#and he turned back to the row behind where i sat and made some joke

[adore-gregor]

🥺🥰

[all4seth]

can u write something with seth being more touchy than usual nd ppl noticing nd teasing him about it, nd like u can write the rest😔❤️IDK IF U TAKE REQUESTS ND ITS FINE IF U DON'T DO U, LOVE UR WRITING💞

seth clearwater x reader

summary: you and seth attend edward and bella’s wedding that takes place in the evening (unlike in the movies where it's noon or something)

i barely ever write anymore, i’m so sorry you had to wait this long for this 😔

i clumsily entered the living room and as i did, two pairs of eyes measured me up and down before my parents jumped up and hugged me.

“you look stunning sweetheart” my mom said, tucking strands of my hair behind my ear. “i knew this shade of purple would look incredible on you”

“thanks, mom”

“i thought you weren’t supposed to show up looking prettier than the bride” my dad joked.

i rolled my eyes and hugged him, just as the doorbell rang. i followed behind my parents, nervously fidgeting with my dress. as soon as they opened the door, they stepped aside, revealing my boyfriend.

my handsome boy.

he was holding two bouqutes of flowers, one of which he handed to my mom, who accepted it happily.

as his gaze met mine, his eyes widened and the world stood still, like it did the first time we ever saw each other.

“you are so beautiful”

my parents made us pose for a picture and they watched us in awe as we headed towards the car.

seth wrapped his arm around my waist and i gently let my head fall onto his shoulder.

“whose car is this?”

“billy lend me jacob’s since he’s… you know”

he started the engine and drove slowly, since it was still quite early.

“i still can’t believe edward and bella are getting married! i mean, everyone knows how in love they are, but still, this is huge! and they’re both just 18” i blurted out.

“it is kind of mind blowing"

seth placed his right hand on my thigh and my heart skipped a beat.

“is this alright?”

“yes” i answered and gave him a huge smile, which he must’ve seen, even though his eyes were glued to the road, because a shy smile quickly grew on his face.

"do you think they’re too young though?" seth asked, after taking a few moments to compose himself. "bella and edward, i mean”

“they are, they’re just about to graduate. on the other hand, they love each other and love drives us all crazy” i giggled.

“do i make you crazy?” seth asked jokingly.

“soo insane, but i bet it’s nothing compared to the other way around”

“i’m crazy about you” seth looked at me for a slight moment and my heart jumped again.

“i’m crazy about you too, seth, you have no idea”

after a little while, he pulled into the cullens’ driveway and reached for my hand as he opened the door for me.

i placed my palm in his and kissed him briefly. his face lit up and he kept me close, his arm around my waist.

we were warmly welcomed by esme, who led us to the garden.

fairy lights hung from the trees, resembling fireflies. a few rows of wooden seats were placed before the altar that stood covered in white, dainty flowers, much like the rest of the place. some of their petals had fallen on the ground, giving the scene a fairytale-like air.

seth placed his warm hand on my lower back and kissed my cheek.

“are you alright, sweetheart?”

“it’s beautiful” i stated, still in awe of the remarcable scenery.

“so beautiful” he whispered.

i turned to him, but he was already looking at me.

we sat down and people started showing up.

finally, bella walked down the aisle, holding tightly onto her father’s arm. edward stood patiently, looking at her as if it was only the two of them, nothing else mattered. tears streamed down my face, overwhelmed by the beauty of it all.

they vowed and kissed and it hit me - there’s no such thing as ‘too early’ when it comes to love. it’s all about taking risks and putting your pride aside, because once you find the one person you know was made for you, you must hold tightly onto them.

“i love you so much” i whispered to seth.

“i love you too, beautiful” he gently placed his right hand on my hair and kissed my forehead.

his left hand stayed on my thigh, while the other fell onto my shoulder.

once the party started, seth and i were separted by the crowd, when bella pulled me aside.

“congratulations, sweet girl, you did it!”

i embraced her into a hug, and when i tried pulling away, she held me a bit tighter and whispered "not yet, i just need a moment"

"wow, you're a mess!" i laughed, referring to her makeup, which was mostly gone, due to her crying multiple times. "but you're a pretty mess and i don't blame you; God knows how many times i cried during the ceremony and it's not even my wedding!"

"it's so not safe for me to cry here, alice yells at me and emmett makes fun of me"

“where’s he taking you for the honeymoon?” i asked, excitedly.

“i really don’t know, he won’t tell me” bella laughed.

suddenly, i felt a hand on my waist and felt seth’s lips on my shoulder.

“well, hello to you too” i laughed and pecked his lips.

bella giggled awkwardly and looked around for her groom, who was at her side in an instant.

“you better slow it down, seth, these people seem too tired to handle another wedding tonight” edward joked and we all burst out laughing, but seth’s hands remained glued to my hips.

after a few moments, they both laughed as if one of them had cracked some joke bella and i couldn't hear, so she and i simply exchanged a suspicious look.

the newly wed couple was quickly stolen away from us by the other guests, and seth and i found ourselves wandering towards the quiet forest.

we got to a dimly lit opening; “a thousand years” could still be heard from the speakers.

“how can i love when i’m afraid to fall?”

seth tenderly let his hands fall onto my hips and looked me in my eyes and the same feeling came right back into my chest.

“all of my doubt suddenly goes away somehow”

i let my head rest somewhere between his chest and his shoulder, while we slow danced.

"i have died everyday waiting for you/ darling don't be afraid, i have loved you for a thousand years"

seth and i hummed along and mumbled the lyric "i'll love you for a thousand more"

[kpop-yes]

Ryujin x male reader: Fan Favorite

Ryujin POV

It's been a few months since a group i've been in, Itzy, Debuted.

And I'd be lying if I said it wasn't stressful, because it was very stressful.

We had a strict schedule and had to practice on a daily basis with barely any energy.

And one way people like to get rod of stress, is sex.

But it's hard being an idol and trying to have sex.

It either ends up being a creep or some lowlife cheating behind my back.

Speaking of my idol life, that reminds me that I have a fam meetup in a few hours.

I haven't really been interested in having sex with any of my fans, except for one.

He's always at every concert or fan meetup, and he's always at the front row, having a t-shirt or sign of me on it.

With all the times we've interacted, He's single and most definitely handsome~

Anyways I might take him to a hotel, to talk, and maybe a little more than that... Okay maybe sex.

-Timeskip-

After entering our venue and meeting with security and staff, It was time for my plan to take action.

I've made a little note with my hotel address and room number, Then if he does show up, I'll get to know him a bit, then if does seem to be a good guy, then this night could take lust turn.

Y/n POV

Another day, another Itzy fan show.

I decided to buy a little plushie to give to Ryujin, I hope she likes it.

Anyways, I better get going, the venue isn't far but I wanna get to my seat first before the venue gets crowded.

Ever since Itzy debuted, I've been in love with Ryujin, and she's been my bias ever since 2019 when they debuted.

- TimeSkip -

I arrived at the venue and sat down in my seat, noticing only that a couple people were here and they were taking pictures.

I looked up at the stage to see people setting up tables and chairs and getting everything set up.

That's when everyone rushed in and started taking their seats.

After a few minutes, Itzy walked and everyone started cheering, including me.

They were bowing and as soon as they were taking seats, I swear I saw her wink at me.

- Ryujin POV -

We all walked up to the front of the stage, bowed, and introduced ourselves to the fans, add as were walking to our seats, I spotted him, and I winked at him.

I felt so proud of myself for making the first move, hopefully he noticed.

Anyways, we sat down at our seats and explained how gifts and pictures worked, and after explaining some more rules, our fans started lining one by one for a signature and picture.

I looked to see where he was and saw that he was one of the first in line.

I got more nervous the more he moved closer, but why, if anything he should be the nervous one.

After taking a couple pictures and signing, It was his turn, what was his name again? was it y/n? might as well give it a shot.

He walked up to me and handed a little plushie,

"I hope you like it", he says.

"Like it? I love it! Thanks um... Y/n right?"

"Yes, you remembered my name!"

"How could I forget one of my biggest fans names! Anyways, Do you want a picture or an autograph?"

"Just a picture please!"

He handed me his phone and I took a photo of us, he looked very cute, but now it was time to give him the note.

- Y/n POV -

After taking a photo with Ryujin, I turned around and was about to walk off stage when I felt something in my hand.

I turned around to see Ryujin handing me a note,

The note said

-Meet me at (Random hotel address and room number) At 12:00 -

Is this really happening, has THE Ryujin invited me to her hotel room?!

I looked at her to see if this was some sort of joke but after looking deep in her sincere eyes, I don't think she's joking.

I nervously walked off the stage and back in my seat.

- Timeskip -

The rest of the fan meet was very awkward for me so much. I felt very awkward just looking at ryujin and couldn't focus on the fan meet and worried more about what she wanted from me.

Did she want to give me something? Was she going to do something to me? did she give me the correct hotel number?

So many thoughts and dirty thoughts running through my head the whole time.

I left instantly

when the fan meet ended and didn't look back.

I drove home, showered, and got ready to hopefully meet Ryujin at the hotel.

- Timeskip -

I left my house and got in my car, nervously I drove to the hotel address.

Never had I thought that I'd be driving to meet Ryujin at a hotel in private, One could only dream about this happening, but not me.

I arrived at the hotel, and it wasn't that big, Not I even I would suspect that an Idol was staying here.

I got out of my car and walked into the hotel, I asked the person at the desk where the room number Ryujin told me was at.

They gave me instructions and I was now taking an elevator to the room where Ryujin is supposedly at.

I got off the elevator and I found the room.

I nervously walked up to the door and knocked.

*Knock* *Knock*

Nothing, I guess she really did give me a random room number-

*click*

The door got unlocked, the door slowly opened and,

There she was, Ryujin, In front of me.

"Hey, you came! Come inside", she said.

"O-Okay".

I walked inside the room to see a bed, bathroom, and tv.

Nothing expensive just a normal room.

I sat down on the bed and Ryujin Closed the door and sat next to me.

"So, Why did you want me to meet you here?" I asked.

"Oh because I wanted to ask you some questions!"

And for the next 20 minutes Ryujin asked me questions like what I do on my free time and My hobbies.

Nothing seemed unusual until the final question.

"Anyways, I have one final question", she said while moving closer to me.

"Un sure, ask away".

She got closer to me until her face was right in front of me. She got closer to my ear and whispered,

"Are you a virgin Y/n?"

What, How am I supposed to answer that question?!?

If I say no she'll expect me to be experienced?  But if i say yes I'll probably look like a loser to her?

What do I say?!?

"Um, Y-Yeah Im a V-Virgin" I said nervously

"Perfect~ Take off your pants"

I did as she said and started unbuckling my pants.

But I guess I was taking too long because she got on her knees and started taking off my pants.

After struggling to unzip my pants, she roughly pulled them down and admired my member bulging through my boxers, then taking them off.

One thing I won't ever forget is the second when my member slapped a crossed face and her face admiring my member.

After admiring my member for a minute, she wraps her hands around my member and starts to stroke it.

I couldn’t stop myself from moaning.

The sensation was already amazing but knowing that Ryujin was stroking my dick the sensation was even better.

Going from stroking, Ryujin Puckered her lips as she slowly started to give me a blowjob.

Her tongue twisting in the inside of her mouth while moving her head back and forward was something that you could only imagine.

My head felt lightheaded snd I felt like I was about to blow my load.

I guess Ryujin could sense my load as she suddenly stopped what she was doing and stood up.

She looked me in the eyes while slowly stripping right in front of me.

After taking off most of her clothes, all that was left were her bra and her soaked panties.

She fell on the bed back first and seemingly waited for me.

“Come on, you’re taking too long. Woman also need some stress taken care of!” She said frustrated.

I moved on top of her and started moving her panties to the side snd admired her soaked Vagina.

But I guess I took too long because she wrapped her legs around me and pulled me in her grasp.

I lined ip my member to her pussy and slowly inserted my dick into her.

Her slow moans gave me more confidence to move more inside of her.

After being fully inside of her, I stroked back and forward slowly, Hearing her moans was a pleasant sound to hear.

My mind started to get foggy as I started to Stroke harder, My head felt dizzy but I kept stroking until I was about to reach my limit,

“Ah, Ryujin, I’m about to cum-“

“Do it, Do it Y/n, Fucking cum inside of me!”

After getting confirmation from Ryujin, I kept pounding until I blew my load inside of her.

I Laid beside her, Admiring her body.

Even tho I blew my load, My member was still rock hard.

Ryujin looked back at me and smirked.

And after what seemed like a looooong night, Ryujin gave me her number and told me,

“Call me if you ever fell stressed again”.

[yxlnst]

A CITRUS KISS

Idol!seungkwan x reader!y/n

🎀 Summary 🎀 : Seungkwan takes you to a citrus grove for a first date. You bond, compete, and share a lovely day together.

🧸 Word count 🧸 : 1,086

Fluff

🧸 - - - - - - - - - - - - 🎀 - - - - - - - - - - - - 🧸

It was a warm Saturday morning in Jeju, the kind of morning where the sun kissed the fields with gentle warmth and the air was fresh with the scent of citrus. You were pacing back and forth in front of the local market, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves. You were about to go on your first date with Boo Seungkwan, a sweet guy you'd met through a mutual friend. Today, he was taking you to an orange grove to pick fruit. It sounded like the perfect way to spend a day, but you couldn't help feeling a bit anxious about making a good impression.

You checked your watch for the third time. It was just past nine, and Seungkwan was supposed to meet you here. You smoothed your hair and tried to take deep breaths. What if he didn't show? What if you said something awkward? What if—

"Hey!" a cheerful voice called from behind you. You turned to see Seungkwan jogging toward you, a wide smile on his face. He was dressed in casual jeans, a simple white shirt, and a light jacket. His hair was styled neatly, and his eyes sparkled with excitement.

"Hi," you replied, trying to calm your racing heart. "I was starting to think you'd forgotten."

"Me? Forget a date with you?" he said, pretending to be offended. "Never. I just had to make sure we had everything we need for the best day ever."

You couldn't help but smile at his enthusiasm. Seungkwan had a way of making you feel at ease, even when you were nervous. "So, what's the plan?" you asked.

"Glad you asked," he replied, gesturing toward the parking lot. "I borrowed my mom's car, so we can drive to the orange grove. It's not too far from here. And I brought some snacks for the trip, just in case we get hungry. You like kimbap, right?"

"Love it," you said, feeling relieved that he'd thought of everything. As you followed him to the car, you couldn't help but notice how he made you feel at ease, like you'd known him forever.

The drive to the orange grove was filled with laughter and light conversation. Seungkwan had a great sense of humor, and he kept you entertained with stories about growing up in Jeju and his various misadventures. You shared a few stories of your own, and by the time you arrived at the grove, the nervousness you'd felt earlier had melted away.

The orange grove was a beautiful sight, with rows of trees stretching out in every direction, their branches heavy with ripe, golden fruit. The sun was higher in the sky now, casting a warm glow over everything. It was the kind of place that felt like a hidden treasure, far from the hustle and bustle of the city.

"Wow, this is amazing," you said, looking around in awe.

"Right? I used to come here with my family when I was a kid," Seungkwan explained. "We'd pick oranges and have picnics. It was always a lot of fun. I thought you'd like it."

"I love it," you replied, genuinely touched that he'd chosen such a special place for your first date.

Seungkwan led the way through the grove, pointing out the best spots for picking oranges. He handed you a small basket and picked one for himself. "Okay, here's the game," he said, grinning. "Whoever picks the most oranges by the end of the day wins. Loser has to buy the winner ice cream."

"You're on," you said, accepting the challenge. You both started picking oranges, laughing as you raced from tree to tree. Seungkwan was surprisingly competitive, but he also made sure you were having a good time. He'd pause to help you reach a particularly high orange or to crack a joke that made you both double over with laughter.

As the morning went on, the baskets slowly filled with fruit. You took a break under the shade of a large tree, enjoying the snacks Seungkwan had brought along. It was a simple picnic, but it felt perfect. You sat on a blanket, munching on kimbap and sipping cold drinks, talking about everything and nothing at all. Seungkwan was easy to talk to, and you found yourself sharing things you'd never shared with anyone else.

"I really like spending time with you," you said, almost without thinking. The words just slipped out, but you didn't regret them.

Seungkwan looked at you with a gentle smile. "I like spending time with you, too," he replied. "I was a little nervous about today, but I'm glad I asked you out.

You felt a flutter in your stomach at his words. It was a strange feeling—like butterflies and sunshine all at once. "I was nervous, too," you admitted. "But this has been really fun."

"It has, hasn't it?" Seungkwan said, taking a sip of his drink. "I think we make a pretty good team."

"Yeah," you agreed, smiling. "I think we do."

After the picnic, you both got back to picking oranges, but this time at a more leisurely pace. You walked side by side, sometimes in comfortable silence, other times chatting and laughing. It was like you'd known each other for years, even though it had only been a few weeks.

By the time you returned to the car, your basket was overflowing with oranges, while Seungkwan's was slightly less full. You raised an eyebrow at him, pretending to be serious. "Looks like I won," you said.

Seungkwan laughed and held up his hands in surrender. "Okay, okay, you win. I'll buy the ice cream. But I still think I picked the best oranges."

"Only one way to find out," you replied, taking an orange from his basket and peeling it. The citrus scent filled the air, and you both took a bite. It was sweet and juicy, the perfect reward after a long day of picking.

"Okay, I admit it," Seungkwan said, grinning. "You picked some pretty good oranges, too."

As you sat on the hood of the car, eating oranges and watching the sun begin to set over the grove, you felt a sense of contentment that you'd never felt before. It was like you'd found a piece of home, a place where you belonged. lol

"Thanks for inviting me today," you said, leaning your head against Seungkwan's shoulder. "This was perfect."

"I'm glad you came," he replied, wrapping an arm around you. "I hope we can do this again."

"I'd like that," you said, closing your eyes and enjoying the moment. It was the start of something new, something special, and you couldn't wait to see where it would lead.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the sky in shades of orange and pink, you knew one thing for sure: this was the best first date you'd ever had.

[capturethechaos]

Masterlist

Previous chapter | Next chapter

Sam Kiszka x Reader

Words - 3.2k

Warnings - Swearing, drinking, maybe a little bit of tension, I think that's it

♫ Skeptical Playlist ♫

a/n - Surprise! (I finished writing this at 2:30 in the morning, so I apologize for any errors, I will more than likely go through this and edit it later, I'm just very impatient and I wanted to get it posted ♡)

“Is she in there?” Jake was leaning against a light pole with his arms crossed and his eyes trained on the glass of the shop as the question passed his lips.

“You look like a creep right now, I hope you know that.” Sam looked exceptionally unimpressed by his brother's antics as he watched Josh squinting through the window.

Josh shrugged and turned just enough to look at his little brother. “I’m simply trying to see if your crush is working, since you’re too much of a pussy to go in and check yourself.” 

“I’m not a pussy, I just… don’t know what I’d say to her.”

“How ‘bout ‘hey, sorry for being a dipshit and leaving without giving you my number, can I take you out sometime?’ I think that would go swimmingly.” Jake was wearing a shit eating grin as Sam shot him a cool glare.

Danny’s hand clapped against the tense muscle of Sam's shoulder. “Have you thought about starting with just going into the coffee shop rather than standing outside like a stalker?”

“Have you thought about shutting the fuck up?”

“Alright, it’s time.”

Eleanor’s mother had been attempting to corral the groom, Ben, and all of his groomsmen while you, Jackie, Robyn, and Nadine were trying to keep your cool watching the chaos unfold. You quickly found yourself standing beside your corresponding groomsman, Corey, being told that the groom was about to make his way down the aisle. Corey offered his arm to you with a smile, which you quickly returned, and you draped your arm over his. 

The best man followed closely behind Ben, and you watched Nadine, Jackie, and Robyn walk through the doors into the backyard before finally stepping through yourself. The entire wedding just felt exactly as you would expect for Eleanor and Ben. The large backyard of his parents house was decorated to perfection for their day, a close knit close friends and family ceremony for the carbon copy of a book where the girl that was popular in high school falls for the nerdy boy.

You separated from Corey at the altar, standing on your respective sides with your fellow groomsmen and bridesmaids. Jackie made a hushed joke about Corey having googly eyes for you as you walked away from him, and you rolled your eyes, looking away from her to scan the crowd of attendees. It was a steady sweep for the majority of the people in attendance, but your eyes passed over someone a fraction of a second too quickly, and as quickly as they had drifted past him, they snapped back. 

A mere two rows into the crowd sat Sam, already staring back at you with that stupid little grin that you refused to admit that you didn't hate. You blinked a few times, wondering if it was some strange illusion, a trick of the eyes. You wondered if you were to look away and look back if he would be gone, but when your eyes flickered away for a moment and returned to him, you were almost more confused. 

Your lips parted, and in silence you mouthed ‘what are you doing here?’

His smile faltered for a second before widening, and he looked away only long enough to open snapchat and write ‘I’ll explain later’ before holding his phone up for you to see. You slowly nodded, keeping your eyes on him until the sound of the bride's entry music began, and everyone stood to watch. 

Eleanor was breathtaking, you weren’t sure you had ever seen her glow the way she was as she walked down the aisle. The ceremony was beautiful, and you weren’t alone as you teared up watching one of your best friends marry the love of her life. 

The time spent taking pictures, though joyous, had begun making you antsy as you watched Sam across the yard with a drink in his hand, laughing with a group of fellow wedding guests. 

“You know he’ll still be here if you look away for a few minutes.”

You turned to Jackie with a glare. “I’m becoming increasingly aware of that.”

“Well.” Eleanor's voice stole both yours and Jackie's attention, and you turned to find her standing just behind you. “Lucky for you, all the pictures with the whole bridal party are done, so you’re free to roam.”

“Thank fuck.” The words slipped from you before you could stop them, and your eyes quickly found Eleanors. “Sorry, I love you. I’m just going insane.”

Eleanor chuckled and nodded. “I’m well aware. Go talk to him.”

You made your way over to the bar as you looked around, trying not to make it overly obvious that you were searching for him, but as your eyes drifted to the man behind the bar, a hand found the small of your back. 

“You weren’t by any chance looking for me, were you?”

You offered a smile to the bartender as he handed you a drink before turning to look at Sam. “That’s a bit presumptuous, don’t you think, Sam?”

He watched quietly as you lifted your glass to your lips, taking a small sip as you raised an eyebrow at him, and his lips began to curl into a smile of his own. “Maybe… was going more for hopeful.”

Though you rolled your eyes, your smile only widened. “So, are you going to finally explain why you’re at this wedding?”

Sam leaned in slightly, his smile turning mischievous. “I snuck in, you don’t think anyone has noticed do you?”

The change in your expression brought a soft chuckle from him, and he leaned back against the bar. “I’m friends with Ben, we went to highschool together.”

“Oh, so does that mean Ben is the one to talk to to get all the juicy gossip about how cool you were in highschool?” 

A snort from behind you caught both your attention and Sam’s, and you turned to see Ben grabbing two flutes of champagne. “Sorry, did I just hear you use the words ‘cool’ and ‘highschool’ in the same sentence about Sam?”

Your eyes flickered briefly to Sam, who was chewing on his bottom lip as he looked at his friend, before turning back to Ben and slowly nodding. Ben threw his head back in laughter, and kicked off of the bar. “Well, if you consider a book nerd and debate club member cool, then yes, Sammy was super cool in high school.”

Sam scoffed, but was clearly unaffected by the statement, a wide grin on his face as he pointed at Ben. “As if you were any better, Benji, you were the captain of the debate club before I had even joined.”

“Whatever helps you sleep at night, my friend.” Ben turned, walking back towards Eleanor and leaving you alone with Sam once again. 

“Debate club, really?” You turned to him, a curious look on your face as your gaze locked with his. 

“What? You don’t look at this-” His hands gestured to his tall frame as he continued to stare into your eyes. “-and think debate club champion?”

A laugh escaped you as you shook your head, and Sam’s face fell to a thoughtful expression. “What about you? Captain of the cheer squad? Most popular girl in school?”

You adamantly shook your head, hoping that he would continue to guess. His hand lifted to his face, and his finger tapped against the plump flesh of his lips as he looked around as if deep in thought. “Okay, I think I’ve got it. Were you a theater kid?”

You nodded, and his lips curled into a grin once again. 

“Lead in all the school plays?”

You shook your head. “Tech crew actually.”

He hummed. “Hm, behind the scenes, I can see that. What about grades, top of your class?”

You shook your head, but he quickly caught the small smile that was playing on your lips. “Not top of your class, but on the honor roll, right?”

You nodded and watched as he beamed with pride at finally guessing correctly. You lifted your glass to take another sip, and Sam turned to the bartender. “Could I just get the same as what she got?”

The two of you were separated briefly for the duration of the dinner and speeches, but as you watched the first dance take place in the beautifully lit dance floor that had been set up for the evening, a warm breath tickled your ear. 

“Is this seat taken?”

Your attention turned to Sam as his hand landed on the back of the chair next to you, and your eyes remained for a beat too long on the way his fingers flexed and curled around the frame before lifting to his eyes. The smirk on his lips brought a warmth to your cheeks that betrayed you, and you softly shook your head.

He quickly shuffled around the chair and sat down, leaning over to you and keeping his voice low so that only you could hear him. “So, I know Ben and Eleanor from high school. How did you meet them?”

“Well, Eleanor briefly worked at the same cafe as Nadine and I, and the three of us became really close. She kind of just blended in with our friend group well, and the rest was history. We met Ben not long after we met her, and we’ve been waiting for them to get married for ages.”

When your eyes turned back to the dance floor Eleanor and Ben were no longer dancing, instead other couples had begun to make their way to the floor. Your eyes briefly caught the gaze of Corey across the seating area, and you quickly turned back to look at Sam, who was looking out at everyone dancing.

“Are you ever going to get out there? You know it’s a wedding right, you’re supposed to dance.” 

Your attention was stolen by Eleanor as her voice traveled into your ears. You turned to her and smiled, but shook your head. “You know I’m not one for dancing, El. Even at a wedding.”

“Oh come on, Y/n. She’s right.” Sam stood from beside you, and you watched him give Eleanor a brief hug and soft congratulations before turning back to you and holding out his hand. “Dance with me, I promise I’ll help you not suck at dancing.”

You scoffed, but placed your hand in his as you stood from your chair. “I never said I sucked at dancing, I just don’t particularly like it, that’s all.”

Sam smiled as his hand wrapped around your own and he began to lead you towards the dance floor. “Let’s change that then, shall we?”

Your head turned briefly to look back at Eleanor, and as she held two thumbs up, a distance behind her Corey stood with a pout on his lips watching you walk onto the dance floor with Sam. 

Sam came to an abrupt spot on the dance floor, and you bumped into him before you realized what was going on. The hand he had wrapped around your own lifted your arm to drape it over his shoulder before dropping to your waist as his free hand found yours. 

You wished that you could blame the alcohol for the tingle that ran up your spine at the feeling of his hand on your waist, but deep down you knew better, even if you didn’t want to admit it. He slowly began guiding you, swaying with you to the music that played over the speakers. At some point you realized that it no longer felt like you were surrounded by people, as you looked up at him and caught his warm brown eyes it felt like it was just the two of you beneath the setting sun. 

Your bubble was burst by the sound of someone clearing their throat, and both you and Sam turned to see Corey standing beside you. “Would you mind if I stole her for a dance?”

You turned to Sam and watched as he raised an eyebrow, his eyes quickly flickering to catch you already staring back at him. “I think you could ask her yourself, but I was about to ask if she wanted a drink.”

Both men looked to you, and you swallowed the lump in your throat as Sam gently squeezed the hand he still held in his own. “I could use a drink.”

There was something you couldn’t quite pinpoint in Sam’s gaze as he looked at you, but the soft smile on his lips was enough to calm the nerves that had been creeping up since Corey interrupted the two of you. He turned away from you and gave Corey a curt nod before letting go of your hand and moving to wrap the other further around your waist. 

Sam led you away from the dance floor, leaving Corey to figure out his next move on his own. “So… what’s his deal?”

You turned to look at him as the two of you made your way to the bar. “Corey? He’s nice enough, but he’s been trying to shoot his shot since my ex and I broke up, and I’m just not into him.”

Sam hummed, but didn’t speak until you reached the bar. He ordered two of the same drinks you had been sipping on throughout the evening before turning to you. “I’m sorry by the way.”

The look of confusion on your face urged him to continue talking, and you watched him take a deep breath before parting his lips once again. “For leaving without saying goodbye at the cabin.”

“Oh.”

“Oh?”

Your eyes fell to your glass, watching the straw as you pushed it back and forth with one of your fingers. “You don’t have to apologize.”

“I know.” His eyes were still locked on you when you finally looked back up at him. “But I wanted to. I had a lot of fun at that cabin, and I felt like an idiot for not saying goodbye… or getting your number.”

There was no stopping the smile that pulled on the corners of your lips as he spoke, and you quickly held your hand in the empty space between the two of you. “Give me your phone.”

Dear god, his smile.

He pulled his phone from his pocket, taking only long enough to unlock it and open the contacts app before it was placed in the palm of your hand. You typed your number into the contact info and handed Sam’s phone back to him. “I’ll leave the contact name to you.”

The sky grew darker, and the attendees gathered to bid farewell to the newlyweds as they left for their honeymoon. You stood in the cool night air, watching the car drive into the distance before you considered how you would be getting home, but it seemed as though your solution came before the problem arose. 

“I’m uh… I’m about to get an uber… if you’d like to split the ride?”

You turned to find Sam stood beside you, his jacket slung over his shoulder and his phone in his hand. A smile grew on your lips as you nodded, turning to look back into the house. “Do we have time for me to grab my jacket and say goodbye?”

“Of course, this house is pretty far out so it’ll be a good ten to fifteen minutes before they get here.” 

He turned with you to walk back into the house, leaving you to collect your belongings and say goodbye to your friends while he did the same. You found Nadine, Jackie and Robyn grouped together in the kitchen with freshly filled glasses of wine. 

Robyn was the first to spot you, a smile quickly grew on her face and she waved you over, catching the attention of Jackie and Nadine. “Well hello stranger, how is your prince?”

Your eyes rolled, and a groan pushed past your lips as you leaned against the counter next to Robyn. “He’s fine, and he is waiting for me to say goodbye to you so that we can get in an uber.”

“He asked if you wanted to uber home with him?”

“He asked if I wanted to split an uber with him, so I will be dropped off at my place, and he will be dropped off at his.” 

Your response garnered nods from each of your friends, and Nadine smiled. “So he can listen.”

Your eyes narrowed in on her, and her eyebrows raised in response. “Nadine, did you tell him to get an uber with me?”

“No no, he asked me if it would be stupid to ask you if you’d split an uber home.”

“And?”

She giggled, and her smile widened. “I told him it depended on why he’d ask you to split an uber.”

The heat rising to your cheeks had surely left a crimson blush across your cheeks as you stared intently at your friend, and your voice came out in a murmur. “What did he say?”

“He said he wanted to make sure you got home safe.”

You felt weak in the knees as you walked up to Sam, who had rested his body against the archway into the foyer, with his hands clasped in front of him as he stared at his shoes. You came to a stop once your shoes were in his eyeline, and he realized you were in front of him. He looked up to meet your eyes, and the smile you had grown to enjoy spread across his lips. “You ready to go?”

You nodded, and when he offered his hand, you did not refuse it. Instead you found yourself at the edge of the driveway with your fingers intertwined with Sams as you waited for the uber. He opened the door for you when it finally arrived, and slid into the empty seat across from you once you were comfortable. 

The car ride was quiet, with most of your focus being used to keep your heart from racing as you sat next to Sam. His hand rested mere inches from yours for the entirety of the drive, and the ghost of his touch from the evening leaves you breathless. Sam was quick to step out of the car to open your door for you before you had even realized you were home. Your legs felt like jello as you stepped out of the car, and your eyes were locked on Sam’s as you got your footing on the ground. 

For a moment it seems like Sam is going to say something, but before he got any words out the driver cleared his throat, pulling Sam’s attention away long enough to stop him from speaking. He turned to you and smiled, taking a step back toward the car door. “It was really nice seeing you.”

“It was really nice seeing you too, Sam.”

—

The next week is spent in limbo.

Typing, deleting, and rewriting messages that never get sent. Every once and a while you check your phone at just the right time and you’d see those three damned dots pop up and disappear, and you wondered if he was doing the same thing as you.

 “It’s a conversation, for god's sake! It should not be this difficult to start a conversation.”

Even your friends had begun to tease you about just saying something. Literally anything, just to break the ice. It seemed as though Sam had been getting the same pestering from his circle, when your phone vibrated on your coffee table as you watched a show.

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[icallhimjoey]

I know you said you don't want to touch Like A Poem because it's perfect as it is (you're right, it is). But hear me out here... there is still tension even though Joe and reader have now kissed. I'm not sure you're aware (obviously you are lol) but Joe and reader do not know each other at all. He knows she owns a book store, and she knows he likes his coffee black and that's pretty much it? Also I want to read about the funeral to be able to get over the grandfather dying so suddenly (why did you do this to me it made me sob) so I'm officially begging you to continue the story :))))

i don't know who you are, but i will find you - very sorry but will have to murder you. BIG SIGH. all right, i'm starting a "second season" to Like A Poem because of this request, and this is the first part. and hey. last thing. fuck you 🥰  Wordcount: 2.1K 

-----

A Lot Like Love

part one - part two - part three - part four - part five

“Thanks for coming,” you could hear your mother say softly to someone you didn't know. You were unsure if they were family, an old friend of the family, or even just someone who knew your grandfather who you'd never met before. There were a couple of aunts – great aunts – old, heavily perfumed ladies that weren't technically aunts and felt far removed from you, who you'd only see once every maybe 4 or 5 years. Maybe it was one of them. 

“Thanks so much for being here today,” Your mother was operating on autopilot. She kind of had to, you thought. How else could she make it through this day? You felt guilty about not standing next to her, saying goodbye to all the guests, but there was not a chance you could host the way she could, speaking to everyone, smiling at everyone. 

You just sat beside where she was standing by the door as people left, on a hard, cold church pew, and stared into space. You felt drained the way you feel drained after a huge cry, which, coincidentally, you’d just had. In front of a packed church too, which made it worse.

Your mother had written a beautiful letter to her father that she got to read up on the stand during the funeral, and she had done it without much show of emotion. All her words had been pronounced so clearly, no stutters or sobs got in the way of the back-row hearing it just as well as the front. When you'd gotten up to read a poem fitting for the occasion, you'd been a crying mess, voice high, needing to take breaks because your throat would close up completely - it was awful. And all those people staring at you, 75% per cent of them pairs of eyes you didn't know or recognize at all. None of them Joe's. You had vowed to yourself then that you'd never speak at a funeral again. 

So, you kissed Joe yesterday. And then he had left shortly after. That didn't feel like enough to invite Joe to your grandfather's funeral the next morning, so you hadn't. Which was okay, your mother was there, and you know, other family members too. Not that you cared much about them, none were really in your life, but it was nice for them to pay their respects to your granddad. 

When the last person had walked past your mother, she turned and came to sit down next to you. She sighed as she collapsed onto the bench, and you looked at her. She looked tired. Worse than you did. You just sat for a minute, empty stares into empty spaces.

“I don't want to go back to the store,” you said, slumping and resting your head on her shoulder. 

“Then don't, take the day.” your mother suggested, but you shook your head.

“Anne's in there by herself now, running the ship. Not sure if she's doing it tightly, but, fingers crossed.” You lightly joked, crossing your fingers for effect, and it made your mother smile. 

Up by the altar, you could see the pastor who had led the service, straightening some bits out, tidying the pieces of paper you'd left behind. Every move that was made, every little sound, was magnified by the acoustics of the building. You didn't like how cold churches felt, but you really appreciated the history and art of them. The vastness and grandiosity of them. You felt like the empty space between the pews and the tall ceilings was filled up with floating bubbles of nice thoughts and memories and even prayers for your granddad; all things people who had just left the venue had left behind. You weren't religious, but there was something nice about being sat in the back, letting those bubbles slowly come down and land on you, with your mother by your side. 

“Hey, remember when I called you that one day about the actor that used the toilet at the store?” you suddenly thought of it, and wanted to take your mother's mind off the heavy and emotional morning you'd just struggled through. She could probably use some fun news, and didn't you carry around just the most fun bit of news right now?

“I met him,” your mother said, and it took you a second to let her words register inside your mind. You shot eyes at her, confused, and saw she was smiling. The only time your mother and Joe had been in the store at the same time, she had been stuck behind the till helping you out. There was not a chance that they had met that day. You would’ve seen. 

“When?!” your voice was unexpectedly ear-piercing as it bounced from the tall walls. You instantly regretted saying it so loudly, seeing the pastor up front look at you. 

“A while ago, I think... couple of weeks? At the bakery,” she said, like that really explained anything. 

You sat up, straightening your back and you turned your body towards her as you waited for your mother to explain herself further. Had your mother forgotten the excitement in your voice when you had told her of your first meeting with Joe? How it had been so embarrassing that he had caught you falling to the floor after you thought he had left? How later you had explained that he had become somewhat of a friend to the store, that he would sometimes just be there for half a day? Why would she refrain that she actually met him in a fucking bakery?!

“Mum!” you impatiently hissed when she didn't seem to want to clarify herself at all. She took your arm and linked it with hers, forcing you to move back to sit next to her again, shoulders touching.

“It was after I helped that whole afternoon,” your mother made sure to whisper as she eyed the pastor who now seemed to be slowly making his way down the pews. You were likely going to be asked to leave if you weren't quiet, and your mother didn't want to step out back into the real world just yet. “There was a woman who had asked you for help twice, and you hadn't even acknowledged her because you were daydreaming, staring at someone. That's how I knew what he looked like.” 

You scoffed. You could've googled, you thought. 

You remember someone asking for help when you had noticed Joe and your granddad talking in those chairs. Had they tried to get your attention several times? Surely not. You definitely would've noticed.

“After your granddad and I left - you know that bakery that's opposite the flower shop granddad used to get sunflowers from? He was adamant we'd go inside, even though it was the end of the day, and nothing would be freshly baked.”

“And then Joe,” your mother elongated his name and looked at you as if she was peering over reading glasses. “Was in there, waiting to be helped.” You think back and remember how Joe had come back into the store later that day with baked goods that you shared when he had helped you restock the shelves. 

“He said hi to granddad. Very polite.”

Joe was very polite, she was right. Then your mum leant into you slightly, as if the next thing she was going to say was a secret. “Granddad told him he would always get you pastries on Friday afternoons when you'd come visit after school, and I thought it was such a weird thing to say to someone practically a stranger, but Joe then added four croissants to his order.”

Your mother might as well have slapped you right across the face. The emotional memory you'd completely forgotten about hit you hard, combined with new information about Joe and your granddad scheming behind your back, your brain short-circuited. 

Friday afternoon pastries with your grandfather. You’d look forward to it all week. You were only little, but he'd always have enough to feed at least four adults, you were sure. Different types of everything, but always two croissants. One for him, and one for you. It wasn’t until much later that you realized it was because your mother always had the late shift on Fridays and wouldn’t be able to cook, and your granddad had to work at the store, also not able to cook you a proper meal. It was a predicament that had morphed into a wonderful core childhood memory, one that you cherished with your entire being. You could feel tears pickle in the corners of your eyes as you tried to remember details, feelings, smells- anything to keep the memories fresh and live in your brain. You leant your head back to rest on your mother’s shoulder and thought you didn’t spend enough time with her. Her stopping by the store didn’t count as spending time, really. 

“We didn't actually introduce ourselves,” your mother continued, and you couldn't help but chuckle. “Sounds like him,” you commented through a smile and a sniff. “When he left, it was our turn and dad said he didn’t even really want anything.” Whenever your mother would refer to him as ‘dad’ you knew that for a second you weren’t her daughter, but just a person she was talking to about her father. “He just asked for old bread to feed ducks and pigeons at the park.” You frowned a little. Had he just wanted to go into the bakery because he’d seen Joe in there? You’d never know the answer, you thought, which was frustrating but, in a way, it felt nice to have an empty page in this book just so you could fill it in for yourself with whatever story you so pleased. 

How did he do this? Your grandfather wasn't even bloody alive anymore, and yet, he had managed to make your heart feel so full in this moment. As if it was him, comforting you at his own funeral, and it felt ironic. 

“We kissed yesterday.” You confessed then, and your felt your mother squeeze your arm tight to her body.

“Was it good?” your mum asked, and you elbowed into her side as an answer, the both of you grinning. 

“Seriously, was it?” she coaxed, and it made you laugh out loud – too loud for inside a church. 

“We’re in a church, mother!” you exclaimed theatrically. “Yea let’s leave before they add silly things onto the bill. Things like noise pollution,” your mother said after seeing strict eyes at her from the pastor who was now walking towards you in large steps. “Fifty extra quid for disturbing baby Jesus,” you joked, following her out. 

You had dropped your mother off at home, promised each other to see each other more, and she told you to slow down – you knew what she meant – before making your way over to work. Stepping inside you were confronted with an odd situation, a scene you couldn’t initially make a whole lot of sense of, and Joe’s facial expression absolutely didn’t help. He seemed a little annoyed. 

There were people in the store. Two guys, men you didn’t know, sitting in the armchairs. Customers. They were in their jackets, backpacks on the floor, a bag of shopping in between them. One of them was sat back and calmly reading the back of a book he’d picked up from the display in the window. The other was perched up on the very edge of the seat, elbows on knees, headphones on with his full attention on the phone he was holding. 

Joe, as it so happened, was stood behind the till, pen in hand, writing things onto a sheet that, suspiciously, looked a lot like an inventory list. Like he worked there. Which, you know, he very much didn’t. 

When you’d walked in, the bell had rung loudly and Joe hadn’t looked up initially, too busy with… work? But when he did look up, you saw his eyes soften and you noticed the littlest twinge in his face that showed empathy. Anne must’ve said you weren’t there because of the funeral. Speaking of…

Just as you were about to wonder where Anne was exactly, she walked out of the breakroom. 

“You’re back.” She stated. No emotion, no smiles, no excitement. Just a fact. 

“Yep.” You said back, your face still wrinkled in confusion. Anne picked up on it. 

“His seat was taken,” Anne said, and you knew she was trying to explain to you why Joe was behind the till doing her job, but it didn’t feel like a seat being taken meant that Joe now had to work in the store. Sure, Anne was strange. But this seemed a little too far of a stretch. 

“I had to poop.” she then deadpanned.

Ah. 

“Got it.” 

--- part two read Like A Poem here ---

The Taglisted: @kiwisa @jasminearondottir @josephquinned @cancankiki @sidthedollface2 @dylanmunson @munsonsgirl71 @alana4610 @emmamooney @xomunson @sadbitchfangirl @jssmth5 @bagelofthelord67 @nobody-000 @lluviamg06 - add yourself  

[xxashtreexx]

Solitude

(Act 1 aged Viktor and Jayce)

It was an embarrassingly long time before Viktor definitively understood what set off the chronic pain spikes.

It depended, more than anything, but he found that stress was a large component. So was sleeping; hours of laying in the same position made his back and leg cramp up, and awakening from that was painful, and often frustrating.

So weeks long projects, right before the deadline? Sleep was a joke, and the pain was still unreal without it, shuffling along and trying to hide the worst of it from Jayce, who was beyond stressed as well.

Even in the midst of being hunched over their projects for hours, stopping only for the bathroom and for coffee, Jayce still reminded Viktor to rest, and eat, whenever possible, but still never pushed.

The third all-nighter in a row was apparently where Jayce drew his limit, though. He could tell nearly immediately from the disapproving “Viktor” after Viktor had wished Jayce a good rest while not moving from the project.

“Jayce.” If he wanted to be stubborn, Viktor would match it, even if it felt like a pick was being hammered into his skull from fatigue, and into his leg from stress.

“Come with me.” A small note of pleading was in Jayce’s voice; they both ignored it. “Let’s go out for some food — I’ll buy.”

Viktor paused a minute. That sounded awfully like a date. When Viktor turned, Jayce’s face was flushed, as if he realized it, too.

…He needed to get up to stretch his leg anyway. He stood, and limped by a dumbstruck, shy Jayce, who shut his mouth and hurried to catch up to Viktor, his expression casual like he was trying to play it cool.

Jayce waved over a cab, and they sat together, side by side. Jayce was not a small man, and Viktor was lanky, and their shoulders and knees brushed in the smushed backseat of the cab. Jayce’s face was red in a blush; Viktor was sure his own was the same.

Stepping outside into the cool air made Viktor shiver. Jayce stepped forward, almost protectively, and then paused when he saw — or rather felt — the issue. Casually, ears still pink, Jayce wrapped an arm around Viktor’s shoulders, sharing his natural warmth — Jayce ran like a furnace — with Viktor.

When they walked up to the hostess, they were immediately recognized as from the academy, what their similar uniforms, and Viktor wondered what else the hostess might be seeing.

A young couple in love

They were seen shortly thereafter. Eating was nice, when their food arrived (Jayce was serious about buying, and left a generous tip) and Viktor felt something in his chest unfurl and relax with Jayce’s gentle warmth across the table from him, and the joking and, without regret, a bit of alcohol.

At Viktor’s insistence, they walked back to the academy; it eased some of the stiffness, and it was too nice of a night to spend cooped up inside.

Viktor walked Jayce back to his dorm, smiling a little. “This is you.”

“Yes.” Jayce riddled with his key. “You should… come inside with me.”

Viktor raised both his brows. Jayce looked even more uncomfortable, but continued, “I know you’re just going back to the lab to work if I don’t — yeah.”

“I still might.” Even if Jayce and him spent time together, when Jayce fell asleep —

“Maybe.” A slight smirk — better suited to his face than the shyness, if always surprising — spread across his face like a sunrise. “Maybe I can convince you.”

Viktor decided to humor him. “Alright.”

They walked inside, and Jayce locked the door behind them, but placed the key where Viktor could easily reach — not a kidnapping, then, and Viktor took the time to explore the room with his eyes; a bed, tucked off into the corner, a desk, a chair.

They sat on Jayce’s bed by mutual, silent agreement, but Viktor took the head of it so he could stretch out. Jayce did not complain, even looked a little encouraged, and they sat together.

“Why do you avoid sleeping?”

Why do you enjoy it, Viktor almost shot back, but he understood the question for an attempt to reach out, and he allowed it.

“I wake up in pain. More pain, given the stress of everything that’s happening.”

“Oh.” Jayce almost looked guilty, but then he nodded. “Do you have any medication you take?”

“Muscle relaxers and sleep aids, but those knock me out for the next few days.”

“Maybe you need that,” Jayce offered.

“I don’t want to be — ” The word useless caught in his throat.

“You won’t be,” Jayce assured him. When Viktor said nothing, Jayce added, “I promise I’ll wake you up when I get up. We’re almost done with the project anyway, just a few finishing touches and review, so you can rest.”

“What about — ?”

“I’m fine. I haven’t been up for three days straight.” A pause, and then, more quietly, “You could stay here. I’d… take care of you. Make sure you were safe, if that’s what you’re concerned about.”

Viktor considered for a long few moments, because Jayce really had addressed each part of things, and then said, “Fine.“

He scoot to the far side of the bed, and dug out his keys. “It’s on my nightstand, you know where room is.”

Jayce nodded, clearly surprised, and then left. When he returned a several minutes later — Viktor’s dorm, given that he had been an assistant, was across the campus — Viktor opened his hand, and Jayce placed the little bottles in his hand.

Viktor stared at them for a long few moments. Slightly out of breath, he pulled out his desk chair to sit, frowning when Viktor hesitated. “What’s wrong?”

Viktor said nothing for a long while. Wasn’t going to at all, except Jayce was looking at him eagerly, like he wanted a problem to solve — no, not quite. Like he wanted to solve Viktor’s problems, not fix him, like everyone else had —

“It’s hard,” he admitted after a moment. “I’ve never…” Done this before, but really — trusted someone this much.

Jayce scooted forward noisily. “I’ll be here.”

Viktor’s breathing hitched, and then he returned to the different capsules in his palm. He took out the muscle relaxer, pulled out a full dose (he never, ever did a full dose), and swallowed them dry.

Maybe this was cruel, to himself and to Jayce, but he wanted to see what would happen. To test Jayce. And if he was already going to risk this much, he’d much rather risk it all, just like when they slunk through the hallways to retrieve Jayce’s research.

Just like any experiment, he convinced himself, and then laid on the far side of the bed, closest to the wall.

“You may lay with me, if you want,” Viktor said, and then closed his eyes.

Jayce wasn’t going to at all, except Viktor started making these awful noises, as if in a nightmare, and Jayce had moved forward on instinct to soothe him.

Jayce took Viktor’s hand, sitting beside him at the head of the bed, and Viktor — clearly completely unconscious — turned over to press against Jayce’s legs, still holding Jayce’s hand.

Jayce stayed there, stunned, and resisting a blush across his cheeks. Then, gently, he ran a hand on top of Viktor’s hand, shivering at the soft, pleased him that originated in Viktor’s throat.

Sitting more fully in the bed, he rested his head against the wall, closing his eyes.

When Viktor awakened, he didn't expect it to be in the warm comfort of the sunlight, and the aching in his muscles to be less than he expected.  Less, specifically because even though things were better than he anticipated, didn't mean the pain had faded enough, it was never enough, but it was something.  

It was almost, almost enough when he saw Jayce across the room, quietly tinkering on something in front of him.  It took a moment for it to occur to Viktor, about the specific position of the sun, but then he shot up (ow) and glared at Jayce accusitorily.

"You let me sleep."

Jayce startled, and then coughed into his hand.  "You wouldn't wake up," he explained quickly, like he'd practiced this enough to know the right response.  "And I finished grabbed the finishing component anyway.  See?"  He held up the little Hex spider, and Viktor could have laughed, because that was absolutely not what they had been working on.

Viktor moved to stand, and when he nearly collapsed almost immediately — sleeping for as long as he had was not conducive to proper balance — Jayce's strong arms were there, holding him up tightly, but not painfully.  And it occurred to him that that was just how Jayce had always been; sturdy when he wanted to be, firm and stolid, but then gentle, compassionate.

"Thanks," he muttered, and he hoped Jayce understood that it was for everything.

Jayce brightened.  "Of course.  We're partners now, right?"

Viktor looked up sharply, and he realized the implications that Jayce wasn't explicitly stating — they never really would, not with everything else going on — but still having it would be enough.

"Yeah."

[futurewriter2000]

Caring - pt. 4 - Final part

A/N: Two fics in a row. I think that's my new record in the past two years. I swear, I forgot how much I enjoyed writing this, but to be honest with you I'm just tying loose ends. I don't think I'll be writing much fan fiction. Only the requests I have left and the series that I have to finish. All the love.

XX

You knew that you had wanted him to apologise. You knew that perhaps, you over-reacted in such thing, but you couldn't get it out of your mind. You couldn't get the words he had said to you, in your face or behind your back. You wish you could be somewhat like Chloe, but you are not. You are nothing like those pretty blonde girls that make all men swoon the moment she walks by. No, you're the kind of girl that loves advent Christmas trips, without the beer, without the liquor with family, but you're also the kind of girl who would say yes, if her friends would want her to do something stupid. You weren't that typical reader, to read books in the library all the time, but you also weren't the kind of girl that would put so much makeup and take care of her hair every day for the rest of her life.

You were something in the middle or maybe something out of that range. Remus seemed to be both of those characters. In the beginning, he has always been kind and reasonable. He has been funny and smiling with that cheeky smile of his but for the past few years, he has been nothing but an ass. Perhaps peer pressure has got to him and through all those years of being friends with Sirius Black, James Potter and Peter Pettigrew, finally rubbed off on him. Perhaps he was the mastermind behind all of that and you were just another victim of those master plans.

Yet, you still believed enough for him to apologise to you.

»I'm sorry.«

It was as if somebody said it right behind your ear. Was it real or were you just in the most delusional states by now.

»(y/n)…«

You turned around and found him standing in the doorway of your room.

»How did you-.« you didn't know how to speak. »-how did you even get in here?!« you rushed to him, pulling his arm and looking out on the hallway if anybody saw that. You were not supposed to be having boys over in your room, just like boys shouldn't have girls over in their dorms. It was a school policy to which you knew people broke it, but you were not one of those people. »You shouldn't be here! You aren't allowed to be here.«

»Or what?«

»Or- I don't know. We might get in trouble.«

»We aren't doing anything.«

»If the Prefect sees us-.«

»I'm the Prefect.« he gave you a cocky smile and you narrowed your eyes at him, then rushed over to your bed and started to clean it up. »You shouldn't have come here- not only because of the school policy, but because I don't want to see you just yet.« you said as you fluffed the pillows and threw them on the top.

»Are you really cleaning your room because you are having company right now?« he continued to tease you.

»Shut up.« you turned back to him and grabbed some pens and your journal from the floor, throwing it on the shelf of your night stand. »I'm living with three other pigs, this is nothing.« he started to walk towards you, but you haven't noticed, since you continued to grab things from the floor because you practically did everything in your bed, except have a good night's sleep. As a student, your sleeping schedule is always a mess.

»Okay, so you're sor-.« you turned around and you were surprised by the vicinity the two of you had.

»I am.« he said, not touching you, not moving, only breathing and watching you. »To be honest, I didn't know how amazing you are since last night. I judged you because my friends kept pressuring me about you and- it… it wasn't you. It really wasn't you to be the one that was the reason, I didn't want to be with you.« he started to speak, not knowing where this was leading either and when he noticed the two of you were close, he took a step back and sat on you freshly made bed.

»I just made that.« you joked and he laughed.

You saw the torment in his eyes and you should be happy. You should be happy that he cares this much, that he is torturing himself for you, but that just wasn't in your heart. You weren't that kind of person and you realize that at the moment you saw him torture himself for not having any feelings for you and having to treat you this badly. You sat by his side, wanting to touch his hand, but resisting the urge. »I understand.« you replied and looked away. »It's silly anyway… all this crushing and fancying. So I liked you and it was obvious- and I might have been annoying.«

»No.« he laughed and placed his hands on top of yours. He couldn't resist the urge, but it was something so naturally to him; to take your hands into his when he was trying to explain himself to you. »You're the one person that does understand me.« he said, but that hasn't explained anything to you. »I'm horrible at this.« he closed his eyes and tried to focus. There was a loud silence as he opened his eyes and looked deeply into yours. »I…« he paused, feeling something get caught in his throat. He cleared it and repeated. »I… have… feelings for you.« he said as if that would explain everything.

You watched him. You didn't know whether to believe him or to think this was the prank he wanted it to be. It was as if you couldn't trust your own brain.

Noticing the conflict behind your eyes, he tried again. »You weren't annoying. I was annoyed by every single thing in my life. I still am. I am grumpy, restless, annoyed person. I'm a horrible person, (y/n). In fact, my life is filled with so many problems that I cannot face and then you come into my life and you're so bright. You seem so light on your feet and you smile at me, every single time, with that bright smile of yours and you seem to have all the solutions. That was what annoyed me. It annoyed me that you were everything I wanted to be, you are everything I want because when I am with you, I feel like I don't have a care in the world. I have a feeling that I can trust you with everything- I have a feeling that you're my person and it took me so long to see it.« he continued to look into your eyes and trying to figure out what was going on behind them. »Please say something.«

It was as if that last three words brought you back from your train of thoughts and if you were honest with yourself, you hadn't processed much. »I just… I just wanted you to apologise.« was all that you seemed to say and he smiled, laughing.

»I think I can't apologize more than I already did, but I can keep going.«

You smiled, looking into his eyes and placing your hand on his cheek. »Okay.«

»Okay?« he smiled but hadn't got a clue what that meant.

»Okay, I forgive you.« you said. »And okay, I'd like to see where this goes.«

[0-animelover-0]

S/O with Eating Disorder (Tsundere boyfriend)

A/N: Eating Disorders are definitely not fun nor something to joke about. It is a terrible experience. Coming from someone who had one since my 6th year of school, I can confirm it does get better over time with the right support system.

Liam is an OC I made up a little ways back.

You were in the store with your boyfriend Liam when your head suddenly started hurting and you felt lightheaded. You gently tugged on his shirt sleeve. "Babe? I don't feel so good..." you whispered.

Liam raised an eyebrow. "Don't be such a baby, we still have loads of shopping to do." He continued walking, taking the same route he had earlier. However, the longer you both were out, the more he started to notice something was wrong. With a sigh he came to a stop. "You really don't look good. Where are you hurting?" He asked as he turned to face his girlfriend.

You groaned as you had to sit down on a nearby chair. You put a hand on your forehead as you leaned forward. "Just my head hurts. But I feel dizzy and nauseous."

Liam sighed and walked over, resting his hand on your shoulder. "We should go to the nurse. You clearly don't look good. Do you have any allergies? If you don't then I have a bottle of medicine in my dorm. I hope it's nothing serious.." He continued talking, his voice laced with worry though he seemed to not show it on his face. With no further warning he scooped you up and started on the way back to the dorms.

You stumbled over your words as you wrapped your arms around his shoulders to not fall. "But, what about shopping? You're not finished-"

"You're more important right now. Come on, tell me if the pain gets worse." Liam answered. Though despite his tough act his arms were gentle as he held your body close and made sure every step was stable. He carried you to the dorm rooms, opening the door then taking the stairs down to his. Once there, he placed you on his bed then pulled out a bottle of pills. He shook some into a water bottle and held it out to you. "Drink this. It'll help, I promise."

You went to protest but a throb of pain in your head reminded you of your condition and you sighed. "Okay." You took the water bottle and slowly drank the cold liquid.

Liam watched you until he was sure you had finished the whole bottle then nodded. "How do you feel?" He asked you. He kept his voice gentle and soft, his expression unchanged even though he seemed a lot more worried than he had been earlier. He took out a wet cloth and placed it on your forehead then sat beside you and brushed the hairs away from your cheek. "Do you feel hot? Any other side effects?"

You smiled a little and placed your hand on the cloth. "Dizziness, light-headedness, perspiration, and nausea."

"I hope it's nothing serious. The pills should work in half an hour." He said as he continued stroking your cheek. "Did this just start out of nowhere? I mean we've been walking around for almost an hour, but you seemed fine till now." He asked, his tone coming out a little more worried as his thoughts started racing.

You shrugged your shoulders. "I don't know. It might be the heat or-"

"Or?" Liam asked, gently tilting your head to face him. "Or what? You can tell me, it's alright." He told you, his grip on your hand tightening as he waited for you to explain. "You haven't eaten any bad food, right? Maybe it's food poisoning." He continued, trying to reason.

You smiled sheepishly and tucked some of your hair behind your ear. "Well, I haven't eaten in a week so that might be it..."

"What?! Why didn't you tell me? Of course you're going to feel horrible if you don't eat anything for days in a row!" Liam scolded as he took your face into his hands and kissed your temple. "Please tell me you're being sarcastic, Y/n, because if you're not then I'm going to get really mad and make you promise to eat a huge meal." He went out of his way to not be intimidating but he was clearly mad about your not telling him before that. He knew you had to be hungry.

You avoided his eyes and took your bottom lip between your teeth. You tried for it not to tremble as your emotions surfaced. You swallowed down your nerves and kept your eyes elsewhere. "I gained weight this week and felt self-conscious so I didn't eat. I didn't tell you 'cause I didn't want to burden you."

Liam sighed as he saw that you were avoiding his gaze. He felt bad because he hadn't noticed any of this before. Now he needs to make it up to you and give you encouragement. "Hey. You didn't need to do that. You're beautiful no matter what weight you are, okay?" He said, taking your hands into his and stroking your cheek before he leaned in to give you another slow and gentle kiss. "You need to tell me these things, I'm your boyfriend alright? You can tell me anything."

A smile crept onto your face and you nodded slowly. "Alright. I'm sorry to have caused this."

"No need to apologize. Just don't ever let yourself get so hungry you faint, alright? You need to take care of yourself, especially when you're studying in this hell-hole. I'll help you figure out a diet plan for you to get back in shape, but you need to eat!" Liam continued, his eyes stern despite his smile as he squeezed your hands. "And you need to promise me to eat, alright?"

You nodded again and tears welled up in your eyes. "It's just... I hate it. I don't feel hungry anymore. And when I try to eat, I just throw it back up. I hate this damn body."

"Hey, it's okay. It's going to be okay. You don't need to hate yourself because of this weight gain, alright?" Liam tried to console you. He placed his hands on your shoulders and pulled you into an embrace, not wanting you to fall into a bad spiral of thoughts. If you threw everything up after eating then it may be possible that you had developed bulimia, though Liam couldn't be sure. "Have you seen the school therapist?" He suggested.

You laughed sadly and the tears left your eyes and fell down your face. "What good would that do? It's the school therapist, they're not that good. And I can't just tell my parents. What would they do?"

Liam kept his arms wrapped around you as he continued trying to comfort you even though he seemed a bit out of his depth. He was trying to be reassuring but he had no idea how to. He had a soft look on his face. "You could try telling your parents. They may have had similar experiences in the past. And if the therapist doesn't help, you can find someone else. You don't need to do this alone, okay?" He continued. "I can help you too. You just need to promise me you will try."

“But-”

Liam looked at you in a serious manner. "Promise me." He said, his voice stern. He had already done a quick research on eating disorders and what to say to someone he was close to who may be suffering from it. After a deep breath he added, hoping this would convince you. "I cannot and will not sit here and watch you waste away. You promise me that tomorrow you will talk to anyone who can help you. Okay?"

You let out a shaky breath and looked up into his brown eyes. "I will try to tell my parents but I can't promise you that I'll go see a therapist just yet. Baby steps."

"I understand. You don't need to see the therapist just yet, but you do need to talk to your parents." He said softly. He continued to hold you closely. "Promise me that, okay? Promise me that you won't try to hurt yourself anymore, Y/n. Promise me that you'll try to get better."

Nuzzling closer into his warmth, you nodded against the crook of his neck. "Okay... I promise to try and talk to them tomorrow."

Liam nodded back, still stroking your cheek with his thumb. He looked down at you in concern, though he still smiled and gently kissed your forehead once more. "Good." He whispered. He had to be strong for you, he wouldn't tell you how worried he was but instead he would do everything he could to comfort you and support you. He could only hope that your parents would be just as understanding and kind.

[might-be-max]

Entry 1 [The Page, pt1]

I’m sure everyone can remember their retail days. The periods of our lives when we worked long hours for shit pay and at the mercy of every dickhead who felt a soy sauce shortage was a legitimate reason to ruin someone’s shift. I’m still unfortunately eyeballs deep in that phase of my life. I sure wish that soccer moms with bad haircuts or thumb-shaped juice heads with little-man syndrome were the biggest of my problems. We all make jokes about working retail being Hell, some even compare it to purgatory. A between space where time passes at a painstaking crawl. It’s nothing compared to this. 

I had my back pressed against a cold refrigerator in the appliance showroom. I was starting to get the hang of this disturbing version of hide and seek, but I was getting pretty tired of being the one hiding all the time.

I could hear the subtle, deep-throated clicking of the creature as it made its slow pursuit up the aisles, meticulously searching. It knew I was here, they always did. I could see the arch of its back over high shelves and its gangly limbs clinging to beams to keep its balance.

I held my hands over my mouth and tried to steady my breath as the creature made its clumsy advanced. A viscous sludge oozed from its skin sounding like tar when it dripped to the floor. The sludge, eating away at everything it touched like corrosive Piranha Solution. It smelled of hot Florida dumpster. Like burnt tire rubber, warm beer and melted plastic with the nose-curling sourness of spoiled food. I could feel the muscles in my gut sizing, threatening to eject the dry cereal I shoveled into my mouth this morning. 

The refrigerators rattled as I saw a meaty clawed hand the size of a large dog cling to their tops followed by the sound of ragged breath. The smell grew heavier as the hand slapped from one fridge to another until it settled atop of mine. It sat there just long enough to wonder if I’d been found before it, along with the smell, vanished entirely.

*Oh thank God…*

I waited for my heart to move from hammering in my throat to back in my chest. I peek my head out from behind the fridge to see no one. I was alone again. 

“Management nearly got you this time, man.”

Or at least I thought I was. I about pissed myself and quickly turned around to find a mannequin standing within shoe throwing distance in an ugly sweater and pair of fitted khakis. 

“FRED! Jesus Christ! I told you to start announcing yourself!” 

“I mean, I could have. But then you would have ended up as Sheryl’s lunch.”

I know what everyone would be thinking right about now. “This guy is hiding from monsters and talking to mannequins, he’s probably nuts,” and yeah… you’d probably be right. But consider this first— I work retail. I deserve to be crazy, so reserve all judgments for now. 

The mannequin, Fred, swung his body from side to side, stiffly waddling over to me.

“What’d you do to make her mad this time? Breath too loud? Sit too long?”

I stood up and dusted the lint bunnies from my pants. “Fidgeting with a sign stickytab…” I said.

“Yeah, that’ll do it. She got Juan earlier, poor bastard didn’t even see her coming.” 

Fred looked like a life-sized Ken Doll and spoke with a New York accent. His mouth never moved though. It was permanently fixed into a smile, filled with a row of perfectly straight, white painted teeth. But his eyes… those moved. They seemed to follow you. It was like one of those spooky old paintings where the eyes seemed to track you around the room, no matter where you went. It was a little creepy.

“Donkey tattoo Juan? I liked him. He didn’t give me as many stink-eyes as the others.”

“Well, he’s got no eyes to stink with anymore. Squashed like a watermelon, KER-SPLAT. Sheryl didn’t even stop to lookit’em.”

“Yeesh…”

“Better him than us.”

“Us? It won’t eat you. It'd be like eating a plastic bead,” I said as I began to re-face the water filters again. 

“I mean. Yeah, but I’d give her indigestion for you if she ever does!” Fred made an attempt at putting his hands on his hips with an awkward, rubbery squeak.

“How noble of you.”

If Fred had been endowed with the gift face muscles, he’d probably be wearing a shit-eating grin.

“It ain't easy being a Hero!”

I listened again to see if Sheryl was still around. Can never be too careful with Manager “Five Ears To The Ground” Sheryl. The screams in the distance told me it was somewhere in Household Chemicals which meant there was around six miles of store between us.

 The hellscape where I work is called Thetamart. It was supposed to be like a super shopping center, best described as if a mall and Costco had a baby. But this baby was unfortunately disfigured so horribly it broke and disregarded the laws of the reality we live in. All that to say, ThetaMart is like a retail affair baby if H.P. Lovecraft was the mistress. It’s full of impossible creatures, monsters and products an insane person couldn’t even conjure in their strangest fever dreams. 

Everything inside of ThetaMart is white— a stark, sterile white from floor to ceiling, with shelves that stand several tall men high. There’s the lingering smell of cheap plastic in here, and the only thing piercing the constant mind-numbing silence is the distant sound of tinny elevator music that seemingly comes from everywhere and nowhere. The tune feels so familiar, just not enough to place or follow. If that wasn’t chilling enough, the screams that abruptly break the silent hours when management is close by is frightening enough to start the heart of a dead man. 

Which is why it was so strange when first, a momentary blanket of silence fell over the store, like what they do for memorials. It was an oppressive, drawn out stillness before being broken by a voice erupting from the invisible speakers. 

“Max, there is a call waiting for you on—” The page was followed by a shrill garble that sounded like Jabba The Hutt was choking on rocks before it went silent again. 

I looked at Fred. 

“What the fuck was that?”

“You got a page man, you gotta answer it.”

“How? There’s no phone in this department.”

The nearest working phone that I knew of was in electronics which was about six or so miles away. I'd just cut my losses and throw myself from the highest shelf. There was no way I'd make it without being maimed or eaten before getting there. As absurd as this place is, I don't think trekking over Toys and finding a Playskool Elmo & Friends Smartphone would cut it either. 

“Well it won’t stop paging you till you answer it, and trust me. You’re gonna wanna answer it.”

“What… What happens if I don't?”

He doesn’t respond and instead stares silently for a moment. 

“…Hello?”

He lunged forward and snatched my phone.

“Hey!” 

I swiped to get it back but Fred was quick for a guy with limited mobility.

“Sorry pal, you’ll thank me later!” 

He began to speed-waddle away. I actually had to run after him just to keep up, which was impressive considering his legs only moved in two directions. 

“Fred! Fred! I can’t— I can’t leave without my—“ 

He disappeared, heading deeper into the store. 

“Aw man…”

Considering the short time I’ve been here I’ve learned a lot about this place and how it operates, sort of. In the grand scheme of it all, I probably know absolutely dip-squat. But because of these dubious guidelines, I’ve made it far enough to share this. 

1. Stay away from the other associates. They may look like people or potential survival partners. Perhaps the last anchor you could hold steadfast to sanity with. But they are absolutely, definitely not. Far from it. Avoid them at all costs. They might have been human once, but they certainly aren’t anymore. 

2. The areas that turn yellow, or the zones of the store that are more decrepit than the other areas and are more prone to Management activity. That’s what Sheryl is. The denizens of this place are known as Management. The higher the status, the nastier they are.

3. Be sure to follow the first two rules no matter what. It will make life a lot easier.

Funnily enough, Fred actually bestowed upon me a lot of the knowledge I’ve accumulated about this place. Which pissed me off even more when I had to actively choose to break all three rules.

“Fred! This isn’t funny! I don’t have time for your crap!”

I continued walking at a brisk pace, following the distant taps of hollow dress shoes. All around me the fluorescent lights became yellower, more tarnished. They flicker and hum overhead and some blown out completely. 

There are pillows and overturned furniture, soggy boxes, and broken glass strewn about the linoleum. The smell of stale old couch stuffing and mildew penetrated the air and hung like a wet blanket making it slightly uncomfortable to breathe.

I walk beneath the hanging sign saying in bold blue letters, *Home and Decor*. 

Oh crap. I found myself reconsidering how important my phone really was. I could just buy a new one. Sure, the other one isn’t even paid off yet. But is it really worth being eaten or squashed or… whatever it is monsters do to people? A scrawny college student sustained purely off of ramen and espresso can’t taste that good, right? Just when I talked myself into abandoning my phone with every puppy pic of my dog I had ever taken, I felt eyes fixed on me. I had been spotted.

“Maxwell…” *Shit*. 

I very slowly turn around to find looming over me, was Nosferatu. 

Well, he’s not actually Nosferatu, but he could have had me fooled if this were a Spirit Halloween. 

“Ralph. You look uh… alive, today.”

Ralph’s skin clung to his skeletal frame like wet toilet paper. The white of his eyes were as sunken and yellow as the lights around us, and his apron identical to mine covered in various stains of several concerning colors. I tried my best not to stare at them as he leaned down and hovered closer to my face. 

His irises glistened a gross, milky white with something swirling behind their film. 

“Why aren’t you in your department, Maxwell?”

Now would’ve been an amazing time to be great at lying, but I wasn’t much of a talker at the best of times.

“Uh…I was getting…” 

My eyes began to frantically dart around for a sign or—

“Milk!”

“…milk?”

“Yeah, milk! Can’t have my bones breaking on the job right?” 

I made an attempt at a playful punch, but Ralph was *so* much squishier than he should have been. I felt my stomach lurch when my fist sunk through his arm and into his torso like a damn slime-filled stress ball. Accept instead of alleviating stress he makes it so, so much worse.

He stared at me for a moment in unimpressed silence. Ralph was a supervisor. Not only that, but I managed to piss him off twice in my first week. Needless to say, he’s far from my biggest fan. He also makes me really uncomfortable.

“You are heading in the wrong direction…”

“O-oh really? Sheesh, I’m still getting turned around. Three weeks and I still have no sense of direction. Typical Max!” 

I took a step back. 

“Well I better be on my way now. Looks like I’ve got a ways to walk.” 

“I’ll call for assistance.”

“NO–“ *Lying isn't working, try being honest-*

“Why is that…”

“You’re gross—” *Too Honest!*

He said nothing.

“I mean, grossly understaffed! You look like you are barely holding on with these dang staff shortages right? I don’t want to impose!” *Nailed it.* 

He continued to eyeball me for a tiny eternity. All I could do was stand there and sweat. *Maybe if I don’t move he will leave… like a T-Rex*. Unfortunately, Ralph didn't follow predatory chicken rules. He took a step back and very, very slowly started opening his mouth. It stretched and cracked like the Conjuring House with osteoporosis. His teeth were rotting and twisted, and his tongue was a sickly purple color. If I wasn’t running on three hours of sleep and two RedBulls, I probably would have started screaming like a kid in a haunted Chuck E. Cheese. Just as Ralph took in an impressively deep breath to shriek or howl or whatever awful sound the supervisors make to summon managers, I saw my phone fly out of seemingly nowhere with the momentum of a bullet. It twirled wildly like an IOS throwing star and very effectively caved in the right side of Ralph's face. 

He fell to the floor with a tragic plopping sound that reminded me of a soggy banana peel landing in a puddle.

“BOOYAH!”

Fred sprung out from behind a loveseat and started doing an awkward victory dance.

“Shoulda tried out for the Yankees!”

“Hopefully you have some reflexes to go with that throwing arm! You’re lucky I don’t do the same to you for running off with my phone!” 

“Aww come on Maxy, I had to get you moving somehow.” 

I didn’t respond. Instead, I leaned down and plucked my phone from Ralph’s caved-in dome. It came free with a moist snick. Thankfully there was no grey matter or blood, just a gross and slightly greasy film where his skin and my phone made contact. 

“If I have to touch one more bodily secretion that isn’t mine one more time this week….”

Fred slowly stuck his foot into Ralph’s side and laughed when the old man made a sound like a deflating sponge cake. 

“Eh, you get used to it. Now let’s get this show back on the road.” 

“Uh, no. I need to go back to appliances where it's safe. I haven't even been over here for five minutes and Ralph was ready to hand me a pink-slip from life.”

Fred somehow managed to blow a raspberry without his lips moving and pat my shoulder.

“He wishes he had the clearance to do that. All he can do is hoop and holler. Ain't that right, Ralphy?” 

Ralph, now drooling, said nothing and only continued to make more squishy deflating noises.

“Is he ok?”

“Oh yeah, I saw him get crushed by a shelf once. He’s even been sat on by Bonnie and still got up. He was totally fine too. I’m sure he enjoyed getting sat on more though, sly dog.”

“Wow–”

“I know right? He’s all about that bass. I respect that.”

“Ew, n-no I mean does he just not die or… does he not have bones?”

He looked back down at Ralph, then back at me. 

“Well he's got somethin’.” 

“How the heck did he get a squash-proof card?”

“Ha! What, you want one too? Trust me, you don’t want what he’s got. Shit’s probably terminal.”

“What’s that mean?”

Fred did something that looked like he was trying to shrug. Trying and failing. He also had the nerve to take another swipe at me in an attempt to grab my phone again. 

I jerked it away just in time and slapped his plastic hand away. 

“If you don’t cut it out!- Why did you bring me here anyway!? You hate Home and Decor.” 

Fred looked like he was about to say something, seemed to buffer then looked back down at Ralph one last time. 

“Well, my original plan was to ask Grandpa Pudding here if he still happened to have a phone but I’d doubt he’d tell us now. Guess we go with plan B.” 

“What’s plan B?” I asked. Fred answered this by taking another swipe at my phone. I stuck it in the air as high as I could manage. 

“HEY! God you’re worse than a three-year-old today! What the hell man?!” 

I’ve seen Fred do some pretty weird stuff, aside from the living mannequin thing. All it took was the fraction of a second for me to blink for Fred to be gone with my fucking phone again. I looked at my empty hand, then over my shoulder at him booking it down the aisles. Before I could sputter the creative string of swears I had threaded together just for Fred’s ears the store was plunged into silence again.

“Uh-oh.” It lasted a few seconds longer than before.

“Max there is a call waiting for you on—”

The horrible sound it made was louder. So much louder this time. 

I slapped my hands over my ears and could feel the sound vibrating in my chest. It only lasted for a moment, but that's all it took to leave me with an annoying ring in my ears. *So that's what he meant.* 

Now begrudgingly coming to terms that this shift was going to be a probably very dangerous trek across the store, I looked back at the now deflated Ralph. Within moments of being clocked with my phone, he looked like a snake was running around in a human suit and shed him at some point. I almost wanted to feel bad, but he was a dick and I thought better of it. I instead opted to start going through his pockets. 

"Let’s see… food tokens, a box cutter, and some new blades. I’m sure those will come in handy." 

I had made the mistake of losing my pocket knife on my first day to the disembodied appendages that live under the shelves in aisles 12 and 16. Don’t ask— that’s a story for another time. I clicked up the blade and the thing extended to almost four inches long. 

“How many newbies like me have you used this thing on, Ralph? Cause I certainly haven’t seen you open any boxes.” 

I stood, gave him one last squishy nudge with my foot, and went to go find that stupid mannequin…

The Home and Decor department almost reminded me a bit of a decrepit thrift store. The musty smell of old, used things and old, used people. Ralph fit in perfectly with the washed-out background that was bathed in piss yellow. But I also couldn’t help but wonder, why did this side of the store look as awful as it did? There were even water stains on the fiberglass ceiling tiles way up above. Everything I’ve seen of the store looked awful in some capacity, but the level of awfulness here was borderline ridiculous. 

My job here had me stuck in a different department every shift, something referred to as a *Floater*. Basically, I was being trained in a bit of everything. The one who hired me told me that I would have this position until I found my place. I thought that statement was strange, because I was only supposed to be here for about four months. At one point I was certain I would stay longer. Twenty dollars an hour for a retail gig sounded like cake, but now I find myself wondering if I’ll even last that long. 

“You’ve been standing there for an awfully long time, Maxwell.” 

The sound of a woman’s voice hung itself in the air and arrested my attention, it was enough to snap me back into the moment so hard I nearly got whiplash. Wet and broken glass crunched under my feet as I spun. I pull out my new box cutter, holding it out in front of me like I could actually fight something if I needed to. 

“It’s Max. And a guy can’t take a second to collect his thoughts?”

“Sure you can, but standing in the middle of an aisle muttering to yourself might be considered a little…crazy, wouldn’t you say?” 

A massive spider, as big as a Volkswagen Beetle slowly peered over the shelves that had been covered in ugly pillows and rested atop of it. She had a shiny black body and long, sharp legs that still shimmered like obsidian spears in the low light and easily extended around 17 feet. Her eight eyes were a deep red, and her front two legs ending in unmistakably human hands with painted, manicured nails. Janis, from what I understand, is one of the vendors. She’s also one of the few creatures in here I don’t find myself running and screaming from, shockingly. She’s just kind of a bitch.

“Considering the things that go on here I’m not exactly concerned with what uh… people think of me,” I say slowly aiming the box cutter away. The giant arachnid almost seemed to smile smugly at me from her perch, her mandibles moving and twitching as she spoke. 

“Oh, not enjoying your position? You seemed so enthusiastic a few weeks ago.”

“Why in God’s name do you think I would be enjoying this place? I just had a run-in with Ralph I’ll be trying to scrub from my mind for the next three weeks! And I had no idea the shit I’d have to deal with a few weeks ago! This is entrapment! It’s illegal! ”

Janis tapped her perfectly polished claws against the metal shelf like an irritated Disney villain, making annoying tink sounds.

“Still on that are we? Not the brightest color in the box. But a busted-broke college student down on his luck with $5 to his name… people like you thrive in extreme situations. You adapt. Not because you want to, but because you are in the unique position of not having any other choice.”

“I don’t want to adapt or change or anything! I just wanted a job!! Not to end up with a new list of phobias or nearly be killed every time I clock in! Twenty bucks an hour isn’t worth dying for!”

“Well seeing as how you were hired here, no one will miss you if did bite the dust. So make the best of the situation, learn. Maybe bitch less, it will make you more likable.”

“... Ouch.”

“It’s true.”

“I know…I know it’s true. But you didn’t have to say it.”

“ThetaMart, as well as being a space between, has the ability to bring out something in people they would rather not look at. It changes them into something more—” She looked at a moldy pillow sitting beside her on the shelf, she huffed while pushing it away and it went tumbling to the floor with a wet plop. 

“More compelling, I'd say. You get to break the monotony and forget how small you are.”

“I am perfectly comfortable with how small I am, thanks.”

“What a winner. I’m sure your girlfriend shares the same sentiment.”

“Was there a point to you Grudge-crawling up there, or are you just here to harass me?”

“I like having the high ground, and I wanted to give you a bit of friendly advice.”

“Well don’t leave me in suspense Obi-Wan.”

“Who’s that?”

“He’s— …never mind. What is it?”

She sighed and slowly lowered herself down the shelf, creaking under her weight as she did so she lowered her voice to a whisper.

“You know how they tell you to stop and smell the roses?.”

“Yeah?”

She reached her hand down into my apron pocket and took out one of the food tokens I had lifted from Ralph. They were made of tarnished brass. 

“You may want to skip it this time where you’re going. As for these…” She examined one of them closely.

“Heads or tails, little bug?” 

“Uh…t-tails.” I said. She hummed and flicked the coin into the air, I watched the coin owl-eyed as it hovered above us for just a moment before she snatched it and slapped it down on the outer side of her hand. I shuttered reflexively at the quick motion, then felt embarrassed for doing so. Janis seemed to grin in amusement, peeked under her hand at the coin then extended it to me. 

“Tails. Luck sways in your favor today. Use it wisely and you might see the end of your shift.” she said.   

“You can’t really determine that with a coin. Luck isn’t real.” 

“You are really going to look a giant talking spider in her face and say–” she lowered her voice a few octaves and said in the universal guy voice, you know the one “Luck isn’t real.” She did have a point. But to accept luck was real, was to accept my luck up until this point was actually kind of shit and I had no idea why or if I had any way to change it.

“Well if luck is real…it’d be nice to catch a break. But I’m not saying it is.”

“Whatever you say, Floater.”

She sighed and rubbed all eight of her eyes. 

“That mannequin wanted me to pass this on to you…” She pulled out a pair of pink flower clippers from seemingly nowhere.

“Go to Garden & Live Goods. He’s waiting for you there. Like I said, avoid smelling the roses.”

She handed the clippers to me and tisked.

“Dumbass.”

“Like, roses specifically or–.”

“Get to steppin’ I have work to do.”

 I eyed the clippers. They made a satisfying snipping sound when I pulled the handles.

“Thanks.”

“Don’t mention it. Really.” 

In typical spider fashion, she crept back up the shelf and disappeared over the other side. If every spider is as rude as she is I don’t know if I feel quite as bad as I used to when I would bring a shoe down on them. 

I stuck the clippers in my apron, and began to head in the direction I was pretty sure was garden.

[lilyoffandoms]

You can do it. Even when you may doubt yourself. Even when things may feel overwhelming. Pause and breathe. Remember how far you've come. Trust yourself. You are so very capable, and you're going to do amazing! 💛 (PS- don't forget to drink some water)

Blades Drabble - Mal x Daenarya (and boys)

A little thank you gift for being amazingly you and also for @choicesmonthlychallenge To Be or Not To Be event. This is To Be but I took the idea of candy hearts a step further because I do so love me some good cheesy puns and I think Mal would as well.

Warnings & A/N: None only the best of Valentine’s Day puns.

A stuffed bear beside her bed as she woke was a pleasant surprise and the little scrawled note beside it brought a smile to her face.

I can’t bear to be without you.

She smiled as she made their bed and set the creature in the center of it against the pillows and made her way through the orphanage to the kitchen where she found him and their boys making breakfast for those that were straggling in.

The boys ran to give her a hug before each attempted to shove a handmade card into her hand.

“Read mine first,” Lydo said.

“No, mine. Mine’s better. You can actually read it,” Rayden said and placed his card atop Lydo’s in Daenarya’s hand.

“Boys,” she laughed, “I’ll read both but how about I pick randomly?” She placed them behind her back and shuffled them around before pulling Lydo’s first.

He grinned triumphantly at his brother and stuck out his tongue.

“What kind of flowers do you never give on Valentine’s Day?” she read.

“Cauliflowers!” he giggled the answer as she opened the card and found a picture of cauliflower encircled by hearts.

She laughed at his enthusiasm before opening Rayden’s card and read, “What did one oar say to the other?”

“Don’t look,” he stopped her from opening the card. “You have to guess.”

“Can I interest you in a little row-mance?” she guessed.

“Awww, how’d you know?” he pouted.

“Because it’s something your dad would say,” Threep rolled his eyes as he passed the three and snitched a pancake off the plate before slipping under the table with it.

“Thank you boys,” she smiled as she pulled them into a big hug. “Now get some breakfast before Threep eats it all.”

She kissed each of their foreheads before slipping her arms around Mal who she found at the stove.

“Thanks for the bear,” she whispered into the kiss on his neck.

“I have a joke for you too,” he grinned.

“There are children present, keep it semi-appropriate,” she giggled as he turned in her arms.

“Promise I’ll save the really good ones for tonight,” he smirked. “But for now, what flower gives the most kisses on Valentines Day?”

He waited for her answer and she just shook her head and laughed, “I don’t know. What flower?”

“Tulips,” he wiggled his eyebrows as he chuckled.

“Gods, it’s a good thing you’re cute,” she said and kissed him.

“You love my impeccable sense of humor. Why else would you reward me for it?” he grinned between their kisses.

She stopped kissing him and stepped away with a smile on her face.

She watched as a few more kids stumbled into the kitchen and saw the plate of pancakes dwindling.

“I’ll whisk up some more,” she said. “Hand me that whisk.”

“You can whisk me off my feet any day,” he joked as he handed her the whisk and stole a quick kiss.

“You are impossible. I don’t know if I will be able to handle you and this today.”

“Don’t go bacon my heart now.”

“Please stop,” Threep said as he poked his head out from beneath the table in search of more food which Lydo started to provide.

“Nope,” Mal called out. “No more food for him until he fulfills his part of the bargain.

Daenarya looked between them with a wry smile on her face.

“Well?” Mal ask Threep.

“Ugh. Fine. I want it noted that this is so undignified and below me.”

“Yeah yeah,” Mal laughed and gestured for him to get on with it.

Threep sat, as dignified as possible in front of Daenarya, and cleared his throat, “You are purr-fect to me!”

Daenarya burst out laughing and Threep scoffed and took his reward from Lydo and ducked back beneath the table, most definitely pouting.

Daenarya turned to Mal, tears still in her eyes.

“Are you a thief?” she ask. “Because you stole my heart!”

Mal gasped in delight and pulled her into his arms, kissing her fiercely.

“That may be the sexiest thing you’ve ever said to me.”

[geewintg]

man barbie movie was such a blast

we watched barbie movie in the cinemas with my friend group yesterday and rn I'm sick but I have this thought in my mind about how the plot progressed throughout the story

SPOILERS AHEAD ABOUT THE BARBIE MOVIE so if you haven't watched it and plan to, please turn away... if not, you can save this and get back to it later after you watch the movie :)

okay so now that's out of the way

so my friends and I have this habit of when watching movies, we would make comments about it on the way and of course, considering that we are in the cinema (public), we did it as respectfully as we could without causing any disturbance. We were seated at the very back row and on the right column (cinema has three group columns) and we don't have anyone seated at the rest of the front row seats (everyone literally chose to seat in the middle). We were very enthusiastic and made a lot of cross-over references as two of my friends are huge literature nerds with one taking it as their college course rn

we got to the point of the movie where the executives of the barbie company (mattel) were on their way to barbie land and I had a realization while trying to guess the next sequence of the movie's plot. Considering how they showed us the pattern of people in power in the barbie world (barbies) and in the real world (men) are in complete opposite, I thought the next step would be the executives trying to fix the chaos that was caused by both ken and barbie crossing to see the real world because if kens ruled barbie world, this would cause an effect to the real world also following it, reversing the gender roles which these executives (that are all men) would be replaced by women to be in power. This also makes sense because fiction (barbie world) is usually created to be an outlet, or alternate of what the real world was set to be.

Well of course it would be an interesting take but this would fell through because then I realized, mattel didn't care about ken that much and only focused on barbie which caused the leeway for ken to bring back the system of kens ruling barbie land. Their only goal here was to set the barbie land back to normal (which in this case, they should erase any hint of the real world in barbie land and closing the borders between two realms, THAT WAS THE THEIR GOAL) BUT they didn't know what ken learned about the real world because they believed he wouldn't make that much of an impact BECAUSE KEN DIDN'T MATTER AS MUCH (and just like that, emphasizes what men thought of women's roles play in the real world) THEY EVEN MADE A JOKE ABOUT THIS TOWARDS THE END OF THE MOVIE

"and so the kens gained some power to be in the council- well not as much as the barbies but slowly and surely they will manage to get their equal footing much as women are in the real world..." -narrator (not the accurate thing but it's somewhere along the lines)

they ALWAYS have that parallelism

okay but going back to the topic, I know the idea doesn't suit to be the real antagonistic mindset of why the executives were there but it was a fun inference to be an underlying motive in my part. It's like a little trinket left behind that waterfall you know? and it was fun sharing this idea to my friends as well, the faces they made as we sat in a fastfood restaurant while I told them about it.

They were like, "oh... oh" and it fills my heart. And I hope with this little silly ramble, it gets to you too :D

[mellophase]

Post-Mortem: My Heart Bled Out At Prudential Center (A True Story of Music and Human Connection)

I went to MCR’s first show in Newark a few weeks ago. I travelled over six hundred miles (something I didn’t really realize until after the fact, somehow, and I was appalled at myself for doing it) to see them in their home state. I’ve had some time to process the experience and recover from flying there and back and being awake for thirty-two hours because EWR was way too cold to sleep in, and I want to just write down the experience and some things I came away with because I’m not quite sure it was all real. This is super fucking long so I’m including a break. Hope you enjoy!

It was quiet the morning I left. No one besides I, my partner, Ticketmaster, and God knew where I was going that morning. My brother knew I had tickets, but didn’t know when I was going. It was stupid in hindsight-- Newark isn’t necessarily the kindest city in New Jersey nor the US, and I’d never been there on my own before. My mother knew I would be out of town, but she thought I’d be a two hour drive away, not a two hour flight. I’m old enough to make my own decisions, of course, but even at 20 years old, she’d never be comfortable with me going to Jersey. I went down to my car and couldn’t even manage to turn the radio on. It was 4:30 in the morning. The sun hadn’t even risen yet. I felt anxiety swell as I pulled into the economy lot at the airport and killed the engine. My headlights stayed on for a minute, illuminating the empty spot in front of me. I had passing thoughts about who I would call if I somehow locked my keys in my car or I left my headlights on by mistake and my car battery died. I dismissed them quickly, “keys, wallet, phone-ing” myself till I felt sure that I actually remembered and then it was dark except for the streetlights. 

The shuttle ride to my terminal was quiet other than a man across from me making jokes with the driver (he and his wife were going to Savannah, to a beach, and told me I’d like Newark if I was a city bird. I am not, but it was sweet of them to say.) TSA was unremarkable and uneventful, and I sat in concourse B to do my makeup. I had a little drawstring bag with all the essentials someone could need-- eyeshadow, liner, phone charger, ear buds, a sketchbook, granola bars, and my wallet. I had flown alone so many times before, made some little excursions across a few tri-states, but even I could tell this one was different. I texted my partner the whole two hours before my flight took off, trying hard not to chew my nails and chip the shockingly even black polish I’d so carefully put on while watching the Georgia livestreams Sunday night. I held my breath through the entire taxi process until we took off in the air, a solid 7:00 in the morning, Eastern Standard Time. The sun was just starting to rise, and I was enjoying the soft pinks and purples of the sky. The photos could never do it justice. Nor could it do the bright pink of the sun justice when the man in the seat next to me (14 B, a sweet guy whose wife and son were a couple rows ahead of us) drew my attention to it. I spent most of my time looking out the window. It was the first time I’d flown on a clear day and could actually see the world pass by. There was nothing below me I recognized besides the Appalachian Mountains as we passed them, and it made me smile to see them, knowing I’d be leaving them behind for a day. It was quickly replaced by awe once I saw the familiar landscape of New York City, a sight I hadn’t beheld with my own eyes since I was 16. Then Newark appeared soon after. I held my breath again as we landed at 9:38 AM, and a swiftly turned off Airplane Mode to text my partner to let them know I was safe. 

The walk after that was a blur-- departing terminal B, a very kind staff member helping me figure out exactly where I’d have to transfer to get to Newark Penn Station (and texting my partner a quick “Fuck Chicago” because everyone in EWR was more helpful than anyone in O’Hare ever was in all the times I’ve been), and then I was finally on the train to Newark. I could see Prudential Center out the window as we passed, and I felt my heart in my throat. It was so large it was like a beacon.

I stepped off into Penn station, and was immediately hit with the smell that only large cities seem to have-- the smell of exhaust, sewage, and grit. It was such a difference from where I grew up: clean mountain breezes, humidity, and honeysuckle permeating the air so thickly it was sickening. I remember murmuring to myself as soon as I got off the train: “This is insane.” 

Then again as I stepped out of the station: “This is insane.” 

Again as I walked down Market Street: “This is insane.” 

And once more as I saw Prudential Center across the street: “This is insane.”

To this day, I don’t think I’ve uttered those three words more than I did that day.

I was horrendously early, especially for someone with a seated ticket, so I grabbed a coffee before I headed over toward the venue. I met a girl who was also attending the show (she was from Georgia, and she was so kind). We walked over to the venue together, but she was waiting in the GA line, so I bid her farewell. I sat at the benches by Ford Tower, watching hockey players enter and exit the building and drew little nonsense drawings in my sketchbooks (Frank in his outfit from Revenge, Lunchbox (the dog), and Gerard with iced coffee) before tweeting The Homeless Gospel Choir asking for drawing ideas. They asked me to draw their band, and I did in about 40 minutes. I’d only brought pencils with me, so it was sketchy and a little rough, but they loved it anyway. I found out they edited the drawing to make the lines stand out more, and posted it to their Twitter account. By this point, it wasn’t even noon. Still six hours and some change to kill before doors opened.

It was then someone I had seen sitting by the corner came up to me. Dorian|Kate. He was one of the people I remember the most that day because we spent around five hours together just chatting. She was kind. Asked if I minded him smoking around me, I didn’t but I didn’t smoke (but totally asked for a cigarette hours later, and she made sure it wasn’t my first because “I refuse to give someone their first one”). He drove three hours to be there, and they were an artist. We talked about our favorite albums, how we found MCR, the people important to us, and all sorts of things. (She follows me here now and if you’re reading this-- hello! I hope you made it home safe). He drew ‘Very Much Alive’ on my neck for me and laughed when I made a joke about how that was the most homoerotic experience I’d had. I wrote on her arms too, but I don’t remember what she asked me to do. He gave a homeless woman (who we found out was named Tammy) money for her birthday, and spoke to her in the most kind and understanding way I have ever seen. I was fascinated. I am always nervous around strangers for the most part, and I know she is a kinder person that I ever could have been. I wouldn’t have helped (partially because I wasn’t able to), but she didn’t hesitate in the slightest.

I waited with him in the GA line for a while, making sure I wasn’t numbered. I was there to have fun. I met a couple of girls, friends from out of the country (one from London who was just there to drop off and support her friend who was born in Egypt, but now lives in the UAE. They met at a music festival in 2016, and have been friends ever since!), a girl from Newark, and another from New York. I said hi to someone I knew from Twitter. The hours passed quickly, and when I was able to find the energy to speak, I was able to make some wonderful connections with the lovely people around me. I even got to meet three members of The Homeless Gospel Choir: Derek, Maura, and Megan! I gave them my drawing, and they gave me a sticker (and a hug. Derek asked if he could before he did it, which I greatly appreciate because I don’t usually like being touched) in turn. I learned they were from my hometown, and Derek jokingly said I should meet them for wings when they were back in town, and I told them they knew how to reach me now, so just say the word.

As lines tend to do, GA had to move, and so did my friends. It was still another hour until doors opened, so I said goodbye for the time being, and went to go wait by the doors. There was a small group of people sitting by the steps who let me join in on their little circle (who I found out later were Jo, Joy, Lizard, and KJ-- artists I had long admired and appreciated for how they captured the band. Though I’d been following KJ for a lot longer for a piece of Hozier art they’d made years ago. There were also a couple of people I don’t remember the names of because I was very nervous and overwhelmed. I was only able to remember everyone else’s names because I had known of them before I barely heard their names because I'm a little hard of hearing and couldn't focus fast enough to lip read). We chatted back and forth, and I was so nervous I could have thrown up because I was around people I admired a fair bit. I met another man, Brian, who they were all familiar with, and he was kind to me as well. We didn’t speak much, but his eyes were as kind as the people I sat in out little circle with. I was gifted a pin, and they let me take an extra one for my partner who couldn’t attend the concert due to them living overseas. Every one of them was all gentle smiles and kind hearts.

A staff member for Prudential Center announcing that backpacks would not be allowed in the center made my blood run cold, and my heart weigh heavy in my chest. What money I had on me (I had been budgeting before the concert. Saving what I could to buy a shirt, my train tickets, parking at the airport, and some small food items to keep me from having a blood sugar crash. I’d only been able to go to the concert due to a Delta gift card I’d been given for my 20th birthday and the ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ option with Ticketmaster) was all in cash, and it was $8 compared to the ten I needed to buy a locker. This was it. The show was over before it had even started. I very, very quietly asked if anyone in the group intended to get a locker, but already was pulling up the NJ Transit app to pull up my return ticket to EWR and check the train schedules. There had been no intention to, but Jo offered to get one. That kindness was the whole reason I get to write about this experience now, and I don’t think they will ever understand just how much that means to me.

We stood in line once they started directing us to line up at the doors, and we chattered for a little longer, though I was mostly listening at this point. We said quick goodbyes when they opened, and I agreed to meet them outside the center after the concert, and then it was just another hour before the show.

I found my seat quickly enough (Section 20, row 14, seat 13), and some kind strangers took my photo in front of the stage before the show. I was texting my partner again, though it was on and off as it was well past 11PM in the UK, and they were exhausted. Once they were safely asleep, I meet my seat neighbor, Julianna. She was local, and this was her first time seeing MCR. Her fiancé was in the pit that night, and she got tickets a lot later than he did, so she was running solo that night in her own way, the same as me. Again, there was back and forth conversation, and I learned that she was a speech therapist, she loved Anthony Green and Circa Survive, and that her fiancé had a band at one point in time and was touring, but was now working in music management. I told her about my partner, how I got back into My Chem (DM’ing my now partner on Twitter back in July of last year when I barely knew them asking “You talk about this DILF [Cherri Cola] a lot. What is he from?”), and about my experiences so far that day. 

As The Homeless Gospel Choir took the stage, I let myself get lost in the music. Half their set was introduced with “this is a protest song” and I couldn’t help but smile. I couldn’t hear all the words clearly, the unfamiliarity of them making it a little hard for me to understand, but I could feel their energy, even though I wasn’t right in front of them. Then that little fifteen minute break before Thursday took the stage. I’d seen Thursday two weeks before at a tiny little venue a state over from mine. Same as last time I saw them, I didn’t know a single word, but I still enjoyed everything they brought to the stage. I was familiar with them though digging deeper into the origins of MCR as well as learning about LS Dunes and The Future Violents. I was enjoying the set, and then I felt my heart cinch as I heard the dedication Geoff made before a song:

“This song is for the human rights of everyone in this arena. This song is for reproductive rights. This song is for the right to express your gender and sexuality in a safe way.” 

I was never a part of the punk scene in my city. I did so many extracurriculars in high school I never left. I spent 13 hours a day in that building five days a week, and spent weekends there or on the road for band, theater, and speech and debate. But I wondered, had I been involved, if I would have met people like him. People who were so relentlessly strange, and honest, and good. Pepple who had more compassion for their fellow humans than I have ever seen.

The set continued on, they were beautiful— and then they hit me with two more gut punches. One was bringing our Gerard for Jet Black New Year, followed by Anthony Green joining then toward the end of their set. I watched in awe, and my hands were shaking. Not only was awe present, but a distinct feeling of warmth (and a tinge of jealousy— getting to play in a band with your best friends is always something I've ached for, and now they get to play with each other and I felt a little sick). I wasn't inconsolable, but I was quiet during thay half hour before MCR took the stage. I talked to Julianna, cheered for vacuum guy, but I hardly remember it all.

When the static started, I felt my gut heave. I had barely anything left in my stomach, but I felt like I was going to loose everything I had in my body regardless. Bones. Blood. Internal organs. Everything was going good. be ripped out of me. Even as I heard the opening riff of Foundations I felt that tug. I felt a pull so deep inside of me. I had a distinct remembrance of telling people how much performing with a group meant to me. How connected I felt to this group of people. It was overwhelming to feel that not only with the group performing, but the entire arena itself. Everyone was cheering, crying, waiting with bated breath to see what they would do next, singing, screaming— it was breathtaking. I was hit with one moment of sheer joy after another as the songs shifted, even though I'd heard them all before, seeing them in this light was heaven.

Once more, I felt myself choking up as Gerard invited a friend to the stage. Geoff entering for Best Day Ever made that deep, longing ache settle in my chest again. It wasn't a song I knew well, but it was beautiful all the same to watch him and Gerard interact. Men who had known each other longer than I'd been alive. How much that affection and admiration was so very clear even after all this time. By the time they reached the encore, I was a mess. I was silent through Demolition Lovers, and cried my way through The Kids From Yesterday ("This is a song that we play just for us"). Ray's solo had me entirely entranced, and I could feel every emotion from the past day pour out of me. I was so deathly convinced that I was dying. The weight in my chest and the pounding of my skull from my screaming could have been enough to knock me to the floor. I envisioned the blood pouring from my hands, my eyes, my stomach. All because of the way I felt my heart and view had been ripped away and rearranged in the span of an hour and a half. I was silent as I left the center, giving Jo only several quiet thank you's as they returned my bag to me, and then walking to the station. I talked once I got to my platform. A lot. I talked the whole 45 minutes, and I listened in turn. I met some students from New York. A parent who said they received the ticket as a gift, and who said they were so thankful to be able to see them live and listen to them again after a period of trauma where they weren't able to.

Then the train home. Trying to sleep in EWR despite how cold it was. Silence for hours upon hours until TSA opened. I walked through, and just sat at my gate, getting up occasionally to make sure I didn't loose blood flow. Then called my partner once they woke up for the day. The flight home was equally as uneventful, but I had time to think. A lot. I thought about everyone I had met. Everyone who had shown kindness to me and others. Everyone who experienced what I had.

The spell was broken for a little while as I returned to my home state. Especially because I saw the mother of one of my acquaintances from high school. She'd known me since I was a soft, round 12 year old, and here she was seeing me covered in makeup and a Mikey Fuckin Way shirt looking like I hadn't slept in days. She gave me a smile and told me "I thought that was you". The pleasantries we exchanged were brief, but the haze returned as soon as I was behind the wheel of my car and alone with my thoughts again.

I walked out of that concert with more motivation than ever. I wanted to connect. To create. To bring someone solace when they need it and touch the hearts and minds of everyone I could. Even though I was exhausted, the first thing I did when I got home was pick up my guitar and wail. It wasn't good. It wasn't about being good, though, it was about the fact that if I didn't create something right that second, it would all be worth nothing. Every ounce of energy and goodness that had been pushed my way in the past 48 hours was for nothing. I finally collapsed on my bed after a while, too exhausted to do anything but succumb to the exhaustion. But it was still everything I'd ever wanted. It was my secret. One that was between me, my partner, all those strangers, MCR, and whatever god had chosen to smile down upon me enough to let me experience it all.

[roaringtwentiesstory]

Prologue - The City I Knew

It occurs to me that only God truly knows what will happen in the future. However, God would not be so kind tonight, or perhaps, in a twisted sort of way, he was.

Our story begins where it ends, at the end of a long day at work. An ornate alarm clock buzzed to live as the clock ticked to 8 PM. Wallace Reed looked up from his paperwork. His eyes needed to readjust from the black and white of his work to the dim orange tinged light of his office.

A window greeted his gaze that peered into the rest of the post office, a quaint yet highly functional space. A typewriter sat to his right, a paper still stuck in the carriage, and a stack of finished paper to the left, all stacked neatly. A city diagram hung from the wall pricked with colorful pins and threads for delivery routes. Filing cabinets order alphabetically and not a speck of dust anywhere.

“It’s that time already?” Wallace glanced at the shaking alarm. He pressed his hand over the off button and rubbed in between his eyes. Late nights were always a drag, but a necessity at that. He stood up from his chair and stretched his back. His eyes begged for sleep as he made his final clean up for the next day.

Wallace exited his office and was greeted by a coworker of his. “Whoa hey, looks like someones finally gettin’ some fresh air. I thought you slept here!” A rather blunt joke. “No actually, the papers are too small for blankets.” A rather dry response.

“Yeah,” the man behind the desk said awkwardly, “whatever you say boss.” He kicked his feet up and continued reading his paper, mumbling the words out loud to himself. Wallace made his way past the rows of desks that lined the edges of the room. He opened the main doors of the post office and was met with a cool, crisp wind and began his commute back home. The evening sun had begun to roll behind the gathering clouds to bring about the lovely night sky, annunciating the bright neon lights that adorned the city. It was a mostly quiet night, with the occasional car horn blaring in the distance. The smell of fresh diesel fumes hung low over the streets, once bustling with life. A drizzle began to fall as Wallace made his way through the city he called home.

Wallace splashed through the slowly gathering puddles, almost eager to get home and start the next day already. It was a mindset he was all too familiar with at this point. Every day felt the same: Wake up, go to work, go to bed, rinse and repeat. To anyone else it would be maddening, but to Wallace, he felt comforted by the stability his work provided. Especially when compared to his co-workers he thought, always about town looking for the next best thing.

An automobile roared past Wallace, sending a small smattering of water right under his feet. If they were going any faster, the waster would compete with the rain to see who ran the fastest. The bright yellows and vibrant blues of neon lights hummed alongside the murmur of a crowd as Wallace passed by a local theater. He stared through the glass windows to the warmly lit lobby, patrons of the show chatting and clinking glasses of wine, eagerly awaiting the beginning of the second act of their show. As much as it would have been nice to sit down and relax with some entertainment, Wallace was a man with business at the front of his mind. A passing thought about the theater and he was back in the midst of the misty streets. All of the bright city lights became a blur of hazy rainbows to Wallace as he made his way downtown. He trundled his way with a briefcase in tow through the darkening roads and before long, Wallace was mere blocks from his apartment. A quick trip through the park and he’d be home.

Something else caught his attention however. Something so bright and radiant it was hard to miss but to Wallace, just another distraction. Not tonight, as the blinding light dragged at his mind enough to finally give in. Wallace turned back down the empty party and looked upon its shining splendor. A gilded globe statue nearly 10 feet in height, with small models of the sun and moon polished in copper and iron respectively rotating around. A fountain at its feet and spotlight so bright it would give anyone a headache. ‘The Statue of Progress’ they called it, a monument to the ingenuity and prosperity of the city.

It beckoned Wallace like a moth to a flame. He stood before its grandeur, completely transfixed. A new feeling Wallace hadn’t felt in a long time. Was it hope? Comfort? Happiness? Whatever the case, Wallace had no time to ponder as he turned his back and continued home. The moth however, would not be so easily freed of distraction. A small ticking noise startled Wallace. It sounded like a clock counting the minutes go by. That couldn’t be right though, he had walked this path hundreds if not thousands of times before and never heard it before. He turned back the statue one final time.

The ticking stopped. Silence. Wallace glanced to his sides, not sure of what to do. He fidgeted in his pocket, his briefcase felt like an anchor in his hand. Before any other thought could cross his mind, a flash of yellow and white blasted his vision for a split second followed by oranges and reds, then grays and blacks. Wallace was knocked off his feet. He tumbled onto his back and nearly flipped over. The brick pavement a cold bed his back laid upon, wet with rain. He whacked his head off the ground. A horrible headache began to permeate his skull.

He looked up, hands shaking in the cold puddles next to him, his ears ringing. What remained of the statute was a mess. Gold bits and debris scattered through the park, the spotlights were shattered and blown out of place. Heavy gray smog hung low in the sky as the smoldering pile of what was was no more. Wallace couldn’t believe what he had seen, was it a dream? No it couldn’t be, the pain felt too real. His body ached all over, his head pounded with nausea. Everything felt cold. Everything felt real.

The poor moth tried to catch his breath, his heart beating so fast it might explode, but there was no remedy to cure his pain. There was no hope. No happiness. Wallace stared blankly at where once gold had shone. He flipped over onto his stomach to try and crawl away. His whole body was soaked with water as more rain continued to fall. One last attempt to reach out to anything, his vision became blurry. All that remained was the ringing of the explosion. The ringing… Ringing… Ringing…

I FINALLY GOT AROUND TO REWRITING MY PROLOGUE YIPPEE!!!

I originally wrote this back in March but even then I knew I could do better with it. This might not be the final version, but I am very happy with were it stands now (also ignore the weird bolded part, tumblrs being drunk again...)

[hwknshellfire]

jason doesn't know - eddie munson x reader

pairing: eddie x fem!reader

summary: you're seeing eddie behind jason's back and he doesn't know. yet (based on scotty doesn't know)

length: 3.1k (i got really into this omg)

warnings: 18+ minors DNI! repeated mentions of cheating, fingering, oral (f and m receiving), lots of sex references, mentions of alcohol, mentions of drugs, cursing

a.n: seriously guys this whole thing is about cheating so be warned, lots of angst, smut, pining and fluff though. also i dont think jason is this much of an asshole irl but this is just for plot. and i highly recommend listening to scotty doesn't know by lustra for this! (set during ep 1 of s4 - the hellfire club)

Scotty doesn't know that Fiona and me do it in my van every Sunday//She tells him she's in church but she doesn't go//Still she's on her knees and Scotty doesn't know…

This was the third week in a row you’d been late to meet Jason. It was Sunday and he had just finished basketball practice with his friends ready for the upcoming game. It had happened slowly. You started forgetting what time you were meant to meet up, or showing up looking thoroughly dishevelled which pissed Jason off to no end. Now, you’d simply not shown up.

He glances around the empty parking lot of school, his friends shrugging at him when he asks, “Has anyone seen Y/N?”

“I dunno, man,” one of them says noncommittally. “It’s Sunday, maybe she’s in church?”

Jason hums. Your family were religious, that was true. And sometimes you tagged along to keep up appearances, but he knew you didn’t really enjoy it too much. But you did it for your family, because you loved them. So maybe you did just forget about today and went with them to church instead. Jason chooses to believe that and decides to catch up with you tomorrow at school. He knows there’ll be a rational explanation.

You pant, breathless, as Eddie removes his fingers from your aching core. His brown eyes are blown wide with longing and he grinned at how fucked out you look already. “That good, huh?” he teases you and you roll your eyes, sitting up in the back of his van.

This was common practice. You knew it was wrong, cheating on Jason, but it had happened accidentally. You’d bumped into Eddie at a party where he was dealing and Jason was off talking to some girl or doing a keg stand. You’d been bored out of your mind, waiting for Jason to pay some attention to you, when you had physically fallen for Eddie Munson. Well, into, but he still made the joke, smiling at you earnestly. In truth, he’d had a crush on you for years and the way you looked in those high waisted shorts and tank top that left little to the imagination, well—it was only a matter of time before he was leading you out to his van.

Where you met up every Sunday when you told Jason you’d be in church.

“Your turn,” you say to Eddie, nudging his legs until he’s sat up, you on your knees in front of him.

“Lucky me,” he sighs, watching you contentedly. You were his dream girl and he couldn’t believe his luck. Still, you had asked him to keep it quiet until school ended and you could end things with Jason without him being too much of an asshole. He was leaving for college, you were staying here. You could cut ties with him forever and keep Eddie safe from the basketball idiots Jason hung around with.

But neither of you could keep your hands of each other. It was a different kind of love to what you had once felt with Jason. When you first met, Jason made you feel like you were in a fairytale, showering you with gifts and taking you out everywhere, showing you off to the world. But then it turned sour and you realised you were more like a trophy than supposedly the love of his life. He didn’t listen to what you had to say, expecting you to sit back and be a good little house wife.

And Eddie was the opposite. He was entranced by the way you could speak for hours about a topic that interested you. He made you feel like the only person in the world that mattered, making sure you were okay above all else. He wanted to keep you safe, but never once in a possessive way. And the sex—

“Yeah,” you smirk. “Lucky you.”

He groans as you tie your hair up the way he likes, knowing he’ll be holding onto it soon. His eyes roll into the back of his head as you start to blow him, knowing all the ways to make him squirm until he’s forcing your head down and making you gag. This was the only place, in the confines of his van (or sometimes your bedroom and his trailer) that he could be in charge. And you would let him, enjoying every single second of Eddie making you his.

You just wish you could shout it to the whole of Hawkins.

Fiona says she's out shopping//But she's under me and I'm not stopping…

“How long does it take to shop?” Jason mutters, checking his watch. He was with his friends (again) and the film was starting in ten minutes. He’d arranged a big date between the team and their girlfriends, expecting you to be there as Hawkins High’s It Couple. You’d agreed immediately and called him this morning telling him that he didn’t need to pick you up since you were going shopping with Robin to find an outfit that would make everyone jealous that you two were together. You’d meet him at the theatre.

Yet here he was, waiting and watching his friends with their girlfriends file into the cinema to take their seats and he’s left waiting by the doors. He glances around. It’s dark—maybe you got lost? You didn’t drive, claiming that you preferred it when Jason drove you around and he loved it too, so maybe you took a wrong turn in the dark. But then your mom normally drives you when he’s not around—so where were you?

Five minutes to the movie. If he doesn’t go now, he’ll miss the movie. He shakes his head, not even thinking for a minute that you were somewhere else, with someone else. He just chalks it down to you being forgetful or busy. Lately, you’d been spending a lot of your time studying or daydreaming, your mind elsewhere. Your finals were coming up and you were preoccupied. He got that. He just wish it didn’t look so bad on him when you stand him up.

He walks into the theatre alone.

Your fingernails scratch down Eddie’s back and his eyelids flutter closed at the sensation of it as he pounds into you. His pick necklace falls onto your bare chest and he loves the sight of it, the sight of you naked underneath him, writhing in pleasure.

“God, princess, you’re gonna make me cum just looking this pretty,” he moans into your neck as he peppers you with kisses.

“Eddie,” you breathe, butterflies fluttering in your stomach—from the compliment or the way his cock was repeatedly slamming in and out of you, you don’t know. Either way, you know that this feeling here, this pure bliss, is the only way you want to feel for the rest of your life. You could happily spend all your days sharing a joint with Eddie and going at it all day long.

And it’s not just about the sex. It’s him in general that you love. Some days you just come over to his trailer to hang out and watch a movie together. You could never watch a horror movie with Jason, but Eddie loves them and insists on showing you all the cult classics that he’s adamant you’ll love too. He lays in bed with you in his arms sometimes and reads to you, Stephen King or Tolkien or even just his newest D&D campaign, wanting your approval.

For five weeks, you’ve been keeping this part of yourself a secret from everybody. Robin was the only person who knew (and probably Steve, by extension) and she covered for you when you asked, without question. She knew the difficult position you were in. Robin didn’t judge—she was in between a rock and a hard place herself.

But all of you just wants to be free now, to spend your time with Eddie without guilt gnawing at you.

“Hey, princess,” Eddie’s voices brings you back to the moment. You blink and smile up at him. He’s stopped moving, concern written all over his face. “You alright, baby?”

You nod enthusiastically. “Perfect, Eds,” you tell him honestly, wrapping your legs around his waist, pulling him in even deeper causing you both to groan. “Just fuck me. Please?”

You don’t have to ask him twice.

I can't believe he's so trusting//While I'm right behind you thrusting…

You cancel your date, telling Jason you had to help out your friend Steve at work. You were at Family Video, alright, only in the stockroom, with Eddie fucking you from behind, his hand on your mouth to keep you quiet. Thank god for friends like Robin, you had thought as she ushered you into the back without her manager knowing.

Fiona's got him on the phone//And she's trying not to moan//It's a three-way call and he knows nothing…

“That sounds g-great, babe!” you tell Jason down the phone enthusiastically. “I’m so happy for you.”

He’d called you when he knew you’d be home from school, telling you all about practice today. You knew he was waiting for an invitation over, but…

Eddie’s head was between your thighs, occasionally grinning at you as you bit your lip to stop from moaning. He was palming himself through his jeans at how risky this was, going down on you while you were on the phone to your boyfriend. But he couldn’t help teasing you and you sure seem to be loving it as he feels you clench around his fingers. Instead of hanging up, you keep the game going, loving it as much as Eddie is.

But god, this was dangerous.

The parkin' lot, why not? It's so cool when you're on top…

You grind down into Eddie’s lap, your fingers tangled in his hair. His lips are so soft and you just want to feel them all over you—your mouth, your jaw, your neck, your chest. You can’t get enough of him. And in the two months you’ve been seeing Eddie, the game has become riskier. Hellfire Club finally knew and you’d sworn them all to secrecy at the end of tonight’s meeting—choosing tactfully to keep Lucas in the dark. You couldn’t risk him telling Jason. Not yet.

It was almost Spring Break. Maybe you’d move your schedule up a bit and tell him then. By summer, you and Eddie would be free.

But for now, it was this. It was riding him in his van in the parking lot, knowing that Jason was around for basketball. But Eddie had been so animated in Hellfire that you couldn’t wait until you guys were home—you had to have him there and then. And he certainly wasn’t complaining as he came hard inside of you, loving the filthy idea of his cum being inside Jason Carver’s girlfriend. Because you weren’t Jason’s at all—you were his.

I did her on his birthday…

Jason threw a huge party for his birthday, inviting the whole school.

“Please come, Eddie!” you begged, turning over in his bed to look at him. He was gorgeous in every way. His eyes were huge and emotive, his hair was wild and soft. He made you feel safe, especially in moments like this when you both napped off the hot spring in his bed together after helping him study for a test. Jason was all muscle and hard edges and clean cut. Eddie was raw and real and he knew you more than you could ever expected.

“I don’t know, princess,” Eddie says warily. “You sure you wanna be around me and the freaks on pretty boy’s birthday?”

You roll your eyes. “Eds, it’ll be like the first party when we hooked up. He’ll be busy with the boys and the girls, and I’ll be able to sneak you into the bathroom and make hot, wild love to you.” You smile at him innocently.

He coughs, laughing lightly. “Fuck, sweetheart, you can’t say shit like that. Gonna make me fall in love with you.” More than I already have, he thinks.

“Well, if you come, maybe I’ll fall in love with you.” More than I already have, you think.

It takes him a second and then he concedes, “Fine. But I’m gonna sell while I’m there.”

You snort, a sound he loves. “Fine by me.”

And you’d kept your promise, your legs wrapped around Eddie as he lifted you up against the bathroom wall, taking you hard and fast with only the loud music of Madonna to cover your desperate pants and moans as you came together.

Scotty will know//Scotty doesn't know//Scotty's gotta know…

You stay at Jason’s that night, lying beside him. He passed out immediately, nowhere near sober enough to even try anything with you, which you were grateful for. You lay awake, watching him sleep. He has a lipstick mark on his shirt and you wonder which girl gave him that. Was it innocent? You bet it was Chrissy Cunningham. You knew he’d had a crush on her before deciding he wanted you instead.

Good, you think. Maybe when you finally leave him, he can find solace in her. Maybe find someone who can love him like you can’t. The way you love Eddie.

I'm gonna tell Scotty Gonna tell him myself.

It takes three months for you to finally tell Jason.

It’s a school day and Eddie had kept you up all night with good weed and good music and now you were a zombie. It was the championship game tonight and you were expected to be there, to support Jason. But Eddie had told you all about the end of his ‘Cult of Vecna’ campaign and you wanted nothing more than to tag along and watch the whole thing.

Your leg bounces beneath the table, anxious. It’s too much now. You can’t hold it in. The secret is slowly killing you, keeping you from sleeping, from breathing. You can’t do it anymore. And you know it’s not fair on Jason, bad as your relationship is.

“What is that freak up to now?” Jason mutters as he sets down his lunch tray. You look up, your eyes falling on Eddie climbing onto his table across the cafeteria. Oh, god.

“Probably nothing,” you say causally. “Tell me about the game plan.”

You try to distract Jason from Eddie, but it doesn’t work as Eddie shouts, “But as long as you're into band or science or—” he sneers “—parties. Or a game where you toss balls into laundry baskets!” His eyes fall onto your table, where Jason stands up ready to fight. He watches you bite your lip, worried for him and his heart throbs. God, he loves you so much. He just needs you to leave that asshole and you could be his, officially.

Jason catches you watching him and his girlfriend. “You want something freak?”

Y/N, he almost says. He catches himself, your eyes wide, and he pulls a face at Jason instead, turning around so he can’t see him anymore. Anything to get that idiot of his head. Anything to stop him going over there and taking you in front of everyone.

Jason sits down and spits out, “What a freak, I feel like he just cursed me.” His friends all laugh, boosting Jason’s ego, but you press your lips together. Jason notices you not laughing and nudges you. “Y/N? I said he probably just cursed me.” He waits for you to laugh, but you don’t.

You swallow. “I don’t think it was that funny.” You say and you feel everyone’s eyes on you. Jason turns on the bench until he’s facing you.

“Y/N, what the hell?” Jason asks, his voice low. He doesn’t want to make a scene in front of his friends. To them, you have the perfect relationship. Top Jock and Good Girl, both from good families, both socially acceptable, both popular and attractive. Your eyes flick back to Eddie. Eddie, who has no money, no big house in the suburbs, no perfect GPA, no popularity. Eddie who likes metal and horror and has a band and plays D&D. Eddie, who’s branded a freak for being different.

You suddenly feel like you can’t breath.

“Y/N? Jason presses. “What the hell is wrong with you lately?” You look up, his eyes meeting yours. So he’s noticed your absence, finally, it seems. And now he’s had enough. Well, so have you as he begins to lecture you. “You’re hardly around anymore, you don’t come to games, you show up looking like trash, you don’t listen to me at all. Who are you?”

“You know what,” you say, loud enough for people around the cafeteria to notice. You’re causing a scene now, good girl be damned. You’re not going to sit still and look pretty for Jason Carver anymore. “Fuck this.” You stand up from the table, swinging your bag onto your shoulder. From across the room, Eddie and his club look up. Now everyone’s attention is on you.

“What?” Jason stands up, eyes wide.

“Fuck this,” you repeat, taking a deep breath. “And fuck you, Jason.”

You move to walk past him but he grabs your arm and turns you back to face him. “Don’t do this to me, Y.N,” he says dangerously. He’s embarrassed and angry and you can feel it. If you sit down and apologise, everything will go back to normal. You can still save this relationship. “Don’t make me look bad.”

You laugh bitterly. “There is is,” you say, shaking your arm free of his grip. “I don’t care if you look bad.”

“I swear to fucking god, Y/N—” he begins but you wave an arm.

“Save it. You don’t wanna look bad? You don’t wanna be embarrassed?” Your voices raises and Eddie stands from his table slowly. Everyone is staring. Everyone is waiting, shocking. You look around and then finally at Jason again, pointing to Eddie at his table. “I’ve been fucking Eddie Munson behind your back for three months, Jason. And guess what—I love him. I love him, do you hear me? So you can get fucked.”

Several people gasped. Jason’s mouth fell open and his friends lose it. You don’t wait for Jason’s reaction as you turn your back on him for good and walk over to Eddie’s table. He grins at you and presses a chaste kiss to your forehead. “Well, that was certainly dramatic,” he says by way of greeting, pulling a chair up so you can sit next to him.

“You should join Hellfire,” Dustin says immediately, impressed by your balls as you sit down.

You laugh. “Maybe that’s enough dramatics for the time being,” you say and the cafeteria falls back into its same old routine. Only now you don’t have to hide when Eddie’s hand finds yours on the table and squeezes three times, making your heart soar:

I love you.

masterlist // requests

[vintaeya]

“I do” ♡

- jujutsu kaisen charas x gn! reader

|| They turned around to see you on one knee, a shimmering ring inside a velvet red box on the palm of your hands. Is this what they think it is?

|| In which you propose to them first, and how they’d react

pairing : itadori yuuji, megumi fushiguro, nobara kugisaki, gojo satoru, yuuta okkotsu, maki zenin x gn! reader

genre : fluff; slight crack

tw : some JJK 0 spoilers on Yuuta’s part !! playful uses of the words ‘idiot/stupid’

words : 1.6k

Itadori Yuuji -

Itadori is ecstatic. You took him to the least imaginable spot for your proposal. Like seriously, you were in front of the vending machine near the training grounds. You handed Yuuji a can of soda with a little something on the side. You got the idea for the scratch and win idea from a tv show. It was creative and simple to do. Of course it required having to break into the soda machine to place the soda can back in but let’s not focus on that.

“Hey Yuuji, if you scratch the side of the bottle, it’ll reveal a message” You quipped. Yuuji nodded with high expectations as he took out a quarter to scratch the layer of black to reveal…

‘Itadori Yuuji, will you be mine forever?’

“Hey y/n what is-“ When he turned his head to you, you were on the ground on one knee, hand holding a ring box with a beautiful gem on it. His birthstone, contrary to the normal diamond. “Well? I don’t have all day” You laughed. Yuuji, still surprised, quickly recovered and turned away to hide the happy tears welling up inside his eyes. “You never fail to surprise me” He smiled.

“In this life and the next, I’ll always be yours”

Megumi Fushiguro -

Megumi would be over the moon. Your boyfriend caught on quickly to your intentions so a romantic setting with a candle lit dinner was not an option. You knew how much he loved moments with you, alone and unbothered, so that’s where you set the proposal. Behind the school grounds, under the moon lit night as he was distracted by the stars. You planned a more romantic way to ask, but you were so mesmerized by Megumi that the question slipped your mind.

“What was that?” He asked with his brows furrowed. Megumi wasn’t sure if he could trust his ears. Welp, he heard, now or never y/n. When the shikigami user turned his head to face you, you were no longer beside him on the bench.

No

You were on one knee with a shimmering ring that matched the glow of the stars above you.

“You heard me, Megumi. Will you let me be your idiot forever?”

Megumi sat there for 1..2..3..seconds. He blinked so much to suffice a year’s worth. After countless questions, ‘is this real?’ and ‘you’re not joking right?’, he finally broke into a warm smile.

“You’re acting like I can imagine a life without you, my precious idiot”

Nobara Kugisaki -

Nobara was satisfied. You knew many things about your girlfriend, simple isn’t one of them. She’d probably kick you in the shin for proposing in a random spot such as a park or the back of a parking lot. So with your Jujutsu sorcerer salary, you booked two seats for a world renowned fashion show premier that happened to be in town. Nobara was ecstatic about the news and ran up and down the entire house that day.

Front row seats in the most glamorous outfit you could afford, the two of you caught the attention of many but your focus was solely on the beautiful woman that sat beside you. Nobara was gorgeous in everything she wore. And tonight, you swore you fell in love with her all over again. Whilst you were caught up in your thoughts, the runway ended and a group of models made a round around the runway holding large white boards that had a word on each.

“Kugisaki Nobara, will you marry me?”

Nobara’s head snapped to you at the speed of light and you were prepared, holding her trembling hands as you slipped the ring onto her finger. “Do you like it, love?” You whispered. Nobara, who barely showed any emotional emotions in public, sobbed. “You are incredibly stupid..making me cry in public like this” She sniffled whilst you laughed.

“I promised to be with you forever, so you’re stuck with me whether you like it or not”

Gojo Satoru -

Gojo would be surpised. What can’t Gojo expect? He may act like a two year old but he’s incredibly vigilant. With the power of his 6 eyes, he can practically see everywhere and anywhere at any time. The only way you had any chance of surprising him was when he went on one of his trips abroad. With your all-knowing boyfriend out of the picture, you could plan your proposal with ease.

When Gojo came back, you visited him at the airport. Dressed in his usual hoe-attracting attire, even you couldn’t help but stare. He noticed because why wouldn’t he, and smirked. “Ah~ My cutie! What brings you here hm?” He clapped his hands and lowered his sunglasses to see you better. “What? Can’t I visit my boyfriend?” You huffed and he simply grinned before turning his back to rummage through his bag of souvenirs from his trip.

“Tada— what?” He held up a small plushie but was taken aback by seeing you on one knee with a ring box in your hands. “Awh what kind of prank is this?” He pouted but you knew he had some expectations inside those gorgeous eyes of his. “Gojo Satoru, would you be mine forever? I will accept you for your abnormally large ego and everything in between” You had to add a joke at the last bit. Gojo just smiled and motioned to have the ring put on his finger.

Passengers cheered but all you could hear was the joyful voice from your now fiancé.

“I was supposed to do it first, you know? Be prepared , honey, you’re in for a treat”

Maki Zenin -

Maki would be stunned. Maki was never one for marriage or romance. Her goal was set on becoming strong to take over her good-for-nothing clan. When you took her down during a training match, she was all heart eyes. How? She was giving her 100% and you beat her so easily. It was so annoying yet..so attractive of you. The day you saw Maki in action, seeing how strong and determined she was, you knew that even before you were together, you’re placing a ring on that finger.

During a one-on-one match with Maki, you were reciting the script you wrote inside your mind about how you were going to propose. Maki noticed that you were distracted and stopped moving, which confused you. “Hey, what gives? You’re making this way too easy” She glared at you. Anyone else would be scared and be on their knees for forgiveness, but you had a blush on your cheeks and a smile on your face.

“Actually..I-“ Before you could take the ring box from your pocket, a certain cursed speech user was thrown from the air and onto your body from the result of one of Panda’s spinning throws. The ring flew from the box and landed in front of Maki, who picked it up from the ground. “Y/n? Whose is this?” She questioned. You smiled after dusting yourself off and standing up “Why, yours, of course” You grinned from ear to ear, already on one knee, as your lover stood there frozen.

“Maki Zenin, you never fail to impress me. You’re brave and strong..will you let me accompany you in life forever as your lawfully wedded lover?” You proposed. “Hah..you..are something else” Maki placed the ring on her finger, content at how it fit perfectly.

“How idiotic, we are bound to one another whether or not we have rings on our fingers”

Yuuta Okkotsu -

Yuuta would be grateful. Yuuta had a traumatic experience with love. With his whole childhood crush becoming a curse and everything. Imagine your surprise when he bloomed feelings for you. You couldn’t deny that Yuuta was everything you wanted in a man. And so, you happily bagged him and became official. The thought of marriage had been in your mind since the day he said his first “I love you”. Now, you were finally going to make that fantasy a reality.

You joined Yuuta on a special grade mission outside of town. Tiring? Yes. Worth it? Definitely. While battling a curse, you both came across some hardships while trying to exorcise it. It moved at lightning speed, which drained your energy trying to catch up. Another unfortunate detail was that ring box you forgot that was inside your pocket. You hoped and prayed the curse won’t get to it. Well

Your prayers were not heard.

The box fell from your pocket and into the mouth of the curse who swallowed it. As it was distracted with the weird item that fell into its throat, Yuuta seized the opportunity to impale the curse with his katana. “Got it- eh? Y/n..why do you look so troubled?” Yuuta came to you worriedly. “The curse..swallowed..the ring I was supposed to propose to you with” You were so devastated, the fact you confessed your plans openly didn’t even ring a bell.

Yuuta blushed and stuttered. “H-Huh? You were gonna..” He took in your devastated form and hugged you without much thought. Yuuta whispered in your ear so lovingly, it soothed you.

“Sweetheart, a ring won’t define our love. When we return, let’s have a proper proposal, alright?”

note : yuuta and maki’s are kinda long haha bc my love for them is eternal <3 hope you guys enjoy!