#anyway i am a very big fan of how this turned out. especially the shading

[eldritch-something-or-other]

Sissy redesign !! i support womens rights but more importantly i support womens wrongs

[professor-tammi]

okay I have finished Endwalker so here is another longpost on everything that happens after the fourth zone + some general takes on the story because I simply must ramble

okay, so, full disclosure: I am not very happy with how Endwalker’s story turned out. if you’re okay with this post being a bit critical, read on, if you find the negativity exhausting, please don’t force yourself to read it because I completely understand :D

that said --

Thavnair (part 2):

- I loved this section as I feel it plays to FFXIV’s strengths; this part was a human story with fantastical elements, and I think that’s key! we see how the Final Days affect the populace and the havoc it wreaks on the region. it’s very well done, and I consider it a highlight of the expansion alongside the writing in Garlemald and some parts of Elpis

- also I actually thought Matsya might die at That One Point but I was SO so relieved when Estinien came to his rescue thank god

- oh and the music that plays during all this is excellent! really ups the tenseness :D

Elpis:

- I immediately started crying when I saw past!Emet and Hythlodaeus omg... Hythlodaeus is my actual favorite FFXIV character now, I was already delighted by what little we saw of his personality as a minor-NPC-shade so this whole section was SUCH a treat :’D

- so I was quite convinced there would be more to Fandaniel than we thought, and I *guess* there was, in a sense, due to Hermes existing? while we never really saw much more to Fandaniel than I’m a nihilist let’s all die (prances about theatrically), Hermes gives the nihilist part of the character some context, I suppose. I quite liked Hermes -- I think villains who are sort of... corrupted by being hyperempathetic are pretty much always relatable -- but I wish the game had done more with him? in the end, the Fandaniels weren’t even particularly significant villains compared to...

- Meteion. okay so. so. Meteion. was not a character I liked, sorry, and she kind of brings down the zone a bit. I talk more about this in the Ultima Thule part, so I’ll just hop back to focusing on stuff I actually liked in Elpis :D

- I also am not a big fan of the Final Days being so neatly explained like this, especially when the whole concept of Dynamis feels incredibly out of nowhere and retcon-y? like... idk. I just wish it had some buildup before the expansion, but it didn’t really :(

- Venat!! I did not expect to care for Venat as Hydaelyn has always been so lacking in personality, but Venat is incredibly charismatic and genuinely fun! I took to her instantly. also, the revelation of her being the previous Azem was a great “ohhhhh” moment :D (I’ve seen some people describe Hydaelyn as “basically a shonen anime protag” and that’s a hilarious mental image to me. I love it)

- they use Answers as Venat’s leitmotif throughout the expansion and it’s surprisingly effective, and I say this as someone who thinks Answers is just a good-but-not-great song; it’s also interesting to me how the story seems to have been written around the lyrics? (even though FFXIV was clearly not originally intended to head in this direction in terms of story...)

- I have no idea how they manage to make the Ancients so consistently good characters but I love them all, give me all the Ancient Quartet content pls (I guess you can throw Azem in there too why not!!)

- anyway where are my fellow hythlodaeus fans at..... i love he’m

Garlemald INTERMISSION:

- I hate to say this but this was probably the last part of Endwalker I found good aha. and it was good! it really brought home the tragedy of the Final Days, again, which imo was necessary after the Elpis segment having put the main plot on hold for so long, and it did so very well!!

- also, the bit where Jullus gives Zenos a “you suck” speech? A+. and Alisaie’s retort? also good. I’m a fan!

- no but seriously how were the Garlemald bits the best part of this expansion I’m still not over the shock

Labyrinthos (part 2):

- at this point Endwalker decides it’s not going to be good anymore and goes back to bunny nonsense and. I can not tell u. how disappointed I was. (I was very disappointed)

- honestly a big issue with this part to me is the 30-second song loop that plays for almost all of it, please this was not a good use of that theme, at all. it’s so aggravating that I’d believe Squenix if they came out and said the music was bugged for this part

- Fourchenault’s “redemption” is completely unearned, but also very expected. I wish more media properly reprimanded horrible parenting, but alas! (”oh I only disowned my children and impeded their attempts to help people at every step because I care so much about the--” no! shut up!!)

- that said... Urianger getting a hug from Moenbryda’s parents was very cute :’)

- the Hydaelyn fight: so while the game lets us call her Venat, it’s clear that she’s not Venat. she has none of Venat’s... well, actual personality. again, this trial left me feeling quite disappointed for that reason, even though fighting Hydaelyn should’ve been a big deal.

- also the pre-final-battle bit where you have dinner with Y’shtola, Thancred, and Urianger is extremely funny solely because of their food choices. Thancred getting beer and a burger while Y’shtola orders A Whole Bottle of Wine and salad is such good characterization?? I love it

Ultima Thule:

- ah yes the “everyone sacrifices themselves but you know they’re going to be back in like an hour so you can’t bring yourself to care” part of the story. I did not care for it in Tales of Symphonia and I don’t care for it here :’D

- ( ok so actually I kind of lied. I cared when Alphinaud got really sad about Estinien being the first sacrifice :c )

- the zone music is absolutely fantastic here, but that just made me really sad that such a good song was wasted on something that left me feeling so... cold and unaffected?

- that said I shed a tear at Emet-Selch and Hythlodaeus appearing again. I really am just here for Ancients content :’D

- so, Meteion. she does not work as the end-all-be-all villain of the first FFXIV saga: she doesn’t even work on a major character level, because she’s simply not written to feel human. and I don’t mean in the literal sense! Emet-Selch was literally not human, but as a character, he certainly felt human. it’s clear the game expects you to care about Meteion, but I didn’t. she is a very forced-upon you character, too, and the character design and voice acting are probably major contributors to her feeling... off... to me? too cutesy in a way that reminds me too much of anime tropes I dislike. no thanks.

- I’ve seen some people argue that Meteion works because she’s not really a character, just a stand-in for the concept of despair -- well... first of all, this is quite untrue, as the game clearly treats her as a character. but even if it were true, then Despair Personified is an incredibly disappointing villain compared to Emet-Selch, Elidibus, Yotsuyu, and heck, even Nidhogg. I just could not bring myself to care, and it was sad to find myself at the end of this 8 year long epic and find myself, for the first time since ARR, just... not really caring. :(

- and thennn: Zenos. it’s clear to me they had no idea what to do with him? he feels so out of nowhere in every scene he’s in? to be fair, I did like the ending bit where he’s like “hey I transformed into a dragon and flew to the edge of the universe to fight you. oh you’re trying to kill the Personification of Despair? lol ez hop on”

- the fight with Zenos, on the other hand, felt so phoned in to me, and again I was so sad that this is what the Endwalker theme was used on because that is probably my favorite video game song of all time and the context it’s used in is... this... oh. well then. :’)

- also please please do not bring the Scions back @ Squenix. they’ve had their story. it’s time for something new.

HOW I WOULD FIX ENDWALKER??:

- “tammi nobody asked” I know I just have to get it off my chest okay

- So as I said before: have the entirety of the Mare Lamentorum segment build up to fighting Zodiark so that the eventual fight feels earned. have you desperately struggle to protect the binds from Fandaniel and Zenos throughout. maybe have some more hints at Fandaniel’s memories as Hermes to give that some foreshadowing. also remove the Loporrits from the game I don’t like them. yes me not liking them is enough of a reason

- (I am sorry to all the bunny fans out there. I am not one of you)

- have Zenos realize he’s not getting his fight unless he actually helps you remove greater threats after Zodiark dies instead of at the very end of the story! this makes for a convenient excuse for him to show up and help you now and then throughout the expansion, instead of having him be like... barely there. I don’t like Zenos, but come on. if you were going to bring him back to force him upon us at least do it properly

- shortly after Zodiark dies, give the characters some actual time to process the gravity of what happened (and have them actually talk about it!), then move to the Thavnair pt 2 segment.

- also, make the Final Days have more of a felt impact. as it stands, we get like... half a zone’s worth of content about it in total, and that makes it feel like a bit of a distant threat instead of a key part of the expansion? I know the role quests deal with this somewhat, supposedly, but this is something that HAD to be in the MSQ. have it spread to Eorzea as the story goes on. up the tenseness!

- instead of Meteion as a final villain, maybe we could have just had... well... Hermes? I don’t think a rewrite like that would be that much of a stretch and I think it would’ve hit home for way more people because Hermes is, simply put, a much more sympathetic character than Meteion, and it would’ve made Fandaniel retroactively feel more like a “main villain” too, I suppose.

- I think Dynamis shouldn’t have been part of the story at all. "actually, emotions are a special energy separate from Aether and this is a big secret almost nobody knows about”? this is just really, really stretching my belief. and honestly -- I don’t think the Final Days needed that much of an explanation, anyway? I would’ve been happier with a more abstract reason (so if Hermes is made the main villain, you could have it be directly caused by him somehow, instead, and I think that would’ve worked out better)

- in general: make it a human story with fantastical elements as opposed to an attempted fantasy epic with... some human elements... sort of. maybe. that’s what made the other expansions good. :(

[hanemiso]

Wish I Were Tohru

>>> a sohma yuki x reader <<<

genre: lil fluff, lil angst??

warnings: none

song: heather by conan gray

synopsis: you’ve been able to get close to the Sohma and become close friends with him. you have feelings for him, but you’re pretty sure he has feelings for Honda Tohru.

a/n: I love this boy and he needs love, I AM HERE TO SUPPLY LOVE 🥺❤️ honestly Yuki is my favorite from Fruits Basket, Haru being a close second and Kyo a close third!! I just don’t see enough Fruits Basket content on here so I thought maybe I’d make some, but this one is kinda shitty ngl. It was long but it just doesn’t feel like my best work. But, I’ve been working on this for a while, so I thought I’d post it anyway heh :)) I guess this means I officially write for Fruits Basket now!!!

It all started the 3rd of December, when your feelings for Yuki made themselves apparent. On that winter day, you were freezing because you weren’t wearing a warm enough coat and Yuki gave you his sweater while you two walked to school. Your cheeks warmed up quicker than the rest of your body as he smiled at you and wrapped his sweater around your shoulders. With a close-eyed smile, he warmly said that it looked better on you than it did on him; those words struck a cord in your heart, and from then on you accepted the fact that you had fallen for the boy who had become your closest friend.

Of course, you got shit for it from his fan club and they relayed all the rules of the fan club to you during lunch. But after that incident, some of the girls from the fan club began asking Yuki for his sweater, to which he shot them down nicely. That small action didn’t go unnoticed either, and made you feel like he only ever did that for you, and made you fall even harder for the Sohma.

It’s been months since that instance, and you haven’t said anything to him about your feelings because you didn’t want to look like another one of the girls from his fan club desperate for his attention and love. But, seeing as you two have grown closer and you’ve gained enough confidence to do something about your feelings, you decided yesterday that you would confess to him today.

You walk up to him in the hallway during passing period, slightly shaking from nerves, and get his attention by calling his name. He turns around and smiles at you, earning you a glare from the class president who was talking to him earlier.

“Oh, l/n-san, hello!” Yuki greets warmly. 

“Hey Sohma-kun! Can I...” you start, but trail off as you see his eyes drift away from yours and land on someone behind you. You glance behind you and see Honda Tohru, your friend, walking down the hall with Uotani and Hanajima. When you look back at Yuki, you can see his eyes follow her figure as she passes, gazing softly. Seeing that makes your heart drop, along with your confidence level.

When he looks back at you, you shake out of your thoughts and quickly say, “uh, sorry, I meant to tell you I’m busy after school so I won’t be walking home with you guys today.”

A look of confusion crosses his features briefly, but is replaced with a smile as he answers with, “Oh, alright. I’ll let Honda-san know.”

You thank him with the best fake smile you can muster before quickly walking down the hall to your next class. When you’re far enough away, your smile drops, as does your gaze. You definitely took notice of how Yuki’s eyes seemed to brighten as he watched Tohru walk by, brighter than the blue sky. It was a look you were sure Yuki never bestowed upon you, but you understand why. Obviously, Tohru is very pretty; definitely a sight for sore eyes. She’s so kind and thoughtful, among other things, Her personality draws people to her, and you can understand why. And because you can understand why Yuki would gaze at her like that, your confidence plummeted and your confession got caught in your throat. But you didn’t want Yuki, Kyo, and Tohru to know your mood was gloomy, which is why you chose to walk home alone today.

They shouldn’t see you in such a down mood stemmed from jealousy; it’s not fair to them and it would only make you as mature as his fangirls. Jealousy is not a flattering color, after all.

On your walk home, the moment replayed in your head. Your brain kept trying to pick apart his facial expression, hoping to find some solace in the evidence of a misunderstanding. Finding optimism in the hopes of a misunderstanding, you walk along the street with your head held high, deciding to try again tomorrow.

.

.

But, oh how unfortunate you’d be this week.

The next morning, there’s news of chilly weather for the rest of the week, right when it was starting to warm up a little. It doesn’t matter much to you, seeing as you grab a nice coat this time to keep you warm. You walk out the door and see Yuki and Kyo standing in front of your house, waiting for you to join them on the walk to school. Their attention turns to you as you approach them, and they greet you. As you greet them back, Kyo shifts his stance a little to reveal Tohru standing behind him with a smile on her face...and Yuki’s sweater pulled over her uniform. The same sweater he had given you to wear in December. The sweater you thought he had only given you to wear.

And yet again, your confidence plummets into the floor. All you can do to keep your mood seemingly high is smile and remain silent on your walk to school. Yuki and Tohru are caught in a conversation the entire way, which Kyo sometimes comments on, but Kyo notices how quiet you’ve gotten and how you won’t make eye contact with any of them. He ruffles your hair, causing you to look up at him in surprise because he doesn’t do that unless he’s trying to lift your spirits.

“Do you wanna...talk after school?” He asks, turning his head away from you.

You smile, knowing he’s trying to give you support. Kyo was always like that; he does care a lot, but he doesn’t always know how to show it.

“Yes, thanks Kyo-kun.”

.

.

“Alright, spit it out.” Kyo says, leaning against the wall.

You sigh, turning your gaze to the ground as you try to explain everything to him. It all sounds really stupid to you when you say it out loud, like it’s not a big deal...but it feels like one. It feels like he’s messing with your emotions, but Yuki’s not the kind to do that intentionally. Once you’re done spilling your guts to Kyo, he continues to stare at the tree in front of him as your hands begin playing with the ends on your skirt.

“It’s stupid, I know. And it’s not like I hate Tohru-chan, I could never. She’s such an angel, I can understand why you’re both so drawn to her. In fact, it wouldn’t be surprising if Yuki was in love with her. I just...I wish...”

I wish I were Tohru.

That’s what you wanted to say. Jealously really is an ugly shade.

“Uhm, never mind, Kyo-kun! It’s nothing, I promise. I shouldn’t be complaining like this; I shouldn’t burden you with this nonsense, especially when it’s about someone you dislike.” You add quickly, concealing your true feelings with a close-eyed smile.

Kyo looks at you with wide eyes, surprised at your change of attitude. Sure, he doesn’t really care about anything that has to do with Yuki, but when it also concerns you, a close friend, he cares a lot. The fact that you tried to invalidate your feelings pisses him off, but he tries putting that aside as he faces your retreating form.

“W-Wait, y/n-”

“Uhm, let’s go Kyo-kun! I’m sure you don’t want to be here any longer than you already have to.” You smile at him, taking steps towards the school gates.

That fake happiness; the facade you’re hiding behind to mask your hurt feelings, it’s definitely becoming more transparent to Kyo as all the words you uttered about the issue swirl in his mind. If he’s being honest with himself, he’s at a loss for words. He’s never cared about Yuki or what’s going on in his life, so how can he possibly give advice on an issue concerning him?

As you both walk in silence in the direction of your homes, Kyo replays your words over and over in his head, trying to think of something to say to encourage you in some way.

“L-Listen, don’t give up so easily y/n! Just tell him how you feel, I mean you’ve come this far! You know how much I hate that rat, but he’s not...a bad guy. And if I’m wrong and he breaks your heart, I’ll break his stupid face for you!”

You look up at Kyo in surprise, cause you know that must’ve taken a lot out of him to say something semi-nice about Yuki. He doesn’t dare make eye contact; his head faces away from you as his shoulders tense and he balls his fists. Something about how reluctant he is to admit it makes you laugh, and your laugh causes his eyes to widen as he looks at you.

“What? Are you laughing at me?!” He exclaims.

You shake your head with a soft smile on your face, a genuine smile.

“Nope, nothing of the sort. Thanks Kyo-kun, I won’t give up on my confession! Yuki and I planned a study session for tomorrow, so I’ll plan to confess to him then!”

“Good.”

.

.

After you changed out of your uniform at home, you set off for the Sohma residence. It’s not a long walk from your house to Yuki’s, so you slow your pace a bit to take in the scenery and steel your nerves.

After talking with Kyo yesterday, you hadn’t exactly figured out how you were going to tell him, or even when. Lucky for you, the study session you both had planned a week ago was an early one; close to right after school, maybe about an hour or two off?

After trekking up those myriad stone steps, you knock on the door of the Sohma residence. After a couple seconds, you hear Shigure’s voice on the other side of the door as he slides it open.

“Ah, y/n-chan! Hello!” Shigure greets with a smile.

“Hi Shigure-san, is Sohma-kun here?” You ask, smiling back at him.

“Oh, Yuki-kun? He’s been gone for about an hour or so with Tohru-chan. I’m not sure when he’ll be back, but would you like to wait for him here?”

Oh. He’s out with Tohru. Even though you guys had plans. It’s likely that he forgot, but it’s not like you guys made these plans a while ago; it’s been a week!

Your smile falters a bit, but remains on your face as you answer Shigure with, “Oh, I see. Thank you for offering, but I think I’m just going to head home then! Have a good day, Shigure-san!”

You bow to him before turning around and stopping in your tracks. At the top of the steps stands Kyo, staring at you with confusion written all over his face. You walk up to him and smile before trying to walk past him.

“Wait, y/n, what happened? I thought you and the rat were studying today.” Kyo asks, causing you to halt.

You bite your lip, swallowing your emotions, before turning back to Kyo with a pained smile and answering with, “He’s out with Tohru-chan right now. It’s fine, he probably just forgot. I’m just, uh, gonna head home now. I’ll see you tomorrow, Kyo-kun!”

Kyo stands there in disbelief as he watches you walk down the steps. He’s pissed now; after he admitted the rat wasn’t a bad guy, he does something like this. To his close friend, of all people! Don’t you mean more to the rat than anyone else?

Kyo grits his teeth as he runs to the house to ask Shigure where Yuki and Tohru are. Shigure gives him the vague answer of a certain shopping district across the city, and Kyo sets out to find Yuki to set him straight. The image of your sadness seeping into your smile is burned in Kyo’s mind, making him even more upset.

Kyo makes it to the shopping district about a half hour later, running from shop to shop. He asks store clerks if they’ve seen anyone matching the descriptions of Yuki and Tohru, but each one says they haven’t. Hours pass before Kyo approaches the last store and sees the silver-haired male standing outside with Tohru by his side, looking like they’re having a grand time. Kyo runs up to the two and grabs Yuki by the collar of his shirt, causing Yuki to stare at him in surprise and annoyance.

“You stupid rat! How thoughtless are you?!” Kyo starts, tightening his grip on his shirt.

“Let go of me, stupid cat.” Yuki deadpans.

“Does y/n mean nothing to you?! How dare you treat her like trash!”

“What are you talking about?!”

“You ditched your study session with her today to go out with Tohru! Do you enjoy hurting her or something?! Cause you seem to be doing that a lot lately! Do you not care about her?! If you don’t, then why don’t you just say it to her face instead of making her sad every day!”

Yuki’s eyes widen as realization hits; he totally forgot about the plans he made with you today. The guilt he feels outweighs the anger swirling in his chest every time Kyo accuses him of not caring about you. He pushes Kyo off of him and hands Tohru the bags in his hands, all except for one.

“I’m sorry, Honda-san! I have to go!” Yuki apologizes quickly before sprinting out of the shopping district.

Yuki scolds himself for being oblivious to your feelings as he runs down seemingly endless streets. Yuki always cared for you; you were the one close friend he had before Tohru came into his life. Lately he’s noticed that thoughts of you are all that consume his mind at night, and the way he feels different around you than around anyone else. But, our poor Yuki has never felt this way before; he doesn’t know why he feels like this or what to do about it.

But when he heard that he forgot about his plans he made with you, and how that hurt you, he felt like the lowest of the low. How could he skip out on plans with you? How could he hurt you?

The sun begins to set as more tears adorn your notes. You weren’t really sure why you were so upset; it’s okay that Yuki is happy with Tohru. It’s not even a big deal that he forgot about your plans...so why did it hurt most to think he forgot about you? All these doubts begin swarming your head, causing more tears to fall, as you hear knocks on the front door.

You quickly wipe the falling tears as you walk to the door, trying to compose yourself for whichever visitor stood at your door. Your eyes widen as you open the door to see a heavily panting Yuki standing in front of you. You quickly plaster a smile on your face as you attempt to greet him.

“Sohma-kun? Are you alright? What are you doing here?”

“l/n-san, I’m so sorry! I completely forgot about our plans today and went shopping with Honda-san. I never meant to make you sad, I just-”

“Yuki-kun, can we...talk? Somewhere else? Let’s, uhm, go for a walk real quick.”

You grab a pair of slip-ons by the door and head outside, leading Yuki to a nearby kid’s playground. You both sit on the swings and silence envelopes you two as you gather your thoughts. Yuki stares at you as you stare at the ground, waiting for you to scold him or do anything to let him know you were fine.

“Yuki-kun...I still remember the third of December; me in your sweater, you said it looked better on me than it did you. Only if you knew...how much I liked you. How much I still like you. I remember how every girl from your fan club asked you for your sweatshirt, and how I felt special when you turned them down. But, I’ve seen the way you look at Tohru-chan when she walks by. And I get it, Tohru-chan is very beautiful. What a sight for sore eyes, brighter than a blue sky. And I’ve been noticing lately how your gaze on her lingers, and how your face softens when you speak to her. You gave her your sweater to wear, too...not that it matters, I guess. Anyway, as my feelings for you continue to grow, I begin to see...and understand, how and why you like Tohru-chan so much. I mean, she’s an angel! She’s so kind, thoughtful, and caring...I understand why you’d want her. And why you wouldn’t want me. I mean, why would you ever kiss me? I’m not even half as pretty. You gave her your sweater; it’s just polyester. But, you like her better. And I’m able to accept that, as long as you’re happy, Yuki-kun! I just...sometimes...I wish I were Tohru-chan.”

Yuki stares at you in disbelief as you continue staring at your feet, a single tear falling from your eye. He really is oblivious. His brain can’t even begin to compute the misunderstanding going on here. After all, he has feelings for you too. So, just how did it end up so bad, he wonders. He finds it so hard to believe you reciprocate his feelings, and that while trying to find a way to confess to you, he was hurting you instead.

“I-I love you, Yuki-ku-” 

Yuki’s body moves as if on instinct, kneeling in front of you with his hands caressing the sides of your face. He smashes his lips against yours, only realizing what he’s doing once he feels you kiss him back. He pulls away almost as quickly as he placed his lips on yours, a blush creeping onto his face. You stare at him with wide eyes as he collects his composure and wipes a stray tear from your eye.

“l/n-san, I...I love you, too. What you saw between Honda-san and I is a big misunderstanding, and I’m sorry not seeing how I was hurting you. I’ve been spending more time with Honda-san this past week because she was helping me figure out a way to confess to you. Shigure suggested making you jealous like the love interests in his romance novels, and I honestly don’t know why I listened to him; I knew it was a terrible idea. But, that’s why Honda-san was wearing my sweater yesterday. When I thought that didn’t work, Honda-san suggested getting you a gift, which is why we went shopping today. I was so caught up in trying to make you happy that I forgot we made plans today. And instead of making you happy, I made you cry. Love isn’t really a feeling I’m fond of; I’ve never really experienced feelings this intense before. It took me a while to realize you were the reason my heartbeat quickened; why my stomach did flips, why warmth would spread in my chest. But when I found myself wanting to be with you every waking hour, I panicked. Truth be told, you’re the person I hold closest to my heart. I don’t let people in...from experience. There’s so much darkness that doesn’t reach the surface, so many things I can’t say just yet. But I will tell you in time, because you’re the person I trust most, and I’m learning slowly how to let people in. In the meantime, the one thing I can say with certainty, is that I love you...and I want to make you happy, if you’ll let me.”

Yuki takes your hands in his and smiles warmly at you. Worried that words will fail you, you nod with a grin on your face. The night air sends chills down your spine as you gaze happily at the boy in front of you. Yuki takes notice of the goosebumps rising on your skin and smirks a little, pulling his hands away from yours to grab the bag on the ground next to him.

He hands it to you while saying, “I have a feeling this’ll come in handy right about now.”

You take the bag from his hands and open it, revealing a familiar sweater. You press it against your chest, smiling at Yuki. You look down at his sweater and realize he's wearing the same one; he got you a matching sweater.

“You just looked so cute when you wore mine...” He smiles shyly, rubbing the back of his neck.

“I love it, Yuki-kun! Thank you!” You exclaim, throwing it on.

It was just polyester, but it now meant more to you than you thought it ever could.

[emilycollins00]

Two faces of the same coin

Pairing: Tenma x ghost-looking! reader. Part 2

Part 1

Here we go! Enjoy! 💕

.

You were used to people reacting a certain way when seeing you since you were young.

Be it your pale skin, eyebags or voice, you ended up not taking it too personally as you grew up. After all it was a general statement you didn't have the best sleeping pattern, and that your hair and posture needed to be worked on. Still, you enjoy peaceful time alone -no glances or scared whispers- although you had to admit this boy had broken a record.

"Dammit...!"

After even frightening you from the intense shriek that came out of his throat, in a poor attempt to run away from you he had stumbled and crashed into a chair so hard you were now wincing as he fell to the harsh floor.

Ouch. Concerned, you approached the groaning teen in pain. “Are you-?” Tenma didn't let you even finish. Violently shaking he turned his back on you, curling into a ball.

“This is not real, this is not real, this is not...!"

He kept mentioning words like curse and death in between, and you could only stare back trying to process what was happening. "Sorry If I scared you. I was-”

“I won't say anything!" he kept on pleading, refusing to open his eyes "I really-REALLY don't taste good please just let me leave!!"

It wasn’t working. You decided to get up from the floor, which only made Tenma pale even more at the sound of something moving.

“I won’t, uh- do anything.” you hesitated. “You, uh, hurt your head right?”

The loud and repetitive pleads died slowly on his lips, and as he opened one eye to glance your way he might have as well. Pale face, somber looks… you both stood in silence in the empty room for a while, you waiting patiently.

"...what?"

He seemed to find again his voice, or at least enough for you to hear. You brushed the dust off you as he flinched at the sudden movement, still on guard.

"I'm, uh- I'm not a ghost." You took out your student card, your name and student photo -equally terrifying some would say. "See?"

An uncomfortable silence filled the air.

Tenma stares at you for a long moment. One could practically see the wheels turning in his head, trying to keep up. And then, just as quickly as he had paled, the color red made way to his face.

“…ah?”

Right. Great answer.

You tilted your head while putting the student card back in your pocket. Maybe he hit his head harder than it looked? “So... what are you doing here? Not that you can't, I guess. I also like it here even though we are not supposed to but- you know. You surprised me a bit too."

Tenma's eyebrows knitted together as he slowly stood up from the floor, not understanding what you were saying. The adrenaline rush was leaving him and could feel himself starting to calm down a little, finally letting his guards down.

“What do you mean. I-Isn’t a library a normal place to work?”

“Yeah. This is the old building though. The new one is on the opposite side..."

You waited patiently watching how Tenma breathed in once again, crimson becoming more and more intense as seconds passed. You had never seen anyone behave like that and he hoped the ground could swallow him about right now. “I... I knew that! I knew that I was just looking around because uh- I’ve never seen this place before!”

“It is rusty.”

More awkward silence from you both. Tenma looked at you and at his pile of books. You looked at them too in reflex, not understanding why a student could have so much book carrying around. "Sumeragi... Tenma?"

"Don't look!" said leader troupe was quick to hide his name, though he was well aware it didn't matter at this point. He tried to avoid your gaze. Shit. Shit, shit, shit last thing he needed today. "Just- don't tell anyone. I'm serious!"

Without sparing another second glance at you and still feeling his face burning, he took everything and left.

His forehead hurt.

One week later

“Why do we have to do this every time?”

“Come on! Don’t tell me you’re afraid to lose?"

“I am not afraid to lose." Tenma frowned at the other two members of mankai. The three were sitting under the shade of a tree in the courtyard, something they took as a routine whenever they didn’t use the cafeteria. Background laughs and conversations could be heard from students around the patio, enjoying their free time before the bell rang and called them back again to their respective classes. He huffed. "This is stupid."

"Got it!" Taichi moved around his arm dramatically "Ready…? Rock, paper, scissors!”

Three hands presented their results with different reactions altogether.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“Aw yeah, paper is the best! It's your turn to go buy drinks Ten-chan!”

“I wanna strawberry juice.”

“Soda for me!”

“Tsk,” Tenma squinted his eyes at his hand and sighed, getting up and dusting away grass from his uniform, taking their coins. “Fine. Strawberry juice and a Green tea.”

“H-hold on, I said soda!”

“I’ll get going.”

“Yeah.”

“Ten-chan I was joking please!!”

It had been a few days after the library incident and so far, he hadn't heard any weird rumor of him- to which he counted it as a big safe considering the situation. Weird, but safe.

“Oh come on.”

After buying Taichi’s and Juza’s drinks, Tenma kept shoving his hand into his pockets, cursing at his emptiness. He was sure he had brought his wallet with him to school… maybe he left it in his room after all? A sigh left his lips, wondering how long would his bad luck last.

Until his exams passed maybe? He hoped not. He had managed to get Tsumugi to teach him at night after a few days of begging his homeroom teacher, revising together all concepts that Tenma couldn't seem to grasp. It had been embarrassing to let him check all his late school results, but at the end of the day it was Tsumugi. And well, Tsumugi was fine. Unlike Itaru, he was always-

“Excuse me.”

Tenma covered his mouth at the close sound of the eerie voice. A shiver definitely running from the last strands of hair until his very own toenails.

Yeah, finding you blinking at him- too close for his taste- took all the strength he had to not scream in public. He stepped back from you. his heart practically on his throat. “W-what are you doing!?”

“Ah, sorry. Thought talking louder would be better. Didn't mean to scare you”

“UH?! I-I wasn’t scared! I-uh, I was just surprised!" Even in plain daylight of the hall in comparison to the sinister darkness of the old library room, Tenma still felt like he was talking to a- Well.

A ghost.

You took a step back away from him too, pointing your forehead “You don't have a bump anymore.”

He touched his own forehead unconsciously. Right, Igawa had made a fuss about it when he saw it. Thanks to Omi’s ointment though it was already almost not existent though. He always worried too much.

“I’m glad.”

"Uh, thanks."

Very much opposite to your physical appearance, your voice while husky and kinda odd, was calm. It made Tenma feel weird, though it was probably because you kept staring at him. Why didn’t you go away?

“Are you... a fan? Do you want like, an autograph or something?”

You pointed behind him. "I was just waiting for my turn.”

His cheeks grew warm self-consciously, moving so you could insert your coins.

“I’m guessing you couldn't find more coins for three drinks,” You suddenly commented looking at the drinks in his hands. Ignoring his confused face, you crouched down and picked the drink, turning to him. "You complained kinda loud so... here. Not sure if you'll like it but I think it's good."

"What? I don't need it."

“It’s fine. Take it as an apology." you shrugged offhandedly. You placed it on top of his other drinks and turned once again to the machine. "It was my fault I scared you anyway.”

Tenma stared at your hunched figure while you got another drink. "Then," you waved your hand slightly and left the place quietly to who knows where.

He didn't even manage to wave back. What had just happened?

“Oh man...”

“Tenma-kun, are you okay?”

Students' whispers made him come back to his senses, losing sight of the path you had walked out. “What?”

“Did that person say anything weird to you? You know, like threaten you or something.” they pointed to where you left

“Uh- no.”

Some sighed relieved while others stared at the machine, as if you might have cursed- somehow.

Tenma frowned. It was true it hadn't been the smoothest conversation, but saying you might have tried to do something to him felt wrong. "Why do you all say that?"

"Ah? Mmm well..."

"Just look at them I guess."

"Yeah I don't know man. Gives me the creeps whenever they walk around. As if our school wasn't already scary inducing."

"Whoah, that's so mean."

"Are you saying you don't think it's true?"

"Tenma-kun, if you have time want to come have lunch with us? We..."

As they kept talking, Tenma looked down, the drink you had bought in his hand; Chocolate milkshake.

"It was my fault I scared you anyway.”

Later on

“Stupid old library...” he found himself growling for the umpteenth time "Should have just leave it be."

Another week had passed before he found the courage and once again, adventured himself around the old halls, carrying one chocolate drink.

I must have gone crazy.

Tenma just didn’t wanna be in debt with anyone. Yeah, that was it. Even if you scared the soul out of him, he had somewhat gotten the sense that you weren’t all bad -although your memories still left him trembling- and if there was something he hated more than anything, it was people making assumptions of others. He learned it from Mankai. Especially from his own troupe.

“Are you lost again?”

However old habits are hard to break.

“Dammit! Do you always need to talk like that?!"

"It's my voice, can't help it." You two had found each other at the corner of the hall. Tenma wasn't sure if this counted as good or bad. "…Do you need help to find the new library? I can draw you a map if you want me to”

“I-I was just about to do it, I don’t need-!”

“Ah- you should be careful not to crash on a chair again. Some are really old“

He placed the two drinks on the table making you blink, not sure how to react.

The awkward silence stretched, and Tenma felt his own cheeks heat up. "D-don't misunderstand, I just don't like to be indebted and I really didn't need that drink last time okay?"

A few seconds pass by. And then. Then he hears your laugh.

“You’re a really nice guy you know.”

His stomach jumps and doesn’t say anything for a while. Embarrassing. He felt his face was going to light on fire. He tried to focus his attention on something else- Not that he enjoyed it. The place itself wasn't comfortable looking.

“...Why do you hide here anyway? It doesn’t help with, well,” he didn't finish the sentence, feeling it sounded wrong -even though it was kinda true.

“I wouldn't say I hide" You hummed mindlessly while opening the drink, giving it a go before turning your attention back to him "I found it a few months ago while looking for a place to study. People overreact when they see me, so I’ve been coming here. I think it’s a pretty chill place myself.”

Tenma stared at you. At your dark eye bags and messy hair. You could definitely get a role in any horror movie you might want for sure. Yet there you were, happily drinking a chocolate milkshake in the old side of your very own high school.

“...You are weird.”

You laughed again. “For someone who’s supposed to be scared but still frequents the same place, I’d say the same about you.”

__________________________________

When I said it was gonna be a long request I meant it.

Have a wonderful day! 💕

Part 3 soon!

[rekisboard]

✨Shadow x Oka oneshot for the soul✨

“Roses mean love, they show love, like my love or well like wait no, damnit! I can’t do this.” Shadow squatted down on the floor.

“Yes you can Shadow. Just look him straight in the eye and and tell him you wanna go out!”

“Yea and like you weren’t in my place when you asked Langa out red.” He lifted his head up.

Reki blushed and rubbed the back of his head muttering something “well whatever, but come on Shadow. Your so amazing im sure Oka will love you. He seems to never shut up about you after Langa’s winning party anyways.”

“Yea right. I’m just some scary unlovable guy to him.”

“Shadow im serious. Hell ask Langa he’ll tell you the same.”

Shadow sighed and stood up when he had an idea “hey wait I have a beef in a few days! Maybe he can watch me!”

“Ok but do you really want him to see you throwing bombs and stuff at someone. I mean he already has but like-“

“No I can do it! I’ll invite him myself! Show him I’m worthy!”

“I... you know what alright Shadow. I’ll be right behind you on this.” He smiled.

“Alright well my breaks over so you should get going. Don’t you have a date with Langa anyways?”

Reki’s eyes widened and he ran out the back door of the shop and ran in a hurry. Shadow chuckled and sighed walking out of the room and greeting his manager again. He was still a bit heartbroken when he found out she had a boyfriend but then he met someone better. Throughout the day he had a gentle smile, more so than usual, and a skip in his step. He was going to ask him today.

“Hiromi? You seem happier then usual today. Anything special going on?”

“You could say that. I’m going to ask someone on a date.” He said to his manager.

“Oh well I hope they say yes! You deserve the best in the world anyways.” She smiled softly.

He nodded and hugged her goodbye as he left the shop. As he rode in his car he looked at the purple sky as it shifted into night. He smiled and took notice of how beautiful everything looked at the moment. Of course he still had anxiety starting to build up as he got closer to the shop, but he was getting even more fired up as well.

Oka stretched his arms and leaned back in his seat. The shop had been slow today but that was okay, especially since the two love birds wanted to have a date today. He looked over to the pot on the front counter. He smiled softly, he never thought Shadow, that mean scary hunk of a guy, was in actuality, a sweetheart. The flowers he gave where still in good condition, thanks to Oka of course.

He was awakened from his gaze when the door opened. He looked over ready to welcome the customer, when he realized who it was.

“Hey Shadow! Sorry the boys aren’t here tonight-“

“Oh Umm I didn’t come to see them. I wanted to see you.” He smiled walking to the counter.

“Me? Oh well I’d assume it’s about a board then, so what kind of board-“

“Will you watch me at my next beef?” The room went silent.

Oka could feel the heat come to his cheeks “you want me to watch your next beef?”

“Yes. It would be an honor honestly.” Shadow was turning the same shade as Reki’s hair.

“I’d love too.” Oka smiled.

“Really? Cool cool cool. Yea cool. Umm anyways it’s in two days and umm I can pick you up if you want.”

“Yea I’d like that.”

“Ok then I will. I should get going now though.”

“Are you sure? I mean you just got here.”

“Do you want me to stay?”

Oka hesitated a bit before he spoke again “yes.. I mean I am closing up shop in a few minutes so it would be nice if I had some help.”

“Yea of course I’ll help you.”

The two cleaned up shop will talking about different things, but both had the same idea in their mind, and both where very happy and excited. When they had to part ways a heavy tension was in the air, nothing bad of course, more of a sad tension.

“Well I’ll see you again in two days.” Oka said stepping into his car.

“Yea, two days you’ll be cheering me on.”

“Of course.”

Two days where so little, yet so so so so so so, very slow.

The day of the race Shadow had been running around trying to make his makeup the best it’s ever been before. He was great full for Cherry though, since he offered to take the boys to the race instead so that it could just be him and Oka just for that small bit.

Shadow got to the store and smiled. Oka had Sketchy on his shoulder as he ran to the car smiling. When he got inside the two greeted each other and went off. It was quiet at first until Oka spoke up.

“So, what’s the beef about?”

“Some newbie really, he challenged me and whoever wins burns the others wheels on his board.”

“Why?”

“Don’t know really. This was all him. I was bored at the time so I said hey what the hell why not and here we are.”

“Do you think you’ll win.”

Shadow hesitated “maybe. I uhh I’m changing my ways a bit for tonight. You know he’s just a newbie anyways.”

“What do you mean?”

“You’ll see.”

The crowd was pretty big that night. It had been a while since Shadow had a beef so everyone was quite excited. The newbie was pretty impressive already too. So they all new this would be an interesting race.

Reki Langa and Miya had been fighting over why people can’t breath underwater if water had oxygen already when the too walked up.

“Hey guys.” Oka smiled.

“Oka knock sense into my boyfriends head please! He thinks we should be able to breath underwater!” Reki yelled.

“Well we should! If water has oxygen why can’t we just adapt to having gills and breath the oxygen out?!” Langa yelled back.

“Both of you have good points and that’s what I hate!” Miya groaned.

“Should we answer that question?” Shadow said.

“No I go through this daily anyways with those two.” Oka said.

“Boys stop, all three of you sound idiotic. Hellow Shadow. Hey Oka.” Cherry walked up with Joe trailing behind.

“Hey Cherry. Have you seen the newbie?”

“Yea he’s already at the start.” Joe responded “he says he going to wipe you out.”

Shadow scoffed “we’ll see about that.”

The group made their way over to the starting line and saw the newbie standing there waiting. The group wished Shadow a good luck and he went over when Oka quickly grabbed his arm.

“Be safe, alright?”

“Yea, of course.” He smiled.

Oka sighed and let him go watching him go up. They got ready and zoomed off. Oka grabbed his phone and started making his way to the finish line while watching. That’s when he realized it, what Shadow was doing differently.

“I thought they said you have tricks and gadgets uo your sleeve!” The newbie said sounding a bit angered.

Shadow groaned ignoring him and skated up infront of him. The match was boring for Shadow as it was. The newbie would try getting infront of him but it would be so predictable that Shadow would be quick to avoid him.

“He’s not using his bombs or anything.” Reki said looking at the screen.

“That’s unusual for him.” Cherry stated. “Then again, he seemed more stiff tonight. Why did he bring Oka anyways.”

Reki smiled “Too scared to ask Oka on a date so he brought him here.”

“Shadow likes Oka? That’s new.” Joe chuckled.

“I assume he didn’t bring anything because he didn’t want to look terrible infront of Oka.” Langa noted.

Oka got to the finished line and continued watching his phone. Shadow seemed pretty happy, he looked like he was having more fun without his stupid tricks he could say. Oka smiled when Shadow entered the building with the rookie trailing behind. Oka stood watching the stairs as Shadow came hurling down laughing. Oka laughed at his expression once he hit the ground.

Shadow hit the ground and looked up seeing Oka standing right infront of him smiling. His eyes widened and he grinned wider pushing his way past the line and straight over to Oka. The crowd cheered for Shadow but Shadow had something else on his mind at the moment.

“I did it! Did I do good?”

“You did amazing Shadow. I’m impressed, you didn’t use any of your fancy tricks today.”

Shadow smiled and rubbed the back of his head “yea about. I just.. I just ummm. I I know your not a fan of it so I really like Umm I don’t know-“

“You didn’t use them because I was here? You should have, don’t let me not hold you back-“

“That’s not what I’m saying, I didn’t want to use them because, I wanted to impress you. That I could win without anything.” Shadow was currently very great full for makeup.

Oka blushed “I think your cooler with them.”

Shadow smiled and fiddled with his jacket. He’d almost forgotten that the rookie was behind him waiting for him to burn his wheels. He looked pretty defeated. Shadow sighed and agreed that he wouldn’t do it, he had important matters right now. Let’s just say, the newbie was greatful for that.

The two walked away from the building in silence. But it wasn’t awkward, it was comforting.

“Hey Oka, wanna leave before the others come and get something to eat?”

“It’s a date.” He smiled.

Shadow smiled and grabbed his hand as the two ran to his car. Tonight has definitely gone better then expected.

[ppersonna]

little surfer girl - jjk

little surfer, little one. made my heart come all undone. do you love me, do you surfer girl?- little surfer girl, the beach boys

summary- every summer you watched jeon jungkook turn into a perfect, professional surfer.  every summer, you wanted him more. this summer, you were determined to make him yours.

rating- R/NC17

word count- 9.8k

pairing- jungkook x reader

genre- surfing!au, surfer!jungkook, fluff, smut, tiniest bit of angst in the form of pining and jungkook being bad at talking, background namseok, background vmin

warnings- penetrative sex, oral sex (m/f receiving), slight dirty talk, creampie, cursing, recreational alcohol use (of legal age), public sex, marking, nippleplay, finger sucking

There was nothing that you loved more than the ocean.  

The smell of sea water, the salty taste, the sand clinging to skin, the warm sun toasting around the edges.  

You loved the call of the birds, swooping up and down the shoreline for scraps of whatever the tourists left.  You loved the sound of the waves crashing against the tall beams supporting the pier.

You loved the sunbathers, the smell of coconut sunscreen, the chiming of bike bells.  The beach was your home, and you loved everything about it.

However, the best part, by far, was Jeon Jungkook.

You loved watching the black-haired boy stroll down the long stretch of sand, clad in either a wetsuit, or just some skin tight board shorts, long surfboard under his arm. 

Sometimes, he would arrive at lunchtime, shoving a burrito into his mouth as he suited up.  Sometimes, he would be there at 6 am, when you arrived to start your shift at the lifeguard station.  Sometimes, he would come right at the edge of evening, sun slowly dying beyond the horizon of the Pacific Ocean. 

Sometimes he came with his friends, Hoseok and Jin.  They would aimlessly roam around on their boards, laughing if one fell and trying to outmaneuver each other, laughter echoing down the expanse of water and sand.

Jeon Jungkook loved the beach as much as you did.  And you worshiped him for it.

You often watched the boy for hours, as he attempted to move through each wave perfectly, gliding against the water like it was glass.  He was graceful, so impeccably poised on the top of each crested wave. 

It wasn’t fair that he could be so perfect in and out of the water.

It wasn’t fair that he rarely gave you a passing glance.

“You’ll catch flies in your mouth if you keep staring at him like that,” Taehyung spoke, saddling up next to you and leaning against the wood of the lifeguard shack.

You shook your head and quickly closed your mouth.  You didn’t know it had opened in amazement as you stared at the lithe surfer.

Taehyung chuckled, rolling his eyes at his best friend.  “You’re ridiculous.”

You elbowed him and turned away from the shoreline, focusing your attention directly on your best friend and most certainly not on the tall, handsome, fit surfer gliding over the waves.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” you sniffed. “I was monitoring the shoreline for potential dangers, Kim Taehyung.  That is my job as a lifeguard.”

He laughed again, his low baritone comforting. “Sure, babe,” he sighed. “Definitely not drooling over Jungkook, I believe you.”

Taehyung knew all about the crush you harbored on the surfer ever since you first saw him 3 summers ago at the start of your lifeguard career.  You remembered your first day with your best friend.  

“Who is that?” You had asked, watching the man shoving at his friends jokingly, and paddling beside them through the water.  Taehyung had only laughed in reply.  “Really?” He asked, surprised.  “That’s Jeon Jungkook. He’s going professional soon, most likely.”

Your eyes never once left the boy again, always seeking him out along the shoreline, missing him when he took a day off from his practice and training.

Since that day, Taehyung made it a point to tease you about your unrequited crush on the boy, and always in not-so-subtle language told you you deserved better than the fuckboy surfing god.

You weren’t naïve to the fact that wherever Jungkook went, a gaggle of bikini-clad gorgeous women followed.  You weren’t foolish enough not to notice the smirks and winks he shot at them, desperately wishing that it was you.

Taehyung grumbled about the muscled surfer, stating that all he would do is fuck you over and break your heart, and couldn’t you just date someone nice like his cousin Namjoon?

Taehyung seemed to be in such a mood that day, too.

“I still can’t understand what you see in him,” he groused. “Sure, I guess he’s good looking, but he seems like such a player.  Jimin told me he saw him take that Jennie girl behind the cabanas last weekend.”

Your heart sagged, feeling defeated at his words.  Jennie was beautiful.  Tall, thin and gorgeous.  Surely, that was Jungkook’s type.  Jungkook’s type was definitely not lifeguard’s wearing red spandex one-pieces a la Baywatch, without the ample bosom.   Well, maybe some bosom, but nothing compared to the women flocking the young surfer from the shore.

You bit your lip and shrugged at your best friend, ignoring the shot in your heart at imagining Jungkook with someone, anyone, but you.

“He’s nice,” you murmured.  Not that you would really know. The man had spoken four sentences to you in the 3 years you’ve worked as a lifeguard, and most of those were asking about where a trash can was. “And he’s so talented.  He loves the ocean, you can tell,” you sighed, resting your head on your hand as you watched him from the ledge of the lifeguard shack.

Jungkook was especially in the zone that day, eyebrows drawn tight in concentration as he cut through the curve of the tube of water.  He seemed to practice more intently recently, the National Surfing Tournament was quickly approaching.  Jungkook was one of the best surfer’s in the nation and had recently gone professional.  You were sure he was eager to score more branding deals and secure his spot on the international scene.

“Namjoon is nice!  Much nicer!” Taehyung was incensed.  “Passionate too, and not an asshole!” 

Taehyung was determined to set you up with his cousin, Kim Namjoon.  Tae wasn’t wrong, Namjoon was nice.  He was shy, quiet, intelligent and sweet.  He was passionate about physics, math, science, and had earned a full-ride scholarship to the country’s most prestigious scientific university.  

Maybe, if you hadn’t met Jungkook, you’d give Namjoon a shot.  Unfortunately for the elder Kim cousin, no one could compare to Jungkook, regardless of how unlikely it was for him to ever glance your way.  

“Yes, Tae,” you sighed.  “Namjoon is very passionate… about engineering.”

“Hey! Engineering is a respectable profession, unlike professional surfing,” he sneered, as if the word tasted dirty in his mouth.  

You patted the brown-haired boy’s arm and smiled at him, not wanting to upset him further about his beloved cousin.  

“It’s just a stupid crush, Tae, okay?” You reassured.  “It’s not like Jungkook even knows who I am except for the girl who knows where to throw trash away.”

Taehyung nodded and squeezed your arm.  “Anyway, are you going to the tournament pre-party next weekend?” He asked, a shy blush spreading across his cheeks.  “Jimin asked me to go with him.”

The pre-party.  

You had almost forgotten, so focused on the tournament itself and watching Jungkook prepare harder each day.  You almost had his moves memorized by how often you watched.  The tournament pre-party was a few nights before the big day, a way for the surfers, fans and locals alike to party and celebrate.  The entire community of young adults in the area communed on the beach for bonfires, too much alcohol, volleyball, and countless summer frivolities. 

“Oh,” you breathed, eyes zeroing in again on the tall surfer of your affections. You knew it was hopeless to think Jungkook would ask you, but you couldn’t help the ache in your heart that desperately wanted him to. “I forgot.”  

Taehyung’s eyes lit up. “You don’t have anyone to take you?” He asked an ulterior motive on his mind. 

“I had someone in mind…” you sighed.  Jungkook appeared exhausted, finally seated on the surface of his board, panting hard. “But, no, no one has asked me.” 

Taehyung smirked a devious grin. You barely noticed, because of a cute pink-haired lifeguard appearing on the sand below you. 

“Oh, hi Jimin!” You called to the cherubic boy below. “Are you here to see your lover?” 

Jimin and Tae simultaneously turned a deep shade of crimson. Christ, they were perfect for each other. 

“Hi, Jimin,” Tae smiled shyly. “What are you doing here?”

“I came to bring you lunch,” Jimin’s teeth caught his bottom lip anxiously. “You too.” He smiled at you and held up the paper bag, earning a squeak of delight from your best friend as he tugged you down the stairs to greet his crush and receive his treats. 

“Where’s ours, Jimin?” A new voice called. 

Three heads whipped around to investigate the voice. It was Kim Seokjin, a teasing grin on his face.  He was flanked by Jung Hoseok, and none other than Jeon Jungkook. You felt as if someone had sucked the air out of you with a vacuum. 

Jimin blushed again, looking out at the men approaching the lifeguard station, dripping wet, half stripped out of their wetsuits, and exhausted. 

“Sorry, Jinnie! I didn’t realize you guys were here.” He hugged Jin with one arm, causing Tae to raise an eyebrow at the exchange. 

Jimin seemed to notice the confusion and hurried to explain. “This is Jin! My neighbor! We grew up together.”  Taehyung visibly relaxed.  “And this is Hoseok and Jungkook, his best friends.”  The boys waved at you two, and you prayed your hair looked decent today. A hand reached up to press down on your tresses, just in case. 

“I’m Taehyung!” Your best friend spoke, happy demeanor quickly re-appearing as he recognized Jin was not a threat. “And this is my best friend, Y/N!” 

You willed your cheeks not to flare red as the men took you in. You wore your standard issue red Speedo swimsuit, accentuating your thicker hips and thighs from years of gymnastics, and clinging to your chest. Fuck, did you look okay?  Your one chance to impress Jungkook and you were wholly unprepared.  Your arms crossed over your chest, hiding your body behind your arms. 

However, you smiled at the men, watching as Jin and Hoseok smirked at you and Jungkook’s face remained impassive. 

“Yeah, I’ve seen you around,” Jungkook added. “You guys are always here.” 

“Well,” you gulped. “Someone’s gotta… guard those lives…” Really? What the fuck kind of joke was that?

It was silent for a beat, before Seokjin burst into uncontrollable laughter. 

“Oh, I like you!” He joked as he wrapped an arm around your shoulders. “A woman after my own heart.” 

Jin’s friends rolled their eyes at the older man’s antics.  Jin was known for his lame jokes, Jimin explained to you.  

“You guys are going to the party next weekend, right?” Jimin asked the male trio, moving to stand near Tae.  Tae grinned at the boy as they linked hands.

The boys exchanged looks with each other.  “Yeah,” Hoseok replied. “I’m taking my boyfriend, Yoongi and Jin is taking our friend June.”

Tae smiled back at the group. “Jimin and I are going together!” He was excited, it was palpable.  The pair were tooth-rotting cute and the rest of the party smiled at how endearing the budding romance was.

“What about you?” Jin asked, peering in your direction. “Who’s lucky enough to take you?”

You flushed and stammered, unable to croak out the words.  

Tae, thankfully, took over. “She forgot about it.  She hasn’t found anyone yet.”

Jin’s face lit up, and he nudged you gently in the ribs. “Jungkook doesn’t have anyone to go with, either! You two should go together!”

Your face flushed immediately, and you shot your eyes to Jungkook, who laughed out loud with a blush on his face.  

“What?!” He yelped. “No, no!” he stammered.  “I uh… I’m going with Jennie!”

You felt your heart rip at the seams, and Taehyung clenched his fist in anger.

Jin narrowed his eyes in suspicion.  “You told us she’s a bad kisser, and that she was rude.”

“No!” Jungkook yelled. “She’s great! It’s fine! Oh, uhh… my mom’s here, gotta go!” He tore off towards the parking lot, leaving you in your dust and broken heart.  

Hoseok lifted a brow and looked at Jin.  “Doesn’t his mom live like… 4 hours away?”

Jin just laughed and shrugged, leaning in to give Jimin a goodbye hug.  “Sorry about that! Jungkook is a little edgy.”

Taehyung grumbled under his breath and Jimin moved to quickly cover it up. 

“It’s fine!” he assuaged.  “No harm!” He chuckled nervously, stealing you a glance.  He could tell by the broken puppy dog eyes on your face that there was certainly harm.

Taehyung was irate.  “Yeah!  She’s going with Kim Namjoon, anyway!”  You whipped your head to him, incredulous and confused. He stared back at you, resolute. 

You groaned, lowering your head to stare at your sandy feet.

“Oh, yeah?” Jin asked, ears perking up. “That delicious-...err… I mean, intelligent engineer guy?”

Taehyung, oblivious to Jin’s careful re-wording, nodded. “Yeah! He’s totally a catch, and he’s lucky to be going with her.”

Jin nodded and smiled at you, wrapping an arm around your shoulder. “Definitely.”  He chanced a glance at you, and could tell by the look on your face you felt otherwise.  He leaned to your ear and whispered only for you to hear, “If you find out he bats for the other team, will you let me know?”  

Jin was good in your book.  You giggled at the older boy and nodded, before peering back at your best friend’s confused gaze.  

“Well, we better go!  Looks like we’ve been ditched for some… mom time,” he motioned towards the parking lot that Jungkook fled to and gazed back at Hoseok.  “Let’s head out?”

Hoseok nodded, and you murmured your farewells to both, and laughed silently as Jin winked at you.

“I can’t believe it,” Taehyung kicked at the sand after the duo left.  “What an asshole! He was so rude! I knew he wasn’t good enough for you.”  

You had momentarily forgotten about the rejection, too caught up in Jin’s obvious interest in your apparent new date to the party.   Right.  The new date because Jungkook couldn’t even fathom you on his arm; it was laughable to him.  Ouch.

Jimin approached you and wrapped you in his arms. “Sorry, love,” he murmured as his date kicked angrily at the sand, cursing Jeon Jungkook’s name.  “He really is an idiot.”

Taehyung put himself back together and hugged the two of you tight.  “Joonie will be excited to take you,” he replied with a grin wide on his face.  

You groaned. “Can’t wait.”

“Jeon Jungkook, what the hell is wrong with you!?” Kim Seokjin shrieked as he walked into the parking lot and found the surfer sitting on the edge at a soft thatch of grass, surfboard haphazardly laid next to him.  

Jungkook winced, knowing the lecture would come from his oldest friend.  

“I’m sorry!” he started, looking up at the man with pleading eyes. “I just-... I don’t-...” he was at a loss for words, unable to explain his behavior.

He sighed and looked back down at his feet.  Why had he reacted so negatively?  He barely even knew the girl, but had been so overwhelmed by the sight of her in her red swimsuit and cute braided hair, and Jin suddenly;y suggesting they go to the party together.  He was flustered.

“I don’t even know her! I think I asked her once about a fucking trashcan!  Why would she want to go with someone she doesn’t know?” He complained.  

Jin rolled his eyes and crossed his arms, the picture of motherly scorn. “You could have gotten to know her on the fucking DATE!” he snapped. “Instead, you laughed in the poor girl’s face!  She looked like a kicked puppy.”

Jungkook winced and rubbed at his ocean-burned eyes, feeling a headache beginning in his temples.  “I’m sorry!” he exasperated. “I’ll apologize sometime! I’ll ask her to go with me!” 

Jungkook supposed he really wouldn’t mind having the lifeguard on his arm at the party.  She filled out her swimsuit nicely and had a gorgeous smile. She was shy, it seemed, but he supposed that wasn’t so bad. He mentally kicked himself for reacting so harshly.  

“Too late,” Hoseok chimed in. “She’s going with Kim Namjoon.”

At the name, Jungkook snapped his eyes to Jin, who huffed.  “If he falls in love with her and not me at this party, I’m shoving your surfboard up your ass.”

Spending your days at the lifeguard shack was easier said than done after Jungkook’s blatant rejection.  Your eyes followed him constantly, watching as he practiced each turn, tube ride, and off-the-lip. He practiced constantly, nearly 7 hours a day.  He only took breaks to come to shore to eat and drink water and occasionally scurry off to the bathroom.  You desperately wanted to turn away, the sight of him at all causing your heart to clench. But you were powerless, utterly unable to avoid the magnetism that was Jeon Jungkook.

Your shifts switched between partnering with Jimin and Taehyung, both trying to do anything in their power to lift your spirits.  Taehyung chattered away between how excited he was to go with Jimin, and how great it would be to see you and Namjoon together.  Jimin avoided any topic of Jungkook or Namjoon and simply discussed what you would wear to the party and flicked through various websites on his phone with you to determine.  

Jimin yipped with excitement.  “Look at this one,” he swooned, shoving his phone under your nose.  “You’d look so good!”

You glanced at the screen, a golden bikini top in the frame.  It cupped the model’s chest nicely, allowing ample cleavage, and wrapping around the neck with a halter tie.  It was beautiful, shimmery and trendy.  

“I dunno,” you sighed. “Can I pull that off?”

Jimin smirked.  “I’m sure Namjoon could pull it off you.”

“Oh god,” you snorted. “Not you too! Plus, I think Seokjin likes him.”  

Jimin hummed. “Well, I think you should still get it.  Wear it with a cute tight skirt!” His face was lit up. You couldn’t deny the boy.  “Plus, you’ll make stupid Jungkook regret his decision.”

Your face fell at the name.  Jimin internally slapped himself for bringing him up. 

“I’m sorry, bub,” he whispered, taking your hand in his.  “He really is an idiot for what he did to you.”

You smiled at Jimin, willing yourself not to cry at work.  “Thanks, Jimin,” you sighed.  “It’s okay.  I’ll buy it!  It will look great.”  You mostly bought it to ensure Jimin didn’t feel too guilty, but also because it would likely make your tits look great, and you could use some revenge on the surfer.

The pink-haired boy happily clicked the ‘buy’ button, and you entered your card information, thankful that the package would arrive a few days before the party.

You and Jimin settled into an easy conversation, discussing his and Taehyung’s date.  The lithe little lifeguard regaled you with his grand romantic gestures that he planned to surprise Taehyung and officially ask him to be his boyfriend.  It was cute, and your best friend definitely deserved the adoration.  But it was acutely making your heart clench in jealousy and sadness.  

You glanced at your watch, noting the time.  “Hey, I’m going to go walk down the and do shore checks,” you smiled as you grabbed your long white life preserver and slipped ray bans on your eyes.  Jimin nodded and spritzed you with sunblock before you made your way out the door.  

The walk down the shore was a practiced one.  Your eyes scanned over the surface of the water, trained to spot anything wrong or dangerous.  You knelt down to apply a band-aid to a little boy’s scraped knee and picked up trash that a seagull would surely choke on.    It was easy to busy yourself with minimal tasks and keeping an active eye for danger on the horizon. 

The distractions were very welcome, and your mind flittered comfortably around and never landed on the topic of a certain tall, fit surfer. 

Until he was standing right in front of you, your body colliding into his.

“Fuck!” you exclaimed. “Sorry!” You stood and dusted off; you had fallen directly onto the sand on your ass.  You looked at the large person standing in front of you and felt your heart sink.

“I was calling your name for like...4 minutes,” he said amused. “Aren’t lifeguards supposed to be paying attention?”

You blushed and crossed your arms over your chest, huffing. “What do you want?”

Okay, you were a little short, a little rude.  But the man laughed at the idea of being seen with you!  He deserved at least a little of it.

Jungkook blanched at the tone of your voice. “I’m- uh,” he struggled to find words. “I just wanted to tell you I’m sorry.” He nibbled at his lip.  “About the other day.  And for knocking you over just now.”

You crossed your arms tighter against your chest and lifted your sunglasses up your face to rest on your head.  “You were an asshole,” you mumbled.

He rubbed at the back of his neck anxiously. “I know, yeah,” he swallowed harshly.  “I guess they caught me off guard and didn’t know what to say.  Are you still going alone?”

You paused, unsure how to respond.  To tell him about your fake date with Namjoon, or not.

“No,” you sighed.  “I’m going with Kim Namjoon.”

Jungkook scoffed. “That nerd!?” You felt your eyes narrow.  Only you got to call Namjoon a nerd, maybe Seokjin too, but not Jungkook, and not in that tone. “I wanted to ask you if you would go with me.  Jennie’s already got someone else.”

“Oh, so I’m the second choice now?” You lifted an eyebrow, and he hurried to explain.

“No! Well, yeah!” He was fucking up, he knew it. “But not in a bad way!” God, Jungkook wished he could punch himself out cold so he could stop this train wreck.  He felt like such an idiot.

“How is it not a bad way, Jungkook?” You asked, annoyance and hurt rising steadily. 

“Nevermind! It’s fine,” he huffed, angry at himself and allowing it to come out on you. “I was just thinking you’d be eager to ditch the dweeb and be the lucky lady on my arm.”

How in the world did he think that was okay to say?  You glared at him for a moment.

“You’re a fucking asshole,” you bit. “I’m the lucky one!? You should feel lucky that I even listened to your shit apology, let alone entertain the thought of going to the party with you!”

You continued your rant and Jungkook wished the earth would swallow him.  Why was it so hard to talk to you like a normal fucking human?

“Namjoon is polite, and sweet and smart and not a fucking bully who thinks he’s better than everyone!” you yelled, aware that passersby were watching the scene unfold.  A lifeguard yelling at a professional surfer, how charming. “And he’s the lucky one because I’m fucking great!”

“So you can have your fucking apology and go to the party alone, you absolute asswipe!” With that, you turned around and stormed back to the lifeguard tower, stewing in your mixed anger and grief.

You were suddenly very grateful to wear that golden bikini, eager to rub just exactly what Jungkook lost out on in his face.

The weekend of the party came quickly, far quicker than you were ready for.  As much as you enjoyed Namjoon’s company, it was still a little awkward.  Even more so now that you knew Seokjin, your newest friend, held a candle for the tall genius.

Taehyung sat on your bed as you finished applying makeup, a bronzy yet natural look.  Taehyung wore short shorts and a tank, showing off his impossibly toned and tanned arms and thighs.  He looked fantastic and knew that Jimin would salivate at the sight.  

“You look incredible, bubby,” Tae smiled as he stood behind you and helped secure the necklace you were fumbling with.  “Namjoon is a lucky man.”

You flushed, not wanting to burst Taehyung’s bubble regarding your platonic feelings towards his cousin. “Thanks, Taetae.”

You glanced at your finished look in the long mirror as Tae stood behind you and rubbed your shoulders. The golden bikini top wrapped around your body seamlessly, lifting your breasts with ample cleavage and complimenting your lifeguard tan.  

You wore a short and tight, high-waisted denim skirt and simple sandals you could easily slip off once in the sand.  It different from the 70s vibe of your normal lifeguard outfit.  Your hair fell down in curls, rather than held up in braids or a bun, and makeup adorned your tanned features. Not bad, you smirked.

Taehyung hugged you from behind, but jumped as the doorbell rang. 

“Oh! That's Joonie!”  He quickly scuttled away.

You took a deep breath, summoned every ounce of courage and walked out to meet your date. 

Namjoon smiled kindly at you, wearing a sensible pair of knee-length jean shorts and a designer tee.  

“You look amazing!” he smiled as you grabbed a sweater in case it got too cold. A bikini only gave so much coverage against wind. 

“Thanks Joon,” you replied. “You too.”

Tae sighed as if watching a romantic movie. “Oh my sweet little lovebirds,” you rolled your eyes. “Go have fun!  Namjoon, you take care of her!” He wagged his finger in his cousin's face. “I know where you live!” 

You and Namjoon laughed at his antics. 

“Okay bub, that’s enough,” you hugged your best friend. “Go get your man.” 

He kissed both your cheeks and hugged his tall cousin. “Hopefully by the end of tonight, he will be my man.” He winked before slipping out the door. 

“He’s too much, sometimes,” Namjoon chuckled. You nodded as you opened the front door for him. 

“Don’t blame me, he’s your cousin,” you teased, and the pair of you left towards the beach. 

You heard the music of the party before you saw it.  You and Namjoon had been chatting easily as you walked the few blocks to the beach.  His conversation helped quell the anxiety growing in your stomach.  Jungkook would be there.  You were still so mad at him, and yet still undeniably attracted to the popular surfer.  It frustrated you he gave you every reason not to like him and still, your brain resisted.

“Wow, it looks wild,” Namjoon breathed as you approached the crowd.  There were groups of people everywhere, each in various states of beachwear and undress.  

You nodded, eyes peering around for any familiar face.  You quickly spotted Jin with his date, a cute and petite brunette, along with Hoseok and Yoongi.  Thankfully, Jungkook was nowhere to be seen.  Jin and his crowd quickly made their way towards you.  

“My princess!” He exclaimed as he wrapped his arms around you.  He tucked his lips by your ear and whispered, “So, you think I got a chance?” You turned to smile at him and shrugged. 

“He didn’t seem to care about my tits,” you surmised.  Not that it meant he was gay, but since Seokjin seemed to grasp at straws, so did you.

“How unfair to you!” he faux-gasped.  “You could see these puppies from space!” He patted your shoulders and looked at the tall genius.  

Namjoon’s eyes were glued to Seokjin, transfixed.  Jin stuck his hand out towards him. 

“Hi, I’m Seokjin.  But you can call me Jin,” he mewled, eyes giving off blatant ‘come hither’ vibes.  

Namjoon licked his lips and slowly extended his own hand.  “Namjoon,” he replied.

Jin grinned. “I know,” he teased. “You’re the local Einstein.”

Namjoon flushed, and you nudged Jin, asking to take it easy on the boy.  

Within a blink, Tae and Jimin joined your group, hands clasped together and giddy smiles on their faces.  Namjoon arched an eyebrow at his cousin and Tae merely smiled, one that spoke volumes of love for the pink-haired lifeguard.

“Where’s Jungkook?” Tae growled as he took stock of who was present.  Hoseok awkwardly coughed.

“He’s uh,” Hoseok started. “Coming late.”

You pursed your lips, ignoring the fast beat of your heart.  Namjoon was still engaged in a staring contest with Seokjin and you smiled at Jin’s date, June.  “Do you want to go with me to get a drink, June?” You asked, feeling awkward that the girl’s date was openly flirting with yours.

She nodded appreciatively and walked with you towards the beer garden.  “Sorry about the boys,” you murmured.  “It’s a little awkward when your date partners flirt with each other.”

June giggled and grabbed a cold cup of beer.

“I don’t mind,” she smiled behind the foam.  “Jin is one of my best friends.  I’m gay, my girlfriend is just out-of-town so I agreed to come with him.”

You sighed a breath of relief. “Oh thank god, I was worried you would kill me or Namjoon.”

June giggled, she was adorable, and shook her head.  “No way.  Do you know how many times I’ve had to listen to Jin wax poetic about him?  I started to get a crush on him!” she teased.

June was easy to talk to, and you found yourself throwing back a beer and grasping at another before she asked if you wanted to head back towards the group.

“June! Hey!” a voice called out, causing you both to turn around.  The source of the voice was none other than Jungkook.

“Oh,” he faltered as he took in your body, your outfit.  Fuck, you looked good.  He willed himself not to pop a boner, especially since you were less than pleased with him. “Hey,” his cheeks were flaring red. 

“Hi Kook!” June exclaimed, hugging the muscular boy. Not that you were looking at his muscles.  “Where’s Jennie?”

Your head tilted, confused at the statement.  Jungkook was actively aware of your body language.  He coughed in order to relieve the tension in his throat.

“She’s just,” he didn’t know where to begin. “With some friends at the moment.”

You sucked at your teeth.  “Glad you found someone to go with after all, Jungkook. I would hate for you to have to resort to your second choice.”  

You spun around and stormed back towards your friends, leaving June and Kook in your wake.  

You avoided Jungkook for much of the night.  You danced with your friends, roasted marshmallows with Namjoon, did shots with Jimin and Tae, and walked down the shore towards the lifeguard booth you worked at regularly with your date.

“So,” you smiled at him. “Seems like you hit it off with Seokjin.”

Namjoon’s cheeks bloomed red. “Well, sure, yeah,” he gasped.  “He’s… nice.”

You elbowed the man gently. “Joonie, it’s okay.  You like him.”  

Namjoon paused and looked at you before gazing back at his feet.

“I’m so sorry. I know you like me, and Tae always talks about your crush on me, but I’m… I’m gay.  You’re beautiful and all, but I just don’t see you that way.”

You spluttered, laughing with confusion.  

“What!? Tae told you what!? Oh, my god,” you laughed. “I thought you were gay, Joon!  And I love you as a friend, but I don’t have a crush on you.”

He looked relieved, eyes now locked on yours.  “What? Really?” He gasped, then frowned.  “I’m going to fucking kill him.”

You hugged him tight.  “He was so desperate to see us get together he didn’t see the obvious,” you sighed after you pulled away. “Seokjin likes you too.  You should go to him.  The girl he’s with isn’t his girlfriend. It’s his lesbian best friend.”  You laughed at the incredulity of the circumstances of the night.

Namjoon held you tight and smiled. “Sorry,” he mumbled awkwardly. “I’m glad we came together though, I enjoy being with you.  As friends.” He added.  

You quickly nodded and agreed. “Now go suck his dick! I can walk myself home.” 

Joon blushed again. It was easy to get that reaction out of him.  He kissed your hands and turned back towards the party, seeking the older man.

You ambled towards the lifeguard station, quickly hopping up to sit on the weather-worn wood planks and watch the waves roll in.  It was nice to step away from the party, from the crowds and noise.  Being at the ocean at night reminded you of how much you loved it, how you felt as if it rushed through your veins.  

“I see you’re lost in your own thoughts again,” a familiar voice called.  You quickly snapped at the intruder.  Jungkook.  Of course, you couldn’t escape him.  You wanted him near and wanted him gone all at once.

“I was calling your name again, and you didn’t hear me.  Maybe you should see a doctor,” he teased as he hopped up next to you on the shack porch.  

You grumbled.  “What are you doing out here?” You asked. “Aren’t you like the life of the party? Where’s Jennie?”

He frowned and looked out at the water. “Making out with her ex.”

Oh, yikes.  You felt bad for him, regardless of if he deserved it or not.

“Sorry,” you mumbled.  

“I’m tired of the party.  Everyone wants to talk to me about the money and the fame from my sponsorships.  No one asks me how I’m feeling about the competition.”

You bit your lip, allowing Jungkook to continue.

“It gets old, I guess.  Girls always wanting to talk about my sponsorship deals, and if I’ve met any Olympians,” he chuckled darkly.  “Sorry, I sort of dumped that on you.”

You shook your head, staring at the object of your affections.  “I get it,” you agreed. “If it’s any consolation, I think you’ll do great at the tournament.”  You bit your lip, afraid to continue the compliment.  “I’ve watched you, you know.  You’re really good.”

“Just really good?” he teased.  You poked him in the stomach in retort.

“Yes, Jungkook, you’re really good.  You’re the best for a reason.”  Your face returned to a thoughtful look.  “Are you nervous?”

Jungkook nodded. “Yeah, I am.  I’m scared to disappoint anyone.  My friends, my family, my coach…” he trailed off. “I guess I’m more scared of disappointing them than I am about losing.”

“You’re not scared of losing?”

“Not really, no.” He let his legs sway in the open air.  “If it came down to it, I’d rather lose than disappoint them somehow.  But the two seem to be tied together. I can’t lose without making them upset.”

“Do you love what you do?” The question was simple, but held such significance to Jungkook.  He looked at you, amazed at the sincerity in your face and questions.  God, he could kiss you right now.

“I used to,” he spoke after a beat of staring at your lips. “I liked it when I could do it how I wanted.  When I could just surf for fun, and maybe for a prize here and there.  But now, I’m expected to win. All the time. Never make your hobby into your job,” he sighed.

You let your hand rest on his thigh. “You can be in charge of your life, Jungkook,” you murmured.  “You’re an adult. You can lose if you want to.  You could quit all together. What anyone else wants for you isn’t as important as what you want for you.”

Jungkook let the idea roll in his mind. He stared at you, unused to talking so frankly and freely about his life and career and dreams, let alone with a girl he was attracted to.

“I want to kiss you,” he spoke, quiet and confident.  Your eyes widened.

“You do?”

He nodded, not allowing any anxiety to roll through him or let him make an ass of himself again. “I do.”

Your heart was beating ten times too fast.  It felt as if it might launch out of your chest cavity.

“Okay,” you breathed. “I want you to kiss me.”

Jungkook leaned forward and pressed his warm lips to yours.  He tasted like the ocean, salty and earthy.  He tasted like beer, bitter and sharp.  He tasted like what you imagined was the essence of Jungkook, warm and sweet.  

He let his hand rest on your cheek, thumb caressing your cheek as his fingers wound through your hair.  He deepened the kiss, tongue swirling into the cavern of your mouth to seek purchase. He wanted you, all of you.

You sighed against his lips, allowing his tongue to explore your mouth as you returned the favor.  You each made small, slight and tiny gasps.  Jungkook pressed towards you, laying you down on the hard wood of the lifeguard deck as he continued kissing you, fingers combing through your hair.

“I’m sorry I was an ass,” he whispered. “I promise I’m not that big of an asshole, you just get me so flustered.”

You giggled against his lips, pulling him in for another deep caress of your tongue.  “I forgive you, as long as you keep that promise.”

Jungkook moved his fingers towards your bikini top, dipping into your cleavage.  “I almost passed out when I saw you in this,” he admitted, resting his forehead against yours. 

You didn’t need to reply, as Jungkook began kissing the tops of your breasts, sucking gently on the skin of your cleavage.  He was definitely leaving marks, and you hoped your work swimsuit would cover the evidence.  

You moaned under his touch, sighing as he pulled the top down further to expose your hardened nipples.  At the feel of his tongue on one nub, you jolted up, aware of your surroundings.

“Wait! Stop!” You gasped.  Jungkook pulled away quickly, eyes boring into yours with confusion.  

“What’s wrong?”

“Not out here!” You begged, dragging him into the interior of the lifeguard’s shack.  It was measly, with a desk, a chair and a long padded bench, but it would have to work.

Jungkook’s concern melted away and a cocky smile spread across his lips.  

“You wanna fuck at work, huh? Kinky.”

You kissed him hard again, ignoring his teasing comments.  He quickly untied the top completely and threw it to the ground and allowed himself to revel in the feel of your naked breasts.  He easily pressed you down to sit on the bench and stood before you.  

“Okay, I know I was joking before about fucking at work, but this is actually really hot,” he groaned at the sight of you, tits out and lips puffy from his kissing.   

He knelt in front of you and buried his face in your tits, licking and sucking at the sensitive skin. 

You jerked and arched your back into him, allowing your head to bob back. 

“Ohhhh, fuck,” you sighed as he tugged on a nipple harshly. “So good.” 

Jungkook was encouraged and sucked harder, lifting his fingers to your other nub to twist and pinch and pull. The high whine that left your lips shot straight to his cock. 

“Fuck, babe,” he breathed. “You’re so responsive.”  He marveled at you, the way the moon shone on your naked body.  His hand moved from your breast to your skirt and tugged the denim up. 

He hissed at the sight of your bare pussy, no underwear in sight.  

“Shit, fuck,” he took a steadying breath to ground himself. “That was so unexpected and so fucking hot.”

You blushed. “Panty lines,” you offered as a response. 

“Fuck yeah, panty lines,” he wheezed, knowing his words made no sense and watched your cunt slick your thighs.  

He let a finger drag up and down your slit, ripping a loud moan from your throat.  Jungkook was about to finger you. Jungkook, the man you had been in love with for three summers was about to eat you out.  This must be a dream, right?

“So pretty,” he cooed, eyes glued to your slippery cunt. “Wanna eat you up.”

“Please, yes, fuck,” you babbled. “Please Kook, I want you so bad.”  

He smirked and leaned forward and pressed his tongue against your clit, one quick flick against the bud. He pulled back and savored the taste on his tongue. “Mmm, perfect.”

You cried at the loss of sensation, pussy clenching around nothing and nearly screaming in need for the surfer to please you. Your legs spread wantonly, tits out and skirt hiked up around your waist.  It was filthy. You fucking loved it. 

Jungkook easily slipped two fingers into your tight heat and dropped his jaw in a groan at the feel of your silky wet walls sucking his fingers.  You keened your approval and gasped for more. He was staring at the way you took his fingers, hypnotized by the push and pull of your channel. 

“Fuck, I could probably cum just from watching this,” he breathed. “I’ve never been so turned on by fingering someone before.” 

Your breathing was heavy, panting harshly as you felt his long digits slowly fuck into you. 

“Shit, Jungkook, please I’m aching,” you begged. “My clit, p-please.”

He nodded dutifully and lowered his mouth to suck at your clit.  You tasted exquisite, like fine wine, and he was thirsty. 

Electric pulses danced down your spine as you finally received what you needed, moaning his name encouragingly. You threaded your hands through his hair, gasping for air and squeaking in delight at every swirl of his tongue. 

He fucked you harder with his fingers, establishing a quick pace. 

“You look so fucking good,” he complimented. “Your pussy fucks my fingers so good.  It’s going to feel fucking fantastic with my cock shoved in it.” 

You nodded in agreement, eyes shut tight as your fingers tightened their hold on his shiny locks. “Jungkook, fuck! There, right there!! Shit!” You gasped, feeling the beginning torrent of your orgasm. 

He obeyed, making out with your cunt and suckling at your clit as he slipped another finger inside you and fucked you fervently. Your body was like his last meal on earth and he would savor every last drop. 

“Cum for me, babe. Fuck, I bet you look so fucking hot cumming on my fingers.” 

His pumping fingers and punishing tongue speared you into an intense orgasm, cunt walls convulsing around him. You slapped a hand over your mouth to stifle the scream of pleasure as your body shook. 

Jungkook had never felt more proud of anything in his life. He had fucked a lot of girls, but never any as responsive as you. You were addictive. 

“Jesus,” he gasped, sliding his finger from your spent pussy, dripping in your release. “Suck.” 

He pressed his fingers into your mouth and groaned as you sucked obediently, showing exactly what you would do to his cock were the fingers replaced in your mouth with it.  His groan of approval told you he was looking forward to it. 

“Jungkookkkkieee!” A drunk, female voice hollered out on the beach.  You both shot up, attempting to fix yourself and throw your bikini back over your body. 

Jungkook ducked out to see who was calling him. His eyes narrowed as he saw Jennie faltering in the sand, drunk. 

“Fuck,” he murmured. “It’s Jennie.” 

You frowned. “I thought she was with her ex…”

“Me too.”

“Jungkooookie! Where are you?! I’m ready to go home and get fucked like you promised meeeeeee!” She giggled as she fell into the sand, unaware of the couple in the lifeguard shack. 

Your eyes narrowed to slits at the surfer. He winced, feeling as if they were daggers in him. 

“Look, I didn’t say that-...”

“I get it now,” you snapped as you tied your top back around your neck. 

“Listen! Wait!” He attempted to stop you and grab your hands, but you quickly wrenched them away and shoved him from you. 

“Fuck you, Jungkook!  I’m always the second choice, huh?  Jennie fucks off with her ex so you look for your fallback plan.” Your words were dripping in malice, in regret. 

“No! I promise! I didn’t tell her that!  I haven’t fucked her except once like 2 months ago!” He begged for you to stay. “I don’t want her! I want you.”

“I can’t believe I’m this fucking stupid,” you shook your head and gathered your belongings and stormed out of the shack.  He quickly followed behind you, begging you to let him explain himself. You ignored him valiantly, the tears now falling down your face. 

“If you’d just fucking listen to me, I could explain-..”

You cut him off by turning towards him and jabbing angry fingers in his face. 

“No, you fucking listen,” your voice was dark, and he tracked the tears falling from your face. “I’ve liked you for three fucking years now. I never thought I had a chance with you. And I was fine with that.  But you fucking dangled it in front of me. You played me.”  You bit your cheek, desperately wanting to slap his stupid, beautiful face, but held yourself back. 

“Good luck at the tournament, Jungkook.”

And you turned, and you left, running quickly to find Tae to get home to cry. 

—-

“Welcome to the 43rd Annual National Surfing Tournament!” The loudspeaker voice boomed through the beach. It felt like it echoed through your heart.  

You sucked your teeth, thoroughly unimpressed with the fanfare.  

You were stationed at a makeshift perch, close to the shore. You, along with Tae and Jimin, were the selected lifeguards for the event in case of emergency. 

You fought your manager when you saw your name on the list for the event.  

There was no way you could be on the same beach as Jeon Jungkook. 

But there was no way out, Jimin and Tae just sent sad frowns to you and murmured compassionate encouragement. 

So you stood at your position, sunglasses covering your eyes, as you watched the surfers line up at the shore. You avoided looking at the tall, black-haired one. You tried and failed. 

He looked tired, nervous. He ran his hands through his hair anxiously and picked at spots on his board. 

Whatever. You pushed away any thoughts of care towards the man. 

He stole a glance at you, noticing you turn your face away the moment he looked up. He frowned, eyes back at the shore lapping at his feet. 

Jungkook readied himself. Within moments, the siren rang, and he tore off towards the water, hopped on his board, and paddled towards the swells. He monitored the competing surfers, wanting to move far away from them to avoid a collision and snag a wave all for himself. 

He swam right, leaving the pack of surfers in the center to move closer to the pier beams. It was risky, he could over correct a fall and slide right into a current that would slam him into the huge beams of wood. But the waves crashing there were perfect.  Tubular, even. 

He paddled harder, eager to get his first run in. 

You narrowed your eyes as you watched him move towards the pier. What was he doing?  That was a dangerous area, and a grip on your throat kept your eyes glued to the man. 

He stared ahead, watched as the swell of the wave started, before turning around and paddling. He kept his eye behind him on the wave, moving to correct himself and hit the wave at just the right spot. He steadied his feet on the board and stood, thrusting his hips forward to propel the board on top of the now-crested wave.  His smile lit up his entire body. 

He did it; you cheered internally, before scolding yourself. Who cares, certainly not you. 

Jungkook balanced and risked a run through the rolling wave. He timed it well enough he could make it before the tube filled with water.  With a quick jut of his legs and his hip, he shoved his body and board through the tube, fingers dragging across the glassy surface. 

God, he looked gorgeous.  The wave encircled him, as if he were the god of the water. 

You felt your throat jump high in your mouth. 

The tube was closing quickly; the wave dying down. Getting caught in a rip curl was deadly, forcing the victims underwater for too long. 

Jungkook pressed his body closer to the board, willing the aerodynamics to take him faster to the end of the tube. 

You watched him, crying out loud to encourage him to hurry, as if he could hear you from your perch. 

Within seconds, the wave crashed and dragged the surfer down with him. 

Jungkook tumbled off the longboard, head cracking hard against the polyurethane surface.  He groaned as water overtook him.

Fuck.

You acted on instinct. You threw the life preserver behind you and ran into the water.  You waited for the incoming wave to pass overhead before resurfacing and swimming to him as fast as you could. 

You were crying, you noticed, tears escaping your body as you swam harder than you had in your life. You could see him swirling in the water, and you panicked. How were you going to get him out? Without killing yourself in the process. 

You squeezed your eyes tight and held yourself sturdy as the wave washed over you, ducking under the water to allow it to pass.

As it passed, you resurfaced and found Jungkook still in the water, not moving, with his surfboard still attached by the tether to his ankle.  Fuck, was he unconscious?

You pressed towards him, forcing water out of the way to reach him as quickly as possible, knowing the possibility of him drowning while unconscious was high.  

A sob left your lips as you reached the surfer and used all the strength in your body to heave his upper half onto the surfboard.  He groaned.  You breathed out the air you didn’t realize you were holding.  He was alive, thank god.

“Jungkook! Are you okay?” you asked, pushing hair out of his face.  Your eyes darted around his body.  He was breathing, didn’t appear to have any broken body parts yet, but was bleeding profusely from his forehead, likely when he hit his board in the crash.

You held your hand against the wound, willing it to stop with the pressure. “It’s okay, Kook,” you murmured. “I’m here, it’s okay.”  You didn’t know if the words were reassuring for him, or for you.  Perhaps both.  

The sound of a boat drew you from your attendance to his wound. The large Coast Guard speed boat pulled up beside you and threw in a rope ladder for you to climb on, while skilled men lifted the unconscious Jungkook and his board out of the water. You spotted Yoongi at the helm. You didn’t realize he was Coast Guard, and he rushed to you to hug you close. You sighed a breath of relief at the comfort, thankful you and Jungkook were both all right.  

Harsh, choking coughs came from the ground and you pulled from Yoongi to see Jungkook spluttering water from his mouth.  You cried at the sight of him awake, breathing, and fell to your knees beside him.  The medics had placed gauze and a makeshift bandage on his forehead, protecting his wound and stifling the blood.

“You fucking asshole,” you chided as you delicately pulled the man into your arms.  He easily wrapped his arms around you, still gasping for air, clinging to you like his last lifeline. 

Jungkook sat in the worn room of the lifeguard shack, a towel wrapped around his shoulders, a blanket on his lap. 

“You might be in shock,” you murmured, watching him from your knees on the floor. 

“You know, when I pictured you on your knees for me, it wasn’t at a time when I almost died.”  He tried to lighten the mood and watched your face pull a smile, before looking towards the floor again. You still hadn’t forgotten the night of the party. The heartbreak at feeling like his second choice, again. 

“Sorry, that was stupid,” he chastised himself. “I meant to say thank you.  Thank you for helping me. What I did was dumb and risky.”

You scooted closer to him and held his hand in yours. “It’s okay, Jungkook. I'm glad you’re all right. I’m sorry you didn’t win the tournament.”

He shrugged. “Honestly, I forgot about it,” he admitted. “It was so fun trying out that stupid move, I forgot I was competing.” 

You couldn’t help but smile up at the surfer. 

“You lost…” . 

“Because I wanted to.” He smiled. 

He knelt down to meet you on the floor, face impossibly close to yours. 

“I’m so sorry, for everything. I was an asshole, even when I promised you I wouldn’t be.  You’re not my second choice,” he whispered. “You’re my first choice. You saved me, not just from a large head wound,”  he motioned to the wrapped bandage around his forehead with a wry smile. “You saved me from a life of trying to prove I’m not a disappointment and lose out on what I loved in life.” 

Your eyes sparkled with tears. “I’m proud of you.” 

“That’s all I needed to hear.” He leaned down and pressed his lips to yours, kissing you as if you were the life preserver pulling him from the churning depths below the surface.  

“Jungkook, I swear to god if you don’t let me suck your cock, I will explode,” you whined as you sat on your knees. 

Jungkook grinned at you from the office chair of the lifeguard shack. He was still dripping wet from playing in the surf with Hoseok and Yoongi, wetsuit tight on his toned body.  

“My, my.  Who knew it took me wearing my wetsuit again for my girlfriend to turn into a cock slut?  I just stopped by to say hi, and you’re on your knees for me.” He teased, unzipping the suit to his navel. 

“You look so fucking good, I can’t help it,” you begged, hands reaching to help him unzip the rest. “And I know you’re naked under here.”  The thought of his cock so near was mouthwatering. 

He couldn’t help but sigh with pleasure as you pulled the zipper down all the way and released his thick length from its wet confines. “Mmm, you were right.”  He smirked as you grasped his cock in your hands, gasping as you pressed a kiss to the tip. 

You sucked his cock into your mouth, enveloping the entire length in your throat. He tasted like the ocean, so salty and pleasant. He tasted like Jungkook, warm and sweet. 

You bobbed your head up and down his length, groaning at the feeling of his cock touching the back of your throat. 

“Shit, babe, you’re so good,” he grunted, allowing his eyes to shut in pleasure. 

You continued your journey, sucking and bobbing expertly and adding a fist to help jerk him to completion. He whined, already so close, and tapped your shoulder. “Gonna cum, baby.”

Your hand grasped at his balls, rubbing your hands down and over the sensitive sack, encouraging him to release down your throat. 

“Oh fuck, oh fuck, fuck,” he gasped quickly. With a few drags of your tongue and throat, he was releasing his load into your mouth.  You hummed with pleasure, allowing his cock to fall from your mouth with a pop, and swallowed the load down. You stuck your tongue out to show your clean mouth. 

“Good girl,” he cooed. “Now, be a doll and let me fuck you over the desk,” he ordered as he slapped your swimsuit covered ass. 

You squeaked and jumped into position, bending over the old desk and pushing your ass out towards him. 

“Yes, daddy,” you teased. 

He quirked an eyebrow. “That’s new.” 

“Thought we’d try it out, daddy,” you emphasized with a wiggle of your ass. 

“I don’t hate it,” he shrugged, tugging the strip of fabric that covered your cunt to the side. 

“Hurry and fuck me, babe, my break is over in 20 minutes.” 

He huffed. “I thought daddy gave the orders, baby,” he frowned. 

“Sorry, daddy. Please fuck me, I only have 20 minutes.”  Your eyes pleaded with him, giving him the puppy dog stare he couldn’t resist. 

With one push, Jungkook was fully enveloped in your slick heat. He gasped at the familiar feeling of your cunt, one he would never ever get sick of. 

“Fuck,” he whined. 

You agreed with a moan and a jiggle of your hips, begging to start a rhythm. 

Jungkook was weak and complied, quickly settling into quick thrusts. He knew he didn’t have much time to drag this out, so he was intent on getting you off as quickly as he could. 

You arched your back, gasping at the feel of him filling you.  Jungkook seemed to fit perfectly inside you, and you gawped at how quickly he could wring orgasms out of you with his cock. 

“You like bending over the desk for me, hmm?” he questioned. “You’re so wet.”

You murmured a low response, straight from your throat. The tendrils of orgasm slowly worked their way around your stomach, threatening to explode as Jungkook nudged your cervix with each push. 

“Shit, right there,” you cried, grasping for the edges of the desk to steel yourself. 

Jungkook simply went harder, faster, angling himself at the angle you needed. Watching you fall apart under his hands surpassed any feeling. He loved bringing you to your knees. 

“Yeah, fuck,” he grunted. “Cum on my cock.”

You threw your head back, moaning loudly at your boyfriend’s ability to disintegrate your core in minutes. It didn’t help that he had worked you up in his wetsuit, and sucking his cock had pleased you more than you thought possible. You were so close, so deliciously close. 

“Oh, my god! Baby, I’m cumming, fuck!” You tried to muffle your cries, but Jungkook thrusted harder as your cunt fluttered and convulse around him. He keened at the feeling, swiftly bringing himself to an end inside you. He loved filling you up, seeing his cum slip down your thighs. 

You panted hard, gazing back at the surfer standing behind you as he pulled his softening cock from your depths. 

“I love you,” you smiled. 

Jungkook lifted a cocky grin, hand still wrapped around his cock to stuff back into his wetsuit. 

“And I love you.” He punctuated with a kiss on your back as he slipped your swimsuit back into place along your core. 

Jungkook was like the ocean. Turbulent, unexpected. Salty and sweet.  Relaxing and energetic.  And you loved Jungkook just as you did the dark blue waves.  

Jungkook loved the ocean, too.  He loved spending hours surfing, playing in the water with you, napping on a towel in the sand, chasing you with seaweed, fucking you in the lifeguard tower.  He loved everything about the beach and the shore.

But Jungkook’s most beloved aspect of the beach was you.

[thewickedmerman]

Winx Club - Enchantix

It's finally time for the FINAL transformation (Which is gonna STAY the final transformation)! The fan favorite, ENCHANTIX! I am making some changes both for aesthetic reasons and for character reasons. They will all have the Bloomix wings because those are the best wings out of all of the transformations. I will be doing them in order of who earns their Enchantix.

Layla

Starting off with the BEST fairy! I didn't make too many changes, apart from the makeup, the color, the wings, and the skirt. I made the skirt a flowing high-low skirt that resembled a waterfall and a wave. I still included the straps but made both pink and kept the yellow seaweed looking things. But I also added a transparent pink thing to the skirt to make the front a little longer and to add some dimension to it. Layla has had the colors of her Enchantix outfit change from blue to green in the actual show, which I guess was because of how Bloom earned her Enchantix and they didn't want two of them to be in blue (Even though Layla's color always should've been blue and Bloom's really should've been red). However, I stuck with blue but also made is an aqua shade just like all of her past transformation looks. I also add some painted toenails because I wanted to. I changed her makeup because my girlfriend, who is half-black and is very protective of black females (Particularly full-blooded dark-skinned ones), pointed out that her makeup in her official Enchantix didn't look quite right because the lips were too light. So I used a slightly darker shade to fix that, as well as made her eyeshadow purple instead of green because it just looks better. Also, just wanted to point out the two little white things by her eyes because that is part of her original Enchantix form as well. They look like two little dewdrops. She still earns her Enchantix by using the last bit of sunlight to healing the queen of the mermaids instead of restoring her sight that was stolen by Valtor. Also, apparently the queen is supposed to be her aunt, which I'm guessing is more of an honorable love like family thing because of how the royal family of the merpeople are clearly not black and aren't even the same species as Layla. Anyway, I hope you guys like it.

Stella

Stella's Enchantix went through A LOT of changes. Don't get me wrong, her original Enchantix was gorgeous but I didn't feel like it showed enough of her sun and moon powers. I also wanted to give her a more Greek inspired look and went with her prototype Enchantix hair, which is so gorgeous and suits her and the outfit so much. I still went with her hair being lighter just like with her official Enchantix because I feel it does show her moon powers. I just really love the way she turned out. She still earns her Enchantix by saving her father from a dragon.

Musa

Musa's Enchantix went through A LOT of changes. Her original Enchantix was gorgeous but I felt that it should've ditched the pigtails and had more of an Asian influence to it. I went with her Bloomix hair because it is very Asian influenced, though I just added chopsticks, which was suggested by my girlfriend. I also tried to make her makeup look Asian inspired to just add to the look, which I really love. The blue of the outfit was almost gold but I changed it so that it would match the wings. The outfit is mainly purple, which I have as her signature color, but also made sure there was red because of how it is an important color in Asian culture. I made sure to add a music note on her top because of how she is the fairy of music and it goes with her wings. I really love her look and I'm pretty proud of how she turned out. Musa still earns her Enchantix by refusing to leave Princess Galatea behind and nearly dies protecting her. However, I also have Galatea be Musa's cousin because I'm keeping the 4KIDS canon of Musa being a princess, though one that is the daughter of a prince that denounced his throne. I feel like Musa being royal adds to the story of her parents because of how her mother rejected her classical training and her father rejected his royal title in order to have a career in music. However, they still didn't have much money and that added her mother dying because they couldn't afford the right medical attention. This resulted in her father giving up music forever and deciding to beg his family to let him back into the royal family, in order to keep Musa from struggling like he did and would have the means to have proper medical attention, so he wouldn't lose Musa either. He was let back into the royal family for the sake of Musa. However, her father would not be the one to inherit the throne, which would go to Galatea's father. So this means that Musa isn't just saving the princess of her planet that is a friend, but also saving a family member. I'm just assuming that Galatea is Asian with blonde hair (I mean, Musa has blue hair, so why not?) because her father is shown to look like a Chinese Emperor and the planet of Melody is very Asian influenced. Sorry for rambling.

Flora

I really didn't do any changes to Flora's Enchantix, apart from the Bloomix wings because Flora's Enchantix is perfection. She still earns her Enchantix by saving her little sister, Miele (Yes, I prefer her actual name over her 4KIDS name, Rose).

Tecna

For Tecna's Enchantix I really wanted it to be the most revealing of her fairy outfits (Well, tied with Sirenix) because of how I had her starting to show off more skin for her Believix form and it shows how she's grown and opened herself up to others and let herself be emotional instead of just logical all the time. Just because she isn't skinny it doesn't mean she has to alway be covered up. But I did adjust the length to make it more tasteful (Even though her original Enchantix wasn't distasteful). I also wanted to add some elements from her Bloomix form besides just the wings. I added the technology pattern she had on her leggings because they looked so amazing (But were a pain to do) and gave her that transparent fabric she has in that form. While Tecna's hair has grown in this transformation (Just like with all the girls), I didn't want to make it more than a few inches below the shoulders because her short hair makes her unique. I didn't add sparkles to the armor because I wanted to make clear the difference in material. Since I have her color being green, I did have to mess around with the coloring a bit and I love the way it looks. The way she earns her Enchantix is my favorite of all the girls because she saved not only her home planet, Zenith, but other planets by closing the portal to the Omega Dimension on Andros. That's just a whole new level of sacrifice. She doesn't die and does manage to escape, of course, but the impact of what she did is just a staple in the Winx Club and how much she means to the group and what an awesome character she is.

Bloom

Bloom's Enchantix was one I was VERY excited to do because of the GORGEOUS hair and how I really wanted to make her dress look like fire. This has gone from one of my least favorite Enchantix forms to one of my favorites. Don't get me wrong, her original Enchantix form was gorgeous but really didn't feel like it suited her powers. I did combine this with her Bloomix form because for one, the hair is just GORGEOUS and I really wanted to include the scales from the form. I wanted to have the top also have some flow to it. I especially wanted that with the skirt. I wanted it to appear like actual flames with red, orange, and yellow. I also blended the colors as they transitioned. I added blue-looking flames because of how fire does have a hint of blue to it, which is the hottest color. I decided to make her gloves orange to go with her fire powers and made her jewelry gold to go with her fire powers, as well as purple gems to go with her wings. I gave her a dragon necklace because it looks really badass. I went with a fiery-looking eyeshadow with blue and orange, which was easier to do because of how her hair isn't orange here. As for how she earns her Enchantix, I am NOT having her earn it by that bull crap of it being sheer force of will, which I know that my amazing friend @bellatrixobsessed1 will appreciate VERY much. Also, just so you all know, I'm keeping her birth parents and the entire population of Sparx DEAD! Yes, it's tragic but it's also something that gives Bloom a huge layer of depth. Anyway, what I decided to have happen is that she is on Pyros doing all she was doing in the show and basically trying to cheat to get her Enchantix with the help of Maya. However, Valtor, wanting to destroy Bloom once and for all and knowing that Pyros would be where she was at and that he couldn't enter because of a barrier that kept out dark magic decided to get Bloom to come to him by going to Earth to put her adopted parents in danger. Bloom, deep in meditation learns that her parents are in danger because her sister, Daphne appears to her in a vision to warn her. Bloom in desperation to save her parents begs Maya to help her to Earth. Maya warns her that if she leaves now that she may never be able to earn her Enchantix and that without it, she could die while trying to leave Pryros. Bloom says she doesn't care because Valtor may have taken her birth parents from her but she was NOT going to let him take her adopted parents. Daphne and Maya, reluctantly, use their magic to help Bloom get to Earth through a portal. Traveling through the portal was physically painful for Bloom but she kept on going and refused to give up. She nearly dies but as she arrives to Earth, just as Valtor was about to kill Mike and Vanessa (Bloom's adopted parents), a weakened Bloom with what little strength she had left threw herself in front of them to save their lives. She was close to death but this selfless act saved her life because of how it was what had her earn her Enchantix. Why? Because Faragona said that in order to earn Enchantix, you have to save someone from your home world and make a big sacrifice in the process. Home doesn't mean a place you are born in but rather a place you're loved and have a life. Earth is her home world, so saving her adopted parents allowed her to earn her Enchantix. Bloom, now more powerful than ever was able to fight off Valtor, forcing him to flee. Did you guys like my version of how Bloom earned her Enchantix? Let me know.

My final group picture of the Winx Club in their final forms. This was a lot of fun, a lot of work, and a lot of headaches. I couldn't have done it without the help of my girlfriend, @keeloves, who gave me suggestions and ideas, as well as feedback during the process. Thank you guys so much for liking my stuff, even if you didn't leave comments. I'm really happy to be done with this and I'm grateful for all the love this has been getting. Also, I have the girls flying instead of just standing like I did with their Magic Winx, casual looks, and Believix.

Credit for the bases goes to SelenaEde of DeviantArt

Credit for the wings goes to AstralBlu of DeviantArt

Credit for the backgrounds goes to xKaJot of YouTube & Keerene and SparxGuardian

[tallstars-rewrite]

Chapter 20

chapter list / previous / next

As Reena said, the visitors kept to themselves for several days after Hen passed away. Heatherstar sent someone to inform them they would be allowed to stay visiting their territory for at least the rest of greenleaf if they wanted more time to say goodbye to their companion. She seemed genuinely remorseful that WindClan had not been able to help, but Bess and her company were grateful as ever that WindClan had offered at all. Well, almost all of them. Tallpaw hadn’t seen any sign of Sparrow at all since he’d ran from the camp that day, and neither had anyone else in the clan as far as he knew. He couldn’t place why, but it made him uneasy how effortlessly the little loner crept around undetected. Reena claimed Sparrow was still with them, that he’d never leave for good, but even she wasn’t seeing him very often. It clearly worried her, but there was nothing to do but give him more time. 

The amount of energy Tallpaw had to spend on pitying the cold loner was limited anyway. He, unsurprisingly, still hadn’t had a single conversation with his father. When Heatherstar heard about the accident that had happened in the tunnels, Sandstone’s project was put on indefinite hold. Tallpaw had been very careful not to be in camp during that time, but based on what he overheard from Woollycloud, his father had not taken it well at all. Now he was honestly terrified to risk even being in Sandstone’s line of sight without an escape route, so it was safer to continue being out of camp as much as possible, and hiding behind other cats when he had to be. Tallpaw was completely exhausted from all the extra patrols and hunting missions he kept insisting to Dawnstripe he definitely had the energy for, but in the end, it was worth it. Besides, now that it was clear he was no natural tunneler, there was more time to double down on moor runner training, to make it up to Dawnstripe. Tallpaw had to at least not let some cat down.

Late newleaf storms had returned hard, cloaking the moor in a gloomy shade. It was difficult to tell how low the sun was from behind the thick cloud cover. Tallpaw trailed along on his second patrol that day, almost grateful for the rainy chill to keep him awake while the sunset patrol was scouting from the north to the eastern border. It wasn’t ideal in the wet weather, but Tallpaw preferred water in the grass infinitely more to the thought of water leaking into tunnel walls around him, so he was among the few younger cats who didn’t complain about damp patrols.

 Shrewpaw, Hareflight, Brackenwing, and Fallowspring traveled with them. Even through the slight haze of exhaustion that always weighed on him in some way or another, Tallpaw could feel that he had gotten stronger in the moons since he started training. He and Shrewpaw walked a bit ahead of the others, keeping an eye out for a chance to catch something. Stuck only training with each other, their teamwork hunting had vastly improved since their first attempt. Shrewpaw silently signaled to him the location of a rabbit a short distance off from the patrol. Wordlessly, they fanned out from one another as the rest of their patrol paused to watch. They had the luck of being down wind on their side. Tallpaw crept as close as he dared before he shot out of the grass. The rabbit wheeled around and took off, Tallpaws claws only managing to graze it. But he had expected as much. Keeping close behind it, he drove it to where he knew Shrewpaw was waiting, and in a brown blur of fur, Shrewpaw rammed into it from the side. The animal was almost the same size as the apprentices, and it put up a fight. Tallpaw gripped it by its shoulders and yanked its head up, allowing Shrewpaw to jump on top of it and sink his teeth into the side of its neck. The rabbit eventually stopped kicking, Shrewpaw yowled triumphantly while he heard their patrol call out their praise at the fairly clean catch.

Tallpaw rolled the rabbit off of him “You’re welcome by the way, for letting you show off with the final kill. Aren’t you glad Fallowspring joined the patrol?” 

Shrewpaw flattened his ears “Like I need your help to show off.” 

As they dragged the rabbit back to the patrol together, Dawnstripe called, “we may need to have some of you branch off early to take that back. Unless you want to try dragging it the long way home.”

“It's not too long a run straight to camp from here, so I’ll come back when we’re finished.” Tallpaw said.

“I almost thought that rabbit was going to pummel you,” Fallowspring laughed. “It’s as big as Shrewpaw is.”

“Good thing my claws are better,” Shrewpaw boasted, licking rabbit blood from his muzzle.

The roll in the rain laden grass had soaked them both. Tallpaw sneezed disdainfully as Shrewpaw shook water droplets into his nose. “Maybe Briarpaw had the right idea after all, not having to go on patrols like us. He’d be even heavier than you in this weather.” Tallpaw said.

Shrewpaw sniffed. “Sure, but I still think going out more often would be better for his head. Did you see him this morning? He got all worked up about some prey blood on the ground, or something like that. Apparently he’s ‘really sure this time’ that something bad will happen, he’s been on about it for days.” Shrewpaw lowered his voice. “He keeps saying I can’t tell the old badger-face about all of his worrying. Like he thinks if Hawkheart sees him getting too worked up, he’ll make him quit training .”

Tallpaw frowned. “Well...did Briarpaw consider that Hen passing away might have been the ‘bad thing’? A cat did die, that’s pretty bad.”

“Try telling him that.” 

They’d fallen a bit behind the rest of the patrol, and Brackenwing turned her head to them. “Don’t think I can’t hear you two gossiping back there.”

“Sorry,” Tallpaw ducked his head, “We’re just worried about him.” Or I am at least. Shrewpaw seemed more exasperated by his brother than anything.

“I know it’s hard to understand what he’s doing, but he’ll be fine. When Briarpaw has his heart set on something, he sees it through. I’m sure Hawkheart will help him sort through this. Maybe you could bring him your rabbit to cheer him up when we get back. It was an incredible catch! I’m so proud of you,” Brackenwing looked warmly to her son, and then added to Tallpaw, “both of you. Your mother will be thrilled to see what a great hunter you are shaping up to be.”

Tallpaw wordlessly nodded and thanked her. Brackenwing spoke of his mother more than his mother spoke to him. At this point, he just let it go as if it was normal how little he saw her. Patrolling felt good to get his restless energy out, but sure enough there crept that familiar heaviness into his chest when he thought of Palebird. After all, part of why he wanted his father to understand him so desperately was because he didn’t want to lose him like he had her. So much for that. Though he’d sometimes catch Palebird staring at him from afar, he knew if she wanted him to approach first, she was going to be disappointed. Brackenwing had even tried to convince Palebird to join them on their patrol today, where she could have seen his progress for herself, but her “illness” that he knew little about had spiked up again, and she hadn’t left her den. Brackenwing seemed like she was trying not to draw attention to their distance, but she must have noticed the wistfulness in his response. 

She quietly licked his ear and murmured, “she really is proud of you. Your mother is going through a difficult time right now, but she loves you. I’m sure she’ll be able to join us on patrols again soon.”

Some part Tallpaw wanted to ask if she knew why his mother was so distant, but he was never sure if Brackenwing was being honest with him. If his mother was disappointed in him, he’d never hear it from Brackenwing. She only offered him praise and tried to smooth things over best she could. Sometimes Tallpaw wished he really had been Brackenwing’s kit as well. It was so easy between her and her kits, even when Briarpaw had chosen an unexpected path. But it would do him no good to dwell on that, and wishing his own kin away only increased the guilt weighing down his paws.

The patrol had very nearly made the complete round. As they approached the north-eastern border that ran against the treeline before the Thunderpath, he pricked his ears and stared a bit nervously off into the trees as the patrol marked the border.

“Things have been quiet on ShadowClan’s side for a while,” Dawnstripe said warily.

“Do you think Heatherstar was right to call their bluff?” Tallpaw asked.

“One can never be too sure.” Hareflight warned. “Keep a careful eye out, we’re still under orders to make sure this border is marked especially well.”

Tallpaw and Shrewpaw wandered a bit further ahead. Shrewpaw was casting glares into the dark pines on the border.

“I swear I can smell something,” he muttered. “If ShadowClan shows their muzzles anywhere near here again, I'll tear them off their ugly faces.”

 Tallpaw opened his jaws to scent the air. A particularly foul smelling monster had rumbled by not long ago, and it clouded many of the other scents around him. It was hard to tell if the ShadowClan he tasted was from their side of the border or over it. He got so caught up narrowing his eyes at every shape that moved in the trees, he didn’t realize the patrol had gotten ahead of him. As he turned to catch up, a very loud, and very deliberate, crack made him jump and wheel back around.

“Shrewpaw--” he hissed, looking around desperately for the other apprentice. Something moved in the undergrowth up ahead. Another crack. Tallpaw hurried forward and heard Shrewpaw’s snarl before he saw the dark cat sitting above him in a thin branch, glowering down at them with a malicious sneer. 

“Whoops,” the tom said, and Tallpaw recognized the smug bratty face of Darkpaw, crooked tail flicking barley within reach. “Looks like I've been spotted.”

Shrewpaw gave a low growl, loud enough to catch the rest of the patrol's attention. Fallowspring was there in an instant, bursting through the undergrowth to stand between them

“What do you think you’re doing up there, you little rat?” she demanded.

“Just an undersized apprentice isn’t much of an invasion.” Dawnstripe snorted.

“I’ll drag him down!” Shrewpaw swiped viciously at the ShadowClan tom's tail. 

Darkpaw blinked at the patrol surrounding him with wide orange eyes. “Oh no,” he whimpered, “you’re not going to hurt me are you? What would I do then?”

He was clearly mocking them. Did he think they wouldn’t attack him just because he was an apprentice? He was certainly old enough to know better. Dawnstripe and Hareflight looked at each other, clearly annoyed, but not worried. 

Tallpaw saw Dawnstripe nod to him.  “Why don’t you get rid of this runaway pest so we can continue,”

He stiffened as he realized she was giving him permission for a fair fight. Tallpaw stared up at the ShadowClan apprentice. If Darkpaw was going to behave like that, then he could certainly stand to get some sense knocked into him. Even so, Tallpaw had never really attacked a cat before. In his heartbeat of hesitation, Shrewpaw shoved ahead of him and made a mad leap for the branch with outstretched claws.

Darkpaw barely dodged and jumped down into the bushes below with a laugh. “You should really pay more attention to your surroundings!”

Tallpaw wasn’t quite sure what happened after that. A chorus of furious screeches came from somewhere behind him, something slammed into him, knocking him into the brush, his head smacked hard against the hard earth and his ears started ringing.

“Ambush!” he heard someone cry. The forest was alive with screeches. Tallpaw had no idea where Darkpaw had gone. He heard Shrewpaw snarl and swipe, and suddenly the furious apprentice was shoving a disoriented Tallpaw to his feet.

“Get up and fight!” Shrewpaw yowled as he plunged forward into the fray. There was a whole group of ShadowClan warriors wrestling with their patrol. Had they been hiding there the whole time? Tallpaw’s shock was replaced quickly with anger and a spike of adrenaline. There was no more time for wondering what to do, and he didn’t have time to be afraid as he launched himself at the first body stinking of ShadowClan that he saw. He wrapped his paws around thin spiky gray fur and sank his teeth into the shoulder of a tom much larger than himself. With flexibility he wouldn’t have thought possible, the gray tom turned his neck and bit the top of Tallpaw’s scruff, yanking him forward. Tallpaw opened his mouth to yowl in surprise as he was thrown onto the ground. 

“Stupid fight to pick,” A harsh raspy voice snarled into his face. He saw long glinting teeth and sharp icey eyes. Tallpaw vaguely recalled the appearance of ShadowClan's deputy himself, Stonetooth. He rolled out of the way as fast as he could as Stonetooth’s viciously sharp teeth snapped loudly an inch from his ears. A single hard swipe from the deputy knocked Tallpaw off balance, but before claws reached his pelt, Brackenwing slammed into Stonetooth and grappled him around the neck as she bit at his head. Tallpaw has never seen the molly fight, and she was terrifyingly strong and larger than her opponent, but Stonetooth was agile, easily twisting his way out of her grip. Tallpaw began to swipe at the enemy warrior’s back as a distraction while Brackenwing slashed at his face, but he was knocked to the ground again before he could aim it. Whoever threw Tallpaw down was gone quickly as Shrewpaw snapped at the retreating dark-furred figure before turning back to help his mother tackle Stonetooth. 

“Stay together!” came Hareflight’s yowl. Tallpaw scrambled for the scraps of battle training he could remembert, and held his ground beside Shrewpaw.

 But then from the shadows of scraggly undergrowth, he heard someone hiss, “what’s wrong little apprentice? You’re not good at fighting on your own, are you?”

Ashpaw, Tallpaw scarcely recognized the young ShadowClan cat that had tried to pick a fight with them at the gathering. She waited in the bushes just out of reach. Why was she just sitting there watching? Tallpaw swiped at her once and tried to turn again to keep pace with Shrewpaw lashing out at Stonetooth’s flanks. He heard Dawnstripe’s pained yowl somewhere.

“Too much of a coward to chase me off, then? guessed as much.” Ashpaw jeered.

It was stupid of him to try and take on an older apprentice alone, but the word coward echoed in his ears, sending a bristling bolt of fury through him. 

“Shut up!” Tallpaw snarled and wheeled around on her. Shrewpaw was lost somewhere behind him. He pounced at the voice, but she’d ducked away. “Who do you think you're calling a coward when you won’t even fight!?” he screeched. Where had she gone?

“You're making this too easy." The taunting growl came from his left, and before he knew what happened, he was on the ground again, Darkpaw snapping at his neck. Both ShadowClan apprentices were on top of him now and Tallpaw couldn’t flip himself back over. He was alone, teeth sunk hard into his ear and he yowled in pain as panic started to take over. Would they really kill him? It was against the code, but Darkpaw didn’t look like he cared. Tallpaw thrashed and swiped uselessly, all proper training forgotten as he flailed. Suddenly some of the weight was lifted off of him and he heard Ashpaw yowl in surprise as Shrewpaw grappled her to the ground. Darkpaw, less confident without his bigger friend, was distracted enough for Tallpaw to kick him hard in the face, just barely missing his eyes. Blood pooling from his nose, the ShadowClan cat turned and leaped back into the bushes with Ashpaw in tow. Shrewpaw skidded to a stop, panting hard, looking ragged.

“Thank--” Tallpaw began, but Shrewpaw just growled at him.

“You made me leave my mother to come save you because you ran off on your own! Stay together, you idiot!” 

Tallpaw tried his best to follow as they struggled towards the rest of their cornered patrol. We should retreat! This is hopeless! he thought desperately, but he had no idea where to retreat to. There seemed to be cats surrounding them on every side. He saw a bloodied Brackenwing take Stonetooth over a muddy slope, out of sight amidst the chaos. Shrewpaw leaped after them, but there were more ShadowClan warriors in his way now, and they wouldn’t let him through. The patrol was now completely split up, and severely outnumbered. He tried to help Shrewpaw shove through a much bigger warrior so he could get to Brackenwing, when suddenly, Stonetooth’s voice rang out a call for retreat. All at once ShadowClan pushed away from their opponents and slipped back into the shadows, streaming through the narrow Thunderpath tunnel. Tallpaw stared after them, bloody and bewildered. Stonetooth turned back to give them one last icy glare with bared and bloodied teeth.

“We warned you once, and we won’t do it again. You will back off this border, or next time face more of our claws.”

 With that he was gone, and the woods were quiet once more.

chapter list / previous / next

[salemorbit]

Hey! If matchups are open could I request a Legend of Zelda one? I'm a 5'7 nonbinary person, my favorite color is blue, I'm bi but I lean more towards guys and nonbinary people, my favorite color is baby blue or just any variation of light blue, I've got brown eyes and brown braided hair (knotless braids specifically!!) I'm multiracial as I'm Black, Korean, and another thing I don't feel comfortable putting eheheh, I'm a big forest person, especially forests that give a spooky vibe to it, i love feeling like I'm some sort of creature that lives in the deepest parts of the forest.

I'm also a very adventurous person, I like to explore! And I also collect random things like rocks, sticks, leaves, pretty much anything and will do whatever I'm dared to do, someone tells me to get candy off the floor I'll do it because I'm also impulsive! I like to draw, write, and play my Ocarina! (It's the Ocarina of Time from LoZ: Ocarina of Time! I got it for Christmas a few years ago!)

Thank you for your time answering this^^ sorry if it's hard to work with haha.

hi! you're absolutely fine lmao thank you for the request!!

also fun fact: ocarina of time was the first zelda game i played but i played it pretty young so i couldn't really figure it out and hated the loz series until i played botw this last year HAHA

how the turn tables, am i right

anyway! hope you enjoy this :)

~~~~~~

LOZ Matchup!

Based on your characteristics, I think you'd do best with...........

Revali!

~~~~~~~

Revali took to you pretty kindly when you first met

Albeit perhaps it was a bit out of character for him, he found you intriguing

You two were very different in that you liked the ground and forest canopies, but he was more partial to the sky and open air

He actually met you in the forests surrounding Rito Village while he was clearing out the overpopulation of wolves around his home

(They were interfering with livestock)

Revali hated forests and hated how sometimes the leaves and branches were so thick that he couldn't see the sky (or a way out)

But he had to go through and clear out the wolves as best he could so they stopped disturbing the stable near his village

As he was picking through the branches strewn across the ground and thinking where the wolf dens could be, he stumbled upon you huddled behind some bushes and looking at some rocks

Promptly he asked what you were doing there, to which you replied: "I'm finding new rocks for my collection! Aren't these pretty?"

And then showed him the rocks which were, in fact, very pretty

He admired your willingness to just pluck things from the ground and find their untapped beauty, as well as your ability to stay so calm in dense forests

You accompanied him through the rest of his task, making sure to stay out of his way, but acting as his forest guide as he became more accustomed with the terrain and your company

From there on out, he made nearly every point to get to know you better

You were staying around Hebra for a few days, so Revali took this opportunity to talk to you and become a friend

You and him bonded over your braids, him explaining the cultural significance of his braids and you being enamored with the way he explained things

You were also a big fan of his feathers and the different shades of blue they came in, how they shone in the sun and such

In the evenings, you would sit by the cooking fire and talk to him about this or that, eventually coming on the topic of your interests and how you liked to play the age-old instrument: the ocarina

Revali asked you to play, naturally, and you gladly blew out a few tunes for him

For once in his life, Revali didn't know what to say! It sounded beautiful and they way you played it so effortlessly ruffled his feathers in a good way :)

You would often sit and sketch Revali as he flew through his exercises every day

He loved the little drawings you gave him afterwards, keeping them tucked away in his journal under his hammock

And even though he really disliked forests, he'd make the effort to walk through them with you when you wanted to

Sometimes you would sneak away when he wasn't paying attention and pop out to scare him, as if being in a dark forest wasn't torture enough for the poor guy HAHA

~~~~~~

hope you liked it!! thank you again for the request :)

requests are welcome!

[pixxiesdust]

“Shall we, Princess?” • Todoroki Shouto

Summary • You know absolutely nothing about Prince Shouto, but as the princess of a neighboring kingdom, you’re going to marry him anyway. A conversation with a stranger in the palace gardens sheds some light on Prince Shouto’s personality, and maybe this marriage won’t be so bad after all.

Pairing • Mer Prince!Todoroki Shouto x Mer Princess!Reader

Word Count • 5.1k

Tags and Warnings • Mer and royalty au, arranged marriage, fluff, mer culture, kissing, and a wedding.

Note • A fic for @bnhabookclub’s Mermay event! The wonderful members of the book club helped me brainstorm, sprinted with me, and a special thanks to the lovely @rivendell101​, @katsukook, and @sadistiks​ for beta reading this fic! I am a sucker for mermaid aus, so this was a joy to write.

–

The palace is large and luxurious, gleaming with wealth from top to bottom. Jewels and large pearls glimmer in the walls, and most of the decor shine of gold. Although you live in a castle too, you can’t keep your eyes from widening as you swivel your head back and forth to take everything in. 

“This way, Your Majesties, Your Highness,” a mermaid says, bowing. She straightens up and brushes soft brown hair out of her eyes, smiling at you and your parents, her cheeks pink.

She escorts you and your parents to the wing of the palace where you are to stay for the week until the wedding is over. Your expression sours at the thought of the wedding as you sink into your bed, staring up at the ceiling that’s embedded with little shells. How are you supposed to marry someone you’ve never met before?

The only things you know about the Todoroki Kingdom are things you learned from your history tutor and from listening to your parents’ discussions. You only know a bit about the King and Queen, and absolutely nothing about your soon-to-be husband: Prince Shouto.

What is he like? Is he kind to his subjects? Does he only seek power and glory and fame? Or is he like your parents: caring and just?

You’re pulled from your thoughts as your bubbly, pink-haired attendant bursts into the room. “Why in the seas are you already in bed? Haven’t you heard? You have a welcome celebration to get ready for!”

You groan but push yourself off the bed, swimming to a stop in front of multiple woven baskets, all filled with clothes and accessories. “What am I wearing for the celebration, Mina?”

She starts digging through the baskets and you move to help her, lifting up various pieces of clothing and stuffing them back when she shakes her head. 

“Aha! This one!” She pulls out long stretches of dark blue fabric that are the same rich shade as the main color of your tail, although your tail is sprinkled with silver scales that shine against the midnight blue. Like all traditional mer attire, the cloth can be assembled in different styles, draped artfully across your skin. Mina wraps one strip of fabric around your chest. She tucks the other pieces under the first one, letting them flare out behind you, swaying in the ripples that your tail makes as it gently fans back and forth, keeping you in place.

You’re quiet as she moves to another basket, pulling out strings of pearls and delicate shells. She drapes some around your neck, weaving others into the cloth so they glitter like stars in the night sky.

As a finishing touch, Mina sets a thin circlet of silver, sapphires, and pearls on top of your head that pairs well with the blue of your tail and the cloth. “There,” she says fondly, “You’re ready to go.”

As if on cue, a knock sounds on your door. Your father’s voice tells you that it’s time to make your way to the ballroom where the welcoming celebration is taking place. 

You swim behind your mother and father, keeping your shoulders back and chin tilted slightly up. Although you never asked to marry someone you’ve never met, you will do it for your parents and for the sake of your kingdom, and you will do it in a way that will not bring shame to anyone. 

A young merman with bright blonde hair and a dark stripe running through it bends at his waist to you and your parents. “Your Majesties, Your Highness, welcome to the Todoroki Kingdom. On behalf of the royal family, I hope you enjoy the festivities.” He straightens and pulls open the large doors, swimming out to the little balcony overlooking the ballroom filled with mer dressed in their finest outfits. “Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, esteemed guests from a neighboring kingdom: the royal family!”

All heads swivel towards you and your parents as you swim into the ballroom, down from the balcony to join the mer.

You stay by your parents’ side as you look around the ballroom. The floor, walls, and ceiling all reflect the light of the crystal jellyfish that float around the room. Glittering gems are embedded into the surfaces, an obvious display of wealth. A mat made of woven seagrasses and shimmery cloth stretches from one column to another, forming a surface that holds all kinds of foods and delicacies. Mer swim by and pick their favorites off the mat–ooh is that seaweed-wrapped cod? You perk up at the sight of one of your favorite finger foods and open your mouth to tell your parents that you’re going to go get some, when your mother hooks her arm in yours, and places a hand on your father’s arm before slightly tilting her head in the direction of three mer. 

They’re all finely dressed—well, all the mer are finely dressed, but they stand out the most—and crowns of gold, rubies, diamonds, and pearls rest on their heads. 

The royal Todoroki family. Or at least three of them.

The mermaid with soft white hair and a purely white tail seems to notice you first. She rests a hand on the older merman’s arm, drawing his attention. The younger merman turns to look at you and your parents, and you straighten up as you study him. 

His hair is something you’ve never seen before, half white like his mother’s while the other half is the bright red of his father’s. And his tail is beautiful, a mix of red and white scales that form a pattern unique only to him. Your eyes trail up from his tail to stop on his face, and your gills stop filtering water for a moment. His eyes! One is a silvery grey, the other an icy blue, but both are narrowed at you as you take in the skin around his blue eye, red and puffy and scarred. He’s waiting for your reaction, and you can only tilt your head in his direction in a small nod to hide your embarrassment at being caught staring. It’s not that the scar makes him any less attractive—in fact, your face has grown hot from studying him—but you’re curious as to how he got it. Very few things in the ocean could get hot enough to burn skin badly enough to make a permanent scar. 

You’re pulled out of your thoughts when they come closer and your parents move to meet them halfway, you swimming beside your mother. “Welcome to our kingdom,” the mermaid says, “We hope you’ve found everything to be pleasant so far.”

“Thank you for your hospitality, your majesties. You have a magnificent kingdom and we are honored to be able to see it for ourselves,” your father replies.

“Please, call me Rei. This is my husband, Enji,” she says, resting a hand on the older merman’s arm, “and my son, Shouto.”

Your eyes stray to the younger merman at the sound of his name. So he’s the one that you’re going to marry. Your father introduces himself, your mother, and you, then starts talking about the celebration and the wedding, though you tune him out as you continue your study of your fiancé. His tail keeps capturing your attention, although you had already looked at it once. Then your eyes move up to his torso, chest, and arms, and you watch as his muscles subtly flex with the small movements of his tail. He’s certainly fit, and the gold cuffs around his left bicep only emphasize that fact.

Your eyes move further up to his face, once again looking into his eyes. He’s staring right back at you and raises an eyebrow, his lips tilting up in the smallest smirk. You blink once, then turn your head away, now intently focusing back on the food.

As you mourn for the last piece of seaweed-wrapped cod that gets picked up by a passing merman, no doubt an important noble, you don’t notice your fiance’s eyes move up and down your body, from the silver circlet on your head to the deep blue tips of your tail. 

Rei notices this interaction out of the corner of her eye and can’t help but smile softly at her son. Her future daughter-in-law certainly seemed to be attracted to him, and, well, it wouldn’t hurt for them to be attracted to each other.

Your parents draw deeper into a conversation with Rei and Enji, and you slip away from them to finally take a look at the food. As you swim, with the pieces of cloth floating behind you in an elegant trail, you notice some of the younger mer looking at you with curiosity, but the mermaids especially seem to have a bite of viciousness in their eyes.

You’re familiar with the type, so you keep your back straight and your head high with pride, letting a mask of indifference settle over your face. 

Their whispers travel to your ears as you swim past them.

“That’s who the prince is marrying?”

“I’d be a much better fit than her.”

“I can’t believe the prince is going to leave this kingdom for one like that.” This comment bothers you the most. Yes, your family’s kingdom isn’t nearly as big as the Todoroki Kingdom, but it has its own culture and atmosphere that is special to it. But the mermaid who said that is right. Shouto would have to leave this place of splendor and wealth for yours. Since he isn’t the oldest, he isn’t the crown prince, and the arrangement your parents had made means that he’ll have to move to your kingdom and will take his place by your side on the throne.

The mermaids grow louder in the rude comments, and you force yourself to keep swimming to the spread of food. As much as you would like to snap back at them, it wouldn’t reflect well on you, your parents, or your kingdom, and would only enforce their opinions that your kingdom is full of “barbarians” and “savages.”

So you float near the woven mat that bears the weight of all the elegantly plated snacks and pick up one half of a mussel shell with glistening orange salmon roe resting on it.

“She’s such a prick, too, all rude and stuck up. His Highness doesn’t deserve to get bound to a sea hag like that.” High pitched titters sound behind you, and the water seems to press into you from all sides. 

You need to leave.

Clutching the shell in one hand, you maintain your calm expression and perfect posture as you head toward a set of open doors that leads to someplace that is not here. To anyone else, it would seem like you were going out for a gulp of fresh water, but a set of observant grey and blue eyes catches the slightly faster flicking of your tail that gives away your unease.

–

The doors lead to a beautiful garden, with all types of brightly colored corals and seagrasses. Fish dart in and out of the swaying foliage and you forget your worries as you spin around in a slow circle, wonder filling your eyes. Like the rest of the castle, the garden is resplendent and well cared for. You swim further into the garden, stopping to peer at the more exotic looking plants. 

A large rock rests on one side of a row of densely growing kelp and has been sanded down so it’s round. You settle on it, tail fitting into the dips and curves of the rock, and start picking at the salmon roe on your mussel shell. 

You put one orange sphere into your mouth and bite down, relishing the pop it makes and the salty flavor that spreads on your tongue. You eat a few more, and despite the bit of joy it gives you, your mind wanders back to the mermaids’ comments in the ballroom.

Blowing bubbles out of your mouth in frustration, you start talking to yourself. “Sea hag,” you scoff. “Isn’t she the hag for saying those things? And my kingdom isn’t ‘uncivilized, undeveloped, and barbaric,’ it’s perfectly fine, thank you. Though it isn’t as large as this kingdom,” you gesture out in the general direction of the garden, “it has its own charm.”

“Size shouldn’t matter,” a voice says, low and calm from the other side of the seagrasses. You shriek and jolt off the rock, nearly losing your salmon roe in the process. “I apologize for startling you,” the voice continues, “but I couldn’t help overhearing your frustrations.”

“Who’re you?” you ask, settling back down onto the rock. It’s a little funny talking to someone you can’t see, but the mystery of it all fills you with excitement. “Are you one of the visiting mer from the other countries, or are you from here?”

“I’m native to the Todoroki kingdom, but I have been to many other kingdoms before, including yours, Your Highness.”

You sputter at the term, unsure how to feel about the merman knowing who you are. “Please, don’t call me that.” You hesitate for a second but make up your mind, so you open your mouth and tell the stranger to call you by your name.

“Are you sure?” he asks. “If someone comes by and hears, would that not be bad for your reputation?”

“Oh! You’re right.” It’s not like I have much of a good reputation to begin with, you think bitterly, but keep your voice lighthearted as you speak again. “You can just call me princess then! Your Highness is too long, especially since we aren’t in a formal setting right now.”

“Very well, princess.” The voice nearly purrs out the last word, making your face heat up like it did when you had studied Prince Shouto.

“And what shall I call you?”

“If you’re ‘princess,’ I suppose ‘prince’ will have to do.”

You laugh a little at that, then fall silent.

The stranger starts to speak again. “I meant what I said, the size of a kingdom shouldn’t matter. We all know the blue-ringed octopus isn’t a large creature, but its venom can take down a full-grown mer in minutes. You clearly treasure your kingdom and I’ve enjoyed the things I’ve seen there myself. So don’t let the displays of this one discourage you.”

Your heart grows warm at the words of the merman. “You’re right,” you reply. “And it comforts me to hear that you liked the things you’ve seen of my kingdom. I’m just worried that the prince, Prince Shouto, I mean, won’t be accustomed to my family’s palace.” You pause as you hear an awkward cough from the other side. “He’s the one I’m engaged to, though I’m sure you already know that. What’s he like, the prince?”

It’s silent for a long moment and you’re starting to wonder if the merman left you when he starts speaking again. “What do you want to know?”

Humming for a moment, you pop another salmon roe into your mouth. “How does he treat the mer of this kingdom?” 

“Well,” the merman says, “he doesn’t look down upon them. He wants to do what is best for them, to keep them all safe, and to help them prosper. He visits as many parts of the kingdom as he can every year, and he’s argued with his father about doing more–” he cuts off, then adds on quietly, “He gave up the left side of his face for the kingdom.”

Your eyes widen and you sit up straight on the rock. “The scar?”

“Yes.”

“Can you–” you stop. “Nevermind.”

“Can I tell you about it? I can if you’d like, though it isn’t a very pleasant tale.”

“No!” you exclaim, then wince at how harsh you sounded. “I just think it’s better to hear it from Prince Shouto himself. I’m grateful that you’re telling me these things, and I didn’t know that you’re so familiar with the prince, but something like this sounds really personal and I’d rather hear it from him. But thank you.”

The merman is silent. You wonder if you were too rude, or if you hurt his feelings.

“Don’t you think it’s ugly?” he finally asks. “The scar?” 

The merman’s voice sounds a little strange when he asks the question, but you disregard it as you think carefully before answering. “No. It’s part of him, just like the sunspots we get if we stay in shallow waters for too long, or the dimples on mer’s faces when they smile. He shouldn’t be ashamed of it, especially if he got it for a reason as noble as saving his kingdom.” You pause for a moment, then add on quietly, “I saw him for the first time tonight and I think he’s really handsome, from his hair to his tail to his eyes.”

There’s no response from the merman. “Um, are you there?” you ask hesitantly. “I didn’t scare you away by saying that I think Prince Shouto is attractive, right?”

“I’m afraid I have to go. Thank you, princess.”

“Wait- wait, don’t go! I’m sorry if I offended you!” You shoot up from the rock, tail flicking powerfully to rise up above the wall of kelp to peer over the other side. 

But the merman is gone. The only sign that he was there is the stirred up particles of sand that slowly sink back down to rejoin the others on the ocean floor.

Your face falls in disappointment. You had enjoyed talking to the merman. If you saw him again—or heard him again, you’d make sure to apologize for anything you did. Maybe you made him uncomfortable by talking about the attractiveness of your husband-to-be.

Blowing out bubbles in frustration, you turn around, only to watch a few orange spheres of the salmon roe fall onto the rock and into the sand. Does everything have to go wrong today? “Not only did I scare away an excellent conversation partner, I dropped my snack!” 

It is about time for you to head back anyway, so you swish your tail and shoot up above the garden. Holding the now empty mussel shell in your hand to dispose of later, you return to the ballroom, gracefully swimming past all the other mer who were making fun of you earlier, no longer upset by their previous comments. 

“Blue-ringed octopus,” you whisper to yourself as you rejoin your parents who are now talking to other visiting dignitaries and noblemer. Smiling pleasantly at them, you allow yourself to get swept into conversations for the rest of the night, traveling from mer to mer.

But somehow, whenever you look away from the mer you are talking to, you always catch a glimpse of red and white scales, sparkling under the light of the jellyfish. And you can’t help but think back to the conversation you had with that mystery merman, and think that maybe this arranged marriage won’t be so bad at all.

–

Little do you know, those same thoughts run through Shouto’s head. “It’s part of me,” he whispers to himself as he joins his older siblings, who immediately start teasing him about swimming off during a celebration to welcome his fiancée.

–

The rest of the week seems to pass by in a flash. Your days are filled with events, one thing happening after the other, all in preparation for the wedding.

You only get to see Prince Shouto a couple times over the days. Though you wish to stop and talk to him, Mina always catches you and rushes you to your next location. All you can manage is a nod and a smile before swimming on.

And soon enough, after days of parties and meeting all kinds of important mer and trying on your wedding outfits—why you need more than one is beyond you—the day of your wedding is upon you.

Mina bursts through your bedroom door well before the first rays of sunlight have struck the ocean, using her pink tail to flip the woven seagrass blankets off your sleeping body. “Wake up! It’s your special day, princess!”

You groan and bury your head in the soft sea sponge you had slept on, trying to block out her excited chatter. Her hands come down on your shoulders and pull you off the sponge.

“We have to start getting ready!” Mina drags your body through the water and out the bedroom door to another room two doors down where your wedding outfits are. She lets go of you to open another door in the room, poking her head out to call in the other attendants.

As the other mer swim in and start pulling out the pieces you’ll need to wear first, you rub the sleep out of your eyes and stretch so you’re more awake. Hands help you undress from your thin sleepwear, and start draping the layers and layers of pure white cloth in artful arrangements over your body. The cloth makes one loop around your neck before coming down to cover your chest, leaving a wide expanse of your back bare. Then they wrap around your waist and trail down around your tail, fanning out behind you like the graceful tentacles of jellyfish and sea anemone. 

Mina helps you slip on thin, silver bracelets onto your wrist and attach silver cuffs around your upper arms. She pulls out strand after strand of small pearls and little shells and sparkling diamonds and threads them through the cuffs and bracelets, forming priceless sleeves that softly clink against each other when you move your arms. The other attendants weave more strands of pearls and diamonds into the pieces of cloth, which sparkle and reflect the light of the crystal jellyfish all over the room.

Finally, Mina removes a crown from a box. It’s made of white shells and more pearls, and it’s just as beautiful as the rest of your outfit. Mina swims before you, holding the crown gently in her hands. “I’m so happy for you,” she says, blinking hard.

“Are you adding to the ocean again?” you tease, though you’re also blinking rapidly. 

Mina raises the crown above your head and gently settles it on you, using both hands to make sure it is in place. “There,” she says, then swims a tail length back. “You look perfect.” She looks at all the other attendants and thanks them for their hard work as they smile, nod, and exit the room. “If Prince Shouto’s jaw doesn’t drop to his tail, I’m gonna slap him with my own.” 

“Mina!”

She grins and flicks her pink fins before taking your hands in her own. “I’m so glad to have grown up by your side. Your kingdom couldn’t ask for a better princess, and I couldn’t ask for a better friend. It’s been an honor, Your Highness.”

“Oh, Mina,” you say, swallowing hard to keep your voice from wavering. “I love you so, so much.”

“Of course you do! Now come, let us go see your prince!”

–

As per tradition, the to-be-wedded parties are to meet at the entrance of the throne room. So you swim behind your parents, who are also dressed in elaborate outfits that glimmer when the light shines on precious jewels. They come to a stop in front of Enji and Rei, and the four of them converse, blocking you from seeing your fiancé. 

Then the grand doors to the throne room swing open, and the Todoroki King and Queen enter the room. Your own parents kiss you on your forehead, and your mother tells you how proud she is, before they enter the throne room. 

You get your first look at Prince Shouto in his wedding outfit, and your lips part as you stare.

He’s wearing the same silver cuffs and bracelets that you are, though they lack the strings of pearls, shells, and diamonds. The rest of his arms are bare, and your eyes trace over his sculpted muscles before sliding down his bare chest to where his abs meld with white and red scales. The only piece of clothing he wears besides the bracelets, cuffs, and matching crown of shells and pearls on his head, is a white cape that fans out behind him, mimicking the pieces of fabric of your own outfit.

“Wow,” you breathe, and his own eyes—which had widened as they traced your body—snap up to meet yours.

“I’m pleased to meet your approval,” he says, voice low and calm, carrying a hint of amusement. “You’re stunning yourself, princess.”

The purr sends a shiver up your spine and you stiffen in realization. “It’s you?” you exclaim. “You were on the other side of the kelp!”

Shouto nods, then looks at you with uncertainty. “Does that disappoint you?”

“No! Of course not!” You shake your head rapidly, unknowingly dislodging your crown with the movement. “That makes me feel a lot better. To know that I’ve talked to you before, and that we can get along, and that you truly don’t mind my family’s kingdom.” 

You stop for a second, watching as Shouto looks at you with soft eyes. Then your own eyes widen in horror and you bury your face in your hands. “I told you that I think you’re handsome!” you wail. “And I’m pretty sure that scared you away!”

A gentle hand wraps around your wrist, and you let Shouto pull your hands away from your face. “I was flattered,” he says as he reaches to grab your crown that has started to drift away. “I was shocked to hear that my scar doesn’t bother you, and that you still find me attractive anyway. And I was especially overwhelmed to hear that from someone as gorgeous as you.”

He sets your crown back onto your head, and you smile as he concentrates on making sure it is secure. His hands move down to cup the sides of your face, and he runs his thumbs over your cheeks. Your own hands reach up and cover his own, and you smile and tilt your head more into his hands.

“I am honored,” you say, “that someone so caring and thoughtful and someone that would let himself get hurt for the sake of his own kingdom will be by my side and help me rule my own.” You let go of his hands and he lets his fall back to his sides, watching as you rest your hands on his shoulders. A small flick of your tail draws you two even closer together, so you’re pressed chest to chest, faces a mere scale’s width apart, and you lean in to press a gentle kiss to the scar. 

Shouto’s eyes flutter shut, his chest both warm and tight with emotion. You slowly pull away, and his eyes open again, flames of passion burning in them. One arm slides around your waist, the other hand cupping the back of your head, and his red and white tail wraps around the dark blue and silver of your own. He slowly pulls your face back towards his, eyes flickering from your own eyes down to your lips, which part under his heated gaze. 

“Can I kiss you?”

“Please do,” you whisper, and your eyes close as he leans in.

Warm lips press against your own, which soften and mould around his. One of your hands leaves his shoulder and slides up his neck and into his hair, tugging gently. A soft sigh escapes his mouth at the action so you do it again, the corners of your lips turning upwards at the sound. Shouto notices your amusement and takes it upon himself to kiss you harder, lips moving together until he nips just the tiniest bit at your lower one. Your squeak of surprise makes him chuckle, and both of you pull away slowly, lips darker and swollen.

An awkward clearing of the throat makes you jolt and turn your head towards a green-haired merman, who looks just as embarrassed as you are. Shouto turns slowly, unwinding his tail from yours, though he keeps his arm around your waist.

“Y-your highnesses, it’s almost time for you to, um, enter the throne room,” the merman says, sunspotted cheeks turning red.

“Thank you, Midoriya,” Shouto says, giving his long time friend a small smile and a nod.

The throne room doors slowly swing open, revealing hundreds of mer dressed in elaborate clothing, all who turn to face the two of you.

“That’s our cue,” Shouto says, and offers out his hand to you, palm up. “Shall we?”

“We shall.” You smile at him, which he returns with an upward quirk of his lips, then place your own hand in his.

Your tails flick in tandem as you swim into the throne room, with high ceilings and walls that glitter and gleam. Many crystal jellyfish float and bob around, illuminating the room. Strings of pearls and precious jewels stretch from column to column, scattering light. The mer clap and cheer, fanning and swishing their tails in ways that create millions of bubbles that brush past your skin on their way up, causing the cloth of your outfit and the cape around Shouto’s shoulders to spread out behind you, creating an elegant trail of white.

You see your parents, King Enji, and Queen Rei waiting at the other end of the room. Hand in hand, you and Shouto swim to them and stop before them. 

As King Enji starts to speak, you tilt your head to look at Shouto who smiles softly at you, which you return brightly. Queen Rei swims to you and you watch as she threads a strand of pearls and diamonds from your bracelet to Shouto’s.

Rey swims back to her husband’s side. “With this, they are bound for eternity, even when they become one with the sea,” Enji announces, voice booming through the throne room.

“We are bound for eternity,” you and Shouto say together, “even when we become one with the sea.”

“And now, this promise is to be sealed with a kiss.”

You turn to face Shouto, who arches an eyebrow playfully. “Shall we, princess?”

As you pull him closer to you and twine your tails together, red and white against midnight blue and silver, you slip your untied hand to his dual-colored hair, and he gently cradles your neck, drawing your face closer to his.

When your lips are just about to meet, you smile at him sweetly.

“We shall, my prince.”

–

Taglist • @bnhatrashh​ @simplybakugou​ (thank you both for being so encouraging during the sprints!) @bnha-homeroom​ (and thank you so much for helping me with the kiss scene!)

[bunnyywritings]

just hear me out

Tsukishima kei x fem!reader

𝕡𝕣𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕠𝕦𝕤 - 𝕤𝕖𝕣𝕚𝕖𝕤 𝕞𝕒𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕝𝕚𝕤𝕥 - 𝕟𝕖𝕩𝕥

[a/n: here’s pt. 2 of hollow words and misunderstandings, I hope ya’ll are enjoying! Sorry if this one is short...I tried my best but I would definitely appreciate some feedback and suggestions if you have ‘em, part 3 is coming soon ♡ well without further adieu, enjoy! -yours truly, bunnyy -`ღ´- ps. salty boy Tsukki might be a bit out of character in this one but I tried to make it as cannon as possible]

recap:

“You really are something, chibi-chan.”

Back inside the gym, Hinata was ranting about  his teammate.”I don’t understand how he could be so dense.”

“You’re one to talk.” Kageyama snickered, although it went completely over his head. “But I guess he realized that he was rude and went to apologize.”

Kuroo froze. “He what?”

“He went to apologize.” Hinata repeated.

“When?”

“What’s wrong?” Bokuto cocked an eyebrow at his friends abrupt worry.

“Uhh a few minutes ago, I think. He went right around the corner. Why?”

Kuroo groaned and slapped his forehead. “He probably saw it.”

“Saw what?” Lev asked as he absentmindedly tossed the ball from hand to hand.

“I kissed (y/n).”

“YOU WHAT?!”

Kuroo sighed and buried his face in his hands. “Yeah, we uh kissed. It was completely an accident.”

“How do you kiss someone on accident?” Hinata’s eyes widened.

“We just-” Kuroo groaned in frustration, because he honestly didn’t know either. “It just happened. We both agreed instantly that it meant absolutely nothing. It-it was a mistake.” Everyone was surprised to see the usually confident captain panic. 

The next couple of days were rough. Training camp was coming to an end and the team could feel the tension between you and Tsukishima. The only people who knew were Kageyama and Hinata, since they had been there. Yamaguchi knew because...well cause he’s Yamaguchi. Why wouldn’t he? But of course, Hinata being the big mouth he is, he told the rest of the team. Daichi immediately scolded him for talking about other people’s personal problems. It couldn’t be helped. The entirety of the Karasuno vbc knew, except for Ukai and Takeda but they both figured it out by the way the two of you had been interacting during training as of late. Once it was time for individual training, you had desperately hoped that you wouldn’t be paired with Tsukishima. His words hurt and they hit deep.

“(Y/n) go ahead and work with Hinata and Tsukishima on their blocking please. They seem to be lacking today.”

“O-Of course, Coach Ukai.” You wanted to cry. Why?

“Asahi-senpai! Do you think you could help us out with some of those awesome spikes?” You called over to the third year. He blushed at your praise and agreed.

“I’ll help too!~” Sugarawa called out as he jogged along the ace.

“Thank you Suga-senpai!”

Tsukishima grimaced. Were you teasing him by calling to the upperclassmen like that? Or was he just being ridiculous? He remembered when you had jokingly called him ‘senpai’ in a sickeningly cute tone a couple of times just to get a reaction from him. It worked. It made him blush. He’d die before letting you see him like that though, always turning his head to avoid looking in your beautiful eyes.

“Alright Hinata! You first.” You gestured for him get ready. He did. He got low, ready to launch himself. Sugarawa set the ball, Asahi spiked and Hinata’s fingers barely grazing the ball. You ran forward and squatted down, doing a bump receive and letting the ball fly up before catching it in your hands.

“That was close. Good job!” You praised, giving him a high five.”The only thing I would tell you is, don’t be afraid. There’s a ton of space between you and the back row. Step back and get a running start or swing your arms back to get that good jump in.”

“Right!” Tsukishima rolled his eyes at the determined grin that had appeared on Hinata’s lips.

“You’re up, Tsukishima.” You instructed timidly. He said nothing as he switched places with HInata.

Set. Spike. Block. He got a good one-touch but he wasn’t satisfied.

“That was good!” He clenched his teeth as his heartbeat started to increase. Why did you have to flash him that beaming smile? After what he did to you? “My one recommendation though, launch yourself from the balls of your feet. Like this.” You motioned for Sugarawa to serve. He watched as you squatted down, your toned thighs peeking from your shorts. The way you pushed upward and launched from the balls of your feet just like you instructed him. The curve of your back captivating as you flicked your wrists out and successfully blocked the spike. “You got that?” He snapped out of his trance and turned away.

“Tch, whatever.”

You scoffed, a muttered ‘Are you kidding me?’ left your lips.

“What’s wrong, chibi-chan?” Kuroo’s nickname for you rolled off his tongue venomously. “Are you not having a good time? I know you’d rather be lip locked with your boyfriend but this is what you signed up for.” He sneered. Causing you and everyone around you to freeze up.

“What? I-I don’t have-”

“Don’t play coy. I saw you with captain rooster head that night.” He cut you off.

“He’s not my boyfriend but-but why would you care?” You scowled, slightly confused.

“Because if you’re bored, then you should just go.”

Again, everyone was caught off guard. Watching all of this go down, not knowing whether to keep watching or at least attempt to look busy while eavesdropping.

“Do you really not want me here?” You asked in a small voice, your eyes were downcast but he could tell you were tearing up. His silence was enough. “Fine. But just so you know, I didn’t sign up to help stuck up snobs like you.” You laughed bitterly. “To think that I like a jerk like you, I-...” A choked sob left your throat before he was staring at your back and watching you leave in tears again for the second time this week. All because of him.

“A-Alright everyone! Stop gawking and head to the dining room. It’s time for dinner!” Coach Ukai called with a clap of his hands. As everyone filed out, Tsukishima bit his lip harshly and look down at the polished floors, fist clenched so tight that he shook. A hand gripped his shoulder. He turned to see Coach Ukai and Takeda.

“You didn’t mean that, did you?” Takeda asked quietly, a knowing tone in his voice that irked the tall blonde.

“...no.” he rasped out, he himself was also close to tears. Self-loathing had filled his entire body.

“Then go talk to her kid. I’m sure you can talk it out, she’s pretty understanding.” Ukai gave his shoulder an encouraging squeeze.

“And patient. Especially since she deals with all of you.” Takeda added softly.

“Yeah, I know.” And with that, he went after you. It’s not like you went far. He found you under the shade of a tree. It seemed twisted but he thought that you still looked pretty. Even with tears in your eyes, the skin around your eyes and on your nose tinged pink from rubbing at them, even with the remnants of snot that had leaked out of your nose. You were beautiful but he quickly remembered why you were crying.

You watched as he approached and silently sat beside you. The summer breeze licking at your skin as you both sat in silence.

“I know you probably don’t even want to be near me right now but please, just hear me out. I-” but he was cut off.

“You confuse me, Kei.” His breathing hitched at the soft sound of his name leaving your lips. “First you flirt with me, you tease me, and then you turn around and insult me.” You finally turned to look at him. “Do you really hate me that much? Was this all a game? Am I a joke to you?”

“N-no.”

“Then what is it?” you demanded desperately.

“I...I hate how you make me feel.” You frowned. “I have feelings for you and it scares me.” He grit his teeth. He was never this open about how he felt. “I always convince myself that-that you’re too good for me. I don’t deserve your time. Especially after what I said to you.”

You were stunned silent. You didn’t expect that to come out of his mouth.

“I was going to apologize but then I saw you and Kuroo...”

“So you didn’t mean those things that you said?”

“No. I’d hate if you left the club. Especially if it was my fault.”

Your heart fluttered just a tiny bit. “Just to clear things up. I don’t like Kuroo, not like that anyways. I still very much have feelings for you.” You confessed. You finally met his eyes. Those damn shimmering pools of honey.

“I’m sorry, (y/n). I regret what I said.”

“Thank you, Kei. I forgive you.” Oh how you wanted to kiss him.

“Then go ahead and do it, shrimp.” Shit. Did I just say that out loud?

“My, my. What a dirty mouth.” He smirked.

“I- ack!” You were pulled over to him, basically straddling his hips. “Kei! W-What are you doing?!” You panicked at his bold actions. He was a blunt guy but this was a bit much.

“Tell me you don’t want this and I’ll stop.” His voice was low, he was so close to you. His breath lightly fanning over your face. You blushed but didn’t say no. He was leaned back and resting against one hand, the other one lightly gripping the back of your neck and pulling you into a kiss. Your hands were gripping the collar of his t-shirt as your lips meshed like two missing puzzle pieces. It was sweet but passionate. He was putting all the feelings he couldn’t verbally formulate into it. Desperately trying to convey how he felt. You smiled against his lips. This was what you wanted all along. Him.

Hesitantly, you both pulled away. The hand that was at the back of your neck was now cupping your jaw. Thumb grazing over your pink, blushy cheek.

“I uhm wow. Can we-can we do that again?” You stuttered.

“Are you seriously asking?” 

So there you were, sitting under the shade of the tree and enjoying the summer breeze. Lips locked, behind you the sun was bidding its farewell. Tinges of pinks and oranges painted the sky. It felt so unreal. Like you were both protagonists of a cheesy coming of age film. But you wouldn’t have it any other way.

You jolted awake, Yachi shaking your shoulders. “It’s time to wake up, (y/n).” she spoke softly.

“What time is it?” You spoke, voice groggy and movements sluggish as you sat up.

“6:30. Breakfast is in a half hour.”

“Thanks Yachi.” She hummed with a nod of her head and walked out. Some of the other managers were still asleep. Slowly, as you got up, your mind began to race. Was that really all a dream? It felt so real...

With a gloomy mood, you showered and changed into black shorts.You grabbed the pullover that was draped over your duffel bag and slipped it on. Pausing at how big it was. Sure you had ordered yours a size larger since sweaters were always comfier a size larger but this was at least 2xs larger than your normal size. Then you remembered.

The evening had gotten colder quickly, and you were basically shivering.

“Here. So you don’t freeze to death or whatever.” Tsukishima held out his ics pullover, looking anywhere but your eyes.

“You’re such a tsundere, Kei.” You teased, snatching he sweater from his grip and quickly pulling it on.

A squeak of excitement left your lips. So it wasn’t a dream. You really did kiss him. Pulling on your knee brace and shoes, you made your way to the dining hall. A little pep in your step. Something that definitely didn’t go unnoticed. Especially not with Detective Sugarawa on the case.

He watched as you basically skipped into the line, a soft smile gracing your lips as you grabbed your breakfast and sat with Kiyoko and Yachi.

“Hmm, (y/n) seems to be in a good mood.” Daichi noticed. They had all been worried about you. They even had to go as far as talking Kiyoko from beating some sense into Tsukishima for making you cry.

“I think she’s wearing Tsukishima’s sweater.” At Suga’s words, they all subtly glanced in your direction. The sweater was definitely not yours.

What confirmed it though, was when Tsukishima and Yamaguchi passed by the table you were at. While Yachi and Kiyoko were distracted with greeting some of the other managers that had joined, Tsukishima placed a carton of strawberry milk and a wrapped rice ball onto your tray. The three nosy third years had their jaws on the ground. They were not expecting that at all. You were a flustered mess. The same couldn’t be said about him, he was completely composed as he sat down to eat. Glancing your way every so often, a barely noticeable blush burning his cheeks when he saw you happily sipping at the beverage he had gotten you. He couldn’t believe it. You were finally his.

taglist: @ewwis

[ana-deaky]

the lakes || Brian May x Reader

Summary:  An odd day of your summer vacation turns to be the day you meet the love of your life.

Warnings: Maybe a bit of bad writing. Other than that, we good to go! 

Author’s Note: This is my gift for @itsametaphorgwil​  for @queenandborhapevents 2 Year Celebration. It was a pleasure being part of the event! Special shoutout to the discord members, who were very motivating. 

The setting is in 1973 around the production of Queen II. I had to tweaks dates, to adjust it to the story. Y/N's academic and other details are left upto reader's imagination. So let it run wild. Enjoy!

You were back home in London for your Spring Break. Your best friend was on a romantic getaway with her boyfriend err fiancé. You have known the two of them since you were kids and this was the only time you both have spent your holidays apart since you met each other.

You slept. You woke up. You went about your day, until the weather cooled down. Then you picked up the book you were reading that week, picked up your usual cup of coffee for your way over to the park. You went to your favourite spot, there, under the shade of the Red Oak tree. You laid down the small picnic blanket and sat on it, stretching out your legs, crossing your legs at the ankle, your back against the tree and you continued reading or watched people as you listened to your music until the sun started setting and you walked back home.

But today... something changed...

You were the kind of person who had kept track of time. Oddly, that wasn't the case today. Your aunt and her husband were over for lunch, like every Sunday. The usual chit-chat and the lunch took longer than usual, by the time they left, you knew, the coffee place would be bustling with people at this hour. You decided to skip your coffee, for the day, which almost never happens. So you were walking the sidewalk, turning the corner towards the coffee shop. You were not one to tolerate slow-walkers, you paced up the sidewalk, stuck between two blokes. You were trying to surpass the tall man in front of you, when he stopped at his tracks.

What happened next, happened too fast. Only thing you could register was that you were drenching in water. A couple of ooh's and ah's were what you heard. "What the hell", you mumbled. A gasp and a series of apologies came from the man in front of you. "Brian, what did you do?", came another voice from behind. "Shut up, Fred", the tall man replied. "Are you alright?", he asked you as you retrieved a napkin and wiped your face.  "I'm fine.", you hissed sarcastically, "Just got a shower in the middle of the street. No big deal."

A burst of laughter came from behind, you turned your head to give them a mean look, "Oh it's funny now, is it?", you hissed. "Boys", you shook your head and mumbled. You walked away from the group towards your home. 

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

A very short while back...

"What is wrong with that riff? It's perfect and it blends bloody well with the rest.", Brian said. "Why do you have to have the spotlight every single time? It's my band too. I have a say too.", Roger bickered. "Darlings, I'm supposed to be the drama queen. Quit bickering.", Freddie said. "Shut up!", said Brian and Roger together. "I tried", Freddie said to Deaky, shrugging. "What do you think, John?", asked Roger. "No guitar solo.", Deaky said firmly. Roger showed quite the excitement and added, "No solo."

Roger didn't stop rubbing the decision in Brian's face as they were going down to the cafe for a break, until a random girl walked between Roger and Brian. Brian halted when Roger stopped talking, turning on his heels to pour the water from his bottle. He gasped when he noticed that it was not Roger and that he just threw water on a stranger. 

*******

He watched her walk away as his friends teased him. "You, boys, carry on. I'm gonna go apologize to her.", Brian said. "Haven't you had enough already?", hissed Roger. "Bugger off, Rog. This happened because of your bickering.", Brian replied. "How's it my fault?", Roger screamed. "Hold it, Rog. We don't want you fighting in public anymore. We're rockstars not brawlers.", Freddie said. "Just get on with it, Brian", he added.

Brian paced behind the girl. "Excuse me?", he said.

*******

"Oh it's you again", you stopped walking and stood facing him, "What do you want?"

"I wanted to apologize for what happened earlier.", he said. You crossed your arms, "Well?"

"Look I'm very sorry for what happened. I should have been careful.", he said. "Thanks.", you said uncrossing your arms and looking down, "Well look at that, my shirt is still wet. Too bad.", you said and continued your walk home. "Hold on.", came the soft voice from behind. You turned around and said, "Look if you're gonna apologize, just don't bother." 

"I would feel bad if I didn't do something to make it up to you.", he said plainly with a hint of worry. "I didn't mean to worry you", you changed your tone, "I'm totally fine really." "I insist", he said. "Well then, what did you have in mind?", you asked. You could swear there was a slight smirk and his hazel eyes glistening. "What about coffee? Tomorrow?", he asked, "Same cafe?", he said pointing towards the direction of the cafe. "All right. What time?", you asked. He checked his watch and said, "How about the same time?" "Well then I'll see you tomorrow, umm, what's your name?", you asked. "Brian.", he said with a pressed smile. "Y/N", you said nodding, "See you tomorrow then." and you both walked your separate ways.

*****

The next day…

You walked inside the cafe round the time he suggested yesterday. You scanned across the almost empty cafe for the very distinct mop of curls sitting somewhere, he was not there yet. You checked the time again and took a seat in one of the tables near the windows, so he won’t miss you. You decided to kill some time reading your book. 

“Fan of crime thrillers, are you?”, you heard the familiar voice. You looked up as he took his seat opposite. “Apparently. She’s a very good writer.”, you said. “Yes. I am not the biggest fan of crime thrillers”, he said, “I’m sorry I’m late. Work held me back.”,Have you been here long?” “Not long. You’re good.”, you said tucking your book to the side of the table. “So, Y/N, what do you do?” “Umm I’m a University student. What about you?” “I'm with a band actually.” “Ooh that’s fun. What do you play?” “The guitar” “Cool. The goth guys from yesterday are your bandmates, aren’t they?” He laughed and said “Yea. They’ll be pleased to know how you referred to them.”

“I should probably get us something to drink. What would you like?”, he said getting up. “A latte?” “Anything else?” “I’m good.” 

He went up to the line near the counter, obviously taller than anybody else in the line. You resumed your reading, while you waited. You looked up often and whenever you did, Brian caught your eyes and gave you a smile. You placed the bookmark on the page and closed your book when you saw him walk to the table. He placed the tray with the drinks and took a seat.

“You don’t drink coffee?”, you asked, noticing the glass of grapefruit juice. “I don’t make it a habit.” “You really are an interesting specimen.”, you said taking a sip of your latte. “I’ve been meaning to ask. What actually happened yesterday?”, you asked. “It’s nothing really.”, he replied and took a sip of the juice. “I’m not gonna let that slide. You threw the water on me. I deserve to know why” “Alright. Alright. So me and the group are here to record an album. Anyways, I wrote a riff for one of the songs, so Roger and I, the blonde guy, were arguing whether or not to have it in or not all the way. And I swear he was rubbing it in my face when the others said no to the riff and I couldn’t contain my anger any longer. I assumed that he was right behind me and I did what I did.”

“Glad it was water and not a punch”, you said shrugging. “Me too.” “So what’s your group called?” “We’re called Queen.” “Oh. I know you guys. I mean I have heard your record.” “You have?” “Yes. You guys are good.” “Thank you very much. Any specific song caught your mind?” “Keep yourself alive was a bop” “Ah I see”, he said grinning. “What are you grinning about? Oh you wrote the song didn’t you?” He smiled and nodded. “I sing a part in the bridge there.” “I see. I’ll check it out the next time it comes on radio” “Thank you”

“So when is the next album?” “Uh well. Hopefully before the fall season. We’re still writing. The works,y'know” “Good luck with your album then.” “Thank you.” 

And so, the conversation continued. Brian was mostly interested in listening to you and always had that enthusiastic smile on his face. You, on the other hand, loved to hear him talk, especially with that soft voice. You didn’t know how long the talk went until you unintentionally looked out the window. You checked your watch, “Oh. I should get going. I’m usually home by this time.”, you said. “Oh. Don’t worry about it. I should get back to the studio anyway.” “Bye, Brian. Thanks for the coffee.”, you said getting up. Brian stood up with you, “Yes. It was very lovely getting to know you, Y/N.”, you almost melted at him saying your name, but you didn’t dare show it. “I’ll see you around, I guess”, you smiled and waved him goodbye, he repeated the same.

You walked out of the cafe, then towards home. “Y/N”, came a shout from behind. You turned around saying, “Yes?” Brian stopped near you and panted saying, “You forgot your book.” “Aww. Thank you, Brian. You’re too nice.” “No problem. Listen Y/N”, he said, “Look I really loved the talk we just had. And I loved every minute I spent with you. So would you like to go on a date with me, so we can get to know each other better?” 

“You seem very nice and very straight-forward, which is a quality I like in men. So yes. I would love to go on a date with you.”, you said. “May I have your phone number? I’ll call you soon.” “Alright. I’ll wait for your call”, you searched for a pen in your bag when Brian gave you his, “Thank you”, you said and scribbled your name and phone number in your notebook and tore the paper to give it to him. “I’ll talk to you later, then”, Brian said, putting the folded paper inside his pocket, followed by his pen. “See you later, Brian” and you walked home. 

*****

Brian called you up on the weekend to ask you out for dinner. One date turned into two, and later a three, four and  a five. He even took you over to the studio to introduce you to the boys. And here you are, on a Friday evening trying to reach your “boyfriend” on the phone.

You waited a few rings until someone picked up the phone. “Trident Studios.”, came a voice in a very distinct accent. “John?” “Yes. Who’s this?” “It’s Y/N. Can you put Brian on the phone?” “Oh hey Y/N, yea. Hold on he’s just got out of the booth.”, he said and you heard, “Brian, phone call for you.” 

“Hello?” “Brian!” “Y/N. How are you, love?” “I’m good. Just busy with some work for University. How is your day going?” “Freddie quit the band twice. Roger threw a tantrum, which is not a surprise. Deaky is being, well.. Deaky. Surprisingly, I’m almost done with one of my songs.” “That’s fantastic. Listen, are you free tomorrow afternoon?” “Yes. I can take a break.” “Wonderful. Pack your swim shorts or whatever. And bring a towel maybe.” “Where are we going?” “That’s a surprise.” “Alright. When and where would we meet?” “You know the bus stop near the park?” “How about I borrow Roger’s car and I’ll pick you up from your home?” “That sounds good. I’ll see you at 1?” “Yes.I’ll see you then.” “Okay. See you tomorrow.”

*****

Brian was right on time. You drove the car while he sat on the passenger side, he kept trying to figure out where you both were going, you never gave in so he diverted to talking about Queen and his latest writings.

“We’re here”, you said parking the car. You got out of the car to retrieve your hamper from the boot. “Why are we in the middle of the woods?” “Stop exaggerating. The town is just a mile down the road, Brian.” You proceeded to walk through the path, Brian followed closely to catch up with you and held your hand as you both walked towards the spot. “Not many people come here. So Jane and I come here all the time.” “When do I get to meet Jane?’ “Most probably next week. She can’t wait to meet you.” “You told her?” “Yea. Why wouldn’t I?” “Oh it’s nothing. I thought you were gonna tell her in person.” “I couldn’t wait any longer.”

“We’re here.”, you said standing at the edge opening to the banks of the lake. “This is beautiful.” You set your hamper down on the gravel-y soil and spread a beach towel. “Lunch or swim?” “Swim” “Good choice.” You kneeled down to take off your sandals while Brian was sitting down to take off his “precious” clogs. 

You stood up to take off your dress over your head. You were showing skin except for your pink and white checkered bathing suit. You could actually feel Brian’s eyes on you as you did. His mouth opened, his pupils blown wide, drinking you in until you threw the dress at his face. “Take a picture, lasts longer.”, said. He just shook his head and pulled his half unbuttoned shirt over his head, threw it over your dress. “You coming or no?”, you asked walking towards the water. 

“Wait up.”, he said. You stepped into the water. You swam around until Brian finally joined in. First thing you did, splash the water on his face. He ran his palm down his face, “What was that for?” “To commemorate our first meeting”, you said swimming over to Brian, your hands twining behind his neck, kissing him. “Aww. I love you.”, he said when you pulled away. And then he held you by the shoulders and pushed you in the water and swam away, when you pulled up on the surface, you said, “I’m so gonna get you for that.” And so continued the fun.

A bit of fun and a picnic lunch later, both of you were laying side by side on your towels, holding hands, talking about anything and everything. You lied down on your side, your head supported by your right hand. “Brian?”, you whispered, your other hand toying with his wet hair. “Hmm?” “I need to tell you something.” Brian sat up, facing you, he said, ‘What is it?” He said tucking some hair behind your hair. “Summer break gets over in 4 weeks.” “So?” “Where does that put us?” “We are still gonna be us. Together.” You smiled and side-hugged him. “Besides”, he resumed, “The album is starting to come together. We’ll probably be swamped with work and the final touches a few weeks later. And it’s not like we can’t keep in touch. We can call or I could come down and visit you.” “I’m so happy that I have you in my life.” “Me too.” “I had a wonderful time with you, today. When are we coming back alone?” “Some day one day…”     

******

Two months later …

The goodbyes were definitely hard, but taken well. And Brian seemed to be engaged more in the album, which kept him distracted. You had University to do that for you. 

And on this particular Friday, you were drowning in homework when your roommate walked in. You looked up to the door, when she came in. “Hey Y/N, you’ve got mail.”, she said putting down a couple of letters and what looked like a square box on your table.

You opened the box carefully. There was a letter and the cover of the album, showing your boyfriend and his mates on the front and ‘Queen II’ written on top. You remembered him mentioning about the album releasing soon, on the phone last week. You took out the album and turned it over to see the song titles and there it was ‘Some Day One Day’ . “You don’t mind if I put the record on, would you?” “I don’t mind” You walked over to the record player, put on the record and put the player arm on the 4th song of the White side. 

The light guitar strumming started, when you got back to your chair to open the letter. You saw the pictures of you and Brian, that Roger took on Freddie’s camera a week before you left for University, first. Then a couple of pictures with the boys. You left them in the box. And took out the letter, the first thing that crossed your mind, how neat his calligraphy was. It read:

Dearest Y/N,

I know we talk over the phone most days, I felt that the letter would feel much more personal and from the heart than telling you on the phone.

If I am taking a gamble here, you have already seen the vinyl, the pictures and probably playing our song. And you’re smiling, because either I said that exactly as it is or because you’re mocking. What I’d give to see that smile right now and to listen to the song together. But some day one day..

Wonderful pictures, aren’t they? I nagged Freddie into getting the pictures developed soon, so I could send those with the vinyl. I can be persuasive and you know it. And fun fact, I have framed one of our pictures and put it on my nightstand. (You’re smiling again.)

I miss you dearly. And I love you so much. Will talk soon. Take care!

Yours, 

Bri

P.S. Freddie wants to know what you think about the album and the boys say Hi!

You sat back on the chair, happy as ever listening to your boyfriend sing, hugging the letter.

******

Tagging: @likesomekindofcheese​  @yourlocalmusicalprostitute​ @sebxstiianstxn​  @queenandborhapevents​ @queenlover05​ @seraphicmercury​ @violaslloyds @anironsidh​ @221roses​ @mazzell-ro​ @amethyst-serenade​ @stewielover95​ @jd-johndeacon-or-jackdaniels​ @snugglyducklingbrewhouse​ @captaincoffeegirl515​

[feverinfeveroutfic]

chapter thirty one: ginger snaps

Sam awoke the next morning in her bed at her father's house. It had been a whole two months since she had returned from that big tour and nearly Thanksgiving at that point. It all still didn't feel real, even well after the fact.

All the people. All across the country. The fact that she could have her art go places as well as that from Marla and perhaps Belinda, too, if she so wished.

It all felt like a fever dream, even two months onward.

And the fact that they were all within her arm's reach added to the whole feeling of it all. Alex was especially within arm's reach of her, down there in Berkeley. She thought of heading on down there just to visit him before Testament returned to the studio for that new one. She wanted them to be there on that big tour, the Clash of Titans.

It would justify absolutely everything that she had worked for in the past nearly five years.

The fact that it had been five years since she first moved from California to New York hit her like a ton of bricks. Five years! So much had happened since then. So much had happened to her since she had unlocked the door to her apartment.

And yet it felt as though so much more time had happened since then. She faced on a brand new decade with her friends and also with her father. It almost felt as though everyone came together as a family of sorts. A family of choice rather than through blood, even with a bit of blood mixed in there.

She wondered where it all would go from that point onward as well. So many questions that pertained to the next decade cropped up as the days shortened and the shadows over the Bay Area and Catalina Island lengthened out with the impending darkness. The darkness beckoned them all into the coming days, into the unknown. She knew New York had their way with it all, the big city with the tough exterior, but she wondered if the tough facade would slip at some point underneath the cold gray winter.

And then there was California, the direct opposite in all of its laxness. But she wondered if the relaxed politeness would slip at a given point in favor of a fist at the world.

One question that hung over her was how would the Nineties treat them all. She looked on at the halfway point of her twenties in the middle of January; by the middle of the decade, she would have reached thirty years old. Such a strange number that felt so close and yet so far away at the same time.

It all felt so strange to her, especially since Alex would be that age by the decade's end. So close and yet so distant.

It felt as if they were all walking each other home, especially when she thought of her parents and how the decade would fare for them in particular.

There was another question that hung over her as well, and that was the truth about the man whom her mother had spent time with before she was born. Even though it was clear at that point there was no way in which to come in touch with him, there had to be a way to him during that decade. So much could change in a single decade as she saw in the past one alone.

So much could change in a single year: it wasn't even a year ago that she wanted nothing to do with Alex. Now she could feel some sort of spark between the two of them. A year ago she continued to reel from the loss of Cliff and she saw him everywhere, and she obsessed over the fact that black hat continued to smell of him. Now she had nothing more a mere memory of him imprinted within her flesh.

Moreover, Alex had given her that fedora that reminded Ruben of Frank and Nancy Sinatra both. Rather than something that belonged to him, he gave her things that were brand new. Cliff haunted her after he was killed: Alex wouldn't haunt her except through her memory.

Of course.

She climbed out of bed once she caught the fresh aroma of brewed coffee in the next room, and she straightened out one of the many Death Angel shirts she used to sleep in all the while. She padded into the kitchen right as Ruben took his seat there at the table with a fresh cup firmly in hand.

“Good morning, my love,” he greeted her with a smile and an accompanying kiss. “Coffee's ready and there's some waffles waitin for you in the oven.”

He lowered his gaze to her chest.

“I hope they go places, too,” he remarked with a gesture to her shirt.

“I hope so, too!”

“I'm overseeing their new one plus Testament's new one.”

“You're overseeing Souls of Black?” she asked him with a raise of her eyebrows, and he nodded in response to that.

“Indeed I am. They go in—in June, I think? It's a ways off. Those guys have got a bit more touring to do come the springtime.”

“Springtime and a brand new decade,” Sam remarked as she padded to the cupboard for a clean coffee mug.

“I have a good feeling about them,” Ruben confessed as he took a sip for himself. “I feel like this past tour did those five boys as well as Slayer justice.”

“You think maybe the Clash of the Titans will get them even further along?” she asked him as she poured herself a cup.

“I have no doubt in my mind about that, baby girl. They're twisted enough and I feel the winds are changing, too. The world wants something small and to the earth. The world wants something new, too. That said, not only will they get on it, I have a good feeling about Metallica, too.”

“I have no doubt about them, either,” Sam said as she mixed in a bit of cream. “How do you feel about Anthrax?”

“The world could use some humor, too,” he added. “They definitely have it. As for metal itself, who knows? But those three bands there—Metallica, Anthrax, and Testament—I got a good feeling about each of them.” He took another sip. “I also feel the world shifting more towards true artistry, too.” And he flashed her a wink as a result of that.

Sam showed her father a little smile as she took a little sip from her coffee.

She considered taking a walk that day, just to see the trees all along the street change color. Alex was probably home as well. If not, then she could take the bus over to Greg's house.

One of the myriad of things she missed there on the East Coast was the distinction of seasons: there on the West Coast, and in California in particular, there could be a nice sunny day in the middle of December, and the next string of days following would be rather nice and sunny until the point in which it all became monotonous. At least Seattle and the Pacific Northwest mixed it up every now and again with the rain storms and the drizzle from the Puget Sound. But it was about that time, in the first days of November, when Sam could walk about the streets of New York and have a look up at the trees overhead. At all the shades of orange and yellow amongst themselves.

But there in the Bay Area, the leaves either had switched over to yellow and never went any further than that, or they stayed green and changed colors upon hitting the ground around her. She missed that crisp smell of the leaves around her as she strode about the sidewalk.

She reached the cafe at the end of the block: right next door to that place was a brand new bakery. She spotted those dark rust colored cookies near the front window. Even though there wasn't very much of an autumnal feeling about the area, the very sight of them made her wish for more of it.

More of it and all for the guy she liked to hang out with when Joey wasn't around.

She strode inside of there and she spotted small packs of bite sized ones on the rack across from the window.

“Ginger snaps,” she muttered to herself, and she picked out a small pack of them off from the rack.

All the spices. All the love in the world for him.

She yearned to find something for Joey but she had no clue what she could give him. Add to this, she would have to send to him via mail, which meant it wouldn't be fresh by the time he received it.

Something sweet and gentle on his poor stomach like sugar cookies or a snicker doodle. But then again, there was the fact she had to send to him. But then again, it could serve as a care package to him.

She traded in between him and Alex all summer long and yet things felt so distant between the two of them. He was her boyfriend after all: they were still together even after everything else had happened all around them. She still had her heart on him: she still wanted him. She still wanted him even against all odds.

She thought about Alex and all the times they had gotten close. She knew that if Testament were to go anywhere in the world, he needed to have some sort of clan behind him much like with her. Things on the West Coast were alive as she cradled that pack of ginger snaps in her hand.

But then, there was Joey. Back there in upstate New York. Each coast was on the brink of something.

The electric feeling in the air, the signs that things were about to go sideways for everyone. She knew that Metallica were on their way to something for themselves, even without Cliff at their side.

Something to help Joey along the way it was, then. She picked out a couple of snicker doodles as well as a couple of sugar cookies in the shape of angels for him. Something else, too: something that she could pick from home, both of her homes anyways. It only made sense especially since Alex had given her things along the way himself: giving each other things meant they loved each other. She could do it for Joey as well, and it would be in a sense that she still loved him as her boyfriend rather than just a boy who happened to be her friend like with Alex.

Within time, Sam bowed out of there and returned to Ruben's house down the block. She wondered what she could send to Joey as she walked past the mailbox by the curb. She tucked the paper bag of cookies under her arm as she peeked inside there. An envelope that decreed something about the new decade and the last one before the New Millennium as well as a blood red postcard. All the memories of getting fan club letters from Eric back on the East Coast returned to her.

But she turned it over and spotted a Polaroid photograph of the Cherry Suicides: each of them sat cross legged on the floor in blood red lingerie and with sparkling little Santa hats upon their heads. She turned it over again and saw the words “Captain Shelley!” written in pearly white ink. Following that was:

“Hey, remember a few years ago when there was this big ass wave of thrashy music that came out? Well, here's the next wave for ya.”

She clasped the envelope to her chest as if it was going to get away from her and she closed the mailbox with her elbow. She headed back into the house to better read the postcard; she set the brown paper bag down on the edge of the bed almost without thinking.

The pearly white ink made her think of milk.

It was milk and cookies for real that time around.

“Sam—

it's been a while! We're just about done with the new album—we just have to mix it and do whatnot to it. You're not gonna believe this: a major label wants to sign us and for all we know, it just might be either Metallica or Testament's label (there's an imprint up here in New England so our hope is that we don't have to move out there from here in Providence). It's mainly why we haven't been able to come in contact with you lately. We've just been gambling the whole thing about going to a major label as well as focusing on the new album. Remember those guys from Texas we told you and Alex about back on New Year's, Pantera? Apparently, they were recording next door to us and they sat in with us for a couple of days. Their guitarist Darrell offered us free drinks on him whenever we show up with them!

If we get this record deal, we'll release it through that and we might see some genuine airplay afterwards. Neither of the four of us can promise anything because it's all hearsay and after all we've been through in the past five years, we trust you and the periphery fans more than we trust some fucking guys who look like question mark in suits. One example of a lack of trust is neither of us have any idea if they're going to market us as a 'riot grrrl' band or a 'death metal' band, even though it's obvious that we're straight up punk with a bit of thrash thrown in for good measure.

Who knows? It might be a hit! It might be a hit and we'll play on this thing called 'Clash of the Titans', and we'll also have you at the helm, too: our good friend and kinda sorta partner in crime from the West Coast. Hope all is well out there in California—we were going to see Testament on this tour with Anthrax and Slayer but it was either that or go see Metallica, and we got invited to the latter when they came through here this past summer. It was an offer we simply couldn't refuse.

We love you and miss you so much.

Zelda, Rose, Minerva, and Morgan”

Sam sighed through her nose and turned the postcard back over for a look at the Polaroid once more. She kept her eye on Zelda, who looked even more toned than she remembered. When they first met each other, she was slender, almost scrawny: the muscles on her arms were taut and slightly thick, which told her she was getting stronger and more powerful with time and with each tour as well. Underneath her lingerie, Sam noticed that her waist had gotten quite a bit fuller but her stomach looked rather toned.

A tough Rhode Island girl had to look it.

She propped up the postcard on the desk so she looked on at the Polaroid every time she climbed out of bed. She then rubbed her hands together to prepare Joey's care package: there was one Death Angel shirt that didn't fit her given it was too large for her but she knew that he would be comfortable in it. There had to be more than just a shirt and some cookies however.

Ruben had already left for work, which meant that she had the house all to herself.

If nothing, Alex could help her, or perhaps Greg could join in on the help. She had no idea if Eric and Louie were home, and even though she saw Chuck the day before, she knew that he wasn't around, either. Alex was closer as well. It was a bit of a trip down to Berkeley from Castro Valley, but nothing a bus ride couldn't solve, however.

A quick phone call to Jerry ahead of time, who told her that Alex was in the shower at the moment, and thus she put her jacket back on and she headed back out there again.

The San Francisco fog covered the sky overhead but she knew it wasn't enough to warrant a rainstorm. She kept the ginger snaps in her jacket pocket all the while: she would surprise him with them even though they weren't necessarily a surprise with him at that point.

She bowed her head against the winds as she made her way up the street to that familiar house near his high school: and he still hadn't shown her his high school, either.

The door was slightly ajar and thus she left herself into the cozy warm house. His parents were elsewhere but the pipes running in the wall told her that Alex hadn't climbed out as of yet. Sam made her way down to his room, right across from the spare where he showed her his homemade rig. She wondered if he would show her some new riffs in there: she nudged that door open and she made her way inside of there.

That little amp on the floor right underneath that little red guitar. Right next to that stood a white guitar that appeared to be a little bit bigger. She picked it off of the floor and held it close to her body. It felt rather cumbersome in her hands, but then again, she wasn't as acquainted with it as him, and he hadn't put that leather strap on it, either.

But she took a seat on the chair next to the table and she cradled the guitar in her lap. She took the pick out of the strings near the guitar's head and she caught a soft metallic cling as a result. Without putting her fingers on the strings near the head, she gently strummed it.

A flat metallic noise ensued. She knew it would be louder if it was plugged into that amp there.

She pictured herself next to Alex onstage somewhere and they were performing “Practice What You Preach” together. But she had a mountain to climb all the while: a long way to go before she could twin him the way in which Eric did onstage.

She set her index and middle finger on the bottom two strings, albeit the thinnest of the six. So thin that they nearly sliced through her fingers. She jerked her fingers back as if she had been cut but no mark had been left there on the skin. She set her fingers there again and she strummed yet again: that time, the sound was more muted. She pressed harder, such that it ached her fingers.

She jerked her hand back again and shook it about, but she tried again.

“Easy with that thing,” Alex's voice caught her attention, and she jumped, and he chuckled as a result. She glanced back at him there in the doorway with his hair dripping wet and a towel wrapped around his waist. “That's brand new so be careful with it.”

“Man, you got tough fingers,” she remarked as she shook her hand about again. “This hurts.”

“You're just not used to it is all,” he assured her as he padded into the room. “It's just like with anything else, really. The more you play around, your fingers get stronger and so does your skin, too.”

She tried again, that time harder on the frets.

“You don't wanna press down too hard, either,” he added. “Trust me—I've made that mistake before.” He showed her his left hand and the faint scars on his fingertips.

“You want a nice balance,” she said.

“Exactly, right!” She then flexed her fingers and tried it yet again.

“That's better,” she remarked.

“It'd also sounds better plugged in, too,” he added, nonplussed.

“I was just giving it a shot,” she confessed with a shrug.

“You should try it! You know—I've always found something so badass about a chick who does things like this and works with her hands. Playing guitar or doing what Belinda does.”

Alex raked his fingers through that singular patch of hair on right side of his head, right behind the little tuft of gray: given his hair was wet, he appeared to have a cowlick coming in right there with the hair underneath the main hair looking as though it stood up on end.

“Did you get the Cherry Suicides' news letter, by the way?” he asked her.

“As a matter of fact, I did!” he declared with a twinkle in his eye.

“The next wave of thrashy music as Zelda described it—with them and you guys.”

“There has to be more of us out there, though,” he pointed out. He peered over his shoulder.

“You know what? Seeing as it's just us here right now...” He unraveled the towel right before her and she came face to face with his underwear.

“Bad boy,” she playfully scolded him with a wag of her finger.

“Good bad boy, I presume?”

“Yes!” she chuckled at him. She followed him back across the hallway to his bedroom: she hung there in the doorway as he put on a clean pair of jeans. Sam looked over at the small cutout of a long haired man right next to his cutout of Eddie Van Halen. He had a red guitar in hand, much like the one Alex had, except he held it as though it served as his weapon.

“Who's that guy?” she asked him; he turned around to find her pointing at the cutout.

“Yngwie Malmsteen—do not ask me how to spell his name, either. Amazing as hell guitar player, too. He's absolutely brilliant. He's Swedish, I think?”

“I would think with a name like that, you're gonna go places,” she said.

“Oh, yeah, you're gonna have to like—prove yourself in some way.” He chuckled again as he put on that same black button up shirt that she loved; once he left the top two buttons undone, he fixed his hair and let it dangle over his shoulders to better dry. She watched him put on a little black metal pendant when he spoke again.

“You know, we ought to hang out over Hanukkah,” he offered to her in a low voice. “I'm not doing anything then.”

“When is Hanukkah this year?”

“It's—” Alex paused and glanced up at the ceiling in question. “It's couple of days before Christmas if I recall correctly.”

“Wow!” She gaped at him, and then she flashed him a smirk. “So you want me to hang with you over Christmas.”

“Nah, it'd be over Hanukkah,” he pointed out with a wag of his finger. “We'll light the menorah together and treat you to some matzo.”

“Wave that finger at me again and I'll tell you what to do with it,” she warned him, and he pointed the tip up his nostril, which in turn brought a laugh out of her. He then snapped his fingers and his face lit up.

“What?”

“Chuck and Tiffany are getting married,” he said.

“No way!” she declared, excited, and he nodded his head out of excitement. “When?”

“Uh, late April, I think? Or May—I only know it's in the springtime after we get back from the tour and before we go into the studio. Some time around Greg's birthday, that's as far as I know. They're holding it over the Bay itself and then they're moving down to Dublin together.”

“Are you gonna help out?” she asked him with another smirk on her face.

“I just might,” he chuckled, and then his expression turned thoughtful. “I guess Chuck's cousin is in a band, too.”

“His cousin?”

“Yeah. Yeah, he was telling me about that just the other day when he told me he and Tiffany are getting married—he was like 'my cousin started a band with a couple of his classmates, like last year.' And I said, 'alright, man! I hope we get to see them perform in the future.' We're all kind of a tribe now, we might as well—come—together under one umbrella.”

“I do not like the way you said 'come' just now,” she scoffed, and he snickered at that.

“When do you guys back on tour again?” she asked him.

“We leave—right before your birthday, actually,” he replied. “About a three days before. We're going over to Europe and then Japan and Australia. We're going places, Samantha.”

“And then you go back into the studio,” she said in a soft voice. “And you—raise holy hell.”

“The label's also telling us to do it, too,” he added.

“But still!”

“Yeah, I mean—we could become the biggest band in the world for all we know,” he confessed with a shrug. “Or at least one of them. It's just—do or die time with all of us. I think Metallica is really going to find themselves a spot in the world of some sort—something a la the Scorpions, maybe.”

Sam sauntered closer to him and she was met with the fresh soft aroma of soap about his neck and hair. His skin never appeared softer and the bridge of his nose seemed to have an extra sheen to it despite the sole light from through the window.

“To be frank—I don't want to be alone when it happens,” he said in a soft voice.

“You won't be,” she vowed to him, “you won't be, my sweet friend.” She nestled closer to him. For a second, she had forgotten she had the ginger snaps in her pocket and she considered pushing him down onto the bed, flat on his back, but she never did. Instead, she eyed his chest and the soft silken skin on his collar bones and his neck.

“How'd I know I was ever going to like such a gorgeous boy,” she wondered aloud, and he rolled his eyes at that.

“You are! You're very gorgeous, Alex.”

“I'm gorgeous in the sense that a cadaver is gorgeous.”

“You don't look like a cadaver, Alex—you've got this nice milky skin and this inky beautiful hair, and this glorious tuft upon your head. You're really beautiful—and I see you getting more beautiful with age.”

He locked eyes with her and for a second, she thought he was about to kiss her, but he never did. Instead, he picked up the towel from the edge of the bed and shook it a bit.

“Would you like something to drink?” he offered her as he slung the towel over his shoulder.

“Ooh, yes please!”

He led her out of his bedroom and down the hall to the kitchen.

“By the way—just out of curiosity, what'd you come over for?” he asked her. She then thought of his whole thing with Joey. Still very much a delicate subject even though Alex had forgotten the whole ordeal between her and Aurora: if he forgot that, then it was possible he laxed on the feud between him and Joey. But it was a gamble nonetheless, and one she had no idea whether it would be good to take it on.

“I just wanted to pop in,” she duly replied to him.

“Doesn't really count as a pop in, though, now doesn't it?” he joked as he poured her a glass of ginger ale. He then reached over for the television remote which sat there on the counter and he pointed it out the kitchen door and he pressed the button; the sight of the ginger ale reminded her of the bite sized ginger snaps in her jacket pocket.

“Where exactly is your menorah at?” she asked him as she took a sip.

“It's right in here—” He drummed his fingers on the cupboard right before their heads. He fixed on something in the next room and his eyes widened. He craned his neck a bit.

“What's up?” she asked him, and he rounded her to the doorway.

“What's up? Alex?”

“Oh my gracious god,” he muttered. She joined him there and they watched a breaking news report on what appeared to be a crowd of people congregated around something huge and concrete. She caught the sight of graffiti on one side of the concrete wall, graffiti and barbed wire.

“What is it?” she asked him.

“The Berlin Wall's coming down,” he declared and he looked over at Sam with a sparkle in his eye.

“The Berlin Wall's coming down?”

“It's coming down. That thing is coming down, Samantha!” He gasped and held a hand to his chest. A huge chunk of the wall collapsed as a couple of people in West Berlin knocked a huge hole in the wall with people chanting right behind them.

Sam brought a hand to her mouth.

“It's coming down and reuniting the country—this is huge!” he proclaimed.

“What a way to go into the Nineties!” she added as he set his hands on her shoulders.

“Right? Oh my god—!” He threw his arms around her. She thought about the time he had been accidentally left behind near the border of East Germany. Fears no more after this.

“The world still has a long way to go, though,” he pointed out. “There's so much wrong right now—but this is huge, though.”

“Quite the feat if I do say so myself,” Sam raised her glass of ginger ale.

“Let's fucking do this,” he told her with a slap of her free hand and another embrace for her. The pack of ginger snaps crinkled in her jacket pocket, such that he held back a bit and showed her a bewildered look. She reached into her pocket for them and he gasped at the sight of them.

“Just keeps getting better!” he declared; with two fingers, he opened that little bag and popped one into his mouth. She raised the glass to him again.

“Milk and cookies,” she stated, and she couldn't resist the smile on her face.

“Milk and cookies!” He tapped the ginger snap against the rim of her glass for a toast.

“This decade is going to be epic for all of us, Samantha,” he said, “I can just feel it in my bones.”

“I can, too. There's something in the air right now. Something big among us. It's quickly coming to a point that I almost can't stand it, to be honest.”

“When you absolutely can't stand it—like you're like 'hooooly fuck, make something happen already!' is when it really happens. I say this because that happened with the first wave. Like  we were all like, 'one of us has to go somewhere at some point.' And we did! We all did, even if Testament kind of came in after the fact.”

“Let's just hope we're not in between waves,” she noted.

“Oh, no, you don't want that,” he said as he popped another ginger snap into his mouth. “You get in between waves you run into a wall.” He gestured to the television screen before them, of all the Berliners rejoicing after decades of separation. Of a world on the waves of change.

And all the while, she wondered if Joey was seeing the same thing as she took another sip of ginger.

[selfawarejester]

HALO: SHADOWS OF REACH — A REVIEW BY A SOMEWHAT ENTHUSIASTIC FAN

Alright, so after forever and to much demand (okay, that's a lie, no one asked for this), I've finally finished my review of the newest installment in the Halo novels: Shadows of Reach. Obviously, there are spoilers inbound.

RATING: 8/10

This could've easily been a ten if not for some parts of the story that irked me, but overall a fun read— I'd read it again.

A VERY LONG SUMMARY (OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, SO PLEASE TELL ME IF I MESSED SOMETHING UP)

Welp, the first half is just John being very emo about Cortana and pretty much ignoring his teammates' emotional states (a large part of the book is that, actually), and introducing old wise man Major Van Houte, no nonsense Crew Chief Stella Mukai (who made John laugh, huzzah!!) and Lieutenant Maks "Hotshot kid" Chapov (don't get too attached). They perform intricate aerial maneuvers and the likes to avoid being spotted, but they are and they crash.

After a couple close encounters with Banished banshees that act like Keeper banshees for some odd reason, three-quarters of Blue Team gets their cans kicked by actual Banished banshees and get separated from Linda-058 and Special Crew (which are the flight crew btw). Whilst heavily wounded, they are held at gunpoint by the Viery Militia who also make fun of them while at gunpoint. (Rude, but also very funny). Militia Leader Lady assumes that they're there to help them liberate Reach (and refuses to let John tell her otherwise) and gets pissy about it afterwards - but she's under a lot of pressure, so it's fine - and Fred is Concussed™, leading to ridicule and shade from John and Kelly for pretty much the rest of the book.

There's a lot of stuff in the middle about the Viery Militia, so hightlight reel: John manages to ask his doc a personal question (Go, John!), and he and Kelly are driven to meet the commanders of the Militia by sweet Bella Disztl, five time winner of the Tantalus-10,000 (don't worry if you forget, they bring it up in every scene she's in). I like Bella, partly because she looks like my OC, but in general. Unfortunately, she falls prey to the Halo driver curse and bites it later on in the book.

Despite a lot of angst and distrust once the commanders find out BT is not there to help free Reach, they decide to take the Armory from the Banished and call in reinforcements from Infinity.

As they launch the assault on the Banished armory, everyone without MJOLNIR (and Chapov and Van Houte who are out of range) gets knocked out due to lack of breathable levels of oxygen in the tunnels (and they talk about the brain damage that's caused when your oxygen is cut off for a few minutes, which makes me and all the other RvB fans sad) and the Spartans are forced to do it alone, shocker. Chapov saves the day with an innovative tactic to take down massive amounts of Banished vehicles, go Chapov!

We finally get to see Halsey (who finally has a prosthetic arm), Lasky (who likes to say heck) and Palmer (who is still Very Done with basically everyone), so that's cool.

There's a second attack on the armory as the Banished try to take back what is theirs, and here is where Bella dies :( But, on the other hand, a hundred and twenty Spartans (which is still super shocking to me) save the day. Palmer and Blue Team have a very odd interaction wherein Palmer is treated like she's in the wrong despite being perfectly reasonable?? (I'm just going to read this part one more time because the first time around was at 2AM) Anyways, Palmer takes over freeing Reach and the Spartans go to the Highlands to finish their actual mission.

So, I've neglected to mention Castor's arc in the book because it's basically all the same thing, so highlight reel: There's a badass Sangheili called 'Gadogai who works for Escharum. This dude is the right hand man of Atriox, aka the big boss. Anyways, Deukalion (where are my TW fans at?!) and Ballas are dokabs of two of the other Banished clans who are fighting over the pioneers' land, like a bunch of bitches, instead of doing their jobs and Castor's really mad about it. Castor continually demonstrates his cleverness but as always misses a key factor and his plans get screwed. Also, Orsun's son is around, so that's cool. There's lots of Jiralhanae politics and crap that I'm not really going to go into here. Also, Veta Lopis and the Ferrets are there with their kick-ass hairstyles. Escharum shows up and Castor's ploy to let BT guide them to this Portal to the Ark finally works out and things are going good for the Keepers' Leader.

BT finally makes it to the mountains, and after a fun aerial chase, Chapov is mortally wounded and manages to take out, like, four Banshees before he dies. The Banished go for the Portal while BT rush for SWORD base, there's another large scale fight with Jetpack Brutes and Longswords and Broadswords, but BT makes it to SWORD base, and Fred goes check out the corridor to the Portal (which they get into after a lot of events). They grab three cryo-bins and a box with a sabre symbol on it, and John manages to mess up his wounded legs and is very nice to Kalmiya's fragment. Sweet.

The Freta reunion is painfully brief, and leaves Fred with confusion and a message capsule. The Portal is opened, the Keepers turn on the Banished, but ultimately no consequences are reaped (shocker) and Gadogai jumps ship over to the Keepers. Cortana is alerted by the Portal and a Guardian is showing up and everyone hauls ass away from Reach.

Captain Veronica Dare is still alive (yay) and gives Fred part of the message because "it's none of ONI's business" which is amazing and awesome and once again, yay. Halsey is pained by how much Blue Team had gotten beaten up (which I am still confused by) and Palmer and the rest of the UNSC forces are stranded on Reach.

FINAL THOUGHTS

It was definitely lots of fun, I'll give Denning that. They finally brought in that slipspace crystal from First Strike which I've been bitching about forever, which is cool.

However, lots of elements from his previous books touch over in this one, like continually getting the badass, untouchable Spartans absolutely pwned and the subtle traces of sexism surrounding his treatment of Kelly, Linda and now Palmer get on my nerves.

One thing that bites at me was that Kelly got shot in the goddamn chest and she was just doing perfectly fine. Her coping with it was not shown at all. It gets more and more obvious with each book that Denning is pretty much clueless on what to do with either of our badass Spartan ladies, which is discouraging, especially compared to the amazing force-of-nature that is Veta Lopis!

And I really didn't like the fact that John was just sad about Cortana. I mean, there's no actual conflict about the fact that Eviltana (who I will always think about as a different person from my blue bby) is a mass-murdering fanatical bitch. Like she's just misunderstood and not an actual dictator. And he doesn't seem to give a damn about any of the Spartans obvious signs of trauma over any of this stuff. He just dismissed Kelly's valid concern about saying Cortana's name, which is kind of OOC, but okay.

That being said, they better not make another Cortana model, because that was something Actual!Cortana was very messed up about; being replaced like that. If they do, they better make it very clear that she's a different entity, like Kalmiya.

Congrats and thank you for reading through all of this stuff! Hope you enjoyed, and feel free to hit me up regarding anything Halo!

[swordmaid]

creator tag meme

tagged by the local angel @giuseppearcimboldo thank you so much lizzie!

rules: it’s time to love yourselves! choose your 5 (ish) favorite works you created in the past year (fics, art, edits, etc.) and link them below to reflect on the amazing things you brought into the world in 2020. tag as many writers/artists/etc. as you want (fan or original) so we can spread the love and link each other to awesome works!

VERY happy i can fill this out because i’ve been so productive this year lol. also this is all gonna be jb bc ive been RELENTLESS and spamming and i would apologize but i wont lmao 

1. jb eros/psyche au.

i am talking about everything i have done for the au btw, because i’ve done quite a handful of things and honestly i really love all of them--even the doodle ones which rarely happens. anyway, i love this au in general. i think the tale is perfect for them, and i’m happy with the works that i managed to put out most esp this one that’s based on canova’s sculpture of eros and psyche. translating sculpture into digital art was interesting since it was all about converting the weight and structure of the sculpture into the screen and i think i managed to do it imo! i love how brienne looks heavy in his arms, i love how strong jaime looks holding her up and i especially love the way i shaded her dress to mimic the lines that the statue has. all in all, this au slapped and i actually want to do more of it but i have no inspiration right now. 

2. jb as classical art series. 

honestly i never thought that this was going to be a series lol i thought it was just a two time thing, but then i did another one, and then another one, and then another one and now here we are. i love all the pieces that i’ve done for it actually. my favourite thing is that they’re all not direct translations of the original art. there are some aspects that i’ve taken and adapted while also putting my own flair into it. i love the reverse colour scheme with klimt’s kiss and my own rendition of it. the gold being the accent highlight in a field of murky brown/black whereas klimt has the black squares present to emphasis the richness of the gold and yellows. i also like the little thing i did where i put the geometric shapes outside of the subject instead of inside (what he did). i put on the tags that i didnt like how it turned out but i actually like it lol i just didn’t like how long it took me i get too impatient with my art i think. anyway. i love this whole series sm i think all the pieces have their own character, and tbh i always get nervous adding another piece into this just because all the ones that i’ve done has been so well received i don’t want to be a disappointment lool. regardless, i love classical art and i love jb and i love being able to put the two together hehe we love to be self indulgent

3. la belle fleur sauvage commission. 

aka THIS commission that was based from SD’s fic, la belle fleur sauvage. some behind the scenes with that one--that one took me SO long to do, like it was taking longer than i had wanted and i felt very bad and i am forever thankful for sd’s patience 😭😭😭. i really can’t be too mad though since i was working on the third year of my degree, but i still would’ve wanted to finish it sooner than i did. but as for the art itself---i actually love it lol. i always say to zoom in on my stuff to see all the details but i WISH folks would zoom in on that because it’s so big and so intricate. i love how everything turned out; i love how rich the colours are, i love the composition for all three panels, i love how the SKY looked like actually that’s the first time i sat down and painted clouds with that technique and i am so happy and pleased with how it looked im using it for everything LOL, i love jaime’s outfit in the 2nd panel---i actually designed a whole outfit for that and he DOES have his pouches and daggers, etc. stuff that he would have with him if he was a mercenary, but because of the cropping, those details were taken out but it’s THERE. i love the colours and the shading on the 3rd panel. it looks so soft and romantic and it’s everything 😭😭. honestly i didnt know if i was able to finish whole three panels just because of how big the project seemed, but tbqh this piece really pushed me as an artist and im really happy that i had the chance to work on it (-’: 

4. early morning.

this one is a more recent piece and i was thinking post canon jaime/brienne married and either living in casterly rock or evenfall hall. originally the sheets were gonna be red with the gold brocade but i just made it green to make their location more ambiguous. they’re in a castle because of the finery, but which castle i have no idea. anyway i love their faces here in particular--jaime because it’s not often that i draw him old (this is the second time i drew old jaime i think?) and i love how he turned out here. i love how he looks like a silver fox and a dilf and we really do love that for brienne. full disclosure, i have no idea how to draw older folks since i don’t have a lot of practice in that area so im glad my lack of experience doesn’t show lmao. i also love how soft brienne looks here! the little smile on her lips is very sweet, her body language and how relax she seems is very telling abt her confidence in this scene also i think i drew her hands hella well haha. all in all i think it’s a really sweet art! and the full version is not so bad either jaime’s ass was referenced from marble sculptures so you know im aiming for Quality. but i love this headcanon of a younger brienne tiring jaime out, i’ve read a handful fics about it and im happy i can do my own version of it hehe 

5. unravel.

wow we love domesticity. someone said that if you compile all my ns*w art of them together it’s like they haven’t left their bed ever since they got together and you know what? love that for them it’s what they deserve. anyway i chose this one because of how sensual and simple it is. their body language really does all the talking ; jaime’s hand pulling on the ties on her shift, her hand on his hair, how soft and lazy their kiss looks--it’s enough to tell the story me thinks! i just love how simple this whole thing is but it’s very effective. there’s really not much to it besides what you see but that’s really enough.

i am actually very proud of myself with how productive i’ve been. it’s really not often that i get as much drive and energy to post so much art. iirc my art tag is nearly 200 content already (i think it’s 180 ish rn?) and honestly that’s a LOT if you told me ill be making more than 100+ content for jb i would’ve been like nah im too lazy for that lmao. but im really proud of myself this year! i think i pushed myself as an artist and i’ve familiarized myself more with my strengths as well as my weaknesses. i have a clear idea on the areas that i need to work on, and i’ve really gotten more comfortable with being happy with my own pieces and i’m trying not to put myself down more if something doesn’t go the way i want it to. also, i’ve had the opportunity to work with more people this year--so for the people who has commissioned me or IS commissioning me rn--- thank you so much for trusting me with your visions 😭😭 ive never expected to get this kind of reception with my art but i am very grateful for all of it. 

anyway as for the tagging i tag -- @na-bruma-leve / @dreadwulf / @dilfjaime / @fawnilu BUT i would highly recommend you to come along and snatch this tag meme up like a little raccoon because we all should start being proud of our own works imo !!

[babyybitchhh]

Just because someone isn't attracted to a person or character (who are of different ethnicities), doesn't mean they are racist. People have their own preferences in who they are attracted to. That doesn't mean they're racist. That's just their preference in who they are attracted to.

Okay, I’m not gonna allow this to turn into a big thing like the ass eating debate BUT I think you may have taken what I said a little too personally. That wasn’t directed at any one person or even certain groups of people, and I’m not of that opinion based off one or two specific individuals. Rather it’s fandom habits as a whole, and I’ve seen enough to know that by and large black characters are overlooked in favor of their lighter skinned counterparts. I mean, black characters show up so infrequently in Japanese media anyway (and their representation is ... another topic for another day) to the point where it really is easy to see this trend in action. Even if they hit ALL their charm points and have the looks to back them up, they still get mostly ignored. Why?

Heads up, I really got on my soap box with this one so feel free to keep scrolling

I actually saw a blog on here that was writing for Naruto who, with their whole chest, said they’d write for anyone except the Kumogakure characters (and Ino which, ew, I didn’t think someone with such terrible taste actually existed but 🤷‍♀️ here we are) and what do most of the Kumo ninja look like?

(I liked Omoi a LOT and Darui was nothing to shake your finger at either - and Mabui??? Good god, shes fucking gorgeous. Shikaku absolutely should have hit that while he had the chance, I know for a goddamn fact he was (respectfully) looking. )

But anyway I’m just not sure how you can look at something like that and not see color bias - and I used that wording very intentionally. Because even if you (that’s a general you) look at black or otherwise dark complexioned characters and decide they’re just not to your “preference” there’s still an underlying factor at play wherein, on a societal level, pale is touted as being attractive and melanin isn’t considered half as beautiful. It’s conditioned.

I have yet to see ANY self insert content for the above characters, or Ogun. I’ve seen VERY LITTLE for my man Avdol compared to the rest of the cast which, imo, is particularly telling because the Jojo fandom will even lewd a sadistic mold doctor (no shade, Ciccolata fans) but this absolute unit??

Only certain writers seem willing to take him on and me, personally, I’d rather see more smut of him than, say, Polnareff or Kira (no shade, stans)

Also I’ve seen maybe a handful of fics for Tosen PERIOD - not just self insert content - and half of that was pairing him with the big dog guy

Which is, again, indicative of a deeper issue considering how much thirst the light skinned characters generate by comparison.

And also someone I’d REALLY like to see self insert content for is Lock Rock, idk if it’s because he kinda looks like Eric Andre (man crush Thursday 🤪) or what, but I am feeling it

And don’t give me that “but he’s married and has a baby!” Bullshit when we’re out here lewding married man and father of four Enji Todoroki like we’re getting paid to do it. I want to see HC’s, smut, thirst, fics, something! Anything! Please!? (Seriously tho, does anyone have a hookup for ANY content of this man? 💀)

Now, don’t get me wrong here, I’m not innocent either. Ogun will be the first black character I personally write for but he’s not the first one I’ve found attractive nor do I glance over these characters based on their skin tone. If they’re hot, they’re fucking hot! Period!

And I think that’s what this boils down to, because even though you (still a general you) may not look at them and think “ew, they’re black”, if the color of their skin is the deciding factor for you then there is still a problem here.

Are you not attracted to that character because they don’t push your buttons right or is it ultimately because of their pigmentation?

Do you find yourself unattracted to every single black character you see, regardless of their facial features and other characteristics? (For example I’m not particularly attracted to Tosen but Lock Rock?? PHEW)

Ask yourself if there’s a single black person you DO find appealing.

I understand having preferences, I in fact have my own preferences, so that’s not the issue here. It’s also not “no one else is thirsting for Ogun, they’re all racist!” But rather “there is a very observable trend in fandom spaces where every character who appears to be black gets slept on and even if it doesn’t seem like racism on a surface level, the color bias absolutely exists on a broader spectrum and, yes, Ogun is definitely suffering from it”.

That’s it. I wasn’t calling YOU (you, specifically, anon) racist just because you don’t like Ogun, I’m saying that black people are consistently pushed aside in favor of light skinned people and it happens with alarming frequency even within fandoms which just goes to show how deep this issue actually runs. And that’s all just going off of how the CHARACTERS are treated, I haven’t even touched on how black readers/black artists/black writers are treated but then go ahead and amplify that to society as a whole and surely you can see why I’m going to call it what it is.

Plus I can almost guarantee that if Ogun had been “white” (I mean, he’d just be Shikamaru then but that’s neither here nor there cmdkxksksk) he’d have SOME content. Case in point, actual psychopath and certified star lord Rekka Hoshimiya even got thirst content from the fandom whereas the only black man in the series hasn’t gotten so much as a single HC. Trust me. I’ve scrolled to the bottom of his tag at least five times now. 💀

Literally the most I’ve seen is one or two people saying how attracted they were to Ogun and that’s it. A bitch literally cannot feed herself on such meager morsels, especially when Beni’s out here getting his 20th smut fic in a row - which is an impressive number for such a small fan base. Lmao Anyway my point here is that personal preferences are fine and dandy but when I can actually see the same trend repeating itself over and over, fandom after fandom ... there’s definitely something more than preference at play here. 🤷‍♀️