#I'll be fucked. I won't have a future. I'll be stuck staying at home and never having my own money. forever.

[running-in-the-dark]

I have like... two days (max) to come up with a new research question for my bachelor thesis. I HAVE TO officially register/sign up or whatever next week. that's the only way I'll be able to finish it + the oral examination part before my course stops existing at the end of February (my advisor basically assured me that the examination office wouldn't let me register after the end of October).

fuck, I was so motivated last month! I felt ready, I felt good about it, I was sure I'd be able to do it! and then that stupid fucking meeting with my advisor happened and now I feel more defeated and hopeless than ever before. I feel stupid. I feel like I can't possibly do this.

there's just nothing in my brain. it's empty. all knowledge from my entire time at uni (and school) has vanished. the last, oh I don't know, eight fucking years have just been too much. I really don't know if I can do this. I don't know if I'm able to. I don't know how to start over again.

[justimagineok]

2:30 series - 🕑 2:25

Summary: One too sure, the other not that much. One focused on the present, the other too stuck on the past and afraid of the future. Both of them in love with each other.

Recommended song: Inevitable by Suzy

A/N: hmm, its almost 2:30.. stay with me till the end? :) feedback is always appreciated! feel free to reblog, comment or send me an ask at anytime 😊

next>>

"I felt the connection when our eyes first met

Was it a misunderstanding of my own?

With that sunny and innocent smile

I made a fool of myself

The day you left my side

All those many pink colored memories

Faded into blue"

Seokjin helped Haru put her bags in the car, taking her home and leaving Jungkook at his apartment. The two arrive and unload Haru's bag at her house and say their goodbyes, promising to FaceTime with each other later. Haru saw your car at the door, so she knew you were home, but she was surprised you haven't come to see her yet.

"Wide cat, are you there? I'm home", she saw the light of your room up. "Where are you going, YN?!", Haru asked in shock, as she saw you putting the rest of your things in the suitcase.

"Home.", you lied, and Haru shook his head.

"WHAT? Tell me you're not going to that house again! That place is not your home, YN, and you know that!", she takes the bag from your hand, and you see the sadness in her eyes.

“Please, don’t look at me like that, Haru…"

"Like WHAT?", she asks, exasperated.

"Like you're disappointed."

Haru saw you were about to cry, but she couldn't back away now, or you'd do something you'll regret the rest of your life.

"Stop it, YN! Enough of this self-sacrificing bullshit! Stop acting like you have nobody who cares about you!", she throws her arms in the air in frustration. "You have me! You have Jungkook and so many people here for you! So no, you don’t have to go back and deal with your crappy parents again. I won't let you do this."

"I just don't know what to do, Haru.", you confessed, letting the tears come again. Haru didn't know exactly what you were talking about, but one thing she knew for sure is that she wasn't gonna let you go that easily.

"You can do anything. Any fucking thing, YN. Just don't go back there. You can't do that."

You sat on the couch running your hands through your hair, and she sat right beside you. "You can talk to Jungkook about it. You can.", she assures you. "Stop letting them make you miserable, YN. You had enough. I really think you could talk to Jungkok. If he doesn't understand then fine, you'll move on, but you didn't even give him a chance. I feel like you are so overwhelm 'cause you insist on taking all this heavy stuff in your chest alone. Stop trying to live like you're all alone, YN."

"I wanna talk to him about it… I just… I wouldn't know where to start. He doesn't even want to see me anymore."

"You're wrong.", Haru assures you. "I think he's jus-"

~knoc knoc~

You both look at the door, unsure of who was knocking.

"YN?", you heard the voice you love the most in this world. Jungkook's. He knocked hard again. "YN, open the door! I need to talk to you, and I'm not leaving until I do!", he kept knocking hard, desperate to see you.

You look at Haru who's just as shocked as you.

"I saw your car outside! C'mon!", Jungkook yelled, knocking again.

"What are you waiting for?", she signs for you impatiently. "Open that door before he breaks it! YOU BETTER STOP KNOCKING ON MY DOOR, JUNGKOOK! SHE'S GOING!"

Jungkook stops knocking, his heart beating fast. Thank God you were there. You open the door slowly, not knowing what's going on or why is Jungkook knocking at your door after literally say he didn't have hope in your relationship. He doesn't waste a second once you open the door, pulling you closer to him and kissing you.

"Now, you listen to me, carefully", Jungkook rest his forehead on yours, holding your face between his hands, catching his breath. "Whatever it is you have going on: You don't have to tell me. I'll listen if you wanna tell me, but I don't have to know, ok? I trust you and I love you, YN. I just need you to understand that you're not alone. Not anymore. I'm right here with you. I've always been, and we'll figure all the rest together. I love you in every possible way."

You nod, kissing him back, letting the tears fall down. Why he was saying that? What changed?

Jungkook pulled away, holding your face again, making sure you were paying attention. "I don't wanna let you go, babe. I tried and I can't. I don't want to. So yeah, let's be friends or whatever you want us to be, 'cause I'm not willing to let you go again, YN. Come back to me."

"For you who came back to me

I'll give you everything

Forever as we are

We will never part ways"

[iasmelaion]

what happens when you listen to three audiobooks in like a week and a half

We've been at trial for like the past two weeks at work, which means I have been alone in the office, with approximately 2 hours worth of work to do every day max, mostly just there to answer frantic emails and texts about "what exhibit number is [vague and potentially inaccurate description of email or other document]?" and occasionally file supplemental trial briefs. Anyway, it's all up to the jury now! Only not now now because it is a court holiday and because this case lives to torment me and never ever ever finish ahahaha it's fine i'm fine, we better win.

Anyway, all of that is to say I was bored as hell so I decided to finally finish listening to the audiobook of Gideon the Ninth, which I had started listening to LAST FEBRUARY. You can perhaps guess that, as good as the audiobook narration was, I was not entirely feeling the book. Ahaha. Ha. I was already mentally writing my Goodreads review, complaining about how yes, the narrative voice is great, and yeah, the set up and genre mashup are fun (lesbian necromancers in space! country manor mystery! slasher horror!), but there's just not enough context and the worldbuilding is so vague and what are the overarching stakes even. And then the last 1/3 of the book happened, and I listened to all three current books in the series in like a week and a half and I have spent the last two days rotating these characters in my head and reading meta and such. Sorry in advance about how in approximately two weeks time, my queue will be full of TLT shit.

Spoilers and assorted jumbled reactions below, because I'm not about to ramble like this on goodreads. But real talk, I have skimmed so much spoilery talk/fan art/etc about these books and absolutely none of it made any sense at the time so tbh I don't think it matters all that much if you're spoiled. The spoilers won't even make any damn sense most of the time.

I wish I could give this series some kind of pitch that would, idk, explain it or make it seem enticing, but lol I have no idea where I'd even start. I'll just say that if you are in need of Enrichment in your Enclosure, these books are like being tossed a very meaty bone full of delicious marrow which you can gnaw upon for a good long while.

Gideon's narrative voice is a lot of fun, and I do quite enjoy how she's basically a big lesbian jock, even if that did make a lot of the first book rough going for me because alas, Gideon, bless her, is not interested in much beyond hot ladies, swords, staying alive, and getting off her home planet. And Harrow, of course.

HARROW. For 2/3 of the first book, Gideon hates her passionately, they've been enemies their entire lives, they are vicious and awful to each other. Now, I knew Gideon/Harrow was like THE ship for these books, and I was like "...hm. Listen, I simply do not vibe with this kind of enemyship." But then that last third happened, and auuughhhhh. They're enemies, they were all the other had, they were two rats trapped in a barrel, desperate to get out, clawing and biting and snarling and hurting each other, they were each other's only solace, they were doomed from the start. They've been trapped in a cycle of terrible violence, and I have no idea if they can ever get out. And the love Gideon wants from Harrow is to be used and consumed and destroyed by love, and the love Harrow wants to give is to save her and keep her even if it means forgetting her. Like, y'all, I ship it, but I have no idea how there's any kind of future in it.

And then Harrow the Ninth happened, and goddamn, poor fucking Harrow. I felt for her already after the revelation in Gideon the Ninth, but Harrow the Ninth made me so desperately sad for her.

Good job on the soup though, Harrow!

Also the low key comedy of all of them stuck with each other on the Mithraeum was *chef's kiss*. Just like THE most demented and toxic workplace sitcom while poor Harrow is descending into a total mental breakdown.

The worldbuilding is so fascinatingly, complicatedly BONKERS. Also it's so SPACE CATHOLICISM that I don't even know what to say about it. I'm not qualified. But like. It is. It's so Space Catholicism, but also make it More Goth. And it's clearly concerned with religion and faith and all that, but not in a Narnia kind of way, and I am FASCINATED about where it's all leading to.

What a fucking villain this series has in John Gaius aka God aka Necrolord Prime aka the Prince Undying aka the Emperor of the Nine Houses aka Jod. Just absolutely skin-crawlingly horrible, the literal Worst Person Who Ever Lived, even as he's affable and funny and occasionally endearing and pathetic. And like I'm not even sure all of that stuff is a mask or a cover for his monstrousness! Like I think he genuinely is affable and funny and endearing and pathetic! He is just also quite literally History's Greatest Monster. I'm not sure if he was always like this, though I'm leaning towards him having been an awful man before he became god, in all those quiet, too-easily unnoticed ways men are awful, the moment they have any power over someone. And then Jod gets all the power so of course his awfulness becomes correspondingly greater.

I will say though that Jod's origin story is an actual horror movie, the stuff of nightmares. It's the end of the world because climate change and he and his team are frantically working on some way to save everybody but it doesn't quite work, not well enough, and no one is listening to him, and the clock is ticking down and of course the billionaires have a way out, of course they're gonna get on some space ships and bounce, but what about everyone else? Jod is sure he can save everyone else, if only he had the resources, if only they'd listen to him. And someone was listening, it turns out. Someone--something gives him power. Terrible, terrible power over life and death. And he becomes something else and makes choice after terrible choice, enabled by his friends, and then whoops not whoops! He's killed everybody on the fucking planet and ate the sun and the whole solar system too!! Absolutely terrifying reveal, and it's built up to so well. We spend so much time listening to Jod and so much of what he says is reasonable or understandable, but every so often there's a hint that under his commendable politics and goals and general hapless nerd vibes, there's something else, something much, much worse.

Actually, this whole part would make a truly great horror movie, especially if it starts off as an almost dark comedy that shifts genres as it goes: from dark comedy to suspenseful thriller to eldritch horror.

Also he gets, like, super weird about the cadavers he's been experimenting on. Like, deeply, horrifying creepy and weird about them.

Lotta people get weird about corpses in this series, if I'm being honest.

CAMILLA AND PALAMEDES. I am UNWELL about these two. I am UNHINGED. I am still rotating them in my mind, unable to do much but WEEP. "So...do you ship them??" you might ask. To which I say idk and idc, what does to ship these two even MEAN at this point, they are platonic, they are romantic, they are eros, philia, AND agape, and they're the Love that Is Perfected in Death. The absolute fucking pinnacle of insane codependence. Childhood BFFs who crawled into each other's skins and hearts and souls and never crawled back out. How much more codependent is it possible to get? NONE. NONE MORE CODEPENDENT. They have MERGED THEIR SOULS AND BODIES TOGETHER INTO ONE BEING. [actually, real talk, i am uncertain of the Soul Situation, I am pretty sure they've merged their souls together, but like. idk. they do also say they will be known as themselves "beyond the River" after death] I am WEEPING just THINKING ABOUT IT. That is not fucking hyperbole btw, the mere thought of them basically makes me cry, it's fine, i'm fine. They love each other SO MUCH. I CANNOT HANDLE IT.

Anyway, rather difficult to "ship" a pairing that has become...one person. Like, still willing to make a game go of it even during the period where they're sharing a body, but like. Now they are one person??? Because this is not a Steven Universe-style fusion where Ruby and Sapphire can unfuse from Garnet, Camilla and Palamedes are now one person, no takebacks while they live. I do love Paul though! Fucking adore that some of Paul's first acts as a new person were acts of kindness and mercy. Jod's lyctors are called saints, but I think Paul is the only one who is a saint in truth.

So, a triumph or a tragedy or both that Camilla and Palamedes died to become Paul? Idk! I adored Camilla and Palamedes as individual characters, I adored how in many ways they're the certain, just moral center of this entire series, I love their intelligence and ferocity, and oh, after Nona the Ninth, I loved so much how they loved. Each other, and other people. I loved Camilla using truths like her swords, her dry humor, how she was still so kind even while being an absolute stone cold fucking badass. I loved Palamedes, his brilliance and how he bent basically all that brilliance into helping people. I loved so fucking much that he was the one who figured out that there was a better way to achieve lyctorhood than the way Jod and his lyctors set out for them. I loved that stuck in a bubble in the underworld, with nothing but a terrible erotic novel, he started having serious opinions about said erotic novel and undoubtedly wrote terrible fanfiction in his head about it.

Ahem. Anyway. Abigail Pent and Magnus Quinn were also delightful, and I was especially charmed by the lovely Welsh accents Moira Quirk gives them in the audiobook. Love that Abigail has immensely powerful, friendly mom friend energy while simultaneously being an immensely powerful Eldritch Speaker for the Dead. Gideon observing her all like "ah, her eye contact is...extremely very unsettlingly intense! but also she is wearing an apron and is cheerful so that's alright then."

God, this is really long, sorry to anyone who actually read it, possibly i will reblog with more disjointed thoughts.

[homestuckdailyweekly]

Homestuck Daily - Week 1- 4/21/2024

I'm back, theoretical fuckers. I said I would probably give up in a week, and then a week later, there's no update. But jokes on you, person I made up to clown on, I didn't give up! I was busy traveling this weekend, so didn't have time to write a blog until right now. Don't worry, I'm not going to tell you about my trip. I'm planning on getting off-topic in these blogs, but a short trip is about as antithetical to being Stuck at Home that I could possibly get.

Now, with that out of the way, the first week of Homestuck. Or I guess, more accurately, the 2nd-8th days of Homestuck, written on the 9th day of Homestuck. Past-me really fucked me by writing an actual update on 4/13 instead of just the intro, and I really should figure out a consistent structure to these blog updates, but that feels more like a future-me problem. And if she gets upset, well, she's the one who procrastinated on it to begin with, so won't she feel silly. Wow, the third paragraph and I still haven't talked about the actual contents of the comic. Lets change that! I'll include what I read today too, so up to page 77 of Homestuck. Just to get it out of the way, while thinking about this first week of Homestuck, I came to the conclusion that I don't think I would have kept up with the comic if I had been a true day-1 reader. That is not to say I don't enjoy this first week of comics. However, my initial read-through of Homestuck was an extreme binge where I just kept reading until I physically could not anymore. I did not have to wait a day to get what was coming next. And this hypothetical "Day 1 Reader" version of myself would not have the enjoyment of future story beats and fondness of the characters to stay engaged and up-to-dates with early Homestuck. With personal reflections over and done with, I guess I should give a quick overview of what's happened in the first week of Homestuck?

We are introduced to the first of John's friends, TG, who is messaging John asking if he has the Beta yet. Shenanigans Occur, including Sylladex-Fuckery, clever-Disguise Making, Harlequin-hating, Grandma-Urn-Toppling, Grandma-Urn-Fixing, the usual. We then meet John's second friend, TT. Then some more shenanigans, and then entering Dad's study, ending with a haunting piano refrain that is both our first [s] page and our first piece of music.

Here's a little more self-reflection, coming up with summaries is hard. And it's only going to get harder with time. Anyways, for future reference, I think I will try my best to keep plot summaries free of the curse of knowledge. And hopefully future updates will have less me making up what these updates look like as we go along.

Alright, so I said I won't talk about my trip, but the thing to know about me is that I'm a liar and a cheat, so I'm going to talk about the trip a little bit. I'm not going to dox myself by saying where I went or where I'm from, but I will say that of the 4 kids in Homestuck, I live closest to the Lalonde residence. When I realized I could pass by the theoretical location of the Lalonde residence via a very scenic route I thought "Oh that'd be fun, but I probably shouldn't base my travel plans on a whim." Then I thought I would be introduced to Rose the day I was driving, and I realized I couldn't possibly ignore that sign. (I later learned that I was, in fact, supposed to be introduced to her the night prior. my schedule has increasingly became a disappointment in terms of accurate end-points for each day of comics). So, I plotted my day's travel to take me past the real-life equivalent of the Lalonde House's coordinates, but sadly in real life it is the site of a water power plant and I was unable to stop close enough to get a picture. I also ended up in hotel room number 314 that night, and according to a friend, "backward Homestuck numbers are still Homestuck numbers".

In very silly news, I'm working on finding a good chumhandle/Title to go along with my initials EV. Since this week was our introduction to pesterchum and 3 different chumhandles, this updates seems the best time to mention it. I think I've settled on Erstwhile for the E, but the V is being tricky. I initially went with Viewer, but it seems too plain. ErstwhileVoyeur, while sounding more interesting, also has connotations I don't necessarily want. Perhaps ErstwhileVoyage, to convey this entire experiment in the metaphor of a journey. I'll think on it some more. Until next week, when I'll hopefully spend more than a tenth of the blog talking about the actual comic, -EV

[pqrachel]

Games I Played in November

I never really plan these out but I always like talking about what I've been playing.

So I already talked about Trackmania, but I really hope to stay top 100 in my state for this season. I've got 18/25 author medals and that's better than I've ever done, but there's still time to maybe get a couple more. (I'm super close on some of them.)

Marvel Snap's been fun too, I've been playing a bit more casually. Like not buying anything with actual money, skipping dailys if I don't feel like playing, stuff like that. And I don't care what anyone says Martyr's so fucking fun and cool. I haven't hit infinite yet, been stuck in high rank 80s playing all sort of different decks. But that's okay it's been fun and that's the whole point of gaming.

As far as new games I finally bought Arkham Knight. That was amazing to play at my own pace instead of having to wait to play it whenever I visited my uncle's house as a teen. I got through basically everything, I'm tracking down the last few Riddler trophies on my own. I probably won't bother with NG+ but there are a lot of post-game stories I want to play which I never got to. I've also been watching a bunch of Arkham series lore vids on YT and that's really put me back in the headspace of playing the Arkham series like I did originally.

Handshakes was a fun free indie speed-game. I got top 100 on the steam leaderboards and that was fun.

Chillquarium is great, the demo was fun and cute but somewhere along the way it turned into a card pack opening simulator but in the best possible way. Like if you've ever wanted to open 1000 pokémon booster packs for no reason other to hunt for a super rare or something that's a super fun game to emulate that feeling.

And also Colostle. Obviously I've been posting my journals for that game on here for two years now so y'all know I love it! But it's been great playing it more frequently again I've got basically two chapters finished in one month, which I haven't done in a while. Really trying to get to the Tundrooms and Kyodaina content. The Colostle Patreon's already getting even more content in the Dungeons and maybe more (I've been off it since I'm not utilizing the new content immediately and I'm gonna buy the books when they come out anyways) and I feel like for as much I like the game I haven't experienced all it has too offer which is weird for me as someone who normally goes for completion, or achievement hunting, etc.

---

Daryl Takes Games on YouTube made a video about tackling his backlog and at one point he talks about the importance of writing about games as you finish them to preserve them as a memory for later and that hits home with what I'm doing here with these monthly summaries. That video was beautiful to me as a longtime gamer. I'm gonna take this time to also add games I plan to play in the future. Even if I don't get to them next month, I want to think about games and see how that changes between months.

So yeah, very recent addition to the backlog is Signalis. I've been seeing amazing fanart and it even featured in that video, so once that next goes on sale I'm gonna pick it up.

Rivals 2 looks amazing and I've backed the kickstarter so I hope I get to experience that in some manner once it comes out. Fighting games have dwindled from genres I play since I don't have as active of gamer friends and grinding with someone is the best part, but maybe with rollback and the good online it promises I'll still enjoy that on my own or maybe even find some new gamers to play with.

That video mentioned Sayonara Wild Hearts with a comment that seemed like the ultimate praise: "Every part was my favorite part." Since it's only an hour long I'm just gonna watch a playthrough, but that's totally valid. My fondest memories with Undertale was watching Dodger Leigh (PressHeartToContinue)'s full playthrough of that game, way more than my own playthrough. Even though the grind of beating Sans myself was worth it. Perhaps after watching Sayonara Wild Hearts I'll pick it up but I'm not gonna pressure myself to do that if I don't want to.

Some other games I tried recently but refunded include Dave the Diver (it looks good and was fun but ultimately didn't seem worth it to play the whole thing), Oxenfree 2 (I played the first and love it but this one just didn't hook me and there's no shame in giving a game), Shadows of Doubt (a couple months ago I tried it since it looked like I'd enjoy it after watch GMTK's vid on detective games but ultimately it was too involved and seemed like a chore to play, when I was looking for something else, the figure it out, red string on a cork board yes, the rest of the gameplay no not really), and Word Factori (I think I was just looking for a fun optimization game like Opus Magnum but Word Factori just fell short). In future ones of these I'll make sure to mentioned games I tried as well as played because those can be important when looking back on as well.

And finally, holy crap this post is long, good thing this blog is for me and I'm not trying to impress anyone with my thoughts on these games.

[bonny-kookoo]

Jungkook: Until Midnight (2)

Getting paired up to an undercover job with mister know-it-all Jungkook? Manageable. Having to play his fiance? Bad. Getting stuck in a basement with him because you've been caught? The absolute worse.

Tags/Warnings: Undercover Agent!Jungkook, Undercover Agent!Reader, Enemies to lovers, blood, violence, guns, mentions of torture, near death situation, drug smuggling and all bad stuff, I know nothing about actual police work pls be kind, smut in future chapters

Additional Chapter Warnings: steamy flashback aka smut, angst, unrequited love

<- Previous | Next ->

Against what you'd thought, he's actually a good driver.

It's a rather lengthy ride from our old homes to our new one- from now on, you're both different people. The car he drives isn't his, his hair was freshly cut, a piercing on his lip new and still fresh. You hate that it suits him. You hate that he actually looks good.

It reminds you of the short haircut he'd worn when you'd made that mistake as he'd called it, a few years back. He'd blamed the time, the circumstances, called you lonely and not in the right state of mind- and after that, it seemed to have been done and over for him.

All while you'd thought, silly as you were, that it had meant something.

That when he'd come over all those times to hang out, it really was to create a friendship. At first, you'd been sure everything would stay platonic- but there was no denying that you had started to see him in a different light over time.

You dont even remember how it happened.

But you do remember the way he'd held you, how he'd complimented you, praised you; all while offering filthy words as well, love bites on your skin and inside your heart with his cock deep inside you, hands experienced and eager to explore.

It would be a lie to say that it had been bad.

You remember how youd buried your head back into the cushions of your couch as he'd eaten you out with your legs over his shoulders, gaze never leaving yours, voice low and teasing when you'd come undone the first time.

You'd returned the favor afterwards, the slight bruises on your knees working as a reminder the next few days for yourself how you'd jumped over your own shadow and thrown all insecurities away, just to give him this favor. How you'd told him you didnt know how- and how he'd smiled, hand on your cheek before his voice had talked you through it, sultry, eagerly, desperate.

The latter being a word he'd used later to justify his actions.

He'd simply been desperate.

Hate is a strong word, but it is a feeling you associate with Jungkook ever since then. You'd felt as if he'd just used you, felt even more humiliated when he'd had the audacity to ask you if you could instead just stay friends-

When at that point, you didn't even want to stay coworkers.

But you loved your job, your home, your place of work- and you were also stubborn. You didnt way to admit defeat, so the situation you're in now isn't just bad luck. It would've happened at some point anyways.

"I'm fucking starving." jungkook mumbles, pulling up into a drive-thru, before he looks over at you. "you want anything?" he asks, and you shrug.

"I'm too tired to eat right now." you answer, before pointing at something from the big menu screen. "I'll eat it later." you say, before pulling out your wallet- something he shakes his head towards, hand waving you off.

"I'll pay dont worry. You can sleep." he simply answers, making you shrug again.

you've learned not to try and read anything into neither his words nor his actions, after all.

You won't make that mistake twice.

[dystopia-fantasy]

Always read the job description -Part 1

Max was a fit, well built man. He had been body building since he was 14 and now In his early 40s he has the body of a god, but is slowly getting to the age when he needs to find another way to make money. He knows he can't take part in his competitions anymore, and needs to take it easy. He got great grades in school and college, proving people wrong that you can't be a nerd in a jock body.

Max had some money saved and was able to keep up on bills for a few months but needed a job to keep his large house, in the rich area of the city. He got a call from a business he applied to a couple of days ago, telling him to go in for an interview tomorrow, and if it goes well he will be sent straight on a trip for the company. He gets his new blue suit ready to be worn the next day.

The morning arrives, it's 5am, and Max wakes. He does his normal morning routine, making breakfast, working out, taking a shower, then gets his suit on ready for his early morning interview. Driving to the office building in the middle of New York, it's at least 50 stories high, and is made of mostly glass, and is one of the newest modern builds in the city.

On arrival a large man in his late 60s wearing a suit greets him, "hello sir, you must be max, Sir Mammon is on his way down to collect you, may I say what an amazing suit you have on today".

Max looks the man up and down, seeing the man's huge belly flowing out from under his dress shirt, showing a massive W shape, "thanks mate, you might want a bigger shirt" then points to his belly.

"sorry if I offended you sir, but all clothing has been chosen by Sir Mammon himself" Mammon is the big boss of the business "if you would like to make a complaint I can print you a form".

Max laughs, "No thanks, I'm gonna sit over there, tell Mammon im there".

"will do sir, have a great day" the man says while max walks away paying no more attention to him.

About 15 minutes later a young handsome slender man walks over. "Max is it?" He says behind Max.

"yes.." max says confused.

"I'm Mammon, nice to meet you" he smiles holding his hand out for a shake.

"oh hello Mammon, is wasn't expecting someone so young, no offence of course" max shaking his hand.

Mammon let's out a little laugh, with a little grin "it's ok max, people don't expect someone like me to own such a remarkable company like this one would you like to follow me, we can go up to my office, this is Mark by the way, he's my Butler". Mark is another large man aged around 50, he has a massive belly stuffed into his suit, hes huffing and puffing, like he ran a marithon, "don't mind him, most of my staff are..."

Max cuts him off "fat?"

They both laugh, "you could say that Max" the elevator arrives and they all walk in, "now max, you did read the whole advertisement correct?".

Max didn't, it's was 48 pages long, who would read it all? He just looked at the wage he would get, it started at $100,000 per month. "Yes, I did".

"that's good, most guys are more keen to keep their body's but I guess if your struggling you'll do anything."

Max now confused just nod's and watches though the glass elevator as they fly up to the top floor.

"where here sir" Mark the butler says peacefully in his British accent.

They walk into the room, and Mammon sits at his desk pouring himself a glass of wisky, and Max one too. Max looks around in aww, the room was covered in art work, with the walls painted in golds and whites and had its own bar. "How do you have all this money?" Max asked.

"a mix of many things, this company, and a few investments paid for this whole building, I have many other ways but we're not here for that." Mammon points at the seat," take a seat max" Max sits the chair is made from leather and is very comfy. "So, max, I've gone through your file, I think you're perfect for the job."

"so, does that mean I have the job?" Max replies confused, expecting to be asked a question.

"well yes, if you agree to the terms"

"terms?" Max still confused.

"well yes, you expect to be paid 10times the amount the normal person for this job without any terms or conditions?"

"well I didn't know.." Max gets cut off.

"Max let me simplify them for you. You sacrifice your body to the company, and in trade you get, $100k X the amount you weigh paid into your account per month, So if you weigh 450lbs, you get $450k a month."

"what the fuck? That's sick, I'm not doing that, I'm leaving" and with that Max got up from the chair and stood face to face with Mammon, with the desk all that is separating them. "Your sick, you fa**ot".

With that Mammon's eyes glow a bright red. "I'm a what?" Max got through back against the chair by an invisible force. "Max you could have just left with your freedom, but now look what you've gotten yourself into".

"Let me go, What the fuck?" Max says while traped against that chair, it chreeking with the force of his muscle.

"I'm a fucking demon max, I'm never going to 'let you go'" he took a second break to mock max, "now, what did you say? Fa**ot, was it?".

"fuck, I didn't mean it" the force pins him down harder, trapping his arms against the leather chair arms, and pushing his legs against the underboard. "Please let me go home, I won't do it again."

"shut up max, the process is already starting".

Max looks down to see his body deflating, his pecs turning from mountain peaks to a flat surface, his giant powerful arms turning weak and light. And then looking up he sees a whole new man infront of him.

"Not as big as I thought I would get, but boy I'm big" he took a break to admire his new giant arms and pecs.

"what the?" Max looks in confusion, "how did you do that? Give me them back".

"what are you gonna do max? I'm an infinitely powerful being and you, your an old man, or at least your going to be."

"I'm only 42, what do you mean, going to be?"

"you see I don't have my infinite life span on earth, so to stay alive and in this fit body, I absorb anything a guy has and I want. In your case, these massive muscles, but then I need to absorb their life force as well, in order to make sure I don't age."

"what do you mean life force?"

"well, you have roughly 50 years, worth of life left, I'll drain about 20 years leaving you in your future crippled body at around age 60, force you to work for the company for another 20 years, then when your 80 drain the rest of your life, which after you get fat won't be much, then you got to hell."

"man your sick, let me go, LET ME GO!".

A bright red light shoots from Peters hand enveloping Max's whole body, and he starts to age, his face wrinkling, skin dropping, eye sight worsening, hearing getting muffled, and mind changing a little. "Max, you ok old man?".

"yes sir" max was confused in his mind, why did he say sir?

"max, you ready for your Cruise? You can have tones of food for the next 6 months."

"Yes sir, I'm ready" max lifts his head, opening his eyes to see a new blurry room from his new old eyes.

"you're gonna need these from now on" Peters eyes glow and a new pair of glasses appear on Max's face he can now see clear.

"thank you... Sir", max blinks seeing Peter infront of him, "what have you, done to me".

"Max, I've turned you into the perfect office worker, old, brainiac, who is soon going to get fat and live the rest of his life, in an office chair for me, don't worry for accomodation you live here now, we have apartments on floor 30 to 40, all workers live here, it's policy, we have also sent a team to your house to, well, blow it up, that way nobody is going to be looking for you, becuase we can plant a body"

"give me... My.... Body back, give me... My.. life back."

"Max we both know that will never happen, now enjoy a life of gluttony, and prepare yourself for hell, that's gonna be worse then anything I can do to you." Peter snaped his fingers and a red glow enveloped max.

Recovering from the glow max sees two men infront of him with a trolly of sorts between them. "Is he awake" one says,

"I don't know" said the other.

"im- awake" max said in a much older raspy voice.

"good we can now start the feeding" the man on the left said, his body as muscled as a god, ripped from head to toe, and we can see everything.

Max rubs his eyes under his glasses and opens them again, "Fucking hell, put some clothes on both of you".

Both men where nude, one a ripped god, another muscled up but with a big gut. "Clothes are banned here mate" the beefy man said in a type of Australia accent, "you cant say much fella, look at that tiny pecker".

The men laughed pointing at Max's shriveled up old cock and low hanging balls, "what the fuck"max tries to move his arm to cover him but his arm doesn't move, he looks down to see him stuck in a chair, with a cut out hole under his ass, and straps tying him down, trapping him. "What... Are you gonna do to me?" Max asked sceared.

The men laughed at him again, "no need to act to sceared, we're here to feed you for the next 6 months".

"but... Sir said..." Max get cut off.

"he said you'd be going on a cruise? Fucking hell are you dumb? He's a demon, you shouldn't trust a demon" The muscled guy says.

"bro let's start the feeding we have 50 other guys to see and I wanna watch football Tonight." The beefy guys says, and in unison both their eyes glowed a bright red, showing they where demons too.

The trolly between them had several items on top, one long tube, which floated in the air for a few moments before shoving itself down maxes nostril and deep into his stomach, his head flipped back trying to wriggle it out, but it was stuck. Another item moved into his frame, a IV bag holder, holding a giant barrel type object made of glass, and two large bags floated of the table again and started to drain into the barrel, and the tube connected itself to it, starting a flow of the liquid into maxes stomach.

"done" the beffy guy said. "Now we'll be back tomorrow to refill your barrel, and clean you up if you make a mess, but youll basically be unconscious for the next 6 months, due to the drugs were feeding you."

"so enjoy your sleep mate, you'll litterally wake up a different man." The two men laughed and walked out, max tried fighting the restraints but in his crippled form could do nothing. The door slammed and locked, and the room fell dark, max screamed begging into the darkness to be let free, and to have his life back, which he had only an hour before, but nothing happened, nobody came. He felt the drugs taking effect, but tried to fight back, but it was useless, his body slumped and loosened. His mind fell blank as he drifted of into his 6 month hibernation.

[merci-bitch]

I’ll Never Love Again

Zelda Spellman x fem!reader

Warning(s): angsty af

Words: 2k

A/N: This is sad as fuck. I started crying myself lmao. I hope you like it, although I can’t make links. Idk how sadly. Feel free to request anything !

The sound; as if fingertips were pressing against the white keys of a piano filled the air. The sound fitting perfectly with the small raindrops falling from the sky. The sound gave of a peaceful solution. A peaceful moment. A moment that was broken into pieces.

"Y/N!"

Zelda Spellman.

You turned to look at her, her face boiling with anger. You'd left the dinner table only a moment ago. The evening started out like any other evening with your family. Sitting next to Zelda, your lover. The woman who owned your heart, the one you'd die for. Sitting across Ambrose, on your left was Hilda and on Zelda's right; Sabrina.

You couldn't explain what had happened. How you'd gotten in on the subject. It started out as a joke. Finding yourself amused at it, joking around of Zelda and Mambo Marie's relationship. How they'd gotten awfully close. You hadn't meant it, but then you saw the terror in Zelda's eyes. You knew something wasn't right. It wasn't because she didn't like the joke, of course she didn't, but she was hiding something from you. Something you just clarified. You couldn't believe it, so you left.

Zelda walked up to you. Stopping a few feet away, thinking over what to say. She had plenty to say, she just didn't know where to start. However, you came first.

"Wish I could, could have said goodbye. I would've said what I wanted to, maybe even cried a few."

Zelda's eyebrows knitted themselves in confusion as she watched you speak. Looking up at the sky again.

"If I knew that it would have been the last time. I would have broke my heart in two. Trying to stay without you."

Sighing softly. Eyes stinging. Body shaking, cold and wet. Anxious. You looked over at her. Wanting to drop to your knees, beg for her. Beg for her to never leave you, but you couldn't and wouldn't.

"I don't wanna feel another touch. Don't wanna start another fire. I don't wanna know another kiss. No other name falling off my lips."

Turning to face Zelda completely. Looking deeply into her crystal eyes. Her whole body was stiff, she didn't know how to respond to any of this.

"I don't wanna give my heart away, to another stranger. I couldn't let another day begin, or even let the sunlight in if I did. I'll never love again, Zelda."

Upon hearing those words, she shut down. The rain started to pour heavier, much harder.

"When we first meet all those years back. I never thought that I would fall for you. I never thought that I find myself, lying in your arms."

Zelda never meant to fall for you either, she despised you. Couldn't stand you. Everything you did annoyed her, yet; you became the love of her life.

"And I wanna pretend that it's not true, that you're gone, that we're gone. My world keeps turning, turning and turning and I'm not moving on."

Turning around, looking over the Spellman property, your home. The home you'd had for years, decades. Was it really home after all? Was it really where you would spend your days in the sun and storm?

"I don't wanna feel another touch, like you've done. I don't wanna start another fire, like you've done. I don't want another name falling off my lips, like you've called for Marie."

You didn't look at Zelda, but she heard the crack in your voice. The way your tone would break each time you mentioned what she'd done. There wasn't any use in trying to explain she hadn't. She hadn't meant to, but you wouldn't believe it. She wouldn't have if it was the other way around. Stubborn as she is, she doesn't know how to handle love.

You turned around as you started talking again. Nearly bursting into tears, keeping your tone harsh but near a breaking point.

"Look, I don't wanna know this feeling unless it's you and me. I don't wanna waste a moment of my life. I don't wanna give somebody else the better part of me. I'd rather wait for you all my life."

Zelda heard that strange thunder. That strange thunder passing by. She knew that no one was gonna come save her, if you wouldn't. No one would. She'd taken your love for granted. She'd taken everything for granted and gained in power. Marrying Faustus should have been her stop sign, but she keep going. Going higher and higher up in levels. Forgetting you on the way. Her lover, her person, her future. The one she'd given her heart to. Beneath the strange thunder. She was all that was causing the storm.

"I don't wanna feel another touch, or start another fire. I don't wanna know another kiss. Zelds, unless it's on your lips."

She felt eyes, eyes in the back of her head. She wanted to run, hide and cry. Her body was betraying her, she couldn't move a single finger. Her body was stuck, she wondered if Hilda had cast a spell for her to stay still, knowing her sister. She probably had, or it was just her.

"Say something. Anything."

She couldn't. What was she supposed to say? No one would hear her please, her apologies. No one would take her.

"I should have known, all of this."

Zelda cleared her throat. Finding it very dry.

"Known what."

It came out harsher then she'd intended.

"I won't ask it of you. I can't do that to you. You've taken my heart and thrown it away."

"I most certainly have not. I have it right next to mine."

"Then why take another in store? Why not just keep mine? If we were doing badly, why didn't you say anything. If you wanted me to leave, I would have done it without question if that's what you wanted."

Zelda felt herself boil, but for a different reason then anger. She was hurt, although she had no right to be hurt. But she was hurt, she was hurt by herself. She hurt you and everyone else she ever cared about. There's a reason she didn't date, she didn't have time. She never had. There's wasn't time for you, although there was at the same time. She always had time for you. She doesn't know where it went wrong.

"I don't want you to leave! Can't you understand that?!"

"You have a funny way of showing it. If you have this fire with Marie, then give it fuel."

Zelda moved forward. Grabbing your hand. Squeezing. Fighting back her own forbidden tears. She couldn't cry, she wasn't allowed to. Looking into your eyes. Losing herself, she always did. It was her space and freedom.

Your hand came up to her cheek, stroking it softly. Zelda's eyes fluttered closed for a moment. Feeling your touch gone as soon as it appeared. Stopping herself from seeking out your touch.

“I don’t wanna feel another touch, or start another fire.”

It pained her. Hearing your voice break. She knew this wouldn’t end well. It wouldn’t turn back to happy family. She couldn’t lose you, but she already did that moment. Cupping your cheeks in her hands, leaning her forehead against yours. She wanted to beg for your apology.

Zelda Phiona Spellman would never beg for anyone. She wouldn’t bow down for just anyone. But for you? She would, but she couldn’t ask for forgiveness. She knew If she did, you would forgive her but it wouldn’t return to the way it was before. Feeling her own cheeks become hot with tears, hearing your quiet sobs. She’d broken her own heart.

“I’ll never love again.”

-

“Zelda? Look who’s here to see you.”

Hilda said as softly as she could. Moving away from the bed, wrapping her arm around Sabrina. Letting you come through.

“Zelda? I’m right here, right beside you.”

Zelda opened her eyes slowly, it was hard. There you were. The love of her life. She never thought she would see your smile again. Your eyes, your everything. You grabbed her hand, giving it a soft squeeze and a kiss.

“You can go to sleep now, Zelds. I’ll be watching over you.”

Zelda trusted your words and did. Her heart ached for all those years she’d missed with you. You were here now, that was all that mattered. She would see you on the other side.

“I’ll never love again.”

[buckyjamess-archive]

𝓻𝓸𝓼𝓲𝓮 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓲 ❁ 𝓫𝓾𝓬𝓴𝔂 𝓫𝓪𝓻𝓷𝓮𝓼

a/n: keep writing reader as the villain of the story, about time this man screws up • wordcount: 1.3k • warnings: kids, babies, parenthood, cheating, alcohol, bucky being an idiot, mentions of sex, blink and you'll miss it.

summary

going through rough years after losing your husband, you try to raise your daughter the best you can. With the help from the wilson's you make the best of it but the road is bumpy when sam introduces you to his friend.

masterlist

He shouldn't be here. He promised himself to never wake up in this bed again, ever and yet he finds himself sitting on the edge of the memory foam mattress, soft lilac blankets underneath his naked thighs. The smell of the room is familiar but it's not you, not Rosie, not JJ, not home.

He should've stayed home, told you he didn't need a boys night out because he deserved just that– for taking care of the kids while you were a mess, not available and not there when he needed you the most. Yes, he deserved that but maybe the pub his friends had dragged him too was not the right place to be. 

She worked there. She who he had ended things with weeks before meeting you. She with a head of brown curls bouncing around her face, bright green eyes through thick lashes and the cute little dimples in her cheeks whenever she smiled so bright, nose covered in freckles on a sun-kissed canvas and god, if only her personality matched her looks, he would have fought for this one the way he's fighting for you and his family.

God, he was in love back then, one of the firsts he saw a future with. Like a bunch of teenagers, making the eyes of his friends roll with the lovey-dovey behavior– looking back at it made Bucky cringe. The first six months were amazing before her attitude took a 180 and changed for the worse. Possessive, jealous, lowkey crazy.

He wished to never bump into his ex Melissa ever again.

But he did and with the beers coming, alcohol running through his veins and the lack of real intimacy made his mind foggy. The hugs, the cuddles and stolen kisses were not cutting it anymore, he missed you in all other ways and Melissa was there to fix it, like an angel with a halo above her head and rays of light casting from behind her – guiding him straight to what he desired most. 

He shouldn't have been here. Your relationship was taking the right turn, amazing, a do over, like the beginning. The acceptance letter to that nursing school you applied for and your weekly visits with your therapist did wonders for you. Giving bucky back the girl he so deeply fell in love with and he put it all on the line for some sex. Sex he would've gotten if he just had asked you and even then he didn't have a reason to complain. His 7 months old son asking all your attention and a jealous rosie hanging around your leg nearly every hour of the day– you had the right to fall asleep as soon as your head hit a pillow.

"You know what they say; once a cheater, always a cheater."

Bucky clenches his jaw and bites the inside of his cheek, nails digging half moons in the skin of his palms as his hands turn into fists– god, all the reason why he dumper her coming back up.

"I never cheated on you." He hisses through gritted teeth, back still turned to her. 

Melissa snorts "pretty sure you left me for that baby mama of yours." 

"We were long done before that," bucky spats back "for reasons. You being a pain in the ass being one of them." 

"That's not what you said last night." 

God, he didn't even call you or send a text. A shit excuse of staying with a friend for the night, too drunk to get home while he knew damn well he wasn't going home with them.

"I can ask her you know- ask her why she doesn't want to have sex with you anymore." 

Bucky nearly gives himself a whiplash with the force he turns his head around to meet with the green eyes of the half naked woman on the other side of the bed with a smug smile on her face. Playing with her phone in her hand. 

"Don't you fucking dare." 

"She has a right to know bucky." Melissa smiles wickedly "she has the right to know you slept with your ex." 

"I'll tell her myself." Bucky hisses again "I don't need you for that." 

"y/n, right?" Melissa quips, phone stills in her hand as she unlocks it with a swipe of her finger "I think I've seen her Instagram before– gotta say Barnes, the boy looks like you." 

"Melissa, I'm begging you." Bucky sighs "please, I'll tell her myself." 

I'll tell her myself– only if he believed that lie himself. 

A date night, some one on one, some time alone is all what was needed to fill the missing gaps in your relationship. Both kids off to spend the night with bucky his family; just you and him. 

Dinner at your favorite sushi bar before strolling through the city hand in hand, catching a movie the both of you were dying to see followed by a round of beer at the first bar you stumbled upon and right back home– a trail of clothes leading from the kitchen, too desperate. Hands on each other and whispered sweet little nothings. Skin to skin. Raw. Real. Perfect.

But his mind couldn't help and wander to last week; tangled up in his ex her arms under thin sheets in a familiar bed. Mind wandering back to that night, not because he couldn't get Melissa out if his head but the regret– he'd done the same thing tonight but with the real love of his life, the mother of his kid, his future wife but it eats him alive; you can do better than the lying man he is. He needs to tell the truth, it's the least you deserve but he can't. He can't lose what he has now, a future.

He wants that white picket fence outside of the city with a big garden for your babies to grow up in. He wants another mini him or mini you running around, maybe even two if life is that kind. He wants to be by your side through thick and thin, in sickness and health, the bad and the good. He wants to see you stroll down the aisle in that perfect dress. He wants to be a good father figure for rosie, the perfect father and perfect husband– he's put it all on the line for some bad sex with a woman he despised so much.

He can't but he needs to tell the truth. No lies.

The smell of sex is still stuck in the air and the rays of moonlight cast through the crack between the curtains, the sound of the city a background noise– his arm is asleep from where your head rests but bucky runs his hand through your hair and presses a kiss to the crown of your hair, taking in the warm fruity smell of your shampoo. Your naked body cuddles up to his, soft legs entangled with his and a soft and warm hand laying on his chest right near his heart.

you're asleep, have been for a while but he can't; his eyes on the ceiling, following the small cracks in the paint and the cobweb he missed earlier this week. 

Bucky once again finds himself preparing himself a.nd his stupid apology 'a drunken mistake' and 'it won't happen again' followed by a pathetic 'forgive me?' 

He hopes you're getting angry at him, call him names, cursing him, wishing you never met him, a big mistake– bucky simply cannot bear the thought of you crying over him, he doesn't deserve your tears, doesn't deserve you. But above all, he wishes things will turn out okay in the end; see you happy even if it means without him. You deserve that.

God, he needs to tell the truth. You'll find out one way or the other, if not from him it'll be Melissa herself. 

'Hey doll, we need to talk.'

taglist; @farfromshawn @Nicollettemarie @wooya1224 @felicityofbakerstreet @agentmstark @sierrax023 @lilyevanswhore @qhbr2013 @buckybarnesobsessed @themaddies-obx @aloserwithoutacause @aanngie @sebby-staan @sweetth1ng @starrystarkey93 @libidinexx @dontputyourfckingdrinkonmytable @gasly-kvyat @brown-bi-beautiful @peter-laufeyson @im-squished @meshlababy @lindseyrae20 @cb97skies @qwccrr @ssprayberrythings @yougottalovefandoms @jbcalway @realgaytrash @natyvwe @poetryazenth @winterberryfox @ahahafudge

[morosemagick]

What Happens Here | Finan x OC One Shot

Prompt: There's Only One Bed (as joked about with @emilyhufflepufftlk!) Title Inspired by the song "What Happens Here" by Zara Larrson!

Warning: Recreational Drinking & Smut. Lots of Smut

Words: 4318

Tagged:

@solinarimoon @emilyhufflepufftlk @magravenwrites @lauwrite1225 @obipoelover @thebohemianpenguin @axe-does-writing @for-bebbanburg

She wasn't sure why she was here. Well, she was, Sigrid's baby brother was getting married this weekend. Her family followed many old norse traditions (never mind the fact that his fiance was Christian) so weddings in their family were a big deal. When her brother, Sihtric, called Sigrid to tell her the news he all but begged her to come home for the wedding.

They were the only family that mattered, In each other's eyes, it was a big deal for her to go home.

So she did.

Sihtrics' fiance made plans for the wedding party to stay in the same house for the whole weekend. The wedding party included all their friends… all of which are either married or dating each other.

One, then, would understand just how awkward it is when Sigrid finds out she'll be sharing a room with the only other single person in the party.

Her brother's best friend, Finan.

She didn't know much about the guy other than the fact that they went to Uni together, and that she just beat him out for best man.

Talk about being set up for disaster.

"Sigrid, I didn't realize you would make it in time," Sihtric tried to apologize privately after his fiance, Ealhswith, broke the news, but Sigrid just wasn't having it, "Maybe we'll ask one of the guys to just.. double up or something."

"Your entire wedding party is couples, Sihtric, you can't just ask them to not share a room with their partner," Sigrid argued as she slumped into a chair in her brothers' suite, "I can go to a hotel, it's fine."

"You're my sister, I want you here," Sihtric told her with a sad look, "Let me talk to Finan when he gets here."

"Tell me the room has a couch, at least?" Sigrid asked him and the look he gave her was not very comforting, "Why are you like this?"

"It's one weekend, Sigrid, please! I get married tomorrow," Sihtric walked over to his sister and got on one knee as he begged her, "all you have to do is play nice-"

"I am always nice!" Sigrid argued with a smirk across her face, but seeing the puppy dog look on her brother's face was enough for her to oblige, "Fine! I'll share the room, but he's sleeping on the floor."

"Thank you, Sigrid!" Sihtric smiles as he jumps to hug her, making the chair fall over.

Sigrid laughed as they fell, hugging him back, "Alright, alright! Let's get going, I need a drink!"

"I'm sure Ealhswith has started the party without us," Her brother laughs as they both get up, and fix the chair before heading down to the main living space of the house

————————————<3—————————————

Finan gets to the house last and everyone is starting to drink without him. Since everyone is drinking, no one sees him sneak in, finding Uhtred in the kitchen.

Uhtred was another groomsman, as well as Sihtric's cousin.

"Uhtred?" Finan questions as he finds his friend, who smiles at the sight of him, "Good lord, what have you done to your hair?"

The last he saw his friend, Uhtred had long hair with the sides shaved and the rest shoved in a high ponytail. Now that was gone too and the long hair cut short.

"Ah, Gisela did not want me to look like a heathen for my cousin's wedding," Uhtred chuckles as he greets his friend with a handshake, "How was the drive?"

"Long," Finan huffs with a smile, "Where's my room? I need to change."

"Your room," Uhtred snickered as he pulled out a bunch of shot glasses from a cabinet, "Someone should have been here earlier.. you would have had a better pick."

Finan scrunches his brows, "Why- where am I?"

Uhtred glances his way and shrugs, turning back to what he was doing, "You should be asking who you are with."

"Seriously? Sihtric wants me to share a room?" Finan questioned Uhtred, who snickers his breath as he found a bottle and started to pour them shots, "With who? No one else is staying here."

"The best man," Uhtred explained with a smirk on his lips, "You'll be fine."

Finan took one of the shots and downed it quickly, Uhtred already filling his glass, "I thought Sihtrics' best man wasn't coming tonight?"

"Apparently they made the flight," Uhtred tells him as he puts the rest of the shots on a tray to carry to the other room.

Finan didn't know much about the man who managed to upstage him as best man for his best friend's wedding, other than they were siblings. One he hadn't seen in a long time. It's hard to be mad at being picked over family, except for when you've known the guy for 5 years, and not once has he mentioned having a brother.

But it was not Finan's wedding, it was Sihtrics'.

Uhtred and Finan make their way into the main living room just as Sihtric and a woman Finan has never seen before enters the room. Sihtric drags her closer to the group of couples who make up the rest of the wedding party, and points to the woman, "Everyone, you remember my sister? Sigrid, this is the rest of the wedding party."

A sister?

Finan only learned about a brother… but a sister? He had no idea.

"It's nice to see everyone, again," Sigrid says with a chuckle and a slight wave, looking around at everyone in the room.

As her eyes meet Finan's, he can feel his heart drop to his feet. She's fucking gorgeous.

Uhtred puts the tray of shots down on the coffee table in the middle of the room, and everyone else reaches over to grab a shot.

"Wait!" Uhtred shots before anyone has a chance to take their shot, "Perhaps the maid of honor and best man should say a few words?"

Gisela; Uhtred's wife and Ealhswith's maid of honor, is first to stand, "To Sihtric and Ealsie! We all wish you many happy years together!"

Gisela then glances at Sigrid, and for a moment Finan is really confused.

That is... until she starts to speak.

"To my baby brother and his wife to be," Sigrid adds as she raises her shot glass, "Anyone who can put up with Sihtric is a saint, we are happy to have you become one of us, Ealhswith." Ealhswith wipes a tear from her face as Sigrid tips her glass just slightly, "Cheers!"

The rest of the party yells cheers, except for Finan, who's frozen in place looking mighty confused.

"You alright there, Finan?" Asks Osferth, Sihtrics' childhood friend and another groomsman, as he walks over and nudges his arm.

"I am… lost," Finan explains as he raises the shot glass to his lips.

"Oh, I should've told you," Uhtred puts his hand on Finan's shoulder and smirks, "Sihtrics' sister is his best man."

The words come out of Uhtred's mouth just as Finan takes his shot, causing the Irishman to choke on his liquor.

"She's what?!"

————————————<3—————————————

"He's handsome isn't he?" Gisela whispers to Sigrid as she lifts the cocktail to her mouth.

"Who?"

"Finan, Sigrid, are you not listening!" Ealhswith tries to whisper but she's a bit tipsy so it's not really as quiet as she intends.

Sigrid glances over her future sister-in-law's shoulder at the men, who are currently in the middle of a drinking contest. From the looks of it, Sihtric is not winning.

Next to her brother, cheering him on is Finan. There's a big, cheeky, smile on the Irishman's face as he encourages Sihtric to keep drinking and for just a moment, she can see his eyes glance her way.

Okay, maybe they are onto something.

Finan is tall with longish hair and a thick beard. Sigrid guesses he must work out with just how his broad his shoulders are, and his even broader chest… and those arms-

Okay, fine. He's gorgeous. They win.

But she won't tell them that, "Yeah. He's alright."

"Oh come on," Eadith chuckles, playfully shoving Sigrid's side, "Most of us would like a piece of that Irish-"

"Eadith!" Gisela gasps with a smile.

"What," Eadith shrugs, "I have eyes, I can use them."

"Osferth doesn't satisfy enough, Eadith?" Sigrid smirks, leaning back on the couch. They were an odd couple, Eadith and Osferth, but the two of them seemed to really work in sync.

"Oh he satisfies just fine," Eadith raises a brow as she takes a sip of her drink, "There is nothing I would change about how that man performs in bed."

"Alright- I've heard enough," Sigrid raises her hand as she leans forward to put her drink down and the other girls boo her and laugh at her embarrassment, "I need to piss, and you ladies need water."

"Ah, come on, Sigrid, don't be a prude!" Ealhswith whines as Sigrid starts to rise from her seat.

"I draw the line on sharing sex life secrets of men I've known since I was a child," Sigrid laughs as she gets to her feet and heads for the bathroom.

When she gets to the bathroom, she wets her face a bit to cool herself down, grateful she isn't wearing much makeup. After a deep breath, she starts to open the door to leave, and on the other side waiting is Finan.

"Oh, I didn't realize-"

"No it's fine," Sigrid tells him as she tries to go around him awkwardly. He doesn't move much, so they are pretty close to each other as Sigrid tries to go around but instead of moving they both find themselves stuck chest to chest in the doorway.

She's never been a shy woman, but she usually isn't the one to make the first move. So tonight, she's lucky she's tipsy because now she has all the confidence she needs to do whatever stupid thing she wishes.

Include flirting with this man.

"So you're the man I'm supposed to share a bed with," Sigrid smirks as her chest rises and falls with every deep breath she takes.

Finan raises a brow, "I thought it was just a room."

"I don't know if you've been in there yet," Sigrid glances down the hall to make sure no one is coming, and then looks back at Finan, "But there's only one bed."

"What a shame," Finan tells her as he leans forward, stopping right as he hovers her lips, "Looks like you'll be on the couch."

Sigrid doesn't break eye contact as she takes a deep breath and then smirks, "What couch?"

He leans back with eyebrows scrunched and a semi smile on his face, and Sigrid takes that moment to wink and walk away.

She has no idea how she's expected to spend the night alone with this man.

————————————<3—————————————

Finan is fucked.

More than fucked.

He's been trying to fight the urge to flirt with his best friend's sister all night, because… you know... best friend's sister.. and then he runs into her by the bathroom. It was so painfully tempting to pull her into the room, lock the door, and do whatever he can to please her but he contains himself.

Because that's his best friend's sister, and he really shouldn't fuck her.

But he really wants to.

And it's not just because she's gorgeous. It's her light smile, the way she laughs, and her eyes… Sigrid has the bluest ocean eyes Finan just wants to get lost in.

He's trying not to focus on the fact that they've basically set him up. Giving Finan the room with a single bed and single women.

At least… he thought she was?

"Osferth," Finan leans over the kitchen island so he can quietly ask his questions to his friend, "Sigrid isn't… taken, is she?"

"Why? Sharing a room seeming less terrifying and more interesting?" Osferth questions with a smirk of his own and Finan snacks the side of his head.

"I'm just asking, I don't want to make her uncomfortable," Finan tells him, hoping his excuse doesn't make him seem too pathetic.

"Just keep your pants on and you shouldn't have a problem," Uhtred laughs as he enters the kitchen with two empty cups in his hand.

"Where's Sihtric?" Osferth asks as Uhtred joins them at the island.

"I think he's gone to consummate his wedding a touch early," Uhtred laughs and the other two men roll their eyes.

"How are the women?" Finan asks, more curious about Sigrid than the rest of them...

"Gisela is tired, and Eadith may need help getting to her bed," Uhtred answers, looking directly at Osferth as he brings up his girlfriend.

"That's my cue then," Osferth chuckles, "Goodnight, gentlemen."

Finan and Uhtred wave goodnight as Osferth walks away, and when Finan looks at Uhtred he has a devious smile on his face, "What?"

"Sigrid has already headed to bed if you wish to join her," Uhtred tells Finan with a raised brow.

Finan rolls his eyes as he wipes his hands across his face, "Uhtred-"

"Your secret is safe with me," Uhtred laughs as he raises his hands in the air.

"And what secret is that?" Gisela questions as she enters the room.

"There is no secret, Gisela, I think your husband is drunk," Finan tells the women and Uhtred laughs again.

"If you want to fuck her just go ahead and do it, no one will tell Sihtric," Uhtred tells him, and Finan groans as Gisela hits her husband.

"Uhtred!"

"She's your cousin…"

"I'm not the one who wants to fuck her," Uhtred tells them in his own defense, "And besides, if you do decide you don't like her then Sigrid goes back to New York and you never see her again."

Gisela sighs heavily, disappointed with her husband, "Uhtred, you are awful."

"I am brutally honest, it's a gift," Uhtred shrugs as he pulls his wife close, "And you married me, remember?"

Gisela rolls her eyes and smirks his way, "Unfortunately, I do, and we should get to bed."

Uhtred raises a brow with interest, and immediately starts to pull his wife away, "Goodnight, Finan."

"Goodnight," Finan tells them as he's left alone in the kitchen. Now that he is alone, he sighs, and then makes his way to the main living room.

The room is empty now, with everyone going to their respective rooms. He can very well go upstairs, grab his things and then sleep on the couch. They look like they'd be unbearable to sleep on, but it would be better than attempting to share a room with Sigrid. It's the smarter choice, he tells himself as he heads upstairs to get his things.

There is no way he'll survive a night alone with that woman.

————————————<3—————————————

Part of Sigrid is grateful she went upstairs first, she was able to change into a comfortable pair of joggers, a baggy shirt, and a sports bra. She thought about forgoing the bra altogether, but she's a bigger chested girl and her back wouldn't be happy with that.

So instead, she chooses to go without her underwear.

But now she's alone for a while now, and part of her wonders if Finan is alone on the couch trying to sleep. She can't imagine they're any more comfortable to sleep on than they were to sit on, and starts to feel bad for claiming the room for herself.

Sigrid even feels bad enough to gather some of the extra blankets and pillows in the room and go to the door and bring them downstairs to Finan, but he's standing right there when she opens the door.

"Oh," Sigrid smiles shyly at the sight of him, "Hey, I was just going to-"

"I- I just came up here for my stuff," He stutters with a smile and after a moment or two they both chuckle.

Sigrid and Finan stare at each other for a few moments before she finally tells him, "Come in, it's your room too after all."

"I shouldn't stay," Finan tells her with a soft voice.

He's sweet and definitely not as forward as most of the men Sigrid has encountered in her life. It's a nice change of pace, to do the chasing instead of being chased.

"What If I want you to stay," Sigrid smiles, throwing the pillow in her hand back into the room, which frees her hand to take Finan's, "There's space in here for the both of us."

————————————<3—————————————

There's space in here for the both of us.

Finan swallows hard as Sigrid takes his hand and pulls him into the room, dropping the spare blankets she once held onto the floor. This must be a dream. Perhaps he's already asleep on the couch because there's no way this woman is leading him across the room towards the bed. She can't possibly be unbuttoning his shirt, agonizingly slow, working each button slowly with soft fingers.

He wants to devour this woman whole.

"Sigrid," He calls her name and she hums in response as she focuses on finishing his shirt, "What are you doing?"

"You can't sleep in this shirt, you'll get it wrinkled," She tells Finan softly, a smile on her face as her eyes keep on the buttons. As she undoes the last one Sigrid finally looks up, her eyes following her fingers up his chest and to his shoulders.

She's feeling him up as she slides the button-up shirt off his shoulders and down his arms, letting it drop to the floor. The shirt hits the floor with a soft thump, and Sigrid looks up, "Is this fine?"

"Is this fine for you?" Finan has to ask because he still isn't sure whether or not this is a dream, "You don't have to do any of this."

Sigrid smirks with her head at a tilt, "So you don't want me?"

"I just… don't usually sleep with strangers," Finan tells her as Sigrid's hands find his chest again, "Especially not my best friend's sisters."

"I hope not," Sigrid tells him as her fingers move down his chest, and he wonders if she can feel how hard his heart is pumping, "Thyra is married."

"You know what I mean, Sigrid," Finan tells her and she looks up again and smiles. One of his hands involuntarily moves up to touch her face, moving from her jaw to the back of her neck, "I just have to make sure you want this."

She nods, her eyes focusing on his lips, "You should've taken me in the bathroom."

"If I'm going to take care of you, it'll be on the bed," Finan tells her as he leans down, pulling her towards him as her eyes start to flutter shut in anticipation of his lips, "And I plan on taking excellent care of you."

First thing Finan notices when he kisses her is that Sigrid tastes like sweet alcohol and fruit. The second thing he notices is that he feels like a starved man getting sustenance for the first time. Her mouth is paradise, and he's only just started to uncover her.

His free hand moves to Sigrid's waist, pulling her closer until they are flushed together and she must feel how hard he is because she's grinding herself against the hardness in his pants.

The kissing gets more frantic, with tongues colliding and at one point Finan can feel Sigrid's teeth scraping against his bottom lip and it's intoxicating.

Both hands find their way down to Sigrid's waist and onto her ass, and with a tight grip, Finan lifts Sigrid into the air and brings her to the bed without once breaking the kiss. Not until he lowers her down, only then does Sigrid break the kiss to speak.

"Clothes… off," She whispers into his mouth as her hands find his waistline, trying to fumble with his belt, "Now."

Finan rises up for a moment to take off his shirt, pulling in up and over his head I'm one motion. Meanwhile, Sigrid has undone his belt and to speed things along Finan manages to take off the rest, leaving him in nothing but his boxers as he returns to however over Sigrid.

His hands move to her waist lifting up the shirt she's wearing up as they ride up her chest. Sigrid helps him lift it off her by raising her hands up as Finan pulls off her shirt. She smiles now as Finan goes for her pants pulling them down slowly to reveal the fact that she's gone without underwear.

Finan groans as the pants go lower, "Good Christ, woman." The pants are off and Sigrid moves quickly to remove her bra and now she's completely naked under him, and it's absolutely breathtaking, "You are goin' to ruin me."

Sigrid is smirking as he lowers himself down her body to get better access to her lower half, lifting her legs over his shoulder, as he mutters her praise's in Irish, and just as his tongue runs against her cunt that smirk fades into a gasp and a moan.

He's grateful Sigrid cannot see the cheeky grin on her face, from where his head is hidden between her legs, working her with his tongue like a man starved. She must like what he's doing because her legs wrap around his head and neck to pull him closer, and he can feel a hand find its way into his hair, pulling hard.

"Fuck, Finan," He hears her moan, trying not to be too loud by the sound of it, "Fuck…" Sigrid cums with a gasp, loosening the grip on his neck with her legs so that Finan can come up to air, returning to mouth so that he can kiss her and hard.

"You taste like heaven," Finan tells her, the words just slipping through his lips like he has no control, "I could spend the rest of my days between your legs and die happy."

"Then how would I know what your cock feels like?" Sigrid questions him with a raised brow as reaches a hand down to grab him through his boxers, "Take these off and fuck me."

Finan does what he's told, using one hand to pull his boxers down his legs and then kicking them the rest of the way off so he can continue to kiss Sigrid. Once they are gone, he goes to align his cock with her folds and remembers something very important, "Shit, condom-"

"UDI," She tells him as she breaks the kiss, "So if you're clean-"

"I am," Finan nods as he kisses her again and starts slowly pushing his way inside Sigrid. Her mouth opens to a gasp as he thrusts his way in, given another inch every time he returns until he's all the way in, "Fuckin' Christ, woman."

Sigrid wraps her legs around his waist as Finan continues to fuck her, his arms secure at either side of her head, as she wraps her fingers around his neck to hold herself steady against him. Foreheads touching because neither of them can seem to concentrate on kissing the other.

It's greater than paradise being tangled like this. With Sigrid.

It's home, and he never wants to leave.

He's getting close, Finan can tell because his breathing has started to shutter and he's groaning, so Sigrid lifts herself up to kiss him again to keep them both silent. A thrust or two more is all it takes and he finishes inside her, continuing to move just a bit more until he's sure he's given her everything he has to give.

Finan's arms collapse and Sigrid brings him down gently so that he's resting in her chest. They are both panting, and he can feel her fingers running through his hair and it feels incredible.

So he has no idea why he says, "I should probably go back downstairs."

"Leave this bed and I'll kick your pretty Irish ass," Sigrid tells him with a calm voice and when he glances up she's smiling.

"You think my ass is pretty?" Finan smirks and Sigrid laughs as he wraps his arms around her body and holds her close.

It looks like Finan isn't going anywhere.

Which is exactly what he wanted.

————————————<3—————————————

Sigrid wants to say she wakes up the morning after the best sex of her life to the face of the extremely attractive Irishman in her bed, but she doesn't.

Instead, she wakes up to Ealhswith looking directly at her with a smile on her face and her hand over Sigrid's mouth.

"Shush, I've come to sneak you out," Ealhswith whispers terribly with a giggle, holding a robe up with her other hand, "Come on, your brother is still sleeping!"

Sigrid takes the robe from her hands and Ealhswith closes her eyes as she covers her naked body, taking a moment to glance back at Finan. He's still fast asleep, and she desperately wishes she can stay in bed with him.

"Come on, Sigrid, you can stare at him later!" Ealhswith yell-whispers again, as she pulls Sigrid out of the room.

Once the door closes behind her, Sigrid glances at Ealhswith who has a big smile on her face, and raises a brow, "Ealhswith?"

"Yes?" She smiles wide, looking up to no good.

Sigrid crosses her arms over her chest and tilts her head, "You did this on purpose, didn't you?"

"I did," Ealhswith chuckles as she pushes her along, "And all I ask for in return is to be the best man at your wedding.'

Sigrid laughs at Ealhswith's request as she gets pushed away.

Yet a year later, when Sigrid finds herself walking down the aisle in a white dress with Finan waiting for her at the other end, waiting next to where she will stand is Ealhswith in her best man's tux and a wide smile on her face.

[seacottons]

— uni with atz pt. two

notes: swearing, fluff, mildly suggestive dialogue. tags: @latte-fairytaekwoon

seonghwa — [ early edu. + developmental psych. ]

extremely organized in all aspects of his life

your bookshelf at home consists of books on developmental studies in children.

if he isn't in class or volunteering, he's either cuddling with you or reading.

stressed 24/7.

takes very pretty and neat notes.

randomly spits out facts throughout the day.

sometimes, you join him during his volunteer hours at various daycares and schools.

is all the children's favorite teacher.

extremely patient and soft-spoken when it comes to working with even the most difficult child.

also loves being called 'teacher hwa'.

"i don't know, if i were you, i would make the students call me king san."

"they'll probably end up bullying you," seonghwa replies back.

you don't know how he has the patience for the amount of children he has to take care of.

takes you picture-book shopping with him for his students.

finds himself singing nursery rhymes while cooking or cleaning.

has polaroids of you two stuck on the fridge.

brings lint rollers to work.

gets worked up in public if a parent seems too neglectful in any way.

"y/n!" he tugs at your elbow and points with his jaw to the right, "look! his kid is just spilled all that paint on the floor, and he didn't even bat an eyelash!?"

"don't intervene again, please."

"okay, but-"

the whining of metal and steel cut him off, and the two of you jump in fright at the sound of a shelf falling apart.

"some people really shouldn't have kids."

whines when he comes back home that the paint stain and glitter just won't come off his clothes no matter how many times he rubs the spots with warm water.

or how he has mulch stuck in his socks and shoes from taking the kids outdoors to play.

you somehow always end up finding a googly eye or specks of glitter under the couch.

sometimes brings home finger-paintings with numerous colorful hearts and two stick figures in the middle.

"today's assignment was to paint what makes you happy."

you also help him stitch up little felt and cotton dolls for the kids to keep.

often gets sick from working with children.

and passes it onto you by accident.

you know he's had a bad day when you ask him how it went, and his face scrunches up in pain.

stormed into your shared apartment one day and made a beeline to the bathroom.

forty minutes later, he comes out, towel wrapped around his hips, face and chest flushed, and explains that a child accidentally peed on him.

gets flustered when you laugh at his demise.

sometimes uses his teacher voice when scolding you or your mutual friends.

and you all end up teasing him more anyway.

"do you use that tone in bed too, hwa?" yeosang asks one day. mingi and yunho splutter out in disbelief, followed by loud laughter.

you choked on your bite of cake at the sudden remark.

"what did i ever do to deserve this slander," seonghwa grumbles whilst patting your back.

he often stays up late making lesson plans for both his classes and ones to implement at work as well.

takes full advantage of his teacher's discount at shops and restaurants.

sometimes brags about it to his friends to get under their skin.

"you have it easy. just watching kids and getting free food," san says one day in the middle of their game of jenga.

"it's not easy at all," you hear seonghwa reprimand the younger, and laughter rings out from the other four guests.

"you're learning about children! what's so hard-"

you had a hunch that seonghwa purposely tilted the wooden tower to tumble over an unsuspecting san.

"y/n! your boyfriend is trying to murder me!"

seonghwa paces in circles around your apartment whilst studying for an upcoming exam.

asks you to quiz him on certain materials.

"correct! okay, can you define the preoperational stag-"

"how many kids do you want to have in the future?"

"..what?"

"kids. how many do you want to have with me?" he presses further, eyes trained on your face rather intently.

"can't this conversation wait until you finish studying?"

"no. i'm too curious," he licks at his chapped lips and leans in to poke your forehead, "i need to know. this is important information. please."

yeosang — [ biology pre-med ]

met you through your mutual friend, wooyoung, who invited him to live in your shared dorm.

"you didn't tell me you have a dog?" yeosang turns to wooyoung, brow quirked up whilst pointing to the 'beware of dog' sign on one of the bedroom doors.

"oh, i don't. i just put that up to mess with y/n," wooyoung dismissively explained while making a sandwich.

is the reason why you and wooyoung haven't killed each other yet.

asked you out after five months of moving with you and wooyoung.

designated one of the kitchen's shelves as a medical supply closet.

"because wooyoung always ends up hurting himself without doing anything."

"i do not."

stress is his middle name.

constantly contemplates his life decisions.

"wooyoung! shut up! i can't finish my essay with you blabbering every damn second!"

you had to get used to the sight of a full sized anatomical skeleton in his room.

"okay, but i'm not letting you fuck me with that thing in here."

later that night, wooyoung's heart nearly burst in his chest from fright.

"yeosang! why the fuck is your skeleton in my room!?"

some nights, during dinner, yeosang slams his obnoxiously large textbooks onto the table, and insists for the two of you to quiet down while he skims over the pages a few times.

"can't you just enjoy your meal for five-"

"no. now hush."

not only does he have labs, presentations, and essays to worry about, but he also got accepted for a pre-med internship at a local hospital.

hardly goes out anymore during his free time.

most dates include cuddling on the couch or baking something in the kitchen.

stays up late at night to complete assignments.

towers of thick books decorate his nightstand.

"no, yeosang. i really don't want to see you dissecting a cat," you grimace, turning quickly and shielding your eyes from his phone.

"why not?" yeosang whines softly, hand tugging the hem of your shirt with a frown, "it's not that bad, i promise-"

he's cut off when wooyoung snatches the phone from him with a loud cry, "gross! y/n, you're letting him touch you after he touched that?! and fuck- what is that smell?"

"that's formaldehyde. now give me back my phone before i dissect you next."

you join him at the lab when he has extra work piled up.

"you look so cute with a white coat and goggles."

you prod and poke him repeatedly, asking him numerous questions about the specimens in the lab.

"y/n! don't touch that!"

one day, wooyoung comes home sick.

you insist on taking him to see a doctor, only for him to emit a haughty laugh at you.

"why would i waste my time and money when i have yeosang here?"

"but woo, he didn't even get into med-school yet-"

wooyoung insists he doesn't need to see a professional, "yeosang is practically our live-in doctor! why do you think i begged him to move in?"

you roll your eyes, calling for yeosang to persuade the younger male.

"alright, tell me your symptoms," your boyfriend sighs, plopping down onto the couch beside you and wrapping an arm around your shoulders.

after wooyoung explains everything and takes his own temperature, he peers at yeosang for an answer, "well?"

"you're dying," yeosang nods simply.

wooyoung's visage pales, and he scrambles to sit up on the couch with a disturbed expression.

"what?"

yeosang is always studying.

always.

studying.

you insist for him to take a break sometimes.

"i can't. i have lab tomorrow. oh, and a paper."

"but you always say that!"

you attempt to tug him out of his seat.

"come on! just for an hour, and we'll be back. promise."

he's always reluctant at first, but finds himself agreeing later anyway.

enjoys the small dates at the nearby lake probably more than you do.

mingi — [ accounting ]

a gifted genius when it comes to numbers.

is your very own math tutor.

jokingly asks you to pay him back.

he accepts kisses and hugs. baked pastries are also a bonus.

"y/n? are you okay?" a hand waves in front of your face.

you blink at him wordlessly, mind fogged from the bombardment of information you just received, "sorry- you lost me. can you repeat the process again?"

he playfully smacks your shoulder with the ruler and stomps his bare feet onto the tiled floor, "this is the third time!"

"i'm sorry! you know how i am with math!"

he begs you to take classes with him as electives.

"sorry, baby. i love you, but there's no way i'll ever take statistics."

"okay, what about economics?"

"no."

"management? business administration!?"

"no and no."

"but y/n! it'll be fun! you'll be with me!"

always whines about how much he hates having to take 'stupid management classes' and the group projects that come along with them.

"they never take the assignments seriously!"

said group visits your apartment to work on projects with mingi.

"aren't you supposed to be working on that project?"

you watch as mingi and his friends suddenly erupt in an explosive argument about the game they were currently playing.

"yeosang! what the fuck!?"

"it's y/n's fault mingi was distracted!"

you let out an indignant squawk and glare at yeosang.

"that round didn't count."

"stop being a sore loser, san!"

"so.. i take it you didn't even start?" you grimace, peering over to the untouched books and papers on the coffee table.

"it's just management class. no big deal," san explains quickly with a dismissive wave of his hand before nudging your boyfriend with a glare, "you better not make us lose this time, or i'll kidnap y/n."

stays up late to finish other work that's due.

loves to wear big spectacles when studying.

it 'helps him focus'.

writes notes on his calculator and slides it towards you while you're both home studying.

'n-3^07-!'

"mingi, what is that?"

"read it upside down, you bum."

has a coffee mug with 'i love π' in big, bold, red letters.

refuses to throw it away even though the rim is chipped.

always bugs you about how you should have a budget plan.

insists on teaching you how to make spreadsheets on excel.

"i can't do this, mingi. too much numbers give me a headache."

"do you want my lucky glasses?"

rambles on about things related to his field, and you can only nod in confusion every time.

"how does your brain keep up with all of this?"

"easy. just be one with the numbers."

"that was a bad pun.."

"you're supposed to laugh!"

mingi was that typical student who complained about studying, but is always the one acing everything with the highest score.

"i should just quit university and become a stripper."

"you say that every exam week, and yet, you always pass with the highest grades," you mumble from the other side of the couch, absentmindedly highlighting a few sentences in your book.

"yeah, but studying is a pain in the ass," he exhaled with a loud groan, head thrown back against the back of the couch, "why me, y/n?"

you roll your eyes while reaching over to pat the side of his face in comfort.

"everything will work out just fine."

later that week, he joyfully bounces into your apartment with a large grin plastered on his face, "guess what?"

you snort in amusement.

"let me take a wild guess. you aced your exam."

"and guess who has the highest score?" he tugged you forward by your cheeks with a bright grin.

"yeosang?" the cheery expression on his features suddenly vanished, causing you to laugh, "i'm kidding."

likes to study while attached to your side, wearing comfortable pajamas and warm socks.

sulks whenever his stock investments drop further than he expects.

and is always in a good mood whenever the prices spike back up.

always has a horrible math pun up his sleeve.

sends you accounting memes and becomes a gloomy mess when you don't laugh or understand the joke.

"what if i propose to you with a math problem? and we have pie instead of cake?"

"please don't bring math into our love life."

yunho — [ broadcasting journalism ]

roommates with you, hongjoong, and jongho.

is called 'newspaper boy' by hongjoong.

is well-known around campus for being one of the student journalists for the university's newspaper.

you have the very first published paper, with his full name printed on the front, framed in the hallway of your dorm.

has the prettiest hands.

and longest fingers you've ever seen.

can put them to good use.

especially when typing out essays. they're practically blurred from how swift he is.

likes to ramble about current international events to jongho early in the morning. the latter pretends to understand, giving the other false hope.

jongho always sends you a pleading look to save you from your lover.

always carries a notebook.

article deadlines = stressed yunho.

complains that his friends are 'uncultured'.

helps you with your essays.

if he has enough time, he'll actually re-write it for you.

"was it really that bad?"

"it's okay, baby. you're good at other things."

"how come you don't re-write my papers?" jongho huffs from across the living room.

"you're not y/n."

interviews you and your other roommates for his projects.

you smile from behind him as he zooms in obnoxiously close to hongjoong's disgruntled expression.

"he zoomed in on my nose again, didn't he?" the blue haired male asks you.

"sorry, but that tomato sauce stain is really distracting me."

hongjoong nearly drops his fork.

"what stain!?" he furiously rubs his face with the back of his hand, "see! i told you that you always interview us at the most inconvenient time!"

is constantly writing.

can be very unorganized.

"who took my ap stylebook!?"

"can you stop shouting? it's 6 a.m., yunho!" hongjoong growls from his bedroom.

mingi and seonghwa often visit your dorm because they're usually partnered with yunho for an assignment.

it somehow always winds up with mingi and yunho fooling around, whilst seonghwa struggles to persuade them to help him with the work.

sometimes, you tag along to help film his public social experiment projects.

is a social-bug, so people are instantly drawn to him.

likes to cuddle with you while watching the films for his assignments.

you think most of them are pretty boring, but being in his lap and tucked against his chest makes up for it.

you like to add glittery stickers onto his video camera and tripod.

is very much infatuated with you, so he doesn't mind one bit.

applied for a paid broadcasting radio station/tv internship over the summer and was quickly accepted.

asks you to help him style his hair for his first day at work.

"but it's just a radio station. no one's going to see you?" jongho questions with a perplexed expression.

"i still need to look presentable!"

and later that day you quickly hush the two males beside you once the clock strikes 2 p.m.

"quiet! yunho should be on any second now!"

"i was just breathing?" hongjoong whispers weakly.

over dinner, jongho often mimics yunho's reporting voice.

"y/n, do i really sound like that?" yunho pouts as you and hongjoong burst into fits of laughter.

"aw, don't be sad. i love your reporter voice, baby."

will wake everyone up early the next morning by yelling at the top of his lungs with his reporter voice just to get back at you three for laughing at him.

[newtsies]

When I Was Your Man || A Ralbert One Shot

a/n - hello! so basically this one shot is a College Newsies AU where Racetrack and Albert broke up and Race started dating Spot :'). it's about ralbert though?? so it's like- okay its from alberts POV and it's based on When I Was Your Man so yeah :D (all lyrics from the song will be in bold and italicized),, i'll only be writing the chorus once <3

also i didnt edit this cuz its late and IM TIRED SO sorry if it sucks lol

tw('s) - cussing

same bed but it feels just a little bit bigger now

Albert didn't sleep well at night, if he even slept at all. His bed was empty. The same bed that he had slept in since the beginning of college. But it wasn't his bed, it was their bed. At least, it used to be theirs. Now, it was just his, but he couldn't accept that it was only his.

But at one point, it was theirs. Him and Racetrack, it was once their bed. Even if it was only his, Albert could swear that Race's body was still outlined in the cushion of his bed.

The bed used to be so small, too small for the two of them. They cuddled together to keep each other from falling off. But now it was huge. He had no-one to roll over to in the morning, he was alone.

He couldn't even sleep on the right side of the bed. That was Race's side. Even if Race hadn't slept on the bed for a long time, even if he would never sleep on the bed again. That was his side, not Alberts.

And often times he would lay awake in bed, staring at the ceiling. He would reach over to the right for his boyfriends- ex-boyfriends hand. But it wasn't there. He reached over and was met with sheets and pillows.

So he didn't sleep, because he had no-one to sleep with and his bed was too big to sleep in. And he stayed awake until the next morning when he got into his car and drove from his apartment to the school.

Not even in his car did he get peace. It wasn't his car, it was Race's car. Race had picked it out, he liked the color. And it smelled like Race's cologne and it held memories of Race in each dent of the leather seats.

So he sold the car. He got a new car, his own car. But even with the smell of Race gone, with his memories in the seats gone. The radio in the new car betrayed Albert.

our song on the radio but it don't sound the same

The car radio had one station, and Albert could swear that the station only had one playlist they played each day. Because every day, and it never missed one day, it would play their song. The song they first danced to. So Albert turned off the radio, and he never turned it on. Even when friends begged him to play music, the radio staid off and he played music from his quiet phone.

Every day, Albert showed up to school exhausted. He nearly passed out in class. Lunch was the only time he ever slept. Everyone assumed he didn't get sleep due to his hard classes, which couldn't be farther from the truth. He didn't do his work. He couldn't pay attention in class, not with Race there.

when our friends talk about you, all it does is just tear me down

"You really lucked out being with him, Al," Jack said.

Romeo agreed and added onto the comment, "Kelly's right. He's gorgeous. And a genius too. Too smart for his own good."

Albert raised his head from his arms with a desperately sad look. He sighed and shook his head, "I told you guys. I know we broke up a while ago, but it still hurts, okay?" He rested his head back into his arms and closed his eyes tightly. His heart ached with every comment. He knew Race was gorgeous. He knew Race was a genius. He knew so much about him, yet he didn't know him enough to keep him happy.

"Sorry, man. Forgot," Jack mumbled. Romeo muttered something of an apology and scratched at his neck.

"I know you hate school activities," Romeo started, "But you should come to the party tonight. Dance a little, I think it'll cheer you up."

Albert sighed and tried not to think about why dancing would be hard for him. He looked up and pushed his hair out of his face, "I'll come."

'cause my heart breaks a little when i hear your name

"Race!" Spot called from the couch. The music boomed and Spots voice was quiet, but Albert heard the name anyways. He immediately turned to the boy.

Spot grinned as Race made his way over to him. Race plopped into his lap and smiled back as he hugged the boy. Alberts eyes widened and his chest ached.

Even just hearing Race's name hurt Albert, brought back a wave of memories. Each yell of Race's name when he did something dumb, each fond laugh of the name when he complimented him, each whine of Racetrack's name when he bugged Albert too much. He missed it all.

it all just sounds like ooh, ooh, hoo

Jack and Romeo were definitely talking to Albert, but he couldn't hear anything they were saying. The music sounded like gibberish and he couldn't think. All he could do was stare at the couple on the couch and ache at the sight.

mm, too young, too dumb to realize, that i should have bought you flowers

Albert watched as Race giggled at the flower Spot offered him. Spot smiled and put the small yellow flower behind Race's ear. The stem stuck between his ear and his head whilst the bud pointed outwards.

The years that they dated, Albert and Race were young and naive. He didn't know how to be romantic or how to make Race happy. No matter how hard he tried.

"I should've bought him flowers," He sighed. Jack and Romeo shared a knowing glance before pushing Albert to sit down on the couch.

and held your hand

"I mean," Albert continued, "I was too insecure to do anything with him." They didn't even hold hands in public, because Albert was scared. Scared of what society would think.

should have gave you all my hours, when i had the chance

Albert and Race had started dating their first year of college. Albert was constantly busy with classes. He was always doing work and stressing about class.

Anytime Race would make an attempt to spend time with him, he shut it down.

"I'm doing work," He would say, "You should be doing work, too."

He wanted to do well, get a good job, find a good home, start a family. But all of that was dumb. It was pointless. To hell with it all if we didn't get to come back from his job to see Race. Because Race was his home and he didn't want to start a family with anyone else.

take you to every party 'cause all you wanted to do was dance

"Al!" Race would whine and grab at his arm, "Dance with me, please. Just for a little bit."

Albert never did dance with him. No matter how much he asked, he refused to do so. He couldn't, he needed to get good grades. He needed to provide.

"We can dance later," He would say.

The usual response he would get was, "Promise?" But one day, he received a different answer, "There isn't going to be a later. Not for us, Albert."

now my baby's dancing, but he's dancing with another man

Race pulled Spot up from the couch. They smiled as they moved together to the middle of the room. The music vibrated around them as the two danced.

Albert watched from the camp as he shook his leg. He took in a deep and quaking breath before stumbling out of the house. He threw his cup to the side and gulped in a large breath.

my pride, my ego, my needs, and my selfish ways, caused a good strong man like you to walk out my life

"What do you mean their won't be a later for us, Racer?" Albert had asked, finally looking up from his studies.

Race had scoffed, "Oh, of course! That's what gets you to look me in the eye, huh?" He had rolled his eyes, "We're done, Al. I can't do this anymore, can't do us. Okay? You're so god damn selfish. You only do what's best for you. Ever think about what's best for us, huh? Do you ever even think about me?"

"Of course I think about you, Race. You're all I ever think about," Al had stuttered out.

"Sure," Race had laughed sourly, "I just wanted to fucking dance, Albert. You wouldn't even do that with me. I'm leaving." With that, Race had grabbed all of his stuff and walked out of the apartment.

now i never, never get to clean up the mess i made, oh. and that haunts me every time i close my eyes

Albert closed his eyes when he left the house. Their breakup flashed behind his eyelids and he choked out a sob. He fell to his knees on the grass.

"God damnit," He weakly hit the grass beneath him, "I could've fixed it. I could- Could've. But- Spot. I can't fix it anymore."

although it hurts, i'll be the first to say that i was wrong

He shook his head, "Race was right. I never thought about him." And his stomach twisted with that realization.

Albert has thought he was thinking about Race, about their future together. But it was never about Race, it was about him. He needed to good grades, Racer didn't. Everything that happened was his fault, and he knew that.

oh, i know i'm probably much too late, to try and apologize for my mistakes

He took a deep breath before falling back to sit down on the grass. The door opened and a boy with curly blonde hair sat down next to him.

Race gave Albert a sad smile.

"I'm not going to say sorry," Albert started, "Because that won't make up for anything. I was wrong, about everything." Race nodded.

"Al," Race said quietly.

Albert shook his head with a small grin, "Don't. Go get, Spot. Be happy. Go love the boy who you want to see when you get home from long work days, okay? Love him the way I love you." He paused, "Not the way I treated you, but the way I feel about you. I know it didn't seem like it. But I love you."

Race smiled and gave Albert a pat on the cheek, "I loved you too."

That was the sad tragedy of their relationship.

Albert was in love with Race. Race had been in love with Albert.

They loved each other at different times. But Albert could accept the pain of being in love with a boy would didn't love him back, because even though Race was in love with someone else, he was happy. And that's all Albert wanted, because Race deserved to be happy.

[tay-westvillage]

28 SECRET MESSAGE FROM TAYLOR SWIFT

Happy International Women's Day 🌎 💃

Her new Playlist 👇

Why 28? Because who born in 1992?

The Man

"I'd be a fearless leader, I'd be an alpha type"

Number One Fans

"I would give my life just to hold your hand, I'm your number one fan"

Delete Forever

"Guess it's just my rotten luck, To fill my time with permanent blue"

Sometimes

"Feel like my faith keep getting tested, I need a sign, I need a message, 'cause sometimes"

People, I've Been Sad

"It's true, that people, I've been sad, I've been gone, I've been missing out, And missing out for way too long"

Where Do You Go?

"With all this worry in my head, I'll stay up as late as I can, Til you come home, come home"

Door

"Sometimes I don't know who I'm singing to, Who is the you who I sing to, When the house is empty?, You open the door"

She's Play Bass

"Yes, we're both stuck in the same boat, The world doesn't seem to get us though, You're just stuck in space, Just playing your bass"

Sugar Honey Iced Tea

"Don't do this shit to be famous, I do this shit 'cause I love it, I shot an arrow said, "Fuck it", How you want what I have?, You ain't workin' yourself, That toxic energy shit, Ain't really good for your health"

Now, I'm In It

"Locking all the doors to my house, I'm alone in my head, But I wish you were in my bed, Can't get a read on myself, Gotta change this situation, Something in the way that I felt when I woke up, Told me that I shouldn't give in, give up hope, Told me that I shouldn't fight what I felt, Told me I should not let go 'cause, We cannot be friends, Cannot pretend, That it makes sense"

Better Now (sad)

"Never been scared about the future, Don't think I'll make it, if I lose you (Lose you)"

Garden Song

"No, I'm not afraid of hard work, And I did everything I want, I have everything I wanted"

Come Home To Me

"Maybe I did you wrong and made you bleed, Maybe you made mistakes that got me on my knees , And maybe we're a mess, but it works for me, 'Cause I know that every time you leave, you come home to me"

Official (Kaylor first kiss)

"I remember our first date, No chocolate and no bouquet, But the way that you kissed me,These are the things that could make us official"

Rare

"Oh, why don't you recognize I'm so rare, Always there, You don't do the same for me, That's not fair"

Backseat

"At the party, The song takes me back, To last December, Or something like that, And I remember how we felt so old, We fell in love and no one had to know"

She's My Sunshine

"Tell me, what do I know?, Just one thing, one thing, one thing, Let me tell you one thing, She is my sun, She won't forget I'm here, High when my day disappears"

My Own Dance

"So, the internet called and it wants you back, But could you kinda rap and not be so sad?" Fuck it"

Edge of My Seat

"So you keep picking us up, And I've been seeing moments of us, Where we're feeling like we're right on the cusp, Of something better and I know that we're stuck, But I heard that they're looking for us, Yeah, they know about us, tired, It's a puzzle how to please"

Keeping It In The Dark (kissgate rumors)

"I hear rumours, let them fly, It's you and me, And they don't have to know, Oh, they don't have to know, Oh, they speculate, But let's just make them wait, 'Cause they don't need to know, Nobody needs to know, Keep, keep, keeping it in the dark (It's our little secret)"

Georgia

"Is it unnatural? Georgia, is it cool? I wanna tell you that I love you"

Watching My Phone

"And I know I can't be the million girls you're gonna meet, And I think that's alright, I apologize, for holding you so right, you couldn't breathe, And thinking you'd be fine, And I'm alone, Watching my phone, Thinking about you, baby"

More (watching old pictures)

"And would you know it right away, How hard I tried to see your face?, A little screen, a photograph, mine to take, And when you decide it's your time to arrive, I've loved you for all of my life, And nothing could stop me from giving a try, I've loved you, for all of my life want you more, Somehow, I just want you more."

Feel Me

"Every time your lips touch another, I want you to feel me, Every time you dance with somebody, I want you to feel me"

About Love

"My head gets messy when I try to hide, The things I love about you in my mind, I don't really know a lot about love, But you're in my head, you're in my blood, And it feels so good, it hurts so much"

Stay With Me

"I've had nothing but trouble, And bad news on the line for such a long time, The only break I get is laughing 'til my eyes are wet with you"

Closer To You

"The things you do, Only make me want to get closer to you, And the things that you say, Only make me want to stay, Can't push me away, I'm not going, I'll wait, You know this street runs two ways, say So I need to hear your voice, Know I'm standing here by choice, And I can't hear the background noise, anyway"

Womxn

"And there’s a girl inside saying this is the wrong move, Ooh but there’s a woman inside saying this is the truth, I wonder what to say to her, Question where I wanna be, I stop judging her, I tell her who I wanna be"

cc: @taytaysbeard @taylorswift @9w1ft @iwanthermidnightz

[one-spidey-boii]

BUMMER SUMMER || peter parker; ch. two

read chapter one here

masterlist

an; welcome back y’all. thank you to all who have read so far, even tho it’s only chapter two. i’d love to hear your feedback! enjoy!

**italics indicates flashback**

warnings; mentions of battle wounds (i.e. blood/scars/etc), future smut, mature language, fluff, angst, both peter and oc are 18+!!

word count; 2.2k+

edie's pov

so that's spiderman? seems like a fun guy, i think as i walk through the dark alleyways so i don’t draw unwanted attention to myself. it's late and i'm navigating my way home, still thinking about my run-in with the red and blue clad boy. it's easy to tell he's young by the sound of his voice, leading me to believe he’s twenty at most. that doesn't bother me of course, as i too am considered young for a crime-fighting vigilante.

i turn the last corner before reaching my street and sigh with relief at the sight of my apartment building. the light in my window is off, aiding in the illusion that i'm asleep so my mom doesn't come in while i'm away on my semi-nightly adventures. just before i can touch the brick stones of my building as i pass by, a mechanical swoosh comes down and picks me up off the ground. i let out a small yelp and quickly find myself placed on the roof.

"hey, wolfie." mr. stark says as he walks out of his iron man suit. i let out the breath i was holding and turn around to face him. i offer him a small smile and take my hood down.

"mr. stark, hello, sir."

"school's almost out, right?" before i can answer, he keeps talking, "good. i'm gonna need your help with something."

i wipe away the beads of sweat running down my forehead as i bend down to pick up my throwing knives from the concrete ground. i steady myself and focus on the tattered piece of cardboard nailed to the wall that is my makeshift target. with a small grunt, i fling one towards the center of the red dot, hitting it dead on. i continue this activity until i run out of things to throw and my arms feel like jelly. i lost count of how many times i'd hit the center of the target in a row.

stepping back with a satisfied smirk, i collect my knives, shoving them back into their rightful place in my bag or around my waist and turn on my heel to head home. i manage to take two steps before a voice stops me in my tracks.

"hey, don't walk away now, kid, the next one would have been fifty." my eyes widen at the familiar voice that often appears on my living room television. i slowly move to face the man and gulp, mouth opening and closing like a goldfish, not being able to say a word.

"come on, one more. show me what you got." says tony stark, with a loose smile on his face.

without a word, i force my trembling hands to grab my favorite knife from my right boot and brace myself for a throw. my breathing is shaky as i raise my right arm and inhale along with it. i can feel the sweat running down my back as i close my eyes for a moment. don't embarrass yourself, e, i think to myself. with that i snap my eyes open and silently chuck the knife towards the target.

i missed.

"oh for fuck's sake." i groan into my hands before i remember who i'm with and freeze. i keep my head in my hands, making sure to cover my face, only gathering enough courage to peek at tony stark through my fingers.

"well, that's awkward, i won't lie," he says, looking uncomfortable, "but i think i saw what i needed to see beforehand. i'm tony stark, or iron man if you wanna get fancy." he reaches a hand out in my direction.

"edie wolfe, hi." i reply with a defeated and lame handshake. to save both of us from looming silence, he pulls at my hoodie before continuing on, "okay, ms. wolfe." he pauses to inspect my attire, "what is this? leggings? and a hoodie? kid, if you're gonna be throwing knives, you gotta expect people to throw them back at you. this isn't going to cut it." he motions to the thin fabric covering my arms and chest.

i laugh at his words, "oh hey i see what you did there."

not catching on to his own pun, he moves on again, "what? actually never mind, we have a lot of talking to do, wolfie."

ever since that night, he took me under his wing- and a week later i got a package with a brand new suit in it. one that would protect me a whole lot more than what i was working with before.

"earth to wolfie, beep beep boop," mr. stark says as he pokes me in the forehead. i swat his hand away and give him my full attention. he continues on, "so you're in? a summer at the compound, being scary and keeping bad guys away?"

i raise an eyebrow at him, "what makes you think my family will be okay with that?" i ask. mr. stark simply rolls his eyes, "i already talked to your father, need i show you the proof?" i shake my head and he nods with satisfaction.

"okay, kid. see you in a few days." he says, preparing to get back into his suit, but before he can fly away i stop him, a question looming over my head, "am i doing this alone?"

"of course not. i wouldn't leave you alon- well actually i can't leave him alone so that's why you're gonna be there," he explains with a shake of his head.

"and who exactly is this person?" i ask with my arms crossed.

"how about one friendly neighborhood spiderman!" he yells and takes off before i can say anything back.

-

finally, the last day of school was upon us. it seems that the ending of every school year is bittersweet, and to be honest it hasn't quite hit me yet. senior year was way lamer than everyone played it off to be. you're told that you're officially ‘top dog', but let's be real- no real credit is given until you've graduated. but hey, here's to making it this far.

i'm sitting at my usual lunch table, surrounded by peter, ned, and mj. we pass jokes around the group and take in every moment we have left of our time together, yanno, since peter is leaving. but so am i. which is something i still have to share with everyone.

"uh, hey, guys. can i be a debby downer for a moment?" i ask, clearing my throat and disturbing the light mood of the afternoon. the table quiets down and all eyes are on me. "so you know how peter is leaving this summer?" i ruffle peter's hair in an attempt to not make that statement so sad.

"yeah, edie, we know." mj says with an eye roll as she picks at her cold french fries. i roll my eyes back at her and mock her voice. i can't help but notice peter's guilty face sitting next to me, little does he know i am going to make it a whole lot more weird up in here.

i take in a big breath and hold it to up the anticipation, "well it looks like i'll be gone too."

ned drops his chicken wrap and shakes his head furiously, "nuh uh, nope. no way. sorry, e, i can't allow that to happen," he says with a stern voice. peter chooses this moment to negatively highlight my new confession, "edie, how dare you! someone needs to be here to look after the kids."

i lower my head in shame, god this was so hard to do. faking a playful smile, i try to make light of the situation, "hey, c'mon, we all know mj is the mom friend of the group."

mj shakes her head violently and protests against my statement, "absolutely not. i veto that with all of my being, ned is the mom." she insists as she points to the pouting boy. we all laugh at that before falling into an uncomfortable silence. i glance in peter's direction and try to smile at him. doing this to him was the hardest, i tell him everything and knowing full well that i can't tell anyone about my stay at the compound, it just hurts my heart. we won't be able to communicate all summer.

"my mom signed me up to be a camp counselor...at, uh, a self-defense camp." i panic at the last second, realizing i never thought about what kind of camp i would fictitiously be a part of. the whole table bursts out into laughter.

through short breaths and a hearty laugh, ned pokes fun at me, "edie? teaching children how to kick someone's ass? look at you, you're like a soft pillowy little marshmallow." i stick my tongue out at him and cross my arms.

"hey, i wouldn't shut down the idea too fast, remember e's dad is like, an actual fbi agent. i'm sure he's taught her some stuff," peter chimes in, coming to my rescue. i nod along and hum a 'mhm', snickering inside at how much they don't know.

-

once i'm home, i pack my suitcase with all the things i think one would need to stay at a high tech superhero compound. i grab all of my knives and shove them into a utility pack, along with my suit.

my parents know where i'm going, and lucky for me they’re okay with it. well, at least my dad is.

my father, sam wolfe, works for a hidden branch of the fbi that trains government spies and the occasional assassin. thus being the reason i grew to be so good at combat. he would take me onto the roof of our building and have me shoot at targets and hit punching bags. we would practice for hours at a time, his booming voice critiquing my every move and decision as i worked. i've never been comfortable with a gun, so i stuck with knives and made that my craft.

i haven't seen my dad in a few months now. to 'protect' me and my family, we weren't allowed to know where my dad was going or why he had to leave in the first place. once mr. stark came into my life, he and my father became close, putting his trust in mr. stark to watch out for me whenever he was gone.

my mother on the other hand, she hates everything about it. she’s afraid of the world and all the things that lurk behind closed doors. when dad isn't around, we aren't allowed to talk about anything related to knives or fighting or tony stark. and for my nine-year-old brother's sake, i oblige.

pulling my bag onto my shoulder and lugging my suitcase through the hall, i meet my mother and brother in the living room. she meets my eyes with her cloudy ones and closes the distance between us with a strong hug. i chuckle at her before wrapping my arms around her plump frame.

"mom, it's okay-" i start, before she cuts me off, "shhh, edie. let me have this moment."

i shut up and continue to embrace my mom. i know this is hard for her, but she needs to understand that this is an amazing opportunity for me. i'm being put in charge of the avengers compound for the entire summer. i wish i could share this excitement with my dad, but i know he's happy for me, wherever he may be.

"edie, promise me you'll come home if you can't handle it. no one is going to judge you for that. you're only eighteen. i can't believe your father is letting you do this." my mother rambles as she pulls away from me. i smile at her and just nod my head.

my little brother looks over in our direction with a shy smile on his face. i ruffle his hair and pull him to me for a quick hug, "take care of mom for me, booger." i whisper into his ear. he gives me a simple nod and backs away.

my phone buzzes in my pocket. i pull it out to see a message from mr. stark.

'beep beep, i'm here'

i sigh and look up at my mom one last time, "that's my ride." she lets a single tear stroll down her cheek before wiping it away and shooing me out the door.

once out of the apartment, i lug my suitcase down the three flights of stairs and out onto the sidewalk. mr. stark is pulled up to the curb in his fancy black car. he rolls down the passenger side window and yells at me through it, "time to party, wolfie."

i stroll to the car and pull the back door open to throw my stuff down. then i hop into the front seat and look at mr. stark, "you know, you could have come in."

"yeah, well we all know your mother doesn't like me very much. i don't wanna poke the bear," he says as he pulls his sunglasses over his eyes and revs the engine, "let's get you to your new home for the next three months, shall we?"

|| taglist; @my-patronus-is-mabel-pines

[savysavannah]

Challenge 1

Special thanks to @damian-schreave and @hadleyjaneharper for the rps.

Also the last section is not in fic format because its 2am, im lazy, and you get the gyst from the RP. Apperantly this is too long so part 2 soon.

    The Prince was off in Paloma for a bit so we were of little use in the Palace, no idea why they had us move in so early. Therefore, I’d spent most of the day with some books I’d grabbed from the library. Primarily they were legal books since it never hurts to brush up. But every once in a while, such as now I’d need to go and grab some food. 

I brought my notepad and a book on contract law with me and walked into the kitchen. There was another girl also in the kitchen. We haven't spoken to each other, she didn’t seem unfriendly or particularly awful company, just hadn’t really had the moment to. I grabbed a plate of fruit and wondered if she would say anything. After a moment I sat down and resumed reading. 

Then a small sad sigh came from the young woman who was looking down at her phone with a sad face. It wouldn’t be too bad if I took a break for some conversation. However, the young woman looked troubled, she may not be in the mood. I yawned and stretched then mumbled, but loud enough for her to hear, “God, I could use a drink.” and wondered if the other would take the bait. 

There was a beat before the other spoke, “Long day?”

“More or less. Lots of reading, missing work. How about yourself?”

She shrugged “Its...different than what I’m used to. Lots of sitting still when I’m used to spending my days moving around.” SHe grimaces then sighed, “The adjustment period is always the toughest, though.”

I thought for a moment trying to remember the occupations of the selected, “The dancer?” I asked. 

She grinned “Yeah. Hadley.” She raised an eyebrow, “And you?”

“Lawyer.” I said and stood from the table, walked over to Hadley and held her hand out, “Savannah Mars, Labrador, three.”

She shook my hand, “Nice to meet you.” then thought for a moment, “You said you were missing work? Do you work at a law firm?”

“Kinda. I work for the Illean Civil Liberties Union in their legal division. It's a non-profit which focuses on civil rights and for me civil legal cases. Lgbt+ rights defense, domestic defense, that sort of thing.”

“Oh, that’s really cool.” She said, seeming actually interested in my work. “Are you missing the casework, or something else?”

“It's pretty hard for me to step back from my work. Since I'm kind of left worrying about my clients. A new guy took over my cases but I'm trying to still work in my own way by studying up on some legal sections I work in less frequently but still may come up. Such as contract law.” I explained not fully hearing her other question. 

She nodded, “I understand, sort of. I’m left worrying about how my ballet company is going to perform, with somebody else taking over the role in the Nutcracker that I’ve had the past few years.”

“Yeah the transition really is nerve wracking. Have you seen them perform though?” I asked hoping that could at least provide some solace. 

“I’ve seen pictures on Instagram, but no videos yet. We were just finishing up our performance of Cinderella when I left. Nutcracker rehearsal started a few days after, but it’s a show we do each year, so... “ She sighed “ It /should/ be fine.”

I nodded, “well if they assigned them the role try and have faith in their qualifications. That's what I'm keeping in mind for mine. They did go to law school so it's fine. They got the role so it’s fine.” I said partially for her and partially for me. 

She sighed a little hesitant, “Yeah, you’re probably right. Competition is just gonna be a bitch and a half when I’m sent back.” She chuckled wryly.  

“Well maybe you'll win and then you won't have too. Who’s gonna take a role away from the future queen of Illea.”

“That’s extremely unlikely to happen.” She then almost smirked “What about you? If you win, nobody’s going to tell you no in a courtroom.”

I laughed, “If I win I'll kill myself.” Then I realized how dark that sounded, though it didn’t seem to phase her.

“I hate to say that I feel the same way, but…” She shrugged and nodded, “I feel the same way” For a moment I was confused, why would she join if she felt the same way? Then it clicked, a dancer would be a five, lower class, need the money.

“You're a five right? Did you apply for the money? If you don't mind my asking that is. It would just make sense why you'd dislike to win.” 

“It…” She bit her lip, “Kind of? It’s a long story involving a deadbeat mom, a shitty health care system, two starving artists, and a kid with leukemia.” She said with an apologetic smile. Whatever she’d be apologizing for I can’t say. 

“Well shit man, I'm glad you got in then. Both for the money and for a break from that. I know this society fucking sucks and we've got a likely shit for brains hier, but if you ever need a lawyer I'm here to help. Hopefully, being a three now will provide some help for you too.” I said then caught myself making a mental note to not be so vulgar with my language. 

She gave me a small smile, “Thanks. Now I just have to figure out what I’m doing with the rest of my life, after throwing my career into dance, only to become a Three.” She laughed, “What about you? Why did you enter? It sounds like you had a pretty cushy gig going on.”

It wouldn’t be smart to tell the truth, but lying when Hadley had been so open felt wrong, I sighed and said, “My brother. Basically he forged my entry and I didn't want him to get into legal troubles for that. He's a fucking idiot.” I sighed and let that last cuss word slide as he is a fucking idiot. 

She snorted, “Men really do only have two brain cells.” She gave a small smile, “I’m sorry that you ended up in that situation, though. That’s rough.”

“Yeah. I tried to beat him up but my other brothers stopped me. It was really a mess. Had to find out from a waitress asking for a photo with me.” 

She shook her head, “My best friend told me that he was so upset to see me, “throwing my life away,” as if I hadn’t entered to help him and his brother.” Sounds like an ungrateful ass. She sighed and looked down at her fruit, “When did life get this messed up?”

A question with too big of an answer. A bit panicked and not knowing what to say I took a strawberry off my plate and held it out to her, “Fruit?” 

She chuckled and took the strawberry, “Thanks.” She takes a bit, chews, and then pauses, looking at Savannah, “You know what I could really go for right now, though? A good gin and tonic.”

“God that'd be great. You know what, let's make some. One glass can't hurt.”

She shrugged, “Sure, sounds fun. I’m down.” She looks around, “I know they keep the wine in that cabinet, but I haven’t found the liquor yet.”

After gathering our ingredients we get to work making the glasses, “so, what's your plan in all this?”

“In the selection?” She raises an eyebrow and then shrugs, she starts pouring things into the mixer bottle, “Stay here for as long as I can so I keep making stimulus checks, and then get sent home before I’m stuck spending the rest of my life here.” She finishes pouring and looks at Savannah, “You?”

I sighed, “about the same. Give the money to the non-profit I work for. I was hoping I could root for you to win, you seem like you have a good head on your shoulders to influence him, but the more I think about it the more I realize that's like damning to hell.

She snorts, “Well, I still appreciate the compliment, and I would’ve said the same about you.” Then she sighs, “I’ve always known that it’s been like this, though. He gets to squander every penny he has on luxury shit, whereas my paychecks…” another sigh, “But life isn’t fair.”

“Yeah. And then waste the money on useless shit and trying to pass dumb laws like making 'cats' illegal instead of actually fixing the problems in this country.” I said and poured myself a glass of the drink.

She poured some for herself and then shook her head with an eye roll, “Don’t even get me started on that debacle. Why even joke about things like that?”

“Because he doesn't comprehend how the people of his own country are suffering. He's just so blind with privilege. Not that I have much to speak on but at least I freaking try to think about others in the country and their situations.”

She gave me a small smile, “You didn’t seem like the type to blow your money on worthless things to me, at all. I don’t even know what I’m going to say to him when we have that interview in a few days.”

“Yeah I think im just gonna be polite for the sake of not causing a scene that'll haunt me my whole life” I said and took a sip, then clarified, “polite though, not kind.”

She nodded then drank too, “I really went from putting on one type of show for Twos to another.” 

“Any idea what you're gonna do as a three?” I asked.

She pursed her lips and shook her head, “I haven’t taken a science or maths class since I was eleven, and I don’t have the money for university. I guess I could work as a translator, or if that doesn’t work out, marry a five and go back to dancing.” She took another sip of her drink, “Hopefully I’ll be here long enough to figure it out.”

“Do they not have like threes who are dance teachers? I haven't really looked much into the area myself but it may make sense.”

She shook her head, “For me, at least, it was mostly Russian immigrants who were former dancers themselves, so Fives.”

I thought for a moment, “Well if you ever need history lessons, english, or legal aid I'm around. I dug into my pocket and pulled out a business card, since it’s not like either of us plan to be here long,  “Just all the way up in Labrador. Where are you from again?”

“Allens. So, not too far. Thanks.” She replied and looked at the card.

“Welcome.” I replied, finished off my drink then wrote down another idea. 

Hadley narrowed her eyes curiously, “What are you writing?”

“Just an idea for a proposition with the ICLU. There are probably other girls in a similar situation as you being lower caste now upper be it through marriage or selection, it may be helpful to talk about implementing a caste readjustment program.”

She lifted her head, smiling just a little, “That sounds like a great idea.” Then a little quieter she added,  “I'd appreciate it.” 

“Hopefully my boss will agree and pass it onto the innovation department. I'll write a quick memo about it to her later.” I smiled happy to have something to do.

“You really love your job, don't you?” She asked. 

I nodded, “It makes me feel like I have some kinda purpose. As cheesy as that is to say.” Making actual change in Illea instead of just prancing around doing whatever else I could have grown up to do. 

“No, I get that.” She looked down, “As a kid, I never really felt like I belonged, but on the stage, dancing?” She looked a little distant, “Standing out was a good thing.”

I nodded,  “Mhm. Have you thought of ways you could continue working while at the palace?”

She smiled, “Actually, I had a conversation with Prince Eaton about that, and I’ve been able to work out a schedule that allows me to still practice, even though I have to do a little more work to catch up on lessons.”

“That'll be good. If you wanted too you could put on a performance and donate the profits. That way you could be working towards a goal too instead of general practice.”

She tilted her head, “That's an interesting idea. I’ll keep that in mind.”

I nodded, “Well it was nice meeting you, Lady Hadley. But it is probably time for me to get back to work.” Then held out my hand to shake goodbye.

She took it, giving it a shake. “Nice to meet you too.”

It was pretty late in the afternoon by the time I was escorted to the interview room. Damian was in a navy blue suit jacket, dress pants, and a white button up shirt. He smiled at me as I got closer.  His eyes flicker to my nametag for a second before he speaks, “Hello, Lady Savannah. It’s a pleasure to meet you in person.”

I smiled trying to stay polite, then gave a small curtsy, “The same to you, your highness.”

He smiled back, taking a few steps back and gestured for me to go into the interview room. In the room is a sofa, surrounded by stage lights and a few cameras, what a romantic first meeting. There is one camera on a swivel stand, that is currently focused on Damian and I. He starts walking into the room, looking at me as he talks, "How have you found your first few days here, so far?"

I debated giving him a short one word answer of 'fine' but Danny's words of 'don't ruin your own happiness" slipped into my head. "They've been fine. I've enjoyed your library. It's helped me feel like I can in some ways continue working by catching up on legal matters normally outside of my areas of expertise."

He nodded while smiling then took a seat on the sofa, "So you're a lawyer, then? What kind of law do you practice?"

Reluctantly I sat next to him, hopefully I wouldn't catch an STD from proximity alone, "Yes, I practice primarily civil and criminal law with the Illean Civil Librities Union. So primarily defending people who are in bad situations due to outdated laws which need amending." My tone came out more passive aggressive than intended, but it was slightly justified as he should have been working to amend said laws and help people instead of partying.

"That's a great thing, to be doing. What got you into law?"

"Well I was at the University of Labrador. My best friend I'm the sorority I was in decided to go to a protest over women's rights in illea. We went, someone man came and antagonized some women, she defended herself verbally, got arrested, felt up by the officer, then was unable to do anything legally about it. I felt that was unfair so I decided to look into being a lawyer, liked the process, graduated in 2 years, went to Yale and here I am." 

He lets out a low whistle, looking down for a second. I couldn't help but be a but prideful at my accomplishment, then looks back up at me, more serious than before, his jaw tense, "I'm really sorry that happened to your friend." He said and fell silent. What a conversation killer. 

"It's fine." I said trying not to dwell on it, "How was your time in undergrad? Partied a lot, I saw." I said the passive agressiveness coming out again. 

He smiled, a little more relaxed than before, but not as relaxed as he was when he first entered the room, "I enjoyed my last few years of freedom before entering the real world, yes." He then raised his eyebrows, grinning a little wider, kind of teasing, "And what about you? Being in a sorority and all, I doubt you were much of a homebody yourself." 

I couldn't help but completely flush and bit down my urge to absolutely smack him upside the head. "It was a brief phase. It was fun. But also a waste of time." I chuckled a bit remembering my airheaded behavior in that year, "had I already been working harder I may have been able to finish faster and help more people."

He grinned a little at how flustered I was, which just made me want to punch him more, then smiled a little more genuinely towards the end, "We're still young. We have our whole lives to keep fixing things."

i frowned, "That isn't true. We never know when we're going to die. Something could always happen so we should be trying to help as much as we can. Not to mention while we" I paused after my slip of the tongue, but didn't correct it "partied in undergrad people were suffering who could have been helped."

There's a flicker of a frown on his face when I mentioned how short life is, but he lets it go, tilting his head when he looks at me, "We can't save everyone. That's impossible. We can try to do as much as we can, but there will always be more people in need of help.

"Partying isn't trying."

He raised his eyebrows, "You didn't even know you wanted to be a lawyer, back when you were partying in college."

I got kinda flustered again, he's right, there's no logically sound way to win. Yeah but I should have, I wish I had. Would have made the time a lot less regrettable." I said then cleared my throat, "Though, this is a bit of a heavy topic for our first meeting, don't you agree? Your- Damian." I barely corrected myself from saying Your Highness.

He chuckled, "A bit, but it's different from the surface level talk about work and provinces." He inclined his head, "Though, if you think about it, you never would have discovered your passion for law if you hadn't joined your sorority." He shrugged and gave a stupid grin which made me blush even more. 

Finally I snapped and turned to point a finger at him, "You won okay. I can't regret something if I didn't know to do something better, but that doesn't make topless jello shots any less of an embarrassing memory." I exclaimed then heard what I said and wished to curl into a ball and die. 

He chuckled a little, "We all have our moments. It's okay."

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door then, and a guard pokes his head in. Damian nods at him, then turns and looks at me, "Unfortunately, we'll have to exchange stories another time. It appears our time today is up."

I sighed in relief at my rescue, then mumbled under my breath, "Thank God." I stood to curtsy, "Your-" I cringed a bit at the error, "Damian."

He chuckled again, "It was a pleasure to meet you Savannah. Until next time." He smiled at me when we got to the door, and stopped in the doorway.

I smiled back politely, "Thank you for the conversation. Till next time." 

*savy was taking a break from her work and decided to out for a walk in the gardens. She had always been a fan of taking runs when stressed snd the gardens were providing a peaceful alternative. She was walking around when she thought she saw a bunny in the bushes. Being the gal she is she wanted to see it closer so she stepped off the path and walked into the gravel. Immediately her heel sank in the gravel. She lost her balance for a moment but didnt fall. Instead she panicked. She debated stepping out of her shoes to get it out but she didnt wanna hurt her skin on the gravel. Instead she tried to wiggle it loose and hopped no one was near*

*rip savannah, but Damian is out distressing by playing basketball at that point in time, and from where he's standing as he shoots this basket, he can see someone clearly struggling with something in the gardens. he can't see who it is, or what the problem is, but he figures he should go check it out. he tucks the basketball under one arm, jogging towards the person he can see, calling out* Hey, everything okay?

*savannah hears him call out an knows immediately it's the last person in the world she'd want to find her like this* Absolutely peachy! *calls back and debates ditching the shoes*

*he slows to a stop when he gets closer, his eyes going from savannah's face to her foot* Mmm, looks like you've got yourself in a bit of a sticky situation, there.

*is extremely flustered* no situation at all. I said I'm fine. *aggressively wiggles the heel and almost trips so she squeaks but manages to catch herself*

*when he sees her almost trip, he lunges forwards to catch her before she hits the ground, but then she catches herself, so he's like "oh was that for nothing?" he looks down at the shoe, furrowing his brows, thinking* Here, let me help with that, before you actually fall.

I'm not going to fall and I don't need your help. I'm perfectly capable of defeating some gravel on my own

*he takes a step back* Alright... if you insist... *hes not going anywhere, just watching her, waiting to see what she'll do*

*huffs when she doesnt hear him walk away and continues to wiggle then huffs when shes not getting anywhere* Fine. If you're just going to stand there anyways you may as well help.

*he chuckles, setting the basketball down on the ground, kneeling down to look at the gravel and the heel, before beginning to dig the heel out with his fingers* Not the best shoes to walk off the path in.

*rolls her eyes* I didn't think about that. I thought I saw a bunny and got distracted

*he can't help but raise his eyebrows at that, grinning, twisting the heel a little to unscrew it from the gravel* Was it at least a cute bunny?

*his tone is a little teasing*

It was cute, be careful with your tone though when your face is near my foot. *once its free she steps back on the path so she doesn't sink again*

*he chuckles, joking* What, are you planning on giving me a royal nose job with your shoe?

You could probably use one. *offers a hand to help him stand back up*

*he picks up his basketball, taking her hand, still grinning at her, teasing* Maybe it's just the angle you've been looking at it from.

*stands on her tiptoes looking at his nose* Nope. It's a little off. Nose job it is.

*she pinches his nose* its a big flaw. Doubt you'll be able to get a wife like that

*he chuckles* I don’t know, my nose has never gotten in my way before

*considers* You're right, I'm sure that was just your sense of responsibility that got in the way.

*he raises his eyebrows* You know, I’ve never turned in an assignment late, or anything for work late. Never asked for an extension.

I somehow find that doubtful. Your reputation of being a loose partier precedds that of a responsible duitiful person.

Well, it’s the truth. *he shrugs* If you’re really curious, you could email my professors. It’s all about finding a balance. *he smiles*

*grumbles because he seems to be honest about it* What did you even study?

I dual majored in political science and marketing. You?

*sighs in relief* at least you werent a buisness major. Political Science and History for me on a prelaw track.

*he nods, smiling, genuinely curious* Did you prefer one over the other?

Probably political science. I mean I love history it's why I added it. For fun since it's just like learning stories and seeing the modern day impact of said stories. But political science felt more efficient. Like it helped me have a better understanding of the philosophy of political thinking which has helped me a lot in law. Plus I just liked the professors more.

*he smiles* Understandable. Good professors make it so much easier to learn the content

*smiles* yeah and lots and lots of highlighters. Did you have a favorite topic in political science?

*grinning* I took a really cool course on comparative political economies - I really like the economic side of things. That, and the classes I had to take on international politics. *he looks over at savannah* What about you?

Probably civil politics. I've always been a fan of civil work. I honestly thought about working for the AFEI instead of the ICLU but decided I wanted to do more personal legal work than policy legal work. But it's always been the work that has interested me more since it's important to bring up civil conflicts within the country and try to help as much as possible. But learning about where we came from in terms of The United States vs the civil policies of Illea was an interesting course for me, especially because of the overlap of History and Political Science.

*he nods as she talks, thinking that all over* I think work guided what classes I liked as well. Because beyond national politics, I also have to think about international politics, trade agreements, and maintaining Illéa’s position in the world.

*seems slightly surprised* so you actually liked your major? I assumed you just were kinda forced to pick it

I was kind of forced to, but I could still pick the classes that interested me more. *He shrugs* Plus I really enjoyed my marketing major.

*thinks for a moment* Can I ask you something and have an honest answer? No bullshit PR answer. I'm just trying to figure out if we can trust you to be our future king through this, at the very least.

Sure *he nods, pursing his lips a little* Ask away.

Do you actually want to be the king of this country? Like aside from the perks you have from it, do you care about the work?

I do care. *he pauses, swallowing* I really do. It’s just...it’s a lot of pressure to accept from a young age.

*she thinks for a moment* Noted. Thank you for your honesty. *Looks at the basketball* Do you play much?

*he smiles kind of sadly* Not as much as I used to. I’ve gotten a little busy helping to run the country, and such.

*gets an idea* Do you wanna make a bet with me?

*he grins* Depends on what it is

Basketball. I'm working on a program right now with the ICLU, a coworker wants to come visit me and discuss about it but appreantly work visits aren't allowed during this. If I can get more hoops in you'll arrange that?

*he furrows his brows* Better yet, I could just organize for your coworker to visit under the guise of another event going on. Just give me a few weeks to work out the details.

*kinda chuckles because shes competitive* oh? Youre scared you'll lose? But if that's what you prefer

*he laughs* No, I just know I’d win, and I’d hate to deny you the ability to see your coworker

Fine. You'll set up the meeting, then I'll just prove to you that I would win had their beem stakes.

*he narrows his eyes at her, extending a hand to shake, still grinning* Deal

*shakes it firmly then kicks off her heels planning to walk to the court barefoot.* Would be an unfair advantage for me to still be in them

*he raises his eyebrows* Why, they helped square up the height difference between us, at the very least *he chuckles*

*almost elbows him over that but barely stops herself* I don't need that help. I'm perfectly capable of crushing you independent of my shoes

*he laughs* I played basketball in uni, you know?

As did I. Well- not in a club. A guy who I was *ponders for a moment* acquainted with, played it therefore I played with him and his friends fairly often

*he raises his eyebrows* And how tall was your acquaintance? Because I’m used to playing with people my height, but also my mom and sister, who are - *he puts his hand somewhere around his shoulder because they’re 5’4” and 5’5”* - about this tall

He was around 6'3. His friends the same or more. Don't worry I'm well aware of the disadvantage of my height and very prepared to utilize it

*he chuckles* Oh, I’ve got to see this. *when they get to the court he starts dribbling the ball casually, walking towards the middle of the court* Do you want to start with the ball, or should I?

*thinks for a moment and puts her shoes down on the edge of the court and rolls up the bottoms of her dress pants a bit* You can start with it.

*he raises his eyebrows at her rolling up her dress pants, but he nods* Okay, if you insist. *he waits until he’s ready before starting the play*

*she walks up prepared to steal since she cant block*

*he starts dribbling more seriously, quickly maneuvering around her, taking three large steps with the ball, and then shoots a basket, and it goes in*

*she kinda huffs about that dislikes. But once he has the ball again she tries again, this time getting it and doing her UNDER THE LEGS MOVE AND SHOOTS*

*he turns around, a little in shock* That is not a legal move!

Hmmm *puts her finger to her chin very smug* I dont think it explicitly says in the rules that you're not allowed too. You use your height I'll use mine *VERY SMUG*

*he narrows his eyes* Fine, best 2 out of 3? Whoever gets this next shot wins, then

*SHES BEING COCKY NOW* Aw is the wittle princey calling it quits so soon? His fragile ego damaged? *bats her eyes teasingly*

*he narrows his eyes* Fine, best three out of five, then. *he starts dribbling the ball right from here he is, and it’s a long shot to his basket from there, but he’s pretty confident, so he goes for it, and somehow it actually goes in. he raises his eyebrows at her* Still think you’re gonna win?

*crosses her arms* That was luck. *goes to get the ball since shes closer*

Or just sheer skill. *he smirks a little*

*turns to face him just to roll her eyes and gets the ball. She then dribbles it back to the middle or something idk how basketball works*

*he follows her to the middle, standing in front of her, knees bent in that “ready” position idk wtf it’s called lmao*

*that position makes knees wide so she dribbles and goes to do her fast under the leg move again*

*he sees it coming this time, and takes a few steps back, keeps his arm in front of him to reach for the ball, which he gets, and then dribbles across to the the hoop he has to score in, taking the shot, and watching it go in again. he grabs the ball as it bounces back up, raising his brows at savannah* One more, or are you good? *he grins a little*

*huffs again and crosses her arm* Fine we'll call it at 3 to 1. But in my defense it's been awhile.

*he grins* Well, you’re always welcome to practice out here with me, if you want.

I can't tell if you're being taunting or not *rolls her eyes and walks up to him then holds out her hand to shake for the end of the game*

*he takes her hand and shakes, then gives her a genuine smile* No taunting. I mean it. I’d love to have someone new to play with.

I'll consider it then. I am getting slightly bored of your homes running path for exercise.

*smiles back even tho she doesnt wanna because it was a nice offer*

*he tilts his head from side to side* Yeah, the running trail through the gardens is kind of short. There are better ones /in/ Angeles, if you ever want to check them out

Not sure I'm allowed to just waltz on out of here, but I'd love the names of any you know. My grandmother lives near her so I'm sure I'll be visiting soon enough after this if not immediately so.

*he shrugs* I could also drive you sometime, if you want. I /do/ have a car.

*seems a bit surprised* You know how to drive?

*he furrows his brows* Of course! I got my license as soon as I was legally allowed to.

But its not like you need too? Don't you have like drivers?

*he looks a little confused and taken aback* I’m sure some exist, but why would I want someone else to drive me when I could be free and drive myself?

I'm not sure. I just know rich people, like for example my cousin *mumbles for a moment to find the phrasing* So my grandmother is in charge of the Mars Candy Corporation. My mom's older brother Nathaniel will be taking over it, his kids also my cousins all have drivers. They're like twenty something now but Jackson is always bragging about how he doesn't have to take the effort to drive himself places. I just assumed other people who could afford them would have them, especially busy people who could work instead of drive.

*he blinks* Wow, I never even would have considered that. *he shakes his head* No, I like driving. Being able to roll the windows down and blast the music...it’s like a few moments of freedom. *he shrugs, smiling a little sadly*

*she noticed the smile then something clicks* so freedom is your vice. You act out to feel free, thus the partying. You mentioned earlier the responsibility of being a prince being am influence on the partying. A lack of freedom makes sense. *she knows shes getting too personal but her curiosity and worry for the future gets the best of her* But what does that mean you're going to do when you're king? You'll have even less. How do you plan to maintain that restriction without bursting and needing freedom?

*he stiffens a little at her analysis because damn it’s spot on, but sighs towards the end* Getting as much out of life as I can now. I always knew what my future held for me. So I can plan accordingly. *he forces a small grin, trying to joke* Besides, with any luck, I’ll be old and almost out of energy by the time I’m king.

*furrows her eyebrows concerned* That doesn't work. *sighs* Believe me I'd know. But we aren't wired to run off memories. Instead we develop habits and coping mechanisms. Everyone snaps from time to time, you'll go back to what made you happy last. For you I assume that'll be partying. Which is something you can't do as king, and assuming it wont be till your old isn't right either, regardless of if that was a joke it's not something that you can lean on since millions of people could be relying on you and you'd be unprepared. You are going to be king, You are not going to have freedom, you are going to be under immense pressure and responsibility, honest answer, what are you going to do when you need to snap?

*he narrows his eyes at her, this time more out of irritation than anything else, and he’s a little sarcastic* Gee, thanks for the reminder. Though, for the record, I /haven’t/ partied since uni, and I have no plans to in the near future. So perhaps I’ll rely on my other coping mechanism, such as basketball, or taking a drive.

Yeah well it's the truth and uni wasn't that long ago. It's hard to break habits. I mean I partied like 4 times a month in undergrad and I still use it. That was forever ago but that's not how humans work. You're gonna lean on what you've leaned on. You're going to get shitfaced, you're going to want what you used to have, you're gonna idolize those times in uni and want them back. But you're not going to have it and it's going to be hard and shitty but you have to tough it out because of the country that relies on you and this is proving to me that you're not going to be a reliable King for the people who need you.  

[hearteyes-for-killmonger]

Into the Depths

The part where Hades takes Persephone to the underworld. Again. This is only an interpretation.

Part 4: Descent

Like Kiani’s mom, Erik had a lot of land but it was varying shades of grey and a tad foggy.. a little depressing and eerie even. Kiani felt the small dip in her spirit. There were no flowers, but a few spindly trees gasping for life’s sustaining breath. He had three other eye-catching cars, yet he lived alone. That one needed an explanation. Why did he need so many if it was only him?

“I like variety. It’s like having tulips, irises, and roses,” he explained stepping to the side to let her explore the vehicles at her own curious pace. She was interesting to observe. Every move she made was deliberate and intentional yet unpredictable. She peered into the window of the white McClaren 570, trying the door. With the push of a button from Erik’s keyring it unlocked and the horn beeped. She jumped, looking back to him quickly and he snorted lightly, containing his laugh. He nodded for her to continue her exploration. Opening the car door to slide into the driver’s seat, she looked like a giant child behind the wheel. He walked around to watch her step on the pedals and turn the wheel making “vroom verrrrrrrr skrrr” noises and that’s when he lost it. His eyes scrunched shut, his knees buckled and he almost hit the ground. She didn’t get the joke, but he was laughing so hard it made her laugh because he was laughing.

“I’m a teach you how to drive one of these days,” he sighed trying to calm himself, his hand on his stomach imagining her speeding in a sportscar with her fluffy baby doll dress and sandals. She clapped in excitement. “I’ve always wanted to learn to drive a car!”

“You’ll need what’s called a license to drive legally, which is a card with your face on it that you get from what’s called a DMV, but once you get it you can drive anywhere and as far as you want. I just hope you’ll take me with you.”

“I want you and mom to come with me on a drive,” she tugged lightly on his shirt.

“I’m not sure if that’s realistic,” he murmured sadly, “But I’m up for it. I’ll do whatever you want. Where are we going?”

She paused shyly as if she had no clue and was mildly ashamed. He wondered how much she knew about geography. He’d teach her that too eventually. “Race you inside,” he whispered gesturing to the large home.

Kiani had never seen so many gadgets and gizmos in her life. Her upbringing had consisted of playtime in nature and with friends, music and dancing, baking cakes and cookies, learning about the flowers she grew, old movies, puppet shows, and reading. Erik’s home was different. There were boxes called game systems in a room he called his game room along with a pool table. She’d never played pool, but she recognized the green felt and the balls from her old black and white movies.

“I know these balls,” she grinned completely unaware of the double meaning. He bit his tongue, swallowing his lips to keep from making a cheeky comment. The distance between the two of them mentally and sexually was astronomical, but also brilliant. She saw life differently through a pure and clean lens. He could spend the rest of his life wrapped up in her beautiful mind. “Your dimples are so deep!” She moved around the table to push her index fingers into them and his laugh stuttered free again. He gave her the tour of the grounds, leaving no room secret.

“Is this the bedroom you sleep in,” she asked bouncing into the room and drawing the curtains to look out through the windows. Everywhere she went in his mansion, she brought light and made herself at home. Her sandals had been left downstairs at the front door. She was barefoot, running around his house like a kid in a candy store, picking up and touching everything and asking questions. So many questions. When she went in a drawer and pulled out a bag of a white substance, he hadn’t noticed until she stuck her finger in it. She was being too still. He approached, peeping over her shoulder to catch her playing in a bag of white powder.

“Not that one,” he admonished gently, wiping her fingers off with a t-shirt. He sealed the bag and put it back. “That’s not good to play with, that’s cocaine and you definitely shouldn’t sniff or eat that.”

“Then what do you do with it,” she asked. It was a valid question. He didn’t expect the subject to breech so soon or in this manner, but he couldn’t lie to her and he couldn’t treat her like a child and shield her from the truth of life. She was twenty-four fuckin years old, it was time for her to know some real shit. She deserved to be given the chance to form her own opinions about the world and him without her mind being warped by the people she trusts.. Including him. Even if he hated it, he had to tell the truth or risk losing her trust down the road. He knew too well that trust was hard to get back once lost.

“I sell it.. It’s worth a lot of money, that’s how I paid for this house and everything in it. It’s how I met your father some years ago and he took me under his wing.”

“You know my father?! Does he ever mention me,” she asked with bright eyes and right then he wanted to find Franklin and drag him to face the eyes of Kiani for himself. He couldn’t lie to her and say yeah, he talks about you all the time. The only time Franklin ever mentioned Kiani was to remind Erik to drop off her card every year. Before Erik, it had been some other guy. He wouldn’t just do it himself. Erik didn’t understand why a father wouldn’t actively fight to see his child. Especially one as bright, loving, and kind as Kiani. The way he saw it, any child he helped to make he’d stay to raise. He could picture a future with flowers, fatass babies, and a world of pure joy with Kiani. If would hurt like fuck when she left.. If she left. But he couldn’t tell her any of this.

“He never forgets your birthday that’s for sure,” he said simply and Kiani chuckled.

In the meantime, back on Yvette's property, Ms. Smith paced in the kitchen for she knew she was in great trouble. Meron called Yvette and she was on her way. Ms. Smith accepted that she'd most likely be fired. The most precious flower in the garden had been snatched into foul hands under her watch. She grabbed the housephone and called the store again for the umpteenth time. "No, she's not back! I told you to watch her," Meron yelled angrily. "She slipped away," Ms. Smith cried. The rain began to fall and thunder roared shaking the ground. The flower shop door swung open and Yvette stormed in like a woman enraged.

"Where is my child," she cried causing a scene. She didn't care about customers or business at that point, she only cared about finding her child. She knocked over a vase, her frustration making her angry enough to hit. "I trusted you all with my precious Kiani and you lost her! Find her! NOW! Why are you standing here! MOVE!"

"I know who she's with," Meron groaned shaking her head. "Then let's go get her quickly," Yvette yelled.

"We can't. She's with Erik Stevens. We wouldn't be able to get close to him. We have no choice but to wait for her return and hope it's soon."

"Erik Ste.. You let one of Franklin's cronies take my child? You let that disgusting..." She shrieked furiously and threw another vase. "Shut it down," she yelled. "Shut it all down. Everyone out! Business is closed until I get my child back. No one gets paid. Get out!"

Meron slowly approached Yvette. Being a mother herself, she understood. With her hands up, she tried approaching Yvette.

"DON'T," Yvette yelled. They'd lost her child and she was pissed. Her innocent baby was abducted by a criminal and who knew what was happening to her! Men were disgusting, she knew it from first hand experience. She didn't want to imagine Erik putting his dirty hands on her pure Kiani. The thought made her skin crawl. She called Franklin and when he picked up, she went off in his ear.

"Listen, you deadbeat trifflin negro! Did you know your goon kidnapped my child?! Did you know? What if he touches her?!"

"Yvette. Calm down, Erik isn't a bad guy."

"So you knew! You sold my child to a known criminal!"

"Yvette. He's not like me..... But even if he did decide to get his rocks off, so what?! He's a good kid. They're both overdue. She'll be fine."

"Good kid my ass! He's a criminal! But you don't care. Of course you don't," she chuckled humorlessly, "Nope, you don't care. Well how about this. Until she gets back, this business is closed. No plant will grow. AND I'm going to make the ground around you cave. You won't be able to leave home without falling into quicksand or a mud pit! I hope you fall in! All of the places where you deal? Earthquakes. I'll split the ground if I have to. I'll kill everyone. I don't care." Thunder cracked and Meron shivered nervously.

"What? Yvette.. Come on now! You can't just-"

"It's already done. Bring me my daughter," she growled hanging up the phone. As she said, the ground changed. Franklin was indeed trapped. His business would have to be postponed indefinitely.

“Kiani… what do you know about drugs,” Erik asked anticipating Kiani's confusion. If they were going to have a chance of being together, he had to tell it all. He opened his mouth, but the words got stuck. He decided to start with geography. He talked about where they were in relation to other continents and where they were in the country. He told her about all the places he’d gone as she soaked up every detail asking questions.. So many questions. He showed her pictures on his phone, talking up a country called Wakanda in particular. She clapped when he said he’d take her there and that all she needed was a passport that he’d help her to get. Finally, he brought the conversation full circle. “Okay, drugs.. “ he said with her full attention. He pulled baggies from the drawer, setting them on the table between them. If she was gonna know, then she was gonna understand the truth. He pointed to each individual bag. “This is called cocaine. This is marijuana. This is crack which is a less refined version of the cocaine. This is heroin. All of these alter the human mind and are capable of causing hallucinations. They provide a high, which is a very good feeling. All these except the weed are dangerous to consume but highly addictive. That’s what makes your father and I able to sell so much. They get addicted and they come back. It’s against the law to have these things too. The police could put a person in jail for having just one of these bags. Only reason I'm not there is because they're afraid of me.”

“Why do you do it?”

“At first it was for the money. I bought this house and this land with the money I made from selling this stuff. Then I guess, I never stopped.”

“But you profit at the expense of others..”

“I don’t sell to nig- um, black people.. I just do business with black people…” Her expression alone cut him down.

”You have so many things here. Things I’ve certainly never seen or heard of. Could you stop now?”

He wanted badly to say no, but he couldn’t lie. Not to her. He scratched at his beard. Technically, he could very well stop. Other than rich all the drug game had ever made him was lonely. “…..I could,” he said hesitantly. Her expression told him that was exactly what she wanted him to do. Stop selling drugs. He bit his lip thinking of the hold she had on him. She was folding him so effortlessly. He’d give her anything. “Can I sell the rest of my product before I get out the game? It basically sells itself, I just need to get rid of it.”

“How much do you have left to sell?”

Suddenly his cell rang. Fonzo. He answered it and immediately felt as though fate was punching him in the dick with a brick. Kiani was working her magic somehow.  He excused himself stepping out of the room yelling in a hushed tone, “The fuck you want? I’ll call you later…. Now?… Of all fuckin days, damn… Shit! I’ll be there… I said I’d be there muhfucka.”

His boy wanted him to drop off fourty kilos of cocaíne immediately. Apparently, there was a big dog around town who was ready to cash out. Sounded hella weird, but if it was so, it was a big deal. Collecting himself, he took a deep breath. “You shut the fuck up,” he whispered to a soul who’d been taunting him ever since he’d met Kiani. She was a woman with large hoop earrings and an airbrushed tank who’d died in a domestic violence dispute. “You gone ruin that poor girl with your bullshit. Just leave her alone, please. It’s not too late,” she’d say. He’d been doing well to tune it all out, but his outburst opened the gate. The souls began to bombard him with requests. It was too much, he was completely overwhelmed. “ALL OF YOU SHUT THE FUCK UP,” he yelled holding his temples. The door creaked opened behind him.

“Erik, what’s wrong? Who are you talking to?” Kiani murmured softly. She looked very concerned and he instantly egretted yelling like he did. He didn’t want to scare her, but the spirits were still so LOUD and they wouldn’t stop talking or trying to get his attention. He was watching fifty two people literally crowd his space and cramp his style. There were hundreds more scattered amongst his home, roaming. He wanted to scream… again. He was close to sending them to their second death never to be heard from again. Kiani held his face in her hands, her thumbs rhythmically stroking the whiskers of the dark beard on his jaw. He lowered his head until his forehead touched hers.

“They won’t.. Leave. Me. Alone,” he muttered trying not to curse and then it all poured out of him. He told her all about his dark ability. The souls, the voices. How all he needs to do is wish it and a person will die. How he’d killed countless people in his career and could still see most of them. He even told her about the second death and how many times he’d sent hoards of people to that dark black empty plane never to be heard again. He exposed it all while she listened thoughtfully and took it in.

She looked around then, and though she didn’t see souls, she felt them. When she really focused and honed in, she felt sorrow, pain, fear, anger, regret. The sensations gripped her like a stronghold and intensified. The feeling became incredibly overwhelming. She felt nauseous and her heart began to ache. She couldn’t shake it off. She understood Erik’s frustration and his panic because she was close to screaming and it had only been a minute.

“Sunflowers. Tell me about sunflowers,” Erik said noticing her distress. She was confused at first, but the longer she rattled on about sunflowers and their seeds, the more absorbed she became in her words. Soon it was as though she was back to herself.

“Ohhh,” she sighed, “I know what you did. That was clever. How did you figure out that little trick?”

“Stumbled on it,” he shrugged. “If I didn’t turn them off somehow, I’d go crazy.” She nodded in agreement. The second death made sense to her all of a sudden. It was extreme, but it was for his sanity.

In the car, Erik flew down the road through suburbs to the congested city. In that city, there was a rough neighborhood with high crime rates and suspicious activities. It reminded him of home back during his childhood. He parked at an apartment building where there was a group of young men standing out front smoking, Hennessy in hand. “Stay here and keep the doors locked. Don’t speak to anyone and don’t leave. I’ll be right back.”

“Can I go with you? Please,” she begged. Her sparkling eyes were his kryptonite. He didn’t have a chance to deny her, it was impossible. She’d begged to come along for the ride though he’d asserted that it was dangerous. She was afraid to be in the mansion alone after what she’d felt. Plus, she didn’t want to leave him. In her words, if he was in danger, then he shouldn’t be alone either. She opened her door and stepped out following him to the trunk where he pulled the large box. She attempted to help lift it and he let her think her strength was doing something, though he held 98% of the weight easily. “Wow, thank you Kiani,” he said warmly, taking the box. She glowed, proud of her contribution. The way the sun hit her skin made him pause to take it in. He couldn’t find one thing about her that he didn’t adore.. maybe the dress, but that wasn’t her fault.

“Erik,” she waved in front of his face snapping him back into the moment, “We have to drop off the box!”

With a raise of his brows, his mind cleared and he turned to walk into the building, nodding casually at the group of young men. They nodded back, “Aight Erik.” When she turned her head, he locked the car doors with one hand on his keyring and the other hand holding the box effortlessly. He didn’t want to ruin the illusion that she’d helped. She’d looked so proud. The elevator went up to the third floor and they stepped out into a hall where someone’s loud music was dominating the airspace and Erik smelt weed. He knocked on the last door on the right and after a quiet few seconds, it swung open. Red flags went off in Erik’s mind. Typically there would be a long series of unlocks and the man inside, Fonzo, would look through the keyhole before cautiously peeping out.

“Oh wassup, E,” the man said nervously, his eyes confirming to Erik that something was very wrong. Erik put his hand on Kiani silently begging her to stay put and she reached for him, but he was firm. “Please,” he mouthed. It was obvious she’d never grown up with anything to fear. That alone was dangerous for her. Thankfully, she nodded. Stepping pass Fonzo, he drew his gun that was well hidden in his waistband and strolled into the apartment. Immediately a bullet whizzed past his head and he returned fire, not killing but disarming. The shooter wore a black ski mask and Erik aimed his gun threatening to shoot as he approached the man, snatching off his mask. “Terrence,” he groaned recognizing the skinny black man. “Damn. You too?! Didn’t I make sure you and your family was good and you got the nerve..” Erik knocked him to the ground and kicked him hard, betrayal forcing him to see scarlet red. Kiani’s fearful squeak made him turn around and Terrance climbed from the floor aiming his gun to the back of Erik’s head as Fonzo held Kiani at gunpoint. “Sorry brother,” Terrence winced holding his bruised ribs, “It’s money, it’s not personal.” Fonzo shrugged, “For me, it’s a little personal.” His finger flinched on the trigger and Kiani squeezed her eyes shut, her tears flowing. But then Fonzo’s hand began to shake and he dropped gun, falling backward to the ground, still convulsing. He seized until white froth filled his mouth while Erik mouthed to Kiani to duck. She dipped and he quickly moved his head. A bullet soared to where Kiani’s head would’ve been and Erik kneed and elbowed Terrence, taking the gun and tackling him down again. “The only reason I’m not killing you is because I know your kids and they don’t deserve that,” he whispered, “But if you ever pull this shit again.. you gone look just like him,” he said pointing the gun at Fonzo.

“Erik,” Kiani called. She looked terrified. She was still sitting in front of the dead body. He knew it was time to go. Things had already gone as bad as they could go. He’d shown his true colors and he could feel his own heart breaking. The only thing he feared was losing her in his life. She was his light and he was dimming it.

Leaving the man on the ground, he arranged the three guns in his waistband and helped Kiani to her feet, escorting her to the elevator and from the building, back into the car. He’d left the box that was full of drugs behind without a second thought.

He didn't want to take her back to her home, but he wasn't sure if she was okay with going back to his home. She was uncomfortably silent and it made him nervous. "I'm sorry," he said. She looked at him, her posture relaxing, and put her hand on his knee. "It's not your fault, Erik."

"It is my fault," he asserted. "I took you there and put you in that dangerous situation and though I would never let anything bad happen to you, you were afraid and that's not okay. You saw some things you should've never seen. That was all my fault and I'm sorry."

The car was silent for a moment before she spoke, her hand still on his knee. "Erik. You're my friend and you still need me, so I'm going to help you. But after that.. I want you to take me home."

His heart broke with those last three words and he faced his window fighting the tear that threatened to slip. He'd fucked it up, his only chance. It was his own fault. He nodded.

They ended up back at his place and Kiani led the way back into the mansion. "Hello, souls," she called uncertainly waiting to hear or feel something. She stood still and felt a slight stirring of energy, but it took Erik standing beside her and slowly touching her hand, stroking it with his thumb to feel what she felt before, the discomfort. "Let's find out what they want to tell you. I'll help you to listen," she said. Erik sighed before closing his eyes. He didn't care to listen. He didn't care about the souls, he just wanted them gone. "Try," Kiana said squeezing his hand. He opened his eyes then.

"Okay.. Fine, let's start with you. other than telling me what I need to do, what do you want," he asked the domestic violence victim. She stepped forward. "To move on, asshole! We've all been stuck here waiting. Do your fucking job."

"Ohhh you going for death number twooo," he threatened effectively shutting her up.

"Erik, what did they want," Kiani asked. He relayed the message in less crass terms. "How do they move on," she asked. He shrugged. "Well an you create a realm that isn't a deep dark pit or empty plane? One that's pretty and full of good things? Maybe instead of sending everyone to the dark place for eternity, you could send some people, the good ones, to the good place?"

He stared at her for a moment trying to think of a way to tell her no. He'd have to create a new place in his mind and then screen each soul to determine where it should go. It sounded like more work than it was worth. He then he looked at her and imagined her playing in her field of flowers. Grassy hills, bright colors, sun, woodland animals.. he packaged it all into a beautiful world within his mind and then he opened it up to the domestic violence victim. Excitedly, she ran into it and disappeared. One down. Kiani smiled and he immediately knew that she felt it when someone entered that dream world. It was like she was linked to it. She called this new beautiful world Elysium. One by one, Erik looked at the souls and compartmentalized them. Selfish, evil betrayers and bad people he'd send to the second death. Kind victims and good hearted people went into the paradise. With Kiani's help with the judgments the room dwindled from hundreds to approximately forty souls. Erik felt so much lighter. He was so happy and appreciative.

“Erik, it's time," she said, her face serious. "I wanna go home. I miss it already. I'm not sure if I'm cut out for all of this," she gestured all around. The death she witnessed up close was what did it, he knew it, but it would be insensitive to argue and say it wasn't a common occurrence. He was death incarnate afterall. He had to accept that she was ready to go. Possibly forever. ”Erik, it's not you. You're great. It's everything else. I just need to be home and think," she said grabbing both of his hands. It was true. She valued him. He was the only one in her life who didn't treat her like a child. She craved that and she really did like him. He nodded and before good sense could stop him, he kissed her. Her lips were soft like the flowers she grew and her eyelids floated shut. He kept his eyes open not wanting to miss a moment. It was gentle yet fervent, light yet needy, short yet lasting.

Immediately, Kiani knew that what she'd experienced, she wanted more of. There was no going back now, she'd tasted the forbidden fruit and it was sweet. Was this what her mother and Ms. Smith had been hiding from her? When he pulled away, she grabbed his face planting her lips firmly back onto his. His eyes widened in shock, but he quickly wrapped his strong arms around her and lifted her, carrying her carefully back up the stairs and into his bedroom. The light still poured in. He laid her on her back and quickly found the dried flower from his father's grave that he kept pressed into his father's old journal.

"Touch this."

Kiani's touch brought it to life and he dove onto the bed kissing her neck. The more he kissed her, the brighter the rose became. A single white rose. It multiplied into two. He sucked her neck and two turned to four, eight, sixteen. He killed a few by landing on them as he crawled to lift her dress and pull down her panties. She was very confused by his actions, watching him strangely, but he knew exactly what he was doing. As he lowered his head to kiss, suck, and lick on her lower lips, he was giving her something she could never forget or go backwards from. She would never be the same again. She felt that deep within. The flowers began to cover the bed and overflow as she gasped, her moans forming the notes of his favorite song. When she came, she wore a face of confusion mixed with pleasure and concern.

"How do you feel? Did you like that," he asked watching her emotions swirl and finally land on pure pleasure. She smiled.

@inlovewithmakeupcomicsanimelove @bidibidibombaclaat  @priya212

@romanceoftheeveryday  @muse-of-mbaku @scrumptiouslytenaciouscrusade  @kreolemami @myboyfriendgiriboy  @loosewindmill  @wakanda-inspired  @madbadsiren  @theunsweetenedtruth @panthergoddessbast  @allhailnjadaka @amethyst1993  @ange-sensuel  @thehomierobbstark @purplehairgawdess  @supersizemeplz @blackpantherismyish  @drsunshine97  @thiccdaddy-mbaku  @wawakanda-btch  @killmongersprncss @imaginewhoever  @whoramilaje @whorderofthepheonix  @niggarachi15 @hidden-treasures21  @pupyluv247  @phoenixxx1225 @violet-ines  @indigoxsummers  @janelledarling @imasmille   @sweetsexysavagery @mermaidchansons  @destinio1  @ash-moneyy @ljstraightnochaser @forbeautyandlife @iamrheaspeaks @elle-luring @yoyolovesbucky @ilovebubblesz  @awkardlyabstract @beautifulqueenflaws  @slimmiyagi @sidneebleu @vikkidc @chaneajoyyy

Previous Parts