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straykidsreactions · 4 years

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Reaction To: Foreign S/O Debuts in a Kpop Group

S T R A Y K I D S R E A C T I O N T O : Foreign S/O debuting in a K-pop group + how you met

A/N: Thanks so much for requesting and being patient @lovemyhyunjinnie , and for supporting the blog!

Genre: Fluff

Chan:

You’d started seeing Chan a little over 8 months ago after meeting him completely by accident at a noodle shop down the road from your trainee dorm. You’d only been in Seoul for a little over a month at that point, after being accepted into the Big Hit Entertainment trainee program, and that noodle shop was the only place you could find that had pictures on the menu. At that point you could probably count on two hands the number of phrases you could say in Korean, so you’d resorted to nervously pointing at pictures on the menu to order your food- fortunately the older couple who ran the small eatery grew accustomed to seeing you late at night after long hours of practice and welcomed you despite the obvious language barrier. The night that you met Chan had been a particularly hard night, after 10 hours of dance and vocal practice with an additional 2 hour Korean lesson- you were feeling drained and at your wits end. It was probably around 2am at the time, and the shop was entirely empty save one tired, hardworking young man in the corner who was downing a large bowl of black bean noodles while working furiously on his computer. You didn’t pay each other any mind at first, but as you sat in front of your soup bowl with tears bubbling up in your eyes- feeling entirely alone and lost in the world- you’d felt a soft tap on your shoulder, only to look up and find the soft and sympathetic gaze of the strange young man as he extended a napkin in your direction. You’d gratefully accepted it and dried your eyes, trying to mutter through a somewhat cohesive sentence of gratitude in Korean before Chan had interjected- letting you know that he spoke English. Though it was already late when you met, it felt as though you talked for hours after that. He’d consoled you and encouraged you to keep going, despite how tough it was going to be. He’d given you his phone number at the end, after walking you back to your dorm, and told you that if you ever had time he’d like to see you again. That’s how it started and now 8 months later the two of you were closer than ever, despite both of your busy schedules.

Standing backstage at the Mnet Countdown show, you took nervous breaths as a stylist fitted a mic headset against your face. You were finally debuting and, though you knew your time as a trainee was short compared to that of other idols (especially to compared to your boyfriend’s), it had felt like a lifetime. Looking around at your group members, you felt a small ounce of consolation knowing that you weren’t the only foreign member- there were 3 of you in total- but still you were prepared for the backlash you might face. You’d already accumulated a large fan following as trainee’s through rookie showcases, especially overseas, but the nerves in your stomach were still overwhelming. Just as you heard the MC’s announcing your group’s name and you prepared to take the stage, you felt a tap on your shoulder reminiscent of that night so many months ago when Chan had helped you out of your darkest moment.Turning quickly, your eyes met the loving gaze of your boyfriend as a small smile flickered across your face, spinning you around in his arms as he took in how good your stage costume looked.

*blushing as you unintentionally breathed out a sigh of relief, something that had become a habit for you every time you saw Chan’s face*

“Yahh, what’re you doing here- we’re going on stage any second!”

*smiling as though he didn’t seem to care that you were short on time and his presence there at all was risky if any photographers happened to be near by*

“I don’t care, baby- you know I had to be here for this. God...look at you.”

*smiling shyly before turning away as you heard one of your member’s call your name and wave you over*

“I’ve gotta go, babe but...thank you for being here. Are you gonna stay and watch?”

*nodding as he patted your head lovingly, letting go of you so that you could join your other members*

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world, Y/N...I’m so proud of you.”

Minho:

You’d been in Seoul for a little over a year when you met he man who would later become your boyfriend and, ironically enough, you met him on an idol survival show. Of course Minho wasn’t a contestant on Produce 101, but he was brought onto the show for a couple episodes as a guest judge towards the end of the reality show filming. He appeared as a judge for the last 3 episodes- when there were only a handful of trainees left- and you were among them. Though you hadn’t interacted a ton during the production of the show, the moment that sparked your initial crush was during a rehearsal leading up to the final episode where Minho was overseeing and choreographing the dance practice. You’d almost mastered the difficult and demanding choreo, but as you lept into the air for what felt like the 100th time that day you felt your ankle weaken underneath you and in an instant your body collapsed into a heap on the floor. As your fellow trainees and friend’s gasped, it was Minho who had been the first to run to your side- the look of genuine concern evident on his face. He’d offered to help you out of the studio, away from the cameras, and to the designated nurse a few doors down. In the quietude of the hallway, as the young man slipped his arm around your waist to balance you as you stumbled, you couldn’t help but feel your heart rate quicken. You were far from fluent in Korean but you conversation skills were passable after having lived and trained in the country for a year, so you muttered out a polite apology as you continued to lean on him for support. In that moment, he’d stopped you for a moment, turning his body to face you as he propped your back against the wall, causing a small gasp to escape your lips. He didn’t lean in when he spoke, keeping a professional distance between the two of you, but his voice was like honey and it almost made you wish that he had leaned in just a little.

“Don’t apologize, Y/N...it’s my fault for pushing you too much during practice. I’ll take full responsibility.”

You shook your head, assuring him that you didn’t blame him and how sorry you were for taking up his time, to which he’d only smiled, helping you off the wall and towards the nurse’s door. Just as you were about to go inside and he was headed back into the practice room, he’d turned to you with that famous charismatic smile spread across his face. If his words hadn’t resonated with you so deeply, you almost would’ve not heard him over how focused you were on his ridiculously handsome features.

“Listen to the doctor, ok? Don’t give them a hard time just because you want to perform, you have to make sure you’re healed first...you have to win, Y/N, you deserve to win.”

After Produce 101 had ended and you had placed in the top 3, earning yourself a spot in the nation’s next big group, all of the winning contestants along with the judges and producers were invited to a large celebratory dinner at the company. After the dinner had finished and you and the other winning trainees were getting ready to head back to your dorm, Minho had pulled you aside and congratulated you on winning. That same night he’d asked you out- and it was the first and possibly only time that you’d seen him truly nervous. You’d been a bit taken aback at the time but one date turned into 3 months and, despite your relationship being a secret from the public eye and having to work around both of your busy schedules, you could honestly say it was all worth it.

Your group went on to begin training and preparations for your big and highly anticipated debut, and when the time finally came all of the fans that had watched your journey from Produce 101 were more excited than ever. Minho had texted you to say that he’d be watching your debut stage and to wish you good luck- and despite knowing how busy he was you had to admit that it stung a little knowing he wouldn’t get to see you on the day of your debut. It wasn’t until you were backstage with your members, 10 of you in total, waiting to take the stage when you heard the voice of the special MC announcing your group- a voice you were all too familiar with. Your eyes widened as your members whispered to themselves, wondering if it really was the same man who’d been a guest judge on your survival show a handful of months earlier. A blush filled your cheeks as you tried to focus, not wanting to get your hopes up on the off chance that you were just hearing things, but as you entered the performance stage and took your place as you awaited the cues from the cameramen, you couldn’t help but smile at the MC in front of you- none other than your proud boyfriend staring back at you.

“Everyone, please join me in welcoming the incredible new rookies on their debut- let’s show them a lot of love, ok?! Music, cue!”

It was only a flash of a smile that you caught before the music began and you refocused your attention on giving a flawless performance, but it was enough to give you the confidence boost you needed. After the show had finished and you were all on cloud 9 from your official debut performance, you searched backstage to find the man who’d given you so much confidence. You finally found him in his dressing room and the instant he saw you he’d light up, pulling you into a warm embrace despite the risk of cameras around. Laughing, you pushed him lightly as he only wrapped his arms around you tighter, shaking his head as the smile on his face only widened.

“You did so well today, Jagiya.”

*blushing as you stared down at the floor, finally loosing his grasp on you as he took your hand in his*

“You didn’t tell me you’d be MCing, Minnie.”

“I wanted it to be a surprise, hopefully it wasn’t too much for you.”

*smiling as you shook your head, squeezing his hand that was intertwined with yours*

“It was perfect. Do you think I’ll do ok though?”

*giving you a confused look as he played haphazardly with your fingers*

“Why...because you’re a foreigner?”

*nodding slowly as you bit your lip, despite having debuts the pressures as a foreign idol were weighing on you*

“You’ve made it this far, Y/N...if you can do that, you can do anything. Besides, I’m right here by your side. I won’t let anyone hurt you, I promise.”

Changbin:

You’d met Changbin after being in Seoul for only a handful of weeks, after being accepted into the trainee program at SM Entertainment, and you’d been taking private Korean lessons at a famous language center. It was a popular place for companies to send their idols and trainees who needed additional language lessons, usually for Korean and English classes, and it felt as though you basically lived there. When you weren’t training at the company you were at the language center doing everything you could to improve your Korean and, though you could feel yourself progressing, you also felt the immense pressures to push yourself even farther. It wasn’t until one evening when you were up late studying at the language center, that a young man had come up to you with several English textbooks in his arms. He was barely recognizable as an idol at that point, wearing glasses and an oversized hoodie with slight bags under his eyes from staying up so late, but his cautious smile was warm and inviting. He’d asked in somewhat broken English if you spoke the language, and when you responded in very broken Korean that you did, he’d sat down across from you in relief.

“I am trying to..uhmm..get better with my pronounciation. I think my English is..mmm, not that good. Is it ok if I talk to you?”

It had been the first time anyone had attempted to make conversation with you in English since you’d been in Seoul, and though you didn’t know him at all you felt compelled to help him. You flipped through your Korean textbook, showing it to him and asking him if he would help you in return, which he’d happily agreed to. The two of you had spent the rest of the night trying to make converse with your limited knowledge of the other’s language but, despite not having a fluent speaker between the two of you, you’d felt like the conversations came naturally and you almost didn’t want it to end. He’d walked you to the bus stop once the language center closed for the night, and had put his number in your phone so that you could meet back at the same place to practice the next day. it went that way for a month or two, meeting practically every night to study together- and you found that you picked up the language best when you were jut talking casually between the two of you. You got to know each other through the conversations you had, talking about anything from family and childhood stories to your current professions. You talked about what it was like to be a trainee and having Changbin as a someone you could confide in during those first couple months in Seoul became a huge source of motivation for you to keep going. The first date the two of you went on wasn’t even really a date, you’d just become so involved in your conversation that when the language center closed he’d suggested going to a convenient store across the street and getting food. It was the first time that you’d successfully ordered something in full Korean, and Changbin had been so proud of you that in the moment he’d pulled you into an embrace in the middle of the convenient store- making you blush. He’d apologized afterwards, stumbling over his words until finally he took a deep breath, admitting that he liked you (which he was able to do in fluent English). You’d responded in fluent, though probably still somewhat broken, Korean that you liked him as well- and the rest was history. That was two years ago and after all that time dedicated to practicing and rehearsing tirelessly- you’d managed to be selected for debut.

When you’d told your boyfriend, he was almost more excited than you were. He was so filled with pride that you’d achieved everything you’d set out to do- but it wasn’t until the night of the performance as he watched from backstage that he felt tears pricking at the corners of eyes. It would be a mix of pride and nerves for Binnie, knowing that you were so talented and deserved all the support and love in the world, but also being worried that you’d receive hate in the industry for being a foreign idol. He knew you were strong, but he also knew himself well enough to know that watching someone receive any kind of negativity would absolutely crush him. He wouldn’t bring it up to you, you knew what you were getting yourself into and he trusted that you could handle yourself despite being in such a tough industry. More than anything he was so proud, watching your absolutely flawless performance on your debut stage filled his heart with a sense of admiration he’d never felt before, and as you ran backstage after your performance with the other members of your group- you spotted him in an instant. He smiled, pulling you aside as the other 5 members of your group playfully teased the two of you, giving you some space.

“Did we do well, Binnie? You can be honest?”

*smiling as he cupped your face in his hands, staring at you in silence for a moment as he he shook his head*

‘it was perfect, baby....you were perfect.”

*lighting up you blushed slightly, prodding him further*

“Are you sure? You can say if it could’ve been better, I’ll work harder and I know there’s still so much I can do better I-”

*shaking his head as he pressed a thumb to your lips, interrupting you as he blinked back tears in his slightly misty eyes*

“Wahh, you see this, baby? Your performance was so good your boyfriend is gonna cry- isn’t that enough proof?”

Hyunjin:

You’d been in Seoul working as a trainee at JYP Entertainment for a year and a half, after being recruited from an international audition. Though you’d never met any of the members of Stray Kids (or any other JYP artist for that matter), you were very familiar with who they were and you looked up to them a lot. It wasn’t until a particular dance showcase that JYP announced he’d have an additional person watching the performances with him. You hadn’t even processed that it was Hyunjin walking through the door until he was practically seated at the supervisor’s table- all you could do was stand frozen as your heart rate quickened and your palms grew damp. He introduced himself politely and said a few encouraging words before sitting back down and calling the first group of trainee’s forward to perform the choreography. You were in the third group and, by the time he got to your name the butterflies in your stomach had only gotten worse. When he read your name of the list he paused for a moment, recognizing that it was not a Korean name. He looked up, his eyes landing on you immediately as the obvious owner of the foreign name. He smiled softly, waving you forward and you had no choice but to nervously approach the table. All eyes were on you as he leaned towards you slightly to speak in a soft voice.

“It must be difficult, huh?” You didn’t want to think of the way your face must’ve flushed when he made eye contact with you, so you just nodded softly and turned your gaze to the floor.

“Use it, ok? You’re always gonna stand out, but don’t let it be a bad thing. Just keep trying, you were accepted for a reason...”

It was the first time somewhat within the company had addressed your nationality in a way that was entirely encouraging and supportive- and it gave you the confidence you so desperately needed to perform your best at the showcase.

After the performance had ended you didn’t have an opportunity to thank Hyunjin for his kind words, but over the course of the next couple weeks you later found out that he’d been trying his best to find your schedule so he could run into you again. He convinced himself that it was just because he wanted to show you support since he imagined being a foreign trainee must be very difficult, but deep down he knew it was more than that. He was interested in you, and when he did finally manage to run into you at the practice studios late one night he took it as a sign that he had to at least try. He’d offered to run through some difficult choreography with you and, despite you insisting that you didn’t want to take up his time, he assured you that it was no trouble. The two of you stayed up practicing until the early hours of the morning- but it was by far the most fun you’d had since beginning your training and you were endlessly grateful for that. Just as the two of you had agreed to call it quits for the day and began packing up, he’d asked if you were allowed to have a cell phone. You’d told him that you did, since you were a foreigner you needed to have it for emergency contacts and translation apps, to which he just smiled. He asked if he could see you again, gesturing for you to give him your phone. When he returned it to you there was an additional contact in your phone book- under the name “Grandpa”. You laughed, giving him a quizzical look.

“It’s in case anyone searches through your phone- I wouldn’t want you to get in trouble because of me, Y/N...I-I probably shouldn’t even be talking to you, I know you’re not allowed to date anyone...but I wanna get to know you. I’m sorry if that’s too forward.”

Over the next handful of months you and Hyunjin became closer, mostly meeting late at night in the dance studio to practice and, though your language skills weren’t exactly fluent, you had enough conversational skills between the two of you to create a dialogue. It wasn’t perfect, the two of you didn’t have a proper date outside of the company building for the first several months that you were seeing each other, but it was enough. On your 6 month anniversary, sitting on the floor of the dimly lit practice room for what seemed like the millionth time, Hyunjin had stared at you with an expression on his face that you couldn’t quite place.

“Promise me something, baby.” You’d agreed, giving him a slightly confused look as he scooted closer to you.

“Promise me that when you debut, you’ll let me take you out on a proper date.” You’d felt slightly embarrassed at the time, saying that you didn’t know if you’d ever debut and that he shouldn’t wait for you if he didn’t want to, but he’d only smiled, cupping your face with his hands and assuring you that’d wait as long as it took.

A full year after that night in the dance studio- you’d finally been selected for debut. You were beyond excited and, though you knew it’d be tough being a foreigner, you also knew there’d be a lot of support for you from international fans. When you told your boyfriend, he was absolutely elated. That is, until you told him that your debut performance (which he’d been promising since you met that he would be there for) was on the same day as Stray Kid’s comeback performance. Despite both performing on Inkigayo, you were on completely stages recording at similar times which meant that Hyunjin couldn’t physically be there to watch your debut performance in person. The one saving grace, however, was that at the end of all the performances on the show that night- every artist was brought onto a central stage to film the closing scene and thank their fans for tuning in. You hadn’t noticed it at first, but as Hyunjin took the stage with his members, still slightly sweaty and dressed in his stage costume from his recent performance, he was also holding a bouquet of roses. He glanced in your direction just before the cameras started rolling, smiling brightly and giving you a small thumbs up. It wasn’t until after the cameras were rolling and Stray Kids had said their closing remarks, however, that Chan stepped forward to say one last thing.

“We’d also like to congratulate JYP’s latest group on their debut- we look forward to working with you more! Fighting!” Despite Chan being the leader, it was Hynjin who stepped out from his place and walked over towards your group, the five of you looking between each other in slight confusion as Hyunjin walked directly up to you. Handing you the bouquet of roses, he smiled and gave a polite bow. You were shocked by his bold action, though you were the leader of your group you’d never anticipated him handing you flowers on national television. Nevertheless, you returned the polite bow, thanking him.

*flashing you a knowing smile as your took the bouquet in your arms, trying your best not to blush while the cameras were still rolling*

“Congratulations on your debut, Y/N.”

Jisung:

When you first met Jisung, you weren’t even officially in Seoul yet. You’d just been recruited as an idol trainee at Cube Entertainment and were flying to South Korea to begin training. Your flight had a layover in Singapore where, coincidentally, Jisung also was after visiting some old friends at the international school he’d attended in western Malaysia. He was flying back to Seoul after taking a short vacation and, as it turned out, the two of you were on the same flight. You couldn’t speak a word of Korean outside of a few basic phrases, so when you heard the warm voice of a young man sitting down beside you speaking in English you felt a small sense of relief that you wouldn’t have to take out your pocket dictionary.

“Excuse me, would it be ok if we closed the blinds...just while the plane’s taking off? It makes me a bit dizzy.” You’d looked up to meet his polite, apologetic gaze and for a moment you almost couldn’t think straight. He was one of the most handsome men you’d ever seen, but you collected yourself quickly and nodded, closing the blinds as Jisung thanked you. That had been your first interaction however, after a completely chance delay on the tarmac for an additional 3 hours, your conversation slowly expanded as you began simple conversations with one another. He’d asked you why you were travelling to Seoul alone, and when you’d told him that you were a trainee his face lit up- explaining that he also worked in the industry and that if you needed advice or help with anything to let him know. By the time your plane actually took off the ground it felt as though you’d made a real friend- his amiable and laid-back demeanor felt welcoming in a world where everything else was so new and uncertain to you and you’d appreciated that. After an additional 6 hours in the air, however, watching a movie together and drifting in and out of sleep against Jisung’s shoulder- you felt that you’d made more than just a good friend. It was a completely chance meeting, and you weren’t sure when you’d be able to see him again due to your busy schedules, but you’d both felt in that moment that there was something between you worth not giving up on.

When you finally landed in Seoul it was late at night and, fortunately, no photographers had been tipped off that Jisung would be there. He helped you load your bags into the taxi, breathing out a nervous sigh at the realization that if he didn’t say something now he might never see you again. He’d hoped that it would be a bit smoother in his head, but as soon as he saw you opening the door of the cab he’d blurted out a jumble of nervous words.

“Y/N wait- listen I know you’ll be super busy and I’m always insanely busy too but I-I wanna see you again and I wanna keep talking to you because I-I think meeting you was really special and the best luck I’ve had in a while so maybe if-if it’s ok with you I could get your number?”

You felt a weight lifted off your shoulders at the realization that he felt it too, and you happily agreed. You hadn’t even arrived at the dorm when you received a text from Jisung apologizing for uncool he must’ve looked and promising that the next time he saw you he’d be more put-together. That had been your first meeting, and 3 years later you were still going strong.

You worked ridiculously hard at training and studying Korean in those 3 years, supporting your boyfriend over every comeback, and when you were finally approved for debut in the latest group at Cube Jisung was unbelievably excited. Knowing that he could be there to support you and your members on your journey would make his heart fill with pride, and he had to admit the added bonus of you no longer being under a dating ban would make going on dates a lot easier. He knew you’d have a hard time being a foreigner in the industry, it had been hard enough as a trainee, but he’d also been with you long enough to know that you were strong enough to take on any challenge.

When your debut stage finally came around, Jisung wouldn’t miss it for the world. His heart was practically beating out of his chest as he watched on the large monitor from the guest room backstage, his eyes becoming misty as he watched your effortlessly perfect performance. You were so incredible, and you were his. After your performance had finished and you’d come backstage with your members, it wouldn’t take Jisung long to wrap his arms around you and pull you aside, not paying any mind to all the people around you. You blushed as he pulled you towards him, sitting down near the back corner of the bustling room filled with tons of people all of whom were eager to congratulate you and your members on your debut. All you could focus on was Jisung, though, as he smiled sweetly with warm and pride-filled eyes.

“You did so well today, baby...you know that right? You did so so well.”

*blushing as he cupped your cheek in his hand, a small teasing smile playing on his lips*

“You’re an idol now, huh? Are you still gonna want to date me? There are gonna be a lot more guys asking you out from now on, you know.”

*rolling your eyes as you shoved him playfully, assuring him that he was the only guy you wanted to be with*

“I’m gonna hold you to that, super star.”

Felix:

You’d met Felix while training in Seoul, after being accepted into Pledis Entertainment about two months earlier, at a gaming cafe of all places. You didn’t have much time as a trainee who was also struggling to learn the language, but when you could you tried your best to work late nights at the gaming cafe around the corner from your dorm in order to earn a bit of pocket change. It just so happened that Felix had agreed to play a match with a few old friends from Australia when his personal computer died- leaving him with no other option but to find a 24 hour gaming cafe. It’d started as only a one time visit for Felix, he hardly had time to drive the 15 minutes to a gaming cafe when he had his own computer at the dorm, but after seeing that you were the one behind the check-in counter he decided the 15 minute drive might not be such a horrible thing. You hadn’t paid him much attention the first time, you spent most of your time behind the counter studying your Korean textbooks and watching playback videos of the dance practices from earlier that week, but after a few hours of gaming as Felix was finally leaving the cafe (having been the only customer there in the first place) you glanced up. He was standing in front of you, bare faced and smiling as he brushed his fluffy, unkempt hair away from his face and adjusted the hood of his plain black jacket.

“H-have a good night, sir.” You’d muttered in the best Korean you could muster at such a late hour, causing Felix to smile slightly as he raised a brow.

“How long have you been here? In Seoul, I mean.” When you gave him a confused look, surprised by his immediate switch into fluent English, he laughed slightly, apologizing for his straightforwardness.

“Oh, I’m sorry I didn’t mean to startle you. I’m a foreigner too- I’m from Australia. Don’t worry, it get’s easier, I promise.” You smiled slightly, nodding as you glanced over at the textbook on the counter. Felix followed your gaze, his face brightening slightly as he pointed to the book.

“Those books seem so childish, they really work though, I swear. I used the same ones.” You couldn’t place your finger on why exactly, but something about the stranger’s reassurance comforted you more than you’d known you needed.

“I’m Felix, by the way. What’s your name?” You’d replied with your name, taking his extended hand and shaking it softly as he smiled.

“Will you be here tomorrow, Y/N?” You nodded and, though he hadn’t asked, you noticed yourself telling him every night that you worked at the cafe. You knew it was a stretch, and that your interest in him must have been so obvious from the way you told a complete stranger your work schedule unprompted, but you almost hoped that maybe he’d come see you again. He did, of course, and he felt a little better about his obvious tactics at trying to get to know you better by the fact that you also seemed interested in him. One visit to the cafe turned into several, always late at night and almost always when hardly no one else was at the shop. After a few weeks of his frequent visits, Felix stopped pretending that he was coming there to even use the computers, instead opting to sit across from you at the counter and just have conversations with you. They were mostly in English, but he also did his best to help you with your Korean and for that you were endlessly grateful. Though you knew who he was, his face was fairly famous across Korea after all, you never brought it up because it never came up in conversation. It didn’t seem to be something Felix had any interest in talking about, instead you spent most of your time talking about your dreams, things you wanted in life, the biggest abstract concepts and those most minute details. Mostly you just found ways to make each other laugh, and though neither one of you realized it at the time you were an escape for each other. In the same way that Felix hadn’t discussed his work with you, you hadn’t discussed your real reason for being in Seoul with him. You’d told him that you were studying Korean and that you worked part time at the gaming cafe, but it never seemed relevant to bring up the fact that first and foremost you were a trainee. It wasn’t that you’d intentionally hid it from him, if he’d asked you directly you would’ve told him, but there was something innocent and nice about discussing other things besides just your everyday activities and lines of work. it almost felt like a movie.

In fact, the night that Felix asked you out properly (to grab noodles from the convenient store across the street), he still didn’t know that you were a trainee. He didn’t know for a few months after that either- you’d only told him when it came up in conversation as he was driving you somewhere (this time in the light of day) and he’d asked where to drop you off. You’d casually replied, telling him Pledis Entertainment, causing your boyfriend to laugh and give you the strangest look.

“Pledis? Yahh- Y/N! Are you not telling me something?” Fortunately your light-hearted boyfriend had found the humor in the situation, making you promise to not keep any big information from him like that and formally apologizing for also not talking about his work in the same way. It was only 6 months after that conversation that you were approved for debut.

Though Felix hadn’t been there for a good portion of your time as a training knowingly, he’d been there for you in the way you needed most. When your debut stage finally arrived he’d asked you if you wanted him to come, seeing as how he’d missed so much of your trainee experience. In all honesty you felt like your nerves might be too high if he were there and you didn’t want him to go out of his way, so instead you compromised and promised you could watch the debut stage together the next day when it aired. He’d agreed, meeting up with you at the cafe where you’d met that fateful evening several months ago and warmly pulling you into an embrace. After watching the stage performance on one of the computers several times over and pausing on every close up of your face to shower you with compliments, he turned to you with bright eyes and a wide grin plastered on his face.

“Babe..just- wahhh....Wow. Oh my gosh.”

*giggling as you smacked him lightly, insisting that he was just hyping you up as he continued to tease you*

“My (girlfriend/boyfriend) is a celebrity, huh? Wahh, that makes me so cool. And you’re so talented too...Will you let me come to your next performance, baby? I’ve missed so much already, I really wanna watch you perform this live.”

Seungmin:

You’d been a trainee at KQ Entertainment for just under 3 years when you met your soon-to-be boyfriend. You’d just walked into a small coffee shop located on the outskirts of Seoul after a long day of training in hopes of getting something to warm you up. Seungmin also happened to be there, though not for the reasons one might think. He was dressed in full barista attire, standing calmly behind the counter with his phone in his hand as he snapped a few pictures of himself. A few crew members were staggered about the coffee shop, along with a few elderly customers who didn’t see to mind the intrusion. He was there taking photos for a comeback concept- but as you entered the shop and immediately focused your attention on the menu, you hadn’t noticed anything out of the ordinary about the young, handsome man behind the counter.

“Can I get a latte please, and also maybe one of those muffins?” You gestured towards the baked goods on display, not paying much attention to face staring back at you with a small smile flickering across his lips. Just as one of the crew members was about to step in and assure you that the man you were talking to was, in fact, not a qualified barista in any sense- Seungmin waved them off. He nodded, placing your muffin in a small box and handing it to you, his heartbeat a little faster than he would like to admit. Though your eyes hadn’t met yet, he was looking directly at you- and something about you was alluring to him. He blushed slightly as he tried desperately to think of what might go in a latte, ultimately resorting to pressing several different buttons on machines that he had no idea how to work. Coffee began pouring out of every orifice of the machine, and loud whirring noises let him know that whatever he’d done it was horribly wrong. He gasped, cursing under his breath as the crew rushed in to help him. Only then had you looked up, eyes wide at the odd spectacle of several grown men trying to subdue a rogue coffee machine. Stifling a laugh, you got Seungmin’s attention and pointed towards the power cord, which he then hastily unplugged. The whirring came to a halt and half-brewed coffee stopped spewing- and in an instant the two of you were chuckling to yourselves. The crew members left to get cleaned up, leaving the two of you alone for a moment as you looked at the man who’s crisp white button up was now covered in coffee stains. Smiling softly, he apologized for the commotion, admitting that he didn’t actually work there.

“I’m here for a..uhm, a photoshoot...thing. I, I don’t know the first thing about coffee.” You’d laughed gently in response, assuring him that it was ok.

“Hmm, can you make tea?” Butterflies rose in his stomach when you looked at him with a playful smile, and he’d nodded, locating the hot water and pouring some into the cutest mug he could find. Placing the small bag of herbs into the water, he handed you the mug and warned you that it was hot. You’d thanked him, paying for your beverage and taking a seat near the back of the cafe. Only a few minutes had passed before you were joined by the same smiling man, asking if he could sit with you and- though you didn’t know the first thing about him- you’d agreed. Maybe it was his trustworthy eyes or the fact that you couldn’t supress the heat that rose to your cheeks whenever he smiled at you- whatever it was something made you feel compelled to keep his company. You talked for a while, though it wasn’t long before the crew members came back and started rushing Seungmin out of the shop. He apologized for having to leave so suddenly, and as you stood to watch him go you’d called out to him.

“W-wait..I know you’re probably way too busy but- well...” You didn’t have the nerves to ask if you could see him again, though you desperately wanted to. He read the emotions on your face, smiling as he was guided out of the shop by the staff. Motioning towards your mug of tea, he gave you a thumbs up and just before he was out the door he gestured for you to call him. Then, in a flash, he was gone. You stared down quizzically at the mug of tea he’d prepared for you, and after a moment of staring at it blankly you noticed the small tag on the end of the tea bag had small writing scribbled on the backside. You couldn’t help the ear-to-ear grin that formed on your face when you realized that it was a phone number.

From the inception of your relationship with Seungmin, things had been very secretive and under-wraps. You met when you could, always late at night and in the oddest places possible to avoid cameras, especially since you were still a trainee and technically under a dating ban. On top of that, the tabloids would have a field day if Seungmin was spotted with not only a trainee, but a foreign trainee. It had only been a few days after you’d been approved for debut, one year after that fateful night in the coffee shop, that you and Seungmin were caught by one of the managers at KQ Entertainment. You’d only been having a simple meal together, but of course the two of you were in a mountain of trouble. Because you’d technically already been approved for debut they were a bit more lenient with you, but nevertheless your phone was temporarily confiscated and the two of you had to agree not to let your relationship get caught by photographers or anyone else outside the company. In the few weeks preparing for your groups debut you weren’t allowed to go anywhere without supervision and Seungmin was no longer invited to your debut stage. That being said, Seungmin had a way of getting what he wanted- and there was nothing that he wanted more than to see all of your hard work come to fruition.

The day of the debut, you and your members were already on edge, rehearsing in your dressing room over and over again as giddy nerves bubbled up on your stomach. You wished that your boyfriend could be there with you, as he always knew exactly what to say to calm your nerves, but you knew he’d be thinking of you and that was enough. Your performance, of course, went smoothly without a single hitch, and you almost didn’t want to leave the cheering audience as you and your members took a bow, exiting the stage. It wasn’t until you wer backstage, however, that one of the assistants came up to you with a look of urgency on her face.

“Y/N? This is for you.” Handing you a small coffee cup, you gave the woman a confused look. Asking who ti was from, the woman only shrugged, stating that she only knew it was supposed to go to you and not to let anyone else have it. You frowned, definitely hesitant to accept a drink from a stranger. In fact, you’d almost thrown it away until you saw small scribbled handwriting on the side of the cup- trying your best to read it without drawing attention to yourself.

3rd floor dressing room A16, down the hall on the right.

Love, your favorite barista

Smiling, you clutched the cup to your chest, letting one of your members know that you were going to use the restroom as you quickly made a dash for the back stairs. When you made it to the mostly quiet 3rd floor and found the correct dressing room, you opened the door to see a completely empty room, save your boyfriend smiling from ear to ear. He ran up to you, pulling you into a bear hug and placing his hand over your head as he stroked your hair. You could tell from his casual attire that he’d tried really hard to get into the building without being noticed, teasing him slightly as you adjusted the hat on his head.

“You did all this just to see me after the performance?”

*nodding as he smiled widely, blushing slightly at his bold move that was definitely putting both of you at risk for getting in trouble if anyone found out*

“I have my ways, Jagi- I had to see you. On of the producers let me watch from the soundroom...you did so well today!”

*humbling deflecting his compliment, assuring him that it was a group effort as he stepped closer to you, his bright smile never wavering*

“Baby, give yourself credit, hmm? You were amazing out there. I know how hard it’s been for you, but everything was perfect.”

“You mean it, Seungminnie?”

*nodding and flashing you a wide smile to assure you that he was being serious*

“I mean it, Y/N...now aren’t you proud of me for sneaking in here?”

Jeongin:

You met Jeongin after training at P-Nation Entertainment for a little over a year and a half and, though your Korean skills were still developing you had a decent grasp on the language and managed to get by fairly well. Besides being a trainee at P-Nation you were also a backup dancer for some of your label’s big name solo artists and, on the particular occasion where you met Jeongin, you were backup dancing for Hyuna. The solo star had just comeback with her latest single and was performing it on Mnet, coincidentally the same day that Stray Kids was also promoting a comeback on the same show. You’d been in the dancer’s dressing room amongst a sea of other dancers for various artists performing on the show that day- all of you in a variety of different costumes and aesthetics. Being that you were a backup dancer for Hyuna (who is famously known for her sleek and sexy concepts on stage), your garment was a little on the revealing and tight side. It was flattering, of course, but nevertheless it was a little out of your comfort zone. You had just finished getting ready and were standing in the hallway of the backstage area as you waited for the other dancers- when several idols began walking past. You could feel their eyes on you as they passed by, making you slightly uncomfortable as you tried your best to place your arms over your body. You tried to adjust the fabric so that it would cover you a bit more, but it was no use. You didn’t mind it on stage because that was part of the job, but just standing still with stranger’s eyes on you made you feel a bit embarrassed. It wasn’t until you felt a gentle tap on your shoulder that you pulled your gaze away from the floor, looking up to see a young man with a sympathetic smile and warm eyes in front of you. He was clearly dressed and ready to perform, a mic pack was already attached to him and his hair was perfectly styled, yet he was extending his arm towards you with a jacket in hand. You gave him a quizzical look and he just smiled bashfully.

“Oh, um..I’m sorry. I saw you standing here and you look a bit, um, uncomfortable? You can wear this if you like.” He gestured again to the oversized leather jacket in his hand that had clearly been a part of his stage costume just moments earlier. You smiled softly, feeling heat rise in your cheeks but this time in a positive way. Shaking your head, you insisted that you shouldn’t accept the jacket when he was supposed to wear it on stage, but he persisted.

“No, it’s fine really! It’s too heavy to perform in anyway. Just wear it until you have to go on stage, you’re a dancer right?” You’d nodded, telling him that you were going on stage shortly for Hyuna’s comeback. He laughed slightly and nodded his head, though there was something you really appreciated about the fact that his gaze never drifted below your eye level.

“That explains the costume. Here, wear the jacket until you have to go on stage. You can return it to me at the end of the show, deal?” You’d hesitanttly agreed to the kind stranger’s proposal, putting the large jacket on and immediately feeling more comfortable. You thanked him and he waved it off casually, leaving to get ready for his own performance. After the show when you returned the jacket to him, he admitted that it looked much better on you and that he’d hoped you would keep it. When you insisted that you couldn’t dream of keeping a stranger’s jacket he’d just grinned from ear-to-ear and, though his nerves were bubbling up inside him, he kept a cool and collection disposition when he replied,

“Hmm, maybe we don’t have to be strangers then.” He apologized almost immediately afterwards for the bold line, but when he saw the way it made your face light up he couldn’t help but push it one step farther, asking in a slightly more bashful tone if you’d like to get lunch sometime. You’d agreed, and the rest was history.

A year later, P-Nation Entertainment announced it’s first group was scheduled to debut, and you were among the members. Jeongin would be so incredibly proud of you, feeling an array of emotions at the fact that his (girlfriend/boyfriend) was finally debuting. Dating in secret over the past year had been especially difficult for Jeongin, since he knew that if you were caught it would especially risk your career since you hadn’t debuted yet- and on top of that he’d hate hearing the comments you received for being a foreign idol trainee. Though there was a lot of support as well, Jeongin desperately wanted to speak up publicly and shame those who had negative comments to say towards you, but he couldn’t when your relationship was a secret. The night of your debut, as Jeongin watched from backstage in a private viewing room, he knew in his heart that you were more than just someone special to him. He’d wanted to be someone who could protect from the moment he met you and gave you his jacket and, despite any criticism the two of you might face, he wanted to be that person for you publicly. After your debut as Jeongin pulled you into a warm embrace, showering you with praise for your incredible performance, he took a deep breath, whispering softly as he took your hand in his.

“Jagi...I-I wanna be your boyfriend, publicly. For the whole world to see.” When you gave him a confused expression, he’d explain.

“Not right now, I know you only just debuted...but someday. When I’m worthy of it.”

*blushing softly as you insisted that he was by no means unworthy of being your boyfriend*

“Innie you know I’d love that...but it’s just so hard to say with something like that, what if people don’t like us together or-”

*shaking his head as a smile rose on his cheeks, interjecting*

“When we win Album of the Year. How about that, hmm Y/N? Once...once Stray Kids has won album of the year...and once your group has won Rookie of the Year. How does that sound?” You’d laughed at the time, feeling that awards were still so far off in the future for your newly debuted group, but nevertheless you agreed.

A mere six months later, taking the stage with your 6 other members at the MAMA’s to accept your very first Rookie of the Year award, you felt your heartbeat quicken and butterflies rise in your stomach as you looked out of the crowd as they applauded. You caught your boyfriend’s eyes as he proudly stared up at you. It wasn’t even an hour later that Stray Kids took the stage to accept their 3rd and most prestigious award of the night- Album of the Year. As each member gave a short acceptance speech of gratitude and love, Jeongin expressed much appreciation towards his fans, his family and his members. He hadn’t told you that he’d received permission from the company, so despite your promise 6 months earlier you weren’t expecting anything grand during his speech. That’s why it took you by surprise almost as much as the rest of the audience, when he called out your name.

“Uhm, actually- there is one more person I’d like to thank. (She’s/He’s) helped me through so much over the past year and a half, and I’m very lucky to have (her/him) in my life. Truthfully, I-I don’t know if I’m good enough for (her/him)...but I promised this person that if we won Album of the Year we would stop hiding our relationship, so thank you Stay’s for making this dream of mine come true. And Y/N...thank you for being such a good (girlfriend/boyfriend)- congratulations on Rookie of the Year, Jagiya.”

#stray kids reactions #straykidswriters #thekpopnet #bang chan #lee minho #lee know #seo changbin #hwang hyunjin #han jisung #han #kim seungmin #yang jeongin #i.n #kpop reactions #stray kids x reader #stray kids x idol!reader #stray kids gender x gn reader #gender neutral reader

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chaoticallysapphic · 4 years

Text

the great divide part one

summary: Who knew that eight words would be your undoing. If you had known then what you know now you wouldn’t have signed up for Suyin’s dance troupe, you probably would have left Zaofu just to be safe. But you didn’t and fate had branded you with a path that chained you to someone who would break your heart.

a/n: so uh just a few things to note, I came up with this idea before watching the last three episodes of lok (which I feel like really show who Kuvira truly is) and it’s not a healthy relationship. Please note that no one should treat you like this, and if so either ditch them or go to therapy with them (altho I’d advise you ditch them). Also a massive thanks to @medeliadracon the first chapter was rough because I wrote it at like 3 am and they helped me work out the kinks by being my beta reader.

word count: 4k

“Would you mind helping me memorize the routine?” You ask one of the dancers that Suyin had pointed you to. You recently joined and unfortunately, they were already in the middle of rehearsing a routine they’d been perfecting for weeks. Usually, Suyin would help you after class but with Avatar Korra visiting she was too busy. Thankfully she had pointed out one of your fellow dancers, a woman named Kuvira. “Suyin usually helps me but she said you would probably be happy to take her place."

Kuvira stands in shock as she stares you down, you’d just said those eight magical words that she used to dream about when she was little and you seemed to have no clue what you’d just done. You’re staring at her expectantly and as time lapses on you start to look a little nervous under her gaze.

“It would bring me great pleasure” Kuvira replies and takes a step closer, your eyes widen in shock, a flush dusting your cheeks as she replies with your six magic words. Kuvira toys with a strand of your hair as she looks deep into your eyes. Her voice is deep and traps you like honey. “We should begin.”

After that day, Kuvira always volunteered to help teach you after class, neither of you spoke about the elephant in the room as she’d place her hands on your body to correct your position and brush herself against you any chance she got. You’d leave every session a flustered mess who’d go home to flop onto your bed with a massive grin on your face

In the last session before the big performance, you were dancing in sync with one another. You were each on a metal flower petal directly across from the other and were meant to be the final act. With the class, you had performed the whole thing and aced it but alone you could only practice half the routine as the ending needed other metal benders to move the petals for you.

So instead you and Kuvira practiced the aerial portion of the routine that would take place directly before the petals would move. With just the two of you instead of the whole class, you spun closer together and once you were within reach Kuvira grabbed your waist with her free hand and pulled you in close so she could lock you in a passionate kiss.

You widen your eyes in shock, staying still for a moment as you process this overwhelming moment before pressing your lips against hers in return. You both gently land on the floor but Kuvira doesn’t let you go, instead, her other hand grabs the back of your neck to steady you as she hungrily kisses you like you might just disappear any moment and it takes your breath away.

Slowly, Kuvira pulls away from your lips but keeps you pulled close to her body, she stares deeply into your eyes as if searching for something, maybe disapproval? She won’t find any though because you want to stay here in her arms forever.

Her hand that was originally holding the back of your neck pulls away and bends the petals of the flowers upwards so they surround you both and offer cover from the outside world. “Do you want to stop?” She leans down to nibble on your earlobe and whispers those words to you. Her hand that was on your waist and traveling up your body, skimming the underside of your breasts as she waits for your answers. “Well?”

“N-No, Kuvira please” you beg, something inside her is unleashed at your words and she pulls you back into a crushing kiss while she slides a hand under your shirt to feel your bare skin.

“Lay down,” she says in a commanding tone that leaves no room for argument, you happily oblige and immediately pull away from her. The chill of the metal against your warm skin sends goosebumps down your arms and the look Kuvira is giving you from above makes you feel even hotter.

She straddles your hips and slides both of her hands underneath your waist, running them up to your sides and under your breasts before pulling them away to pull your shirt off, you lean up off the metal to make it easier for her and she flings somewhere behind her. Kuvira puts both her hands on your shoulders and gently pushes you back down so your bareback and shoulders are against the cold metal.

She threads her fingers through your hair and scratches at your scalp as she leans back down to kiss you once more. You moan at the blissful feeling of her warm body against your own and her nails on your scalp, giving her perfect access to your open mouth. You’ve never felt anything like this before, you’d decided to wait for your soulmate to share your first kiss, your first time and the wait was entirely worth it.

You give yourself to each other in the dance studio that night, whilst Kuvira doesn’t coddle you she does gently guide you and give you praise when you do something right. You feel so in tune with her now as you curl your naked body against her own. She wraps an arm around your waist to tug you closer as you both try to catch your breath from the mind-blowing activity you just partook in.

You’re about to tell her how much you like her, how excited you are to discover more about her when she beats you to the punch, “I think we should keep this to ourselves for now.” You sharply pull away from her, your brows pinched together in confusion. Your heart feels the first pinprick of heartache Kuvira will give you. “What? But we’re soulmates, why should we keep this a secret?”

Kuvira rolls her eyes and sits up to face you. “I just want us to be able to cherish this thing between us as it grows. If we tell everyone suddenly we’ll be bombarded with questions that will only stress us out.”

Your shoulders sag as you think about it, you don’t want to keep this a secret. All your life you dreamed of the day you’d meet your soulmate, the day you could have someone to hold hands with in public and go on dates with, maybe even kiss in the botanical gardens.

“I guess…” you gulp, “if it’s only for a while then I guess it can remain a secret.”

Oh, how you wish you could take that back after everything that is about to happen.

———————————————————————————————————–

A few weeks later is the grand opening (which had to be postponed whilst Suyin and her army were gone to help Avatar Korra) of the dance troupes performance, you feel like you might vomit and suddenly the last thing you want to do is go up there just so you can mess it up. Especially since you and Kuvira are the final act, twisting your legs together in the air as you each balance on your other foot so the flower can unfold around you.

That flower has caused you so much trouble since that night with Kuvira, throughout the dress rehearsal the night before you kept messing up anytime you so much as touched the metal because your thoughts became consumed by her and what you both had done.

You hadn’t had many moments alone since but in the locker room after the dress rehearsal, Kuvira had let her hand brush against your naked back as you changed into clean clothes after your shower and suddenly you were set alight with that same fire she ignited the other night.

You must look like you’re unwell because Suyin comes into view and she places her hands on your shoulders to give them a reassuring squeeze. “You can do this y/n, I believe you,” she says in an encouraging tone.

“I wish you didn’t, what if I mess up?”

“People mess up sometimes, all you have to do is pick yourself back up and try again. You can’t be too hard on yourself y/n, I’ve seen how you’ve really changed these last few practices. Those private lessons with Kuvira must have helped” she drops her hands from your shoulders and gives you a bright smile before rushing off, claiming she has to check on the lights.

You flush at her words, Kuvira’s lessons did help… sort of. One of the stagehands calls out that it’s time and you walk over to the stage entrance. On the other side of the stage stands Kuvira with half of the dancers behind her. She simply holds your gaze for a minute before the curtain draws and the dance must begin. You force down any thoughts you get of that night as you perform the routine and it’s going so well, when it gets to the part where the flower closes around you guys you suddenly feel too exposed and scandalized. Despite your thoughts Kuvira still hooks her foot with your own, she sends a small smile your way that calms you just a bit as the flower begins to bloom once more.

The crowd erupts into applause and whistles as flowers are thrown onto the stage, you and Kuvira unhook your feet and bow with the rest of the troupe before exiting the stage for the next talent to take the stage, it was some new instrument a student had metal bent, something called a harp.

Everyone begins to hug one another and congratulate them, Suyin pulls you into a quick side hug and softly says “I told you that you could do it.” It feels good to have her say that, to know that she’s right and despite being new to this you did well enough to not humiliate yourself. Other people begin to crowd the backstage as dancers’ family members and friends come to congratulate them and offer them bouquets.

Your parents rush up to pull you into a tight hug that knocks the wind out of you, they shower you in praises and your mom kisses the top of your head before pulling away. “You did amazing, y/n. We’re both so proud of you” your dad says as he hands you a bouquet of lotuses. You’re about to call over Kuvira to introduce her as a friend and to tell your parents about how much she helped you but the sight in front of you kills the words that were on the tip of your tongue.

Baatar Jr. has his arm wrapped around Kuvira’s waist as he offers her a bouquet and gives her this wide smile. “Junior, why didn’t you tell us?” You hear Suyin say in a betrayed tone. Baatar Sr. has a hand on Suyin’s shoulder as he looks disapprovingly at the couple in front of him.

“I knew you guys would overreact! Kuvira and I are in love. I hope you both realize how important she is to me.” Baatar Jr. spits out, Kuvira places a hand on his chest to settle him down and flashes the two parents a smile.

“I was hoping you both would approve of us.” You can’t stand there and watch anymore as she flaunts her relationship in front of you like you don’t matter.

“I’m a bit tired from the performance, I think I’m gonna head home,” you tell your parents, trying not to let them know how badly you’re hurting.

“Oh well, we wanted to take you out to dinne-”

“Maybe tomorrow, I think I just wanna take a shower and go to sleep,” you say before walking off. Your parents share a look of concern as they watch your retreating figure. In a matter of seconds, your once overjoyed demeanor turned to something melancholic.

Once out of the building you walk to the botanical gardens knowing that at this time of night no one is there, your parents will probably return home soon and you don’t want to worry them with your crying. You find a spot tucked away from sight behind a bunch of sunflowers and lean your back against the tree.

You’re so confused, she’s your soulmate and yet she’s with someone else. Baatar Jr. said they were in love which must mean they’ve been together for some time. She never mentioned him to you. Suddenly the desire to keep your relationship a secret makes sense and you feel stupid for playing along.

At least an hour passes as you cry out all your emotions until you’re just sitting there numbly trying to figure out what to do next. A crunch of a leaf can be heard from in front of you and your head snaps up and away from your lap. Kuvira is standing there, she’s changed out of her dancing clothes and is in a casual outfit now, you look away from her, unable to look at her first without crying again.

“He wasn’t meant to tell them tonight,” she confesses and you scoff. Is that supposed to make you feel better?

“What are you doing Kuvira? W-We’re soulmates and yet you’re with this guy despite telling me I had to keep us a secret.” You stand from your spot and your muscles ache from sitting in that uncomfortable position for so long, you try to ignore her as you go to walk away but she grabs your forearm as you go to pass her.

“I don’t love him,” she admits “but I need him for something and the only way he’ll do it is if he thinks I do.” You rear your head back in shock, what in the world is going on.

“What could you possibly want from him? A seat at the Beifong family table!?” You shout and Kuvira aggressively shushes you. You rip your arm out of her grasp but stay still as you wait to hear what she’ll say next.

“After the earth queen’s death the earth kingdom is in disarray and Suyin won’t step up to help those who are suffering. Junior has inventions that can help us rebuild these impoverished towns and cities so we can bring them back to their former glory.” Kuvira sighs, her palm going to rub at her forehead “he won’t go against his mother unless we’re together, I can’t let those people have their homes ransacked by raiders and be left to starve when we can make a difference.”

“So you’re… manipulating him” you murmur, Kuvira’s eyes narrow a bit at your words and she takes a step closer to you, you stumble back until your back hits the tree behind you and Kuvira keeps walking until she’s against you. Her hands go to rest above your head as she looks into your eyes.

“I’m pushing him in the right direction. I want to leave soon to start and I want you to come with,” she moves one of her hands to grasp your chin when you try to look away from her and says “we all have to make sacrifices for this cause, y/n. Mine is playing pretend with him and yours is having to keep us a secret.”

Your eyes water at the idea, you don’t want to leave Zaofu behind. Your parents are here and you think you might want to pursue a career in dancing. Kuvira grips your chin just a fraction tighter and brings her lips to yours. It’s a deep, slow kiss and suddenly you’re consumed with her just like the other day in the dance studio. You moan as she lightly tugs at your bottom lip as she pulls away from you, she lets go of it and you can feel it swell a bit from her actions. You slowly open your eyes back up and she’s giving you this intense look that has your knees weak.

“Please, I want you there with me,” she says in a husky tone that has you nodding in agreement, she grins before pulling you back into a kiss, this one is far more heated than the last.

You wish you’d said no.

———————————————————————————————————–

“I think we should keep this to ourselves for now.”

For now turned into a year, once the train tracks were built Bolin along with Varrick and Zhu Li joined your cause. In front of everyone, Kuvira played the role of not only being the compassionate leader but also the love of Baatar’s life. Yeah, he no longer went by Baatar Jr. Kuvira convinced him to drop the honorific.

Behind closed doors, late at night when everyone was asleep Kuvira would come and visit you, most times you guys would passionately make love as she took charge but sometimes, and these times were your favorite, she’d lay in bed beside you and talk about all you guys would do once your mission was over. “We could get married,” you whispered one night and Kuvira pulled you in a slow, sweet kiss before murmuring against your lips “you’d look good in white.”

Right now those sweet moments are far from your mind though as Baatar hands Kuvira a file in the main cabin of the train where meetings are held, he places a hand on her waist and you look away as you try to push down the anger bubbling within you. You were about to stop in a rather large town that had fallen on hard times, as all had. And if all goes well you might need to take a moment for yourself. This train was starting to feel suffocating and you were this close to metal bending the roof open.

The train lurches to a stop, sending Bolin almost off the couch opposite you, he grips the back of it to keep from falling flat on his face and you grab the armrest to your right. As always, Kuvira is the only one who seems to remain unaffected, she stumbles back two steps before regaining her balance and squaring her shoulders.

“We’re here,” she says in her normal calm voice before heading to the door to step outside. The town is surrounded by lush greenery and towering trees. The buildings tower to three stories and market stalls are lining the streets. It looks like it was once a hub, maybe a stopping point for travelers, but now there are holes in some of the buildings from raiders and the market stalls have been torn apart. All of the citizens are waiting for them at the entrance of the city and you note how tired and thin they look.

“Woah, looks like we are definitely needed here” Bolin mutters beside you. As Kuvira talks to the mayor in private, you all begin to load up carts and trucks with crates of food, they always give into her eventually so there wasn’t much point in waiting. The meeting between the two takes an hour and a half, when the mayor walks off the train he wears a look of defeat and Kuvira saunters out with that same air of confidence that makes you wonder if she was born with it.

She walks over to you and signals for the men beside you to start giving out the crates of food and supplies. “Another small victory,” she mutters.

“If anything I’d say it’s a big one, this is a large province and this town is the only one in it. Not only that but it’s a hub for trading and travelers, having this under our belt is helpful.” You look into her eyes and notice that same dissatisfied look she gets any time someone praises her. “This is good, Vira.”

“I told you not to call me that in public,” her tone is scolding and she looks away so she doesn’t have to see the disappointment in your eyes. Whilst everyone thought you two were close friends she was still worried about someone figuring it out and telling Baatar. He was too oblivious to figure it out himself but quite a few times she caught Zhu Li looking between the two of you when you’re deep in conversation. “Besides, I won’t be happy until we’ve united the entire earth kingdom. “

You bite your lip as another one of those oh too familiar aches in your heart. It feels like someone has gotten a needle and aggressively stabbed at the center of it. “I’m going to go help,” you say before walking away, she doesn’t call after you or even say goodbye

Later, once all the supplies are given out, the townspeople decide to celebrate in the main square, live music is being played as everyone dances and laughs. Kuvira usually makes a short appearance to things like this just to make everyone happy before heading back to the train. Usually, you trail behind her along with Baatar while Bolin and Varrick tend to stay for an extra hour or two. Most of the time they stumble in drunk and loudly shush one another.

“C’mon y/n, just stay a while longer!” Bolin shouts over the music, he gives you another cup of alcohol, a part of you doesn’t want to. You’ve never stayed behind to celebrate after Kuvira heads back and you wonder if that means she won’t show up in your room as per usual. But it’s just one extra hour…

You take the cup from Bolin’s hand and down it, causing him to cheer. The alcohol burns down your throat and you cough from taking it all at once. Varrick saddles up beside him and slaps his hand on the young earth bender’s shoulder. “What are we getting excited about?”

“Y/n’s actually gonna stay and party!” Bolin shouts, you fill the cup back up and take a sip. You haven’t been drunk since Zaofu, you deserve this break. “Wait, you’re telling me y/n isn’t a stick in the mud? Well, that’s the shock of the century!” Varrick replies you roll your eyes at his comment, trying to not let it bother you. You could be fun, you were fun before everything happened.

“Let’s dance!” You shout and finish up your drink before setting it on the table to head to the designated area for dancing. You thought of the studio back in Zaofu, how freeing it felt, and how you had felt like you’d finally found your calling. Bolin cheers you on as he dances beside you and Varrick keeps making ridiculous comments about the parties he used to throw back in republic city. You make out the words platypus bear and skiing at one point but decide to not ask him to explain what the hell he’s talking about.

An hour passes, maybe two, before the three of you are stumbling back to the train. You haven’t had this much fun in so long and your cheeks hurt from laughing. You’re warm from the alcohol despite the cool breeze brushing up against your skin and at some point, you took your jacket off to keep from sweating. You weren’t meant to be out of uniform when out of your room but it was late at night and you didn’t think much of it.

When you guys climbed up the steps to the train and entered the main compartment Bolin began to loudly talk about how much he missed his soulmate, Opal. Suddenly your bright mood dimmed at the fact that you couldn’t talk about your soulmate to anyone, but your mood was truly ruined when Bolin said, “y’know one-day y/n, you’re gonna meet your soulmate and it’s gonna feel amazing just you wait!”

You forced out a chuckle before softly bidding them goodnight and walking off to your room, you heard Bolin ask Varrick if he said something wrong but you were too far away to hear his reply. When you opened your door a part of you hoped Kuvira would be inside, but she wasn’t. Your shoulders slumped as you kicked off your boots before falling into bed. You didn’t bother with undoing your updo or changing into proper sleeping clothes.

When you wake up you are alone, usually, Kuvira would wake up before the sun rose and leave but not before kissing your forehead and whispering that she loved you. It was always a great way to start your day but today you were alone. You got dressed and fixed your mess of hair before exiting your room to head down towards the dining cart.

Your room was right beside Kuvira’s which was beside Zhu Li’s and then it was Baatars, Bolin’s was on the other side of your room. Thankfully the walls were thick though so you didn’t have to worry about him hearing you and Kuvira late at night.

The door to Baatar’s room opens, but instead of the young engineer walking out, Kuvira does, she’s in her uniform from yesterday which you can tell because there’s a few wrinkles and her hair is down. She makes eye contact with you before heading to her room and without thinking you follow after her. Technically you aren’t allowed in her room for appearance reasons but your heart is racing and you need her to reassure you that what you just saw wasn’t what you thought it was.

You close the door after you, trying not to slam it but you desperately want to. “What were you doing in there?” you ask and part of you internally cringes at how you sound. It’s obvious in your tone how hurt you are, how confused. Kuvira simply begins to undress from her old clothes and takes her time formulating a reply.

“He was getting suspicious of my lack of affection for him,” is her reply. You back up until your knees hit the edge of her bed and fall into a sitting position. “So you…” you gulp, “slept with him?”

“I did what needed to be done. Besides, you weren’t here last night,” she spits out. By now she’s in her underwear which would usually cause you to flush but right now your vision is blurring from tears and you feel bile rising from your throat but it’s not due to last night. “So what, it was some kind of way to get back at me for letting loose for once?!”

Kuvira whirls around to glare at you, she has a pair of pants on now and she stalks over to you like you’re her prey until she’s between your legs. She roughly grabs your chin to make sure you keep eye contact with her and she says “so me fucking you senseless isn’t enough to alleviate the stress from the day before?”

Your heart races, “Vira…” You aren’t sure if you like this part of her, in a fucked up way it’s kind of hot but it’s also terrifying and you feel so small. “If you disobey me or humiliate me again you’ll be punished the same way you were last night. If you are to one day become my wife you’ll need to start working on your image and getting drunk in public isn’t a good look.”

She lets go of your chin and swiftly walks back over to her closet to finish getting dressed. “You may leave.” Her tone doesn’t leave any room for argument so you blink away the tears threatening to spill from your eyes before promptly leaving your lover’s room. Suddenly you’ve lost your appetite so you head back to your room where you plan on spending the rest of your day, As you go to open your door, Bolin sluggishly opens his own and walks into the bright hallway with a groan.

You look away from him but not in time as he notices your red eyes and the tears threatening to spill, he steps forward, a look of concern taking over his features but you quickly enter your room and slam the door shut behind you.

You miss home.

#kuvira #the great uniter #lok #legend of korra #kuvira x reader #kuvira/reader #angst #drama #soulmate au #bolin #varrick #zhu li #baatar jr #can you tell i hate baatar jr?

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lokiondisneyplus · 3 years

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Loki is the latest Marvel Studios TV series in the long-running franchise and it’s currently ongoing with five episodes so far available to stream on Disney+ Hotstar Malaysia. For previous breakdowns of Loki episodes, check out Episode 1 here, Episode 2 here, Episode 3 here, Episode 4 here and Episode 5 here.

If you want a non-spoiler guide to Loki, you can head on over here.

Courtesy of Disney+ Hotstar Malaysia, we were lucky enough to be the only Malaysian media to participate in a roundtable interview with Loki Costume Designer Christine Wada and Loki Production Designer Kasra Farahani.

This interview with Loki Production Designer Kasra Farahani has been edited for clarity.

Keep in mind that we’ll be discussing some elements from all five episodes of Loki so far, so there will be spoilers below:

Q: You’ve previously worked on Black Panther and other MCU movies. How different was the experience of working on a TV set instead of a movie’s? Were there limitations?

Yes, I’ve worked on several Marvel projects. For me, this is the most fun one, maybe because I’m in a different position than I was on the other ones. But also, just because this project is unique in a couple of ways.

Number one; it’s literally in its own timeline from the rest of the MCU. It’s separate from the stories we’ve all enjoyed and seen in the MCU so far. The other thing that this one has that’s really great is the amount of visual and narrative variety. We have this kind of base in the TVA that we spend a lot of time in but also we have all these exciting different places in the world that the story takes us to. These were great worlds to design and to imagine.

In our case, there was no difference. The thing about the Marvel series is that it’s pretty much like Marvel movies; in terms of their creative ambition, in terms of the way they’re scheduled, the fact that we have one director.

There was not much about it (Loki) that resembled an episodic project, except for the fact that it was six hours of content that we were trying to make, so it’s a very long project.

In terms of resources, I didn’t ever feel that we were unduly stretched. Always, when you get a creative brief like this, there’s always a period at the beginning of every project where you’re reconciling the creative brief and the resources that you have. That has been the case for every project that I’ve ever worked on regardless of the size. There’s this beginning phase where that’s the case and oftentimes, it’s in that process where you come up with some very great creative solutions that are a direct result of some of the limitations, actually.

Yeah, I wouldn’t say that we had some extraordinary limitations in this case (for Loki), but that’s generally true for all projects, in my experience.

Q: What were you inspired by when making designing the sets of the TVA with its retro-futuristic and anachronistic aesthetics?

In the source material, the TVA had a lot of different things going on, but one of the strong themes also was this armada of desks, which is kind of typical of a post-war era bureaucracy look. There was a grain of that in the source material but a lot of it also came from the show’s creator and writer, Michael Waldron, who described in the original document I read before interviewing for this job.

He described the TVA as a kind of mix of Mad Men meets Blade Runner. Part of these two strong visual references for us. On top of that, me and director Kate Herron, even before we met and spoken to each other, were inspired by Terry Gilliam’s Brazil also as a strong influence because of the anachronisms that that story had and also because of the clear presence of this strong monolithic bureaucracy, which is something that we have in the TVA also.

For the TVA, we were looking a lot at wanting to create a world that had a paradoxical feeling, being an imposing monolithic architectural space that has brutalist elements in them and had almost Soviet modernist elements to them. The colour palette and the materials and the whimsical patterning were much more like American style modernism.

The result was hopefully when you’re in an environment like this, you don’t know whether to feel terrified or invited. Hopefully, it creates that feeling in both the characters and the audience; this kind of cognitive dissonance in not knowing whether they can trust the TVA or not. That’s the narrative objective.

The writers came up with these ideas and the idea with that was to kind of create the bubble gum wrapper in the Renaissance era (Loki Episode 2) and the futuristic shovel in the early 20th-century farm field (Loki Episode 1). These ideas were placed there to create a trail of clues for the TVA to follow before they have clarity on Sylvie’s identity. But for the anachronisms generally, that was something we tried to do throughout the TVA to have all kinds of strange things from different timelines and different worlds popping up in terms of props, like the Infinity Stones in the mail cart and stuff like that.

Q: What was it like working with Tom Hiddleston, who is a producer on Loki?

It was very exciting to have this opportunity to take the character and his storyline in a different direction. It became all the more exciting when I read the scripts and I saw the type of journey they were going to take the character on.

Tom is a professor of Loki, basically. After all, ten years or so of playing the character; he knows it better than anybody and he has an in-depth understanding of the character and his backstory; the character’s family relationships and he was really helpful in giving a little talk to all the department heads about the background of his character, which was very informative.

Q: Recently, Loki series director Kate Herron said that 90 percent of production sets were physical. Does this include the world of The Void, and can you tell us more about how you brought it to life?

That’s true. That was what was unique about this show, because of my own design approach, and my goal in creating this large monolithic brutalist environment, I felt strongly that the sets needed to be built kinda wholly and that they needed to have the ceilings in-tact. This was also supported by Loki cinematographer Autumn, in that the way of her own style of photography is very wide and low-angled photography, which is why for both of our creative goals, it made a lot of sense to build these sets like completed and 360-degree environments.

For the TVA, that was almost always the case, with the exception of when you saw outside a window. With the Void (in Loki Episode 5), a lot of that was built practically as well. What I can tell you is that we build a large piece of this landscape on a soundstage, which was about 150 feet by 200 feet of undulating wilderness terrain. In that, we would bring in these different scenery elements on different days to make it feel like different places within the Void.

For example, one day there was the bus stop terrain where we meet Loki. One day it was the giant head. One day it was the drive-in movie theatre where we find Sylvie. All of these things were brought in and we shot there over the course of seven days. The terrain was designed in such a way that depending on what angle you shot, it felt like a very different place. Backgrounds were put in during post-production in visual effects. The Loki palace, where the Loki variants kind of hang out, the bowling alley, all of that was also a 360-degree built set as well.

Q: What was the most challenging set of the entire Loki series that you had to work on?

We had a lot of very ambitious sets but I think the city of Sharoo at the end of Loki Episode 3: Lamentis was a very technical set. The goal was to create this virtual one-in, that appears as a single shot. This was a very involved and elaborate process of choreography, basically.

All the different departments were involved to make this happen because as we watch the sequence, we see tons of actors running around, there are explosions happening, the camera’s panning up to see the planet above crumbling and asteroids pelting the surface.

There was a lot of planning that went through at the very beginning. We brought the paper models of this to Autumn, our cinematographer and creative director, to use to plan some of their shots. One day, we had some more information that fed back to the art department where we developed more involved and elaborate drawings and models which again, fed back to them. In this way, we had kind of an iterative conversation to arrive at what the design was.

So, as we start to build the set, many of the department heads came to visit and check the progress. We rehearsed what the shot was going to be, so we could exactly fine-tune the set to meet the needs of this shot and see where the edits needed to be. In order to do this, we needed to adjust the exact width of the roads or move a piece of scenery here and then figure out exactly, okay, there’s going to be an explosion coming out of the ground here and another explosion coming out of the building here and this is when the camera looks up to the sky and sees the planet explode. This is where the window breaks and this is where the guy jumps out and grabs him and there’s a fight.

There are many, many people involved; Monique Garderton, our stunt coordinator, Kate Herron, the director, and also the special effects team, and of course, visual effects, deeply involved, and Richard Graves, who is kind of our AD (Assistant Director), the circus leader of all of it, organizing everybody to kind of work on this thing altogether. It’s the sort of thing that involves so many different departments that it can only really be discovered when working in a big group together.

I would say that was maybe the most challenging technically because there were so many logistical parameters and so many moving parts.

Q: What are your thoughts on diversity in the production of the creative industry?

I think that it is critically important. As somebody who is myself an immigrant, I was born in Iran and my family moved here when I was quite young. I’m super happy to see the direction that the industry is going in. I think Marvel has been particularly excellent in providing leadership in this way and I honestly have to give a lot of credit to Kate Herron, our director.

Almost more than any other project I’ve been on, she prioritised inclusivity and diversity. I mean, lots of people, don’t get me wrong, it’s on every project and on everyone’s mind, but I think Kate went above and beyond because it’s so fundamental to her worldview and she’s such a sensitive soul in this way. One of the many ways in that it was such a joy to work with Kate and I’m very proud of the many different ethnicities we’re representing, and how many women we’ve had. In our art department, we had close to fifty men and women.

It’s important and leads to better creative results that are more fully realized and more representative of what the fans really want.

#Kasra Farahani #production design #Loki #interview

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red-winters · 4 years

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*Batfam fic-recs

*Some are Tim Drake Centric

**Some links are not working in mobile (and ONLY mobile) for some reason? And some titles that were bolded in the original post are ALSO not displaying on mobile correctly. Idk what to do about that, but you can still look up the fic, I guess.

The Bat’s Crest - livierambles

Note: I will always keep recommending this fic. It’s epic, thrilling, and hilarious and sometimes angsty. Also, everyone is confused, including the ones doing the confusing. Maybe especially the ones doing the confusing. Also, some Tim and Damian bonding, which is always nice.

Summary: Tragedy strikes the hero community when Bruce Wayne commits a crime so heinous even the best start asking for blood. However, as the heroes try to recover from the hit and carry out justice for their friends, a random assortment of people start acting oddly, including the current Speedy Tim Drake, a child hostage in Gotham, and a young man from an unremarkable circus amongst others. All of them seem intent on saving Bruce Wayne from the grasp of the Justice League for no apparent reason, going as far as betraying their previous allegiances.

Unknown to the Justice League, these people are equally confused. Clearly they're stuck in another dimension, but how do they get back? How did they even get here? Who else is stuck in this world? And how long will Tim's patience last? Back home, the Bat was a planetary symbol that struck fear in the hearts of criminals. In this new world, it has no meaning, save for the handful of stranded souls.

In the Shadows - Kieron_ODuibhir

(shortened) Summary:

“I’m not like you.”

The cowl still looked like something he was wearing, but Clark knew it was not. It flexed like skin when Batman narrowed his blank white eyes and said, “I can see you know that.”

Chirp - AmariT

Summary: Every piece of the signal Tim unlocked revealed more locks, and by the time he broke through the last one, he was already mentally rehearsing his many upcoming talk show appearances. 'Yes,' he told the interviewer, 'it was difficult for me, a ten-year-old genius, to break open the worldwide alien conspiracy. That's why it took a whole hour.'

When the crackling audio started, he expected some weird alien language. Maybe squawks and high-pitched squeals mixed with musical woofs. Maybe they wouldn't talk at all, and images would beam directly into his mind. Maybe they'd talk in practiced English with a Midwestern drawl like their other resident alien.

Instead he heard a low, guttural voice growling out of his computer speakers. "Robin," it said. "Are you in position?"

A Better Cage - Mangaluva

Note: I was absolutely DELIGHTED to see a Young Justice Crossover with the Justice Lords (Earth-50) from the animated Justice League series, which is near and dear to my heart. I admit I haven’t really had much time to hunker down and read this, but even skimming, it’s an intriguing piece of work. Also, Justice Lords.

Summary: Wally's grateful to have woken up at all, really. He just doesn't know what to make of the world he's woken up in. At least they want to find a way to his world as much as he does, if not exactly for the same reasons...

Common People - AmariT

Note: The Bat boys are all Bruce’s blood sons, but it still feels very much like a found family. I haven’t really read everything in this series, but I feel the author has an amazing grip on all the characters. Lovely and heartwarming.

Summary: His whole life, Jason’s mom had told him his dad was Bruce Wayne, but he’d never been dumb enough to actually believe it. They lived in a rundown, one-room apartment in the worst part of town, and in every single picture he’d ever seen of that rich bastard he was wearing a suit or sipping champagne worth more than everything they’d ever owned.

But if he wasn’t Bruce Wayne’s kid, then what the hell was he doing sitting outside the man’s office in Wayne Towers?

Red Robin and the Hood - momoejaku

Note: Haven’t read this in a while, but it made an impression. Though it’s a fic set during the Red Robin arc, it very much is about both Tim and Jason. Plus, it fleshes out the Pru and Z a bit more, too.

Summary: Bruce Wayne is dead. Superman brought back his body, and the family mourned him, holding a quiet funeral in secret so that the legacy of Batman could live on. But not everyone has been able to put him to rest.

Reeling from the loss of Bruce, his identity as Robin and his trust in his family, Tim Drake sets out on a personal quest that will take him across the world to prove what he knows in his heart: that Bruce Wayne is alive.

Though intending to make his way alone, Tim reluctantly accepts help from his predecessor, Jason Todd, who knows from personal experience that death is not always as final as it seems.

Together, they are Red Robin and the Hood.

Liminal Spaces - Calamityjim

Note: Skimmed this only since I’ve been busy, BUT it does look well-written, and I’m always a sucker for alternate dimension/dimension travel intervention-type of fix-its. It’s a very specific trope.

Summary:

Bruce's habit of collecting strays is not limited by dimension.

When Young Justice Batman comes across an angsty, seemingly abandoned by his Batman Tim Drake, he decides to step up to the plate and parent the crap out of him.

Little Bird’s Vengeance - KatHarkness-Katara

Note: Crossover with Avengers. Awesome fic with Tim and Jason and some Outsider POV (via the Avengers) of these dimensional stragglers. I think Tim’s team shows up in the later chapters, too. If you’re reading on mobile, it’s still very much worth reading despite FF.net’s horrible format and abundance of advertisements in the mobile version.

Summary: Why is life never simple? Red Robin's ended up worlds away from home once again, and now what's he to do? What do the Avengers want from him; do SHIELD have another agenda; and is there any way back? Pre-New 52. No slash. Rated for inevitable language/violent themes.

A Displaced Red Robin - dragonprincess1988

Note: Worth reading despite FF.net’s horrible format and abundance of advertisements in the mobile version. Well-written fic! EMOTIONS! I love them. Younger Dick Grayson is adorable, Tim is a competent fixer-upper for other people but not so much himself. He’s kind of angsty and making YJ Dick want to keep him (and YJ Bruce, too, if you read between the lines). On the plus side, seems like he’s making good friends with Young Justice Roy. This fic was written before certain episodes of YJ came out, though, and the fic reflects/will continue to reflect that. Still, I give it five stars.

Author’s Summary: Tim gets transported to the cartoon Young Justice world, and he's not sure he knows how to deal with it. Attention: If you want to know about Artemis or people from Tim's world the final note on my profile is for you. Also, a special thank you to angel-gidget over at Tumblr, who made the wonderful cover art for this story.

The Till-then From the Ever Since - Keiron O_Duibhir

Note: Fandom classic. Definitely a must-read for Batfam fans, in my humble opinion.

Summary: It began, or seemed to begin, with Jason.

Usually that would have meant something in the order of fire and explosion and probably at least one gunshot wound, but for once (as Tim said, sourly), it wasn't actually Jason's fault.

The Wayne Family Ghost - pupeez4eva

Note: Please read this. Especially if you’re sad or anxious or just have time. I couldn’t stop laughing. It’s my go-to cheer-up fic. Absolutely hysterical.

Summary: In which Bruce realizes that having a legally dead son, who regularly hangs around the family, might be slightly problematic.

Bloodline - chibi_nightowl

Note: Complicated family dynamics, this time centering around Tim, Selina, Bruce and, surprisingly, Damian. Jason and Dick make an appearance as supportive big bros, too. It works. Take a read, it isn’t that long.

Summary:

“Mr. Drake, I can’t think of a better way to say this, so I’ll just be blunt. This file is for your first adoption. By the Drakes.”

Tim blinked. “My what?”

“You were adopted as a newborn by Jack and Janet Drake.”

“Excuse me, but what the fuck are you talking about?”

Talon!Tim AU Series by keeptogethernow

Note: Found family, from a different angle. Cool fic and well-written.

Summary of Tso’ape Mumbichi, first in the series: Ten years ago, two people made a deal with the devil--unlimited funds in exchange for their child. And now it's time to pay up. But there's no way to ensure that the child will cooperate.

Shutterbug Series by goldkirk

Note: Exactly what it says on the tin! Found family.

Summary:

Tim Drake is thirteen, runs the famous BatWatch blog that has spiraled hilariously out of control, has absentee parents that suit his purposes just fine, is training himself to run the streets at night, and is doing absolutely peachy, thank you.

Alfred and Jason disagree, and get Dick and Bruce involved in figuring out their weird next door neighbor kid’s life. Everything goes uphill from there.

Thursday’s Child - anthalogia

Note: Well-written and has found family and Tiny!Tim? Automatic win.

Summary:

He’s not the first child with nowhere else to go that Bruce Wayne has taken in. Dick Grayson was the first and the most high-profile – because no one would have thought Bruce Wayne was interested in ever raising a child, let alone the orphaned son of circus performers – but Jason was maybe just as much of a shock to society for being a street kid who came out of seemingly nowhere. Tim Drake is ordinary by comparison – his parents died in a plane accident. He can’t think of anything very special about him except that he met Bruce a few times when his parents hosted parties to keep in touch with Gotham society.

Or, tiny Tim Drake is adopted by the Waynes a little earlier than scheduled.

We’re Not Driving (How did we get here?) - TimTheToaster

Note: Short and sweet, a little angsty, and then very sweet.

Summary:

Tim stared at his phone, as if that would change what was on the screen.

Dick Grayson @FlyingDGrayson

It took some doing, and in some cases a little blackmail, but we've finally got the whole family together for a movie night! #WayneManor #movienight #familytime #schedulingisanightmare

15 minutes ago

Take It Back Now Y’all - TimTheToaster

Note: And Tiny!Jason has made his appearance. Also, Tim, I am begging you to please take care of yourself—ah, Bruce has made his appearance. Interesting. Also, I gotta say this author is good.

Summary:

There was absolutely no way this sunshine was from Gotham in April.

Not possible.

Which meant, Tim was no longer in Gotham, in April.

(In which Tim finds himself in the past, and tries to do the right thing. It's more complicated than he'd like.)

Takes a Little Time, Takes a Lotta Twine (To Get Us Back Together) - TimTheToaster

Note: Emotional Hurt/Comfort, beginning of reconciliation, and brotherhood. A satisfying, cathartic moment during the Red Robin arc to soothe your heart.

Summary:

Tim was in Gotham.

Tim had pretty specifically been avoiding thinking about Dick as much as possible for the last few weeks.

For the last year, really. No need to open that can of carnivorous worms.

Dick had other plans.

Everybody’s Heard (Bird is the Word) - TimTheToaster

Red Robin Era ANGST, but like, deliciously well-written. Also, protective Dad Bruce is always epic. Light bashing of Green Arrow and BC, though. But considering the situation (in this fic), kind of warranted.

Summary:

5 times Batman heard other heroes talking about his wayward brother,

And 1 time they were talking about his son.

A Choice to Make - scorbusfics

Note: fresh and interesting premise! Cool world building, too.

Summary: They have to choose. Dick and Bruce have to choose one person each to save, and one to disappear through the door.

“Send one of us,” Dick says fiercely, not for the first time. His face is dark and angry and desperate, eyes flicking from brother to brother. “Send one of us instead. I won’t choose.”

“Neither will I,” Bruce says.

But Tim knows.

Secret Places - RenaRoo

It’s ANGST, but the author knows how to use it well. Also, Jason’s line at the end killed me. Damn.

Summary: Tim Drake goes missing. The search to find him begins.

#fic recs #batfam #tim drake fic rec #batfam fic rec

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abundanceofsoph · 4 years

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SkyFire 3: Chapter 2

New York & Saturday Night Live: April 2017

Word count: 4.8k

SkyFire 3 MASTERLIST

Sorry it's been so long since the last chapter but I'm finally back at work after 75 days in lockdown. Updates will probably be a bit more spaced out than they were in Parts 1 & 2 but please know that I am still working away at it and I already have so many future chapters planned out that I'm really excited for.

This chapter is a bit of a long one and I thought about splitting it in half but figured you deserved the treat after waiting patiently.

Don't forget to leave a comment if you're enjoying the series and let me know what you think.

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By the time Aurora woke up Monday morning, Harry’s side of the bed was cold, and he had long since left for the day. Since he would be appearing in multiple sketches on the upcoming episode of Saturday Night Live, he was needed for rehearsals all week. Aurora was thankful that she and the rest of the band weren’t needed until Friday and instead she was able to sleep in. Their flight had arrived in New York well after midnight and by the time they made their way to the tower they had both decided to head straight to bed. Aurora was fairly certain her father would have still been awake, working in his lab but she was far too tired for a reunion after hours on a plane.

Once she managed to roll herself out of bed and get dressed for the day ahead, Aurora made her way down the hall to the open plan kitchen/living area of the penthouse with its wide, floor to ceiling wall of windows looking out over the sprawling expanse of Central Park. Both Tony and Steve were sitting on the stools at the kitchen’s island bench, waiting for their daughter to wake up. Steve had seen Harry earlier that morning as he was leaving, and Steve had been coming back from his early morning run. Both he and Tony were eager to have their daughter home for an entire week and while Steve was happy to sip on his tea and read the morning while they waited, Tony was practically vibrating in his seat with barely contained excitement. Steve’d had to stop him twice from having JARVIS ‘accidentally’ wake Aurora up, so Tony was unsurprisingly the first out of his seat when she finally appeared.

Aurora was grinning widely and broke into a fit of giggles as her father rushed over and lifted her off the ground in a crushing hug. Despite having seen each other only two weeks ago, the craziness of the wedding hadn’t really allowed them much time to just hang out together and prior to the wedding they had spent a solid 5 months apart given the last minute changes to their Christmas plans in the wake of Johannah’s death.

“Missed you Dad,” she said, returning the tight hug.

“Missed you too Kiddo,” Tony replied, finally setting her back on her feet and allowing her to cross the room and fall into Steve’s arms.

The small family spent the entire day together, watching a movie and then moving down to Tony’s workshop in the afternoon so that he could work on a prototype for Stark Industries while Steve and Rori sketched on the sofa. It was reminiscent of how they had spent many evenings shortly after Rori first came to live with her fathers, the memories of those long nights brought a soft smile to her face as she sketched Dumm-e and Butterfingers, where they were attempting to help Tony, but instead were causing more problems than they were able to solve. Harry found them all there when he arrived back to the tower later that evening, grinning excitedly as he launched into his recounting of his first day with the SNL cast.

xXx

Since first meeting her father’s childhood best friend, James ‘Bucky’ Barnes, three years ago, Aurora had slowly come to see him as a member of the family. For the first year that they had both lived in the tower together, they had coexisted amicably but had been far from friends, nothing close to the way Aurora was with the rest of the team. Even as her relationship with Sam had flourished quickly as he acclimatized to life as an Avenger she had struggled to be around Bucky. He hadn’t held her distant behaviour against her, knowing that while most of the team had been able to separate the actions of the Winter Soldier from Bucky himself, Aurora had struggled to accept into her home the man who had tried, on several occasions, to assassinate one of her fathers. Following the Columbia Shooting, she had surprised him by seeking him out during her recovery and their friendship had bloomed after her amputation surgery. Now, many years later Bucky easily filled the role of another uncle in Aurora’s life, a shift that had made Steve overwhelmingly happy.

It was late Tuesday afternoon and Steve went in search of his daughter, having not seen her since they’d shared lunch together. He expected to see her in the workshop with Tony, however his husband said he hadn’t seen her since breakfast. With the help of JARVIS he finally found her on one of the lower floors, the one shared by Sam, Bucky and Rhodey when he was in town. She was in the living room sitting across the table from Bucky, a game of Battleship between the pair. Steve suppressed a chuckle as he joined the pair, well aware by now of how much his best friend and his daughter enjoyed playing a variety of tabletop games together. Many arguments had been started over a game of backgammon or canasta.

“Who’s winning?” he asked, pulling up a chair beside Aurora and throwing an arm around her shoulders.

“I’m kicking his ass,” she smiled.

“She’s getting cocky,” Buck replied, “and it’s going to backfire on her in a minute.”

“Of course it is,” Aurora said, her tone dripping in sarcasm.

The game continued for a while, Aurora cheering and taunting when she sunk another of Bucky’s ships, mocking him mercilessly when he continued to miss her own turn after turn.

“I don’t understand why you always beat me,” he moaned when she won. “I mean surely your luck has to run out eventually.”

“It’s not luck, Bucky,” Rori laughed. “It’s about strategy and reading your opponent and I hate to tell you, but you are entirely predictable.”

“I’ll have you know I’m an excellent battle strategist,” Bucky retorted.

“Apparently you’re not,” Aurora bit back, a wide smile gracing her face. Steve let out a loud peel of laughter at their bickering.

“Excuse me,” JARVIS interrupted. “Miss Stark, you requested that I alert you when young Mr Styles returned to the tower.”

“Thanks J,” Rori replied, kissing her fathers’ cheek and jumping to her feet, ready to head towards the elevator.

“Miss Stark?” Steve asked.

“He said that Dad programmed him to call me that and no marriage certificate is gonna change it,” Rori explained with a roll of her eyes. “Dad could probably get him to stop but honestly I like it. I didn’t get to be a Stark for very long so it’s nice to be one when I come home.”

“You’ll always be a Stark, bug,” Steve promised, returning the kiss on her cheek and watching as she left the room in search of Harry on the upper floors of the Tower.

“Enjoying having her home?” Bucky asked.

“Absolutely,” Steve answered. “I miss her when she’s not here. Tony does too, even if he won’t admit it. She grew up too fast on us.”

“Can’t have been easy not meeting her until she was practically all grown up,” Bucky pointed out.

“No, you’re right,” Steve agreed. “Sometimes I wish we’d got to raise her, but I’d also never want to have taken away any of the time she got with her mom.”

“You and Tony ever think of having another kid?”

“We’ve talked about,” Steve said. “It’s not very easy process. The worlds come a long way since the 40’s Buck, but it’s still hard for two men to adopt. It certainly doesn’t help that we’ve got such dangerous jobs.”

“Guess that makes sense,” Bucky replied. “Never known you to back down from something just because it’s hard or because someone tells you no, though.”

“You might have a point there. Seems we’ve managed to accidently adopt Peter over the years so maybe we’re just meant to keep collecting teenagers.”

xXx

Something Aurora loved about the city was the way that New Yorkers didn’t care about anyone around them. Everyone was busy getting from one place to another and had very little time or care to look at those surrounding them on the crowded sidewalks. Aurora could easily wander the streets without being hassled as she went about her day. Occasionally a tourist would recognize her, but more often than not, a large pair of sunglasses and a hat pulled low would hide her enough to avoid all but the most astute fan. She wore a loose oversized cardigan which hung over the tips of her fingers completely concealing her prosthetic hand as she headed through the streets of midtown Manhattan, her hands full of shopping bags as she walked back towards Avengers Tower. She could have halved the time to get home by taking the subway, but the weather was nice, so she enjoyed the walk, reaching the towers lobby a little after 2 in the afternoon.

By the time she stepped out of the elevator and into the penthouse, she noted Steve, Clint and Bucky sprawled out on the sofas in front of the tv. She dropped her shopping bags onto the floor and launched herself onto the sofa cushion next to Steve, curling herself into his side as his arm fell around her shoulders, hugging her tightly against him.

“Where’ve you been all day?” he asked.

“Went shopping,” Rori explained.

“Do I want to know?” he asked with a soft chuckle.

“I bought wigs.”

“Why on earth are you buying wigs?” Clint butted in.

“Because with the tour coming up,” Rori said, “I want to try out some different hair colours, but I’ve never bleached my hair before and I’m honestly terrified of ruining my hair. So, wigs.”

“Do we get a fashion show?” Steve asked.

“Maybe later,” she mumbled, yawning widely before resting her head back against Steve’s shoulder and staring, glazed eyes at the tv.

xXx

The following day, Sam found Rori sitting alone against one of the large windows, hugging her knees tightly against her chest as she stared out over the city.

“Hey, you,” he said as he took a seat next to her on the floor. “You ok?”

“Yeah I’m good,” she replied, her voice soft and a little distant, her gaze remaining on the view spread out beneath them.

“Remember when you promised me you wouldn’t lie about how you were feeling,” Sam reminded her.

She sighed, her shoulders sagging and her head leaning forward to rest against the cold glass. “I had a panic attack last week,” she mumbled.

“When you got home to London?” he asked.

She shook her head. “On the last day of our honeymoon. This thunderstorm came rolling in out of nowhere the day before we flew home, and I just freaked out and ruined everything. I thought I was getting better.”

“You are getting better,” Sam argued. “This is the first panic attack you’ve had in months. That’s a huge improvement.”

“But I thought they were gone,” Rori sobbed. “I was just starting to feel normal again but I’m never going to be like I was.”

“No, you’re not,” he agreed. “I know this isn’t what you want to hear, but PTSD isn’t something you just get over. It’s going to be with you for the rest of your life, but that doesn’t have to mean there’s anything wrong with you and I’m sure Harry didn’t think you ruined the trip.”

“Of course he didn’t, he’s Harry,” she said. “He’s always so supportive and just wants to help me through it. It’s not even really about last week,” she admitted. “It’s more about what it says about the rest of the year. The rest of my life. When Harry asked me to join his band, I was terrified that somehow, I would do something to ruin it all, like that somehow my prosthetic would malfunction, and I’d ruin a show. Now I’m wondering what will happen if I have a panic attack at a show? There are so many things that can go wrong, and he’s worked so hard for all of this. I’ll never forgive myself if I do anything to damage that.”

“What happens if Mitch slips over in the rain and breaks his hand and can’t play the guitar? What if Sarah gets the flu and has to sit out a few shows? What if something happens with Adams kids and he has to leave the tour?” Sam asked. “There are so many what ifs and things that can go wrong but did you notice how none of those things had anything to do with anyone’s disabilities? There are things in your life that are going to be more challenging for you than they would have been if you hadn’t been shot. You can’t let that stop you from living. I’m sure Harry and Jeff have all kinds of plans in place for what happens if one of you gets sick and can’t perform, so maybe you should talk to them about your concerns and you can have some plans in place and that will help with the anxiety of it all.”

“You know I really hate when you’re right Sam,” Aurora mumbled, the corners of her lips twitching.

“I know,” he smirked. “But one of these days you’ll learn to accept that I’m never wrong.”

Aurora stuck her tongue out at him before letting out a tired sigh. “I’m just so exhausted. Like, my brain just never stops stressing over these tiny little things and it’s so exhausting to constantly be worrying about everything. I mean Christ, I chipped my nail polish at lunch and it’s all I’ve been able to think about for the last few hours which is ridiculous because who cares if my nail polish is chipped, but I’m going to be on live tv in two days and what if they want a shot of my hands while I’m playing and it’s not like I have time to go get them redone now.”

“Why not just tell the camera operators not to set up that shot?” Sam asked, always the rational voice.

“Yeah,” Rori nodded. “Yeah, that makes sense.”

Having said his piece, Sam stood up after giving her shoulder a quick squeeze and then walked away, leaving her to think about what he’d said. She was still sitting on the floor beside the window deciding how to bring her anxieties to Harry without adding to his already full plate when Nat appeared beside her. “Heard you could do with a manicure,” she said.

She extended her hand, helping Aurora up off the floor and then led her to the elevator and down to her personal floor. Nat didn’t press Aurora to talk as they settled down in her living room and set about removing the chipped polish from the nails of her right hand. Rori was grateful for the silence, not sure that she had the energy to carry a conversation but also glad that she wasn’t alone. Where others in the tower felt that they needed to distract her from her anxiety, it was always Nat that provided what she needed without her ever having to ask. Her thoughts whirled in her head as Nat applied the new pale yellow polish to her nails in slow, methodical strokes, Sam’s advice echoing in Aurora’s ears.

“You seem stressed,” Nat finally said as she finished the topcoat on the last nail.

“Just nervous about the show on Saturday,” Rori replied softly. “Live TV doesn’t leave any room for error.”

“I’m sure you’ll all do great,” Nat promised with a warm smile. “Now lay back and I’ll do a face mask and help you relax. You’re way too tense for a 22 year old.”

Aurora did as she was told without argument, laying back and closing her eyes as Nat spread the cool clay over her face and then she started massaging her long fingers into Rori’s scalp. Once the mask was finished and Nat had cleaned it away with a warm cloth, she set about rubbing moisturizer onto Rori’s face, soothing the pinched muscles between the younger woman’s brow until she fell asleep under Nat’s hands.

When Harry arrived back at the tower a little over an hour later he found most of the team in the penthouse, however his wife was conspicuously absent from the group. He asked JARVIS if she was downstairs in either of the studios, his brow furrowing when the AI informed him that she was in Agent Romanoff’s private quarters and he headed for the elevator.

Nat was sitting on the other sofa across from where Rori was sleeping peacefully, a book in hand when JARVIS’ voice filled the room and she was thankful that she had asked the AI to lower its volume when Aurora had fallen asleep.

“Mr. Styles is requesting access to your floor Agent Romanoff,” JARVIS announced in a hushed whisper.

“Tell him to come in,” Nat replied in an equally soft tone.

A few moments later, the elevator doors opened at the end of the hall and Harry strolled into the room, his eyes immediately falling to his sleeping wife. “Hey,” he whispered to Nat. “Everything ok here?”

“She was getting a bit anxious about Saturday, so we had a bit of a spa day to help her calm down,” Nat explained.

Harry nodded and then headed over to the sofa, sitting on its edge next to Aurora’s hip and reached out to trace his hand along her cheekbone. “Rors?” he soothed. “Time to wake up love.” As she began to stir, Nat left the room allowing the couple to have some privacy.

“You’re home,” Rori mumbled, her voice thick with sleep and a soft smile lifting the corners of her lips. “Missed you today.”

“Heard you had a bad day,” Harry said, pulling her up and into a tight hug. “Sorry I wasn’t here.”

“S’ok,” she replied as she pressed her face into the crook of his neck. “Just got in my head a bit and spiralled.”

“Feeling better now?”

“Much,” she promised. “Always feel better when you’re here.”

“Mitch text me about 20 minutes ago that their flight landed so they’ll be here soon. Wanna come upstairs with me? Think Steve’s cooking a massive dinner.”

Aurora nodded her head and laced her fingers through Harry’s as the headed for the elevator doors.

xXx

Aurora tried to hold back her anxiety as she walked through the door with Harry, Jeff and the rest of the band Friday morning. She knew she was doing a poor job of it when Harry squeezed her hand tightly in an attempt to comfort her. She was angry at herself for her nervousness, knowing that she had performed on bigger stages in front of live audiences in the past, but she couldn’t seem to overcome the fear that she would make a mistake that would make Harry look bad. She could always deal with embarrassing herself, but the idea of screwing up everything that Harry had worked for was what truly made her terrified.

The set was a blur of activity and Harry led them down the halls towards the set where their equipment had been set up. Sarah headed straight to her drum kit and the boys picked up their guitars while Rori and Harry walked over to where the keyboards where a grand piano was waiting for her.

“You look like you’re going to be sick babe,” Harry said. He kept his voice low, whispering in his wife’s ear as she sat down on her bench seat, not wanting draw anyone’s attention to their conversation. “I know you’re going to nail this. Just gotta trust me.”

“I know,” she replied. “God anxiety is such a bitch.” Harry chuckled at her little outburst and then he kissed the top of her head before walking over towards the microphone stand.

They spent the rest of the day running through the two songs they would perform the following evening. They discussed the lighting and camera set ups, making sure that everyone in the band and the crew knew exactly where they would stand and which way the equipment would move during the live broadcast. Occasionally they would take breaks for Harry to go work on the sketches he would be appearing in or they would stop so that Aurora could remove her prosthetic for a while. In the year since she had started wearing the prosthetic hand, Tony and Peter had redesigned the original many times, constantly upgrading and improving it’s coding to make it easier for her to wear for longer periods of time. Despite these upgrades, she still found it hard to wear for too long and after about 4 hours of prolonged use she would start to get horrible tension headaches from the transmitting device she wore behind her left ear. It was for this reason that the majority of their soundchecks were happening on Friday so that Aurora wouldn’t be required to play before the show was ready to go to air. She was always uncomfortable whenever plans had to change in order to accommodate her disability, but Harry had assured her repeatedly over the course of the week that it was not a big deal and that they wouldn’t have been needed much on Saturday afternoon anyway, so it wasn’t even that much of a change to the schedule.

By the end of the day, Aurora was exhausted. They had taken plenty of breaks throughout the day, but she knew that she had definitely pushed herself, never wanting to be the one to call for a break and know she was paying for it. She had her prosthetic off and stuffed into her bag before they even reached the car that would take them all the few short blocks back to the tower. She sat in the back seat beside Harry and let her head fall against his shoulder, closing her eyes for the quick 10 minute drive.

“You alright love?” Harry asked quietly as they pulled up in the underground carpark of the tower.

She hummed in response, letting him lead her out of the car and into the waiting elevator. “Just tired,” she promised. “It was a long day.”

“It was,” Harry agreed, his arm wrapped tightly around her waist. “Went great though. Think tomorrow’s going to be amazing.”

Aurora wasn’t the only one who was tired and after such a long day of rehearsals, everyone in the band was happy to return to the tower, the inviting smells of dinner greeting them as they stepped out of the elevator to see the entire team crowded around the dining table, waiting for them. Aurora’s eyes lit up as she saw Peter at the table and immediately rushed over to him, pulling him out of his seat and into a hug, her exhaustion evaporated in the wake of seeing him again for the first time since they’d arrived back in town.

“God, where have you been all week?” she asked.

“Sorry been busy with school and patrols,” Peter replied. “I usually only have time to come over Friday nights and on the weekends.”

“Lucky we’re not leaving till Monday then,” Rori smiled. “Otherwise I wouldn’t get to spend any time with you at all. Now talk to me, how’s it feel to almost be finished with High School?”

Harry watched them with an amused smile as they sat next to each other, talking excitedly about Peter’s upcoming graduation and which colleges he had been accepted to. They barely stopped talking throughout the entire meal, completely oblivious to anyone else at the table. Harry hadn’t spent a great deal of time around Peter, given how much time he had spent on the road with One Direction or off filming Dunkirk while Aurora had still been living in the tower full time, but it didn’t really take a lot of time to understand why Tony, Steve and Rori had all rushed to absorb Peter into their little family. He was such a nice kid, always energetic and excited about anything going on everyone’s lives and he was joy to be around. He had so seamlessly fit into the family dynamic that everyone considered him a Stark in all bar name. Harry had once asked Rori about his place in the team, and she had smiled brightly, explaining how happy she was that while she and Steve had always had their art to bond over, she was relieved that Tony now had someone that could keep up with him in the lab and that he could teach Peter and watch him improve. She’d always wanted a little brother and now she had one in Peter. Tony and Steve had already experienced the emotional minefield of establishing parental roles without stepping on the memory of Rori’s mother, to it had been so easy for them to find a way to fill those same roles with Peter over the last few years without diminishing May’s place in his life or erasing the importance of Peter’s parents. The Avenger’s had always been a messy, happy, found family, and with the addition of Peter and May, and then with Mitch, Adam and Sarah, the family just seemed to keep expanding and Harry could see how much Aurora loved having each and everyone of them crowded into the penthouses dining room.

xXx

Saturday was a blur of activity and rushing around, and before Aurora realised someone was yelling that they were going live in 10 minutes. She was sitting out of the way with Sarah on one side of her and Adam on the other, waiting for their time to perform. Harry was off getting ready for the first sketch and they had a small tv hanging on the wall nearby so that they could watch the show while they waited. The first half of the show went off without a hitch and all four of them simply tried to keep out of everyone’s way until a technician came over to heard them towards the set. They were all situated behind their instruments by the time Harry joined them and he quickly ducked over to Rori for a good luck kiss before taking his place at the mic stand and waiting for the signal to start. One of Aurora’s knees was bouncing beneath the piano and there was a slight tremor in her right hand as she closed her eyes and took a few deep breathes on the darkened set. She tuned out the camera’s and the studio audience, her attention narrowing down to her instrument and Harry a few steps in front of her as she began the opening chords of the song. For a few brief seconds her piano was the only sound as the lights began to lift, and Harry’s voice rang out through the studio. As they hit the pre-chorus Rori and Sarah added their voices to the mix and then all of the other instruments joined as they entered the chorus. All of Aurora’s nerves disappeared as Harry belted out the lyrics of the chorus, and in the brief moment right before the second verse he turned, catching her eye and winking before returning to the microphone. In the final lines of the song, right in the middle of the most difficult notes, Aurora heard Harry’s voice falter and he missed a line. She tried to hide a grimace, knowing that he would be kicking himself for slipping at the end of the song. The moment the camera’s cut away she was at his side, arms wrapped tightly around his waist and he pecked her lips quickly. She attempted to comfort him before he was quickly whisked away to change into the costume for the next sketch.

By the time they returned to their little set for their second song Harry appeared to have shaken off the slip up and everyone, including Aurora, was buzzing with adrenaline and ready to go with their second performance. This time the grand piano was gone, and Aurora’s keyboard was positioned behind Harry’s spot at the centre of the stage. With all the sketches out of the way, Aurora watched happily as Harry allowed himself to enjoy the performance. As they finished the song and the audience cheered, Harry quickly pulled his guitar strap over his head and walked over to where Rori was seated behind the keys. He cupped her cheeks in his hands and kissed her softly. “That one was for you my love,” he whispered as their lips separated.

“So proud of you,” she whispered in reply. “You absolutely killed it tonight.”

NEXT CHAPTER

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#skyfire fic #Husband Harry Styles #harry styles fanfiction #dad!tony #ptsd #domestic fluff #iron dad #step dad steve rogers #aurora stark #harry styles #tony stark #found family avengers

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peterstanslizzie · 4 years

Text

Reacting To: Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts (Season 3 Episode 8)

OMG kiss kiss kiss kiss kiss!!! 👨‍❤️‍💋‍👨

Episode Title: Hidden Treasures

Spoiler Warning: Kindly proceed if you’ve already seen the episode or are able to handle spoilers

1. “Prahm” is an acronym, which stands for “Party Reconciling All Humans and Mutes”. First HMUFA and now PRAHM? What’s with these lame acronyms? Somebody else needs to takeover for her when it comes to creating these group names lol.

2. Kipo pleads with the humans to make peace with her and the mutes once and for all. Emilia, unsurprisingly, thinks they shouldn’t believe her instead. Luckily, Doag is on Kipo’s side and so are Doag’s teen friends.

As I’ve predicted, Zane ditches Emilia for Prahm

3. Emilia has no other choice but to give in because it seems like all the humans are on the side of making peace with the mutes. So, she accepts Kipo’s invitation to Prahm. I hope Kipo and the rest of them are smart enough to lock up Emilia and Greta just like they did with Scarlemagne because they’ve done things that are as bad, if not worse than him.

4. I’m glad Wolf is finding this hard to believe. Just lock them up! Or at least, monitor at them at all times. Emilia’s definitely hatching up a wicked plan. However, Kipo thinks that Emilia is powerless because the cure doesn’t work on her and the other humans aren’t on her side anymore. That’s true Kipo but remember the last time you let your guard down and got complacent?

5. Another thing they need to worry about is to convince the mutes that the humans have switched sides. That’s gonna be tough since some of them have be cured.

6. Of course, you can’t change stubborn people like Emilia and the same goes for Greta and Hoag. Emilia has her eyes on some sort of giant sea-creature mute and she’s planning to use it in her next plan.

7. Back in Timbercat Village, the mutes express they aren’t ready to join Prahm just yet. They want the humans to apologize for what they did to them. I’m with the mutes on this one; How could Kipo expect them to forgive them and come back to the village, especially so soon after they shot their cure darts at them? As a result, all of them decide to resign from HMUFA except for Scarlemagne and Jamack. Well, that’s because none of their friends/family were cured by the humans lol.

8. Since the Timbercats have resigned from HMUFA, Kipo and the others are basically kicked out of their village. But Kipo’s not ready to give up on Prahm; She still wants to host it and get the mutes to change their minds. She’s suggesting that they “Prahm-pose” to the mutes to get them to go to Prahm and then hopefully, this will get the humans an opportunity to apologize to them for reals.

9. They proceed to make preparations for Prahm like building a giant float, practicing some dance routine and setting up decorations for the event.

I’m liking this interaction between Wolf and Scarlemagne; They’re in agreement that Emilia is most likely going to back-stab them. Also, it looks like someone is secretly stealing things...hmm

10. Benson is facing a dilemma of his own: He wants to ask Troy out to Prahm but he wants to make his Prahm-prosal (ugh, I can’t believe I typed that out again) perfect.

11. We find out that the ‘sea creature’ from earlier in the episode is a Mega Walrus with two heads? Or is it two separate walruses that just so happens to be right next to each other. I can’t tell. What is Emilia’s plan, anyways? Does she want to get Kipo and the others to get themselves killed trying to save her and the humans from the mute. I can’t think of any other intention....

12. While everyone else are having rehearsals for their float parade, Wolf and Scarlemagne let Kipo know that there’s a couple of objects that have mysteriously disappeared and they think that Emilia has something to do with it. Why is Kipo acting so clueless and not listening to them!? It’s so obvious that Emilia is up to no good. How many times does it need to get into her head? They eventually discover that the float has disappeared too. Of course...

Who the heck are these two now?

13. During their search for the float, Kipo, Wolf and Scarlemagne meet a couple of annoying hyper-active Treasure Squirrels, Kameko and Jeanine. They are the ones who actually stole the float and hid it somewhere. Okay, so it wasn’t Emilia but they still need to keep their guard up with her.

14. These squirrels are a bunch of nut-cases, pun intended. They mention that they tend to not remember where they’ve hidden the treasures they found. Ugh, it’s gonna take awhile. This episode is starting to feel filler-y.

15. Inside the float, the humans and mutes are playing a game to pass the time until Kipo and the others find them. However, Benson and Dave are starting to lose it. Benson is also freaking out about his Prahm-posal to Troy. Lio tries giving him some advice and even demonstrates his very own Prahm-posal to Song and she says “No, duh”. I hope she’s trying to be funny here lol. Before Benson could open his mouth and ask Troy, they hear a roaring sound coming from outside.

16. Lio calls out to Kipo and luckily, she manages to hear his cries for help; The sound is coming from a giant tree with a bunch of gigantic acorns inside. Kipo tries to dig out the float but she mistakenly causes an acorn landslide lol.

This episode featured a really cool action scene of Kipo saving Scarlemagne and Wolf from getting crushed by the acorns.

17. She opens the vault in order for everyone to get out and finally get some fresh air. But it’s so frustrating that all of this was because of those crazy squirrels. I’m also thinking why introduce these two so late into show just for them to be irrelevant in the end?

Love her or hate her, Emilia is one badass character

18. We watch Emilia save her fellow humans by shooting a cure dart at the Mega Walrus. But she also extracted some of its blood into a syringe. Hmm, I wonder why? I’m guessing is so that she can make another cure that doesn’t come from Kipo’s DNA? So, in that way, Kipo won’t be immune her cure anymore. Let’s see if I’m right.....

19. I guess not; It seems like she wants to create her very own Mega Beast to fight off the Mega Jaguar. But which animal/mute is she gonna use though?

20. Scarlemagne sneaks off to most likely kill Emilia himself but is stopped by Wolf. He doesn’t want Kipo to risk her life to save them from possible future attacks from Emilia. He manages to convince Wolf to let him go. Okay, so I’m pretty sure Emilia is going to turn Scarlemagne into a Mega Mute. I hope he lives by the end of the series. I think he deserves a full redemption for sure.

21. It’s time for the Prahm-posal to the mutes, which is a live performance by the humans about messing up lol. Wow, Troy has a really nice singing voice! And so does Doag! They basically go on a road-tour to perform in front of all the mute groups.

Lol, did Troy just flirt with Fun Gus? ROLF!

22. After performing in front of the different mute groups, they’re all hoping that the mutes will say yes eventually. OKAY! It’s now time for Benson to make his Prahm-posal to Troy!!! EEEEK!

23. OMFG he said YESSSS and WE GET A LIP KISS?! THIS IS THE BEST CARTOON GAY COUPLE ON TV EVER!

24. And the cherry on top of this perfect sundae is we also have Molly, Cotton and Label coming to see Kipo to tell her that they accept their invitation to Prahm on behalf of everyone else. Amazing! It’s time to plan for the actual party!

25. However, all things can’t end so positively because Kipo eventually finds out from Wolf that Scarlemagne has gone to end things with Emilia once and for all for Kipo’s sake. Kipo is disappointed and mad at Wolf for agreeing to all of this. But Wolf thinks it’s for the best because Emilia is not someone you can trust. She then runs off, probably to join Scarlemagne.

26. Hope you all enjoyed my review of episode 8, which is a great episode for Troyson! Stay tuned tomorrow for when I will be posting my review of episode 9. Thanks for all your support. Bye!

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miguel-manbemel · 4 years

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Aspects & Fanfics Ep. 52: The Truth Is Revealed - Nico’s Reaction

I thought I wouldn’t have this ready on time, as for some reasons, this week has been kind of a torture for me and I found it really hard to find the motivation to write. Fortunately, I managed to overcome that sentiment and get in a better mood with enough time to finish this episode. We are slowly approaching the ending of season 2 of this fanfic. We’re not there yet, but we’re coming. I hope that the ending is satisfactory for everyone, when it comes. And with this said, I leave you with the episode. Until next time.

SYNOPSIS: Thomas has decided to tell Nico the truth about the existence of the Sanders Sides, as they need his help to save Dillon from the Paladin. However, he doesn’t know how Nico’s going to react and is afraid to lose him if he gets too scared of Thomas’ secret life with the Sides.

WARNINGS: A lot of romance and words of love, mainly from Thomas to Nico.

EPISODE INDEX

[Thomas is nervously looking at the door. Virgil is next to him, both are sitting on the couch]

THOMAS: I’m so scared, Virge… So scared…

VIRGIL: I’m sorry, Thomas, I can’t help it… I know what we’re doing is the right thing to do, but still, I can’t help giving you this nervousness…

THOMAS: Nico could be here any moment… And even though I’ve rehearsed and rehearsed what I’m going to tell him, something tells me that in the critical moment, my mind’s gonna go blank and I’m not gonna know what to say… For starters, I don’t even know if he’s angry at me over the abrupt ending of our date last time. He said he isn’t, but maybe he was just being nice… Maybe I’ve already blew it up and there’s nothing I can do already, so being so nervous would be silly in that case… and if he doesn’t love me anymore, my life is gonna be miserable, ‘cause I know I’ll never find a guy like him again, and I don’t know if…

VIRGIL: Whoa, whoa, Thomas, please! You’re going so fast in your nervousness I can’t even follow your rhythm! Seriously, what is my purpose in this Mind Palace if you already take all the work yourself faster than I do? Gosh!

THOMAS: Sorry, Virge…

[intro sequence]

[someone knocks at the door]

THOMAS: Oh, gosh, he’s here… Okay, don’t panic… It’s only Nico, your boyfriend… but for how long? Sush! Sush… Virge, you’re invisible for him, right?

VIRGIL: Yes, I am, but I’d wish to be invisible in your thoughts right now too… Good luck, Thomas.

[Thomas sighs]

THOMAS: What will be, will be… Let’s go.

[Thomas opens the door. Nico is there, smiling at Thomas]

THOMAS: Hi, Nico… Gosh, your sole presence already makes my day brighter. Come in.

NICO: Thank you, Thomas. I love you too.

[Nico kisses Thomas on the cheek and gets into the living room followed by Thomas. He sits on the couch… right on Virgil]

VIRGIL: What the… whoops!

[however, Nico goes through him as if Virgil was made of air, not feeling his presence at all. Virgil quickly stands up and sits down on another couch. Thomas looks at the scene a little nervous but quickly puts himself together]

NICO: You said you wanted to see me, and something tells me it could be important. What is it? Oh, but most importantly, how are you feeling today? The other day, I left a little worried. I kept thinking I should have stayed in case you got worse so I could take you to the hospital if need be.

THOMAS: Oh, I’m fine, Nico, don’t worry. It was just some feeling of nausea I suddenly had. It left me an hour or so later after I took a chamomile tea. It was a bummer that it ruined our date when everything was going so perfect.

NICO: Yeah, if I could have, I would have stayed all night with you. I was enjoying your company so much, I didn’t want it to end at all…

THOMAS: [silly smile] Me neither… It’s funny how we only met last Christmas, a few weeks ago, and yet it’s like I’ve shared my whole life with you and I couldn’t remember how I used to live before you came into my life. Does it happen the same to you?

NICO: Yes… yes, it does. But for sure you didn’t call me here just to tell me words of love, Thomas. I mean I could hear them and tell them back to you all day long, but you had something to tell me. What is it? Like I said, something in your voice on the phone made me think it was something important. What’s the matter?

THOMAS: [nervous] Yes… okay… Nico, you better sit down because what I’m gonna tell may shock you…

NICO: Thomas… I’m already sitting down. You are so nervous… and you’re making me nervous. Please, calm down. Whatever it is, I can take it.

THOMAS: You’re right, sorry… It’s something to be nervous about, because it’s something I’ve told very few people in this world. Which reminds me to tell you that everything I’m gonna tell you must be kept as a secret. No one must ever know. I count on your discretion.

NICO: Of course, Thomas, you have my word. Whatever it is, no one will know your secret through me, I promise.

THOMAS: Thank you. You see, it’s something that has happened to me since I was a little boy. I have… a gift, you might call it? Even though sometimes I’ve been tempted to call it a curse, I still call it a gift, because it has given to me a group of friends no one could ever be closer to. More than friends, they are a family, a family that has been with me, by my… side… since I was like three years old.

NICO: I don’t understand.

THOMAS: I know, it’s very hard to understand, so I’ll start from the beginning, although I fear I’m going to confuse you a lot. You see, there are some people in this world whose brain works in some particular pattern of brainwaves, a very rare pattern, that triggers a very special reaction, you could almost call it… magic. These people have the power of summoning the different aspects of their personality that normally reside in their brain as brainwaves and turn them into real people. Then they can sustain conversations with them about whatever is bothering them in their daily life, about any complicated dilemma… anything. Even more than that. These people have the power of creating a whole alternate dimension from these same brainwaves which act as a portal to said dimension, which hold everything that person is, has been or will be, in what regards to their personality, way of thinking and so on.

NICO: You are talking about “some people”, are you trying to tell me that…

THOMAS: Yes, Nico. I am one of said people. I don’t know why, I didn’t choose it or know how it works exactly, but I have that gift, and the aspects of my personality I summon, they are called the Sanders Sides, who live in the Mind Palace, the dimension I talked about.

[there’s a short silence before Nico speaks]

NICO: Thomas… are you drunk?

THOMAS: I’ve never been more sober in my life Nico. I expected you wouldn’t believe me, but I swear, for the love I feel for you, that what I’m saying is true.

NICO: This… I can’t believe all of this and you shouldn’t be surprised at all. All of this just looks like taken from a fairy tale, and I don’t believe in fairy tales. Thomas, please don’t take offense at what I’m going to say, but I think you may have spent so much time alone that perhaps you have started mixing reality and fiction. I have seen your YouTube series, Sanders Sides, and I recognize what you have just described to me as taken from that series. Yes, perhaps it happened to you as it happened to Alonso Quijano, who went crazy over reading to many chivalric books and thought he was Don Quijote de La Mancha and a vulgar woman from the next town a fair maiden named Dulcinea. That… or you’re playing a practical joke on me, I don’t know…

THOMAS: As I said, I didn’t expect you to believe me the first time I told you. No one I ever told this believed me on the first try… until I they saw proof. I anticipated I’d have to prove to you that I’m not insane.

NICO: Prove to me? What do you mean by that?

THOMAS: As I told you, the Sanders Sides are real physical entities surged from my imagination. Usually they live in my head, in the Mind Palace, but when they want, they can get out at will and wander through the real world, or as they call it, the “outer world”. They can make themselves invisible at will or shapeshift into any form, human or not, so as not to attract attention. Believe it or not, one of my Sides is in this room right at this moment.

[Virgil looks at Thomas]

VIRGIL: Should I, Thomas?

THOMAS: In a minute, Virgil, when I give you the sign.

NICO: Who are you talking to? Who is Virgil? You’re scaring me. Perhaps… perhaps I should go…

THOMAS: No, please. Don’t go, at least give me the opportunity to prove you that I’m not crazy.

NICO: [standing up, walking to the middle of the living room] Then what are you waiting for, Thomas? You said they can make themselves visible at will? [spinning around trying to find Virgil’s position to no avail, while Virgil stands up too and slowly walks towards him] Well then, Virgil, whoever you are and wherever you’re standing, why don’t you show up and end this entuerto once and for all. Show yourself!

THOMAS: Go ahead Virgil, show yourself.

[Virgil appears in front of Nico with his face right next to Nico’s face, his creepy music theme sounds]

VIRGIL: [tempest tongue] If you insist, nice to meet you, Nico.

[Nico only lets go a little gasp, then gets completely frozen, looking at the apparition in front of him. He doesn’t move a muscle]

THOMAS: Ni… Nico? Are you okay?

[with the same gesture, Nico collapses and would have fallen to the floor if Virgil hadn’t grabbed him midway]

VIRGIL: Whoa!

THOMAS: Oh, no! Virgil, perhaps you shouldn’t have appeared so close to him all of a sudden. And definitely, you shouldn’t have used your tempest tongue. Do you want to give him a heart attack?

VIRGIL: I’m so sorry, Thomas. You know, when I’m anxious, that voice can appear out of nowhere and I can’t control it. Now, will you help me or…?

THOMAS: Oh, yes, we’ll take him to the couch.

[Thomas and Virgil lay Nico on the couch]

VIRGIL: Well, now what, Thomas?

THOMAS: Perhaps you should step aside a couple of steps so as not to scare him again. I’ll try to wake him up.

VIRGIL: Okay…

THOMAS: Nico… Nico, are you okay? Wake up.

[Nico slowly opens his eyes]

NICO: Oh, Thomas… You wouldn’t believe the dream I just had, I… wait a minute, what am I doing sleeping in your house? Was it…? It was a dream, right? Tell me it was, Thomas.

THOMAS: I… I’m sorry, Nico… but it wasn’t a dream.

[Nico notices Virgil]

VIRGIL: Hello again, sorry about earlier. I didn’t mean to scare you like that.

NICO: [sitting down] Oh, my goodness…

THOMAS: Are you okay, Nico? I really didn’t mean to scare you. It’s just that… I thought we were having something good, something that I, at least, want to last for a lifetime… and I thought that, if we were going to be together, I couldn’t have secrets with you… [scared] because you still want to be with me, right?

NICO: I… I… I’m so confused right now, I don’t even know what to think right now…

[Nico stands up]

NICO: I’m sorry, but I need some fresh air to put my ideas in order. I gotta go, Thomas.

THOMAS: [sighs] As you wish, Nico… I understand.

[Nico leaves the house. Thomas looks at the closed door while a tear falls down his cheek]

VIRGIL: I’m sorry, Thomas. I’m sorry this didn’t go as we wished.

THOMAS: [trembling voice, trying to hide his feelings and pretend he’s okay] It… It’s okay. If this was bound to happen… it’s better that it happened this soon in our relation and not when I was too invested into it and someone got hurt… [bursting into tears] Oh, who am I trying to lie to, I was already invested and it hurts…

[Virgil hugs Thomas]

VIRGIL: If it serves as consolation… he still hasn’t broken up with you, not officially at least. Perhaps it’s true that he just needs some time to think.

THOMAS: [sobbing] I really want to believe that, Virge… but I’m not so sure of it…

VIRGIL: Well, there’s nothing we can do about it right now, so… [sweet voice, petting Thomas’ hair] Oh, hush, my friend, hush. It’s okay… It’s gonna be okay…

[Thomas keeps sobbing for some time, but slowly he calms down]

VIRGIL: That’s better. Now, would you like to play some video games here? It’s been ages since we had a good old game and at least it would help distract you, and me to ease up.

THOMAS: Thank you, Virge, for trying to lift my spirits up even when it is against your nature. You truly are a good friend.

VIRGIL: I’ll always be here for you. So, wanna play?

THOMAS: [sniffing and cleaning the tears with his hands] Of course, Virge, of course.

[Thomas and Virgil start playing video games. After about an hour or so, someone knocks at the door]

VIRGIL: Were you expecting someone, Thomas?

THOMAS: [pausing the game] No… Oh… do you think it could be…?

VIRGIL: There’s only one way to find out, Thomas.

[Thomas rushes to the door and opens it. Nico is there]

THOMAS: Nico!

NICO: Can I… can I come in?

THOMAS: Of course you can, Nico.

[Nico comes in. He notices Virgil]

NICO: Hello, Virgil. How… how are you doing?

VIRGIL: I’m okay, Nico, thanks for asking, and as I said, I’m sorry about earlier, I didn’t mean to scare you.

NICO: It’s okay.

THOMAS: So… you came back…

NICO: Yes, I did… To be honest… I didn’t go too far. I didn’t even leave the neighborhood, nor I got into the car, it was still there at the door. I just walked for a while, then sat down in the park nearby, thinking about everything, reflecting about all of this.

THOMAS: And did you get to a conclusion?

NICO: I did. After some time, when the scare wore off, I reviewed things in my mind more calmly, and I realized something. I… really didn’t see anything bad at all in you having Sides. Like, nothing at all. Of course it’s weird, but that isn’t necessarily bad. And on the other hand, I was certain of something I already knew before. Thomas, I love you. I love you… like I never loved a man before in my life. I don’t care if you have Sides or not. I love you and I don’t want to give you up. There’s one word you mentioned earlier, a word that, without me noticing it, got stuck into my mind and my heart as something I really wanted to have: a lifetime with you. I envisioned a lifetime with you and I couldn’t feel happier. You can bet that, if you let me, I’m gonna fight to make that lifetime with you work and I’m not ever leaving you as long as you love me.

[Thomas, imbued by a sudden passion, hugs and kisses Nico, while Virgil watches the scene with a heartwarming smile and his eyeshadow turns bright purple. After the kiss, Nico notices Virgil’s change]

NICO: Whoa, what’s that?

VIRGIL: What? Oh, this? Please, don’t’ mind me. When Thomas feels butterflies in his stomach, like you’re making him feel right now, I turn into a Glo Worm, it seems. It ruins my aesthetic, but to be honest, I feel so incredibly good when it happens that I don’t mind it happening at all.

NICO: [smiling at Thomas] Aw… that’s so cute.

THOMAS: [nervous giggle] Yes… it is, although I’m not so sure if I want anyone to rat my feelings out so easily…

VIRGIL: Well, sorry, Thomas, but I’m part of you as you know. He asked, I answered. Besides, with that kiss you have just given him, I think you made your emotions quite clear before he saw my purple eyeshadow.

THOMAS: You got me there.

NICO: Speaking about parts of you… how many of you, Sides, are there? I’m intrigued now.

THOMAS: Do you want to know them?

NICO: Yes, I would love to. And I would also love to see what you called the Mind Palace, that place must certainly be something.

THOMAS: If I could, I would take you to the Mind Palace, so that you could meet my Sides in their habitat. You would love it. Alas, that’s not possible yet.

NICO: Why not?

THOMAS: Well, I can only bring in and out of my Mind Palace people who have gone through a certain process. They must synchronize their brainwaves through hypnosis to make them compatible with mine. For that, we need my friend Talyn, but they’re out of town now. I can’t wait for that moment to come, though.

NICO: Gotcha. Still, I want so bad to know your Mind Palace. I imagine it to be such an incredible place. If I close my eyes, I can almost see it…

[Nico closes his eyes and smiles, rejoicing in his thoughts… then, out of a sudden, he sinks down and disappears]

THOMAS: [scared] Wait, what? Nico!

VIRGIL: [in shock, his eyeshadow turns black] Oh, my goodness! What has just happened?

THOMAS: I… I don’t know… Could he have… sank down into the Mind Palace?

VIRGIL: But he hasn’t been synchronized! That’s impossible!

THOMAS: And yet, there’s no other explanation. Come with me, Virge, we need to find him!

[Thomas and Virgil sink down, then they rise up in Logan’s room. Logan and Patton are there, playing Scattergories]

PATTON: Oh, hi, kiddos!

VIRGIL: Hi, dad.

LOGAN: What’s wrong, guys? You look concerned.

THOMAS: Have you seen Nico anywhere?

LOGAN: What? Nico? You have synchronized him without warning us to get into autopilot!? Thomas, how could you…?

THOMAS: That’s the weirdest thing, Logan! We didn’t synchronize him! He just sank down naturally!

LOGAN: Oh… and besides, Patton didn’t fall asleep as it happens to everyone but me when you’re hypnotized… That’s weird. Could it be that he has his own Mind Palace and has sank down there?

THOMAS: I… I hadn’t thought about that… Who knows…? But I don’t think so, otherwise, he wouldn’t have freaked out so much over knowing of the Sides’ existence. No, I don’t know how or why, but he must be somewhere in this Mind Palace. The question is where?

LOGAN: Don’t worry, Thomas, he can’t have gone too far. We’ll help you search.

THOMAS: Thank you, guys. Okay, you guys go to Roman’s room and I’ll go with Virgil to Janus’.

PATTON: Okay, kiddo. Good luck.

[everybody sinks down. Then Thomas and Virgil rise up in Janus’ room. Janus is touching up his snake make up and Remus is doing Remus stuff in the kitchen]

JANUS: Oh, hi, Thomas, hi Virge.

VIRGIL: Hi, Janus. Hi, Remus.

REMUS: Do you want to taste what I’m cooking? I just hunted it behind the counter!

VIRGIL: Uh… no, thanks.

THOMAS: We came here to check if Nico was here. But it seems you didn’t see him.

JANUS: Nico is in the Mind Palace? How?

THOMAS: That’s what I’d wish to know. He must be somewhere, but where?

VIRGIL: Well, we can rule out Sandersia, for sure. Unless you’re the Mind Palace owner, that is you, Thomas, from the outer world, you can only reach directly the rooms, and any other place must be reached once you are in the Mind Palace.

REMUS: And you can also rule out my room. It is protected by a barrier only Roman and I can cross as you remember, and the other door is through Sandersia, which is also ruled out, so.

[Logan and Patton rise up in Janus’ room with Roman and Ian]

ROMAN: They already brought me up to date. Nico isn’t in my room either, Thomas.

IAN: And we can see he’s not here either.

VIRGIL: Then there’s only one place he could have gone to. My room.

THOMAS: Oh, my goodness! Then, that means he must have met the ghouls that are living there! I hope they didn’t cause a shock too bad on him! We must hurry!

[everybody sinks down. Then, they rise up in Virgil’s room. Nico is there playing video games with the ghouls]

NICO: Oh, Thomas! There you are!

THOMAS: Nico! Oh, my goodness, you scared me so bad! Are you okay?

NICO: I’m fine, Thomas. I don’t know what happened I just closed my eyes, and when I opened them, your room had changed, and these guys were on the couch playing video games. They’re very nice, actually.

HEIGHT: Thank you. You’re very nice too, Nico.

THOMAS: Well, thanks guys for taking care of my boyfriend. I don’t know how he got here in my Mind Palace, but he just sank down in here.

NICO: Really? This is your Mind Palace? Wow…

VERTIGO: He just rised up in the middle of the room. We got a little shocked when we saw him, as it was clear he wasn’t one of the Sides, he didn’t look like you. But we just got along instantly. Are all humans so kind and fun to hang out with?

THOMAS: Nah, I just think that Nico is one of a kind, that’s why I love him.

NICO: Same, Thomas.

THOMAS: And now, how could this happen? How could Nico enter my Mind Palace barely without trying without going through the synchronization? Logan, have you got any explanation?

LOGAN: Well, if Nico could enter here, then that means only one thing: his brainwaves are naturally compatible with yours. He was born with the ability of entering your Mind Palace in particular.

PATTON: Awww, that’s so cute!

LOGAN: Why is it cute, Patton?

PATTON: Don’t you see? Thomas and Nico were born for each other! They are soul mates that were destined to be together, bound to meet and to be together sooner or later! So compatible that they read each other’s mind, or in this case enter each other’s mind.

[Thomas and Nico look at each other, then smile]

THOMAS: Do you think so, Patton?

PATTON: Yes!

JANUS: I don’t know if such thing as soul mates does really exist to begin with. To me it looks all a little… commercial, like St. Valentine’s Day.

ROMAN: Oh, shut up, Sulk Scales, I love that thought, it’s so romantic that it bums me I didn’t think of it first!

THOMAS: Roman, nicknames.

ROMAN: Sorry, Janus.

PATTON: Oh, Janus, don’t be like that! You know first hand that love is real. And that explains that huge force I felt the other day, so much so that it overwhelmed me and left me almost out of breath.

THOMAS: Wait, what? Patton, you never told me that! Are you okay?

PATTON: Yes, kiddo. I am now. I got accustomed to it. It’s just that your love for Nico is so strong it fills out the whole Mind Palace with its strength. That’s why the Core told me that Nico was needed to save Virgil and Roman’s son…

NICO: Wait, what?

[Thomas frowns at Patton]

VIRGIL: Great going, dad. Thomas hadn’t told him anything about that yet.

PATTON: [covering his mouth] Oh, I’m so sorry, guys. I thought you had already talked it out.

NICO: What does he mean, Thomas?

THOMAS: Well, I wanted to touch this topic later, when you got accustomed to the existence of my Sides, but as the cat is out of the bag now… You see, Roman and Virgil’s son, Dillon, is trapped by a malicious entity called the Paladin who has taken possession of his body. Patton has discovered that the only way to save him is by you going by my side into the Cave of Doom, where we have him contained, and help me take care of him.

NICO: That sounds dangerous.

THOMAS: It probably is. Inside the Mind Palace, I have power, and I would make sure to protect you from any danger we may face… But I’m sorry that my Mind Palace isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. It has its dark places and its malicious entities too. I’d wish to be, but I’m not perfect as that attests.

NICO: I don’t care if you’re not perfect. Is anyone perfect at all? I’m not perfect either, Thomas, and that’s okay. Don’t beat yourself about it.

THOMAS: Of course, Nico, I would never demand you to help us, especially if there is some kind of risk for you. Heck, I’m totally against you participating in this anyway because I don’t want to endanger you. [to Virgil and Roman] Sorry, guys, but I had to say it.

ROMAN: It’s totally fine, Thomas, we understand. And like we told you, there’s no need for Nico to participate. We’ll try to find another way.

THOMAS: Gosh, but it makes me feel so guilty… Dillon’s life is endangered… but at the same time… gosh, this is tearing me apart.

NICO: Thomas, I’ll do it.

THOMAS: What?

NICO: I know you want to protect me, because you always want to treasure and protect what you love, but I’m my own person to make the choice, and if you say that there’s one life endangered if I don’t help, my own consciousness tells me that I need to do my best to help. I’ll help you, in every way that I can, even if I don’t know what I am supposed to do, but I will. You can count on me.

VIRGIL: Thank you so much, Nico.

ROMAN: We can’t express how thankful we are if you’re willing to help.

THOMAS: Are you sure, Nico? I don’t know to what extent, but this could be dangerous.

NICO: I am sure. And as long as you are by my side, I won’t be afraid.

THOMAS: I love you. I love you so much, you don’t have an idea. Gosh, I know I’m acting so super sweet that I could cause diabetes on anyone passing by, but I can’t help yelling it to the world. I love you, Nicolás Flores.

[Thomas kisses Nico]

[ending card]

[some time later. Thomas has introduced Nico to all of the Sides and talked to him about their adventures]

VIRGIL: … and we also have another son, Chris. Well, his name is Christian Gerard Sanders but we call him Chris for short. He’s now in Sandersia, staying over in Roland’s castle for a few days.

NICO: What is Sandersia?

ROMAN: It’s a land attached to my room where all of Thomas’ characters and creations exist for real. I’m the Royal Prince that rules it, although Roland governs it in my place as regent. Oh, and Roland is my brother, by the way.

NICO: I see… Wow, there’s a lot to memorize here about this world, I hope I don’t get myself into a mess. So many people and places… and it’s all in your head, Thomas. How can you cope?

THOMAS: I’m accustomed already. I’ve been living through it since I was three years old. Don’t worry if you mess up here and there. We understand it’s not easy and it’s all kind of a shock coming all at once so suddenly.

NICO: So, let’s see if I got it right. You, Virgil, are Thomas’ vigilance and anxiety.

VIRGIL: Correct.

NICO: You, Roman, are Thomas’ pure Creativity, his romanticism and his ego.

ROMAN: Perfect.

NICO: Remus, you are Roman’s twin brother and Thomas’ not so pure creativity.

REMUS: Oh, I could kiss you. Can I kiss him, Thomas?

JANUS: [frowning] No, no you can’t, Remus.

NICO: You, Janus, you are Thomas’ deceitful nature and his self-preservation.

JANUS: Not impressed at all that you remembered…

NICO: Patton, you’re Thomas’ morality, his feelings and his inner child.

PATTON: Yes, kiddo, exactly.

NICO: You, Logan, are Thomas’ logical thinking and his acquired knowledge.

LOGAN: A+ for you, Nico.

NICO: You, Ian, you are Janus’ brother and encompass Thomas’ honest thinking. You two used to be kind of Siamese brothers sharing the same body in turns, but now are independent.

IAN: That’s right.

NICO: And then, there’s Chris, who, you said, is Thomas’ angsty creativity, and he’s Roman and Virgil’s son, as well as Dillon’s brother. I still don’t understand well how two people with the same reproductive organs could conceive a child, but the rest I got it right.

THOMAS: That’s easy to understand, though. As Sides are not human, they don’t follow the same biological rules as humans do and the laws of science don’t affect them. We’re talking about entities that can appear and disappear, can shapeshift, stretch their limbs as if they were made of rubber… it was only natural that reproduction didn’t work the same as with humans.

NICO: Gotcha… speaking about their son, there’s one thing I wonder. Each Side has at least one function in Thomas’ psyche. What does Dillon encompass exactly?

ROMAN: Well, to be honest, we don’t truly know.

VIRGIL: Yeah, we guessed that he encompassed Thomas’ hope, that’s why we named him Dillon, which means hope in Irish. You know that Thomas has Irish ancestors, right?

NICO: Yes, he told me. But you guessed he was Thomas’ hope? You’re not sure?

ROMAN: No, because that dang Paladin caught him even before he was born and we couldn’t identify him. Logan used to be able to examine us with an ability he had in his hands, he could have detected the Paladin’s presence inside Dillon’s body as soon as I delivered him. But he lost that ability in some unfortunate event we’ll tell you about some day, and couldn’t do it.

LOGAN: On the subject of my ability… guys, there’s one thing I gotta announce to you.

ROMAN: What is it, Logan?

LOGAN: Remember our latest adventure with the Core, how I had to stretch my arm to catch Patton before he was absorbed by the Core?

NICO: What?

LOGAN: Don’t worry, Nico, we’ll explain to you later. The point is that when my hand got closer to the Core… the Core’s influence touched it and its power imbued me without me even noticing in the turmoil of angst over saving Patton.

ROMAN: Are you going to tell me that the Core got you a gift, just like Patton now can heal us?

LOGAN: It got me a gift, but not a new gift like Patton’s. You guys, the Core has brought my examination ability back. We knew it was a matter of a long time that it was restored, but the Core accelerated that restoration. I can check you guys again.

THOMAS: That’s so great to hear, Logan! I’m happy for you! That ability was always very useful for all of us and it’s good to know that you have it back!

LOGAN: Yes, but not only it has restored it, it has removed the unpleasant side effect of electrification that I felt if I checked someone’s memories or that someone felt if I sent him mine. Now it’s all a more pleasant, totally painless process.

JANUS: Great, because I still remember that electric feeling and it wasn’t pleasant at all.

THOMAS: Okay, guys. Then if we’re all set, we need to start making a plan. There’s a Side in distress in the bottom of a cave that needs our help, a cave we also need to conquer back so that the ghouls can recover their friends and home. It’s time to face the Paladin once and for all.

#thomas sanders #sanders sides #character thomas sanders #nico flores #virgil sanders #logan sanders #patton sanders #roman sanders #janus sanders #remus sanders #sanders sides fanfiction #sanders sides fanfic #sanders sides fic #fanfiction #fanfic #fic #karrot kings #aspects and fanfics

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searchingwardrobes · 6 years

Text

Natural Opposite: Re-post of 3/16

Many thanks again to my beta, @distant-rose, as well as my artist @optomisticgirl who made the amazing banner above. You can also check out her art for chapter two here: Chapter Two Art

Summary: Dance is more than Emma Swan’s career; it’s practically saved her life on more than one occasion. But when it comes to reality TV shows, she’s always danced in the shadows of her twin brother David and her sister Elsa. Her first season as a pro on Dancing With the Stars was a disaster, and she enters her second season determined to prove herself. All she needs is a good partner. Hollywood bad boy and ladies’ man Killian Jones isn’t what she had in mind.

Rating: M for mature themes, steamy dance routines, and sexy times (But NOT smut)

Trigger warnings: discussions of online solicitation of a minor, bullying, statutory rape, and emotionally abusive/controlling relationships; stalking; anti-Rumbelle, anti-Neal

Can also be read on A03

Tagging: (let me know if you want to be added to my tag list) @snowbellewells @kmomof4 @jennjenn615 @kday426 @bethacaciakay @teamhook @whimsicallyenchantedrose @snidgetsafan @delirious-latenight-laughs @winterbaby89 @followbatb @onceuponaprincessworld @hollyethecurious @ohmakemeahercules @sambethe

Chapter Three: Hips Don’t Lie

“Regina, what the hell?”

Regina swiveled her chair to face Emma, who had stormed into her office with absolutely no preamble. She folded her hands calmly on her desk and arched a finely penciled brow. “Well, good morning to you too, Ms. Swan.”

Emma just stood in front of the woman’s desk, hands on her hips, foot tapping impatiently. “Cut the crap, Regina. How dare you –“

Regina cut her off with a raised hand. “If you’re storming in here to complain about your partner, you can stop right there. Thank God we salvaged enough footage from your first meeting. You couldn’t have been more rude to the man if you tried!”

Emma rolled her eyes. “And he couldn’t have been more of a self-absorbed jerk if he tried.”

Regina leaned forward, her eyes lowering to angry slits. “Every other female pro would gladly take a lead pipe to your knee to have an A-list celebrity as a partner.”

“Save it, Regina that’s not why I’m here. He may be a pain in the ass, but I’m not going to complain.” She lowered her arms and sighed. “I know having him as a partner is a great opportunity. Although I am wondering why the hell a guy with such a successful career is doing a show like ours.”

Regina leaned back in her chair, tapping her perfectly manicured nails on the arm rests. “Well, this can’t go beyond this office, but the network will soon be announcing that season six will be Neverland’s last.”

Emma raised her eyebrows in surprise as she plopped down into a chair. “Seriously? But it’s their highest rated show.”

Regina shrugged. “The creators say they had an ending in mind, and they won’t risk the show’s integrity going beyond it.”

Emma nodded, thinking. She wasn’t a fan of the show, but everybody knew about last season’s finale. It was a two hour musical episode about Hook and Tinkerbell’s wedding. She had also seen TV insiders speculating that the show could only go downhill now that its most popular couple was married.

“So what’s that got to do with Killian Jones doing this show?” Emma finally asked.

“Well, you know his reputation.”

Emma snorted a laugh. “You mean the bad boy lady’s man? Yeah, from what I’ve seen it’s pretty accurate.”

“Right,” Regina nodded, “and so is his character, Captain Hook. He doesn’t want to be typecast as the lovable bad boy. He could have a great career after the show ends, or he could fade into obscurity like hundreds of others before him. He wants to use DWTS to change his image, show what else he can do. Prove to the industry that he has other sides.”

Emma scowled. “Or it could prove everyone right.”

Regina scowled right back. “Why are you here?”

Emma pressed her lips together in a thin, angry line. “The samba? Seriously?”

Regina laughed aloud as Emma’s anger mounted. Regina Mills was more involved in the show than most casting directors. Because of the nature of reality television, her title was more “cast relations” than simply finding the right celebrities to fill the roster. She supposedly ironed out issues and complaints, but she was mostly good at ensuring there was enough drama for ratings. Half the time, Emma thought she did more harm than good. On purpose.

“You’re seriously complaining about doing the samba with an attractive, successful actor?”

Emma dug her fingers into the leather seat. “Come on, Regina. No one gets the samba first. It’s the sex dance!”

Regina raised one finger. “Correction, that would be the rumba.”

Emma got to her feet, pacing and gesturing agitatedly. “Well, still, the samba is . . . is . . . intimate.” She stopped and whirled towards Regina again. “And don’t pretend. Everyone knows the standard week one dances: salsa, cha cha cha, the waltz.”

“That’s not an official policy.”

“It’s still what happens,” Emma hissed through clenched teeth, “and even a casual audience member knows it.”

“He’s sex on legs, Emma, it’s what the fans will want.”

Emma massaged her brow in frustration. “What if he has no rhythm and embarrasses himself?”

“Look at the man,” Regina insisted, “he’s got rhythm.”

“Just because a man’s attractive doesn’t mean he has rhythm! Or did you learn nothing from the underwear model fiasco?”

Regina stood quickly, Emma’s words having struck a nerve. She leaned one hand on her desk and wagged the other hand in Emma’s face. “Killian Jones was in a rock and roll band back in the UK. He has music in his blood. You’re doing the samba with him for week one. This discussion is closed.”

Regina took her seat with exaggerated calm, and Emma knew not to argue further. Yet she still couldn’t help getting in one more word before she stomped out of her office.

“We’ll see about that,” she snapped before slamming Regina’s door.

Emma knew what ran through the veins of a hot-blooded male like Killian Jones. And it wasn’t music.

**********************************************************

There was nothing more awkward than having a camera crew present when teaching choreography. Emma had felt this way even on So You Think You Can Dance. Of course, then she had been the amateur worried about looking awkward in front of famous choreographers that she had long idolized. It just wasn’t something you wanted recorded for television. And yet, by week four, she had grown accustomed to it. Even when learning styles so unfamiliar to her like hip hop or Bollywood. Gotten used to it just in time to be sent home, that is. David and Elsa both said that the experience on SYTYCD made them more sympathetic to what the celebrities went through on Dancing With the Stars. Emma agreed. In theory.

But then she had been thrust with Leroy. The man had no rhythm whatsoever. His hips were as awkward as a robot, doing this weird side to side jerky motion. He couldn’t remember even the simplest box step. When the time came for the live show, he completely forgot the choreography, and Emma sort of just danced around him.

All of that, however, could have been endearing if not for Leroy’s personality. He was lazy in rehearsals, taking constant breaks. He yelled at Emma when she tried to correct him. And he even had the audacity to tell Emma her choreography was “stupid” and accused her of trying to make him look bad on purpose. Emma had bit her tongue as much as possible, but Regina had to know it was a horrible match. Elsa’s calm demeanor or Ariel’s bubbly enthusiasm could have defused Leroy and possibly even made him likable. Either Regina wanted Leroy gone in the first elimination, or it was some sort of test. A test Emma failed miserably.

So as Emma headed for her first rehearsal with Killian Jones, she gave herself a pep talk. After such a horrible debut with Leroy, she really should be thankful for such an A list celebrity. And this time, she would rise to the challenge. She wouldn’t let this playboy’s flirting bring out her prickly side. She would pass this test, damn it, and prove herself to Regina and the show’s producers.

Emma was pleasantly surprised to find Killian already there when she arrived at the studio. She was also relieved to see him in sweatpants and a t-shirt; she had half expected him to show up still dressed like a model for GQ. She accepted the loose hug he gave her with a fake smile, knowing that the cameras were already rolling. But just when she thought maybe their first practice wouldn’t be so bad, he gave her an appreciative gaze and a wink.

“Looking lovely as ever, Swan.”

Emma rolled her eyes as she turned away from him. Her hair was in a sloppy ponytail, and she was wearing zero makeup. Her black capri yoga pants may have been skin tight, but her oversized t-shirt hung down covering her rear. The only thing remotely sexy about the way she looked was that the t-shirt had a wide neckline that hung off one shoulder to reveal the strap of her black sports bra. The man was a good actor, she would give him that much.

“Well,” she said after dropping her dance bag to the floor, “our first dance is . . .”

He lifted both eyebrows in anticipation. Emma’s pause was partly for dramatic effect and partly to brace herself for his reaction.

“. . . the samba.”

To her surprise, his face went slightly pale and he blinked rapidly a few times. “The samba? For week one? Isn’t that one of the more difficult dances?”

Emma smiled with relief that he hadn’t made some type of innuendo. “No, actually. The samba has a basic step with a quick, quick, slow rhythm. It looks harder than it is.”

She took his hands, placing one at her waist, and grasping the other with hers. One of the lucky things about the samba was that flaws in Killian’s frame would be masked with the side by side flicks and the rolls. The next half hour was the type of dull ballroom instruction that never made it into the show’s actual footage. Killian was a surprisingly diligent student, concentrating with a furrowed brow and his tongue poking out of the corner of his mouth. At one point, she couldn’t help laughing a little.

“What?” he asked, looking slightly offended.

Emma shook her head. “You can’t dance the whole thing looking at your feet, you know.”

He managed to laugh at himself, glancing down and away to the side. Emma couldn’t help noting how long his lashes were; they practically brushed the tops of his cheeks. He then lifted his gaze to meet hers and rolled his shoulders back.

“This better?”

“Much.”

Killian leaned forward and fake whispered in her ear, loud enough for the cameras to catch. “If you wanted to gaze into my eyes, all you had to do was ask.”

Okay, so maybe some of this footage would make it to air.

*********************************************************

“Now that you’ve gotten the basic samba footwork down, we need to work on the harder moves.”

Killian took a swig from his water bottle and gave her another wary expression. “Harder?”

“Well, yeah, we can’t just do the quick, quick, slow thing around and around in circles for a minute and a half. There’s the performance factor, too.”

Emma took him by the hand and pulled him close. She turned so her back was to his chest, then she pulled his left arm around her waist.

“Well, Swan, don’t stand on ceremony,” Killian said to her huskily, bending down so his breath ghosted across her neck.

Emma caught his gaze in the reflection of the mirror and rolled her eyes. “I’m trying to show you a body roll, genius.”

Her tone was harsher than it probably should have been, but Killian just laughed. She took his right hand in hers and first taught him how to do the samba steps backwards. He stumbled a few times, but after several minutes, he picked it up.

“Now,” Emma said, “here’s the tricky part. I’m going to lean back into you. You’ll lean with me, and will take that movement in a smooth circle as we walk backwards.”

Killian swallowed nervously, “That, uh, sounds a little like patting your head and rubbing your stomach at the same time.”

Emma laughed at the comparison, “Yeah, a little, so we’ll take it slow.”

She leaned back as she and Killian both stepped backwards. But when Emma rolled her body to the side, Killian suddenly got confused about where his feet were supposed to be. His right foot tangled with hers, and suddenly, they were both going down. He reached out and grabbed her around the waist as they fell, pulling Emma on top of him. He let out a loud breath as he hit the floor. Emma reached out with her hands and pushed herself up halfway. She shook her head and found herself gazing down at a grinning Killian.

“Sorry, love, I can be a tad clumsy.”

Emma was suddenly aware of his hands still at her waist, of their bodies’ still pressed against each other, and of the way his eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled. Suddenly, it felt as if she couldn’t breathe, and she scrambled hurriedly off him.

“I need five minutes,” she muttered as she hurriedly left the room, slamming the door shut behind her.

Emma’s heart was pounding as she leaned forward against the wall in the hallway. She glanced nervously behind her and was relieved that the cameras hadn’t followed her. She took deep breaths through her nose, then slowly exhaled through her mouth. She remembered a pair of brown eyes that also crinkled at the corners. What can a klutz like me do to get a dance lesson? Emma bit her lip and shook her head. No, she wasn’t letting her mind go there. She squared her shoulders and turned back towards the studio.

She also wasn’t going to be taken in by seemingly nervous smiles and flirting. Not again.

#csbb #csbb fic #cs ff #dancing with the stars au #modern au #enemies to friends to lovers #natural opposite #searching wardrobes

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previously-on-riverdale-imagines · 6 years

Text

Focus

Warnings: none!

Summary: The reader and Jughead are asked to help Kevin by recording the making of ‘Carrie: The Musical’.

Word Count: 2601

A/N: Hey guys! I managed to get my first one-shot out for this blog! WOO! I hope you guys enjoy this idea that I had inspired by Episode 2x18. Bear with me as it is my first time writing with these characters :)

“Carrie the Musical will be the most epic three-night-spectacular of your lives,” Kevin announced to the group, looking way too excited and enthusiastic for a Monday morning. “You all have to be part of it!”

At that moment, you and Jughead let out a simultaneous groan. Kevin, Betty, Veronica and Archie looked over at the pair of you.

“Oh, come on Y/N!” Betty exclaimed, “I understand Jug not wanting to sing and dance, but why not you? I’ve heard you sing to yourself, and you’re great!”

You just shook your head as Betty was speaking. Singing? Sure it was fun to do when the only audience you had to worry about was your shower curtain. But singing on stage with over 100 pairs of eyes on you was too far a stretch for your liking.

“I’m sorry guys, but I just wouldn’t do the story justice,” you sighed. “Plus, I’m afraid you’d get a whole lot of stage fright when I’m in that spotlight. You wouldn’t want that Kevin, now would you?”

“Don’t you think we all feel a bit nervous about performing to half of Riverdale?” Archie added plainly.

“Says you Archie! At least you and V have performed on a stage before, on several occasions might I add,” you exclaimed, frustrated that no-one really seemed to understand what you were feeling. Although you did glance your eyes over to Jughead and he seemed just as uncomfortable at the conversation as you.

“Enough!” Kevin cut in, “As much as I love you Y/N, I need to have the very best and most professional actors that I can to make ‘Carrie’ iconic again!”

“Great!” you breathed, “Problem sorted then.”

You heard Jughead give a small breath of laughter, only just audible enough for you to hear.

“But just hold on one moment, Y/N. You and Jughead can’t just not be involved with my impending masterpiece, even if you aren’t confident enough to share your musical gift… or lack thereof,” Kevin said, looking Jughead’s way, causing Jughead to just roll his eyes.

Kevin continued, “So it’s settled. You will both be assigned to documenting every behind-the-scenes action and music practice session, in order to keep this feeling alive forever!” Kevin looked like he was in a state of total euphoria, before quickly grabbing his books, that laid on the bench you were all seated at, and walking away.

You and the core four all looked around at one another, knowing that the next few weeks were going to be crazy.

It was the afternoon of the same day that Kevin had told you the way in which you would still be involved with ‘Carrie’, and the bell had just gone to alert you that is was time to head home and sleep the rest of the day away. You were packing your biology books into your bag, when you saw the glimpse of a beanie-wearing guy sit into the recently-empty seat next to you.

“So Y/N,” Jughead began with a sigh, “I guess we should try and talk about how we are going to manage this thing out. Otherwise I know Kevin will be giving us grief until we actually start filming.”

“Yeah I suppose we should,” you added. You made it sound so casual and laidback for someone whose heart felt like it was going a million miles an hour. Fortunately, you were the only one who knew your true feelings towards Jughead, because if anyone, especially Veronica, found out, you knew that they would bug you until you made a move. You weren’t ready to tell anyone. Not yet.

“How about we get out of this dingy prison they have so lovingly nicknamed ‘school’, and head to Pop’s to talk more?” you suggested, which got a laugh out of Jughead. He nodded, quickly hopping up from his seat, and gesturing for you to link your arm with his. You knew that he was just being Jughead, but you couldn’t help your cheeks turn a light shade of red. You accepted the offer and wandered out the classroom and onward to Pop’s Diner.

It was a week after you met up with Juggie at Pop’s to discuss how you would negotiate sharing the role of documenting the entire process of creating ‘Carrie’. It was such a special afternoon, just you two alone, eating your go-to burgers and talking until the sun began to slip behind the treeline.

Rehearsals began this afternoon, after school, and you agreed to meet Jughead outside the school auditorium a few minutes before rehearsal was scheduled to start.

You were there way too early, that you waited a good 10 minutes before he turned up.

“Hey Y/N, have you been waiting here long?” he asked, before you shook your head.

The pair of you made your way inside the auditorium, taking a seat in the general audience seats. Jughead began to pull out two cameras from his bag, setting them down on the seat in between the both of you.

“Alright, so like we agreed, I’ll video,” he muttered as he continued to grab other cords and tidbits from his bag, “And you shall photograph what should be a ‘life-changing musical.’” He spoke in imitation of Kevin’s often over-the-top enthusiasm.

You gave a small laugh at the Southside Serpent, and picked up a camera, before quickly taking a photo of Jughead.

“Hey! Aren’t you supposed to be taking photos of anyone but me?” Jughead asked, confusion and laughter in his tone.

“That’s where you’re wrong, Jughead Jones,” you responded, smiling as you brought the camera back up to your eyes and took another candid shot of him. When you viewed the photo you had just taken, you couldn’t help but feel your heart melt.

The next week felt like it went by extremely quickly, with rehearsals every day after school, and both days of the weekend. Even though you weren’t singing or dancing or doing any acting, taking photos of everyone that was performing made you feel exhausted just trying to keep up with them.

But while it was a tiring week, it was always worth it. You wish you could say it was because you were helping out one of your closest friends, Kevin, to document his artistry. But then you would be lying.

Spending every day and so many moments with Jughead was what made everything worth it. You had so many opportunities to chat and laugh, and even if you didn’t want to admit it, enjoy the musical performances together.

Although you were both on documenting protocol, they were often times that you weren’t with one another, as you may have been up on stage getting up-close footage of Cheryl as Carrie White, or the intimate love songs that Archie and Betty would sing to one another. In fact, you even captured a hilarious photograph of Veronica’s face of jealousy and pettiness when the pair were singing. Oh goodness, that girl was such a classic.

You actually hadn’t seen any of the footage that Jughead had taken during the week, as he insisted it was no good, and needed to be edited together in an interesting montage style video before being viewed by anyone.

It was nearing the end of the 9th day of rehearsals, and both you and Jughead were doing your own thing, capturing photos and video of the cast singing the finale song, until Kevin called cut to finish the scene.

“Thank you for all of your hard work everyone, I will see you tomorrow same time, same place!” Kevin yelled out to the cast on stage, and motioned for everyone to move out of the auditorium, before shouting again, “Jughead and Y/N! Can you please meet me over by the stage please?”

Jughead was already side of stage, so he slowly wandered out and sat on the edge of the stage, legs dangling down and lay his camera beside him. You walked quickly from the back of the auditorium to the stage, and stood beside Kevin, who was in front of Jughead.

“Alright guys,” Kevin began, “I thought since we are about half way through rehearsals now, I was wondering if I could see what you guys have documented so far! Then I can know if we need any more snaps of anything else.”

“Sure!” you said excitedly, knowing full well you were actually super proud of the photos you had taken, and knew that Kev would be excited to see them as well. But as you said that, Jughead quickly stood up.

“Actually sorry Kevin,” Jughead started to explain, “I actually would prefer it if you saw the end product of the video. It’s just that I don’t really think that it looks…”

Jughead was quickly interrupted by Kevin snatching away the camera from the stage, from where Jughead had left it, and began to turn it on.

“I’m sorry Jughead, but I will feel much better about the end product if I know what the footage is like,” Kevin explained.

Kevin pressed play on one of the videos taken a few days earlier, and Jughead jumped from the stage trying to stop him, but you quickly pushed him away, trying to see the video for yourself.

The video began showing Veronica starting her solo song, and began to pan to the backup dancers who were clicking to the beat. So far it was looking really great, and you saw Kev smile at the sight of his masterpiece.

The footage continued to go between Veronica and the backup dancers for a little while, before it began to pan around to the rows of seats where the audience would sit. Where you were sitting. The video began to zoom in closer and closer, till it was just you in the frame. You saw yourself snapping a few photos with the flash going off. Each time you took a photo, you saw yourself look down at your camera and smile at the photo you had just taken. It felt like you were being filmed for what felt like over a minute before the video finally ended.

Why would he film you? Was it just part of the documenting process? Maybe it was just that one video.

You looked over at Jughead for a response, and he was just sitting back on the stage, head in his hands. Kev looked slightly confused, but moved across to the next video and hit play.

This time the video started pointing at the ground for a few seconds, before it slowly turned upward towards side stage. It zoomed closer and closer to the person standing in the wings, with her camera flashing towards Archie and Betty who were singing their duet. And that person was you, again. You felt your heart pick up several paces faster and your mouth fall slightly ajar, as you watched the camera continue to focus on you. Even as you moved out of the wings and onto the main stage, the video continued to follow your every move, never once changing focus.

Kevin paused the video, looked at you briefly and then scrunched his forehead at Jughead, who was still looking towards the ground.

“Uh… Jughead…” Kevin stammered, “What’s going on?”

Jughead raised his head, and you saw a pain in his eyes, as he looked earnestly at Kevin to drop the subject. Kevin took a few moments to register the hint, and he walked over to Jughead and placed the camera beside him once again.

“I’m just going to head off,” Kev said awkwardly, before she shuffled quickly out of the auditorium.

You stood in silence, looking at Jughead for answers. He looked towards you and prepared himself to say something, but nothing came out.

You had a million thoughts running through your brain in those moments of silence. Why would he film you? Did he think you were a suspect in the Black Hood case? Was he trying to catch you in a moment of embarrassment? But you still had no clue whatsoever.

“Y/N,” Jughead finally said, interrupting your thoughts, “You were never meant to see them.”

You furrowed your brow, and exclaimed, “Well, why would you film me in the first place? Is this apart of some crazy scheme to humiliate me or something?” You felt a sense of anger in your tone.

“No, god no!” Jughead responded, shaking his head as he hopped off the stage and took a step towards you, “It’s just that…” He trailed off, stuck in his words.

“That what, Jug?” you asked softly.

“You fascinate me, Y/N. You light up any room you walk into, and I just wanted to see you over and over, even when we weren’t together,” he said, and then quickly spat out, “But not like in a creepy way! Sorry if it came out really creepy and stalkerish, because it’s not like that at all.”

You let out a small laugh, and you began to feel your eyes prick with happy tears. “No! It didn’t sound like that at all.”

Taking a step closer to Jughead, you began to feel your heart in your throat, begging to be released. You took a deep breath, before beginning to talk.

“Jug, I haven’t been able to tell you this, because I’ve felt so certain that it would end in rejection. But, you are just always on my mind, and I feel so warm and safe with you, and I just couldn’t imagine my life without you and I…”

Your sentence was interrupted by the feeling of a pair of lips pressing against your own. Jughead slowly pulled his lips away from yours, but still kept his head close.

“You are so beautiful, Y/N,” he whispered, and you couldn’t help but beam from ear to ear, “And for the record, all those things you said about me, I feel the same for you.”

You didn’t hesitate to return the kiss that he had given you a few moments earlier. It lasted many moments longer than before, and you could feel Jughead begin to smile during the kiss. You didn’t want this moment to end. It was everything you could have asked for, and more.

Finally, you began to lift your lips from his, and you stood up straight again, turning your gaze to the camera that still laid on the stage.

“You know,” you began, “We’re going to have to spend a lot more time actually filming the musical, otherwise at the end of all of this, Kevin will be in complete outrage.”

He gave a laugh, and nodded. “Yeah, I kind of dropped the ball on that one there. But since I won’t be seeing you through the lens of the camera as much anymore, maybe we could debrief after each rehearsal, you know, for the sake of the musical.”

You gave a small laugh at Jughead, whose demeanour seem lighter than usual now, and nodded along, “Mhmm, sure. I guess if it’s for the sake of the musical, then we must.”

Jughead walked over to the stage, grabbed his camera and walked to where his bag was laying, before slinging it over his shoulder. He then reached out his hand towards you, with a gleam of joy in his eyes. You gladly grabbed onto it, and slowly made your way out of the auditorium.

You didn’t really know where you were going to end up, but you figured it was likely it would be a booth at Pop’s.You both had a lot to discuss… oh, about the musical of course…

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armin-screams-for-icecream · 6 years

Text

An Angel Named Kansas

Have you ever seen an angel? I have. Almost a year ago.

I was at a college party. Well let me be more clear, it was a theater/improv kid hangout, with alcohol, lots of it. There I sit in a bean bag chair oddly placed at the end of the hall far away from the drunken camaraderie of the dance floor. I’m sitting with two people. Let’s call them Jean and Bev. Jean was a stage manager for two plays I had been in and Bev was...well Bev was someone who I used to dislike quite strongly for reasons that I don’t have time to explain. Let’s just say we are friends now. It’s complicated.

We were discussing our favorite episodes of Ouran High School Host Club when the angel suddenly appeared stumbling through the hall, one hand touching the wall to keep him on his feet, the other holding his 8th beer of the night, I don’t quite remember the exact number, but I know he told me because he seemed quite proud of his beer drinking accomplishments. Let’s call this angel Kansas; although, he would probably prefer to be called Missouri. I knew Kansas. We had met maybe three times? Once at another theater geek hangout, and at the two rehearsals I had been to since joining the improv group a few weeks back. I always had the feeling that Kansas didn’t like me for some reason. Not because of anything he did or said but because I assume everyone dislikes me when they first meet me because I’m self destructive and I have no self esteem.

I was drunk, not as drunk as Kansas and my two lovely friends, but I was drunk enough to have the confidence to initiate conversation with this stumbling angel. I stayed seated on the bean bag, stared at Kansas while I waited for him to finish his conversation with Jean and Bev, and I finally asked

“Kansas, I get the feeling you don’t like me very much.” He just stopped and looked down at me.

“Why would you say that?” he asked.

“I just feel like you never really seem that happy whenever I’m around. I just feel like you seem indifferent, I don’t know.” To be honest I really didn’t know. I wasn’t going to tell him the truth. “Hi Kansas the reason I think you hate me is because I hate myself and assume everyone else hates me too.” How crazy would I sound? There was some silence for a while. He laughed and he smiled, an angel’s smile, and he bent down so that we were eye to eye. He took my hand and before I can tell you what he said I need you to understand why what he said meant so much to me.

There are two reasons why Kansas’ words were the kindest words ever spoken to me.

Number One: I thought I had finally found someone I wanted to be in a relationship with, let’s say his name was Richard. We met the semester before this story takes place and we were just friends, well barely. He was friends with my friends and then one day we decided to hang out. We were practically the same person. But I didn’t see him that way because I knew he liked someone else and to be honest I just didn’t feel that way. But then over the summer one night I decided to snap chat him a picture of me watching Attack on Titan because I remembered him saying he watched anime sometimes. Next thing I knew my phone started buzzing. It was Richard. I answered and I lost my hearing for a split moment because as soon as I answered he shouted “YOU WATCH ATTACK ON TITAN?! WHO DO YOU THINK THE BEAST TITAN IS?!?” Then from that day on we Skyped every time a new AoT episode came out. I knew he had feelings for me and I started having feelings for him too. For the first time in a long time I found someone I could trust my heart with.

Of course just a few months later he stomped on my heart. We dated and I won’t go into too many more details but basically he ghosted me for two weeks, told my roommate and all our friends except for me he was going to Germany and then texted me, from Germany, saying he wanted a serious relationship and that I wasn’t the person he wanted to be in a serious relationship with. My heart was shattered. I thought I found, not to sound dramatic, the one. And I was at a point in my life where I just didn’t think I could take being alone anymore and I thought he was the cure but I ended up feeling lonelier than I was before he came into my life. He made me feel, and still makes me feel, like there’s something wrong with me. He had added himself to the long list of people who have earned my trust and then completely shredded it and thrown it in the garbage without even a second thought. He also gave me another line to add to my list of reasons why I hate myself and think I’m going to die alone list.

Long story short, I was heart broken like I’ve never been heart broken before.

Number Two: It happened two days before this story. I can’t get into it so I’ll say it in three sentences.

He was saying goodbye to the world. He said goodbye to everyone but me. Don’t worry, he lived.

Now back to Kansas.

He took my hand and said,

“I saw your play last semester. I was mesmerized by your performance. You are one of the most talented people I have ever seen up on stage. You are talented, beautiful, and you are so kind. I’m telling you right now that no one on this Earth does or should ever hate you. I don’t hate you. You deserve to be loved. You deserve the world. Don’t ever think anything else.”

I felt in that moment that God or whoever is up there watching over me was talking to me through Kansas that night. What Kansas said was all I ever wanted to hear. And sure my mom has said that to me, my friends have said similar words to me when I’m feeling sad but Kansas, he hardly knew me. He had no other reason but the kindness and love of his heart to say those words to me. He could’ve walked away when I asked him why he didn’t like me. He could’ve given me a simple “what no I don’t, you’re crazy” answer. But he didn’t. He knew, without even really knowing anything about me, what to say in that moment. He knew what I had been through without having to know what I had been through. He knew somehow I spent my Junior year of high school raising myself because my mom was off at rehab and my dad worked late. He knew my friends left me behind my senior year of high school and left me feeling like I didn’t want to go on anymore. He knew I cried myself to sleep most nights. He knew I had given up hope from all the things, too many to count, that I had lived through.

He knew without knowing a single thing. He was an angel. An angel who knew I just needed someone to say something, anything, to make me feel like I could keep going. I smiled. I didn’t know what to say. I stood up. We hugged. He felt like a normal human being. But I knew he wasn’t.

“Your beer is empty. Let me get you another one.” he said.

Jean, Bev, and I followed him into the dance room and to be honest I don’t remember the rest of the night. Not because I was black out drunk but because the rest of the night all I could think about was the words he spoke and all I could do was look at him for as long as I could before his wings sprouted and he flew back up into heaven.

Where is Kansas now?

He graduated. He lives in a house with the love of his life, wishing he was back in college because he hates his job.

I met an angel. I feel so lucky to have been blessed with the words he spoke. But part of me wishes I never knew he was one because when I see him with her my heart aches.

Whenever we are together I convince myself I’m okay with it. I convince myself that I don’t feel that way for him. But then that moment from that party when that angel spoke those words always comes back. I cherish it when he’s away and I resent it when he is near. He’s happy with her. Angels deserve to be happy. She’s probably an angel too.

I am not an angel. I will never be an angel. I will never be with an angel. Nevertheless, I have the memory of an angel and that’s good enough for me.

-K.

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your-rose-highness · 7 years

Text

Cherry Blossoms (ch.11)

Chapter 11

Baekhyun and I had avoided every chance of meeting after that day. One day as I was about to enter the vocal training room I heard voices, and the thing that caught my attention was my name being mentioned.

“… that’s after Y/N. Kyungsoo, he’s hardly ever getting out of his room. He doesn’t go out, he mechanically eats and immediately leaves, has declined every occasion that called for an outing. I just don’t know what to do anymore. I’ve tried everything.”, The voice talking was exceptionally deep, so I knew it was Chanyeol.

“What about?… You know?” Kyungsoo asked after a very long pause.

“Nope. Nothing. Not even once. Which is why it’s making this even more strange! He’s not like this. These situations have never affected him before.”

I contemplated a lot before entering. After taking in a deep breath, I knocked and entered.

“Hello Kyungsoo sunbae, Chanyeol sunbae.” I greeted, pushing open the door.

My sudden appearance astounded them, both blankly staring at me for a second.

“Oh hi!” Said Chanyeol after gauging my presence in the room.

“Y/N, today I can’t train you, I’ve some other arrangements. But someone will come. Why don’t you sit and practice. You can use the recording room.” Kyungsoo said after standing up to leave. Chanyeol gathered some papers and left after a couple of minutes too. Having the room to myself, millions of thoughts ran through my head. It’d been so long since I had seen Baekhyun. It was hard. I had grown attached to him. At one point, I reconsidered dating him just to be with him for a while, whether it hurt me or no in the end.

The door suddenly creaked, grabbing my attention and disrupting my trail of thought. I stood up when I saw Baekhyun opening the door. We met eyes for a second before he closed the door again without entering. Sudden adrenaline rush in my body made me act, I rushed to the door and opened it again to find him walking back slowly.

“Baekhyun sunbae!” I called out.

He stopped in his tracks and slowly turned to face me.

“Sorry I didn’t know you were inside.”, He replied.

“Why did you leave? It’s not my room.”

“Um. Yeah. Err okay. Let’s go.”

We went inside the room and sat on the two furthest chairs. He didn’t look at me at all. Deciding to break the tension, I spoke first.

“So how’s the project you were working on, going?”

“Good. We’ve made some progress.”

“ Sunbae..”

“Listen, Y/N, you needn’t worry about me. Like you said, I’m a guy who has women around them at all times. I won’t deny it. I’m like that. And honestly, now that you have mentioned it, you’re right. I can’t be sure that I can love you the way you’d want me to. I might change my mind. I always have in the end. I can’t destroy you knowing that you might be hurt beyond repair. So, this is good. I’m okay with it. I hope you find someone better. Someone who can keep you happy. I can’t.”

My mind blocked out everything else as I heard him. Somehow I knew things were bad between us, but I guess I always wanted something to mend it. I hoped someday it would be okay. Or maybe like the guys in a drama, he’d still want me. This was beyond my expectation. I couldn’t feel anything, but my heart was beating too fast as though my mind wanted me to run away from this mortal danger of the situation I found myself in. He didn’t look at me as he spoke and without giving a glance, he got up to leave.

I felt too dizzy. Why did these things always happen with me? I felt too ill to sit there. I wanted to sleep. After reaching the dorm, I texted Hye Jin about my whereabouts and got into bed. I fell asleep soon.

“Here, eat this.”

“Thanks. Is she okay now?”

“Seems so. At least she’s not burning.”

I could hear voices when I opened my eyes.

“Y/N! You’re up!” exclaimed Hye Jin.

“Y/N, are you okay?” I found yonghwa at the foot of the bed.

“Yes, I am. What happened to me?”

“You had a fever. When I got home I wanted to wake you up to eat but you were so hot. I panicked. So I called Yong.” , explained Hye Jin.

“Y/N, if you weren’t well, you should have gone to the infirmary.”

“I was okay when I got here. Just tired.”, I justified.

Baekhyun’s words kept creeping up on me now and then after that day. He seemed so sure that he couldn’t be with me the way I wanted him, that it would break me into tears out of the blue. Usually, these episodes would happen in front of yonghwa and he’d be flabbergasted. He never tried to enquire about it though. He’d just give me tissues and at times pat my back. I’m sure he knew why I behaved the way I did.

All throughout vocal lessons, Baekhyun would completely avoid me, sitting with the others. Ji ah would occasionally try to drag him around though. He didn’t seem too interested. Was it because he found someone else already?

“You, Baekhyun, you can do it with Y/N.”, Kyungsoo said, after a successful practice session one evening, assigning duets for the upcoming college fest.

Both our heads snapped in Kyungsoo’s direction, who on the other hand, didn’t seem to find it strange.

“Kyungsoo, I’m sure she’d want to do it with you.”, Baekhyun spoke up.

“Y/N, do you have a problem with singing with Baekhyun? I don’t think you should.”, Kyungsoo asked nodding in my direction.

“Err… no…” I stuttered.

“It’s done then.” Said Kyungsoo, closing his book, “ partners can find time on their own to practice. For the next two weeks prior to the fest, the music room will be open till late.”

I looked at Baekhyun and found him looking at me with a blank expression. It was so evident he didn’t want to do the performance with me. Maybe if I spoke to Chanyeol sunbae…

“It’s okay y/n, woman up. It’s not even your fault what are you so worried about? Just practice and come back. Go!” ,Hye Jin said as she tried to insert some courage into my cowardly veins.

I geared up and entered the room at the time he had asked for us to meet ( he didn’t even text me, he asked Jongdae to send the message to Hye Jin to let me know.). He was already there, on his piano. Practicing a piece that sounded so blissful that I stood at the door for too long. I knocked before I entered and closed the door behind me.

“Hey.. sit.” He said.

Earlier, ‘sit’ would always be on the bench beside him. Now? 'sit’ seemed to be on a chair far away.

“Um.. Kyungsoo already chose a song for us.. I think you know it.. it’s called 'Like I’m gonna lose you’ by Meghan Trainor and John legend.”

“ Yeah I do know. It’s a beautiful song.”

“The first verse is you.. wanna give it a try first?”

His fingers glided over the keys playing the intro, looking up to meet my eyes.

I found myself dreaming, silver and gold, a scene from the movie, that every broken heart knows. We’re walking in the moonlight,you pull me close. Split second and you disappeared and then I was all alone.. Woke up in tears with you by my side….

So I’m gonna love you… like I’m gonna lose you…

And he continued,

So I’ll kiss you longer baby Any chance that I get I’ll make the most of the minutes and love with no regrets…

“It sounds good.” I said when he stopped.

“Yeah. We do sound good together.” He smiled at me, our eyes were on each other a little too long, when i looked away.

“Sunbae, can you fix my vibrato? There are quite a few of them..”

The rest of the day passed with us singing. We almost forgot about the whole awkwardness. He was being his playful self and teased me every time I made a mistake.

“Dinner?” , He asked, as he locked up the room, “I mean only if you want to… you know.. eat with me.”

“I’m starving.” I said, smiling widely at him.

“Well, for my little famished friend, I have the perfect place in mind.”

He took me to a cute little restaurant that was too cozy and inviting to refuse walking into. The whole shack was filled with delicious smells. This time, he ordered a noodle dish. I thought the awkwardness had left us, but here we were, sitting across each other with having very little to say. Both a little too glad when the food arrived. We spoke a little about the food but mostly ate in silence.

“It’s getting chilly…”, I said as we walked back to my dorm.

“This is chilly for you? It’s going to get way worse for you then.”

“It’s really warm where I come from.”

“Then you better stock up on warm clothes. Winter here is a little bitch at times.”

“I will keep that in mind. Thanks.”, I laughed.

After we reached the dorm, I said , “ thank you sunbae.”

“It’s okay coffee.. I mean.. y/n. Wow, that name really stuck with me. Haha.”

Looking at him, too many memories flooded my brain. His gaze wouldn’t let me move. We almost leaned in towards each other when his phone rang a little too loudly in the silent night. Both of us were flustered at the sound.

“I should go.”, He said.

“Yeah, it’s late.”

The two weeks leading to the performance drew closer and inversely proportional to it, was my anxiety. I had never performed in front of a handful of people let alone the entire University. I had fleeting moments when I would want to give up altogether, but Baekhyun would convince me that it wouldn’t be as bad as I thought it would be.

“What if no sound comes out of me?”, I nervously asked.

“What the.. why won’t it? Well, you know what, I’ll cover for you. Relax!”

“You’re lying. What if I go out of tune?”

“I’ll harmonize.”, He said shrugging his shoulders.

He put his hands on my shoulders and said, “listen, I’ll be right beside you. I’ll help you. Plus we’ve rehearsed enough y/n. You’re good!”

I looked up at him.

“You trust me?” he asked.

I nodded timidly.

“You’ll be fine.”, he beamed.

Half hour for the music club’s performances. Please queue up. The organizers informed. I felt like my heart was in my mouth. Where was Baekhyun anyway? Did he leave me alone? What if Kyungsoo asked me to perform by myself? If that happens, I’m going to run…..

“Hey.” , I felt a tap on my back. As I turned around and there he was. He looked like a prince. It was so different than what I saw everyday. He was dressed in a black and white checked suit complete with a bowtie. I always thought that his ultra cute looks would have women swooning all over him without him even trying, but this was just… indescribable.

“I assume I look good?” He smirked. “You look too much of a princess yourself as well, may I add.”

“I thought you went AWOL.”

“I’d never do that. You know that.”

“Y/N!” , I found Yong Hwa approaching us. “Wow. You look beautiful.”

Hye Jin had dressed me in a pretty dress that she owned. It was black lace and came up to my knees.

“Thanks Yong. You look nice too! Formal suits you!”

“Haha. Thanks. Excited?”

“Excited? More like nervous.”

“You’ll do well. I know it. Anyways, I gotta go now. Bye. Good luck!”, He said kissing my cheek. I felt Baekhyun stiffen by me as Yong left.

“I didn’t know anyone could kiss you.”, He whispered with a straight face.

“Yong is my best friend.”

“Even has a nickname.”

Before I could answer, Jongdae lined us up for the performance. We were supposed to start first. When it was time to step onto the stage, I felt my heartbeat quicken and my body stiffen and chill. When Baekhyun didn’t find me behind him, he quickly jogged towards me.

“Y/N, c'mon. We start soon.”, he quickly muttered.

“Sunbae, I can’t. I’m.. I feel sick….”

“Hey. Look at me.. you’ll be fine. Just come out..” he pulled my arm.

“No. No. Sunbae. You don’t get it! I can't….. sing. I’m sorry. I can’t.”, tears brimming in my eyes as I stammered.

“Coffee. Look at me.”, taking my cheeks between his hands, he levelled our eyes, “I’m here. C'mon. Just look at me. Calm down first. Breathe.”

I blocked out the noise, the heat and the people. The warmth of his hands was spreading throughout.

“Hold my hand.” He stretched out his hand and held mine, “You’ll be fine. Just look at me.”

He guided me out onto the stage. The crowd was screaming. I clutched his hand tighter and felt the fear creeping up again. He pulled me close again, “Coffee, hey, listen. It’s just another practice. Nail it.”, he whispered.

He signalled Hye Jin who was on the piano, and Chanyeol on the guitar. The music started and I felt like my voice wouldn’t come out. And as I feared, I missed the cue. Hye Jin and Chanyeol, confused, stopped playing. The crowd was already booing at us.

“Coffee!”, Baekhyun pulled my arm, “don’t look at them. Eyes on me, okay?

He signalled Chanyeol to begin again. The music rang in the arena once again, my eyes fixed on Baekhyun, my palm tightly clutching his, he nodded at me to start and I took a deep breath to begin.

“I found myself dreaming In silver and gold Like a scene from a movie That every broken heart knows…..”

I was singing. My voice booming in the loud space. Baekhyun still had his gaze fixed on me and nodded along with the music. As I approached the ending of the first verse, I felt his thumb rubbing soothing circles on the back of my palm. He was beaming at me when he started his own verse. The knot in my stomach loosened as we neared the ending. The crowd cheered and clapped when we finished. As we left the stage, I felt immensely grateful to him. We were still holding hands. It was just an instantaneous action when I turned around to hug him backstage. He hugged me back, and patted my head.

“Wow, you really were nervous, I can feel your heart beating crazy.” he grinned.

“Thank you, sunbae.”

He didn’t say anything, but I felt him smile. We broke away, when Hye Jin ran towards us.

“It’s okay! You sounded so amazing, like, you have no idea!!! Dude, it was, wow! And sunbae, OMG! I knew you’re a lead singer of the group, but, damn.” Hye Jin rambled in one breath.

“Thanks Hye Jin. Brilliantly played by the way, I did notice that you made one tiny mistake, but I like how you made certain improvisations adding in your style.”, Baekhyun complimented.

After the whole program, we were told that there’s a party organised by the student council celebrating a successful fest.

The whole space was decorated with extravagant lights and colours. A DJ rocking up the music with popular beats with unfamiliar music. To my surprise, it was Chanyeol, grooving with the spunky beats. What couldn’t the man do?

“Y/N! C'mon let’s dance.” Hye Jin pulled me onto the dance floor. We giggled and did the worst moves in the history of mankind. Soon we were exhausted.

“Water?”, I screamed at Hye Jin through the loud atmosphere.

“Yeah!!!” She nodded.

Pushing my way through the crowd, I found a couple of my classmates. As I spoke to them, my eyes rested on a white checkered suit, surrounded by girls, all of them laughing. Baekhyun seemed to enjoy himself. He was right, he can’t just be with me. It’s too out of his demeanor. He saw me glaring at him from across the room and his smile immediately disappeared. Feeling a little too brave, I grabbed a bottle of alcohol that my friend was holding and drank it (Thankfully there wasn’t much in it). I tried to find Hye Jin to continue dancing and enjoy the night without thinking about Baekhyun. I bumped into Jongin,Sehun and couple of their friends instead, who were also part of the music club, but I scarcely saw them.

“Oh Y/N right? You were good back there!”, Jongin said animatedly. Clearly he was tipsy.

“I don’t think we’ve met?” Sehun extended his hand towards me.

“Ah. No. We haven’t.” The alcohol was burning in my throat. Was it supposed to feel this way?

“You’re beautiful Y/N.”

“Thank you Sehun! You’re really handsome, a little too much for me to handle.”, I laughed.

What the hell was I doing? I knew I shouldn’t be saying this, but I couldn’t control my mouth.

“Haha. Really? I’m honoured. Say y/n, would you like to get out of here? It’s too noisy, don’t you think?” He gestured.

“It’s really noisy! But I’m here with my roommate!” I said, looking around to find her.

Sehun grabbed my hand, “it’s okay, she won’t need you.”

A danger signal was going off in my head, but why the hell was I smiling?!

The next moment, I felt someone’s arm around my waist.

“Y/N, babe, where were you? Had me looking all over the place.” Baekhyun said, placing a kiss on my head.

“Ah, hyung.”, Sehun sighed, letting go of my hand. “I didn’t know she was yours.”

Baekhyun just smiled at him.

“I’m not…”, I protested.

“Let’s go, babe. I wanted you to meet someone.”, Baekhyun dragged me before I could finish my sentence.

“Let go, sunbae! I was talking to him!” I pulled my arm.

“Coffee what the hell? Did you drink? Do you know him? How careless can you get?” he snapped.

“Why? Why do you care? You can go around flirting with women, but I can’t even talk to one?” I fumed.

“Is this what that was about? You were trying to get back at me? I was just talking to them. I wasn’t getting their numbers or something.”

“Well, I was trying to get his. So let me go.”

“Y/N!” , He roared. “Don’t! Don’t do this! I can’t bare to see it.”

I suddenly felt tired and tears began brimming in my eyes.

“Sunbae. What do you want from me? You won’t stay with me. You won’t let me do anything. When I try to forget you, you interfere, making it worse.”

“I want you. I only said that because I thought that’s what you wanted. I want you to be with me.” he mumbled.

“I can’t trust you.”

“Fine. You tell me how I can win it back. I’ll do it all.”

“Really?”

“Coffee I’ve never wanted to be with someone twice. But I can’t seem to let you go. I can’t watch you be with someone else. Feeling jealous over a girl because she’s close to other guys? That’d be a first for me. It pisses me off when I see Yong Hwa touching you. Or you being too close with Chanyeol. It makes me mad. I need you.”

“Will you do everything I say?”, I sniffed.

“Everything. You name it. It’s done.”

“Don’t flirt with other girls.”

“Do I look crazy to you? I’ll never even look at them. What else?”

“Don’t hang out with other girls alone.” , I said after pondering a lot.

“I won’t.”

“Don’t leave me.”

“Coffee.”, He held my face between his palms again. “I promise, to never hurt you again. You have no idea what I feel for you.”

I melted at his touch. Burying my head in his chest, I hugged him. He wrapped his arms around me and we stood like that for a minute, taking in each other’s presence for real.

It felt too good to be true. He was surreal. And so was this moment.

Back at the party. Baekhyun went on stage. “ For the one in my heart.” , he smiled at me once and sang.

“Beautiful girls all over the world I could be chasing but my time would be wasted They got nothin’ on you baby Nothin’ on you baby They might say hi and I might say hey But you shouldn’t worry about what they say 'Cause they got nothin’ on you baby Nothin’ on you baby…”

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rkroyalsurvival-blog · 7 years

Photo

Episode start.

Like most bittersweet moments, it begins with the good. Lucky viewers with their volumes turned up are hooked in by the catchy tune of “Team” as the intro VTR plays in at the start. Thirteen girls with hopes and dreams are seen on screen, each one beautiful and each one talented in her own right. But, when ‘Royal Survival’ appears at its conclusion, it’s a reminder that not all endings can be purely optimistic. Despite the good feelings of friendship developing behind the scenes, despite the talents that are seen onstage and the performances that will rock a nation, in the end it’s about survival of the fittest.

The audience is reminded of the previous episode’s events when a familiar image of So Jisub inside the performance venue appears. “Your second challenge is going to show me exactly what you’re capable of,” he tells the gathered girls with a handsome smile upon his face. “Idols need to be able to perform well as a team. I will personally be sorting you and you will be asked to perform one of Royal Entertainment’s past hit songs in front of an invited audience. For many of you up there, this will be your comeback opportunity to be placed on the Major team.”

It’s the shining goal of all. For those who want to take a spot, as well as those who want to protect theirs. As soon as the girls are dismissed from the stage, the preparations for the next phase begin in full onslaught. The audience gets to see Yoo Jaekyung pulling out the groups one by one to teach them the choreography. Jo Eunae is seen barefoot by the studio’s mirrors, her feet visibly in rough condition as she attempts to sing along to an unheard melody. Her group member, Lee Jihyun, equally practices hard on the choreography. Anyone familiar with “Goodbye Baby” might recognize the iconic moves of the song but, to those who aren’t, all they see a female trainee forced to the point of exhaustion as she goes over the dance repeatedly.

“Honestly, I think I’d like to see myself or Jihyun finally make it into major,” Nam Dawon is heard speaking as she’s pictured inside the interview room. A smiling girl with a quiet aura, she continues on with an honest tone, “But thinking that way is kind of scary because I also feel like she’s my strongest competition to get there.” A clip is shown of Dawon being aided by Lee Jieun as they both practice their group choreography together. Missteps are frequent and so is the determination on Dawon’s face as she repeats the steps again. “Even when I was little, I knew that I wanted to become a singer. Singing is all that I’ve ever known. It’s what I’m best at… which led me to realize my dream of becoming an idol. My family and I have gone through so much just for me to reach this point, so… I have to debut, no matter what.”

As the girls rehearse separately, the preparations for the filming continue on elsewhere: So Jisub is seen meeting with his producers to speak about concepts, as well as with Yoo Jaekyung to discuss the choreography progress, and once, he is even seen silently watching a rehearsal through the practice studio’s window as the third group is taught the dance to “Be My Baby.” Admittedly, this is the group he’s the most concerned about, and Jisub watches Manoban Lalisa with a critical eye as she asks numerous questions out of Jaekyung: “Is this right?” “Do we tilt our head during this part?” “What count is this on?” Her attention to perfection doesn’t go unobserved; rather, it coaxes a warm smile out of Royal’s CEO. He watches the group dance for a few moments longer and then departs.

October 1st, 2017, the day of the filming.

Staffers clothed in their professional blacks move quickly backstage to add lights where needed around the stage. The stage manager barks out orders and So Jisub is seen conversing with a clipboard-holding producer beside one of the cameras. An anonymous audience has filled up most of the venue’s front rows of seats, their faces alternately excited and anxious to see who’s about to appear onstage for the first time. For many, most of these trainees are still unknown to the public, while others have already worked their way into viewers’ hearts. Handmade signs cheering for Kim Yubin and Lee Jihyun are seen held by several teenage girls and boys. Another one, for Jegal Seoyoung, is glittering and pink.

“For me, being a singer is the only thing I ever wanted to do!” Jegal Seoyoung admits inside the interview room, throwing up her arms in excitement as she speaks. “Honestly, people never noticed me that much in school, but… I was always happy when I was on stage. Eomma and Appa in Daegu, my cousin Jaebum here in Seoul… and all my other cousins, thank you. I hope you’re all watching. I love you!”

A quiet hush descends over the crowd as the lights go dark. The camera operators are ready with anticipation, their cameras’ red lights blinking as the first group comes out to take their places on center stage. The live audience will get two chances to see them but, for the viewers at home, they only get to see the best of what this selected group of girls can offer. Lee Jihyun, Lee Soohyun, Jo Eunae, and Kim Seolhyun all take their opening position on the floor and then the music begins. It’s “Goodbye Baby” by the Brave Girls in all its glory.

Throughout the performance, Jisub maintains a neutral expression as he watches. The viewers can see that he’s been joined by Yoo Jaekyung once again but both are careful to keep their faces free of bias as they watch the repeated performance back to back. When the first group has finished, the CEO takes a moment to converse with Jaekyung quietly before writing down some notes on a pad in front of him. He waves to the producer, who in turn tells the audience to remain quiet as the girls are called forward to the stage.

Jisub takes a microphone that is handed to him and faces the first group with a warm smile. “Hello, ladies. How did that feel?” The lines around his eyes crease with a pleased appearance as he continues. “Overall, this was incredibly impressive. When I picked you four to group up together, I did so while knowing all of you are good enough to work well together -- and to boost up those who might be further behind.” He glances at Lee Jihyun and the camera follows, making it clear about which girl he’s referring to. “That being said… Jo Eunae.” Jisub turns to face the rapper with a more solemn gaze. “You’ve been a favorite of mine so far, yet it’s clear that you still have a long way to go with improving your onstage performance. Your rap is good -- could be better, but still good -- as well as your dancing, yet it appears to me that you struggle very clearly when you’re asked to do both together.” Jisub pauses, his face betraying his reluctance as he continues. “Unfortunately, it’s too amateur-looking for what I require. Eunae, you’ll be going to the ‘Bottom Three’ tonight.”

“Lee Jihyun,” he addresses the girl next. “Congratulations, you will take her place in Majors along with both Seolhyun and Soohyun, who are both safe in Majors as well. All three of you displayed an excellent show of talent as well as being able to keep up with the vocals and the choreography at the level I want to see. It’s a good sign, and all three of you should feel very happy with this performance.”

Jisub sets the microphone aside as the girls are asked by the producers to leave and make way for the second group. Nam Dawon, Kim Yubin, Jegal Seoyoung, and Lee Jieun join the stage and the previously shocked audience erupts into cheers as fan favorites appear. The staff waits for Jisub’s hand signal before the music and the performance begins. As before, the CEO watches the repeat performances with a critical eye for the condition of all the singers, the main rapper, and the overall group synchronization as “Over U” is performed twice for his observation.

When it’s over, the male exhales slowly and sits back in his seat. The audience murmurs loudly but no one can hear the exchange occurring between Jaekyung and So Jisub as they debate over these current four. It’s not until the girls are in their judgment positions at the front of the stage that the CEO picks up the microphone to speak for the second time. “Admittedly… this went a lot better than I thought,” he confesses with a small chuckle. “I meant for these concepts to challenge you all and, for some, I see it did.” He eyes Nam Dawon in particular, in which the camera also follows. “Dawon, as I said before: your voice is probably the best in this competition. Not everyone in a group needs to shine as the most charismatic, but you should at least have a great talent in order to make up for it. Dawon, every time you open your mouth to sing, I don’t think anyone can possibly focus on anything else but where it’s coming from. Because of that quality, it’s your right to join Major group.” He lets that sink in, to the answering applause of the audience, before switching his attention to the other girls.

“Jegal Seoyoung, you are also safe for this challenge. Your singing and dancing was well done, and I compliment the energy I saw onstage.” He hesitates again, wanting to delay the inevitable until Jaekyung gives him a meaningful look to continue. “Kim Yubin, I told you last week that I admired your experience in performing in front of a camera. Dealing with a wardrobe malfunction counts and I doubt many others actually noticed what went wrong there,” he notes with wry amusement. “That being said, you need to improve on your ability to dance while you perform a vocal part in a song. Breath control can be improved and I suggest you do so if only to better yourself as a performer. Until then, you may stay in Majors for now.” He looks to Lee Jieun next, and the choreographer sitting behind him visibly tenses in her seat. “Jaekyung insists I keep you here, Jieun, but… in all honesty, I can’t see a place in my girl group for a trainee who can only dance and nothing else. You’re good at what you do, without a doubt, but you must have another skill you can show me, Jieun, as your singing is not the level where it needs to be. Unfortunately, I’m going to have to ask you to be in the ‘Bottom Three’ tonight. Please wait with Eunae until later.”

Shouts of dismay follow his announcement but it’s soon swallowed up by louder cheers and applause when the third group of Jung Soojung, Park Chaeyoung, Ahn Hyojin, Yang Jiwon and Manoban Lalisa appears. The show keeps moving, staff buzzing around to prepare the stage and the signal given by the CEO when he’s gathered himself and is ready for the last group to take the stage. The music begins and there’s no hiding the concern on Jisub’s face now as he watches this final lineup do their best on perhaps the most energetic pick of the songs. H.A.M. is iconic for their feminine charm and energy and the girls he’d picked for this concept are quite the opposite: some are dull with their stage presence and others struggle with the quick-step choreography that takes them all around the stage.

By the time he picks up the microphone for the third time, So Jisub has already made peace with his decision. This time, Jaekyung doesn’t bother to interfere as the male leans forward to address all the girls with a polite smile. “I was perhaps the most unfair to you five,” he admits to them with a quiet laugh. “H.A.M. is a hard act to cover and I chose it already knowing most of you can’t dance well, or even sing at that level. Still, it was fun to try, right?” He turns his head to address Jung Soojung and Park Chaeyoung first. “Soojung and Rose, while you both still lack stage presence on a regrettable level, it’s undeniable to me, after watching this performance, that you both deserve to be in the Majors consideration. Not only can you both sing well, but I have also witnessed a noticeable improvement in your dancing for this stage. You are listening to my critiques and improving upon your weaknesses, which is something I appreciate greatly. Congratulations, you two may join the Major group.” Jisub switches focus to the last three and considers them all at length before finally continuing. “Jiwon, you are safe in Minor this week. While your singing was very good, you lack the ability to do so while dancing at the same time. Multitasking is hard for anyone, I know, but idols cannot do without this skill, Jiwon. I’ll ask you to continue working on it.”

“Elly, your rap part was very good this week,” he tells Ahn Hyojin kindly. “Despite lacking the fundamental basics of dance, it’s hard to ignore how distinct your voice is when it comes to your solo verse. No doubt you are the best-sounding rapper here and I’m inclined to keep you on because of it. You are safe in Minors. That means, Lisa,” he tells Manoban Lalisa with a regretful glance in her direction, “I’ll be seeing you in the ‘Bottom Three’ along with Jieun and Eunae. All three of you, please gather at the front of the stage.”

A break is given in real time on the filming day for the staff to clear out the studio audience for this private elimination. During this time when the cameras aren’t recording, the girls are allowed to be on stage together while adjustments are made by the crew in preparation for the “elimination” segment. No one at home gets to see the way the lights are changed behind the scenes, nor do they get to see the private moments the girls have with one another before the “five minute warning” is called. The stage manager tells the girls that only the remaining three contestants can be on the stage while the rest will be allowed to wait backstage in order to hear the results. When everyone is ready to continue, the lights of the cameras flash back on to focus on the trio of Jieun, Lisa, and Eunae. These three are positioned at the very front of the stage where they can see So Jisub clearly as he speaks to them from his familiar table in the center.

“This… is a decision I’ve wavered back and forth on for quite awhile,” Jisub confesses in a sincere tone. “I like all of you for different reasons. Each one of you brings something to the table I can’t find anywhere else: Eunae, who raps as well as she dances and possesses a natural charisma that’s hard to find elsewhere; Jieun, whose dance skill eclipses many and who has so much potential as a performer; and you, Lisa, who is the epitome of star quality. I’ve seen all three of you rise and fall to these past two challenges and it doesn’t make my choice any easier.” The CEO inhales deeply and then exhales on a quiet sigh.

“The one going home tonight… is Lee Jieun.” He looks directly at her and keeps his tone comforting, while controlled. “Jieun, right now, you are too focused in dance and, while I appreciate the level of skill in that you possess, it has unfortunately limited you on what else you can provide for a group’s balance. I don’t need just dancers, I need dancers who can also sing or rap or contribute something to a performance other than a few seconds of a dance break. Jieun, you have done well to make it this far and I know you will continue to improve yourself as a trainee in the future.”

Jisub looks to Lisa and Eunae next. “Lisa, you are safe because you already have made great strides in improving your stage skills even in this short time. I appreciate that kind of determination to change and I will be observing whether you keep up with it or not. Eunae,” he calls to the other and nods shortly, “As I said before, you have great potential, but you are lacking with your overall performance technique. Both of you will go to Minors this week and will hopefully come up with a way to win yourself a place in Majors after this next, even tougher challenge.”

The staff urges the rest of the girls waiting backstage to come out once So Jisub has finished his declaration. The CEO waits for them to gather together as group at the center of the stage before he stands up to his full height and addresses them all with a serious intent. “The producers have told me that many of you have grown fond of each other in these past few weeks, with budding friendships and becoming closer as teammates. I’m glad to hear it, of course, as the girls who survive this show will be friends, teammates, and colleagues who will have to weather the storm of public scrutiny together as soon as they debut. However…” Jisub looks at each girl in the eye before continuing firmly, “... you must remember that you are also competition here. Working together for this last challenge was fun as well as necessary, but now you must prove to me why you, and not another singer, or another rapper, deserves to be in the final group lineup. For the next time, you will go head to head in a one-to-one battle to take each other’s spots in the Major and Minor groups.”

End of episode.

EPISODE 3, Writing Prompt:

As So Jisub explained at the end of the episode, the time has now come for the contestants to prove their individual worth in a one-to-one battle challenge. With the numbers now even among the girls, each contestant will be assigned a competitor she will have to face off against for the next episode. Each contestant will have the total span of 3 minutes to perform whatever she would like to for her challenge performance. Singers aren’t limited to singing, rappers aren’t limited to rapping; no matter your skill-set, you may choose a variety of skills to show off or even just your strongest for So Jisub to decide how you measure up against your opponent. Regardless of current placements, only one girl in each pairing gets to Major while the other will go to Minor.

The assigned competitors are as follows:

Kim Yubin vs. Ahn Hyojin

Kim Seolhyun vs. Manoban Lalisa

Park Chaeyoung vs. Yang Jiwon

Lee Soohyun vs. Lee Jihyun

Nam Dawon vs. Jung Soojung

Jegal Seoyoung vs. Jo Eunae

You will be allowed to prepare for your challenge as you see fit in the days leading up to the filming to October 15th. You will only get to perform once for the cameras on that day but there will be plenty of time before then for costume fittings and a dress rehearsal prior to the filming time on the 15th. You will perform in the above chronological order, with Yubin being the first to perform her challenge, and Eunae being the last to perform. Also, as a special reward for having worked through the Chuseok holiday for the last challenge, the girls will be allowed two free days, October 12th-13th, to have their loved ones visit them at the dormitory complex.

For this episode’s writing opportunities:

Required: write a 300+ word performance solo about your muse performing her battle challenge. Optional: write a 300+ word preparation solo about any event leading up to the battle challenge. This can include rehearsals, costume fittings, dress rehearsals, etc. Optional: write a 250+ word interview with your muse reacting to the events unveiled during this episode. As before, you do not have to answer all of these, and you are allowed to come up with your own questions for this interview. However, all questions for this episode’s interview should relate to these following topics:

How do you feel about the results of the last episode?

What do you think is your biggest strength? Your biggest weakness

What do you think of your competitor? What would you like to say to her before your challenge?

How do you plan to show your skills better than your competitor?

The reward for writing the required solo is +10 SKILL POINTS TO BE DISTRIBUTED AS YOU WISH, +10 CHARISMA POINTS, and +5 DEBUT points, as well earning +1 week of a RELEVANT ACHIEVEMENT. Additionally, all girls will automatically receive +1 week VARIETY achievement for being present during Episode 3. Point forms will always be due the Wednesday after a deadline passes; this means for Episode 3, verification forms should be submitted after the Activity Check post on Wednesday, October 18th. These form dates have been added to the writing schedule, so refer to it periodically to make sure everything is being submitted on time!

ROYAL SURVIVAL EPISODE 3 (for the Oct 18th form)

[ x ] *one 300+ word performance solo

+10 ____ POINTS

+10 CHARISMA POINTS

+ 5 DEBUT POINTS

+1 WK RELEVANT ACHIEVEMENT (CURRENT LEVEL + NUMBER OF TIMES TAKEN)

+1 WK VARIETY ACHIEVEMENT (CURRENT LEVEL + NUMBER OF TIMES TAKEN)

+ NEW DEBUT POINTS TOTAL:

The deadline for all solos is midnight EST at the end of October 15th, and please tag each solo (including the interview) with #royalsurvival3. If you have any questions, feel free to send them to the Royal Survival inbox!

#royalsurvival #rsepisode #ellyrk #rkseoyoung #rkeunae #rksoojung #seolhyunrk #yubinrk #rkjazzeun #rkqri #rksoohyun #rklisa #rkdawon #rkrose #rkjiwon

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evenstevensranked · 7 years

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#26: Season 3, Episode 13 - “Boy On A Rock”

Louis is under the impression that Twitty's ex-girlfriend Allison is hitting on him judging by the looks they've been exchanging. A plot filled with wonderful miscommunication ensues! Meanwhile, Steve volunteers at LJH and Ren competes against Tom for a spot to march in the annual Rose Parade.

This one opens with Steve driving Louis, Twitty and Ren to school. Steve takes the opportunity to tell them that he’s signed up to be a parent volunteer at their school, to Louis and Ren’s absolute dismay. It’s pretty great when Louis asks if he’s going to embarrass them and Steve says “Well, that’s probably unavoidable.” Well, at least he knows. But, since he knows he’s embarrassing.. why can’t he make a conscious decision to dial it down?!

We see that Twitty is talking quietly on the phone to someone before he hangs up and reveals it was Allison and that they just broke up. I love this bit because it comes across as refreshingly grown-up. Another thing that feels more High School than Middle School to me. It’s also a very nice moment for Louis and Twitty’s friendship. Louis is super comforting and soft spoken here all “Dude, I’m sorry...” Awww. I love it.

At school, the flag core is rehearsing their routine for the annual Rose Parade. Coach Tugnut tells them, “Hey! Don’t get too cocky. One miss-twirl and, well..... We all know what happened to Shamski.” This is so funny. Whatever “unfortunate incident” happened to this Shamski guy has opened up a spot on the team. Literally no one else wants the spot other than Ren, so Tugnut is about to give it to her by default -- until good’ol Tom Gribalski comes jogging into the picture, late due to Opera Club running overtime, hoping to try out. Tugnut tells them both to practice and they’ll hold official tryouts after school.

Louis is in class about to take a quiz when Allison walks by the door and starts cheekily smiling at him. I swear to god this is so freaking funny. Louis does a double take because... why would she randomly stop and stare at him like that?! There’s this sultry, instrumental Spanish flamenco music playing and it kills me.

The girl is literally biting her lip... what de heck.

Of course, this is all it takes for Louis to start thinking he’s God’s gift to earth and that every woman ever must be after him. He goes to talk to Tawny about it and says Allison gave him “The Eye” which is great. Tawny thinks he’s being ridiculous so Louis is all “Sounds like you’re jealous that ~the ladies~ are checkin’ me out.” Oh my god. Tawny says “We had our little thing, and now we’re just friends. I’m fine if the ~ladies~ are checking you out” -- which we know is a lie but okay. Again, this all feels very high school to me and I love it tbh.

Later in the cafeteria line, Allison gives Louis another look. THE MUSIC KICKS IN AGAIN AND IT’S MY FAVORITE THING. This melody gets stuck in my head constantly. I just hum it and laugh to myself because it’s so dramatic and overly romantic sounding for this situation. Louis is now totally convinced that he’s not crazy and she’s definitely into him. Tawny’s had enough already and flat out asks Allison if she’s been checking him out and she says “I have. I like his look.” WELL, DANG. It’s amazing because as soon as she says that, one single chord from the flamenco guitar plays as she walks away and I die every time. This counts as music humor to me.

Louis gets lost in his thoughts and it zooms into his brain to show us these two elderly men chillin at a Deli discussing the current drama of Louis’ life. WHAT?!

This show is so freaking random. I don’t even know where they come up with this stuff. I used to think these guys were stupid and pointless, which they kinda are. Especially since we’ve never seen them before and they’re only featured in this one episode. But, the more I thought about it.. the more I started to find it hilarious. One of them thinks Louis should go for it and date Allison, the other thinks it’s wrong because she’s his best friend’s ex. Um, I agree with the latter. Twitty and Allison broke up THAT MORNING and Louis is already considering going in for the kill. I cannot. He’s insane. But that’s already been established many times and these Deli men are just the icing on the cake.

Just then, Steve busts out of the kitchen shouting “HOWDY, KIDS! STEP RIGHT UP TO BIG STEVE’S TEXAS BARBECUE!” Are you kidding me right now? Yeah, ya know how I said if Steve knows he’s embarrassing he should just do his best to dial it down? It’s like he purposely turned it up to 11:

I love how Shia does the shirt-over-the-head thing to hide from the embarrassment, lol.

Cut to the flag core tryouts. Ren tries her best, but of course, Tom blows her away. Some stock music that reminds me of “76 Trombones” from The Music Man plays while he does his routine, lol. Steve is now on trash duty and comes over to Ren and asks how it went. She says she’ll probably be watching the parade from home again and Steve is clearly a little mad. You can tell he’s gonna do something about it which... come on, man. Let the better person win. Coach Tugnut goes on to say one of my favorite lines when Tom asks which one of them made the team: “Well, I could tell you that right now... But it would be better for your character if I were to prolong the agony for a couple more hours.” So good. Tugnut says quite a few gems throughout the series, tbh.

Tawny is me once again and confronts Louis about him seriously considering getting together with Allison. She, too, agrees that it’s way too soon. It cuts to the Deli guys and one of them just says “What does she know?! Ehh, this corned beef is too fatty!” which just makes me laugh. Louis suddenly agrees about it being too soon and says he’ll put a stop to whatever’s brewing between him and Allison IMMEDIATELY. Just then, Allison approaches him and it takes all of 0.5 seconds for Louis to completely cave.

The flamenco music is playing again here, btw.

Honestly, y’all gotta hear what this music sounds like for yourself so it can be hilariously stuck in your head too:

Louis goes to the bathroom to talk to himself (and the guys in his head) out loud, as you do when you’re in crisis. Speaking of the bathroom, ya know how I’ve mentioned a few times that Louis moved up to 8th grade in Season 3? Well, this scene is one of the few that definitely confirm it!! The door clearly tells us that he’s in the 8th grade bathroom. Ayyyy!

Still not sure why the bathrooms are segregated like that tho??? Is that a thing?

Tom is in one of the stalls practicing his flag routine and Louis is shocked. He’s all “TOM! What were you doing in there?!” but Tom turns the tables “The better question is, who are you talking to out here?” Gotta love how Louis owns his craziness and explains “OH! Well, there’s these two old guys who hang out at a Deli in my head and help me out with lifes little problems.” Fantastic. Louis asks Tom where Templeton Park is and we get one of the best moments ever. (Tumblr won’t let me embed more than one thing, so click that link to see what I’m talking about. Tom is the GREATEST.) So, yeah. Louis finds out that people call it “Temptation Park” because it’s a popular makeout spot. Seriously, these kids are in high school ok. I refuse to believe otherwise.

Basically, to shorten and simplify this subplot: Steve bribes Tugnut with donuts so that Ren will get the spot on the flag core... which she does. Ren finds out and gets mad because she a very fair-and-square person. So, she in turn bribes Tugnut with a cheese calzone to ensure Tom gets the spot instead... which he does. THE END!

Ren handing her flag over to Tom -- whose life has just been made.

Louis is a nervous wreck around Twitty because he obviously knows that he should not be messing around with Allison in any way shape or form. So when Twitty asks if he wants to hang out later, Louis makes up some bogus excuse about needing to go sock shopping with his dad. Wow. As usual, Twitty knows that something’s up.

CUT TO ~TEMPTATION PARK~! The miscommunication culminates here and I love it so much. Louis meets Allison at the park and she lays out a blanket for them and everything. They get comfortable and she asks “Soo, you wanna try something fun?” and Louis’ voice cracks so bad when he answers “.......su..re....” Oh my freaking god. He’s totally thinking they’re about to makeout or something and it’s too much. It only gets worse when she asks him to slip into a bathing suit she brought with her. I’m dyin right now. The guys in his head are all “No good can come of this!!” - Ain’t that the truth. This is where Louis draws the line. He tells her that Twitty is his best friend and what they’re doing is VERY VERY WRONG. Allison is confused out of her mind like “....what are we doing?” Then we get one of my favorite Louis quotes:

I cannot get over how CONFIDENT Louis is?! He thought he could easily make a 36 year old woman fall in love with him. Now he assumes Allison can’t resist his gorgeousness as if he’s 1997 Leonardo DiCaprio. Chill, Louis.

It’s here that we finally learn the real reason why Allison has been checking him out and invited him to the park. She explains “I don’t want to date you, I want to paint you!” Louis is crumbling, oh man... And it only gets worse. She says she wants to recreate her favorite painting “Boy On A Rock” and she was staring at Louis so much because said boy on the rock is literally Louis:

I swear, if Shia had to actually sit for that painting... that is iconic and yet another poster that should exist if Even Stevens ever becomes as big as Seinfeld. Which it won’t. But still. I’d buy it. It’s actually a real painting by Dan Haberkorn, who was the art director for the show. He has it up on his website in high quality! It’s amazing. I so wish he’d sell prints/posters of it! Gah.

Allison just keeps going on about the similarities between Louis and the painting: “See? Not really handsome, kinda of quirky, a little off...” “OK I GET IT!” Louis interrupts, lol. That must’ve been a wakeup call. Since Louis stopped their non-existent relationship because of Twitty, Allison tells him he’s a very good friend. I like that. They’re cool after that and Louis poses for the painting. (cover photo) I love the quote here:

Allison: “Louis, you look perfect. Except you’re missing one thing...”

Louis: “My dignity?”

Twitty happens to be passing through the park and sees Allison running her hands through Louis' hair to make it look more like the original painting. Twitty gets pissed at Louis for lying which leads to the most ridiculous chase sequence. The way Shia runs is so funny, omg. There’s also some stock song that’s sung in gibberish or something that plays here and it always gets stuck in my head, too. Which sucks because there are no actual lyrics, lol. Louis falls into some mud while running which irks me every time. That poor bathing suit!

He ends up wandering into the middle of some girl scout meeting. They call him a mud monster, accidentally toss a cake on his head, and start chasing him as well, lol. These chases are also amazing because Louis is screaming the entire time, and we all know how great his scream is. Twitty eventually catches up to him and I love this dialogue so much:

Twitty: "So, why're you running?"

Louis: "CAUSE YOU'RE CHASIN' ME, TWITTY!"

My mom and I quote this at least once a week. This is a nice scene, though. The two of them have a heart to heart. Louis basically says it was stupid to let a girl come between them, so they agree that “from now on it’s friends first” -- Disney’s way of saying “bros b4 hoes” which is definitely what two 14 year old middle school boys would say instead.

Then the girl scouts catch up to him again and the episode fades out on Louis running from them:

Some say he’s still running today...

And that’s it! This is one of my personal favorites, guys. I LOVE the Louis plot here, haha. I’ve said before, I’m a sucker for teen drama and seeing Louis spiral into insanity over girls will never not be entertaining and endearing. I think this episode is funny, solid, fast-paced, and quotable! AND again, it’s a personal fave. This one has a lot going for it imo. It kinda kills me to place this one at 26, juuuust shy of the Top 25 (which, can you believe we’re about to hit the Top 25?! I can’t!) but yeah. I like this Ren plot too because it involves Tom and he is the best.

In case you missed the last entry you can read it here.

Thanks for reading!

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#rank #even stevens #season 3 #allison wong #alan twitty #louis stevens #shia labeouf #ren stevens #tom gribalski #christy carlson romano #disney channel #louis plot #steve stevens #tv review #tv shows #old disney #tania gunadi

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aishiteruitsumo6 · 7 years

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QUARTET NIGHT LIVE Evolution 2017 - 2017/02/12 - REPORT Part ②

*Do NOT Repost*

Read Part ① here

I FORGOT TO MENTION! They had intro music for ONLY ONE and it was really kakkoi!

And also about Shoutan's hair! You can barely see in photos, but one side of his hair was partly braided, one braid had green infused in it!

So, I know I scared a few of you by saying how I noticed Shoutan was off with part ① of my report. I never seen anyone else mention about it at all, so I really wondered if it was only me who noticed? So I asked my Japanese Shoutan friend, who, if there was anyone, would notice for sure. And she said she did notice he was off too. She said it could also be the technical difficulties they had which may have bothered Shoutan. I'm glad I wasn't the only one who noticed, I knew I wasn't imagining things!

Winter Blossom

There was a piano on stage and a silhouette next to it. IS THAT SHOUTAN?!?? ITS HIM!!

He sat down, both me and Yukina screamed and were about to cry He started playing!! 😭😭😭😭 Shoutan!Hehatesplayinginstrumentslive!Thefirstthemheplayedhediditforthefanssecondtimeheplayedabitduringanisama2015!!!!Hesplayingagainnnnn!!!!😭😭😭😭 A bit before his line starts in the song, He stopped playing.

He picked up a mic that was sitting on top of the piano with his left hand. We all kinda laughed

He got up, walked forward and paused. Fans:??

Shoutan: Ne? (Hey?)

Waratte. (Smile)

And he smiled beautifully Me and Yukina started to get emotional again (´°̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥ω°̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥｀)

♪Boku wa kimi no naka … Ikitsuzuketeyuku… Ai wo … Shoutan: Arigatou ( He spoke out arigatou) (´°̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥ω°̥̥̥̥̥̥̥̥｀)

*At the end of the song* Shoutan: Mata ne~

Aurora

Maeno had the cane. He walked to the left side and got on the platform, he got raised up.

Then, HE PULLED OUT THE 3RD STAGE RING AND PUT IT ON!!!!! He got lowered down, walked to the middle of the stage, AND PULLED OUT THE 5TH STAGE RING AND ALSO PUT THAT ONE AND YOU GUESSED IT, HE PULLED OUT 4TH RING AFTER AND WORE THAT TOO (Yes, it was in that order)

He's so... Maeno. 😂

Starlight Memory

They sang and danced with mic stands and they were so kakkoi!! Shoutan stood on the right side. They made hearts with their hands If I remember correctly, Shoutan seemed fine from this song onwards.

Video

The Dice Are Cast instrumental ver was played in the background. Footages of QN during 5th Stage, 4th Stage Making of pamphlet shoot and op movie They caught Maeno practicing his dance steps XD Tatsun and Maeno posing with the cakes, celebrating God's S.T.A.R getting number 1 Shoutan and Morikubo with the cakes too.

The first song that starts was something I didn't recognise at all??? The doors opens up and we see something huge with the live logo on it. IT'S DJ MORIKUBO WITH A DJ SET OMFG LMAOO He changed clothes and his outfit looked fitting at a DJ with sunglasses, leather jacket He also had a inbuilt maracas mic!! 😂 He introduced each of the dancers as the DJ

Hurray x2 Dreamer

Morikubo performed this song with a towel The fan chants to the song was amazing!

Double Face

The first thing I noticed is that Maeno wore the bangle light!! XD There was 2 dancers who wore a masquerade mask, one was dressed in white, the other in black, they were on either side of Maeno This performance was amazing. Maeno performed while changing from butler Camus to Count Camus Everyone freaked out every time he changed to Count Camus

NO. 1

During the end part of the second chorus: “aijou kanjou shinjou joushou koujou ZENBU nose de shirane KAIKAN kanjitē daro Baby?” they showed a video of Ranran saying the words to the song and the lyrics plastered on top of each other, one after another (it was graffiti-like) It looked so badass The venue and the cinema was really heated up with the fan chants.

Mune No Koudou

Seeing how everyone changed to a more rock like outfit, I had a lot of expectations with Shoutan's outfit. As soon as he appeared I was so star strucked (*_____*)

He looked so kakkoi and beautiful AND it's Mune No Koudou (my fav song along with Futari No Monogram) FINALLY I can hear him sing it!!!!!!! I never expected it at all, but he danced to the song!! The dance was kakkoi and sassy at the same time lol It suits Ai-chan! Throughout the whole performance I sat up watching him in awe He was definitely fine during this.

WILD SOUL

The choreography was just like 4th Stage, except you can see the huge difference from then and now. Tatsun was so much more confident this time round.

A.I

Shoutan: Ne let's walk together *pretends to hold someone's hand walking He looked extremely teretere!! (Shy) looking away and things Ahhh!! He puffed up his cheeks as well OTLOTLOTL

Kiss Wa Wink De

Morikubo sang with maracas mic and held another maracas in his other hand. The dancers had maracas too, everyone shaked them along with the song. All the fans shook along with them using their light sticks.

Zettai Reido Emotion

Something crystal/snowflake like came down and Maeno held it on the top of his palm and then it flew away The effects were so beautiful!! During the instrumental part, he pointed the cane towards us along with the beat, as if he was casting magic on us Confetti fell.

Marriage

While Maeno was still on stage, the door opens just like in 4th Stage and the rest of the members came walking out They were SOOO kakkoi!! They all stood still, posing until it was their line to sing The did the hand circle thing again

God's S.T.A.R

AHHHH!!!! WE ALL WOW WOW'D WITH THEM JUST LIKE SHOUTAN ASK BEFORE!! I'M SO GLAD THAT WE DID THAT IN THE THEATRE TOO!!!!!

Definitely the best song of the night, everyone was fired up from it!

KIZUNA

They were all on the stairs and then walked down a little and they sat down in the same order as QN did in the car in the anime!!!!

Morikubo pretended to drive They played the anime scenes throughout the whole song ❤️

End

Tatsun’s talk Can I say something? I don't want this to end

Morikubo: We always talk about it this!

Tatsun: We've spent a whole week together rehearsing Even after we've finished rehearsals we didn't want to leave! Shoutan: Sou ne, we didn't want to leave! Yeah, after finishing rehearsals and checking we've done enough, we’d end up just staying and talking for another half an hour XD

Morikubo Really, thanks to everyone GOD's S.T.A.R got number 1 on Oricon chart and Gold Disk Award We're able to hold a live and it's thanks to you all and the staff.

Tatsun (This part is most likely really, really out of order, Tatsun's talk was really long Sorry!!) Really, last time in 5th Stage, I've caused such trouble, I wanted to do my best. I've let Ranmaru down, everyone, the staff, Utapri, production... Making everyone worry...

Tatsu: We've practiced and prepared so much just for today. I've started a lot new things because of Utapri, like dancing. I've never tried that before Utapri. Morikubo: you danced the full song! Tatsun: This was my revenge!

Tatsun: If it wasn't for everyone, I wouldn't be standing here, talking big.

Well, I'm all fine now though! *Everyone laughs* But really, I'm sorry for having caused so much trouble and for making everyone worry. I'm really sorry.

I would be happy, if people would love Ranmaru more, and love Quartet Night and Utapri more

Tatsun’s talk made me and Yukina cry so much. He really loves and cares so much about Ranran!! To think that what happened during 5th Stage would affect him THIS much! ><

Shoutan I can't say anything as cool as Mori nii and Tatsu nii I don't know much phrases, it's always the same things. Really, as Mikaze Ai, as a member of Quartet Night, I'll continue to do my best

As Quartet Night, even this time, compared to everyone else I'm still the newbie after all

When reading the script, I'm always watching Ai's back, thinking, how can I catch up to him? I must catch up to him. I feel like, even just a little, I've finally caught up a bit with Quartet Night and Ai.

Thanks to the staff, production, thanks to the staff... Ahh, I said it twice... >< *face palms* Morikubo: Maa ne, there's a lot of them Shoutan: Thanks to everyone.. Ahhhh >< *Me: Ganbare!* Shoutan: I couldn't say it well at the end...

To be given the role as Ai, for Utapri to become so loved, and for Ai to become a character who is loved. I'm extremely grateful.

Thank you for Ai-chan’s existance and for giving Ai-chan a voice Shoutan 😭

Maeno Really, apart from being a Seiyuu I don't do anything else at all, so there was pressure on that part. At first I thought, is it really ok to be Camus?

I'm really glad to be a part of Quartet Night. Really, I believe it if wasn't for Starish we wouldn't be here, they were the ones who started everything *Everyone agrees

Morikubo To tatsun* I love your voice! This guy! He’s the most heated up out of all of us!

Shoutan is the most idol like! We were worrying thinking, how can we be more idol-like? We've relied on him many times with that, like how to dance etc *Everyone agreeing Shoutan shaking his head: no, no, no, no, no I'm not Morikubo: You've really helped us a lot!!

Maeno, you work the hardest out of all of us! You're always rehearsing and practicing your steps Even after we're all done you'd still be going over steps by yourself *Morikubo demonstrates pretending to practice steps XD

Tatsun: Morikubo-san... seems really, like he really likes us lol Morikubo: Minna daisuki I'm glad we're Quartet Night!

This isn't the end, we've got our next stage, with Starish and Heavens

Starish is actually here watching this! Fans: OMGGGGGG?!?? Maeno: Ehh, is it ok to mention it??

They said a line from the lyrics to Evolution eve. “Kotoba wa iranai, uta ga areba ii” (If we have our songs, we don’t need any words)

Evolution eve.

After their emotional talks I started tearing up and crying from time to time listening to this song. Also, I always get emotional hearing this song because the episode aired during my very first trip to Japan and it always reminds me of Japan.

They made hearts and did hi5′s again but this time, Morikubu & Tatsun, Shoutan & Maeno. They added a break to the song and did the solo dances again!!!!!!

Encore

We started calling encore but changed to calling out "Quartet Night" pretty soon afterwards. Me and Yukina chanted too Not everyone in the theatre chanted which was understandable

Poison Kiss

They came out wearing, not the black tshirts but white vers?!

The structure of their performance was pretty much the same as previous ones. The dance!

Talk

Tatsun: Thanks for the encore!

Morikubo: ...Ahh, I don't want to end this, lets just stay here! Morikubo begins to lie on the stairs XD

Shoutan: Why is it only one day anyway?

Morikubo: The stage is so big yet, why is everyone so close to me, what's up??? *everyone gets even closer to him 😂 Morikubo: Close, close, close, close, close!! Maeno: We all get along~ Morikubo: Ahhh! We really don't want to end! One more song Tatsun: honestly, I really like this song Morikubo: I like this song too, everyone please sing with us by all means! Live Viewing, please also sing with us!

You're my life

They extended the last part and got us all to sing the Lalalala part a few times

Last greeting

Tatsun was so emotional Shoutan too

They thanked us all without using mics and bowed to us, Shoutan was the first to lift his head

Nooo, don't end! Don't go! >< You can tell they felt the same. They looked at each other with a *we need to go now* look

They walked to the door and turned back facing us From left to right: Maeno, Shoutan, Morikubo and Tatsun They all cried at the end Shoutan was trying so hard, he was all teary eyed, but once he turned to Maeno tears started to fall and wouldn’t stop. Maeno also teared up, Tatsun too

End video

Ai-chan: It was really a fun live, it's thanks to everyone, we'll surely meet again. Camus: You've done well following us up till now, this is certainly not the end. Reiji: it's just like Camus said, it's not the end, thanks to everyone we had this live, Ranran: Because of everyone, this live became possible. Let's meet again at the next live.

I can't remember what song it was anymore, but the camera caught a wink from Shoutan EXTREMELY briefly!!!!!

They mentioned us live viewers A LOT which made us all feel so included! But since they never knew which camera was on them, they always looked and pointed at the wrong direction 😂 It was really cute though

Although this is posted really late, I realised it's actually pretty good timing after posting the translation to Shoutan's 6th Stage blog. He talked about the love they felt at this live, and really, the love was unreal, I've never felt it this much at an event before. You can really feels the fans' love and the Seiyuus' love, they were equally as strong! Obviously I am a huge QN fan, so I am biased, but I felt it more here than in 5th and 6th Stage Because it was purely QN and their own fans. Even though I was in a cinema and not at the actual venue with them, I can say for sure the feeling was all equal. I can still remember the pure satisfaction and happiness I felt after watching this Live. Words can’t really explain it, but it was amazing!

And this was the thing that made this live more amazing than others, of course they were restricted to what they can do because of the venue (I.e. No flying, no driving on the stage lol etc) but even without all the fancy performances, this live was better.

Of course, if QN isn't your number one group then you most likely won't feel what I felt when you come to watch the DVD.

Wait! Maybe I'm not biased! QN Live was better than Shoutan's Prism Live ButnothingwilleverbeatShoutan’sBudokanLive!!!!!!!!!!!!

Let me say this one more time.

I LOVE QUARTET NIGHT!!!!!!!!! 💚❤️💜💙

Here are pics of the goods I bought since I’ve never posted them before

I finally wore my cardigan for the first time at 6th Stage!

ONE LAST THING!

I want to thank everyone and specific people for the response to this post

I’ve actually already written about 90% of this report shortly after the live, but only just wrote the remaining 10% prior to posting this.

@akashiakaashi

Thank you so much! I’ve honestly never thought about it that way before! I always thought, “people have read other’s reports, they know what happens, so they probably won’t care to read mines anymore...” Your comment gave me a real motivation boost!

@shiritsuskorone Thank you! I’m really glad that’s how you see me and that my posts are useful! Thanks for always reading and reacting to my posts! ✨

I also want to say that I used to read everyone’s comments and tags (every single one of them), but I haven’t had much of a chance to do that recently due to life. I didn’t even look any other posts or anything, I only came onto Tumblr to post whatever I needed to and just go. I started to read responses just recently again though.

Anyway, I hope people will wait and look forward to my 6th Stage report!

#Seiyuu #Aoi Shouta #Shoutan #Suzuki Tatsuhisa #Maeno Tomoaki #Shoutaro Morikubo #QUARTET NIGHT LIVE Evolution #Quartet Night #My report #2017/03/12 - Best day of 2017 <3 Kizuna #Utapri

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