eyes closed and for the first time in weeks, he got some well-deserved sleep.

Petra woke up a few hours later, alone once again, but her heart warmed at the sight of the notification on her screen. She knew that Calum had been having a rough time on tour recently and she was hoping that he'd find her letter soon. The message she'd hidden in the middle of a journal he'd held so close to him ever since it became his. Even the chilly air that was coming in from the window Petra had left open couldn't stop the warmth that she felt inside her, knowing that Calum had gotten her message. He was always laying down his love for her, showing it in different ways like how he held her closer whenever he was near or how he'd tell her all about his day even when the rest of the world thought of him as a silent man. Petra knew that it wasn't true, that the Calum she knew and loved would talk off her ear if given the chance, which she often did give him.

She knew that he would have a hard time being away, he was a homebody and he'd be gone for a while, so with shaky hands and a heart full of love, she'd written down the words she'd so rarely had the courage to utter to him, the words she held so close to herself in fear that he'd slip away. But Calum was always surprising her and it hadn't been too much of a shock to know he appreciated the message. Calum's love was always finding her, even when the bed was lonely and he was miles away. She'd been staring at the message for while, her fingers ghosting over her screen as her heart raced and her smile widened with every reread of it.

She'd reply eventually, once her cheeks stopped blushing and her smile stopped making her jaw hurt. But for now, the early morning sun lulled her back to sleep and her eyes closed slowly. She hoped that she'd dreamed about the snowy cabin and the hills of Scotland again, but really, any dream with Calum in it would be worthwhile.

"Thank you for the beautiful words, you've always known exactly what to say when I need it the most. I love you forever, rock."

taglist: @hoodhoran @finelliine @moonlightcriess @dinosaursandsocks @mxgyver @calpops @karajaynetoday @notlukehemmo @calumrose @devilatmydoor @lyss-xo @lowkeyflop @notinthesameguey @hemmo1996-5sosvevo @ashtonsunflower @2fangirl4u @multistann @himbohood @in-superbloom @suchalonelysunflower @killmywildflower @sebsbrokentoe

#calum hood x reader #calum hood x oc #calum hood blurbs #calum hood imagines #calum hood fics #5sos x reader #5sos x oc #5sos blurbs #5sos imagines #5sos fics #calum hood #5sos #5 seconds of summer #gemma writes #nation of two ch #5sos oneshots

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ahtsumu · 3 years

Text

cOuNtRy BoY i LoVe YoUuU–– miya atsumu.

GENERAL HEADCANONS

☆ y’know that kid everyone hates but all the parents love? that’s miya atsumu for you

he’s such a mama’s boy ugh

she’ll see him with mud all over his jeans and be like “miya atsumu! what’d i tell you ‘bout goin’ muddin’!?” and he’s like “sorry ma! just got too excited”

and what’s she gonna do? nothing. absolutely nothing. she just laughs and shake her head because atsumu’s boyish charm is adorable

osamu hates this !!! they’re always competing for mama miya’s heart LOL

☆ says “mornin’ ma'am how’s your day been so far” to the gas station lady and then roasts the life out of his friends

anyone older than 30 adores atsumu to death and anyone his age thinks he’s the annoying dumb hot guy LMAO

☆ plays quarterback on the football team and he’s damn good at what he does !! he’s taken the team to nationals three times already and he’s hoping to end senior year with a first place trophy

☆ teachers also love him to death bc he’s such a sweet-talker and asking questions as if he actually cares about differential equations and antiderivatives but nooo LOL bby’s just trying to make the GPA cut for travelling

it’s a 2.2

☆ on days without practice he’ll hang out around the school parking lot with the Gang™, leaning against his pick-up truck and blasting music from his car speakers to look “cool”

rlly he’s just wasting his time and even his friends think it’s stupid asf like omg no one is looking. atsumu how r u not embarrassed

☆ drives stick shift and thinks he’s hot shit 😭😭😭 he’s not wrong it is hot tho

☆ plays country trap around the boys

when “old town road” first dropped lil nas x was on repeat for 2 months

atsumu has a playlist of EVERY SINGLE REMIX and he’s like “they’re differENT juSt liSTen!!!”

out of all of the boys he has the WORST taste in country music it’s deadass just lil nas x, florida georgia line, luke combs, and morgan wallen

sometimes he’ll spice it up with a little luke bryan but that’s pushing it 😭

his guilty pleasure is that one farmer song by lil tracy and lil uzi vert

do not trust him with the aux

someone come collect him pls

☆ atsumu’s favourite southern meal undoubtedly has meat in it–– ribs, fried chicken, pulled pork, you name it

but he’s weak for peach cobbler and a side of vanilla ice cream for dessert bc homeboy’s got a massive sweet tooth

☆ he may be helpful in helping out with farmwork but this boy cannot fish to save his life

he has a picture of him holding a MASSIVE trout on his instagram and tinder (which he downloaded illegally for his ego lmfao) but really osamu caught it for dinner one night while camping and atsumu stole it for a 30 second photo

☆ owns camouflage but ironically !

whips it out on days he thinks suna might pull up in camo

why? no one knows. it cracks him up tho LMFAO

☆ atsumu actually dresses quite well–– his style is the typical southern prep:

a pair of jeans/shorts and a crisp button-up paired with double monks

loves a good leather belt

his favourite leather is BROWN leather, thank you very much !

☆ owns cowboy boots and he’s so proud of them

they’re steel-toed and decorated by a simple stitch pattern but it gets all the city folks fawning over him so it’s his most prized possession

HE USES THEM TO IMPRESS CITY FOLK LOL he’s like “howdy” and they’re like 😍🤤😍🤤😍🤤

flirts by asking if they’d like to see his horse i––

☆ like his twin, atsumu is undoubtedly great with animals

dogs love him !! like they’re just naturally attracted to him plus he gets so smiley and happy around them

he was probably a golden retriever in a past life lmfaoo

he’s a phenomenal horse-rider too

he rides the horses out at night bc he just loves the wind in his face,,, like a dog

where he differs from osamu is that he hates the actual work of taking care of an animal lmao

☆ works a summer job at six flags because he loves going on rides for free he’s so cute ugh

DATING HEADCANONS

☆ aside from football atsumu also starts the inarizaki high school slam poetry club, which is, coincidentally, also just the entire football team

listen it’s rlly cute how the slam poetry club was founded ok don’t laugh

after developing a massive crush on you, atsumu realises that he’s got too much of a meathead reputation to stand a chance LOL so he goes out of his way seem more “intellectual”

basically he’s like “i’m gonna venture into poetry bc girls love sensitive guys” and convinces the entire football team to host slam poetry nights in hopes you’ll show up at the shows

he starts leaving little poems in your locker and it’s like rupi kaur shit 😭

“you’re the brightest rose

in this garden

and you

don’t

even

know.

---a.m.”

☆ anyway you don’t even show up to the slam nights (you have ✨taste✨) but you do show up to his games!

☆ and eventually he works up the courage to actually ask you out and ofc you say yes bc he does it in such a cute way ugh

he stops you in the parking lot after a game and goes like “hey, uh, yer in my econ class and all yer comments are always so funny and..” and he’s just word-vomiting and eventually he gets to the point where he’s like “anyway i was wonderin’ if yer free friday night?”

☆ your first date is actually at an empty field near school

you’re just talking and getting to know each other better in the back of his pick-up truck under a bright moon, covered in blankets, each of you cradling a hot mug of cider

it’s kinda chilly but atsumu is literally a furnace

and atsumu just opens up the notes app on his phone and he reads you six poems and they’re all like 4 lines with weird enjambment HAHAHA

“you look.

just like the moon.

---a.m.”

most of his lines are actually plagiarised from popular country songs and you definitely recognise them but he just looks so darn cute awh you can’t rlly call him out rn (but you definitely do later in your relationship)

around two hours into the date he’s like “actually i’m the president of the slam poetry club” and you’re like “oh that’s cool!” (no it’s not omg ur praying he doesn’t start slamming right then and there bc you’ve heard rumours of what horrors the club has produced)

☆ if you like driving be prepared to Not Drive once you start dating atsumu (... or at least drive Less Frequently… unless you cut him a deal of some sort...)

he LOVES picking you up for school and this is the only time he’ll change the music playing in his car !!

he puts on the little playlist he made just for you and it’s got songs like:

cruise by florida georgia line (he literally always runs up to you and randomly sings “baby you a song” 😭)

burnin’ it down by jason aldean

play it again by luke bryan

but your song is “our song” by taylor swift ugh he knows every single line and he’s been dreaming of having a relationship like the one she describes ever since it dropped

ps: he’s actually the world’s biggest swiftie and thinks her earliest albums were the best

he got osamu on board too LMAO they go to her concerts whenever she visits their state. now you do too!!

☆ always drives with one hand on your thigh bc he’s just like that 🥰

☆ tried to learn how to play the guitar to serenade you but it was a miserable fail (he just can’t do the barre chords bc they’re so hard and what for !!)

☆ he’s such a good line-dancer tho

he’ll take you out to dance and it’s just such a vibe to see him smiling under lights, spinning you around at the barn dance with the goofiest smile on his face

☆ any time you guys fight or argue he’ll head out to the pasture behind his house and brood under the moon in the back of his pick-up truck LOL he’s so dramatic but it’s so cute!!

#miya atsumu #miya atsumu x reader #miya atsumu hcs #miya atsumu headcanons #haikyuu!!

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reinerispretty · 4 years

Text

rotations. (zuko x f!reader) pt13

hello and thank you so so much for reading!! i appreciate each and every one of you so very much :) i love writing this story and it makes my heart so happy that you guys love it too!!

pt1

pt12

pt14

“KATARA!” Toph shouted. “(Y/N) needs you!” The older girl smacked a hand to her forehead.

“I would’ve really liked to keep this just between us, Toph!”

“Oh, you should’ve said something before I called Katara over.”

Something had changed between (Y/N) and Sokka and it began after Zuko arrived. She didn’t know why, but slowly their kisses fell few and far in between. Even intimate touches, which had been so normal for them in private, had become scarce. She worried about bringing it up to Sokka, because what if he hadn’t noticed? Maybe they were becoming distant because of the battle that loomed ahead. Maybe she had been imagining it.

At night, after everyone had gone to bed, (Y/N) liked to sit in front of the fire and enjoy some quality time to herself. She enjoyed being with her friends, but she found that if she didn’t take a moment to herself every once in a while, her thoughts would be even more all over the place than they were to begin with. So she sat, staring at the fire, until eventually she felt drowsy enough to go to sleep.

Sokka came and sat beside her that night. She was surprised to see him, to say the least, since he normally fell asleep fast and hard. He was dead to the world once he was asleep. She gave him a smile. “What’re you doing up so late?”

“I think we should talk.” His voice was kind, but those words still struck a chord of fear in her heart. “Things have been different between us lately, and I think you know why.” She sighed, turning to face him.

“I’ve noticed it too. I didn’t want to say anything, just in case I was being crazy, but I think all of the Fire Nation stuff is really starting to get to me. I mean, everything we’ve been preparing for is actually starting to happen, y’know?”

“I don’t think that’s why. I mean, it might be part of it, but I think there’s a bigger reason.” He paused to look her straight in the eyes. She furrowed her brows, not understanding. “He’s here now.”

“I’ll admit, being around him has been super difficult for me, but I don’t think--”

“(Y/N), you love him.” She shook her head.

“I don’t!”

“I’ve seen the way you look at him, (Y/N). Yue used to look at me the exact same way.”

“You’re wrong, Sokka. I’ll acknowledge that things haven’t been the same between us, but it’s not because of Zuko. At all.” Sokka gave her a smug smile. “Stop looking at me like that or I’ll knock that smirk right off your face!”

Sokka paled. “Hey, hey, okay! If you say it’s not because of Zuko, then fine. I don’t believe you, but fine.” He smiled as she frowned. “But I do think that you and I are better off as--”

“Friends?” She guessed. Sokka shook his head.

“No, we’re more than that. We’re family. You’re like the sister I never wanted.” She cracked a smile.

“I thought that was Katara.”

“It’s the both of you.” He patted her shoulder before he stood. “You should get some sleep.” She looked up at him with a small smile.

“You’re not my boyfriend, don’t tell me what to do.” Sokka laughed as he walked back to his room.

The next day, she had woken to found that Sokka and Zuko had set off on a fishing trip. (Y/N) become increasingly nervous. She could only imagine the kind of conversations they were having. Would they talk about her? She hoped not, they both had way too many embarrassing stories about her to ever be allowed to go anywhere alone together.

“Why’re you so nervous?” Toph asked, making (Y/N) jump as she stared at the letter the boys had left for them.

“Toph, how many times have I told you not to sneak up on me?”

“Too many for me to care,” the young girl said with a grin. (Y/N) rolled her eyes. “Seriously, what’re you so nervous for?”

She sighed, rolling up the letter and stuffing it in her pocket. “Sokka and I broke up last night.”

Toph’s eyes widened in surprise. “Oh, um, I don’t really know what to say...”

“It’s okay, it’s really for--”

“KATARA!” Toph shouted. “(Y/N) needs you!” The older girl smacked a hand to her forehead.

“I would’ve really liked to keep this just between us, Toph!”

“Oh, you should’ve said something before I called Katara over.”

“What’s wrong?” Katara asked, her face contorted in worry. “Is everything alright?”

“Yes!” (Y/N) said at the exact same time Toph said “No!”

“(Y/N) and Sokka broke up.” Katara’s mouth dropped open in surprise.

“Are you okay? Did he break up with you? Did you break up with him? I want you to know that I love you regardless of who broke up with who, okay?”

“Thank you, Katara, but I--”

“You and Sokka broke up?” Aang interrupted her. Even Momo leapt onto (Y/N)’s shoulders and rubbed his face against her cheek as if he were comforting her.

“Guys, it’s really fine!” She exclaimed, picking Momo up off of her shoulders and holding him in her arms. “It was really...nice?”

“Oh, no,” Toph said. “She’s in denial.”

“I don’t even have parents, but it kind of feels like mine just separated. Is that normal?” Aang asked. (Y/N) groaned.

“You guys are actually ridiculous. It’s fine, I’m fine, the conversation went really well and we’re all still gonna be one big happy family.” She paused. “Plus Zuko.”

“Why did you guys break up?” Katara questioned, and all three of her friends looked at her with expectant faces. Even Momo looked like he was hanging on the edge of his seat.

“Things started to be different and he said it’s because Zuko’s here.” She shrugged. “No big deal.”

“Things started to be different because you love Zuko,” Toph said quietly.

“Shut up Toph!” She shouted. She pushed past her friends and stalked toward her room, mumbling the whole way about how annoying her friends were.

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

Sokka and Zuko were gone for a few days, leaving (Y/N) plenty of time to come to terms with the breakup. She had been a little sad about it at first, but after some long talks with Momo, she knew that everything would be okay in the end. It might take a bit, but she and Sokka would get back on their best friend wavelength eventually.

What he said had been wrong. She didn’t love Zuko. After everything he had done to her, there was no way that she could. The tightness in her chest every time she saw him was just because she wasn’t used to having him around. The reason she thought about him so often was because she was so mad at him. Sokka had been way off. She would admit that some small part of her cared about Zuko, but she certainly didn’t love him.

When Zuko and Sokka returned, they came in an airship accompanied by Hakoda, Suki, and an inmate from Boiling Rock named Chit Sang. (Y/N) couldn’t contain her squeal when Suki stepped off the airship. They had first met when Suki accompanied them through the Serpent’s Pass. They had become very close throughout that walk, close enough where (Y/N) felt comfortable telling Suki that she was actually a firebender. While the Kyoshi Warrior had been surprised, she passed no judgment onto (Y/N). They had continued their journey sharing stories and making jokes about Sokka.

The two girls embraced each other tightly, their smiles wide as they hugged. Once they had pulled apart, (Y/N) punched Sokka. “I can’t believe you went to Boiling Rock! Are you insane?”

“Ow! Hey, I had to take a risk! Luckily I had Zuko around to help me out.” (Y/N) cut her eyes to Zuko, who gave her a smile. She rolled her eyes and turned back to Suki.

“I see that situation hasn’t changed,” Suki whispered to (Y/N). She shook her head.

“Absolutely not. Want me to show you to your room?”

“I can do it!” Sokka offered, grabbing Suki by the hand to lead her down the hallway. In an instant, (Y/N) realized what had happened while they were at Boiling Rock. While it stung her heart a bit to have Sokka move on from her so quickly, she cared about both him and Suki far too much to be upset about it.

Zuko instantly noticed the change in (Y/N)’s demeanor as she watched Sokka and Suki walk away. He walked over to stand at her side. “He, um, told me that you broke up.”

She whirled on him, her (color) eyes glaring at him. “What did he tell you?” She demanded. Zuko gulped. She had become much more intimidating over the past few years.

“He said that you guys decided you were better off as friends.” She pursed her lips, still staring at him. “If you want to talk--”

“I don’t want to talk about it and I certainly don’t want to talk about it with you.” She snapped. She turned on her heel and walked over to Katara. She whispered something in her ear and then the Water Tribe girl turned to glare at Zuko. He gave her a small wave.

Gaining (Y/N’s) trust was a long and almost torturous process, but he knew that she was worth it.

---

@mdgrdians , @soft4kei , @bubblebars , @pleasantfankingdom , @vintageroses1014516 , @celamoon , @fangirlanotherjust , @gliderbudgie , @haylaansmi , @jada-cleo , @boxofteenageideas , @disgruntled-gay , @lie-ana , @jasmine-the-amazing , @svsoftie , @buckysfeet , @anime-simp , @imcravingyou , @rosetheshapeshifter , @alrightberries , @izzieserra , @hstott , @random-stupid-stuffs , @jackbamexpress , @jainaixo , @thefoxskinwalker , @kryptidkova , @bigbuckyenergy , @omgwhattheeven , @ohmigooosh , @snapchatisoverrated , @inlove-maze , @harapirena , @sooske , @sweeetteaa , @selenvx , @ilovespideyyy , @saaaasib , @mochminnie , @agentsofblinks , @happyariesbabey , @slytherky , @uglipotata72829 , @og-disaster-bi , @animeluver23

#atla #avatar #sokka x reader #zuko x reader #aang x reader #sokka #katara #aang #toph #zuko #azula #iroh #suki #appa #momo #writing #fanfiction #the last airbender

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lofi-tophat · 3 years

Text

Let’s talk about the 70s punk scene and HWS England

I sometimes feel that the fandom doesn’t give England’s love for punk/rock music much justice. Some authors usually write about this human AU in which Arthur wants to be a rockstar and some others plainly avoid the topic whatsoever. Which is a pity because I actually believe the whole character has a deep punk reference, specially regarding appearence (might expand on this in another post but basically, for me, England seems like some random bushy browed anime 70s punk guy who suddenly has to put on a suit and attend world meetings, which is both fascinating and hilarious).

So I thought maybe we could dive a bit into very general punk history and then I’d like to share with you some hc regarding England’s involvement with punk culture in general (if you just want to read the hcs just scroll down to the last paragraph with the bullet ponts).

My experience in punk stuff is actually that I’m kind of a metalhead lol. Metalheads and punks had and probably still have a deeply-rooted rivalry. However, punk influenced metal a lot, and metal also influenced punk. So I stumbled upon many punk facts while browsing about my favorite metal bands.

Take this as historical hetalia... but counterculture historical hetalia :D (which is something we need more in the fandom, btw, I know military history is cool but its also cool how humans expressed themselves through art, fashion and music when they felt the pressure of authority and the frustration of society).

Historical context

Let’s return a bit in time and remember the 60s. The 60s were this blessed time in which people tried to defeat the establishment with peace and love. The hippie movement is from this decade and it influenced a lot on how people thought and behaved. In terms of counterculture, I must say this is a fascinating time in history (I recently discovered psychodelic science and its so incredible what was being talked back then).

Anyways, although a lot of young people were into this discourse of love and peace, some weren’t really that happy about it. In Europe, the post-war situation was sad and a lot of young people either were jobless or had the shittiest jobs you could imagine. Politics were also depressing. This was the origin not only for punk but also for other genres of heavy music, such as metal: People who didn’t want to be all happy and peaceful and had the need to express their frustration and anger, shouting about how society was fucked up. They needed an outlet.

Origins of punk

The origins of punk music are actually not quite clear. In fact, the US and the UK both claim that punk music was born in their country. Funnily enough, my country also claims to be the origin of punk (I’ll leave this mini-doc for you. Sadly, I don’t think this is a correct claim, mainly because their music was in spanish and I doubt that major punk bands took them as reference. Its a cool band tho).

I have to side with americans on this: The arguments for the american origins of punk are quite solid. The Ramones were the first actual punk band out there. They were active since 1974. Their music had all the elements of punk and, chronologically, they were the first ones performing this type of sound.

However, they didn’t have the aesthetic. That actually was a british invention. American punk had still leather jackets, jeans and sneakers. British punk? Well, remember all those ripped pants and shirts you commonly associate with punk? Yes, those were the Sex Pistols all along. They were the ones introducing the attitude and the style. The Pistols had some insane performances and a huge shock-value that can’t be found in early american punk. So you can safely say that your image of what a punk is is based mainly on the Pistols (also, for singing anti-authoritarian lyrics, they actually were managed by some dude who had a fashion shop. So yeah...).

Punk attitude or philosophy or whatever

The reason why I addressed the rockstar thing at the start of the post is because I find it curious. Punk is characterized by the whole Do It Yourself attitude and breaking with the establishment. Anarchism in punk is scandalizing people since there is no authority whatsoever. There wasn’t really any deep philosophy behind all of this, nor any political movement. Punk has nothing to do with a formal anarchist philosophy (which actually exists and has nothing to do with disorder). However, punk is characterized by the anti-establihsment lyrics. Remember, this is all about scandalizing people (which sometimes took great lengths). Presentations from british punk bands were also quite wild those days. They involved a lot of insults, spitting and, of course, pogo.

So, it is obvious that there is this deep concern about turning into a sellout, a pretty common fear in any underground scene. Authenticity was encouraged. Aspiring rockstars really didn’t have much mercy in the community so to speak, at least in this specific period.

I would also like to add how punk had other aspects beside the music. For example, fanzines were pretty popular in the punk scene in the 70s and a great way to engage with what was going on with bands and music. I remember also this interview of this band in which they remembered how a very high guy decided to recite his poem while the band was playing. So, yeah, literature, illustration, fashion and other stuff were involved in the punk scene too.

British punk was also characterized by a very nihilistic attitude and a total disregard for previous influences. 1977, a song by The Clash, stated:

No Elvis, Beatles, or the Rolling Stones!

Now, for the important stuff: The music. Punk music is all about being simple. Punk musicians aren’t really known for their virtuosity in their instruments, something that actually inspired musicians from a lot of heavy bands later. In fact, the famous Sid Vicious from the Sex Pistols never could learn how to play the bass. So the band disconnected his instrument from the amplifier and he only had to pretend to play. The guy actually tried to learn how to play bass but music wasn’t exactly his talent. He had tons of punk attitude though, and that was the reason why his band didn’t kick him out.

Vocals are usually shouted, the rythm is fast and the riffs are quite simple. In fact, there is this famous publication on a 1976 british fanzine that stated:

This is a chord

This is another

This is a third

Now form a band

HWS England and the 70s punk scene and onwards

Thanks to his immortality, it is obvious that England had to experience the 70s in all their glory (what a lucky bastard). Was he there? Hell yes. As I explained before in some of my hc posts, nations represent the population more than their Government, so I really believe that England felt the frustration from that post-wwii decade and he probably also felt pissed about this. Working for the Government must have felt really frustrating during those years.

In the past, he probably would have tried to take his ship and sail the seas or whatever, but that was not possible in the modern era. I guess that’s how he discovered punk.

Now, rock existed in England before punk. I mean, the Beatles, duh. So Arthur wouldn’t have been completely ignorant about rock music in general. Contrary to popular belief I don’t imagine him being that much of a beatlemaniac though. Sure he likes them, but the music didn’t resonated with him as much. But boy, that first time he heard the Pink Fairies in 1971 (Yes, this was an actual band, a proto-punk band)? Yeah, he could relate more to that.

More detailed stuff here:

Pubs were crucial for the development of punk music. They were these spaces in which bands could play, a venue to discover new music. Yes, Arthur must have been a regular in a lot of these pubs.

Fanzines probably fascinated Arthur as an outlet for his own writings and silly drawings. He probably created a cringey pseudonym and collaborated with a lot of them.

Its canon that England likes to critic american movies, and, taking from there, I think he’s the type of guy that has an opinion for everything. So I can imagine him also writing about what bands he enjoyed and what bands sucked.

Yeah, I can also see him being drunk and just reciting a poem while some rock band played behind.

With some ability, and a lil bit of tricks, Arthur could escape normal Government activities and perform with punk bands at nights. People were so into the music that he had no problem passing by.

Some cover art in CDs show Enlgland with a guitar and a bass (yes, not many people remember the bass cover art). So he probably plays both guitar and bass. He also probably plays the drums. Of course, he’s no virtuoso and he only knows the most basic stuff in those three instruments. I can see him being into songwriting tho.

Music equipment:

Guitar: Definetely a Telecaster

Bass: Fender P-bass and I can also see him having a Rickenbacker 4001

All these instruments are full with stickers. Punk instruments look really cool btw. (I wish my bass could look like those I see in certain punk bands)

England’s probably the kind of guy that doesn’t cut his strings at the head of his guitar.

He can actually play guitar/bass and sing at the same time.

England plays bass with a pick (what an asshole, we bassists know picks are not allowed)

Contrary to popular belief, I can see England appreciating good rock music from other countries and supporting them. He probably insists that punk music was born in the UK though.

1977: The Queen was going to celebrate her silver jubilee. And England had no problem with this. He really had none... but he HAD to be in that boat trip with the Sex Pistols. There’s no way he was going to miss that. He later had to explain his abscence that day to his Government officials (Btw, my hc for England’s relationship with his monarchy is “It’s complicated”. I can explain this later. Just remember that he was really pissed those days)

I can see Arthur in general being really involved with the scene. A lot of the stuff they were making actually matches with his canon interests and even personality. So he probably enjoyed those days and felt quite at home. I can even say that, for a long time, he hadn’t felt that kind of connection with his own people.

Although I can see England being attracted by the nihilism in the scene, I think his romanticism protects him from embracing it fully.

England had to live a double-life during this era. Not that it was new for him.

Arthur was pierced several times by some random, drunk teenagers. He doesn’t remember who tho. He was also drunk. Obviously his piercings close really fast, unless he has a permanent jewel in there.

I can actually see England expanding his music taste. Although punk is in his heart, it wouldn’t be strange for me that he’s overall a rock nerd and enjoys other genres, specially those with fast drum beats and heavy riffs. So I can see him having some metal favorites too, having a certain taste for prog rock and even digging into hardcore.

I’m still unsure if England would have been a massive Pistols fan as fanfics usually portray him. I mean, maybe? I would say he is definetely into acts such as the Pink Fairies (I mean, c’mon, its perfect). The Clash and the Damned probably also have a place in his heart.

After the punk scene dried out (the 80s weren’t that great for punk music although it was the birth of even heavier forms of music based on punk), England also was eager about the new genres flourishing during these times based on punk. Acts like folk punk might have had an appeal for him. He’s also fond of the punk-ish bands from the 90s like Green Day.

“Punk will never die!” shouted England while stage diving in some random small concert. He likes to support new bands these days.

The most fascinating thing, maybe in a more poetic sense, is that England’s immortality probably also helps him to keep up a punk spirit as much as his nationhood allows him, instead of aging poorly and angry like a lot of punk musicians... I mean, he aged poorly, but for other reasons lmao.

#hetalia #hws england #lofi-tophat: really long hc #in the next issue: America is a swiftie WITH EVIDENCE #I do enjoy some american metal bands but I don't see America being that much into heavy music #he probably doesn't even care if punk was born in the us or not so england maybe won that one #guys i could ramble forever with my music hcs but ill just leave you with Moldovas extensive pop collection #finland's passion for folk metal acts like korpiklaani #and cuba shouting AZZUUUUUCAAARRR in karaokes #btw pirate metal exists kind of as a subgenre but it exists and england is into it

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frostedfaves · 4 years

Text

Tactical Village

Pairing: Jake Peralta x fem!reader

Summary: Y/N gets a little jealous on Tactical Village Day. Rewrite of 1x19.

Word Count: 1.7k

Warnings: mentions of gun use

Tactical Village Day. A national holiday at the nine-nine, and everyone had a different reason for celebrating. Rosa was out for blood, simply because it was in her nature to be. Terry had the stress of raising twins locked, loaded and ready to be released. Amy wanted to prove her skill level to the captain and check out the new handguns (but good luck getting her to admit her obsession with 'finger feel'). Jake wanted "Coolest Kill" and a children's karate trophy. Truth be told, all I wanted this year was to want Jake less.

It's exhausting being friends with the person you're hiding your feelings from, even more so when his best friend Charles thinks everyone is in love with Jake and overthinks all of our interactions. I'd fully planned to spend the day perfecting my tactical skills while listening to Jake explain the extensive backstory of his character as a friend. Then fate decided to throw a monkey wrench into that plan, and unfortunately for me, she was attractive.

"I'm so sorry," Jake awkwardly laughed, letting go of her arms after saving her from falling. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine! I...wait, Peralta? Jake Peralta, hi! How have you been?" I couldn't fight the rolling of my eyes as she flipped her hair over her shoulder with a tilt of her head, grinning.

"I've been good, yeah!" He noticed her eyes flicker over to me and turned to introduce me. "Y/N, this is Nikki Becker. Nikki, this is Y/N L/N, my friend and fellow detective from the nine-nine."

"Pleased to meet you, Y/N." She shook my hand lightly before practically tossing it aside, never once taking her eyes off Jake. "I'm so glad we found each other again! We were best friends in the academy."

I glared at her as my arms found their way across my chest, locking together. "I thought Rosa was your academy BFF, Jake—"

"People can have more than one best friend," she quickly cut in, finally looking at me with a sickly sweet smile and eyes that could kill if they'd given us real bullets.

"Sure." I turned and walked over to where Rosa stood, smirking as I approached her. "Don't say anything," I quickly mumbled as I huffed out a frustrated breath and she chuckled.

"Why not? You were clearly winning."

"What?" I saw her eyes trained on something else and followed them to see Jake joining us.

"Hey, Y/N! Ready to check out those handguns now?" Before I could respond, we were also joined by Nikki.

"Jakey! They have this new gun that attacks through sound that's supposed to be really accurate. Come check it out with me!" she insisted, tugging on his arm as he looked to me with a raised eyebrow.

"It's fine, I'll go with Rosa." I held a smile as he finally let her drag him away until they were completely out of my sight, turning to Rosa with a sigh. "Let's not even talk about it. I don't want Charles to hear."

"He's gone to get a 'cafe con leche', so we've got about ten minutes. But if you really don't wanna talk about it we can draw some hair on the targets, grab some brand new weapons, and pretend we're damaging the vocal chords that produce that stupid voice of hers." I laughed and followed her outside.

The rest of our field testing and target practicing time went by smoothly...for Nikki, at least. She spent most of the time latched onto Jake like a long-haired leech while I spent my time shooting targets until they were covered with thick layers of paint, constantly running out of bullets every time I heard her vomit inducing giggle.

"Dude, are you alright?" Amy questioned when I slammed down an empty gun and reached for another one.

"Perfectly fine, Ames," I replied without looking at her as I shot five straight bullets into the poor target's head.

"Okay, I think you've had enough practice." She turned the safety on and took the gun from my hands, setting it back on the table I got it from. "What's going on with you?"

I parted my lips to answer her, quickly closing them again and turning to glare at giggly Nikki and oblivious Jake as he showed her how to handle a new assault rifle. Feeling sick to my stomach, I faced Amy again and tried hard to paint on a smile that she wasn't buying.

"Why don't you just save his and what's-her-face's time and tell him how you feel?"

I sputtered out a laugh. "Tell him how I—what? You're hilarious. No, I've decided to take a page from Rosa's book. Wait until I'm on my deathbed and then tell him how I feel...or felt. I don't know who I'm gonna like by then. Point is I can't get rejected when I'm dead."

"Y/N, that's ridiculous! You're really going to risk what could be the start of a great relationship? You and Jake talk about everything."

"This is different. There's a very real possibility that telling him how I feel could ruin the whole friendship and I'm just not ready for that, okay?"

She sighed. "Alright, I get it. But at least try to act like you're not imagining that girl's face every time you shoot a weapon." She gave me a quick pat on the shoulder and moved over a bit to work on her own target.

"No promises," I told her as I picked up the gun she took from me earlier.

We were now in our training simulation. Sneaky little Amy insisted that she should do perimeter security with Rosa and Charles because she thinks we would "kill at being the assault team, no pun intended". I think it was just her way of saying "tell Jake how you feel".

Luckily Jake was too involved with perfecting Rex Buckingham in all of his signature move and catchphrase glory to give me a chance to bring up any kind of feelings to him. I was especially thankful I had my back to him when he told me some little fact Nikki told him earlier, because I simply couldn't hide my grimace at the mere mention of her name.

We'd just approached the end of the hallway when shots rang out before I could react. I eyed the paint in my hair and on the wall by my head, frozen in place as Jake took the perp down.

"No one shoots a mate when Rex is around," he proudly stated in his accent with a grin, instantly letting it fall when he turned to me. "Hey, are you okay?"

I closed my eyes tightly before opening them and meeting his. "Okay, so I was going to save this for my deathbed someday but apparently I can die randomly in a hallway. So here goes. I like you. I have for a really long time and it sucks being friends with you and not being able to say anything because I don't want to ruin what we already have. But it sucks even more not being able to have more with you and definitely watching you and clingy Nikki together sucked the most."

He looked at me for a second with an unreadable expression, about to respond just as he was cut off by our radios.

"Peralta, L/N. Hostages in room 409, armed suspects."

"We'll talk later," he assured me with a small smile as he took off down the hall, and I couldn't tell if I should be worried or relieved.

The excitement of a perfect run and setting the course record along with the odd situation of Jake using Scully's move kept the squad occupied all the way to Shaw's. I hadn't had a moment alone with him since my big hallway confession and I only grew more anxious with time.

"Three shots of Jack Daniels, please." I kept my eyes on the liquor bottles as I waited for the bartender to come back, aware of Amy coming to sit next to me.

"Celebrating or drowning your problems?" she joked and I simply rolled my eyes at her. "Okay I'm sorry for setting you up like that but I just didn't want to see you struggle so much."

"Well good news for you. I don't think I'll be able to struggle anymore if Jake never talks to me ever again. I've officially scared him off."

"I promise you haven't." I froze in place again as he slid onto the stool on my left. "Hey Santiago, can we get a moment alone?" He waited until Amy disappeared before speaking again. "About what you said earlier—"

"Jake, it's okay. Whether you wanna keep being friends with me or if knowing I like you is too much to handle, it's okay. Really. Whatever you decide, I'll find some way to—"

Warm lips landed on mine and I closed my eyes instantly. I waited until his arms wrapped around my waist and found a place to rest my hands on, wanting to confirm that I wasn't imagining a second of this. My eyes fell open again when he pulled away, a little wider this time because I was still slightly doubting what this means.

"I know that probably wasn't the clearest answer so I'll say this. I'm sorry that I let Nikki ruin what was supposed to be a fun time for us, but I can't say I regret it because she helped me find out something I was too scared to ask you on my own." He smiled and pushed his fingers through my left hand. "I'm also really glad you didn't wait till your deathbed to tell me because I would prefer to start being your boyfriend now."

I pulled my hand away and lightly shoved his shoulder. "Take me on a date first, clingy." I grinned and he laughed, quickly handing over some cash to the bartender and holding up one of the shots.

"To the start of something more."

I tapped my glass to his. "To something more."

"To something more," Charles added, grabbing the third shot and tapping it to ours. He downed the drink and pulled us both into a hug before we could react. "I can't wait to babysit your children."

Jake and I made eye contact and nodded, ducking out of the hug simultaneously and locking hands as we walked off. When we were far enough away, we toasted again and drank, staring at each other with possibilities of the future reflecting in our eyes.

#queue #jake peralta #jake peralta x reader #jake peralta x fem!reader #jake peralta imagine #brooklyn nine nine #brooklyn 99 #brooklyn nine nine imagine #brooklyn nine nine x reader #b99 fic #b99 imagine #b99 x reader #b99 fanfic

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fangirl-screaming · 3 years

Text

WHAT'S UP I MADE A TLKOE OC AND I'M NOT EVEN SORRY

info abt her below the cut!!!

name: asena şakir!

age: she's 15

nationality: she's from turkey--she was born in izmir but grew up in ankara and she moved to wakefield because of her parents' jobs.

languages she speaks: turkish and english! and a little bit of french she picked up from her best friend.

zodiac sign: leo! born on 30th of july

interests: she’s a HUGE music nerd. like she goes absolutely BATSHIT about even the slightest mention of her fav bands/artists. she also has a band called “şakir and the shenanigans” where she’s the lead but the group shrunk to her and her best friend (girlfriend later on) after the apocalypse. she actually knows a lot of instruments’ basics, but she likes playing guitar more than anything. her fingers are really flexible and long, so it’s incredibly easy for her to adapt to big boy chords. she’s also hella into graffiti.

her music taste consists mostly of rock (turkish grunge rock, to be specific) and indie with a dash of alternative. and uh, i also made a playlist for her??? i’ll keep on updating it but until then, this is it.

personality: she has an IMMACULATE energy and she just....... will not stop. she probably cannot concentrate to save her life. she usually tries to be nice, however if you disrespect anyone in front of her, she’s DEFINITELY not afraid to shank some bitches. she used to be VERY hotheaded in elementary school and has gotten in a lot of trouble because of that (she got better at controlling her anger though) and though she has calmed down mostly, she will go oFF if you anger her. despite her sliiiightly trigger-happy tendencies, her mostly childish and hyper personality and her overall energy of looking like a doof, she actually gives good advice.

backstory: sadly, her home life wasn’t that nice. since she was very confrontational, hyperactive and overall violent; she was always described as a “problem child”, both by her parents and her teachers. plus, she had two older brothers named emre and kayahan who would often bully her, so there’s that. the school she used to go to, since she was a “problem child”, never really cared abt her grades and was like “ight im not gonna help you fix that mess called grades even though youre capable of it because it’s going to take too much but instead, will use your musical abilities to advertise our brand!” so she never really cared and just passed with slightly lower than average notes.

hOWEVER, after she moved to wakefield and met her best friend (who was “the quiet smart kid”), to spend more time with her, she asked for tutoring lessons and actually raised her grades. and fell for her best friend.

fast forward to book 1 of the canon events, the day the apocalypse started her parents found out that she was a lesbian and kicked her out. she met up with her best friend and truced in her house, and they have been living together ever since.

anyway if you have any questions abt her please ask me i’d love to geek out abt my girl ;O;

#tlkoe #the last kids on earth #the last kids on earth oc #stfu fang #oc #asena_şakir.tlkoe

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wonderful-writer · 4 years

Text

25 - Trap

Summary: A week after Y/n almost brought Clarke home, her father and Abby head to Polis for a Summit Delegation, and send her and the group to Mount Weather, where the rest of Farm Station are being held. Azgeda attacks the mountain, leading to the deaths of 37 people.

Word Count: 2.55k

Warnings: Character death, violence, explosions, etc.

Based Off: 03x03, “Ye Who Enter Here”

In the week since you almost found Clarke, you were stuck with inventory checks. Of course, when that wasn’t happening you were arguing the recent decision to put the people of farm station who didn’t fit into Arkadia into Mount Weather. It was a stupid decision in itself, but apparently only you and Bellamy could see that.

Today, however, was the day that you would be travelling to Mount Weather with the others, a list of things to fix and do from Abby. You spent the ride lost in your thoughts about the outcome of the Summit. Clarke was there, in Polis, and you knew you could help with the delegation. It barely registered for you that you had arrived, only noticing when you heard the metal creaking open.

You stepped out, noticing Bellamy staring off into the forest. Walking up to him, you put a hand on his shoulder to get his attention. “Hey,” You said. “What’s going on up in that pretty little brain of yours?”

“The delegation; I should be there. We both should.”

“I know, Bell. But I’m sure everything will be fine by the time they get back, and maybe Clarke will be with them when they do.” You assured him. “It just sucks that my dad thinks he can teach me a lesson by benching me. Him of all people should know that it won’t work,”

You smiled at your boyfriend, who was chuckling at your words. He moved past you to grab one of the bags filled with gear to fix up Mount Weather, handing it to you with a kiss to the cheek before grabbing his own. As you walked up to the doors of Mount Weather with Bellamy and Octavia on either side of you, Raven told Gina about how she saved Sinclair back on the Ark, although you weren’t really listening.

Hers and Gina’s words faded as you closed in on the mess hall, hearing the music, chatter, and clanging of utensils against plates. You tensed, the familiarity of it all reminding you of the previous inhabitants of the mountain and what they did to get to the ground. Pike welcomed you, inviting you to join him and the others. You knew you would never live comfortably in these halls, not like them.

“Someone’s made themselves at home,” Raven commented.

Octavia swept her eyes across the room before speaking. “There must be 30 of them in here,”

“36, but the more, the merrier,” Pike said, shaking Bellamy’s hand.

“36? Wow, the grounders are gonna think we moved in,” You commented sardonically. The thought alone of them living here permanently scared you, knowing that it could possibly cause a war in itself with the grounders. Again.

Bellamy gave you a pointed look as Pike spoke. “Well, there was no room at the inn.”

Octavia spoke once again and Bellamy cut her off with a stern look, leading her to hand ehr bag to Raven and leave the mountain. You were tempted to follow her, but Sinclair came through one of the doors and caught your attention.

“Reyes, you’re 3 hours late,” Sinclair reprimanded. “We’ve got no power to medical, fluctuations on levels 2 and 3, and blown fuses all over the place. Get on it.”

“You can do no wrong, huh?” Gina commented lightly as Raven walked away, you and Gina following after her to help with the electrical issues. You could barely fix a few of the blown fuses when Pike radioed Sinclair and called off fixing the power, saying they were needed back in the mess hall.

“Why the hell are they calling us off?” Raven asked. “I’ve got tripped circuits all over the grid.”

“Oh, whatever it is, it supersedes fixing the power problem.”

As soon as you were in the mess hall with the others, Bellamy spoke. “Alright, listen up. If we want to get to Polis before the attack, we have to move.”

“I’m sorry, attack?” You shook your head, not believing what you were hearing.

“Attack? Do we have confirmation of that?” Sinclair asked.

“We radioed, but no answer.”

“They may already be dead, for all we know,” Pike said, striking a chord. “And if they are, we need to be ready to respond.”

“Don’t make this about the missiles,” Sinclair told him.

“This is about survival,” Pike argued. “We don’t have the numbers, but the missiles in this mountain even the playing field, and you know I’m right.”

“Even if I did agree with you, we still don’t have the launch codes.”

“No, but we have me,” Raven spoke up.

At that point you didn’t bother to listen anymore, instead turning to Bellamy to see what he thought about using the missiles. He was looking at Raven, however, and you couldn’t read his face. He almost seemed okay with using the missiles, as if they didn’t almost kill his sister. Raven and Sinclair walked over to the entrance with Gina, waiting for you to join them.

Bellamy moved over to you and spoke. “You should stay here with them,”

“Bellamy, I’ve already decided. I’m going.” You told him, watching as he formed a response.

“No, you’re not.”

“Yes, I am, Bellamy! My dad is in Polis, if he gets hurt because of this, I need to be there.” You persisted. “And if you get hurt, then what am I gonna do?”

“That’s exactly why you can’t go. I need to keep you safe,” Bellamy’s eyes showed you that he wouldn’t be giving up any time soon. You weren’t either, but you knew this would get you both nowhere.

“Fine, I’ll stay. But I will be groveling and complaining that I didn’t go the entire time.” Bellamy laughed and pulled you into his arms, giving you a kiss. “Just, don’t do anything too stupidly heroic, please.”

“Got it, averagely stupid heroic.” You laughed and pulled him into a tight hug before parting ways. You towards Sinclair, Raven, and Gina, Bellamy in the opposite direction. You followed the trio to level 7, where the command center is, hoping to find the codes in there. After hours of you trying to make sense of the coding in the silent comms room, Raven spoke to herself.

“Damn it,”

“What happened to that Raven Reyes confidence?” Sinclair asked from behind her, eyes glued to the screen.

“It’s a 12-digit code, there are a trillion combinations.” Raven said frustratedly. “It’s gonna take me a minute.”

You looked up from your screen across from Gina as she did, glancing at the angry woman and thinking over a few different ways you could find the code. “Gina, Y/n, what do you got?”

“Don’t look at us, we’re just grunts.”

“Oh, come one, guys. It’s gonna be dark soon.” Sinclair said, pacing lightly. “We’re working analog, we’re working digital. What are we missing?”

“How is the president going to remember a number that long?” Gina questioned.

You thought about Dante and how old he was, knowing that there was no possible way for him to remember that long of a number for too long. “Not that well, he was old.”

“Wanna bet he wrote it down somewhere?”

“Oh, come on.” Raven turned around. “That’s like setting the launch codes to all zeros.”

“And yet, it’s better than anything we’ve come up with.” Sinclair countered.

“Y/n and I will check the president’s office.” You stood and grabbed a walkie from beside you as Sinclair tossed one to Gina.

“We’ll keep working the tech angle. Hopefully one of us will get lucky.”

As you walked down the hall to the president’s office with Gina, you spotted something on the end of the hall. A sign, with an arrow pointing to the left that read ‘record’s room’.

“Hey, Gina, there’s a records room down the hall. I think I’m gonna check it out, see what I can find.” You told her as you stopped at the president’s office door.

“Sure, I’ll see what I can find in here,” She nodded towards the office. “Just keep your radio on channel 5, holler if you need me.”

You nodded and continued down the hall, following the path to the record room, pulling open the door to reveal floor to ceiling filing cabinets, lining the walls and in the middle. You studied them, seeing that each drawer was dated with the year. You went to the first cabinet to your left, near the door, seeing it was dated 2188, which was last year.

Pulling the drawer open, you took the files from it and placed them on the ground, sitting with them to get a little more comfortable. You flipped through each file carefully, and when it didn’t give you any useful information, you put it on the other side of you and started with a new one. Your radio was sitting right in front of the filing cabinet you were sitting in front of, for easier access.

By the time you’d poured over most of the thick files in the first drawer, your radio cut in. “Gina to Raven, come in.”

“Go for Raven,”

“I’ve got nothing.” Gina sighed. “No launch codes. I guess our luck is still holding.”

“Same here,” You sighed. “You’d think a records room would keep track of the launch code, but it’s all just population count and radiation tolerance.”

Your radio crackled and Raven’s voice came through. “Okay. Keep looking, we’ll do the same.”

You set your radio back where it was when it crackled again, a muffled scream passing through it. Raven called out for Gina and you did, too. When Gina didn’t respond, you pushed the heavy file off of your laps and got up from your position, hurrying back down the hall to the president’s office. The hallway had never felt as long as it did now, feeling like centuries had passed before you reached the glass doors.

As soon as you were in front of them, you made eye contact with a grounder in white war paint, making the connection in your head moments before he attacked you. Ice Nation’s attack. It wasn’t Polis they were going after, it was Mount Weather. Once you finished your thought, he charged at you with a bloody knife.

You attempted to block his hit as best as you could without taking the time to pull out your sword, and he missed his target, hitting your left shoulder instead. You screamed in pain, but that fueled your will to fight even further. He removed the blade from you and you fell to the floor, but as he leant over you to finish you off, he left himself open for an attack.

You pulled your leg up and smashed it into his groin, watching him fall as you struggled to sit up. You pulled your dagger from your holder and got his shoulder as well, pulling it out and leaning forward to hit him in the side of the head with your elbow. He takes the blow and stands after a few moments, looking over at the desk and taking off down the hall. You followed his line of sight and gasped, seeing Gina slumped onto the desk with blood pouring from her mouth.

“Gina!” You rush over to your friend, pulling her up to see her shirt stained red. “Oh my God, Gina. What the hell happened?”

“The code, it’s on his arm.” She said slowly. You knew what she was talking about, but only gained a full perspective when you looked at the timer on the desk.

You pulled her radio off the desk and spoke to Raven. “We have a problem. A grounder attacked us and set off the self-destruct sequence. The codes, they’re on his arm. You have to get them,”

With that, you lifted Gina’s arm and put it around you. “Let’s go, we’re getting out of here.”

“No,” Gina protested. “I’ll be fine, go get the codes and come back for me after,”

You looked at Gina sadly, putting her back down. “I will be back for you, Gina.”

She sent you a smile and you took off towards the stairway to the emergency exit, knowing that the elevator wouldn’t be fast enough. You heard the thumping of footsteps and knew Raven was just up ahead, hearing Gina tell her through the radio that there was only 45 seconds left until the mountain came crumbling down.

Speeding up, you caught up with Raven and made it up the stairs, through the exit. The grounder was on top of Sinclair and Raven acted fast, pulling out her pistol and killing him. Sinclair pushed the body off of him as Raven shouted to get the codes from his arm. You ran with her, pushing past the searing pain in your shoulder and ripped the sleeve off of one of his arms as Raven practically screamed into the radio for Gina.

Raven started to make her way back to the entrance and Sinclair chased after her, as did you, but the building blew up before you reached it, sending all three of you flying backwards. The landing winded you and sent a shockwave of pain through your body. Once you were able to sit up, you helped Raven and you went to Sinclair, but he was unconscious. You both sat by him as Raven grabbed her radio to contact Bellamy.

“Bellamy, Bellamy come in.” She said. “The grounders attacked Mount Weather.”

You looked at the smoldering remains of the mountain and although you were grateful it was erased from the earth and you would never see it again, you knew that 37 of your people had died there today, one of which was your best friend.

Bellamy’s voice came through the radio. “What are you talking about?”

You were quick to take over the radio to give a response. “It’s all gone, Bell. They- they set off the self-destruct, I got hit in the shoulder, and Gina... she’s- Bellamy she-”

You managed to compose yourself a little longer. “Raven, Sinclair and I are the only ones left.” The adrenaline wore off quickly and your tears couldn’t be subsided this time. You broke down alongside Raven, the tears and pain taking all of your energy and soon enough, you collapsed into the darkness of sleep.

#bellamy blake #bellamy blake imagine #bellamy blake series #bellamy blake x reader #bellamy blake x you #bellamy blake x y/n #The 100 #the 100 rewrite #the 100 x reader #this is war series

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mastrmiscellaneous · 3 years

Text

Profiles: Half Titans

Name: Laeta (LAY-tah)

Immortal Parent: Leto

Nationality: American

Ethnicity: Greek, white

Birthday: 8th May, 1997

Age: 13 (when first goes to camp)

Height: 5’4

Build: curvy, with strong shoulders and wide hips. She has a little pudge, so looks very soft and unthreatening, but she is deceptively strong. She has round cheeks and a pointed chin

Hair: long and wavey, reaching the top of her butt. Dark brown with golden blonde highlights. She has a long portion of hair partially covering her right eye.

Eyes: wide, blueish-grey

Skin/Complexion: dark beige skin tone. An in-between shade between Artemis and Apollo. Slight scaring on her right shoulder from am monster attack that took her arm

Skills:

· Demi-titan –

o Archery – on par with Apollo and Artemis

o Enhanced strength

o Reproduction manipulation – She can affect fertility in both males and females, and she can affect the comfort levels and ease in pregnancy and labour

o Midwifery

· Normal –

o Sewing

o cooking

o music and dancing

Fatal Flaw: Pushover – she is too easily pushed around

Attire: Silver and yellow chiton flowing down just past her knees, clipped together at the shoulders with black iron clips, and a green wrap around her waist to keep the material shapely and closed. She also wears brown leather sandals, and a black iron arm ring on her left forearm

Weapon:

· Silver and gold bow and arrow

o decorated with arrows and flowers snaking up the limbs of the bow

o the arrow shafts are made of both gold and silver, the metal being twisted and filed down to a smooth finish, the different metals creating a spiral effect

Bio:

Laeta was born in the cave Leto resides in on the island of Delos, with the assistance of her twin siblings Artemis and Apollo. She was kept a secret for the first ten years of her life, out of fear for her safety against the gods. Despite the protection she would receive from Artemis and Apollo, there is no guarantee she would be safe, as the gods fear the titans and their spawn.

when she was 11, she was playing outside the cave, in the woods, where she accidentally caught the attention of the Olympians, bar the twins. Sensing her Titan heritage, they send a Drakon after her, and she gets horrible injured, the Drakon ripping off her right arm. Leto hears her screams, and she calls her twins, and the three find her. Artemis slayed the Drakon, and Apollo heals her the best he can, but she is left with one arm.

once the twins get back to Olympus and after they yell at their fellow gods, they go to Hephaestus and ask if he will make her a prosthetic. He agrees, being one of the few gods who sympathizes with the girl. She makes her a god scale prosthetic made of Celestial Silver and Imperial Gold. it is mechanical and magic, so cam move like a real arm and hand. She took a while to get used to her new arm, but she eventually learns how to work around the awkwardness of it.

When she turned 13, she was taken to camp by Apollo, who promised she would be safe there under the watch of Chiron and Dionysus. Here, they met with Atemis, who was tasked with taking their cousin Toris to camp. The half-titans become incredibly close due to their shared lineage and the hatred the gods have for them. They try to stay out of trouble, and stay neutral in all affairs, refusing to fight in either war.

During her camp years, she meets a demigod named Phoenix, with whom she becomes close, and the boy joins her and Toris as a trio. Her and Phoenix become rather close over the years.

As an adult, Laeta stays in camp, helping the Apollo cabin in the infirmary, until two demigods propose the idea of New Athens, a Greek equivalent of New Rome in Camp Jupiter. Once this concept started, Laeta became a midwife in the new hospital.

Name: Toris (soft O sound)

Immortal Parent: Lelantos (Titan of Air, hunting, and unseen movement)

Nationality: American

Ethnicity: Greek, white

Birthday: 10th April, 1999

Age: 11 (when first goes to camp)

Height: 6’7 - as an adult

Build: runner physique, with strong arms and legs. He has a round pointed chin and a smooth jawline, with a long, pointy nose, and defined cheekbones

Hair: rusty ginger, the same shade as a fox’s fur. The back of his hair is cut to the base of his neck, and the top and sides are longer, styled into a thick, fluffy, spiked quiff.

Eyes: Bright amber orange

Skin/Complexion: dark beige tan

Attire: A knee-length hunting chiton, with baggy sleeves reaching just above his elbow, coloured light brown. The chiton is covered in a torso and shoulder wrap coloured oakwood brown. There is a black chord belt around his waist, and he has a black glove on his left hand, and a black arm guard on his right. He also wears a pair of brown leather sandals.

Skills:

· Demi-titan –

o Archery – on par with Apollo and Artemis

o Enhanced strength

o Flight and Wind Manipulation (Aerokinesis)

o Invisibility and Camouflage

o Hunting abilities

§ Animal Authority

§ Zoolinugualism

§ strategic thinking

· Normal –

o Writing

o Drawing

o Whittling

Fatal Flaw: He is too cocky and reliant on his powers

Weapon:

· Wooden horse bow wrapped in beige suede and dark brown leather, with Antlers as the ends of the limbs

o Celestial bronze arrows

Bio:

Toris was born as a home birth in a the home of a Yellowstone Park Ranger’s home. His mother, a park ranger named Cyrene, found herself pregnant shortly after meeting a newbie by the name of Lelantos. The two lived inside the national park, and raised their son in nature, constantly surrounded by animals and nature.

One day, when Toris was 10, he was wandering around the woods on his own, practicing his tree climbing, when the Olympians noticed his half Titan blood status, and they sent Hades’ three Furies to kill the boy. However, Lelantos sensed the danger and killed the Furies, finally deciding to get help for his son. He calls on his Niece, Artemis, to take him to Camp Half Blood, and offer her protection. Lelantos trusts Artemis above Apollo as they share a love and domain of hunting. She accepts the request, and take Toris to the camp, making sure he would be protected in the borders.

During his years in camp, Toris develops the mindset of "I can't help the fact the gods hate me, so I may as well have fun in my short life". This proved a problem when Laeta wanted to stay neutral in the fight, but he stayed by her side, to protect her.

During adulthood, Toris travelled the county in search for a good hunt. However, what he stumbled across was his old friend from Yellowstone, Katie Crock. They rekindled their friendship, him staying by her side through everything, even when she became pregnant and her boyfriend left her. He stayed by her side, promising to be the child's father figure. Sadly, Katie died in childbirth, leaving Toris with her son, whom they had named Theodore before her death. Toris moved him and his son into New Athens, so they could be safe, and close to family.

#laeta #toris #pjo ocs

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ohh-baekhyun · 5 years

Text

Just For One Night | Final (5-8)

✨Foreword: Baekhyun has always been carefully platonic in his interactions with his best friend’s little sister. He resolved to keep her at arm’s length despite his attraction towards her. But one night, one kiss changes everything.

✨Genre: romance, there’s a bit of badly written smut in there sorry, fluff!

✨Word Count: 10.5k (it’s long)

Turn out, the pianist who was supposed to play for Kyungsoo’s wedding backed out last minute for an urgent matter. There's not enough time to hire a replacement, hence, I was asked to help out since I was the only who knew how to play the instrument. I was freaking out. It had been years since the last time I performed in public. Hell, I couldn't even remember the last time I played the piano. I'd stopped completely after that one incident in which I broke down during a performance for a national competition. It was embarrassing and also traumatizing.

I was all alone in the backstage waiting room, sitting on the cold ground with my legs crossed. I was nervous and my head was spinning like a washing machine as I worried about all the worst case scenarios that might or might not happened.

As my thoughts were running, a click from the door startled me and I looked up. The door slid open and Baekhyun stood in the doorway, one hand grabbing the doorknob to hold the door open. He made quick glances across the room until his eyes found me, "Why are you sitting on the floor?"

I gave him a small smile, "Come sit with me."

He stepped in and pushed the door closed behind him, "I’m starting to think you are anti-social.” he teased as he made his way towards me.

I chuckled half-heartedly, “I just need some time to calm myself down.”

When he reached me, I tilted my head up to look at him. "Is everything okay?" he asked, eyeing me down with concern.

I shook my head hopelessly.

Sighing, he lowered himself to the empty spot next to me. "Nervous?" he asked.

"Very."

He placed his palm over my hand on my thigh and gave it a light squeeze, "I think it's perfectly normal to feel that way. I'd be very nervous too if I were you."

"I'm afraid I'll screw up and ruin everything for Kyungsoo, it's a big day for him."

And I went on and on about it, telling him all the worst case scenarios that might happen in a long endless ramble.

As I finished, I looked to my side and found him smiling at my rambling. I return his stare with knitted eyebrows. "Why are you smiling? I'm freaking out right now."

Shaking his head, he moved his hand to cup the side of my head, and then he gently pushed it down so I was leaning on his shoulder. “You need to stop doubting yourself, sweetheart,” he said, stroking my hair comfortingly. "You did well for the rehearsal and I'm sure you'll do well later."

“What if-“

"No more," He cut me off sternly. ”You are going to be fine."

“How can you be so sure?”

He didn’t answer to that, instead, he slipped his free hand beneath the jacket of his suit and pulled something out of it. “I know whatever I say is not going to help, so I have something else that might help.”

“What is it?” I lifted my head from his shoulder and peered at the shiny object in his palm.

He reached for my wrist and tugged it to him. “It’s a lucky bracelet.” he circled the chain around my wrist and fastened the clasp. When he was done, I pulled my hand back and observed the new piece of jewelry on my wrist. It was a rose-gold bracelet with six mini charms dangling around it.

Dolphins, piano, books, snowflake, four-leaf clover and a heart-shaped locket.

They were all my favorite things.

I grinned from ear to ear while eyeing closely at the cute little charms, “Thank you. I really love it.”

“It's not for you,” he replied, surprising me. “I’m lending it to you just for a day.”

Lend?

Not expecting that answer, I squinted my eyes at him, “Why do you have this girly thing with you?”

“I found it under my bed on a Christmas Day when I was ten.” he explained, surprising me again, “I believe Santa gave it to me."

I snorted once, twice and then I laughed, “Remind me you’re twenty-nine.”

“You can laugh all you want." he muttered. “this bracelet brings good luck everytime I wear it."

"You wear this?" I asked in awe and at the same time suppressing my grin. It was hard not to laugh at the visual of him wearing such a cutesy piece of jewelry.

He nodded, “Only on special occasion."

“And it works?"

“Every damn time.”

If it wasn't for the fact that he and my brother used to fool me a lot when I was little, I'd easily fall for his silly lie.

I narrowed my eyes at him suspiciously, “You sure you are not messing around with me?”

Baekhyun curled his lips in annoyance, "Hand it back to me.”

I retracted my hand and hid it behind my back before he reached it, “I trust you. Sorry."

“You better do because the magic is not going to work if you don't believe it."

Is he telling me to believe in magic?

Must. Not. Laugh.

"What? You still think I'm lying to you?" he frowned at me.

“I believe in you.” I muttered through my pressed lips, trying to hold back my laughter.

“Good.” he said, “You’re going to be okay now.”

“I hope so."

“Are you still feeling nervous?”

For some reason, I wasn't feeling as nervous as I was before. Was it the bracelet? or Was it him?

“I told you it works.”

He must be right about the magic. I was suddenly so in love with this bracelet.....

"You know," I climbed onto his lap, straddling him in kneeling position. He looked perplexed as I circled my arm around him. “Christmas is just around the corner,” I hinted.

Finally understanding my intention, Baekhyun smirked, resting his hands on my hips to hold me still. "Trying to lure me, sweetheart?"

“I'm just saying you can forgo the hassle of choosing a gift for me." I coaxed. "I don't mind having this as a gift, even though it has been used."

He didn't spare any time to consider my request, instead, he just answered, “No."

"Please?" I begged him with my voice, and then my eye.

He stared at me, completely unmoved.

Dammit, it used to work when I wasyounger...

I harrumphed. “You are so not generous.”

"It's good enough that I'm lending it to you. Stop complaining."

“You know, If it were Chanyeol, he would gladly give it to Soyeon if she asked for it."

"Do I look like a Chanyeol to you?"

"No."

He raised one brow at me, "So?"

"I mean, If it were me, I'd give it to you as well. You don't even have to beg for it."

"Are you guilt-tripping me?"

"No." I denied, "I'm just saying it doesn't hurt to be nicer to your girlfriend."

"I'm lending it to you for a day. That's nice enough." he said firmly, "Take it or leave it."

I wrinkled my nose, "You stingy human."

"Don't make me change my mind, you ungrateful woman."

"You are so not getting any gift from me." I lied. I had actually bought him a watch for Christmas.

A knock on the door surprised me and I scrambled off his lap immediately and looked over my shoulder. The door slid open and this time my brother appeared peeking into the room. "What are you guys doing here?" he asked when he saw us on the floor.

"Chatting," Baekhyun answered calmly.

"Come and join us." I patted on the space next to me.

"The ceremony is starting soon. We have to go now," he said.

"Let's go." Baekhyun said as he raised himself off the ground and then helped me up.

Chanyeol held the door open with his elbow and once Baekhyun and I stepped out of the room, he shut the door closed and fell into step next to me. I was now sandwiched between the two males as we made our way into the main hall.

"You feeling okay?" my brother asked, sounding worried.

I nodded and raised my hand to show him my bracelet, "Baekhyun lend this to me. It's a magic bracelet from Santa."

"Santa?" Chanyeol peered at Baekhyun and threw him an incredulous stare. "For real?"

Not liking the look Chanyeol gave him, Baekhyun frowned at him, "What?"

"Stop messing around with my sister, dude." he accused, "She's not five anymore."

"Shh," I nudged at my brother's elbow and whispered to him, "He's quite sensitive about it."

"You know that asshole is lying to you right?" my brother whispered back to me.

"Fuck you all," Baekhyun cursed his breath.

"See. I told you he's sensitive."

The room was quiet as everyone waited in anticipation for the bride to walk down the aisle.

I placed my fingers on the keys and looked up at the cellist seated across the piano. Once he nodded at me, I knew it was my cue to start. Inhaling a deep breath, I pushed the keys down to the very first chord of the song. The strings followed afterward, blending in beautifully with the melody. My heart beat a little faster, but my mind was calm and my hand wasn't trembling as they did earlier. The bracelet really worked its magic.

The music lasted around three minutes before it finally drew into a stop the moment the bride reached the groom at the altar. I was glad I could finally watch the rest of the ceremony and I couldn't take my eyes off the couple. By the time the couple finished exchanging their vows, and kissed, I had tears all over my eyes.

The speeches that followed afterward was like a breath of fresh air. Suho cracked us up with his hilarious speech, keeping the atmosphere bright and far from sentimental. Jisoo's father was next to deliver his heartfelt speech as he spoke about her in glowing terms. We ended up with teary eyes again. Lastly, it's Kyungsoo's turn to give his speech, swooning all the girls in the room with his loving words as he sang his wife's praises.

The moment Kyungsoo ended his speech and the MC announced that the dinner started, everyone swarmed towards the buffet station to queue for food. I walked off the stage and glanced around the crowded hall to look for a toilet but midway through searching, an arm stopped me.

"Can I speak to you?" the EO asked.

"Sure."

"Come with me."

I followed behind him as he led me to a quieter place backstage. We stopped at the dark corner of the hallway and he turned around. "I need your help again," he said, passing me a few set of papers.

I glance down at the music score, confirming that the song was famiiar before glancing up at him. "Sure, I can help."

He sighed in relief. "Thank you so much. You’re really a lifesaver.”

“Don’t worry about it,” You assure. "May I know when is it starting?

"Once I get all the guests to be seated, we're ready to go. It'll take about fifteen to twenty minutes."

"Enough time for toilet break?"

"Sure, go ahead."

Inside the restroom, I bumped into Aera and our encounter was awkward to say the least. The girl sounded so excited as she told me about Baekhyun, how funny and sweet he was, how good-looking he was. Instead of feeling envious, I felt guilty. It was bad enough that I had to lie to her about my secret relationship with Baekhyun, now I had to also pretend that I was happy for her. It's a good thing what she had for Baekhyun was merely just a crush, because anything deeper than that would result in a heartbreak. I'd be the worst person on the planet if that ever happened to her.

Aera and I headed back into the main hall together. As we walked, she did most of the talking and I listened. When we entered the hall, people were scattering all over the place, some were chatting, some were taking pictures and some holding plates with a mountain full of food. We parted halfway as she returned to her table and I walked back to my seat behind the piano on stage.

Around twenty minutes later, I had played a total of four songs and I was starting to feel hungry. Good thing this was the last because I'd been eyeing the food at the buffet table for a long time now. As soon as I hit the last note of the song and the guests cheered, I hurried down the stage towards the food station. I made a stop at the dessert table, picked a piece of mini fruit tart and shoved it into my mouth immediately.

"You seem very hungry."

A voice caught my attention and I looked up at the man standing before me. He grinned, and I flash him a polite smile with my mouth full, "I am."

"It was a nice performance. I forgot how much I enjoyed listening to your music."

I tilted my head to the side, "I'm sorry, but have we met before?"

"We used to be duet partners, remember?" he hinted.

My brows knitted together in a deep thought, trying to remember him and his name. I had numerous duet partners a few years back when I was still attending the music academy.

"I'm Kai."

Kai....kai.....kai.....

"Oh! Kai as in Kim Kai?" I guessed, finally remembering. He smiled an nodded. "I'm sorry I couldn't recognize you earlier. You look so different from the last time I saw you."

"You mean I look older now?" he deduced.

"No, that's not what I meant." I corrected, afraid that he'd be offended. "You look young, just slightly older.... but still not that old...you know....” I giggle nervously. “gosh why am I saying....you know what...I look older too. We've both aged."

"Relax, gorgeous, I was just teasing you." he laughed.

I couldn't help but blush, feeling embarrassed at my own rambling.

"Are you here alone?" he asked.

"Not really."

"Not really? So where's your date?"

As if he was answering to Kai's question, Baekhyun suddenly appeared at my side, one hand slid around my waist to pull me close. "Can I speak to you for a moment?" his voice brusque in my ear.

I shifted my gaze to Kai who looked perplexed at the moment, "Will you please excuse us?"

"Sure. I'll talk to you later then."

I had no time to reply to him as Baekhyun wrapped his hand around my wrist and pulled me away.

"Where are we going?" I asked to his back as he hauled me through the crowds and dragged out of the main hall. "Baekhyun?"

He wouldn't answer to me.

We were now reaching a dark hallway where the female's toilet was located at. He banged on the door and when there's no response, he pushed it open and shoved me inside.

"What's wrong?" I asked, still confused by his frantic actions.

He locked the door behind us.

"That guy was flirting with you." he kept his voice low despite the anger vibrating off him.

I finally understood where his anger was coming from. He was jealous. But I was honestly clueless that Kai was flirting with me.

"Is that how it looked like?" I asked, "I wasn't aware."

His jaw clenched, "Jesus, how could you be so oblivious?"

"We were just having a conversation," I explained softly. "I didn't know he was flirting."

His dark eyes stared deeply into me and I could tell he wasn't convinced. I'd be lying if I said him acting all jealous hadn't thrilled me. But I'd still like him to put more trust in me.

My hand moved up to squeeze his arm as a gesture of reassurance, "I wasn't flirting with him."

The tension slowly eased from his hardened face and he sighed wearily, "I know. I trust you." he said gruffly, "But that doesn't mean I can just sit back and watch some good-looking guy younger than me ogling at my girlfriend like she's his last fucking meal."

I hadn't noticed Kai was good-looking until Baekhyun mentioned it. Maybe because all along, I only had my eyes on one man. And he's right here with me.

"You are the only one I'm attracted to, Baekhyun," I told him sincerely.

His response was to push me up against the wooden door, pinning my hands next to my head as he kissed me hard. It took me half a second to get over my surprise and I kissed him back. He pressed his body into mine as though he couldn't get any closer and I gasped at the feel of his erection against my crotch.

"Mine." he breathed over my lips as he continued to grind his hard-on against me.

A rush of tingling pleasure strike right through my core and my breathing hitched, "Baekhyun," I panted, "W- we are in the toilet..."

"There's no one here." his lips traveled down the side of my neck and I arched into his kisses.

"What if someone hears us." I whispered frantically.

"There's no one here," he repeated, his voice thick with arousal.

"But- Ohhh," I whimpered at the feel of his teeth piercing down my skin. Another pleasured sigh slipped through my lips as the tip of his tongue darted out to lick the bruised skin, then it trailed its way back to my mouth.

My hands were suddenly free as his hands slid down to shove the hem of my dress up so it was bunched around my waist, his fingers immediately found its way to the wetness he had caused down there.

"B-Baekhyun." I moaned as I felt a subtle brush of his thumb over my clit.

"Shh, baby, Let me take care of you." he pushed two fingers inside me, pumping them in and out and edging me closer to climax.

My legs quivered and I gripped his arms tightly. His fingers worked me rough and fast. I dropped my head to his shoulder and let out a muffled cry against his neck as my first orgasm rolled over me.

"Fuck!" His chest heaving as he watched me and his breathing grew harsher.

Baekhyun pulled his fingers out of my throbbing heat and his hand went down to his trousers. My stomach flipped with need and anticipation as he unzipped. He shoved his trousers down his legs and his erection sprung free.

Keeping his eyes on me, he tore my knickers down. "Put your legs around me," he ordered.

I did as he asked me to, my legs went up around his waist and my arms wrapped around his shoulders. His erection poked against my entrance and I gasped at the sensation. For a few torturing seconds, he ground his dick against my aching heat while his mouth latches on my neck, sucking and licking until I begged him to fuck me right there and then.

"Say it."

"I want you inside me." my plea came out desperate.

He didn't need to be told twice.

His fingers dug into my hips and he thrust into me, filling me completely with his thick length.

"Oh God!" My head slammed back against the door with a loud cry of pleasure.

Baekhyun let out a low grunt as he continued to move his hips and drove his cock deeper inside of me. My whimpers grew louder and I bit my lower lip to suppress the lewd sound, worried someone might hear us.

"Louder!" he growled, as he thrust harder. "Let me hear how good I make you feel."

The lewd sound of my moan blended together with the loud sound of my back pounding against the toilet's door. I clenched my fingers into his shoulders, watching the restrained on his face as his cock slid in and out of me.

"Come!" he ordered.

"Baekhyun!" My body shuddered and I clenched around him as I came hard for the second time.

"Fuck baby, you feel like fucking heaven," he groaned huskily, "Keep squeezing my cock like that, I'm coming."

And I gave him what he wanted. My inner muscles squeezed around him and a low guttural growl emitted from the back of his throat as his own climax hit him hard.

His body slumped against me, and for a while, we just stood there trying to catch our breath and gain back our senses. When we finally came down from our high and our breathing was more controlled, he pulled back to look me in the eyes.

"I'm sorry I got jealous for a stupid reason," he whispered, affection and tenderness shone in his brown eyes.

A smile touched my lips. "You need to get jealous more often," I joked. "That was hot."

Chuckling, he pulled me into a long kiss. I ran my hand through his locks and sighed into his mouth, feeling the contentment rose in my chest.

"You really didn't notice he's good looking?" he asked as he pulled back.

"You think he is?"

"I mean...he's tall." He shrugged. "Women prefer taller guys. Right?"

"That's not true. You aren't tall but I still like you very much." I said. "Aera likes you too," I added. "Oh and don't forget Jaesi."

His forehead creased at the mention of the two girls, "You know I'm still inside you right?"

I hummed. "I can feel it."

"Can't you at least wait until I pull out before you mention about my ex?"

Baekhyun pushed the toilet’s door open, making just enough space for his head to peek through. Once he checked that the corridor was empty, he turned to give me a nod before shoving the door further open. We sneaked out and strode down the hallway towards the revolving door at the lobby hall.

We were leaving the venue to get some cakes at a well-known pastry cafe nearby. The wild bathroom sex had left me famished since I barely eaten anything for dinner. I could’ve gone back into the hall to get some food but Baekhyun insisted that we leave this place for a little while. I couldn’t say no to him and of course I couldn’t say no to to cake...

The parking valet approached us as soon as we came through the door, “Should I get you your car, sir?”

Baekhyun turned to me for an answer.

“Let's walk.” I said, "It's not that far anyway."

The valet guy took my answer and gave us a courtesy nod before stepping away.

"Let's go."

I was feeling like one of that child on Christmas Day while we strolled side by side down the peaceful street. My eyes wandered restlessly at the beautiful lights and decorations twinkling all around us. That, along with my present company, gave me an immense sense of joy. I’d never thought it was possible to be this happy. But I was. Deliriously, exhilaratingly, and wonderfully happy.

Every so often, as my eyes caught something I admired, I’d stop and stare at it for a long time, and I loved how Baekhyun would wait patiently next to me and let me have my own sweet time. He told me he used to not understand why people love Christmas so much, but now, he had started to get it. When I asked him how so, he shrugged and told me he simply loved how much I loved it.

My my, If this man isn’t perfect, I don’t know what is.

“I am going for Christmas shopping next Saturday.” Baekhyun announced, breaking our comfortable silence.

I looked at him, cocking my head in thought, “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying.” he said, “I might start putting up Christmas tree from this year onwards.”

It was strange because Baekhyun had never put up a Christmas tree before. He thought it was a hassle and he didn't quite like the smell of pine tree.

“Why the sudden change of heart?” I asked, curious.

“Because you’ll be staying over at my place more often now.”

“What does thathas to do with Christmas tree?” I asked, still clueless.

“You are just as slow as your brother,” he muttered, shaking his head at me.

“Come on, it’s not like you to beat around the bush.” I muttered with quirked eyebrows, “Why do you all of a sudden decide you want a Christmas tree?”

“Christmas tree makes you happy and I love seeing you happy.”

I see now...

Liking that a lot, I beamed, “You really know how to impress a girl.”

“Only you, baby. Only for you.”

Grateful that I had a boyfriend who loved to make me feel happy and special, there’s nothing more I could say but a simple thank you.

“So, would you like to join me?” He asked.

“For what? Christmas tree shopping?”

“Yes, and we can decorate our first Christmas tree together.”

There’s something blissfully warm in the way he said “Our”. Right then, it occurred to me that we'd soon be spending our first Christmas together as a couple. The idea alone put a smile on my face. I wished this wouldn’t be the last.

“So? Is that a yes?” he asked, breaking into my thoughts.

“I’ll have to check my schedule for that day.” I was completely messing with him.

Baekhyun skidded intoa halt and turned to face me with furrowed eyebrows, “Do you have to work on Saturday too?”

Enjoying his reaction, I giggled on the inside. “You know I am a very busy woman.”

“What about Sunday?”

Has he really thought I was serious? How cute…

“Don’t worry, my love. I’ll clear my schedule just for you.”

His eyes rolled at me, “Glad to know I have such a thoughtful girlfriend.” He said in a tone laced with sarcasm.

I chuckled, tugging at our entwined hands to cue him to move, “Then maybe you should treat her better.”

“Do I not treat her well enough?”

“You do, but, she’ll be happier if you let her have your bracelet.” I hinted.

He snorted, looking down at my wrist and back at me, “Say I let you have the bracelet, what do I get in return?”

“Hmm…” I pondered, “Me?”

“What can you do for me?

“Anything.”

“You’ll stay with me tonight?”

“OK.”

He smirked, likingmy offer. “And you’ll let me do anything to you?”

“What will you do to me anyway?” I asked, eyeing him suspiciously.

“Something that involves lots and lots of orgasms.”

A smug grin spread across my face, “That sounds like a very good deal.”

“After you.” Baekhyun said, opening the door for me.

“Thank you.” I said, stepping into the two-storey cafe.

The smell of freshly baked pastry welcomed me us. I glanced around and noticed a few pairs of curious eyes turning to us, some started to whisper something to their company. I immediately felt out of place in my attire, and knowing that people were talking about it made me feel a little self-conscious.

Sensing my discomfort, Baekhyun pulled me to him and let me stand in front of him in a queue. “What do you feel like eating?” he asked.

I knew he was just trying to distract me and I was thankful for that. I looked down at cake slices sitting insidethe display fridge next to me. There were too many choices that I had a hard time choosing. “Should I order this, this or that one?” I pointed to the strawberry shortcake, mango mousse and tiramisu.

His face appeared next to mine as he stared down at the cakes I was pointing at, and his arm naturally came around me, “We can order three and share.”

“Oh okay.” I mumbled, feeling my heart race at his closeness.

“Next order, please.”

“It’s our turn.” Baekhyun prompted, kissing me on the cheek before letting me go.

At the same instance, my eyes met with a female counter attendant who was eyeing me with slight disgust on her face. “Next order.” she repeated, sounding impatient this time.

Too mortified to face her, I pulled at Baekhyun’s wrist and pushed him forward towards the counter. He glanced back with question in his eyes. I hurriedly whispered to him to order for me before leaving his side to find a table for us.

It was amazing how completely unbothered Baekhyun was. Sometimes I wished I had that attitude in me.

The seats on the first floor were fully occupied. I went upstairs instead. As I reached the second floor, I felt a small relief seeing the almost vacant space with only three tables occupied by two young couples, and a middle-aged lady with her little boy.

I sat in the corner at a table next to the window, waiting for Baekhyun to come up with the cakes. He appeared not too long later, carrying a tray of cakes and drinks. He’d ordered an Espresso for himself and a Latte Macchiato for me. I praised him for ordering the right drink without me having to tell him, though I thought it was a little too late for caffeine. Baekhyun insisted that we needed it to keep us awake. I didn’t need further explanation.

“Why are you rushing?”

“They should be looking for us now, we’ve been away for so long.”

“Your brother knows we’re here.” He said, lifting his phone up to show me the text he had sent to Chanyeol.

“What about your date?”

Baekhyun took a slow sip of his drink before calmly answered tomy question, “I told her that we’re together.”

At that, I choked on my cake and couldn’t stop coughing. Baekhyun pushed a cup of water to my side, suppressing his laughter. I downed the liquid in one go and set the cup down on the table.

“When did you tell her about it?” I asked, giving him the nervous stare.

“When you were on stage. She asked me to dance but I told her I can’t.”

I frowned, “Why can’t you dance with her?”

“Just holding hands.” He recited my words, “Remember?”

Of course Baekhyun took my words literally. I couldn’t decide if I should be happy or...

“What did she say? Was she upset?” I asked in a hurry.

“She’s pretty cool about it, she said she wasn’t surprised.”

“Wasn’t surprised? What do you mean?”

He shrugged, “No idea. That’s all that she said.

I let out a sigh, yet I wasn’t completely relief. I needed to find a way to explain to her that I wasn’t in any way trying to hurt her. I didn’t want this to destroy our friendship. I might not be as close to her as I was to Soyeon, but that didn’t diminish her value to me.

“Stop worrying about it,” his hand came resting on mine, “I’ve explained everything to her. I’m sure she understands.”

I gave him a small, uncertain smile, “I hope so.”

“Just don’t think too much and enjoy your cake.”

I nodded, eyeing the strawberry shortcake now. I was about to pull the plate to my side when a little boy appeared at next to Baekhyun, staring keenly at the cake. I gave Baekhyun a curious look and he shrugged.

“Want some?” I offered.

The boy hesitated, looking back and forth at the both of us, probably considering if it’s safe to accept foodfrom strangers.

I picked a new set of pastry fork, place it on the plate next to the cake and shoved it forward to him, “You can have it. It’s very yummy.” I smiled.

He was still doubtful.

“Don’t worry, we are not bad guys.” Baekhyun re-assured, patting on his back gently.

The boy finally picked up the fork, and I watched with amusement at how his face lit up as he shoveda piece into his mouth, chewed and swallowed it.

“Like it?” I asked.

He nodded enthusiastically, scooping up another big piece and quickly dove in for another bite. That last piece was too huge for his tiny mouth that he had icingall over his lips.

Chuckling, I grabbed a serviette and leaned over to wipe the mess on his mouth.

The boy stared at my face quietly and his gaze drifted down to my blue dress, then, he turned to look at Baekhyun, “She looks like a princess.”

Baekhyun gaze onme turned deeply affectionate as our eyes met, “She’s my girlfriend.”

I felt a giddy flutter in my tummy. This was the first time Baekhyun introduced me as his girlfriend instead of his sister like how he used to do.

“Your girlfriend is very pretty.” the boy said to Baekhyun again.

I smiled on the inside, wondering if he was too shy to say it to me that he had to tell Baekhyun instead.

Baekhyun hummed in acknowledgment at the compliment, “She’s more than just pretty. She’s perfect.”

I nearly choked from the embarrassment. His cheesy side was one that I loved (oddly but true), and I wouldn’t mind hearing it when there's nobody around.

Baekhyun laughed. His laughter was so infectious that the boy started laughing along with him. I wasn't sure if he understood what he was laughing about.

My cheek blushed furiously as Baekhyun continued teasing me with compliments. Thankfully, the boy’s mother came to my rescue. She apologized profusely upon discovering that his son had finished our cake. We assured her that it’s fine since we were the one who offered it to him but she insisted to pay for the cake. Inthe end, she broughtus two extra cakes and two chocolate croissants, telling us it’s a must-try.

"I don't think I can finish all of these," I told Baekhyun once I finished eating my share of croissant. There were two more cakes left untouched. I didn't like to waste food but I was too full.

“I’ll get the server to wrap it for us.” he said, sliding back in his chair as he stood up.

“Thanks.”

While Baekhyun was downstairs, I went to the toilet to freshen up.

I looked into the mirror and nagged inwardly at myself when I found a chocolate stain on my dress. I unrolled layers of toilet paper, dampened it and wiped the brown stain carefully.

A loud explosion startled me. The sound was later followed by a terror scream coming from the outside. I wasted no time to rush towards the door, but pulling it, the door wouldn’t open. I tried again, it didn’t work. My heart sank. I called out for help and pounded onthe wooden door repeatedly, yet there was no answer, all that I could hear were bloody screams. I paced back and forth in the small confined space, anxiously searching for tools I could use to open the door.

“Sweetheart, are you in there? You need to come out now.”

Baekhyun's voice alerted me and I moved nearer to the door, "I can't get out, it's locked. What’s going on out there?”

“This place is on fire.”

His answer was followed by another sound of explosion. My shoulders jumped at the shock and fear quickly overcame me. I held onto the door handle and started pulling at it frantically. I needed to get out of here.

“Step away from the door.”

Fifteen minutes later…..

Sweats were trickling down my forehead from the heat and the trepidation. I’d lost count of how many times Baekhyun repeatedly crashed himself against the door, trying to knock it down to get me out of here. But the door wouldn’t open and the scariest part was, I was starting to lose hope. As much as I feared to be left alone to die, I couldn’t let him stay with me any longer. He’d been out there inhaling far too much smoke. He’d die too if he didn't leave.

“Baekhyun.”

He wasn’t listening.

“Baekhyun. Stop." I begged, my voice broke and I was nearly in tears.

He did and we were left with the soundof blazing fire. My heart was slamming hard against my ribcage and I inhaled a long deep breath, mustering every ounce of courage left to say what I was about to say.

“You need to get out of this place.” I tried to sound tough but my voice came out just as hopeless as I felt.

“No!” he refused strongly, voice loud and determined, “I’m not leaving you alone.”

And just as determined as his words were, he continued crashing and slamming himself against the door, each time harder than the last. My chest hurt so bad thinking of how much pain he had to endure just to saveme.

Suddenly, the smell of burning oak hit my nose and stared down with horror as I saw wispy fingers of white smoke seeping in through the gap beneath the door. My knees almost buckled seeing how the smoke crept in, traveled up and spread in the air

“Baekhyun, please listen to me.” I begged, panic filling my voice.

He still wouldn’t listen.

“You have to leave now. I will be okay.” I convinced, "The firemen will arrive soon and they'll come and save me.”

Tears were welling up in my eyes as I said that because honestly, I wasn’t sure if I’d still be alive by then.

“Please stop, I don't want you to die because of me.” my voice broke as my tears flowed freely. The thought of me dying had scared me, but the thought of himdying had terrified me to my very soul.

“No one is going to die.” He persisted. “I’ll get you out of there.”

Baekhyun did as he promised. With one hard slam, he managed to shove the door open and stumbled inside. His eyes found me, in no time, I was in his arms, hugging him tight

“Are you okay?” He pulled back, staring at me with deep concern filling his eyes.

"I'm okay, what about you?" I asked, making a quick scan from his head down to his toe. I felt more than relief that he wasn't injured, "Let’s get out of here.”

Baekhyun glanced around the toilet and headed towards the sink. He shrugged off his jacket, dunk it into the sink and jerk at the faucet, letting the water soak the fabric. “Go and wet your dress with water, quick.” he directed.

I did as told, hurrying into the toilet cubicles, reaching for the bidet and started spraying water all over myself. Baekhyun came in not too long later to help.

"Ready?" he asked once we were all set.

For all I knew, we might or might not survive the blaze. If there’s one thing I regretted, I regretted those years I wasted not telling him how I truly felt. Now that we only had hours, maybe minutes, to be together, I wanted him to know that I loved him, even if it’s a little too late.

"Thank you for staying back for me.” I stepped closer, wrapping my arms around him. "I love you and I’m sorry I waited so long to tell you that.”

Baekhyun leaned back so he could look into my eyes, “Say that to me again when we are out of here.” he said it as if he knew everything would be just fine.

“But we might not-.” I trailed off. Saying it out made it even more frightening than it already was.

"We will," he said confidently. “We will survive this.”

With that, I gained a little courage. Baekhyun had always been right. This time, I hope he’s right too.

“If we made it out of here alive,” I said, “I’m marrying you, Baekhyun.” I wasn't kidding. "I'll be the one to propose.”

That's a promise because I told myself if I were able to survive this, I'd be able to do anything.

The corner of his lips curled into an amused grin. One that managed to grant me hope in such a hopeless situation.

“We’re getting married, baby.” He promised.

And I prayed so hard that we will.

Even though we managed to escape the fire, Baekhyun had unfortunately sustained a second-degree burn on his left arm caused by the falling debris. We were rushed to the ER and he was treated in the trauma room at the moment.

By right, I wasn’t supposed to be in here. A few nurses had tried to drag me out but I wouldn’t budge. At last, they gave up and allowed me to stay next to Baekhyun so long as I remained calm.

The pungent smell of disinfectant, in which I’d describe as the smell of death, brought uneasiness down the pit of my stomach. Sitting on a chair next to the gurney, I kept my eyes trained on the blisters on Baekhyun’s forearm. They were excruciating and my gut wrenched just by the look of it.

“I’m going to scrub the wound on your arm and peel off the dead skin. You might want to take a deep breath first.” the nurse instructed, causing my stomach to twist unpleasantly.

I reached for Baekhyun’s hand and held it tight. He turned to look at me and still managed a smile despite the pain he was enduring. “Don’t worry. I’ll be okay.” he ensured.

“This is going to sting just a little,” the nurse said before landing the tip of the forceps on his blistered skin.

I knew by a little, she meant the opposite.

Baekhyun dropped his head to my shoulder, his grip on my wrist turned bruising as he roared in pain. I reached behind him and ran my hand up and down his back soothingly. My chest hurt so bad I could barely breathe. Nothing hurts deeper than watching your loved one suffers yet unable to do anything to help.

“Can you give him something to ease his pain?” I begged the nurse.

“I’m sorry but Mr. Byun is allergic to pain medication.” she said, sympathy masking her eyes as she spoke.

Baekhyun lifted his head from my shoulder, his chest heaving and beads of sweat were trickling down his neck. I sighed helplessly and brushed his hair from his face. The anguish onhis face was piercing through me. “I’m so sorry.” I whispered, tears burning in my eyes.

Noting that I was about to start weeping, Baekhyun frowned. “I’m not letting you sit here if you’re gonna cry.”

I returned his frown with a deeper one, “You’re weird. Why am I not allowed to cry?” I said, fighting back the tears in my eyes. (just in case he kicked me out of here, he might, who knew).

He quirked an eyebrow at me, “Will your crying help with my pain?”

“It won’t but-“

“Then there’s no need to cry.”

“Nonsense.” I argued, “It’s only natural to feel sad or cry when someone you love is in pain.”

A slow smile forming on his lips, “You love me huh?” he asked.

Silly man.“Of courseI do.”

“You are right, of courseyou do, I saved your life.” Baekhyun said smugly.

“And I’m thankful for that.”

“You shouldbe, I saved your life.”

I rolled my eyes at his bragging, “You are going to use that to your advantage aren’t you?”

“Of course. I saved your life.” he said it again.

“I believe you’ve said that three times, Sir.”

My gaze moved to the nurse who had just joined our little argument, “Thank you.” I mouthed to her, giggling.

Baekhyun shot me a glare for laughing, “How dare you. I saved your life.”

“Four times, sir.” she reminded.

I really liked her...

Baekhyun parted his mouth, about to mutter something, but a loud hiss left through his clenched teeth. "Shit, that hurt like a bitch." he grimaced.

Feeling my heart ached at his pain, I brushed the back of my thumb across his knuckles comfortingly.

“We are almost done here,” the nurse informed. “I’m just going to apply an antibiotic onyour skin to prevent infection. You’re not going to feel a thing, I promise.”

With a heavy sigh, Baekhyun slumped back against the pillow.

Relief moved through me as I stared deeply at the man who had just risked his own life to save mine. He looked exhausted and I felt sorry he had to go through such pain because of me. No amount of words could ever be enough to express my love and gratitude for him, not only for saving me today, but for the countless time he stepped in to rescue me from dangerous situations since I was little.

Always and forever fighting my battle for me.

Leaning down, I pressed my lips to his forehead, “I can never thank you enough for what you did.”

“Don’t need to thank me, you just have to marry me.” he said, a tinged of amusement in his voice.

I couldn’t tell if he was being serious but I wasn’t kidding when I said, “I’ll marry the hell out of you, Byun Baekhyun.”

That got him to smile. And naturally, I smiled too.

“If you don’t mind me asking,” the nurse chimed in, earning our attention. “How long have you two been together?” she asked.

“Just for a day.” I answered honestly.

She gazed at me in disbelief, “No way.”

“She’s telling the truth.” Baekhyun convinced. “We just got together this morning.”

“But you two look like you’ve known each other for life.” she remarked. “And you’re already talking about getting married?”

“You’re right, we’ve known each other for life,” Baekhyun agreed, then I saw a glint of mischief in the back of his eyes before he said, “She’s my sister.”

The nurse was struck mute by his revelation. Eyes and mouth agape as she stared back forth at the both of us.

”My best friend'ssister I mean.” Baekhyun clarified, snorting loudly at her dumb-founded expression.

“Thank God,” she muttered sarcastically, “I was planning to file a police report.”

At her remarks, Baekhyun threw his head back and burst into deep laughter. The nurse giggled along with him while dressing a bandage on his injured arm. I was last to join the bubble.

Frankly, I didn't find that funny at all, but I felt warm all over at the sight of Baekhyun laughing again. Happy that he was no longer in pain, happy that he was safe, happy that we were together.

One week later...

“Baekhyun,” I whispered into his ear, tugging lightly on his t-shirt.

He made a little groan of protest under his breath, turning away to give me his back.

I grip his shoulder and pull him back so he’s lying supine. “Baekhyun, wake up,” I try again, tugging a little harder than before.

His arm moved to cover his eyes as he groaned. “What time is it?” He asked sleepily.

“Four.”

He removes his hand to stare at me in disbelief. “Are you crazy?”

“No, I’m not. Wake up,” I urge.

He finally propped himself up by the elbows. “What do you need?”

I smiled at him. “I love you.”

There’s a pause where he narrowed his eyes at me, then he finally mutters, “You’re definitely crazy.”

My lower lips jut forward in a pout. “Can you at least say it back?”

His eyes softened and he reached out to cup my face. “I love you too, baby, but it's four freaking a.m.”

“But there’s something I want to say to you,” I told him enthusiastically.

“This better be important.”

“So, I was thinking, since we both love each other very much and we’re both so perfect for each other. Isn't it a good idea to, you know, get married?”

He gives a bark of laughter. “Are you proposing to me right now?” He asked. You nodded in response. A flicker of mischief flashed in his eyes as he realized what this was about. “Come on baby, you can do better than that. Why don’t you try again?”

Now that he is fully awake, I was suddenly feeling shy. “Uhh, will you...” I hesitated, my cheek growing red. “Will you marry me?” I finally say with a small voice.

He pursed his lips, contemplating. “Uh, shouldn't you be getting down on one knee when you propose?”

I grabbed a pillow from my side and threw it at him. He caught it with a bark of laughter. I grumble. “You are just being annoying, Baekhyun.”

His brows went skyward in a teasing way. “Do you want to marry me or what?”

I slumped back against the mattress and rolled to my side, giving him my back. “Just go back to sleep.”

“I’m not sleepy.” He said, a hint of smile in his voice.

“You were sleepy just a few seconds ago,” I said, huffing in annoyance.

“But I’m not anymore. Come on baby, try again.”

Two weeks later...

Christmas Eve-05:30pm.

Weeks had passed since the fire incident at the cafe. Aside from the injury on Baekhyun’s arm, we were both very alive and well.

That night, Chanyeol and Soyeon arrived at the hospital just as the nurse was done treating Baekhyun's arm. We had completely forgotten about the wedding and missed to inform them about the accident. They were upset, worried upset, and still very upset at us for not letting them know earlier. In the end, we forgo the chance to share the news about our relationship and decided to wait until today. We agreed it was the right time since everyone would be present. Not sure how my brother would react but I wasn't afraid anymore. Maybe it was the near-death experience that made me a little braver than I used to be. It did change my perspective and made me realize how fragile life could be.

I was spending my afternoon at my parent’s house, helping them prepare for the gathering tonight. My only duty was to clean up the place. My mom could no longer trust me with the cooking task after I nearly exploded her oven last year while attempting to bake brownies.

Once I finished my chores and the house was immaculate, I headed back into the kitchen. Leaning back against the counter, I watched as my mom busied herself with her signature shepherd's pie. The house was unusually quiet that afternoon. My dad had gone to the grocery stores to stock up on snacks and drinks. My brother was out for lunch with Soyeon and her parents. Meanwhile, Baekhyun was visiting his parents in his hometown. He’d been away for three days and would be back tonight in time for the dinner.

Baekhyun: I'll be there around 6. 05:35PM

Me: Noted. 05:35PM✓

Baekhyun: See you soon. 05:36PM

Me: Ok. 05:36PM✓

Baekhyun: Love you. 05:36PM

Me: Thank you. 05:37PM✓

Baekhyun: WTF 05:37PM

Me: ;-) 05:37PM✓

Christmas Eve-9:45pm.

The dining room was empty once everyone left the table and moved to the sitting room. Since no one volunteered to help with the kitchen duty, I had to do it all by myself. Not that I was complaining, but again, no one loved doing the dishes.

For not once I thanked God for the men who created the dishwasher. After loading the life-saving machine with bowls, plates, and the cutleries, I went on to hand-wash the mugs, cups and those that couldn’t go in.

Minutes into my lonely chore, Soyeon walked into my mum’s kitchen, humming a tune I didn’t recognize.

“Please tell me you’re here to help.” I begged, turning my head towards her.

“Nah.” she muttered offhandedly as she moved past behind me to get to the fridge.

“Your lack of consideration is fantastic.” I rolled my eyes at her back as she held the handle open.

“I need soda.”

“There’s no soda,” I said as I continued washing the mug in my hand. “We have lager though.”

“But I’m craving for coke.” she whined, closing the fridge just as I turned my head to look at her again.

“Wine?” I suggested.

“No.”

That’s odd...I narrowed my eyes, “You never said no to wine."

There was a pause before she revealed, “I’m pregnant.”

The mug slipped from my grip and fell into the sink with a loud clank, “You’re PREGNANT?” I asked hysterically.

Soyeon raised her finger to her lips, gesturing me to keep my voice down.

“You are pregnant?” I asked again, softer this time. She nodded to my question. “Like pregnant pregnant?”

“Is there any other type of pregnant?” she quipped, grinning.

“Oh my god. Congratulations.” my face beamed a thousand colors, “How pregnant are you?”

I meant to ask how many months was she into pregnancy but I was too thrilled I couldn’t form a proper sentence.

She snorted at my question, "What's the scale?”

"One to nine."

"Two."

“Does Chanyeol know?"

“I’m going to surprise him later."

I cooed, imagining how thrilled my brother would be. He loved kids to bits. "Is that your Christmas gift for him?"

She nodded, smoothing her hand over her tummy as she stared down at it lovingly. I was so happy for her I nearly teared.

“Can I hug you? I really want to hug you.” I pleaded.

She glanced up, eyes drifted from my wet lathery hands to my face, contemplating.

“No, thanks.” she said eventually.

I jutted my lips forward grumpily, “Mean.”

“Bye.” she patted on my bump before dissapearingfrom my mum’s kitchen.

Back to being alone but feeling a whole lot brighter this time, I picked up the mug I had just dropped and started humming happily as I did my chore. When I was nearly finished, someone else sneaked into the kitchen causing the skin on my neck to prickle.

I knew it was him just by the sound of his footsteps.

Excitement danced wildly in my belly. He stopped a few meters away from me, and then he just stood there and stared at my back silently.

“I can feel you there, Baekhyun.” I muttered without looking back.

Then, his footsteps came closer and they drew intoa halt when the warmth of his sturdy chest met with my back. My heart pounded hard and fast. I gasped softly as he slid his arms around me, “Need my help?” his low voice whispered in my ear.

“A little too late, don’t you think?” I said, already washing the last mug.

Soon as I placed the mug down on the drying rack, he twirled me around and pressed closer to me. Two hands moved to cup my face and he welcomed me with a deep loving kiss on my lips.

Suffused with contentment, I sighed into his mouth, slid my hands up around his neck and kissed him back with all the love in the world. We didn’t even care about getting caught anymore, well, they’d find out soon anyway.

“You have no idea how much I missed you" he murmured against my lips.

I was going to tell him how much I’ve missed him too but he started dusting butterfly kisses all over my face, eliciting giggles from me.

"Baekhyun," I smoothed my hand over his chest and pushed him back gently. He stopped and stared down at me with amusement flittering in his eyes. "How did the talk with your parents go?” I asked.

He brushed a strand of hair from my face and tuck it behind my ear, “They got the shock of their life when I told them we’re getting married.” he said.

“I figured too.”

Who wouldn’t be? We’d been together for less than a month and already the talk about marriage. It was too quick, I agreed, but taking into account our history, and the fact that we loved each other to bits, why bother taking it slow? Life is short, take a chance.Marrying Baekhyun was a chance worth taking. He’d be the most wonderful chance I'd ever take.

“Were your parents against it?” I asked.

“Not at all,” he smiled, “In fact, they couldn’t stop bugging me about wanting to meet their daughter-in-law.”

Heart blooming, my cheek flushed and I burst into a shy smile.

His gaze on me softened, filled with warmth and tenderness, “I wish you were there with me.”

“I know.” I heaved a regretful sigh, “I’m sorry I couldn’t go.”

Baekhyun and I were supposed to go on this trip together. I’d even requested for annual leave and it had been approved. But our plan was canceled when my boss called to inform that the company was short of staff and that they needed me at the office.

“It’s alright.” he consoled, “We’ll plan a visit again soon, and we'll visit my grandparents too.”

”Oh yeah!” I chirped.

As usual, my excitement over his grandmother’s house amused him, “Since you are so obsessed with my grandmama’s house-“ he said, hand digging into the pocket of his jeans. My eyes followed the movement of his hand. “This is for you.”

A key.

I looked up from his hand, puzzled, “You’ve passed me your spare key, remember?”

”I know.”

”So? what’s this?”

”I should’ve asked you first before I decided to buy it." he said apologetically, "I hope you are not mad.”

“You bought a house." I deduced. "Where?"

He bobbed his head, ”At Dolphin Island."

I was so speechless I couldn't say a thing.

Baekhyun chuckled at my astonishment, "It's a villa just a few blocks away from my grandparent’s beach house.”

Still speechless...

“I thought it would be great to have our own place to stay whenever we visit.” he said, “In the future when we have kids, we should bring them along too.”

Overwhelmed with joyful emotions, I enveloping him in a big tight hug and kissed both sides of his cheek. He shook in laughter against me, burying his face in my neck.

”How many kids do you want?” I pulled back to ask, likingthis conversation about our future.

He shrugged, “Doesn’t matter to me. As long as it’s ours, I’m happy.”

"Why do you have to be so perfect, Mr. Byun?"

My words pleased him very much that he smirked, “Can't help that I'm born this way, Mrs. Byun."

"Mrs. Byun huh?"

"Soon to be," he said surely, "Let's go tell yourbrother now."

"Right now?"

"Right now." Baekhyun asserted, backing away from me.

Before he took my hand and pulled me away with him, I clenched the sleeve of his sweater and pulled him back to me. "Wait."

He quirked an eyebrow, "Are we waiting til' next Christmas?"

"Promise me that no matter what happens, we'll stay together."

His gaze on me softened. And as a promise, he leaned forward and kiss me on the forehead. “Always and forever.” he vowed.

I smiled up into his beautiful eyes, and as always, feeling fulfilled that I’d found a lover, a confidant anda home in this man.

“I love you." I whispered earnestly.

For a while, I waited for him to return the three words, but instead, he turned his back to me and walked away.

"Love you?" I repeated.

"Thank you."

Huffing in annoyance, I reached for a washcloth and tossed it to his back. "Asshole."

His steps halted and he looked over his shoulder.

”What?" I said, two brows raising in defiance.

A slow devilish grin spread across his face, “We're screwing like a teenager tonight."

Christmas Eve-10:30pm

"Ready?"

I nodded.

With our hands intertwined, we walked into the sitting room where everyone was gathered. The TV was on and all eyes were fixed on the screen. Hana, seated in between my parents, was first to notice our appearance and her eyes drifted down to our hands before she looked back at us. Confused, she nudged her elbows on my mum and dad's arms and nodded in our direction. My parents looked clueless as well.

Soyeon was next to lift her head from Chanyeol's shoulder and looked at us. Once she understood what's going on, she turned to the man next to her. Chanyeol was unaware and she smacked him hard across his arm, causing his body to jump in complete shock, eyes widened.Baekhyun chuckled next to me and I tried my best to hold my laughter.

"What was that for?" Chanyeol whined, frowning at her.

She grinned, grabbing his face and turned his face towards us.

Tension permeated the air now that everyone was staring at us, eagerly and anxiously waiting for our announcement. This was more nerve-wracking than I imagined it would be.

”Chanyeol,” Baekhyun started. “You are like a family to me and I know years ago I’ve made a promise to you that I will never date your little sister.”

There’s a momentary silence that caused my heart slammed harder against my ribcage. I squeezed his hand tighter and held my breath.

“I’m sorry I have to break that promise now.”

Chanyeol frowned, his eyes shifting from Baekhyun to me, and then to Baekhyun again, “What are you talking about?”

“I love your sister, Chanyeol. I've loved her for a very long time now. And I-“

“You sick bastard.” my brother’ voice roared across the room as he rose from the couch, his hands fisting on his sides.

Taken aback by his anger, everyone in the room turned wide-eyed. Never had I ever seen my brother this furious before, it's as if he was possessed.

“Listen-"

My brother’s tall figure prowled towards us until he stood face to face with Baekhyun, his jaw clenched and his glare at Baekhyun was menacing. Panic rippled through me when he had Baekhyun by his throat. My body acted on reflex and I moved to step in between the two male, “You should calm down, Chanyeol.” I confounded, pressing my palm to his chest.

“Get the hell out of my way.” he barked, scaring me so much that I flinched away.

Suddenly I was standing behind Baekhyun's back as he lunged forward on my defense, “Don't you dare talk to her like that ever again." he warned, tension vibrating from his body.

When I peered through his shoulder, Soyeon was already standing close to my brother, one hand resting on his shoulder, “Hey, you really need to calm down.”

"Shut the fuck up." he snapped, riping her hand away roughly.

My jaw clenched and I was about to step in to defend my best friend, but Baekhyun held me back. My eyes instinctively searched for my parents, but I was bewildered when I found out how unbothered they seemed to be. My mum had his arms tangled around my sister, while my dad was lying back with his legs and arms crossed.

"Are you guys just going to sit there watch?" I chastised, frowning deeply at them.

Three of them shrugged.

Annoyed by their lack of concern, I huffed and glanced back at Soyeon. From the fury in her eye, I knew she wasn't going to let my brother get away so easily.

I was right.

Her next move sucked the soul out of me. I had no idea where did the glass of water in her hand came from, everything happened too quickly, the next thing I knew, my brother had water splashed all over his face.

My brother looked completely lost, but in a jiffy, he returned to being enraged again.

I thought I heard Baekhyun sniggered but maybe I heard it wrong because when I looked at him, his expression was still tense.

“What the hell is your problem?” Chanyeol growled.

Urged by the need to stop the fight before it turned nastier, I pushed past Baekhyun and marched towards the couple. As I reached, Soyeon had this knowing smile spreading across her face, then out of the blue, she announced,

“I am pregnant."

Chanyeol blinked in perplexity, then he leaned forward and whisper in her ear, “Babe, that’s not part of the script.”

Script?

"I know it's not in the script, but I'm really pregnant," she whispered back.

They probably thought I couldn't hear them but I could, and I was confused.

“What are you talking a-”

Chanyeol’s word was being cut short by my mom's dramatic entry, “Did you just say you're pregnant?"

Soyeon turned to my mum with a smile and a nod.

"Oh my god!" she shouted in victory as he looked over to my dad's side, "We're having a grandchild, honey."

"Congratulations." Hana and Dad said concurrently.

"Thank you."

However, Chanyeol wasn’t fully convinced yet. He took a step closer and stared down skeptically at his girlfriend, “Are you joking? Because if you are, babe, that’s cruel.”

She giggled, “I’m not joking, darling. there’s a baby in here.” she convinced, rubbing her palm over her belly, “Our baby.”

With his lips falling agape, Chanyeol stared down at her stomach, then back at her face. Their eyes locked and there’s this silent conversation going on between them before Chanyeol finally believed. An elated smile spread across his face. In one rapid motion, Soyeon was in his arm as he lifted her feet off the ground and spun her around. She clung to his neck and squealed with delight. As he lowered her down, he cupped her tiny face in his big hands, "I fucking love you, Jung Soyeon." he whispered before leaning down to kiss her lips.

The sight of their happiness warmed me through and through. It was such a beautiful distraction that for a moment I'd completely forgotten about the chaos we had earlier. Now that I remembered, I twisted my head around to look at Baekhyun for an answer.

And there he stood, arms crossing over his chest as he gazed at me with that signature smirk resting on his lips.

That was when I realized I'd been fooled.

Christmas Eve-11:38pm.

The eventful gathering ended with me jokingly threatening my family that they were not invited to my wedding. And for some reason, Baekhyun was under a wrong impression that I was changing my mind about wanting to marry him. As a form of retaliation for the prank he pulled on me, and also because I was enjoying his panic very much, I decided to remain silent.

As we bimbled down the pathway in a quiet park, I ignored him for a good ten minutes. For that good ten minutes, he talked and he couldn't stop. It was until he pulled the 'I saved your life'card on me that I finally spoke up. Partly because a tiny fraction of me felt guilty, but mostly because I loved him so much that ignoring him became such a difficult task.

We spent the next twenty minutes strolling around the park with him chattering away and memostly listened. This place used to be our playground when we were both young.

When we walked past a bench under a willow tree, I remembered having a crush on him for the first time there.

And then, I led him up the bridge over a water lilies pond in the center of the park. There, we stood behind the railing and stared out into the calm water.

Eight years ago, on the same day and right at the very same spot, was the day I knew I loved him.

That was why I decided to take him here tonight because when the clock stroke twelve, I was going to propose to him. The idea had been stuck in my head since the day he saved me from the fire. It was my Christmas gift for him and also my way to repay him for all the good things he had done for me.

"It's getting cold sweetheart, should we go now?" he asked, huddling closer to me.

I stared down at my wristwatch that said two minutes before midnight, “Let’s stay here just for a bit."

”We can come back in the morning when it’s not freezing, I don'twant you to get sick.” he advised, adjusting the scarf around my neck.

”Just one more minute.”

”Fine. One minute and I’m dragging you away.”

I nodded and started counting backward from sixty. When I reached zero, I turned to his side. Slowly, I lowered myself on one knee and looked up.

His brows furrowed as he dropped his gaze to me, “Wha-”

“You are my best friend, Baekhyun. Always and forever will be.” I said and inhaled deeply. “I loved you since I was fourteen and that feeling never stopped growing...I doubt it will ever stop because you are too perfect you made it so hard not to love you...You are too perfect that sometimes I get worried I’ll never be enough for you.”

I smiled shyly, feeling vulnerable and a little frightened, but, they eased away as Baekhyun gazed down at me with a growing tenderness that calmed me.

“I know you deserve all the best in the world, but I’m nowhere near that. And I know that I will never pass as a good wife material because I can’t cook and will likely burn the house if I tried.” I said, scoffing at my own words.

While watching him chuckled at my confession, I tucked my hand into the pocket of my coat.

“There’s nothing I can give you other than me and my promise to love you forever as long as I’m living...and I am not sure whether that’s good enough for you, but if it is,” pulling my hand out, I held the ring up to him. “Will you take me as I am and marry me, Byun Baekhyun?”

THE END

A/N: Hiiii, thank you for reading even though it’s so lenghty! That’s chapter 5-8 combined. I hope you enjoyed it! I personally love the part where she proposed 💕 It’d be nice if you could leave your thoughts in my ask!! Thank you💕😚

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