#as much as i like to entertain the thought of them being homebodies i think they'd rather spend their lives travelling haha

[wyvernity]

sss day my favorite national holiday WOOOOHHHH

bonus

[eluxcastar]

A new member of Shinoa Squad.

FEATURES: yūichirō hyakuya, shinoa hīragi, yoichi saotome, mitsuba sangū, shiho kimizuki, makoto narumi

CW: none

WC: 700

NOTES: WE FINALLY GOT AN IDEA yaaay I wrote these as being platonic but interpret them however you want, might make a version for Guren Squad but Idk yet

Guren has decided to introduce you to a new squad after the last one didn't go so well, and well…

₊˚⊹꒷ yūichirō hyakuya

⊹ ִֶָ𓂅 Yūichirō is nice enough, arguably the most welcoming as he ushers you into their circle, their 'family's as he calls it. He always insisted you call him Yū from the second you met. It's kind of nice.

⊹ ִֶָ𓂅 He's very reassuring, though he's a tad hard-headed and quick to rush into things. He means well enough, and you know that at the first sign of danger he'd save your life in a heartbeat.

⊹ ִֶָ𓂅 He has this way of managing to get you in every conversation, making sure you feel included and he asks your opinion on things and will ask you to back him up. You can shake your head and laugh about it, but it's always endearing.

₊˚⊹꒷ shinoa hīragi

⊹ ִֶָ𓂅 Shinoa is easily one of your favourite source's of entertainment between her subtle sass and sarcastic quips, she manages to brighten the mood even in the midst of war, but she's always on her toes in combat. She has your back, you know she does, and you trust her with your life.

⊹ ִֶָ𓂅 She might need to work on boundaries though, because sometimes she oversteps and takes things a little too far. The one thing she won't overstep on is her family, you've asked her and she doesn't have much to say, she danced around the room a little and told you she was 'basically a princess'. You sensed she didn't really want to talk about it.

⊹ ִֶָ𓂅 Shinoa is somewhat teasing toward you but your can usually tell it's all in good fun no matter what she says, but you've also learned never to tease her back about her height.

₊˚⊹꒷ yoichi saotome

⊹ ִֶָ𓂅 Yoichi is one of the kindest people you know, though he comes off as being a little soft sometimes. He tries his hardest and you can respect that.

⊹ ִֶָ𓂅 He's always checking up on you, more so when you first came to the squad, always wanting to know how you were doing and if you were ok. It was nice to feel like someone really cared about you in this new squad.

⊹ ִֶָ𓂅 He's always quick to back Yū's family ideals and think of it the same way, and in enough time you realised that Also meant there were lengths he would go to for you that went beyond the others. At first it was a bit terrifying, but it became comforting once you really thought about it.

₊˚⊹꒷ mitsuba sangū

⊹ ִֶָ𓂅 Mitsuba's way of caring takes a bit to get used to, keeping you in line and watching your every move like a hawk to catch you out. With enough convincing you accept that this is her way if protecting you from yourself.

⊹ ִֶָ𓂅 She does warm up, and you manage to become good friends. Following the rules is her way of keeping you safe, there's a protocol for everything and wanting you to follow that to the letter is just an attempt to keep you alive. Doing your best to please her and follow your orders is your way of giving back.

⊹ ִֶָ𓂅 She has her moments, a certain kind of vulnerability that she lets show. All of her insecurities and her dreams are right there laid out before you, even if those aren't things she thinks she can achieve, it feels nice to have someone trust you to hear their secrets.

₊˚⊹꒷ shiho kimizuki

⊹ ִֶָ𓂅 Kimizuki is easily one of the sternest people you know, but his way of logic does not outweigh the care he has for each and every member of the squad. That now includes you.

⊹ ִֶָ𓂅 It initially surprised you he was something of a homebody, or at least would've been with how well he can cook an clean up after himself, that's what you concluded at least. Sometimes he cooks for you, assuming you're not out in the field and everyone else is struggling not to burn the food. Sometimes he tries to teach you, and some attempts are more successful than others.

⊹ ִֶָ𓂅 His ability to put up with Yū as he would see it is admirable, and he also encourages you not to listen to the things he says. You're no exception either as he tends to scold you. A thing of endearment? You're not sure yet. You'll figure it out eventually.

₊˚⊹꒷ makoto narumi

⊹ ִֶָ𓂅 Narumi is somehow stricter than Mitsuba and can rival Kimizuki, though that's not to say they're the same. You felt horrible to learn about his squad, but unlike Mitsuba he didn't allow himself to be vulnerable toward you.

⊹ ִֶָ𓂅 But he does look out for you in all aspects, as with everyone in the squad. He does things you may not necessarily like, but he doesn't those things to keep you safe. They're things other people don't want to do, but he'll do them for the sake of the others.

⊹ ִֶָ𓂅 You're not sure what he was like before the deaths of his friends but now he seems more careful than ever. He's someone you can easily feel safe around. He's tight on regulations and has told you to your face that if you can't follow orders he can't say the same for you. It's a good motivator.

[corvuserpens]

Brother Mine: A “The Sandman” Short Fic [Part II]

The Endless siblings continue their day together, finding fun things to do together while Dream meows against it every step of the way bc he is anti-fun. Well, most of the time. Also, I headcanon that Death is a goth jock ;)

Set between The Doll’s House and Season of Mists.

Again, tagging @raven-star7​, here’s more as promised!

The park was quiet when they arrived. Apart from them, there was only a small group of yoga practicioners, an old man sitting on a bench in the periphery while doing the crosswords puzzle on his newspaper, and a few people walking their dogs. There was plenty of space for everyone, and the sun was stubbornly poking through the thinning layer of clouds, warming the air and filling it with the scent of fresh cut grass and late blooming flowers.

With quick and light steps, almost a bounce to them, Death of the Endless stepped into the lawn and turned to face Dream, tossing a soccer ball (which she had not been holding a second ago) from one hand to the other. “You ready?”

The king of Dreams chose to keep his bone white hands in the pockets of his coat, as well as a safe distance from her. His nose scruffed a notch, and Death thought, no matter how much time passed, she would never not find that snotty sneer adorable.

“I fail to see the entertainment quality of kicking a ball around,” he complained.

“That’s because we haven’t started, yet!” She let the ball drop on the tip of her boot, kicking it back up before it could touch the ground, then angled herself to headbutt it toward her brother. “C’mon, just give it a try! It’s fun, I promise.”

Dream caught the ball in one hand, unblinking, so fast he barely seemed to move. His grimace did not soften. “My sister--”

“Look, just indulge me.” Now it was her turn to pout, head tilted sideways, eyes wide and sad as a puppy’s. “Pleeeeease? And then we can go do something you like, how’s that?”

That at least got him to think. He turned the ball slowly on his fingertips, studying it’s texture and pattern, while the rest of his posture remained as still as a lily pond. His blue eyes met his sister’s brown ones. Her smile broadened, eyebrows arching in a mute challenge. A gentle breeze blew past the trees, creating a melody of thousands of leaves brushing against each other. Behind Dream, the yoga instructor guided her pupils into a new pose with her soothing, hypnothizing voice. The old man turned a page on his newspaper.

Dream allowed himself the faintest of smiles, let the ball fall to his feet and removed his jacket with slow, calculated movements before discarding it over a nearby bench. Lovely Death let out a whoop, clapped her hands once and got into position, egging him on. He kicked the ball toward her, thus commencing their game.

For a while they didn’t speak, rather preferred to concentrate on trying to get the ball past each other to score goals, using every method available - tripping, pushing, evading. Of the two, it was clear Death was the most experienced, as she had practiced the beautiful game (and other sports in general) much more frequently than her homebody brother. However, Dream was quick to learn and adapt, not to mention astute, always on the lookout for an opening, a weakness in her defenses that he could exploit. Although she had built up a comfortable score at the beginning of their match, soon enough Dream was catching up to her, and she watched her lead grow shorter and shorter.

“Not bad, little brother!” Death soared into the air, caught the ball with her head, swerved around Dream, and kicked it past him with a knee. “You’re better than I thought, considering you didn’t even want to play!”

His only response was a sideways glance full of playful annoyance. He jogged away to recover the ball and returned so they could continue the game. 

They were at a draw, nine-nine, and they both knew the next goal would determine the victor. Death was intent on being it. Back and forth they went, Death’s curls bouncing wildly, Dream’s form losing shape the faster he moved, grass kicked up, the breath of either Endless ragged and heavy. Death realized with a start that she hadn’t expected this match to grow so intense, a test of speed, skill and cunning, but she was glad for it; she was having a blast, and she had a feeling Dream was, too. He could be a competitive little arse, when he wanted to. 

She was on the cusp of an opening; she could almost taste victory. Once more, the ball descended toward them like a comet. Dream was too far away to get it, but Death was exactly on the right spot. She was prepared to receive the rubber sphere with her chest and score, when Dream’s arm shot out and pushed her backwards with such uncharacteristic brutality, that she fell right on her bum with a shout. “Hey!!”

From the ground, she saw as Dream jumped with feline grace, twisted mid-air and did a perfect bycicle that sent the ball flying across the lawn and disappear into the bushes.

Flabbergasted, Death stared up at her amiable, soft-spoken brother whilst he landed on his feet, out of breath, and took in the sight of her prostrated on the grass, elbows propping her up, wide-eyed. His lips clamped shut in an instant, his skin paling even more, like he was just now realizing what had happened, what he had done, and instantly regretted it, for he knew such an offense would surely warrant grave consequences.

But Death only laughed, amused to no end, with not a drop of anger in her. Who knew that Dream of the Endless, the Prince of Stories, perpetual stick in the mud and such a stickler for rules and proper protocol, could be so cut-throat and ruthless? 

“Well played. But this isn’t rugby, y’know?” She chuckled. “If this were a real game, you would’ve seen a red card and got benched on the spot.”

Though Dream’s shoulders sagged in relief, his expression was still cautious as he searched for any sign of something being off. “My apologies, sister. I seem to have forgotten myself. Forgive me.”

“Mhm...”

He offered his hand to help her up, which she took, allowing him to pull her up to her feet. She patted down her rump, making a show of getting every blade of grass off of her jeans, apparently distracted and already forgetting the whole incident - then planted both hands on his chest and shoved with as much strength as necessary without throwing him off the planet (yes, she could do that, if she wanted).

“Oof--” Dream dropped like a sack of potatoes and rolled on his back with eyes as round as planets. He never stood a chance.

Confused, utterly shocked with such behavior, all he could do was mirror her own reaction and stare up at Death, who bent over laughing, no, cackling at his figure! She was cackling and ugly snorting at the sight of the King of Dreams, the Ruler of the Nightmare Realms, sprawled on the ground like a helpless little baby.

“The look on your face!” She managed to articulate between bouts of breathless laughter. “It’s so-- You look so--” And she lost it again when she looked at him through tear-filled eyes and saw the frown on Dream’s brow grow, that cute pout doing nothing to intimidate her. That might work on his subjects, but they had no effect on her whatsoever. Besides, she could see him struggle to hold back a smile of his own; Death’s laugh had always been a contagious thing.

“I suppose I deserved that,” he conceeded whilst hauling himself back up.

Death took a lungful of air and let it out in a slow (and shaky, for just glancing at him was almost enough to send her off again) exhale. “Serves you right for roughing up your older sister.” She wiped a whisp of a tear from the corner of an eye. “I didn’t know you had it in you, Dream.” 

“Neither did I,” he admitted, albeit it smirking. “I would say this is all your influence, but I fear you might push me back down.”

“Don’t temp me.” She pointed a finger at him as a warning, then winked and went off to dig their ball out of the bushes. When she returned, she said: “You win this time, but I’ll want a rematch some day!”

He bowed his head in solemn deference, the way he did when he wanted convey a proper amount of respect, but also make a show of underlined mockery. And he knew exactly what he was doing: walking that fine line between being a little shit, but never actually doing anything that might give the other party an excuse to smite him. He was a very good at waltzing that line. She had seen him do it many times with the likes of Lucifer Morningstar, for example, which was ballsy, considering they might be the most powerful being in existence (aside from the Creator, of course) and therefore more than capable of obliterating an Endless.

“Some day, then,” he promised.

“Hm.” Death narrowed her eyes at him and made an I’m watching you gesture at him. Again, she let the ball drop, but rather than send it back his way, she continued to kick it into the air, keeping it off the ground with confident, expert feet, bouncing it on her knee, on her forehead, back to one knee, then the other, again on her head. Dream took a seat on the bench where he had left his coat and watched as she kept it up for a whole minute, then two, then three. The ball didn’t touch the grass a single time.

“I haven’t done this in decades,” she told him, her smile as radiant as the sun itself. “I think I managed to keep this up for like, fifteen minutes, once.”

“You don’t say.”

She nodded. “Think I can push it to thirty?”

“That is completely absurd.” He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, his stare intensifying. “Do an hour.”

“Oooooooh, challenge accepted, brother.”

~1 hour later~

“Hah!” With a final headbutt, Death caught the ball in her hands at last. Dream had sat as still as a statue on the bench, a pensive dark angel with both hands clutched to his lips, observing her every move while waiting for her to either succeed or fail in the challenge, and only abandoned that stoic, rigid position when she stopped bouncing the ball.

“One hour, two minutes and 43 seconds,” he nodded, rising from his seat with a smile. “A new record, then?”

“That I fully intend to break in the future,” she vowed. “Next time, though. You’ve indulged me more than you were obliged to, already. Now it’s my turn. What would you like to do?”

Dream put his coat back on, stuffed his hands back in its pockets and looked around, searching for inspiration. After nearly a minute, he looked to his sister and asked: “Is there a book store somewhere around here?”

Death smiled, walked past him and gave his arm a brief squeeze. “More than one. This is London, after all. This way.”

[mysticdragon3md3]

😴🪦📺📚 🏜🪱

5:54 PM 3/22/2024

20 Thousand Hertz podcast just had an episode about Hans Zimmer, and had a big section covering his music compositions for the Dune movies. So naturally, I had to re-listen to an old episode of Imaginary Worlds Podcast, about how Dune references Islam.

.

Even so, I feel strangely unmotivated to go watch Dune. I felt that way about the first movie. I feel that way about this recent second movie. This lack of excitement makes no sense, when I like scifi, Dune is a scifi classic, all the makers behind the Dune movies are very skilled (Denis Villeneuve, Hans Zimmer, the actors, etc.), and I've heard nothing but acclaim for the Dune movies. I should be excited about some good movies.

.

But the thought of watching them makes me feel so tired. And not just the tired of a homebody like me, still taking precautions against the pandemic, not wanting to risk going to theaters, nor deal with all the precautions to take after returning home from a completely superfluous outing. It feels more like the fatigue of adding another piece of media to my backlog. That overwhelm I get, whenever someone says I NEED to watch this anime, or I NEED to watch this cartoon, or I NEED to read this manga, or I NEED to listen to this podcast, or another. Whenever that happens, no matter how acclaimed the media is, I just feel so tired at the thought of adding another thing to my backlog, or even just the idea of tackling another thing, whether it's a 50 episode anime or a duo of movies. I recently saw Frieren overtake Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood in the "best anime series" rankings, and despite both being highly HIGHLY acclaimed and FERVENTLY recommended by EVERYONE, all I can feel is tired at the idea of tackling another thing. I don't quite understand my overwhelmed fatigue, especially for Dune, because I don't frequent places/people who tell me I NEED to watch Dune. All I can think is that because the atmosphere of the trailers, plus the acclaim, have built such an air of awe around the franchise, I am already overwhelmed and tired at the anticipated emotional labor that would be expected to be involved with media of such high acclaim (especially a live action, with lots of drama).

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I have been immersed in primarily the "iyashikei" genre for MANY years now. I used to be a Shonen anime/manga junkie. My favorite genre? Demon hunters. Everything from Bleach, to Devil May Cry, to Phantom Quest Corp., to Claymore, to Inuyasha, to Yu Yu Hakusho, to Ushio and Tora,… If there were exorcists fighting monsters with a combo of swords, melee weapons, supernatural powers, magic, some martial arts, and maybe some "urban fantasy" flair, then I was in.

.

But I've gotten tired in recent years. I switched to the "slice of life" genre, some "moe anime", and mostly "iyashikei". Literally, "soothing culture". Maybe I've become too anxious in my real life to handle anything more stressful in my supposed "relaxation time" entertainment. One of my top 3 favorite anime is still Natsume Yuujinchou. The most peaceful and soothing take on the supernatural yokai genre I've seen. And it still manags to have more action than Tactics, Yokai Doctor, or Morose Mononokean. Lucky Star used to be my contender against Code Geass for my 3rd favorite anime, because I rewatched the "slice of life" genre so much.

.

Then I heard someone talk about "emotional labor", and that's when I realized that was what I was experiencing. I couldn't take anymore emotional labor. It didn't matter how empowering that Shonen anime/manga felt, I just couldn't deal with even that anymore. It made sense. It was the same reason why I hated the "drama" genre. That genre is just all emotional labor, all the time. I didn't want that. I didn't need that stress, especially during my supposed decompression times. I don't watch "Oscar bait" movies, and I generally don't watch "live action". The reality of looking at real life peple was never as beautiful to me as moving or still illustrations, but now I was beginning to think the heightened reality of "live action" also just disallowed my social anxiety to rest.

.

People recommend "Game of Thrones" to me, and I am just unmotivated. I look at Dune and think "I should be interested in watching that", but I can only feel tired.

I wonder if part of the reason I'm so into figure collecting now, is that the backlog concept is not so overwhelming. When I collected manga, it was a waste if I didn't get around to reading the book. But as soon as my figurines pass the unboxing backlog stage, then they are already consumed. I can enjoy them, just by glancing at them. I don't have to devote the time to watch a movie. I don't have to devote the emotional labor of experiencing a story's emotional reality. I can just collect figures, play with their poses, take photos, and enjoy them without the stress of emotional labor. The unboxing backlog may make me feel a little overwhelmed sometimes, but it's not as tiring as adding another story media to my backlog lists.

[ozma914]

For Christmas: All the Books In All the Genres

 Well, here I am, making my annual appeal for shoppers to buy our books for Christmas. Once a year isn't so bad, is it? I have yet to make a promotional post in honor of Arbor Day.

But wait--there's more!

That's something sellers have to say, I'm not sure why. Our books should speak for themselves, but they aren't available as audiobooks yet. I thought this year I'd let the books figuratively speak for themselves, so here's a brief description:

 Storm Chaser, The Notorious Ian Grant:

The second is the sequel to the first, and both follow the basic romantic comedy outline: One of the couple is a homebody who loves their little town; the other comes from the big outside world and proceeds to spread trouble. One is a cop, the other kinda/sorta works in the entertainment industry. In the first, a woman chases storms, in the second, her brother is the storm. The other thing they have in common: We're preparing to reissue them after getting the rights back from the publisher, so at the moment you'd have to contact us direct for a print copy.

 Storm Squalls: 

Short stories set in that Storm Chaser universe, formerly known as Storm Chaser Shorts--but improved with more content and a better title. I haven't been talking about it much, pending the reissue of its parent novels, but it includes a new short story I'm particularly proud of.

Coming Attractions:

 Like the Storm Chaser books, this romantic comedy is set in northeast Indiana and also involves an outsider, this one trying to get the local drive-in theater shut down. Here's a secret cameo: One of the characters from Storm Chaser makes a very brief appearance, although he's never named. Well, I guess I gave away that he's a he.

The No-Campfire Girls:

Also related to Storm Chaser, but more of a spin-off. This YA adventure stars Beth Hamlin, the irrepressible teen from the other books, who plots to defeat a burn ban at her summer camp with the help of a Native America rain dance. It doesn't end well.

Radio Red is the first romantic comedy I wrote, and it's a little heavier on both the humor and the sex (!) I mean, the publisher is Torrid Books, so what does that tell you? It's about an irreverent Michigan radio station owner who hires a down on her luck air personality just before someone starts sabotaging the station.

What's that, you say? You want some non-fiction? Maybe even some humor? Okay:

People should be full of good humor: Hoosier Hysterical: How the West Became the Midwest Without Moving At All, proves my co-author (and wife) Emily and I are full of it. We traveled all over the state I love to find out all sorts of cool details about it, and then ... made fun of them all. But it's good natured fun, so ... there.

Slightly Off the Mark and More Slightly Off the Mark are collections of my newspaper columns: The first are columns that never published because the paper got bought out, and the second are edited, updated columns from around the early 90s. Interestingly, while the humor/history/trivia book Hoosier Hysterical has been my best seller this year, these two books have been my worst sellers. Guess I should have added more history and trivia.

Images of America: Albion and Noble County:

This one is part of Arcadia Publishing's Images of America book, photo-heavy volumes about local history. Despite being something you wouldn't expect anyone outside of Noble County to be interested in, it sold very well--which is good, because Emily and I worked hard to produce it. It's also the only one that made it onto the shelves of a Barnes and Noble (and a local CVS pharmacy!)

 On an even narrower area of local history, Smoky Days and Sleepless Nights: A Century Or So With the Albion Fire Department covers the first century of the fire department I served on for forty years. It's got a bit more humor, but of course it's still a local history book--and it took me 25 years to research and write! (I wasn't writing daily, of course.)

Wait, that's eleven. Am I missing one? No, I think that's it as far as what's published--more to come. There are also those anthologies I have humor pieces in: My Funny Valentine, Strange Portals, and The Very True Legends of Ol' Man Wickleberry (and his demise).

Where do you find all these, you ask? 

Thank you for asking, much appreciated. They can all be found on our website and on Amazon:

http://markrhunter.com/ https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B0058CL6OO

And also on my daughter's website, White Birch Lane Boutique:

https://www.whitebirchlaneboutique.com/search?q=books

 Most, but not all, can be found at other places:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/"Mark R Hunter"

 https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/ozma914

 https://books.apple.com/us/author/mark-r-hunter/id1025271801

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/coming-attractions-11 https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/42934724

  You can't get all the books at all those sites for various reasons, but all in all it ain't too shabby.

 Remember, every time you gift a book, an angel gets his swim trunks. It gets warm up there.

[isagisyoichi]

YOU MAKE ME FEEL SPECIAL!

SYNOPSIS: niko as your boyfriend

CHARACTERS INCLUDED: niko ikki aka my boyfriend hello

WARNINGS: swearing, pretend all the boys go to the same school and they're all friends for plot, normalize not writing serious boys as someone that practically hates their s/o and never opens up to them god bless, also no such thing as ooc since we dunno shit ab him so everything i say is law. SUPER LONG LOL, it's like 2k+ words 😭

A/N: i love my boyfriend and i'm v happy about all the attention he's getting (even if he will prob will b subbed out 👎) this was fun to write bc i think he would b very soft as bf and also i hate the notion that stoic and serious = boring and detached in a relationship. also first post w the new user yayyyy rip yoichisagis an end of an era for realsies.

FOR: fox anon my beloved this one is for u😩

it takes a while for you two to get together, just because niko wants to think things through and be sure he’s making the right decision, as well as him being naturally apprehensive about this whole dating thing.

when you do eventually start going out, keep in mind you're probably his first real anything, so-

niko needs to take it slow for the first month or so because he needs time to adjust and get used to being in a relationship.

when he gets comfortable around you, niko starts to talk a lot more.

niko starts to talk about his interests more-soccer, stem stuff (idc i'll die by my hc that he's a stem boy), etc. and niko's really happy that you're genuinely interested in what he has to say :)

and as your relationship progresses, niko becomes more inclined to share his inner thoughts.

“this song is so bad, i hate it and how it's everywhere,” like, babe that sucks, but what do you want me to do, take it off the radio myself? 😭

you find out that niko’s kind of a hater LOL, but it’s okay, because it means he can be himself around you <3 and the mini debates you have with each other are fun.

he’s someone you can take shopping with you if you need a solid second opinion.

“ikki, is this cute?” you niko as you adjust the shirt you tried on in the fitting room mirror.

“no.” he’s so straight up LOL. “the blue one from earlier was better.”

“this one?”

“yeah, that one. you look really pretty in it.”

ngl though, niko’s not much of a mall person. he'd just follow you around like a little puppy LOL, but he doesn't mind too much because it's for you.

communication is important to niko!!!!! he wants someone that he can have real conversation about the things that matter to him, so he rly makes an effort to have that kind of connection with you.

niko's naturally funny but he isn't aware that he is lol.

but when he does try, i feel like his humor comes in the form of sarcasm and dry wit. likes poking fun at you here and there with a lighthearted jab.

"you're so weird, y/n," is the most common one.

niko’s naturally closed off emotionally (male aquarius 😒) but i, personally, think he’d really try and push himself to be more open with you, especially if you expressed for him to do so </3

he'd be really appreciative of someone patient and understanding of the fact that he doesn't open up easily, though.

but eventually, you become the person closest to him- niko confides in you a lot, which he’s grateful for because he usually holds everything in.

not one for pda or other lovey-dovey things in public, other than the occasional holding of hands but behind closed doors, niko’s so soft around you, it’s like he’s a completely different person.

also, i feel like niko’s real handsy with you, i get the vibe he’s super touch starved 😭

although it does take him a while to get used to physical affection, once he has, niko cannot get enough. he’s always touching you when he has no real reason to.

(and because you're his first relationship, i feel like it’s just natural that niko’s going to be kind of clingy towards you.)

“you okay, ikki?” you ask as niko suddenly wraps his arms around your waist from behind, resting his chin on your shoulder.

“mhm,” he mumbles. “just wanna be close to you.”

niko likes when you sit on his lap when he’s on his computer. you can have your arms wrapped around his neck, your head resting in the crook of his neck, or you could just be on your phone or whatever, it doesn’t matter, niko just likes you near him.

you guys don’t really talk to each other when you do this, aside from niko occasionally checking up on you and asking if you need anything from him.

but other than that, you guys just enjoy each other's touch in silence. it’s one of his favorite things to do with you.

however, if you start kissing him in the middle of whatever he’s doing and keep it up for long enough, niko will drop everything to make out with you right then and there (also one of his favorite things to do with you).

speaking of kissing- you kiss niko first.

niko would try to plan your guys first kiss out because he wants everything to be perfect.

but, he ends up taking forever to execute it because he keeps overthinking and you can only wait so long before kissing him, so you take matters into your own hands.

his kisses are sloppy and juvenile at the beginning, but he’s smart and learns quickly what you do and don’t like.

likes being kissed on his jaw and forehead the most :')

if the team ever happens to see niko kissing you, they're gonna be so annoying 😭

"yooo niko's making big moves ‼️" "my son's growing up on me!😩" "good job *pats on the back*" and niko is red all over as he drags you away from them, muttering about how childish and annoying they are 😭.

but, they're all very supportive of you guys, even if they're embarrassing as hell 🙄.

they even give niko relationship advice- which luckily, he doesn’t follow (most of the time), because, let’s be honest, if you're getting unsolicited dating tips from a bunch of teenage boys, it’s probably bad 😭.

you’re the only person niko shows his forehead to. just know that having the opportunity to see it means that niko trusts you more than anyone else :’)

repay his trust by kissing his forehead lovingly and showering him with compliments whenever you can !!!!!!!!!!

“y/n, why’re you so embarrassing,” niko says under his breath, blushing as you hold his face and litter soft kisses on his forehead, rambling about how cute he is.

always looks for you in the bleachers when he has a game and you’re always the first person he talks to after.

and the fact that you make an effort to come as often as you can means sooo much to him. definitely considers you to be his biggest fan.

real classy with nicknames- uses “my love/love,” and “darling,” the most.

his favorite petname from you is "pretty boy." gives him butterflies each time he hears it.

the first time you call him that, he's confused, but after you explain that being called pretty is basically the highest compliment a boy can receive, he gets all soft on you.

only uses instagram to like and comment on your pictures and that's it 😭.

comments stuff like “you're so pretty” and "beautiful," without any emojis because niko refuses to use them LOL.

remembers the compliments you give him! they help with his self esteem and i feel like he values your opinion a lot.

so, tell him all about how cute and smart and talented and hot and funny he is and how much you love him and he'll replay it in his head 24/7.

i think he prefers to be the big spoon, unless he's sad- then he really wants you to hold him.

niko gives me homebody vibes, so expect relaxed dates, but still nice, yk?

what i mean is niko's not gonna take you out to get gas station food and call it a day 😭 he's classier than that and he always puts in effort towards dates.

he always plans them ahead of time and takes into consideration what he thinks you'd enjoy. and he insists on paying 🤗.

but, niko always does something special for days like your birthday or an anniversary, like go somewhere fancy if you wanted to or buy a nice gift you've been eyeing for a while.

helps you with your schoolwork, 100%. most of the time niko tutors you because he wants you to actually learn the material, but if you're feeling lazy and just wanna get it over with, niko will just give you the answers.

this is a big deal because i love him and all but, niko gives me the vibe he's super stingy with his work 😭.

"this is the last time i'm going to just give you the answers, y/n." niko sighs out. "you have to start doing your homework by yourself."

niko's said that dozen of times but he's still giving you the answers free of charge. can you guys say #whipped 🤣?

LOL speaking of school, if you ever text him during class, i highly doubt that niko would entertain you 😭😭 (it's out of love, though)

y/n 💗: hiii baby imy 🥰

pretty boy: do your work, y/n.

y/n 💗: ALL I DID WAS SAY HI

pretty boy: pay attention.

y/n 💗: fine ur so lame 👎

pretty boy: whatever you say. i miss you too, by the way.

he likes to moves your hair out your face because he wants to see your pretty face better.

which is why you have to do the same with him 🥰!!!!!! makes him blush like crazy.

gets soooo soft when you post him or even take pictures of you and him together :') just the thought of you wanting to show him off makes him soooo happy.

he won't entertain you if you make a tiktok, though LOL. he's very stubborn in his belief that it's stupid.

just stands in the background with his arms crossed if you try to make him do a dance or something 😭 (he does think you look cute, though).

niko has such nice eyelashes but i doubt he's aware of it 'cause he's, y'know, a boy 🙄.

"my eyelashes are ... cute?" he questions. niko wasn't even aware that such a trivial thing like his eyelashes could be considered cute.

"yes, oh my god," you gush. "they're so long and nice, i wish mine were like that," you groan, examining yours through the camera of your phone.

"you're so weird, y/n," he says, a blush staining his cheeks. "your eyelashes are nicer," he mumbles as he kisses your forehead.

he's one of those people that prefers to be alone, but you're the exception. you know?

niko likes to keep to himself most of the time, but that whole thing doesn't apply to you, because he'd choose to be with you over being alone anytime :')

[sweetchup]

Bi•valve

Noun

an aquatic mollusk that has a compressed body enclosed within a hinged shell, such as oysters, clams, mussels, and scallops.

AKA

The Most Common Seashell in the Ocean

————————

Vol. 1: Just Keep Swimming // Ch. 2

Type: Poseidon x reader

Word Count: 4,000+

Masterlist

————————

Sounds of horns and shouting filled the air outside as you stood on the packed bus. Cramped in from every side, it was hard for you to tell where you were going. Not as if you were paying much attention anyways.

“Okay, you left fish and pasta in the fridge… he could use the tv or read a book for entertainment while you are gone…what about…” You ramble incoherently to yourself.

Even though the storm hit Athens hard yesterday, your studio art professor was still having classes today. Forcing you to leave Triton alone at home. You shouldn’t be nervous. There was no reason to. After all, Triton is a god, he was hundreds of years old.

But…, he was still a child. No matter how old or what type of being he is. He could still possibly injure himself or get into trouble. And that single fact alone made you feel sick to your stomach.

“Is this how parents feel leaving their child alone for the first time…?” You groan to yourself, leaning your head forward so it hits the window in front of you.

“Now Approaching *Athens International School of Art*. I repeat, Now—“ The robotic voice announces over the intercom. At the familiar name of your college, you squeeze your way through the other patrons on the bus to make your way to the doors.

Sweet, sweet air, you think to yourself as soon as you exit the bus. It was starting to get way too cramped in there. So much so, you wondered if it was a safety hazard. Though it wasn’t as if you were one to talk, you left a little boy alone—

“Argh!” You scream out, slapping the cheeks of your face. You needed to stop thinking of Triton. He was going to be completely fine. But, what if…

“I’m getting too attached already…” You groan to yourself. It had only been a day. One singular Day. But you were already smitten by the blonde haired child. “It doesn’t help that he's absolutely adorable as well…”

“Who’s adorable?” A voice calls out from behind you, making you jump in surprise. Whipping around, you let out a sigh once you identify who it was.

“Bryce… how many times have I told you not to sneak up on me like that…”

Bryce Kroger. He was studying abroad at Athens International School of Art for a year just like you except he was instead an architecture major. You met him by coincidence while taking art history so you didn’t know much about the guy, the only thing being the few stories he told you about his home country of Australia.

“Oi! It’s not my fault you're so skittish!” Bryce banters back with a huff.

“Whatever…”

“Eh? Wait, where you heading?” Bryce questions as he watches you walk away, “I thought you had Studio Art on Fridays?”

“I do. I’m heading to the library first though.” You yell back to the tall male who stayed put where he was standing. Not even bothering to follow you.

“You need to stop studying so much!”

“Shut up!”

“IT’S THE TRUTH!”

“SHUT UP!” You scream back with one final huff before storming off. So what if you studied so much. You just wanted to get good grades in the classes that counted. It’s how you got here in the first place. By working your ass off.

Unconsciously, you feel your hand twitch as you open the library door. So what if you spent hours studying. So what if you didn’t go out with friends that often. So what if you didn’t have a social life. So what—

You feel yourself pause, your expression turning sour. Lonely. That’s what you were. You were lonely. A miserable lonely girl.

“Miss!”

Startled out of your thoughts by the sudden call, you realize you were no longer standing at the front door but instead standing in front of one of the librarians. You must have unconsciously walked up to the front desk while you were lost in thought.

“A-Ah. Sorry, I was just looking for books on Leonar—“

You feel your voice trail off at the end as a book on the counter catches your eye. It wasn’t the gold detailing nor the leather texture. No. It was the simple words of “Greek Mythology: Tales of Zeus” printed neatly on the front.

“…Actually, Do you perhaps have any books about Poseidon?”

You just found something better to do with your time.

—.—.—.—.—

“Damn… this is extremely confusing…” You mumble to yourself as you glare at the pages of notes in front of you. Each book seemed to be a little bit different from the last. “Perhaps I should recap…”

Okay, so what makes sense to you is that Poseidon is the second eldest of three brothers and is the ruler of the seas. The things that don’t make sense are… practically everything else…

You weren’t sure if you wanted to cry or scream out of frustration right now.

According to the books, Poseidon has had many consorts over the years. One of them being Triton’s mother, Amphitrite…

“My mother… can be quite mean to other women. Even to some of the female servants around the palace. She believes that they are trying to seduce my father…”

…but that doesn’t match up with what Triton mentioned last night. According to him, it sounds like Amphitrite scared away any women that would even come near Poseidon. This also leads to another flaw in the mythology books. You doubted that Poseidon would be able to have an affair with any other women with Amphitrite antics, nevertheless have 10 other children with them.

“Triton also never mentioned having any other siblings…”

Letting out a groan, which you seemed to be doing a lot today, you banged your head against the table. It seems like these mythology books weren’t going to be of any help after all. Though…. you couldn’t help but wonder why the books were so off in the first place.

Lifting yourself back up from the table, you glare down at one of the book covers. It was blue, almost silvery in a way, with a giant black silhouette of Poseidon right smack dab in the middle. Or, at least, what Poseidon might look like…

“Well, my father is extremely strong and handsome. All the sea nymphs stare at him with big heart eyes half the time. Oh! B-but, father doesn’t pay any attention to them. Father is not a cheater like uncle Zeus…”

“…Is Father…? Oh. He’s alright… He’s nowhere as bad as my mother. He’s never hit me or anything. He’s just… cold. Extremely cold. He really just ignores me half the time…”

“…I do love my father…I just wished he would at least spare me a glance…you know?…Acknowledge his own son…”

“God damn jerk!” You hiss out in anger as you push the book aside. Your blood practically boiling at even the slightest thought of Triton’s father, Poseidon. He doesn’t deserve to have such a good and nice son like Triton.

However, as much as you want to curse out Poseidon more, you realized class would be starting soon and you really had to get a move on.

“Shit. I can’t afford to be late again.”

—.—.—

“Ugh. Why did the professor have to assign me this type of painter…?!” You whined to Yuri. Class had already ended by then with the professor long gone. The only people left were students that were conversing with others or trying to get a head start on their paintings.

“Well, it didn’t help that you barged into class late for the second time this week, (y/n).” Yuri explained with a sigh as she continued to set up her palette, not even sparing you a glance.

Yuri Saito, Or rather Saito Yuri, was an abroad student from Japan. She was the closest person you knew at the college as you both were similar in many ways. Especially since you were both homebodies.

“I get that but at least I showed up in the fir—“

“(Y/n)!” A voice shouts out interrupting your talk with Yuri. You turn around to see Bella Woods, a student apart of your major, approaching you. “(Y/n). You were part of your student council back in high school right?”

“Uh, Yeah. Why?” You answered hesitantly. You weren’t sure why, perhaps instincts, but you were already having a bad feeling about this situation.

“Well I need your help on something…” Bella explains, her voice trailing off at the end as she grabs something from her bag. It’s a piece of paper, a flier to be exact.

“A…A Cultural Festival?”

Bella nods her head at your words, “Yeah. The college wanted to put something on for the public to show what our art school is all about and Mrs. Yamamoto suggested this. A-Apparently, it’s something schools and colleges do back in Japan.”

“B-But how can I help? Wouldn’t it make sense for someone like Yuri to do this? Since she’s from Japan and all.”

It was the truth. You didn’t know a single thing about japanese culture festivals.

“Hey don’t drag me into this, I’m busy.” Yuri counterbacks with a glare before returning back to her painting.

“Well… you see… The school wanted to change Mrs. Yamamoto’s idea a bit since they really didn’t know anything about Japanese Cultural festivals either. So it’s like a Cultural festival, kind of not.” Bella rambled. You could tell all this information was scrambling her brain as well. “Basically, it’s like a Greek version of a Cultural festival where each major picks a Greek god and plans an event or booth around it.”

“…Okay… So it’s just like a school festival in a way?” You questioned cautiously. This was a lot for you to take in at once.

“Yes. Precisely. We are just taking inspiration from Cultural festivals.”

“Okay. Okay…” You answer as you rub the back of your neck, “I still don’t understand why you need me though?”

“Well, I kind of… kind of saw you reading the mythology books in the library today and we need more people on the planning committee…” Oh, god. It seems like everything is coming back to bite you in the ass, “…Just. Please (y/n), We need your help!”

You let out a small sigh as you watch Bella give you a pleading look, “Fine…”

“Yay—!“

“But…“ You start cutting off Bella’s cheers, “But I’m taking care of something really important right now at home so I can’t always make meetings and things like that. I can help with planning but that’s it. Okay?”

That was correct. As much as you wanted to help Bella and your department out with this festival, Triton was your top priority right now. His care and needs were above all else right now, even your own. So if this would get in the way of that then you would drop this project instantly. Instantly.

“Of course! Oh, thank you (y/n)!” Bella cheers, her body visibly relaxing now that a stress has been taken off your shoulder, “Well, I’m not sure if you're busy right now but… the committee is currently planning two classrooms down… so if you could…”

“I’ll go…” You sighed out. Damn, what’s with you lately. Less than two days ago, people hardly approached you. Now you are as busy as a bee. A person magnetic… Well, more like god magnetic as wel—

Wait, a minute. You feel yourself tense up as a thought flies into your brain. If Gods could travel and spend time on earth, could they live here as well? Just like how Triton wants to?

Shit. What if some that live here are able to identify Triton? You could be in big troub—

“(Y/n)? Are you coming?” Bella calls, snapping you out of your thoughts.

“Y-yes.”

It seemed you would have to worry about that later. Not that it mattered right now, you could always just ask Triton when you got home. And even if he didn’t know the answer you would just have to be careful bringing him out of the house. Yeah… you would just do that.

“Guys, I would like to introduce you to (y/n). She’s a fine arts major just like us and knows about mythology. I think she would make a great addition to our group.” Bella introduces you as you enter the room. As you looked around the group of only 4 other people, you realized you really didn’t know anyone.

That is until everyone started to introduce themselves. You never heard of the first three—Brian, James and Kyle—but you found the last name, Marissa Samudra, quite familiar. You wonder if she was that Marissa.

Who you were talking about was Marissa, the hottest girl in school Marissa. Well, at least that’s what all the boys in your major told you. The girl in front of you at least seemed to fit the part. With white silk like skin, light green eyes and dyed coral pink hair, she truly was a sight to see.

“Okay. So shall we get started.” James suddenly spoke up, seeming to want to get the meeting started. You nodded your head in agreement before taking a seat next to Holly. As well as across from Marissa. “Well, I think we should first decide which god we should do. Culinary, Music, Visual performing arts and architecture already have chosen Aphrodite, Hades, Ares and Zeus. (Y/n)…”

You lift your head up at the call of your name.

“…as you know the most about Mythology, who do you think we should pick?”

“Well,…” You feel yourself pause, your palms growing sweaty out of nervousness. You really didn’t know that much about Greek Gods, only the class you took last year and the books you skimmed this morning. You also didn’t expect so many of the main gods to be taken already.

“…How about…”

You needed to think of someone fast. Someone that would satisfy all parties here. Someone that would bedazzle people coming to the festival.

“…Poseidon…?”

Why… Why was that what your brain had come up with? Poseidon? The very god that you were cursing out this morning. Wishing near death upon.

“Fish man?” Brian questioned, letting out a small chuckle at his own joke, “You really want to go with Fish man as our god? Isn’t there anyone better?”

“I think Poseidon is pretty…cool.” You feel a shiver go up your spine as you compliment the man. It was official, you might actually puke. “…He’s the king of the seas. It gives us a lot to work with for his character. Especially since most Fine Arts students are good at realistic elements, we could really do well on painting or using sea life.”

“True… but—“

“I think it’s a wonderful idea.”

You are shocked as you hear Marissa cut Brian off. When you first sat down, she seemed totally uninterested in the topic at hand. Caring more about her hair and nails than anything else. But now, now, she was paying attention to every little thing. You couldn’t help but wonder why. “Oh sorry. I really like the sea. It holds a special place in my heart… you know?”

Oh, that makes sense. You totally forgot Marissa’s paintings were mostly about the ocean and sea. Never drifting off to other topics.

“N-no. That’s actually pretty cool. You know what, we should totally do Posedin… or whatever the dude’s name is. He sounds really cool.” Bryan agrees as he bashfully rubs the back of his neck. Gross, could he make it any less obvious that he was smitten by her. And not in a nice way either.

You feel yourself shiver as you watch him sneak small glances down at Marissa’s chest area. Disgusting pervert…

“Well, with that decided let’s move on…”

…Great… You could already tell this was going to be a long meeting…

—.—.—.—.—

Again, for what felt like the hundredth time today, you banged your head against the wall. This time however it was against the door of your apartment.

“Seriously… a Café…?”

Yes, a Café. That’s the brilliant idea your group came up with. An under the sea type themed café.

In hindsight it didn’t sound all that bad. You could have a couple of students paint some props and decorations. Then another couple of students who know how to cook plan out the menu. Maybe even borrow some culinary students if you were lucky.

But,… there’s that.

Outnumbered three to two, the boys of your group insisted the girls that are serving customers should wear togas. Togas. They stated it was to bring in more customers but it was pretty obvious they had other intentions behind it. Especially since they didn’t even bother waiting a couple of minutes afterwards to ask if Marissa wanted to be part of the waiting staff.

“Poor girl… I feel bad for her.” You mumble to yourself as you pull out your keys, finally unlocking the door to your apartment. You wished you could just beat all those men senseless with a baseball bat. “That’s actually not a bad idea… Could I bring a wooden club and say that it's part of the character? They seem to not know that much about—“

“Miss (y/n)!” You hear shouted as something comes barreling into you. Knocking you onto the ground right as you enter your apartment. “O-oops I meant to only say (y/n)…”

Even though you got the air literally knocked out of you, you still let out a small chuckle as you reached up to run a hand through the perpetrator’s locks. Triton’s blonde locks. “It’s okay. I only told you this morning to stop referring to me so formally. It will take time for you to get used to it.”

Suddenly, you wince at a feeling of pain as you move slightly. Triton sure was strong. You, honestly, wondered if he held back some strength when he jumped at you. If so, you wondered how strong Triton was nonetheless an adult god.

Speaking of an adult god…

“Hey Triton.” The boy lifts his head up at your call, “Do any gods live on earth?”

The boy seemed to take a moment to think, “Well kind of? Not really Greek Gods though. Most of them are too proud to live with humans.”

“Oh well that’s goo— Wait, a minute! Other gods are real as well!?”

Triton nods his head furiously, “Yeah pretty much all gods. As long as it is considered as one, it exists. There’s Nordic gods…, Indian gods…, Oh! Even Buddha. I like Buddha, even though I’ve only met him once. He introduced me to salt water taffy! It’s delicious.”

“I-I see…I’ll try to get you some then. Another time.” As much as you wanted to hide your surprise you couldn’t. Learning that Greek Gods actually existed was one situation but learning that All Gods existed was a whole nother ball game. Did that mean demons existed as well?

“Hey (y/n). Could I ask you a question?” Triton asks, suddenly seeming bashful all of a sudden.

“Sure. What’s up?”

“Could I…” Triton pauses for a moment, “Could I call you…”

You leaned closer to Triton as his voice slowly got softer and softer at the end. His ears and cheeks were bright red as he waited for you to answer. However, you couldn’t answer him as you didn’t hear the last part of what he said.

“I apologize. Could you repeat what you said, Triton? I couldn’t hear the end of it.” You felt bad for asking him to repeat it as his face only seemed to get even more red when you asked.

“I-I… Could I call you… Mom?”

It was silent as his question, or rather request, fell upon your ears. You thought about it for a moment. Especially whether it was morally right for you to have him call you ‘mom’. Even if his true mother was a terrible person, she was still his mother.

Though, then again, She really didn’t act like his mother. Especially in all her hundreds of years of existence of having him. At least from what you’ve heard from Triton. She’s had plenty of chances to show her love for him and she never did.

“Of…Of course you can.”

You feel yourself smile as Triton’s face lit up. And you knew, Deep down inside, that you did the right thing. You would show this boy the love he deserved.

“Hey (Y— Mom.” You giggle at how Triton seemed to practically beam with happiness once the title left his lips.

“Yes, Triton?”

“Could we have dinner right now?”

You feel yourself jump up a little in surprise. Since you stayed later than what you usually would, due to the meeting, you didn’t have anything prepared ahead of time for dinner.

“Ah, yes. Do you think you could wait in the living room while I prepare it?”

“Of course!” Triton answers as he scrambles up off of you. As you make your way to the kitchen—which was technically in the same room as the living room—to start dinner, you find yourself drifting off into your thoughts.

You realized you really hadn’t thought this through. Taking care of Triton and all. Your apartment was small, he didn’t have his own room, he seemed to eat a lot more than a human boy his physical age and so much more.

You wouldn’t be able to buy a bigger apartment right now. Going through college and all. But you could take more shifts at work. After all, it was literally down the street. You were also good friends with the owner of the toy shop next door. You bet he would allow Triton to play with a couple of toys while you worked.

As you continue to list things you would need to take care of Triton especially if it was long term, Triton was watching cartoons on the couch.

“…Wonder cats will be right back!…”

As the show goes to commercial break, Triton feels himself let out a sigh. Television sure was awesome and all, much better than the plays and coliseum matches used to entertain gods, but he despised ads more than anything.

“Who in the world created such a malicious thing…”

Triton’s voice trails off at the end as the ad changes to another. As he stares at the screen, he feels a shiver shoot down his spine. As quickly as he could, Triton changes the channel to another before shakily dropping the television remote. A cold sheen of sweat breaks out all over his skin as he collapses back onto the couch.

To anyone else, the commercial before looked like any normal hair dye commercial seen on Tv. But not to Triton. Especially when he saw something oh so familiar.

“T-that hair color…” Triton feels himself shiver at the thought, “L-looked too much like Aunties. Mom’s…No…

…Amphitrite’s Sister.”

Author Note: Ahhh this chapter contained so much but I knew I couldn’t split it up. Especially if I was doing posting Tuesdays and Thursdays. I was worried that the time frame in between would mess my readers up. Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this Chapter. I know there wasn’t a lot of Triton moments but I wanted to get the ball rolling on the plot so that things and certain characters (*cough* Poseidon *cough*) will appear soon. Well that’s it for now, see you next time :)))

Taglist: @angeli-fucking-cat @marixxhq

[truglori]

Homebody (Ch.3)

Summary: Amiyah is the younger sister of local drug dealer (Durkio). Shy and reserved she keeps to herself and stays out the way. But lately she began to find interest in his right hand man/ best friend (Erik Stevens). Wanting to get him to notice her she discovers that he already had her wrapped around his finger without even trying! There was only a few problems that kept her away from her fantasies , her brother that controlled almost every single breath she took and would kill anyone who looked at her that way and lastly Eriks girlfriend, Alexis , who they called the queen of the hood according to her lavish lifestyle as well as being with the next newest top boy in the making. While Alexis was his girl to the streets all Amiyah wanted to do was be his Homebody...

Pairing: Erik Stevens x Thick OC

Warning : Language, Slight Smut

Davio’s was the choice of the night. It was known for being one of the top restaurants with a perfect view looking out towards the city.

Scoping out the restaurant Erik’s attention was drawn to the repeated sounds of utensils clinking against porcelain plates. Along with the many voices talking amongst each other, it was driving him to the state of annoyance. If it was up to him he would have rather chosen something more quiet and isolated so that he could be focused on his date.

Bringing his mind back to what was in front of him he checked out his view. Sitting there with her titties out and her signature ice piece that rested comfortably in her cleavage, she rocked an all black dress that clung to her body perfectly.

Shyly looking up from her dessert menu Alexis caught him staring her down. She gave him a smile before setting down the laminated paper. Flipping her 26 inches of Brazilian bundles over her shoulder that she decided to wear bone straight, she leaned in to give him a better view.

“You like what you see daddy?” She teased before sipping on her glass of Rosè.

Erik eyes scanned over her one last time. “I do. You look good as fuck right now.”

“Mm thank you daddy. I got this dress earlier today just for you.” She always tried her best to impress him.

He slowly nodded his head. “Oh yeah? You showing out for me..having ya ass all out like that too.”

Erik couldn’t lie to himself even if he tried. Alexis was bad as fuck. From her perky titties that always sat up to her fat ass that looked plumped in no matter what she was wearing. To the hood she was the definition of a bad bitch and she had the attitude to match it too.

Erik ran into her almost nine months ago. They both were in the club celebrating a mutuals birthday. He noticed her when he stepped in the building with Durk and the crew. She was already in the V.I.P section with a friend on each side of her.

Making eye contact with each other for the first time that night Erik knew he had to have her just for the time being. He introduced himself to her and brought her and her friends drinks for the remainder of their time there. She didn’t put up a front either. That’s what he liked about her, she showed just as much interest and was straight forward with him. Erik didn’t have to deal with the typical cat and mouse chase game most women did whenever a man pursued them.

What he thought would be simple one night stand turned into a fling. They ended up exchanging numbers while laying in her bed after going a few rounds. The way that she sucked and fucked him had him thinking twice about ghosting her. She was the first girl to make him nut from head. That’s how skilled she was with her throat and tongue. Alexis was truly a freak and there was nothing that was off limits to him. But the more time they spent with one another the she started to get entitled and Erik couldn’t stand that shit. She was always putting their names together out in the streets which almost ruined his reputation of being low-key. He told her that if she didn’t stop running her mouth he was going to stop fucking with her and that put her in her place.

The waiter interrupted him from his thoughts as he sat down their food they ordered fifteen minutes ago.

The smell of a fresh hot and steamy steak well done along the side of creamy garlic mash potatoes invaded his nose and caused his mouth to water.

“Maybe you could take me to your place and take it off me after.” She lifted her leg up and massaged his dick through his pants with the flat part of her heel.

Erik smirked. He knew what she was trying to do but it didn’t work.

“When was the last time we went to my crib?”

“Never but-“

“So then why would I bring you there if I never did before?” He cut her sentence short.

Erik was very cautious about who he trust to know where he lived. Every single one of their sneaky links was hosted at her apartment. It may seem shallow that he couldn’t even allow the girl who he could bend over whenever he wanted to know where he laid his head but he just couldn’t trust everyone.

“Erik when is your paranoid ass gonna realize I’m not out to get you or set you up.” She rolled her eyes.

“I never said you were so why you insinuating some shit like that? You thinking about it?” He questioned.

‘This the shit I’m talking about.’

He shook his head setting down his fork to take a break from his food and picked up his glass of Hennessy.

“No. I’m just wondering why you don’t have a problem fucking me but yet I can’t even come to your place...that’s low as fuck.” She cocked her head sideways before going back to her shrimp and scallop.

“What’s wrong with me keeping my privacy? And why we gotta talk about this now, we should be enjoying ourselves.”

Erik cut the conversation no longer entertaining it. He never was the one to explain himself to someone who didn’t pay one bill where he lived and he wasn’t going to start today.

Alexis no longer wanting to vex the situation switched up the mood.

“You’re right baby but ooh guess who I seen today?”

Jogging his memory from the car ride with Amiyah earlier he already had a hint but let her speak anyways.

“Who?”

“Durkio’s sister. She works at the boutique where I got this dress from. She’s pretty..just a lil too chubby for me.” She giggled throwing her shade while bitting into some scallop.

When those words left her lips it turned Erik all the way off. What was the reason of a woman trying to denigrate another grown woman.

“You tell her that to her face?”

Alexis smacked her lips. “Why would I say that to her?”

“I don’t know, what you got against her?”

She laughed at his question. “Nothing I just stated my opinion that’s all.”

He nodded his head taking a mental note.

Some time had passed as the two ate in a comfortable silence chatting here and there. When he was finished he picked up his cloth napkin wiping his mouth. He was ready to get up out of there. Erik looked to see Alexis going through her purse. She took out her lipstick and reapplied it and that gave Erik the hint that she was also finished with her meal.

“You ready to get out of here?”

“Yeah I need you to give me some dick when we go back to my place” She spoke bluntly and out in the open not caring who could have heard her.

Grabbing his wallet he pulled out two crisps one hundred dollar bills paying for their dinner. He then got up slipping on his jacket as he watched Alexis stand up and put on her Burberry vintage trench coat.

He followed closely behind her to the exit of the restaurant before he went in front of her and held the door open. They walked to the valet and Erik gave his ticket to young man at the booth and watched him run in the direction of his car.

The wind blew softly and Alexis found herself standing directly in front of him as she slipped her hands inside his open jacket and wrapped them around his waist colliding their bodies together. The feeling of his hard abs against her breast made her nipples harden. She looked up at him watching his head stay in the same direction where the valet boy ran to get his car. Lifting one of her hands to his beard she tugged it softly grabbing his attention.

Erik shifted his eyes down in hers and recognized the look in them.

Already knowing what wine always did to her body whenever she had it let him know that she was ready to try to suck his dick while doing a handstand if she could.

She bit her lip never breaking contact. “I want you so bad right now.”

“You think you can handle me tonight? You be runnin every time when you off that Rosè. That pussy be hurting huh?” His hand grabbed her neck softly and his thumb caressing where her trachea was.

“I don’t be running it just be taking you so long to fuckin nut.” She smiled and opened her mouth sticking out her tongue.

Erik looked down at the display before bring his thumb up to it and watched as it disappeared in her mouth. Her jaws sunk in as she sucked it softly and lightly bobbed her head up and down. His balls tightened at the warm sensation on his finger bringing his memory back to the times she would do the same thing on his dick. He gave a low groan before he was interrupted with someone clearing their throat.

“Excuse me sir...your car is here.” It was the valet.

Erik grabbed his keys and walked to the passenger side of the car and opened the door for Alexis. She got in but not before lightly gripping his balls. Closing the door behind her he made his way to his side starting up the car and looked out his rear view before driving off.

It wasn’t too long when he glanced over and saw Alexis hiking up the bottom of her dress to her waist. She had no panties on and her pussy looked like it was freshly wax. Smiling at his face she leaned her seat back and spread her thighs opened. Running her nails over the inner flesh she felt herself getting warmer from the touch.

Erik was doing his best to multitask by watching the road while getting a look at her phat pussy lips every now and then.

“If you gon put it out like that you might as well play with it.” He told her biting his lip.

Following his demand she spread her lower lips with one hand as she let the fingers of her other dip into her wet opening just before bringing them to her clit rubbing it in circles. She moaned at the feeling applying more pressure. Her pussy became more wet from having him watch her. It made her excited and proud that she was able to keep his eyes distracted while taking the risk. No longer being able to hold back she stopped her stimulation and sat up with her knees on the seat. Bending down across the arm rest she put an arch deep enough in her back so that he would be able to see the butterfly tattoo on her ass cheeks.

“I wanna play with something else too.” Unbuckling his Loui Vuitton belt and zipping down his pants she took out his dick. It was so fucking heavy. The length and girth of his nine inches is what drove her to the brink of obsession. His dick took her soul every time he would fuck her and she gladly let him have it.

Wasting no time she kissed the sensitive head showing her appreciation then stuck her tongue out and ran it up and down his shaft wetting his dick up. Returning to the head of his penis she smacked the heavy tip on her lips as she pushed out some spit to make it glossy. Opening her mouth she took him in with sunken cheeks and immediately started to suck mocking her movements from ealier when they were outside.

Erik gripped her hair and moaned in his throat. She was a fucking head monster. It didn’t take him long to get hard because she knew what she was doing. Pulling her hair into a ponytail with the free hand he wasn’t driving with he switched his eyes between the road and her spitting on his dick then deep throating it.

He couldn’t hold back his smile. “You fucking nasty you know that?”

Quickly moving his hand off the steering wheel he lifted up his shirt to keep it from getting soaked and placed it back taking control again.

Seeing this, Alexis brought one hand up to his abs caressing them and then moved her way up to his chest running her fingers over his left nipple. Relaxing her throat and silently humming she was able to go deeper taking at least six inches of him without gagging.

“Fuck..” Erik mumbled under his breath.

Lifting up and wiping her mouth she smiled. “I heard that daddy.”

“Get back on that dick.” He guided her by the back of her neck feeling himself about to cum at any moment.

Giggling she played around his head flicking the underside of it. Using her right hand she massaged his balls as she took him back into her warm wet mouth and sucked his tip repeatedly producing excessive spit so that she was able to stroke him at the same time. Up and down she twisted her hand around his girth and would make a tight grip whenever she would reach the top.

This was on of the reason Erik couldn’t find himself to stop fucking with her. He could never turned down some good head and she definitely knew how to give it.

“Suck that nut out then.” He hyped her up and seen that it was working when he saw her twerking her ass cheeks.

With her staying around his sensitive head for a while he felt his stomach tightened up and his ass clenching together as his hips thrust up. He didn’t want to bust just yet but she was sucking him dry.

“Mm fuckk.” He dick spurted out his semen into her mouth and he relaxed back into his seat.

She made sure he was milked properly before she cleaned him up neatly and put his dick back in his pants and going back to the passenger side.

Reaching over she ran the tip of her nails on his neck.

“You needed that daddy...that load was big as fuck.”

“I did and you gon suck another one out of me when we make it to your crib.”

She smiled proud of her work.

“Anything for you daddy.”

___________________________________________________________________

It’s been two days since Amiyah last saw Erik. Two whole days had went by and this man still haven’t called her.

She couldn’t get him out of her mind.

Closing her eyes she kept thinking about the way he touched her. How his hands gripped her waist and rested there comfortably. His hands were tough but yet soft and gentle with her plush body.

‘What is he doing to me?’

Is the question she asked herself as she laid with her back on her bed with one leg folded on top of the other rocking it side to side while being on her phone. She had just finished cleaning her room and decided to finish setting the mood with a sweet smelling caramel drizzle three wick candle from Bath and Bodyworks that she brought herself.

It was her day off so she had nothing to do but sit in the house. Durkio was gone and Kelley was at work and aside from those two she had no one else that she could hang with. Being interrupted from scrolling on Instagram she was getting an incoming call from and local unknown number.

617-348-7677...

Amiyah sat up. The palms of her hands became sweaty as she answered with a soft voice.

“Hello..”

“Hi this is Jesse Mcwell and I am calling from our student loans forgiveness program to let you know that your application has been accepted.” The voice sounded like it was coming from a southern white women.

Amiyah inwardly groan at the customer service worker. She laughed at herself for getting nervous and excited over nothing.

“I’m sorry Jesse but you have the wrong number...I’m not in school.”

“Oh I’m sorry well thank you. Have a great day!”

“You too!”

She clicked the red button ending the call.

She smacked her lips.

“You’ll know it’s me.” She mocked Erik in his voice becoming annoyed.

That wasn’t the first time she picked up a call from a random number within that last two days that wasn’t Erik. All of them being from either an automated voice message claiming she won a free trip or last but not least the student loan office.

She picked up every single last one of them in hopes of hearing his voice.

Climbing off her bed her belly growled.

“I need some food.” She spoke to herself out loud which was a habit of hers.

Walking into the kitchen she rummage through the cabinets and refrigerator but found nothing to her liking. It was either junk food or leftover takeout from Durk. Growing easily frustrated with her hunger she blew out air and closed the pantry door.

A minute later had passed when she remembered that there was a small Jamaican spot that she liked literally right down the street. It was nothing but a three minute walk and she could make it there and back in lest then ten. Grabbing her coat and house keys she put on her Timbs and then exited her home locking the door behind her.

Going to the elevator she clicked the down button and waited for it to come up to the fourth floor so that she can get on.

The doors opened and out came her neighbor Melanie. She was some Latina that she only knew of because of the one time she walked in the apartment and found her brother bending her over in the living room. The girl was the reason Durk didn’t pick her up from work that day which lead her to having to take the bus home.

“Oh hey girl! How are you?” She tried her best making small talk with her.

Amiyah mentally rolled her eyes but gave a small smile.

“I’m good thanks!” She returned her fake energy as she stepped in the elevator and hit the lobby button.

“Tell your brother I asked about him. Let him know-“

The doors shut before she could finish her sentence. Amiyah laughed and shook her head.

“That girl know I don’t like her.”

It took nothing but a few seconds when the elevator finally came to a hault and opened the doors on the lobby floor.

Amiyah walked outside zipping up her coat and began heading in the direction of the restaurant. It took exactly how long she thought it would, less than five minutes. But being a house length away from her destination she noticed an all black BMW and sitting on top of it was a black guy as he spoke with two Dominican looking men.

Keeping her head down like how her brother taught her she was hoping to go unnoticed and not wanting to draw any attention towards her. The closer she got she couldn’t help taking a glance and picking up their conversation.

“Listen I’m not trying to make no beef.. we gotta lay low since our business is getting out there. Niggas is finding out shit and I don’t know how.” The black guy spoke with his hands folded together in front of him like he was the man in charge.

“We got you boss. We’ll make sure whatever we know gets back to you.” The taller one of the two other men spoke up confirming her thoughts.

“Yeah we gon start going low.” The shorter one finally spoke.

That was the last of the conversation she heard before she went inside the restaurant. Walking up to the cooler she slid the door open and grabbed a Calypso ocean blue lemonade. She only had to wait behind two people before she was able to put in her order.

The sudden feeling of the breeze from outside let her know that someone was coming in but she had no time to look back as the line moved and it her was her turn.

“Hi can I get a medium oxtail with rice and peas but no cabbage. Also can you add extra gravy please.” She gave the middle age lady a smile and sat her drink on the counter to unzip her Coach wallet taking out a twenty.

“Yo she good...she with me and hook it up for her.”

Turning her head to put a face to the voice that spoke for her she saw it was the guy who was sitting on his car from outside. He standing there with his hands in his pocket.Taking him in he was dressed down in a Givenchy track suit with the Moncler x Givenchy puffer jacket to match. His outfit screamed money but it was nothing she hadn’t seen before with her brother.

“Um thank you but I could’ve paid for it. It’s not that much.” She spoke softly.

He gave her a smile looking her up and down taking in her shape right in front of her.

“You good. These my people who look out for me and whoever I know.” He shrugged his shoulders letting her know that it’s nothing.

Shyly darting her eyes to the counter to grab her drink she stood to the side before turning back to the stranger.

“Well thank you but you don’t even know me.” Not trying to be rude to him but she was only stating facts.

“So then let me change that. I’m Cane.” His hand went to his chest as he introduced himself then reached out to shake her hand.

“Amiyah.” She placed her small hand in his that was huge compared to hers. She only hope that he wouldn’t notice her hand lightly sweating up which happened whenever she got nervous. It was a trait she hated about herself.

“That’s beautiful name. It kind of sound like my daughters.” Yet to have let go of her hand he stroked the back of it with his thumb stepping closer to her.

“What’s your daughters name?” Amiyah was finding herself lured into his charm as she stared deeper into his eyes.

“Janiyah.” He smirked at her before letting go.

“That’s pretty. What was your name again?"

“Cane.”

His eyes danced over her body again. She was a pretty thick girl to him. He knew as soon as she walked pass him he was hypnotized by her big ass and pretty natural round face. In his opinion she was fine as fuck but he could see the way she acted told him she probably thought differently.

She seemed insecure from how she spoke timidly and barely being able to keep eye contact. He noticed this but still went for her. If she was anything like how he thought he had her figured out to be then he knew that she could be someone who he could easily control and who he can get some pussy from time to time.

“Excuse me, your order is ready young lady.” The middle age woman broke the two from their staring contest.

Walking up to the counter she took her food along with a fork and some napkins and headed for the door. She felt him following behind so she held the door for him without bothering to turn around.

Cane laughed that she knew he was right behind her. He couldn’t help but to be hooked with the ass that she was dragging. He definitely was going to make it a priority to break her ass in.

Amiyah returning to the direction where she came from turned around to thank him one last time.

“Thank you for taking care of this. I appreciate that.”

“Well you can thank me properly by letting me take you out to dinner. Introduced you to some real Caribbean cuisine and not some street corner shack...no offense though.” He smirked.

She giggled at him down playing her choice of restaurant. “I thought you said these were your people. Why you shading them like that?”

“They are my people but that don’t mean I gotta settle ma...and neither should you.” He stepped closer occupying her space.

“Okay.” Not knowing any better and folding under his gaze she accepted his offer.

He took out his IPhone 12 and punched in the numbers that she gave him. He sent a text with just his name alone to make sure she had it.

“You need anything else. Maybe a ride? I noticed you walking” He stated genuinely.

“No I live two minutes away.” She replied letting him know she was good and waving goodbye.

“Aight I’ma hit you up later. Nice to meet you Amiyah.” He gave her a smile as he sat back on the hood of his car and watched her walk away.

‘Damn he was so fine.’

Two fine ass men in the same week asked for her number. She always made up scenarios in her head about how it would be the first time she would give a guy her number and never would have thought it would be with her brothers fine ass best friend or with a stranger who looked like money.She always thought she would get less and have to settle below her standards, but after today this was definitely a confidence booster.

Locking the door behind her she walked to the coffee table and sat her food down after she turned the tv on. Getting undressed back into her lounge wear she plopped on the couch and opened her plate to eat.

“Damn they hooked me up.” Looking at her plate she saw that it was plenty of oxtails sprawled out and extra gravy just the way she liked it.They never gave her that much oxtails that had that much meat on them before.

Cane immediately came to her head as she took in a spoonful of rice. She wondered if he was someone important to the restaurant for them take demands from him and made sure she left with a generous amount of food.

Her phone rung. Not paying attention to anything else besides the tv she answered it nonchalantly while chewing on her food expecting it to be one of those automated machines again.

“I wonder what I won this time?” She spoke to herself sucking the sauce of her fork and placing it down.

“Shit whatever you want?” Erik chuckled.

She snatched the phone away from her ear reading the number.

617-348-8357

She saved the number.

“Uh..I’m sorry Erik. I thought you were these voice messages that keep calling me.” Even though he couldn’t see her she still felt embarrassed.

“You good. Sorry I took so long to call you.”

Putting the tv on mute she sat up giving him her undivided attention. His voice sounded like he just woke up.

“That’s okay. Are you just now waking up Erik?” She giggled. Her nerves were starting to show.

“I didn’t make it home till early this morning. I been up all night.” He talked before clearing his voice.

“Oh okay.” Her phone buzzed. She glanced at it and seen it was an incoming FaceTime call.

“Pick up.” His voice commanded. She was still able to hear him due to not hanging up the regular phone call yet.

She looked in the FaceTime camera and fixed her hair as well as wiping her mouth making sure there was no crumbs on her lips.

His face finally came into view as he was laying in what looked like a bed. Black satin pillows surround him. Scanning her eyes over him she noticed he had on a black durag to match.

She giggled as he kept his eyes on her not speaking yet.

“What?” Balling up her fist she used it to cover her smile.

“I can’t look at you?” He licked his lips.

He looked even finer when he was just waking up.

There was no way that she able to handle this man. From his thick lips to his voice, he was ruining her and he hadn’t even done a thing to her yet. She was starting to see a side of Erik that she didn’t know about.

“Oh my god. Why do boys say that?” She questioned acting fake annoyed.

“Well first off I’m a man so don’t make that mistake slipping up calling me a boy again. Aight?” He spoke lowly keeping his eyes on her.

Biting her lip, she tested him. “Erik I can call you whatever I want.”

His chuckle broke the silence.” You tryna make me pull up on you or sum shit? Stop fuckin playing with me.”

She put him on mute and sat the phone down hiding the camera.

‘Sis we is not wetting up these panties today.’

Her thighs clenched together from his threat. She couldn’t take how he could get her sticky down there so quickly. It felt different compared to how it felt when she she would play with herself. That would take her some time before she got aroused but with Erik every look he gave her and every word he spoke to her had her pussy spilling.

“So you gon put me on pause while you play with that pussy?”

She picked up the phone unmuting it.

“Shut up Erik!” She replied pretending to be unfazed.

“I like the way my name come off them soft ass lips.” Erik laughed and teased her watching her come undone in front of him.

“Could you stop?” She turned the phone away only showing part of her face to hide her smile for a second before turning it back.

“What? Say my name again?” He licked his bottom lip while watching hers.

‘Oh my goddd...what is he doing?!’

“I just said it.”

Playfully rolling her eyes she played tough with him but he saw through it.

“Say that shit again while you looking me in the eye.”

He demanded her putting an arm behind his head while waiting for her to respond.

“Erik..” What she meant to come out in a vex tone exited out as a light moan instead.

“Wassup baby.” His deep laughter came through the phone.

Erik watched as the look on her face became flustered. He only wanted to tease her. He liked how she looked when she became nervous. She tried her best to match his energy trying to be tough at first but he shut that down. It surprised him learning that she kind of had a smart ass mouth but clearly it didn’t take much to fix.

“You’re annoying.” At this point Amiyah wanted to just get under her covers and hide.

“I’m just fuckin with you. Told you I’m a grown ass man...don’t be playing with me like that.”

“I hear you.”

“What you do today?” He changed the conversation.

“Nothing it was my day off so I just cleaned my room and just got back from the Jamaican spot. You know the one down the street?”

He nodded his head and furrowed his eyebrows.

“You spend ya money on that shit. I had way better Jamaican food.”

She smacked her lips. “ First of all don’t do my spot and second I didn’t have to pay for it today. Some guy spotted me.” She spoke quickly without thinking.

“What you mean some guy spot you? He paid for it?” Erik sat up in bed because her last sentence caught his attention.

“Yeah he was nice but that was it.” She tried her best to diffuse the kind act.

“Nah don’t trust that. Niggas out here always gon want something in return even for something as simple as buying yo ass a meal. Don’t accept nothing next time.” He enlightened her.

She shook her head deciding not to bring up the fact she gave him her phone number.

“Let’s chill tonight?” He broke her train of thought.

She smiled widely. “To do what and go where?” She rushed the questions.

“Whatever you want to. I just want to see you in person.” He eyes examined her beautiful face as she blushed.

“How about we go see a movie and go to a diner or something after.”

That was a certain type of date she always fantasized about and now she was able to take a chance at living it.

He smiled at her excitement. “Bet. I’m pick you up at seven and you don’t gotta dress up but wear something nice for me okay?”

“Okay.” Her soft voice made his dick jump.

“Aight talk to you later.” He smiled and ended the call.

‘Let me go rub this kitty real quick because his ass is too much.’

__________________________________________________________________

Part Four

Please excuse any mistakes!

Cane is at the top.

Tag-list

@supersizemeplz @nahimjustfeelingit-writes @hearteyes-for-killmonger @uzumaki-rebellion @blowmymbackout @curls-and-crosses @madamslayyy @goddessofthundathighs @eriksjournal @wakandamama @wawakanda-btch @wakandas-vibranium @wakandaforeverwrites @ghostfacekill-monger @killmonger-dolan @killmongerkink @migosis @raysunshine78 @alookintohersoul @popcorn803 @just-juicee @mllover260 @kimmyblckswan2 @koriiii @tchallasbabymama @toniilaney @marvelmaree @mia-faith @adreamsublime @queen-b1 @mcdesij @vintage-pvssy @viewsfromrose

[iu-jjang]

[TRANSLATION] <W KOREA> Magazine April Issue Interview with IU

HELLO GOODBYE

We will now introduce the present of IU who is coolly saying goodbye to her past self and trying to delightfully embrace/welcome her future self.

Q.  Hello Miss Lee Ji-Dong (chuckles). I’ve been enjoying the YouTube contents featuring your alternate identity as this entry level new employee. You match well with the seemingly nonchalant company staff.  IU: I’ve always enjoyed playing around with these types of situational sketch comedy type jokes and these are people who have been with me for a really long time so they really know me. If I were to randomly do one of those situational sketch jokes, they are able to improvise and respond to it on the fly without hesitation (chuckles).

Q: From ‘Clumsy Live’, ‘Homebody Signal’, to ‘IU’s Palette’ where artists can have conversations and also sing each other’s songs - you’ve been really active on YouTube in the past year. You seem like a really hardworking person. IU: It’s true that when there’s work, I can be very diligent. Outside of work, there really isn’t much for me to do or focus on; when I’m on break, I can get into a slump but when I’m working, my head is clear and I can better organize my thoughts. The ‘Entry-Level New Employee, Lee Ji-Dong’ concept was an idea that came about the morning we were planning on shooting ASMR content but we wanted to do it in a new and different way. I had so much fun shooting the ‘Homebody Signal’ episode with Jukjae where we just sang songs impromptu and conversed freely about each other’s thoughts so ‘Palette’ was something that came out of those raw moments of enjoyment. There’s a sort of charm and synergy when artists exchange and sing each other’s songs so I really enjoy it.

Q. On March 25th, you will be releasing your 5th full album after 4 years. Do you remember your interview [with W Korea] from almost exactly a year ago today? You said at the time that you were interested in ‘Big Size [music]’. You said, contrary to when you were younger, you are now interested in big narratives and that you now want to make ‘big’ music. IU: Those desires will actively be reflected in this coming album. The purpose of the messages, the breadth of sounds, it will be varied and diverse sounding in many ways. There aren’t any of my solely self-composed songs in this album. From the standpoint of a producer, there doesn’t always need to be self-composed songs from IU in an IU album. Up until now, I have been composing a calm and quiet style of music that contains personal stories. I came to the conclusion that those types of songs don’t match with the tone of this album so I decisively dropped them from the album.

Q. Oh, I can feel how you fined-tuned this album with the objective and impartial eyes of a producer. IU: I wanted to make people think when they listen to this album, “IU has released a really straightforward and direct album!” An album that people will enjoy listening to but it will also have a lot to say. An album that is fun from start to finish without a song that you really have to push yourself to listen to. I feel like I’ve reached a level of career experience to be able to determine whether a song is a song that can immediately capture the listener from the very first listen or if it is a song that will take two or three more listens for the listener to really love it. I have produced albums where despite knowing what I know, I would think ‘even so, I still want to add this song in as a b-side track’ or ‘this is a self-composed song that contains the essence of my being so I want to add this in‘. But there aren’t any songs like that in this album.

Q. So in other words, rather than an indie film, <LILAC> is more of a blockbuster film that has mass appeal. IU: It does seem closer to a large commercial film than a small indie film. There are times, like during the planning stages of big concerts, where my goal is to prepare something that is just pure entertainment and this album was also made with that idea in mind.

Q. So why is the album title <LILAC>? What does it mean? IU: The tone and the theme of the album is more certain than ever and it is the theme of ‘Greeting’. It’s my goodbye greetings to my 20s. It contains my gratitude towards everyone that has watched over my 20s. The key words in LILAC are ‘the memories of my youth’. It will be as if I’m saying ‘I’ll now be moving on to the next chapter’ in my goodbye while also saying hello in anticipation to the new era of my 30s.

Q. It’s good to track your progress when listening to your ‘Age Series [songs]’. When you were 23, you said you felt like you were one way then another way and even though you couldn’t figure yourself out yet, you opened up with ‘Twenty Three’ that was slightly provocative. When you were 25, you sang about how you thought you knew yourself a little bit more now with ‘Palette’. When you were 28, last year you released ‘Eight’ and asked the question of whether you’re happy now. So how are you now at the age of 29? IU: To be honest, my feelings are this - ‘My twenties still aren’t over yet? I can’t believe I still have a year left!’ As I reflect over my twenties, sometimes I feel like I want to spend the last days of it taking it easy, and sometimes I also think ‘I have to spend it living more passionately than ever’.

Q. ‘My twenties still aren’t over yet?’ - could you explain further your feelings about that? IU: I debuted at the age of 16. When I talk with people who have also entered into society at a really young age, we have similar things to say about it. I guess in a way our 20s feel especially long? Even though we were young, we had already become members of society so we couldn’t freely act our age, and our starting points had been pushed earlier by several years. There are often times when people see how young I am rather than the amount of experience that I have. So as each year passes, I don’t think ‘Ah it’s a shame that time is passing by’, it’s ‘I want to reach a respectable age’. An age where whether it is my level of career experience or my actual age, I can get the respectable reception deserving of it.

Q. When you look back on it, how were your 20s? Was it amazing? IU: I would say I worked extremely hard. It produced great results. I’ve had experience with working really hard at something yet not get great results, so I know that I am very lucky. 

Q. So IU became the IU of today because of luck and good fortune? Do you really think that?  IU: Just the fact that I am able to work so hard is a result of character/personality - a characteristic that was born to me out of luck and good fortune. So my conclusion is that I have been blessed with good fortune and also that I don’t think I’ve had the opportunity to be lazy (chuckles).

Q. This is your full length album after 4 years so you probably had a lot of thoughts and worries about it. Were there parts in it that you thought about over again and again? IU: Since I started producing when I was 23, it’s inevitable that I would have a particular personal color. I thought a lot about whether I should tell this story of my hello/goodbye greetings with my already familiar personal style, or should I try to really show the difference between the start and the finish [of my 20s] with a completely different sound and a completely different feel. And so I spent a long time on the album and it has gone through many revisions and changes. For the most part, rather than the same collaborators I used to always go to, I worked with a lot of new people I’ve never worked with before. In any case, whether it was a lengthy process or not, I feel like time was needed to find the right chemistry with each other.

Q. One of your collaborators in this album is Naul. I thought it was really unexpected to see Naul, [whose music] can be quite dramatic, paired with IU, who can be quite light, but after hearing about the personality of this album, I think I understand now. IU: I had asked him for ‘a song that gives you a very clear visual landscape’. With the feeling of the scent of perfume, I went with what Naul sunbae-nim gave me without any changes.

Q. There’s a line in one of your songs (Twenty Three) ‘I want to become a “moist” woman’. After asking ‘what makes IU a “moist” person?’, in last year’s interview, you answered by saying it’s ‘love or ambition that sometimes come into your life’. Has IU felt the spirit of ambition creeping in lately? IU: I’m a person that develops new goals often so whenever there’s something new I want to achieve, I feel it. Whenever I release an album, there’s always a goal I have in mind so I will never release something that I am not completely satisfied with. Right now my goal and also my ambition is to release music that isn’t only satisfactory to me but also music that other people also want to hear. In other words, I want it to have mainstream appeal with the general public. Rather than ‘It’s IU so I guess I’ll have a listen’, I want people to think ‘I want to listen to this because it’s actually really good’.

Q. Has someone’s actions ever made you think that they were really ambitious? What kind of person are they now. IU: There is, my dad (chuckles). Whenever my dad achieves something, that’s not the end of it. There are always new additions to his interests and specialties. There’s always something new - whether it be objects he wants or things he wants to do.

Q. IU’s dad seems really cute? (chuckles) IU: Indeed he is really cute (chuckles). I love my dad a lot. Even though I’ll sometimes be hard on him and say ‘Dad, please just be satisfied with this’, I also think it’s fortunate that he is this way.

Q. Rather than someone that’s really ambitious, isn’t he just a person with a lot of energy? IU: That’s true. Even though I always have an endless amount of new goals because my dad’s blood runs within me, I don’t have the enjoyment that he has with everything he does. My dad is a true adventurer. If I tell him ‘I will give you plenty of spending money so can you keep still and live an easy comfortable life?’ he would say ‘It’s not about the money. Having a heart that wants to achieve is different from having money goals. What I want is in the form of a circle, it’s not right to try to cram it into the shape of a star.’

Q. It sounds like he would give a really great lecture? This sounds like a conversation that would be in <The Little Prince>. Do you have any more pieces of conversations with your dad that you remember? IU: I once asked my dad what he thinks about before he falls asleep. For me, before I fall asleep, I have a lot on my mind. If it’s not about work, then it’s the small regrets or worries that I have. My dad thinks about this - “If I were suddenly given 3 wishes, what would I wish for? You never know when someone will unexpectedly make you answer this so I should come up with an answer in advance.” 

Q. Last night, I saw a post on the internet that said this - “I was thinking about how I would spend the money if I won the lottery, but then I ran out of money.” I thought it was so cute that I giggled out loud. IU: I think that’s cute. I think those types of people for sure really know how to live life with everything it has to offer.

Q. I didn’t know you would answer ‘dad’ when I asked you about ‘ambition’ (chuckles). When you are faced with a love that makes you a ‘moist’ person, are you different when you receive love than from when you give love? IU: I think they’re two very different things. When I am receiving love, I get really awkward and embarrassed. I even get embarrassed when fans are really nice to me. But I think this is gradually changing as I get older because if I don’t express my love now, I don’t know if there’s going to be another chance to do it. If it’s a love that I started first, then I’m the type that will throw caution to the wind and just go for it.

Q. When you are giving love, does a more natural Lee Ji-eun side come out? IU: My heart is definitely more at ease. It’s easy to give, you know? All you need to do is say, “Accept it, this is my heart” and then just give it. When you are the one receiving, you get uneasy because you’re worried about how to return the favor. But now I know better. When someone is giving you love, just the act of receiving it well is a way of giving love too.

Q. Is there an object or item that you hold a lot of attachment for? Because that is also a form of love. IU: I don’t have many desires or attachments for items - which is why I’m jealous of and admire people like my dad who have lots of things that they want. Because those people who have lots of desires, their blood runs that much faster for the things they want. Whether it’s an object or a person, because it’s rare for anything to arouse that feeling of attachment in me, whenever that target does appear, I will go towards it confidently. First, I will welcome the feeling and without thinking too much about it, my mind and body will start to move and take action. 

Q. Even though the new album that you will be releasing soon is your biggest hot issue at the moment, you also have a lot of other topics of conversations that are causing a stir. Director Kim Jong-kwan’s <Shades of the Heart> will be releasing on March 31, you started filming for your movie with Park Seo-joon and director Lee Byung-hun last year - and I heard you will also soon start filming for Hirokazu Koreeda’s new movie, <Broker>? IU: Filming for director Lee Byung-hun’s movie has started but filming’s not finished yet. For <Broker>, I’ve only had meetings with the director so far - the table reading hasn’t started yet. By the time this issue of <W Korea> is released, I wonder if we would have had the reading yet? I’m excited to soon meet Song Kang-ho, Bae Doona, and Kang Dong-won sunbae-nim.

Q. We already asked you questions in last year’s issue <W Korea> about your thoughts on Bae Doona so I’ll leave that out. I’m curious about your conversations with the director (Hirokazu Koreeda). IU: We video chatted once and we met in person once. I asked questions wondering about how similar are my thoughts on my character are to the director’s thoughts on my character, I asked about the meanings behind certain details in the script - I’m a person full of questions so I must’ve annoyed the director with all my questions but thankfully he gladly received them all.

Q. What kind of questions did you ask? IU: Hmm, the question that took the director the longest to reply to was a question related to a dialogue in the script. I was curious whether something that my character said was really coming from her or something that the director wanted to say through the mouthpiece of my character. He said with interest that he would give me an answer the next time we meet. 

Q. Why were you curious about that? IU: It was a piece of dialogue that gave me a question mark. From the perspective of someone that has to act it, I wanted to know how much root do these words have on the character - because I have to determine whether these are words that the character is just saying on the fly without much thought or whether these are words that the character is saying while staring intently at the other person.

Q. You’re also an artist so you probably already know. To varying degrees, all of the by-products of a creator's artistic expressions contain projections of themselves within it. But of course, since IU is a singer that sings her own songs, she doesn’t have to say things in a roundabout way so she confesses her words in the first person perspective for example in the song that GD featured in , ‘Palette’, you confessed that you like things are are a bit out-dated. IU: However, the criteria for ‘out-dated’ implies the reliance on the opinions of other people. These are words I’ve heard pretty often from other people, “You really think that’s pretty? It’s outdated.” When faced with those words, rather than saying that I’m not strange or eccentric or that I actually don’t think it’s outdated, I end up saying “okay, you’re right. I like things that are slightly outdated, I like things that are a bit stuffy, I like childish things. In my eyes, it’s pretty.”

Q. It seems your desire for this album to meet the satisfaction of others is much bigger than before, have you imagined what it would be like if you met everyone’s expectations and also if it didn’t meet expectations? IU: I think I have had those imaginations every single day since I debuted (chuckles). But my joy of having something I imagined coming true is not as great as you think it would be. Staying in a good moment doesn’t exactly mean that you will be even happier. In the end, this is the conclusion I came to, ‘that work wasn’t made by just you alone. That’s not an achievement for you to celebrate for yourself.’ I tend to want to be alone the moment an album is released. I will take one look at the first initial reaction, afterwards, I won’t look at my phone much. I have decided to practise focusing only on the next thing the moment it has been released out into the world.

Q. You not knowing how to be on the receiving end of love and you not being able to enjoy things, are those qualities related to each other? IU: It is. So that’s why to change the perspective, I try to really enjoy the process of making the album. To feel enjoyment from the results after finishing the album is already too late and I feel compelled to enjoy the total amount of pleasure in the process of making (an album). So all the more reason for me to get everything done in my way.

Q. So in conclusion is this the wisest solution you have come up with in order to protect your disappointed self in the event that your expectations miss the mark? IU: To be honest, I don’t often have expectations that are that far off the mark. That’s why I said that I’m a very lucky person. I am always prepared in my heart for it. My fear also grows.

Q. So you’re in preparation right now too. That means the IU I’m meeting now is mentally preparing for the big event ahead. IU: When I’m doing well, I’m not someone who gets excited and acts rashly, so when I’m not doing so well, I tell myself I should also be someone who thinks ‘It’s ok, such things happen’ and get over it. That’s only fair, isn’t it? If I’m not the type to go crazy with happiness when something good happens, when something disappointing happens, I shouldn’t be hit hard, for myself to be rewarded. If I attribute my success not only to my own abilities, but to luck as well, I don’t feel that things are unfair either. Even if unfortunate things happen, I’m not the type to have such a difficult time either.

Q. Let’s time travel to the end of 2021, after this tense period is over and the results of your promotion activities have somewhat come to a close. In your final moment of 29, in front of the honourable gateway to 30, what state of mind do you hope to be in? IU: I’ve fantasized about my ‘thirties’ since I was young. Since my ‘twenties’ were very near, I thought I would evolve like a pokemon, but as my ‘thirties’ were further away, I vaguely imagined myself to be someone cool. I hope I can go ‘uwahhhh!’ (Laughs) Like at the end of a period of exams. I can count with my fingers the few times in my life that I have been so happy I could shout. I could even count them right now. Perhaps 3 times?

Q. You’re talking about the kind of pure happiness that nothing can stand in its way, like the sense of freedom of someone who has saved a country right? What are those 3 times? IU: My first experience was during middle school after my mid-year exams, I had been studying really hard till then. After the exams ended, I went, ‘Uwah! I can go to Lotte World now!’ So that’s what freedom feels like. I remember myself going wild. The second time was when g.o.d came to my concert as guest performers. They were the ones who turned me into an ardent fan of someone for the first time in my life. Lastly, the third time was when I finished writing the lyrics for my upcoming album. I tossed my phone on the sofa and shouted, ‘I’m done!’ No matter how soft the sofa is, I’m not someone who would do something so violent like this (laughs). I look forward to experiencing the freedom of ending my twenties.

Q. For the pre-release single ‘Celebrity’ you released in January, which would also be on your upcoming album, you said you wrote the lyrics based on how a close friend of yours was treated as being strange. That you are not ‘strange’ but someone who is like a ‘star’. Have you ever felt that you are pretty cool yourself? IU: Actually… as I was preparing for this album, I did think I was pretty cool. Ah, such words don’t come out of my own mouth usually and I seldom feel like I am cool either. This could be a change as I am getting older. As I was working on this album, there were many things to settle. There were things I was trying out for the first time as well as new collaborations and all the tracks on the album are of different genres. Despite the different genres, there’s a kind of shall I say sound of the generation that runs through it, or a key word (for the album). Rather than having me explain it, I think people who listen to the album will be able to feel it. It’s a big project so I’m overflowing with emotions. I thought I wouldn’t be able to make it through. But eventually I was able to complete something I’m satisfied with, so I feel like ‘hey, I’m pretty awesome’.

Source: https://daeng516.tistory.com/250 Translated by IUteamstarcandy Please take out full and proper credits, thank you.

[because-of-a-friend]

Boyfriend!Jeonghan Fluff

MASTERLIST

Coups | Jeonghan | Joshua | Jun | Hoshi | Wonwoo | Woozi | DK | Mingyu | Minghao | Seungkwan | Vernon | Dino

Hey anon! I hope you like this one! Again, I’m sorry requests are taking so long right now! I’m officially down to one full time job so hopefully I’ll have more time for writing! Jun was requested so the entire series will be done soon! Again, I hope this one is good!

Like Coups

Jeonghan doesn’t even really think about dating for the longest time

Not because he’s stressed

Or because he’s prioritizing anything over it

He just simply doesn’t see the appeal

For him there’s just no reason to put the effort into dating

Sometimes the other boys try to feel sorry for him or try to give him dating advice

And he brushes it off and is like 

“No no, you don’t understand: I. Do. Not. Want. To. Date.”

And he’s really fine with it

Doesn’t get jealous when he sees the other boys and their partners

He just tells himself he’ll get there someday

And until then he’s just vibin™

Then one day he’s just lazing around the dorm

“Hyung can you put more clothes on, I have a friend coming over”

“Ughhhh DK why??? Can’t y’all hang out anywhere else?”

“No, we’re meeting here, go put clothes on”

So Jeonghan stumbles up to his room and takes his time throwing on a tshirt and sweatpants

Then he stomps back downstairs working out a plan to politely greet DK’s friend and then make an excuse to slip away so he can go to the studio and take a nap

But then he walks into the room

“Hyung, this is my friend [Y/N].”

Jeonghan stops dead in his tracks

“Oh, uh, hello, I’m Jeonghan”

“Nice to meet you!” you smile brightly at him.

And he gets this weird feeling in his chest

“Nice to meet you too”

Anyways, he decides to stick around and hang out with you and DK for awhile

And he’s just like...

Infatuated™

Later he crawls into DK’s bed

“Dokyeom, do you believe in love at first sight?”

“Are you talking about [Y/N]?”

He shyly nods in response

“Makes sense, you two would be perfect for each other, they’re a homebody just like you”    

Jeonghan giggles and little and snuggles into DK

“Hyung, why are you acting like this? It’s kind of scary”

After that DK starts inviting you over more often

Kind of just to throw Jeonghan off and see his reaction

Every time Jeonghan tries to be super suave and casual, but he just looks awkward and shy as he goes “Oh, hey [Y/N], I didn’t know you were coming over”

Then one day, DK invites you over

And as soon as Jeonghan comes down to greet you

He goes “Oh, Woozi just texted that he needs my help at the studio, I have to go. Jeonghan, would you mind entertaining [Y/N]? I would hate for them to have come all this way just to turn around and go back home”

Jeonghan is glaring at DK behind your back bc he knows exactly what DK is doing

“Oh, you don’t have to! There’s a bookshop on this side of town that I like anyways, I can just hang out there!”

“I’ll come with you [Y/N], DK’s right, he was incredibly rude to invite you out here and then abandon you”

Now DK is glaring at him lol

But you and Jeonghan end up going to the bookstore together anyways

He’s really quiet at first, shyly hanging back to watch you peruse through book selections 

The light in the bookstore is soft and when it hits you, you sort of glow

Jeonghan wishes he could stare at you looking like that forever

Then you start to notice that he’s quiet

So you grab his hand and pull him closer

“What do you like to read, Hannie?”

“Oh, um...”

He turns away and scratches the back of his head to try and hide his blush

“Oh, is it ok if I call you that?”

“Yeah, I um... I like it”

“Ok... Hannie”

He has to clench his fists to stop himself from squealing

You link your arms and continue on your conversation about reading

When you find a books that piques both of your interests

You sit down in a back corner of the store and read it together

You both actually get incredibly invested

I mean it’s hard not to love the way Jeonghan leans in and stares brightly up at you as you read

Oh and the book is good too

Darkness falls and the bookstore gets ready to close

So you buy it with the promise that you and Jeonghan will finish it someday

“How about Saturday? Over coffee?” he asks with a sudden surge of confidence

“I’d really like that!” you happily agree

So you meet up at this small cafe and work on finishing the book

It’s harder this time, you keep making jokes to each other and getting off track

But you’re both having a great time

“I’m going to go get a refill, do you want anything?”

“No thanks, [Y/N], I’m good right now!”

You get up to go up to the counter 

Jeonghan stares around, looking for something to do until you get back

He picks up the book and starts thumbing through it

He flips through the first pages and realizes you’ve already made notes in it

“Wow, they’re fast” he chuckles to himself.

Then he starts reading your notes

“Jeonghan really liked this line”

“This part made both of us laugh really hard”

“Hannie was surprised by this part”

Jeonghan feels his heart start to pound as he reads your scribbles

“Hey Hannie, can I ask you a question?”

He jumps when you appear back at the table

He quickly sets the book down and then feels weird for acting like he got caught stealing or something

“Yeah- um, yeah [Y/N], you can ask me anything!”

“Is this a date?”

“Would you like for it to be?”

You can feel your face heating up as you nod

“Then this is our first date, [Y/N]”

Once you two are official

Jeonghan gets less shy and nervous

Honestly he prefers to take the lead in your actual relationship

Because he wants to make sure you feel comfortable and cared for

If you thought you were able to make Jeonghan nervous when you were just flirting with each other

He’s able to make you 10x more nervous in the actual relationship

He’s such a flirt

Like you’ll literally just be sitting on the couch

And you’ll look up 

And he’s just staring at you and biting his lip

And you’re like ???????

Why are you doing this to me?????

As long as he knows you’re comfortable and gets consent

Most physical affection is pretty forward and intimate

It’s just one of the ways he teases you lol

Expect slow kisses down the side of your neck and when you whine, he smiles evilly innocently at you and asks what’s wrong

He knows exactly where to run his fingers softly down your skin to get goosebumps to pop up and your heart racing

And when he massages your scalp.... WHEW

But he seriously thinks you’re the cutest thing ever

So yeah he teases you

But he also loves 

Pinching your cheeks

Softly cradling your face in his hands and stroking your cheeks

Cuddling up with you and making you feel safe and warm

All of your dates are super cutesy

Casual

But cutesy

Coffee shop dates

Picnics

Walks in the park

(Mostly y’all stay in)

DK comes down stairs and you two haven’t moved in hours from your position binging tv on the couch

“Yeah this is about right”

“Shut up, Dokyeom”

Both of you enjoy just casually spending time with each other

There’s no pressure for extravagant gestures or gifts

Neither of you really want that kind of relationship

Both of you are on the same page with understanding that you show your love for each other in other ways

Unfortunately he’s not great with actually talking out his feelings either

He prefers actually showing he cares

It’s one of the reasons he teases you so much

He panics when it comes to admitting how much he cares about you and how much you mean to him because going all in is scary and he doesn’t want to mess things up or say anything wrong

So he just replaces it with something surface level and avoids it for as long as possible

Sometimes it’s frustrating

And you try to understand

But it’s also scary to wonder if he feels as deeply for you as you do for him

The straw that breaks the camels back is the night you try to talk deeply to him

And he just kind of shrugs it off

So the two of you don’t really talk to each other for the rest of the night

You actually go to bed early

Later Jeonghan crawls into bed next to you

He pulls you into him and lets you bury your head in his chest

“I love you”

His confession hits you like a ton of bricks

“I know I’m awful at actually saying things and I need to work on it, and I promise I will, but until we get there, just know that through all of it, I love you”

You do get there

It takes him awhile to feel comfortable with deep conversations

But he takes the time to listen to you and work out how to respond with honesty

After being with you he feels like he really blossoms in his connections to his emotions

You inspire him to get more comfortable with being more open and honest and help him understand there’s no reason to be embarrassed about his emotions

You take care of him in a way he didn’t even realize he needed 

The boys notice the positive change as well

“I told you, you two are perfect for each other”

“DK, you only said that because we both prefer hanging out at home to going out”

“But I knew, didn’t I?”

*BIG SIGH*

“Yes, DK, I suppose you did”

Your relationship is incredibly pure

It’s based completely on mutual trust and understanding

And even if some forms of communication are challenging for the two of you at first

You always strive to do your best to always be honest with each other so your relationship is strong and healthy

Jeonghan is not the type to date casually

When he dates someone, he’s in it for the long run

You don’t realize it for a long time

But when he starts dating you, he knows he’s found the one

[real-jane]

Stupidity or Serendipity? - chapter 5, spilled

[draco malfoy x hermione granger]

summary: the daily prophet catches wind of the budding relationship, and draco’s true reason for being in london comes to light.

series masterlist

🎁

Hermione awoke to a tap of tiny talons on her bedroom window. A sleek, white owl sat on the sill just outside the antique glass with a scroll tied to its leg and a small basket clasped in its beak. Hermione blearily stumbled to the window and opened the sash. The owl allowed her to take its basket. She offered it a treat in exchange for the scroll, an apricot dandie, which was the favorite of her absent-minded owl, Demetrius. This owl was so elegant, it gave her a complex. Hermione unrolled the scroll while the beautiful owl ate its treat.

Granger,

Sue me--I can’t help myself. Here’s a spot of breakfast for you, as well as a pair of deliciously soft socks knitted by my house elf (Ermina, she is well compensated and practically raised me, don’t get your knickers in a twist), and a coin that will warm when I’m thinking of you. If you pick it up now, I imagine it will be warm already. Enjoy your day.

I miss you. I’m pathetic. I can’t help it.

Please let me know when we can go tree shopping--I will go at midnight, tonight, I don’t care. I will free up my time for you.

--The Ferret

Hermione cupped her cheeks as they turned warm. Good gods… how was she going to get through the day?

Yes--she had immensely enjoyed the last few days, more than she ever could have dreamed … but it still felt like one! Hermione couldn’t fathom how they had come together by such random happenstance and arrived here--sending and receiving tokens of affection. Bearing distance. Sending tokens. Three days , she thought. Three days and she was barmy for a man who found her entertaining and liked all the same things… shouldn’t she be elated to receive such attention?

Instead, she felt… undeserving? No… just uninteresting. Who would find her weird habits at all alluring? A bookworm homebody with no career and an ancient, molting cat. Crookshanks mewed in such a manner from his padded throne in the corner as to sound murderous.

Still, she unwrapped the ties from the basket and opened one flap. Ermina had outdone herself in terms of the socks (they were green and black cashmere, surely made from butter and clouds), and Draco had assembled a lovely breakfast--hard boiled eggs, toast, berries and jam, and yorkshire pudding, all charmed within their wrappings to remain warm. He had even enclosed them on Malfoy china--that is, white porcelain with green scrollwork, not unlike a celtic knot pattern, which was so decidedly Malfoy as to be unmistakable. It did not look like it came from the Manor. Hermione then wondered if Draco traveled with his own china. She wouldn’t put it past him! Perhaps the breakfast itself was repackaged room service from the Waldorf. Either way, it was thoughtful and… sweet.

She thought better of sending a reply; if Draco really did like her so much… he could wait for a reply. If for no other reason than that she didn’t know what to say, and perhaps having to wait would increase his delight at hearing from her again.

Instead, she dropped the coin in the pocket of her robe (it was indeed warm already) and took small pleasure in the heat of the coin against her skin. By the time she departed for her destination, it would be secured in the back pocket of her trousers. The cashmere socks were like a hug for her feet.

When Hermione arrived at The Burrow that morning, quite satiated by a Malfoy breakfast, she was thrust into the task of wrapping every single small gift that would be stuffed within the stockings of every person in attendance on Christmas Eve. Everything from decks of cards and small dice to balls of yarn and books were fair game. Molly Weasley was out with her husband shopping in Hogsmeade, while Ginny and Harry took charge of the wrapping and pie-baking.

Hermione loved that house; floors stacked upon one another, given to winding staircases and drafty rooms with the most delightful whine through the gutters when the wind blew in from the South. The Burrow was like home, but it was never to be her destined family home… no matter how much the Weasley’s still held her relationship with Ron over her head. Nevermind that they had broken up eight years prior--she had still attended Christmas every year and neither one of them had ever come with a companion. It was an unspoken agreement. They were mature enough to be in the same room, at least.

Which is why Hermione found herself panicking--why had she invited Draco to come, again? Besides being desperate to spend more time in his company. She knew that the Weasley’s would have a hard time accepting him, but… no more than stuffy Slytherins, right? Surely they had all endured enough during the war to see a redemption, and Draco Malfoy had gone above and beyond to fight for the right cause.

So. It would be fine. Wouldn’t it?

“What would your family do if I brought a date tomorrow?” Hermione asked softly, cutting a small square of paper to fit the shape of a toy broom, which rested beside a host of small gifts on the Weasley family kitchen table. Ginny turned towards her slowly with the largest grin on her face, hands covered in flour.

“Are you seeing someone?” Ginny asked, throwing her arms around Hermione’s neck and showering her in pastry. “I have been waiting for this day!” She giggled with such delight--Hermione was getting dizzy from being forcibly jumped up and down.

Hermione tapped on Ginny’s shoulder. “Okay, okay! You’re going to strangle me!” she breathed. Ginny let go enough to study her face.

“You are , aren’t you?”

“It’s very new,” Hermione admitted. Ginny squealed and clapped her hands together, releasing a cloud of particulates into the air.

“What’s going on in there?” Harry called from the den. Hermione covered Ginny’s mouth.

“I stabbed Ginny accidentally with the scissors!” Hermione replied, making it very clear to Ginny that she was not to say a word to her husband. She shook her head desperately and Ginny rolled her eyes. She pulled Hermione’s hand from her mouth.

“You know how I laugh when I’m in pain, darling!” Ginny called back to Harry. Hermione pushed her backwards towards the sink and pinned her in the corner with a pointed finger. “Okay! I won’t tell him!” Ginny conceded.

“I don’t even know if it’s a good idea to bring this… person,” Hermione whispered. Ginny swooned. “Calm down, will you?” Ginny clasped her hands over her mouth and made the sign of locking her lips with an invisible key.

“Who is it?” Ginny asked. “Bonus points if it’s not one of my brothers.”

“No,” Hermione asserted. “No Weasleys are involved.”

“Thank the gods. Witch or Wizard? Or muggle? Terrance, again?” Ginny asked, though she cringed at the mention of Terrance. Ginny had tolerated Terrance but thought him much too serious for Hermione. He didn’t like holding her hand in public. He ate herring for breakfast. He had a collection of blue cardigans. Insufferable, and absolutely unable to fathom the existence of magic.

“Wizard,” Hermione admitted. “Oh, I am already regretting telling you this…” Hermione sat down on the bench beside the kitchen table and put her head in her hands.

Ginny sat beside her. “Can I guess?” she asked.

“You can try,” Hermione said.

“Your age or older?”

“Why not younger?” Hermione asked.

Ginny scoffed. “Please, you’d never date a man you’d have to mother. That’s not a kink for you.”

“Touche,” Hermione said. “My age.”

“Gryffindor?”

“No.”

Ginny popped up off the bench and punched the air with her fists. “Haha! This is amazing.” She did a little dance and pushed herself up to sit on the counter, directly across from Hermione… who was very much on the verge of death by mortification. “What house, then?”

Hermione sighed. “If you guess right, I’ll confirm--”

“Slytherin.”

Hermione scratched the side of her nose and coughed. “Maybe.”

“Delicious!” Ginny said. “I’m assuming he or she’s successful, of course someone who defected… can’t be Malfoy, he’s been engaged to Parkinson forever , and you’d punch him right in the face if you ever saw him again.” She sighed. “This is difficult, ‘Mione! It’s not Blaise, is it?”

“No,” Hermione laughed. Thank Merlin Ginny didn’t seem to pay attention to the tabloids… now that Hermione was thinking about it, had she ever read a report about Draco breaking up with Pansy? She couldn’t think of a single article… the only reason she knew was because she had asked . Hermione had a bad feeling.

“Thank god,” Ginny said. “I had a sexy dream about Blaise after he started playing for the Cannons and I don’t think I could ever look him in the eye.” She shuddered in a way that made Hermione very glad to never have met Blaise out in the world. “Besides, I don’t think quidditch players are your type.”

“I much prefer intellectuals,” Hermione said. And former quidditch players, specifically blond-haired seekers. She took a particular kind of glee watching the gears in Ginny’s head turn but no solid answer coming to her. Ginny sighed.

“I give up,” Ginny said. “Do you think I would like this person?”

“Well,” Hermione coughed. “I do. So.”

“That’s not a ‘yes’.”

“It’s not a ‘no’ either… I just… happen to know that this person has reservations about being at someone else’s family gathering, and… I don’t think Ron would stand for it, in this case.”

“Ronald has trouble with you dating anyone , ‘Mione.”

“Yes, but… in this case…” Hermione rubbed her cheeks. “I don’t want to ruin Christmas, but he really deserves to have a nice holiday and… I don’t want to spend my holiday away from you all… and I’m probably making a bigger deal about this than I should. Maybe I just shouldn’t come at all.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Ginny said gently, wrapping her arms around Hermione. “We will learn to love whomever you choose to love. You have to know that.”

Hermione breathed out slowly. “I do. I just… I know.”

Ginny kissed her cheek and left the topic alone. She could see when her dearest friend was distraught and there was a line between teasing and torture. Still… Hermione barely knew Draco Malfoy, the man whom had sent her breakfast this very morning. But she liked him. Oh… did she ever.

Could he participate in this event without discomfort? Hermione thought through it. Being accepted at the door by Molly… with… an uncomfortable handshake. Or… Draco would kiss her hand? Or hug her. No, he’d hug Hermione to his side and try to be inoffensive. And then dinner. Sitting beside Hermione, across from Ginny and Harry, at the end where they could make a break for it in the event of an outburst from Ronald. But then… the Christmas present exchange. Upwards of three hours of present opening! And not a present of his own to open! Hermione sighed.

It would not do at all. Surely he would see that.

“Hermione. Jean. Granger,” Harry said evenly, from the other room. “What in Godric Gryffindor’s name is this?”

“What’s what?” Hermione said. She was mid-way through wrapping a plasticine tiara for the smallest of Bill and Fleur’s brood.

Harry appeared in the doorway to the kitchen looking like he had been slapped. He held up a newspaper and opened it with a flourish so she could see the front page... Which was, quite artfully, displaying an array of images depicting the back of her head… as she snogged the life out of Draco Malfoy, heir of Slytherin, and ‘Betrothed of Pansy Parkinson’ in the doorway of an unassuming launderette, with the phrase “FAIRYTALE OR FARCE?” splashed over their heads.

Ginny snatched the paper out of her husband’s hands and Hermione slowly lay back on the bench, hands over her face. She let out a low, long groan, which was the sound of her soul leaving her body.

“Oh my gods! Oh, my sweet Slytherin gods!” Ginny screamed. “You look hot, Hermione!”

“Kill me!” Hermione exclaimed.

“No, this is great!”

“This--” Hermione gestured to the paper, “--could not be worse for our tenuous connection!”

“Doesn’t look tenuous,” Ginny growled, turning the paper sideways.

“Shut up!”

Harry sat down beside Hermione and patted her knees. “Hermione. Be honest. Are you… seeing M-Malfoy?” he stuttered.

Hermione sat up. “Yes,” she said plainly, pointing to the paper in Ginny’s hands. “Obviously, Harry.”

Harry shut his eyes. “Ron is going to lay an egg.”

“Maybe he doesn’t read the paper.”

“Everyone else does,” Ginny snorted. “Lavender certainly does.”

“What’s she got to do with this?” Hermione asked, looking between Harry and Ginny.

“You know he’s bringing her to Christmas,” Harry said.

Hermione’s look darkened. “I did not.”

“I’m going to clobber him!” Harry said. “He was supposed to tell you, Hermione, I swear.”

“Well then!” Hermione said, standing. She ripped the paper out of Ginny’s hands and looked the article over. “If Draco decides he wants to come--which he has not confirmed or denied--then Ronald can find out when we show up! As for the rest of the world…” She stopped, seeing the way Draco smiled against her lips in the photo on endless loop. “I’m glad they know. I’m not ashamed! He is… so different,” she insisted. “And why should I care that the… first time… we ever kissed is being witnessed by every witch or wizard with vision keen enough to see their Prophets this morning? Why should that bother me? Because it doesn’t. Because... Because!”

Hermione stormed out of the kitchen and into the living room, where she settled herself on the window seat behind a wall made of scandalous pages. She scoured the article (which was written by none other than Rita Skeeter herself), which read thus:

FAIRYTALE OR FARCE?

What a to-do, dear readers! Just this evening, the silver Snake of Slytherin himself was seen entering the snug at the Leaky Cauldron with a mysterious witch, who turned out to be none other than the Golden Girl herself--Hermione Granger!

What appeared to be just a friendly, private tea turned out to be a hidden snogging session in the secret passages of a muggle London alleyway. The kisses went on and on so long that our reporter could not be certain just how long--except that they disapparated together from that spot (pictured).

No comment yet from the Parkinson camp, but we can expect that Pansy will not be pleased to see her fiance in the arms of another woman--and a Ministry darling at that!

Is it love? Have the walls of the Great War finally been demolished by a kiss? Only time will tell for certain. All we can say is that the images of their connection have stirred our interest! Stay tuned for what we hope will be exclusive news of the Wizarding world’s newest, brightest power couple!

Hermione scowled. “How dare that poisonous witch,” she muttered. Then, she realized… Draco was staying at The Waldorf. Despite the fact that he had access to his own owl, he wouldn’t be receiving a Prophet delivery, by nature of their rules against delivering to muggle places of business. He would have no idea that they were featured prominently on the cover.

But what did Skeeter mean by mentioning Pansy Parkinson? Were they not broken off? Had Draco broken it off, or Pansy? And why hadn't they made a statement to the media, given just how public their original engagement was?

She just… had to tell him. In person. They had to talk about Pansy. In case it influenced his decision for Christmas.

Hermione folded the paper inside-out so the photos were hidden, in case she wound up somewhere muggles could see. She grabbed a handful of floo powder and stepped into the fireplace.

“Hermione? Are you alright?” Ginny called from the kitchen.

“See you tomorrow!” Hermione replied. She threw the floo powder down and the flames turned green. She wasn’t certain it would work, but it was worth a try. “Draco Malfoy’s room, The Waldorf Hotel!” she exclaimed.

A moment later, she was projected out into a crisp, white room with a jolt. She caught herself on an armchair and the hand of the Slytherin prince himself, who was sat in that very chair with a book and a cup of tea. She blushed and hastily produced the Prophet, before sitting on the carpet cross-legged.

“Hello, little soot fae,” he said fondly, though he was obviously surprised to see her. “What have you brought me, eh?” He unfurled the paper that she had provided. “Good lord,” he breathed, coughing into his hand. Hermione covered her face and laid back on the carpet.

“Is it awful?” she asked softly.

“Awful? Why… no,” he said, chuckling. Hermione peered up at him through her fingers. He was blushing, but he was also filled with some sort of odd… joy. “I think it’s a very accurate representation of what occurred in the moment, which I did not and do not , in any way, regret.” Draco held a hand out to her and she grasped it readily. He pulled her up to him. “Were you afraid I would be embarrassed?” he asked, cupping her cheeks. Hermione nodded.

“How could you not be?”

“Are you serious?” he asked incredulously. “Hermione, do you not see how much I like you? Supposing that you’ve still got the coin… do you not feel it?”

The little golden coin warmed once again in her back pocket as he mentioned it. Hermione closed her eyes and breathed out. She buried herself in the comfort of his shoulder. “But now everyone in the entire world knows. It doesn’t just belong to… us.” Draco hugged her.

“I admit that it I have been… knocked on my arse by our connection,” he said,” both literally and figuratively.” Hermione laughed. “And I would never have sought out a front page advertisement of that revelation,” he said, urging her to sit up so he could look at her. “But as it is… and as it appears in these pictures… I do not mind it at all.” He stroked her cheek with his thumb.

"Draco... why does Rita Skeeter mention Pansy?" she asked softly. "Haven't you been broken up for six months?"

He sighed. "Yes. Firmly parted, though it took a few months for Pansy to finally give up," he admitted. "I'm sorry that my past was dragged up in the article."

"But it's not past, is it? You just bought back the fake ring, and the Prophet seems to think you're still engaged--"

"If you must know," he said, sitting her on his knee, "it was a condition of our families' contract that we keep our arrangement out of the press... regardless of whether or not the marriage takes place. And what's more... as I was the one who broke the engagement, I have been made to suffer the consequences."

"Which are?" Hermione peeped. Draco looked down and smoothed the fabric of her trousers.

"The Manor belongs to the Parkinson's now, by right, and I... do not have a home, other than my office in Oxford," he said plainly, "which I have not seen in many months. I am compelled to remain within muggle London, and stay out of wizarding London for a period of five years, or until such time as Pansy or myself marries another. I've had to transfer to working remotely from this suite. I am in London because I have to be." He laughed sadly. "I have been idling away in the city for six months, dreaming of Mallorca. I think I've been to the British museum thirty times. I can only go into The Leaky Cauldron because Pansy won't go there, so it was her one concession. Never sign a prenuptial agreement, Granger. Especially if you don't love the bride to begin with."

Hermione couldn’t help but incline her head up to kiss him. Draco kept it short and sweet, but he kissed her forehead. “So, I unfortunately, physically, cannot attend Christmas Eve at the Weasels, no matter how much I wish to spend time with you.”

“Oh bollocks,” she said. "I'm so sorry Draco."

"C'est la vie," he said. "At least it meant I ran into you."

“It will be torture without you tomorrow, especially now.

“I understand the feeling,” he shrugged. “Meantime… enough of my pity party. What are you doing the rest of today? Back to the Weasley den?”

She shook her head. “No, definitely not.”

“Well… if you’re up for it, I’d like to make good on my promise to get you a Christmas tree for your apartment. Maybe even decorate it with you. I’ve never had the pleasure, myself.”

Hermione clapped her hands together. “Fortunately for you, I live in muggle London.”

“That is... fantastic news," he grinned.

🎁

symmetry stupidity

[addictedtostorytelling]

Not sure if you've been asked before but here it goes: So, you've recently done a meta about it being ooc for Grissom to defend Heather in Inmortality even when the evidence strongly suggests she's guilty, yet not doing the same for Hodges in Vegas. But what if it was Sara? Like when she was framed in FMN, but Grissom had to investigate her, you know, her only teammate besides doubt. Would he be so quick to "follow the evidence" or would he actually back her up? Would his actions differ if it happened in say, S4, S7, or now, in CSI: Vegas time? Thanks!

hi, @its-a-geeks-world!

so i've actually got a meta on that general subject (i.e., if grissom would always back sara if she were under scrutiny) here, if you're interested.

to elaborate on those thoughts somewhat:

yes, i believe grissom would always back sara no matter what, even if the evidence were stacked against her.

throughout the run of the original show, we see that he is willing to defend her and save her job even at times when there is probably a legitimate reason to discipline and/or fire her (see, for example, in episode 05x13 "nesting dolls"). we also see that where she is concerned, he tends to throw logic and restraint out the window and just do whatever he can to protect her, even if doing so is bad for him personally/professionally/politically (see, for example, episode 01x23 "strip strangler"). it is mentioned that he has a long history of ignoring complaints against her and failing to punish her for rules infractions. time and time again, his actions show us that she is the exception to his every rule, and he will even go against his own personal code of conduct as a supervisor/criminalist for her sake (see, for example, his behavior in episode 01x16 "too tough to die," where even though he would never do so otherwise, he rushes the investigation and makes use of questionable investigative techniques, all because he can't stand to see sara sad, a point that even nick remarks upon).

all of the above so, i have to believe that had he been present for the events of episode 13x15 "forget me not"—which, as an aside, i'm not sure how that particular scenario would work, given that the whole storyline for that episode is contingent upon his absence—he'd take the same kind of blanket, bullheaded "evidence be damned, there is absolutely no way she's guilty and i'm not even going to entertain the possibility that she potentially could be (and frankly i'm offended that you'd even insinuate as much)" approach that he does with heather in the finale with sara, only he'd be even more adamant/stubborn/vocal about it.

there is nothing in this world gil grissom believes in more than sara sidle's inherent goodness.

nothing could convince him that she had ever done the things she is accused of doing in episode 13x15 "forget me not," and nothing could stop him from proving her innocence once he set to the task.

imo, he would continue to believe in her innocence no matter how the investigation was going, no matter what the other csis were saying, and even if she were convicted of the crimes of which she stood accused by a jury of her peers.

as for if his course of action in such a scenario would change depending on the state of his and sara's relationship at the time that the investigation were taking place, i honestly don't think so.

as we see throughout s4, grissom can tell himself all he wants to that he is going to respond to sara only on a professional level, but he is never really effectively able to do so.

he cares about her no matter if they're on good terms or bad, if they're together or very decidedly not, if he has hope for them or none, if doing so is prudent or not.

i mean, that's kind of the whole point of episodes like 04x03 "homebodies" and 04x12 "butterflied," you know? he can't stop loving her, even if he tries.

that so, to my mind, he'd basically respond in the same way to her coming under scrutiny in s4 that he would in s7 or during the reboot or at any other point in their relationship history, which would be to back her and put his whole effort into proving her innocence. the only things that would really change would be the extent to which he was able to be open about his motivations for doing so and how he communicated with sara throughout the ordeal. in any case, the end results would be the same; he'd still have her back, regardless.

as a final thought, i will say that while i consider his behavior toward heather in "immortality" ooc, if he were ever in a similar position to defend sara even in the face of damning evidence against her and did so, i would consider his actions to be in character for him, as, as discussed above, he has a long history of being aggressively defensive of her, even in the face of opposition.

thanks for the question! please feel welcome to send another any time.

[rodeoxqueen]

DEVIL MAY GRIND

(I)- Can You Touch This? 

Dante/ AMAB! Reader

Series Summary:  From a surprise rendezvous to a male strip club on your birthday to a private dance, you end up seeing eye-to-eye rather than eye-to-groin with a cowboy stripper named Dante Sparda.

Work Summary: A shy and short homebody celebrating your birthday with friends, you end up somewhere you’d never expect: a male strip club. And what you’d also never expect is a certain red-devil/cowboy stripper to lay his special treatment on you.

Tags/Warnings:18+, AMAB! Reader, Stripper!AU, Minors Do Not Try It, Wholesome Filth

Rodeo’s Two-Pieces: And after months, Rodeo presents the male version of this soon-to-be filth. *tilts cowboy hat over eyes and leans in seat*

You were never one for large crowds, alcohol, loud music, and nudity. So what a mess you were in, your friends dragging you into a strip club.

It wasn’t your fault, they promised you were all going for a quiet dinner at your favorite restaurant. No loud noises, no crowds, and especially, you didn’t even know why you had to specify, no naked guys! That’s what happened at first. You went and blew out your candles on your cake at a nice place, but then things got weird. Your friends had got you thoughtful gifts, except one of them who promised to give it to you after another “surprise.”

They practically herded you to their car, blindfolding and ear-muffing you while giggling. After driving in some unfamiliar directions, you were pulled into a strange building.

So when you couldn’t hear your thoughts due to the overbearing bass in the room you were in, you realized you should’ve known better. The blindfold and earmuffs were taken off and you opened your eyes to a neon-lit room with the most hard-cut abs right in your face.

“A strip club?! W-why would you think I’d want to go to a strip club?”

“Okay, first of all (Y/N). It’s a male strip club. Second, come on! I know you want to touch some diamond abs!” One of your friends exclaimed as they threw bills at one very tan and very oiled-up man named Diego. The box from before landed on your lap, and you unwrapped it to find a giant stack of dollar bills.

“Now stuff them bills down some hottie’s pants!”

The orange thong-wearing male with the most defined quads you had ever glanced at winked at your friend and opted to dance on someone else. Clutching your drink, you swallowed thickly as other males who went to the gym every other hour thrust their hips proactively at you.

Your friends had called ahead and bought the lot of you a table to the stage, much to your chagrin.

Luckily, your ability to disappear in a room, with your meek personality and small stature, came in handy in these situations. The tall and buff guys your friends screamed over seemed to prefer the company of the more extroverted and thirsty. While other tables farther from the stage had easy contact with the not-themed strippers, you were all confronted with the stage floor dancers.

“My god, how many themes do these guys dress in?” You squeaked as an entertainer dressed like James Bond (minus the clothes except for the bowtie and gun holster) ground on the stage floor.

“Not enough! Now make it rain, (Y/N).” Another friend demanded as she took another shot.

You made a noise as your hand was forcibly placed onto an eight-pack. You quickly threw a wad of bills at the man and ran off to the bar.

“I gotta go!” You panicked, speed-walking to the bar in your favorite pair of dressy sneakers. Stomach quivering, you put a few bills down and asked for a stronger drink. Maybe you could pass out on the table and your friends would feel bad and take you home.

You sighed as you watched your friends have the time of their lives, although they noted your absence.

“First time?” The bartender asked, sliding your fruity drink to you. You fiddled with the napkin. A woman posed in the corner with the logo “Devil May Cry” to the side of her, all lined in neon pink.

“Oh!... Yeah, it is.” You mumbled shyly. You blushed at his blue-eyed stare. Luckily, he wore a collared white shirt so you could look at him without bleeding out of your nose. He was very handsome, with rugged features and slight facial hair. His stark white hair shined even in the dim lighting.

“Ah, could tell. Watched you get dragged in here.” He chuckled.

“I-I was tricked, first of all!” You exclaimed, tucking some hair behind your ear.

“It’s alright. Your next rounds on me if you stay a lil longer.” He winked, wiping a glass. A few other people came and went, requesting all sorts of raunchy-titled drinks. Despite that, he leaned on the table where you sat, making idle conversation.

“I’m Dante.”

“Nice to meet you, Dante. I’m (Y/N).” You impulsively stuck your hand out to shake and stilled at his strong and warm grip.

He whistled.

“Nice name for a nice man. It’s your birthday right?” You nodded.

“What did you wish for?”

“Peace and quiet.” He laughed at that, gesturing to your friends who screamed and clapped at a dark-skinned stripper who ripped off his pants.

“With those friends?” He chuckled.

“They’re a lot more restrained. This is an exception.” You whined.

The conversation grew longer. You learned that Dante worked here with his twin brother Vergil. He loved pizza and strawberry ice cream, along with nice motorcycles. A total manly man, if you asked yourself.

You found a safe space talking to him since you didn’t have to look at nude guys with your back turned.

You were hoping to talk the night away until a similarly white-haired male with a serious glare rounded the corner.

Swiping back a few stray hairs, the esteemed brother Vergil knocked the smile off his twin’s face.

“You fool! Your shift has been over for some time now.” He snapped. Dante rolled his eyes.

“Yeah, this is old douchebag.” You giggled at his comment, quickly stopping when meeting eyes with the frigid twin.

“Have you been speaking ill of me? I will-” Dante threw a towel at his brother’s face before leaving the bartending station. By leaving, he jumped over the counter.

“Hey, (Y/N), nice talking to you. I’ll see you later.” The white-haired man left to the employee’s room.

“Alright-” You muttered. You’d sit, but Vergil’s cold glare prompted you to leave and rejoin your friends.

“Where were you? Chatting up the bartender?”

“Look at you. Being social in a strip club.” They teased.

After a few more dancers, you couldn’t help but miss the blue-eyed bartender with his quips and casual flirtiness.

Suddenly, the music and lights went off. The crowd stirred. Your friend grabbed your arm.

“Oh boy, they’re gonna need a mop after this.”

“Ew!” You cried out. Your friends sang that one horribly sexual song from the radio. Something about parking a truck in a garage and about wet-

A shirtless DJ grabbed the mic.

“And now, for our next entertainer, we have the Legendary Lady Killer. Hold onto your panties and your wedding rings, you’re all in for the ride of your life.”

The lights were turned back on from back to front. On stage, stood a muscular man with a cowboy hat and shawl. His legs were perfectly framed by black leather chaps and boots. You turned as red as his shawl as you could see his formidable bulge from yards across.

His spurs clinked on the floor as people began to cheer at his physique. Your jaw dropped in shock.

White hair.

“Ladies and gents, I got some questions for y’all.” He drawled, lowering his hat.

“Yes! I’m single!” Someone yelled from the back. He chuckled as others screamed with agreement.

“That’s nice ma’am. But really, I got three questions.” He made his way down the stage, his shadow covering your table.

He palmed his chest and abs, showing white chest hairs and slicked-down muscles.

“Can you touch this?” Everyone screamed for yes. He tutted.

“No, no, no.” He waggled his finger. He spun and exposed his lush tush. He was packing it front and back and you blushed while putting your face in your hands.

His hands groped his butt. Even with his giant hands, he still had more ass to spare.

“Can you touch this?” The screams grew louder. He waggled his finger again, wiggling his butt.

“No, no, no.” The crowd awed. He turned back around, a cocky grin on his face.

“Now,” He pointed to the crowd.

His palms groped the leather that concealed his huge package.

“Can you touch this?” Your friend threw a wad of cash at him, hitting him in the nipple. He stood unflinching.

“No, no, no.” He drew out each word.

“These are my laws.” Putting his hands on his hips, he rocked left to right, clicking his spurs.

“But I see a hell of a lot of lawbreakers here tonight.”

He shifted to walk around the chair placed behind him. He sat on it backward, legs spread to place his groin in the spotlight.

“And I don’t see a cop in sight.” He pointed at the DJ.

“Hit it!” Music blaring, he did his number. And boy, was the DJ right to warn you. Dante practically made sweet love to the chair, flipping his head back.

Hips circling and then pistoning the air, sweat trailed down his pecs.

You ended up throwing a few bills, hoping to avoid eye contact. It failed as he slid to his knees to the edge of the stage and crawled off the ledge onto your table. Like a preying tiger, he made his way over to you.

Thank god you had health insurance, your blood pressure was going off the charts.

Your friends lost their heads, throwing bills and screaming like banshees. But he wasn’t interested in them. His eyes preyed after your own, baby blues on an absolute beast.

“Wanna save a horse and ride a cowboy, handsome?” He purred as he traced your jaw. Your skin jumped as you internally imploded. This was was too sensual and people were watching, for goodness sake!

“(Y/N), if you don’t agree I will cancel your Barnes and Noble membership.” Your friend threatened.

“Come on, spare this outlaw some sugar?” You didn’t have a moment to think. Dante threw his hat on your head and carried you onto the table and to the stage.

“Oh my god! Oh my god!” You shrieked.

He ran hot. So hot. Your skin burned at contact with him, pressed up against his chest as he stood you in front of the chair he practically humped.

“Take a seat, sir.” You blushed at his sensual persona, not sure where the kind bartender and the suave cowboy started and ended.

Obediently, you turned the chair around and sat with your ankles crossed. Dante tutted in disapproval.

His hands lingered by your legs.

“May I?” He asked. You shook your head slowly, feeling his callused hands on your thighs. He firmly spread your legs and stood over you on the chair.

As if that wasn’t enough, his arm muscles bulged and twitched as he ripped off his leather chaps. He ripped the chaps. There were no zippers or velcro straps. That was all him!

Your face a hair’s width from his abs, he gently took your hands and traced his pecs with them. He growled and winked at you.

Despite the one-in-a-million situation you were in, you shrank at the many peering eyes of the other women and bar patrons. Your anxiety was seen by Dante, who tilted your head up.

“Hey, it’s alright. Just focus on me. If you’re nervous, just give me a purple nurple or something, alright?” You laughed at his idea of a safe word and nodded.

“Okay, Dante.”

And like that, it was like you pulled a trigger. Dante grinded on your form and explored his peak-conditioned skin with your own hands.

You gasped as he led your hands down his front to his leather shorts. You couldn’t stop looking with widened eyes at his crotch. You had read erotica before, describing the male member in the throes of passion, yet this was the first time you had been this close to anything like those erotic novels.

It was obscene! Why did it seem to get larger? How was he allowed to carry that thing around without a license?!

“Hey, eyes up here.” He teased as you snapped your head up.

“O-oh! Sorry.” You whispered. Your blood had rushed to your head and you had grown deaf to your friends’ yells of validation.

“Grab him by the buns!” One of your friends yelled. Dante turned around to make eye contact with her.

With a grin, he slid your hands to the back. What he didn’t expect was you to squeeze.

“Whoa now, kitty.” He purred. You gave a watery smile.

Suddenly, a water bottle was thrown at his head. With lightning reflexes, he caught it after it bounced off of him.

“Hey! Stage times’ over, you fucking show pony.” A short-haired woman with mismatching eyes called out. Dante scoffed.

“Just givin’ a nice gentleman some lovin’.” He argued.

“No, get off the stage, Dante.”

“Five more minutes?”

“NOW.” He sighed. Getting off of your lap, he kissed your hand that was resting on his thigh. Lord, if you died right now, that’d be fine.

“Glad to have this dance.” He flirted.

“Y-you too.” Taking your hand, he took you for another surprise and swept you off your feet. You squeaked as he handed you to another dancer on the ground. The club-goers cheered as dancers arrived, dressed like businessmen with briefcases.

You were promptly seated, head dizzy from everything that just happened. You watched as he took his leave as if he didn’t just cause you to get feverish from how hot he was. Your friend hugged you.

“Nice work! You were so lucky!” Another friend plucked the hat off your head.

“Ah! He left his hat!” You exclaimed as you took it from her hands.

“A souvenir.”

For the rest of the night, you held onto the hat and traced the red stitching. You never saw Dante for the rest of the night, his brother in charge of the bar service.

Finally, before the last round of dancers, you were tapped on the shoulder. You found yourself staring into much harsher blue eyes.

One of your friends threw money at him, which he growled at.

“I am not an entertainer. Well, not right now.” He explained. He handed you a drink with a napkin on the bottom.

“My buffoon of a brother said to keep the hat. Although, I’m not sure why you would.”

“I-”

“The drink is on the house. Good evening with you all.”

He walked off, and you took your drink. You realized it was the same one you ordered when you got to the bar.

“Hey dude, take a look.” A well-manicured nail pointed to the napkin. You saw in red pen an arrow pointed to the folded corner.

You shakily opened it to reveal a series of numbers and words, along with a card that flitted onto the table.

Tonight was fun, wanna do it again? The card’s for a private dance, just call and ask for Dante Sparda. No crowds, only you and me. No Lady barking up my tree for appreciating beauty either - DS

A little heart with an arrow through its center was scrawled in a corner. You picked up the laminated card and saw it was for a free private dance. Your heart beat out of your chest.

Your friends laughed as you immediately stuck it in your pocket, along with the note. The club closed and you were all ushered out. The night was pitch black when you emerged from the debauchery that was the Devil May Cry strip club.

As your other wasted companions were stuffed into the car, you sat shotgun to the sober and designated driver.

You were silent the car ride home, laying your head against the window. You thought about that white-haired flirt’s remarks and how gentle he was to you.

Waving and embracing your wonderful friends, you left for your apartment with all your gifts. However, the little slips of paper in your pocket weighed the heaviest on your mind.

With your keys in your hand, you climbed up the stairs home.

After closing the door, you slid down the wall and let out a pleased sigh.

“Best birthday ever!” You said to no one in particular. 

[demonicheadcanons]

Hello again! I meant to send this days ago, but what do you headcanon the brothers and undateables favorite Disney movies to be? Just thought it might be cute!

Oh this is adorable!! Sorry for my inactivity here, I’ve been too tired lately to write on top of drawing ;u; but the second I saw this one I decided on Diavolo’s and had to write the rest. I haven’t watched any of these movies in a long time, and some of them I’ve never fully seen, so please excuse any inaccuracies ^^

Also now I can’t stop thinking about an Alice in Wonderland AU ;u;

Lucifer

Anastasia

- Its... pretty much solely because of the music, and because Lord Diavolo likes it so much. He finds the music enchanting enough that the rest of the movie becomes more tolerable than most.

- Also I know it isn’t Disney but I could see him finding Who Framed Roger Rabbit entertaining.

Mammon

Robin Hood

- I don’t actually know how to defend this choice. It’s more of a vibes thing.

- Potentially falsely relates to Robin Hood and the things he does. His values don’t quite align with what others believe in and Mammon relates to that in his own way. He feels like he’s cheering on the underdog, and when others do too it helps him feel supported.

- Soft bb, likes the romance aspect and that Robin Hood ends up with the girl he loves. “Where’s /my/ Maid Marian?”

Leviathan

Atlantis: The Lost Empire

- Loves the aesthetic of it all. When the monstrous leviathan is on screen he gets a bit offended but it makes him feel proud too that humans have noticed him enough to make cool monsters based off of him.

- He also admires Milo - he’s not the typical prince-like character, but he’s admired nonetheless and treated as the hero.

Satan

Beauty and the Beast or Princess and the Frog

- For the former, he likes Belle and her dedication to reading. Also really loves the Beast’s library - if he ever gets a castle of his own that’s the first thing he’d put in it. Might relate a small amount to the beast when he gets angry.

- For the latter, he’s obsessed with the darker themes and Dr Facilier. Thinks some of his “parlour tricks” would actually be entertaining to try on humans and see how they react. Was ready to throw hands at the sad part towards the end that I won’t spoil.

- For both, he’s a little soft for the stories - he likes the simplicity of it all, and the happy endings help him relax and tune out the world for a little bit.

Asmodeus

Cinderella

- Like in the event, he sees himself as being a fairy godmother as sorts. Really adores the dress transformation, and finds himself inspired by it - he already enjoys dressing people up and finding outfits that they look good in and enjoy wearing, and feels like he’s making Cinderella’s out of people.

Beelzebub

Sleeping Beauty or Alice in Wonderland

- He isn’t a big movie person - he prefers the snacks and such that go alongside watching movies. However, he likes Sleeping Beauty because Belphie likes it.

- Thinks Alice in Wonderland is very pretty and likes the feeling of escaping into a different world. He’s a homebody, someone entirely dedicated to his family, but he likes that Alice wants to go off and explore and have her own adventures - he gets to experience, through her, something that he’s unlikely to experience on his own nowadays.

Belphegor

Sleeping Beauty

- I feel like this one is self-explanatory. Girl gets to sleep for a long time, he really wishes that were him. Also soft for the idea of being kissed by his true love to wake him up.

- Chaotic boy also cheers Scar on in Lion King solely to annoy the other brothers. Gets a kick out of the more emotional brother’s reactions (primarily Mammon, being real)

Diavolo

Anastasia

- He doesn’t have much time for movies, but when he does, it becomes one he’s obsessed with after being introduced to it. The simplistic nature, the guaranteed happy ending. Also likes that Anastasia is a royal, and that she got to go off and have her adventures and discover herself.

- Lucifer will tolerate watching it with him because they both like the music so that’s always a bonus - he doesn’t have to sit and watch it alone, like he does with most of his work.

EDIT: I can’t stop thinking about Diavolo having a little music box that plays Once Upon a December and he has it on constantly and December becomes his favourite month ;u;

Barbatos

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

- This is a vibes thing again. I think he’d like Esmerelda and Quasimodo. Finds the darker themes to be interesting, and likes how developed the characters are.

- Also finds it to be entertaining that he enjoys something that is quite inappropriate, considering the religious themes in the film and its commentary on perceived sin, him being a demon and all.

Solomon

The Princess and the Frog

- Like Satan, he likes Dr Facilier. He’s not very invested in movies, but the twist on the original story and the ‘magic’ keep him interested enough to sit through this one when the occasion arises. 

- If he’s in the mood for it, he’s going to try and mimic some of the spells whilst watching to scare the brothers.

Simeon

Simeon likes all of the classic Disney films - Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, The Little Mermaid, etc.

- The style is pretty, the music is enchanting, and there’s always a happy ending. He primarily writes about men himself, because his stories are about the brothers, and so he likes anything with a female lead as it truly feels like a break from his work.

- He also likes seeing what humans find entertaining, and likes the downtime he gets when he watches the movies with Luke or with the MC, or both.

- Soft spot for Mulan - she stands up and fights for her family and her people, whilst also defying them in the process? She reminds him of a certain someone. He’d never admit to this, though.

Luke

101 Dalmations

- He’ll never admit to it but he loves seeing all the dogs. He thinks it’s really cute. Needs Simeon around to watch it though because Cruella de Vil scares him sometimes ^^”

- Okay but imagine he has a nightmare and it’s Lucifer is Cruella de Vil’s coat threatening to take his hair or something to make a cloak out of. :C

[hinadoria]

Title: like nobody’s business

Author: hinadoria / Twitter: @bunniepunk / AO3: bunnypunk

Rating: Teen

Warnings: Mild amounts of swearing

Summary: Shen Yuan had never known what to do about crying people, much less crying men asleep in his bed at ass o’clock in the middle of the night. God, if Jiu-ge knew about this, Shen Yuan would be six feet under. No, he’d be yeeted directly into hell’s abyss. Arguably though, this was all Jiu-ge’s fault.

AO3: Link

It started when his old roommate Shang Qinghua decided to get hitched at Shen Yuan’s 25th birthday party. Disregarding the fact that it was his birthday party in his apartment that he was paying for (Shang Qinghua was only there to keep an eye on him at Jiu-ge’s ever insistent demands), an increasingly hammered Shang Qinghua had decided it was the perfect time to propose to his disappointingly sober boyfriend.

“My LORd, have yOU EvEr ThoughT about Getting HitchED?!” he shouted in Mobei-Jun’s face. Shen Yuan saw the wince on Mobei-Jun’s face before he could smooth it away. Airplane-Bro had that effect on people. Even his boyfriend was no exception.

However, Mobei-Jun had silently pulled the biggest ring Shen Yuan had ever seen out of his pocket like it was a dimension to worlds unknown. Shang Qinghua yanked it out of his grasp, put it on, and immediately started sobbing loudly in his boyfriend's arms, effectively ruining the atmosphere.

If it wasn’t because Shen Yuan was already secretly plotting to escape to his room, he might have been significantly more miffed at this sequence of events.

After all, he had never been one for big, lavish events like a formal birthday party. He’d much rather spend it in the comfort of his room, maybe playing videogames with a few close friends. However, Jiu-ge had insisted, in that stubborn way of his, taking no arguments. As a result, Shen Yuan wasn’t sure he even knew half the people at his own party.

This all didn’t mean he was completely free of indignation, however. Shen Yuan cleared his throat pointedly, but was ignored by both the affectionate couple and the crowd of people politely applauding.

It was a testament to Mobei-Jun’s excitement, if he was a man that felt such emotions, that he leaped up onto the table, which creaked dangerously with his weight.

“I’d like to thank my dear friends and my soon-to-be best man who supported me through this time. Whom I wouldn’t have met without Shen Yuan’s recommendation to work at Cang Qiong’s internship program under Shen Jiu. So a heartfelt thanks to them both,” Mobei-Jun proclaimed.

The attention of the party turned to its host, who began to turn hot under all the attention.

Damn, it wasn’t as if he was Mother Teresa.

He had simply wanted to stop hearing Jiu-ge’s nagging complaints about a lack of competent interns at his company. And he knew that Airplane-bro’s boyfriend was just about to graduate. It was simple math.

Either way, he had to resolve this situation before Mobei-Jun broke the table or worse, made him give a speech. He quickly grabbed an abandoned glass from the table and raised it high. With raucous cheer, the party returned to full swing, and Shen Yuan strategically retreated to his bedroom.

The next day, Shang Qinghua had all but been moved out of his apartment (Mobei-Jun worked fast and efficiently. Shen Yuan had been begrudgingly impressed). In the midst of his soporific haze, a loud banging came from his front door. Reluctant to get up, Shen Yuan nevertheless used every last bit of his willpower to do so. When he opened the door however, he immediately found himself in deep regret.

A pale Jiu-ge, like Bloody Mary summoned from a dirty elementary school bathroom mirror, stood at his door, foot tapping a mile a minute. He stormed past Shen Yuan into his apartment and curled his mouth in distaste at the mess.

“This apartment is no longer acceptable. I’ve put up with it until now, but this is the last straw. It is imperative that you move out immediately to a place not infested by the stench of the poor,” Jiu-ge demanded. Shen Yuan would never tell him it was probably the week-old ramen stewing on his kitchen counter.

“But I don’t want to, Jiu-ge, please!” he whined. Like most things regarding his older brother, would eventually yield, but would put up a valiant effort nonetheless. No one had the right to accuse him of being a pushover, after all.

Jiu-ge sat down at his oily counter with a sigh, hands flying up to bury themselves in his messy hair.

Shen Yuan immediately felt guilty.

His brother looked a lot less put-together than he usually was, now that he was looking more closely. His shirt was unbuttoned and his makeup was smudged, both facets of his appearance he usually controlled with meticulous determination.

“Please don’t fight me on this, A-Yuan.” His brother looked back at him, and Shen Yuan could see the weariness in his eyes.

“Is everything okay?” asked Shen Yuan. He tapped his fingers nervously.

“It will be,” Jiu-ge answered immediately as if he had expected this question. “Once I get a good night’s sleep.” Shen Yuan moved to sit by his brother.

“Mobei-Jun proposed to Shang Qinghua yesterday,” he offered. This made the crease between Jiu-ge’s brows deeper further.

“At your birthday party?”

“I know, I was shocked too!”

“Rude bastard. I knew nothing good could come out of that tight-knit group of rascals the company foisted on me.”

“Don’t be like that. I bet you secretly appreciate their help, big softie.” Shen Yuan poked at his brother’s cheek, and giggled when Jiu-ge pretended to bite at him. A small smile appeared on his brother’s face, and Shen Yuan rejoiced at the sight. He felt like he deserved an award for Best Brother of the Year.

“I suppose they suffice at times.” Jiu-ge wrinkled his nose like he had thought of something particularly disgusting. “Well. Almost all of them,” he huffed. He shook his head when Shen Yuan looked at him in question. But Best Brother of the Year did not do things half-heartedly.

“I know how to cheer you up even more,” Shen Yuan decided then and there.

That was how Shen Yuan found himself moved into the expensive nouveau-riche apartment complex next door to his brother on the third floor. All things considered, it wasn’t too bad. Jiu-ge was too busy to check up on him more than once a week in person, although the daily calls to his office phone were still a requirement.

Shen Yuan had always been a homebody, there was no denying that. As long as he could coop up in his room reading and editing trashy novels, he didn’t care for the particulars of time or place, even if leaving his apartment and chancing upon another human made him feel like Oscar the Grouch having been caught outside of his trash can and committing a crime.

The point was: it had all been going just fine and dandy, until one day a shout disrupted Shen Yuan from his editing of one of Airplane’s terribly written papapa scenes. He roughly yanked open his curtains, hearing a rip in the plush blue velvet. Whatever, what Jiu-ge didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him.

The scene which greeted him was one of darkness, which okay, he wasn’t quite expecting that but fine, it wasn’t the first time he had lost track of time doing this and that. Shivering, Shen Yuan stepped out onto his balcony and peered over the rails to see a very attractive, very drunk man holding a broken bottle of what looked like Xin Mo liquor.

“Shen Jiu, there you are, you fucking bastard. Fucking coward! What, too afraid to come and see your disgusting student Binghe on this beautiful night? You always thought you were above us mere mortals, didn’t you? I hope both sides of your pillow are always ice!”

Yikes, Shen Yuan thought privately.

This dude was hammered. Despite everything a laugh bubbled its way up his chest. He didn’t know his brother was so unpopular at work but with a sour face like his, he should’ve expected. Briefly, the thought of pretending to be his brother just to hear more of the entertaining insults crossed his mind, but before he could open his mouth the man, probably named Binghe, went on.

“I bet you think you wake up just looking like an angel descended from the heavens! Well let me tell you, scumbag, that I curse you and your descendents to always have shaky eyeliner! Let’s see you keep up that hoity-toity look and scream at me when you come into work looking like a clown!”

Shen Yuan covered his eyes in horror. Not his eyeliner! He had to look sharp for the ladies.

“I fixed that stupid assignment one million times! Your nitpicking doesn’t even make sense anymore, you blind geezer! Come down here, if you’re not a coward and I’ll show you ...” Binghe paused, looking like he was gonna hurl.

“Show me what? You can’t leave me hanging like that, I won’t be able to sleep!” Shen Yuan shouted out, against his better judgement. He had already been collecting Binghe’s flavored insults to use against that traitor Shang Qinghua next time he saw him.

Binghe looked back up, with what seemed like confusion in his eyes, though it could have just been bleary drunkenness. To Shen Yuan’s horror, it looked like Binghe had tears in his eyes.

“All I wanted was for Laoshi to acknowledge me,” Binghe sobbed out. At this point Shen Yuan had missed his chance to tell the poor man that his brother was out of town on a business trip, and that Binghe was shouting at a stranger. He felt something in his chest squeeze at Binghe’s watery puppy dog eyes.

“Why does everyone look down on me?” Binghe cried. “I try so hard, over and over but all you do is scorn me … again and again! What do I have to do, just tell me, and I’ll do it. Anything! Just …” At this point the boy was choking on his sobs. Shen Yuan felt something shattering. He found himself walking down the stairs. He was going to go down and fetch him before the police were called, that was all, he told himself.

By the time he arrived on the cold grass ready to coax the drunkard, he found him passed out, clutching the broken bottle so hard his hand was bleeding. Shen Yuan sucked in a sharp breath.

“Alright buddy, let’s get you warmed up,” Shen Yuan said as he pried the glass from Binghe’s hand and used all his strength to haul him up and to the elevator.

He got several strange looks as he dragged an unconscious man across the fancy lobby, but Shen Yuan just snorted and ignored them. The people here had sticks so far up their ass they were getting free prostate massages. Shen Yuan stifled his laughter at his own wit in Binghe’s dead weighted shoulder and got a few more strange looks by the lady in the elevator. Halfway to Shen Yuan’s room, Binghe woke up and stared at Shen Yuan like he was an alien.

He struggled a bit and whined, “Laoshi, please don’t dropkick me into the Panama Canal, I promise I’ll be a good boy.”

Shen Yuan laughed and patted Binghe’s hair. “Go back to sleep, rowdy boy. We’ll talk in the morning.” It probably wasn’t because of his words, but Binghe managed to walk a few steps on his own before becoming dead weight on Shen Yuan again. He felt the breath knocked out of him.

“For someone who’s such a crybaby, you sure are … heavy!” Shen Yuan panted as he managed to drag Binghe into his apartment and throw him onto his bed. He shoddily wrapped up Binghe’s bleeding hand with several bandages. Novels may have taught him a lot, but he had surprisingly little practical knowledge when faced with a gash like Binghe’s in reality.

The fatigue of the night finally caught up with him as he saw Binghe’s peaceful sleeping face and he barely managed to do his nightly routine before sliding into his bed next to the unconscious person.

Shen Yuan was just about to drift away into sleep until he heard sniffling coming from the other man and turned around to see Binghe crying in his sleep.

And so was his current dilemma. Shen Yuan had no idea how to handle crying people. He stared dumbly for a few moments before kicking himself to do something, anything!

Shen Yuan wouldn’t do this for any random stranger that came knocking to his door, but luckily he had gleaned several useful tidbits of information from Binghe’s drunken speech. For example, he was likely one of Jiu-ge’s new interns at the large Cang Qiong Company he worked at, under the Qing Jing subsidiary. Second, Jiu-ge seemed to be giving the poor boy an extremely hard time, and Shen Yuan knew better than anyone just how sharp his brother’s acerbic tongue could be. Shen Yuan felt mildly responsible for cleaning up his brother’s mess.

Also, Binghe was terribly cute. He reminded Shen Yuan of the little puppy he used to play with in childhood, named Bingbing, after his favorite actress.

It was a combination of these facts, or none of them, that ultimately made Shen Yuan do what he did next; wrap his arms around Binghe and gently stroke his hair, murmuring comforting words to him until he stopped crying.

Somewhere along the way he found himself asleep as well.

Binghe awoke from his drunken stupor sometime between ass and fuck o’clock in the morning. His hand was covered in messily wrapped bandages.

When he saw the face of the person fast asleep next to him, he flinched backwards so hard he almost fell out of the bed.

What did I do last night? He wailed miserably in his head. A worst case scenario flashed through his head, and he made sure that both of them were clothed before exhaling a sigh of relief. That was the last time he let Mobei-Jun get him drunk, bachelor party be damned.

The last thing he remembered was accepting a glass full of alcohol in the bar he’d been dragged to, but everything afterwards was a blur. He didn’t remember how he walked all the way to his boss’s nouveau riche apartment, and he certainly didn’t remember how he ended up in bed with the man he was most fearful of.

There was one thing Binghe knew with full certainty, however; he had to escape this apartment immediately before he lost his job or worse: his life.

He had barely turned around and registered vaguely that the apartment was a lot sloppier than he’d expected of his avaricious boss before a sleepy hum made him freeze in his tracks.

“Mmm… Binghe?”

Binghe froze. Shen Jiu had never called him by name, it was always something along the lines of “scum” or “lad”.

Filled with trepidation, he turned to face his boss against his better judgement.

A sleepy smile stretched its way across the face of the person in front of him just as the morning’s rays peeked through the rip in the curtains and fell across his face.

Angelic, Binghe’s mind vaguely registered. Maybe he hadn’t come to his boss’s apartment after all. Maybe he had died and entered a realm different than the one he’d been in. Maybe he was already in heaven.

The angel’s face scrunched up cutely at the offending rays across his face. He glanced at the curtains before letting out a forlorn sigh.

“Jiu-ge’s gonna kill me for that …” sighed the angel across from Binghe.

Jiu-ge? Who’s that, I’ll fight him so you never have a frown on your pretty face ever again, Binghe thought blearily.

Mr. Angel noticed he was awake and smiled a crooked smile.

“Good morning. You were drunk and screaming outside my window last night, so I thought I’d do a public service and take you in before you hurt yourself, “ the angel laughed nervously. “Binghe is your name, right?”

Binghe nodded, feeling like his body was not his own. Then he had a thought.

“Wait … how do you know?”

The angel’s lips thinned, looking like he was trying really hard not to laugh. Oh, that was not a good sign.

“Well … You dropped your name in the middle of shouting about how you wished your boss’s food was too salty, among other things …”

The wave of relief that was about to pass through Binghe at realizing this person was likely not his boss aborted itself as it was overtaken by sheer waves of mortification.

Binghe covered his face with his hands, letting out an ungodly groan of embarrassment.

“Binghe… I’m saying this for your own good.” Mr. Angel looked into Binghe’s eyes seriously. “Do you know how to use swear words?”

Binghe immediately pouted, feeling like he was being made fun of. He couldn’t find it in himself to be truly annoyed, however, at the angel’s bell-like peals of laughter smothered by his hand. It was such a stark contrast to his boss’s restrained expressions.

“Ah! I forgot to introduce myself. I’m Shen Yuan, Shen Jiu’s younger twin brother.”

And there was the horror again.

Just as Binghe was about to bid farewell to his short, inconsequential life, Shen Yuan continued chattering. “You’re lucky Jiu-ge’s out of town on a business trip, and that you weren’t actually serenading his window but mine. If he was here, I don’t know if I could have even stopped him from personally throwing you into a jail cell.”

Binghe felt like he had gotten off of a life-threatening roller coaster ride. Stiffly, he rose from the bed and bent ninety degrees into a bow.

“Thanking Shen Yuan for his kindness in rescuing this lowly one from his predicament!” Binghe grew so nervous he immediately started speaking as if he were in a period drama. “In order to repay my honorable benefactor, this one will prepare breakfast!” He rushed away before Shen Yuan could speak a single word.

Once Binghe found the kitchen, he allowed himself a mini-freakout session. He! Was in! His boss’s younger brother’s bed! And the younger brother was an angel! Even though Binghe was fairly certain nothing untoward had occurred between the two of them the night prior, he felt every inch of his nerves tingling. He was also fairly certain that any other person that lacked Shen Yuan’s generosity would have immediately called the police on him at the least.

This was the first time anyone had done something so selfless for his sake.

Unbidden, a flush streaked across his cheeks, and Binghe slapped at himself to get out of it. Shen Yuan was his benefactor, and it would be wrong to have indecent thoughts about someone so innocent. There may not be much Binghe was good at, as he had learned from his internship under Shen Jiu, but the least he could do was cook him a decent breakfast.

Shen Yuan was roused from his half-wakeful state by the smell of something good coming from the kitchen. Which was weird because last he checked, there was nothing in there but dust and half-eaten ramen. (Yes, he had a problem.)

Wait … Binghe!

It was a little belated, but the nagging voice in Shen Yuan’s head that sounded suspiciously like Jiu-ge berated himself for falling asleep again while a stranger was in his apartment. A cute stranger, but a stranger nonetheless.

Shen Yuan, the voice nagged. One of these days you’re going to get yourself murdered in cold blood …

Alright, shut up, you. No one wants to hear this in the early morning, Shen Yuan bickered back.

“Sir?” Binghe’s voice nervously called from the kitchen entrance.

Shen Yuan immediately relaxed back into what he thought was a cool pose.

“There’s no need for formalities, Binghe. After all, you’ve already slept in my bed.”

Binghe’s ears flushed red at his words, and he swayed back and forth like a maiden on the morning after her wedding night. Shen Yuan stopped this strange line of thinking once he realized how weird it was.

“I made you breakfast as a thank you for er… handling me last night,” Binghe said softly.

Well, that didn’t help his strange thoughts. The last conscious thought Shen Yuan had was that he’d better go and eat the poor shy guy’s food since he had made it already.

He didn’t recall getting up or sitting down at the kitchen table, but the next thing he knew he was staring down at an empty plate, stomach full of delicious food.

“I don’t know what to think. This is the first time this has happened to me.” It wasn’t, but Shen Yuan had always had a flair for the dramatic. “If you can cook so well, why are you wasting your time under my brother’s wing? You should go be a professional chef, and share this magic with the rest of the world.”

It wasn’t empty praise. Shen Yuan genuinely believed he’d be blessed if he could eat like this every day for the rest of his life. His terrible habit of crappy eating would be forever changed.

Binghe was so red he looked like a tomato.

Abruptly, the sounds of a phone ringing disrupted the nice atmosphere. Binghe’s face paled.

“Oh no, I left Mobei-Jun at the club last night. He must be wondering where I am. The bachelor party got kind of crazy.”

Hm? Mobei-Jun? Shen Yuan slapped his forehead in realization. Of course! Binghe was a part of Jiu-ge’s interns, of course he knew Mobei-Jun. Shen Yuan had no idea how he had failed to make that connection. He might even be the best man Mobei-Jun had mentioned, since he was pretty sure the third intern was a woman. Sha Hualing, he believed her name was?

Either way, Shen Yuan hadn’t realized he and Binghe were so closely connected. Besides, he hadn’t felt comfortable calling Binghe a stranger, now that they no longer were.

Maybe he’d get a chance to see Binghe in a tux at the wedding? That would be so cute! Of course, he’d have to help keep him away from the champagne, especially since Jiu-ge would also be there. That was a nightmare waiting to happen.

While Shen Yuan was off fantasizing, Binghe had gathered all his stuff and prepared to leave. He hovered nervously around the door.

Shen Yuan snapped out of it to bid him goodbye. Binghe smiled shyly.

“Maybe I’ll see you around again sometime?” he asked.

Shen Yuan hid a smile behind his hand, and adopted a lofty expression.

“This immortal does not often descend from his honorable peak. However, if fate wills it to be so, then so shall it be,” he said, imitating Binghe’s earlier style of speech.

Binghe laughed, but kept hovering near the door as if he was waiting for something.

“Alright, your friend must be wondering where you are. Go on, now.” A flash of disappointment crossed Binghe’s face, but he obediently left, looking back like a puppy several times as he did so.

It wasn’t until much later that Shen Yuan would realize he had forgotten to explain that he was friends with Shang Qinghua, and that they would likely see each other again at the wedding. By the time the wedding itself rolled around, it would prove to be an ordeal of its own.

But that would remain a story for another time.

[2pmlouie]

MASTERLIST

» title :: not so secret

» characters :: louie, 2pm, knowing bros's cast

» warnings :: mentions of alcohol and a drunk conversation about dealing with sexuality as an idol.

» word count :: 2.6k

» summary :: how louie became part of 'knowing bros'.

December 5, 2015.

Park Jinyoung PD said that all members were helping to promote the group individually, except Louie. He really didn't participate in anything that could help the group to become more famous, whether it was entertainment shows or other types of activities like being a radio mc, actor, and so on.

“Don't mind him, he didn't say that to call you out.” At least that was Nichkhun's words.

“Yeah, I know that.”

Louie was an introvert, everyone knew that. And on top of that a homebody who stayed home whenever he didn't have promotions. He loved staying home. But still, If he was the only one in the group who enjoyed his free time doing nothing, didn't that mean he was lazy? Maybe Nichkhun said that so as not to upset him, when in fact he thought otherwise.

Minjun spent most of his time in his studio composing songs for JYP artists. Taecyeon, Junho, and Chansung became actors and rarely stayed home on recording days. Nichkhun and Wooyoung sometimes participated in variety shows. But he was not doing anything. That's why those words bothered him so much.

It was when he was watching television in the dorm, feeling bored, that something caught his eye. He turned up the volume with the remote. The show was called Knowing Bros, it was its pilot episode. He barely recognized a face or two, as he was not used to variety shows.

“They need to answer questions?” He murmured, tilting his head. “I could do that.”

“What?” Asked the manager walking into the living room.

“Hyung, I want to be part of this show.”

The manager took a look at the television for some minutes. He folded his arms, looking to Louie. "Do you even know who are these people?”

“They're famous?”

“See, this is the problem.” He sighed, shaking his head. “This is a variety show. Like every other show, the hosts need to be funny and spontaneous. All of them have experience in this field.”

“But I appeared on some shows before, with the members.”

“Right, I remember the hard time you gave the hosts because you were too quiet. Your fans were angry thinking they cut your time on-screen on purpose.”

“My Korean was not good back then, that's why.”

“Louie, you need to talk and be funny. Are you able to do that?”

He understood what the man meant so he did not take any offense by his clear lack of trust. Louie knew he was not a bright and friendly person, being the most serious in the group, to the point that even staff and other employees in the company kept a distance from him. If there's a person perfect for this show, that would be Taecyeon or Wooyoung, not him.

But there was something else that most people didn't know about him, not even his fans: Louie was the type who hated being in his comfort zone, however comfortable it was. That's why he became an idol, in the first place. It seemed challenging enough to make him leave the Royal Academy of Music and move to South Korea.

“I know, okay? But you saw the way Jinyoung hyung spoke some days ago. If I don't change, I'm sure he'll be disappointed in me.”

“I'll talk with the PDs of Running Man and other shows where you can appear as a guest. Being a host is too much for you.”

“Hyung, if you don't help me I'll go see the PDs of this show myself and even beg on my knees.”

“Yah do you want to embarrass the whole JYPE? You punk!” He screamed pointing at him, “how can a JYPE artist beg on his knees, do we look like beggars to you?”

“So help me out.”

The man sighed again, covering his face with both hands and taking a long breath. “Fine, but don't get angry if they scold you for not doing the job properly. I said you're not cut for it.”

Of course, he would not show up on the broadcast station without even knowing the members. Later that same day, he grabbed his phone and started searching about everyone on the screen, opening multiple navigation tabs. The cast was surprisingly mixed between comedians, hosts, a singer, an idol, and even a former basketball player.

“I'm back,” Junho said entering the apartment taking his shoes off.

“Junho-ah.”

“Hm?”

“I am funny?”

“Nope.” That was his only answer before he opened the door of his room and locked himself inside.

“Aish, that brat.” He clicked his tongue, having missed the timing to throw a pillow on him.

Of course, Junho wouldn't find him funny. In fact, Louie could be funny if he wanted to. The problem was whether Koreans would find his type of humor entertaining.

The show's cast was almost complete since its first episode, so the director was caught off guard when he went to JTBC to say he wanted to participate.

“It says here you're not much familiar with variety shows. Why do you think you would be a good addition to the cast?” The director asked.

“I know I lack in experience, but everyone has a start point. Having a new face can be refreshing for the audience as well. The idea of trying to guess the answer to another guest's questions is quite amusing and I want to try it.”

And that's how he made his first appearance in episode three. This was mainly due to the effort his manager made to promote the company's name, saying it would be an advantage and boost in views to have both a JYP and SM artist on the same show.

But just like the manager said, variety shows were not something Louie could get used to fast. The first meeting with the cast was awkward, the first episodes did not reach high views, nor did he appeared much on-screen, everyone seemed to be funnier than him, especially Heechul, he was a natural host.

Eventually, Junho would tease him, asking if he was really part of the show. Nichkhun and Minjun were nicer about it, saying it was a good experience for him.

“To be honest, you're funnier in English,” Taecyeon said, and Nichkhun nodded.

“So the problem is the language, not me.”

“I'd say both.” They heard Junho's answering from the kitchen.

“Shut up.”

He did not want to be just eye-candy on the show, so he worked extra hard trying to fully understand Korean humor and how he could use it his own way. One day, he finally found the answer. As a Korean born in America, Louie had that unique flavor of a foreigner, so he started to mix Konglish a lot and be less conscious of his accent, answering questions with confidence. Although sarcasm was not familiar for Koreans, he worked hard in trying to convey it with his tone of voice and expressions.

By episode 46, the PD started to praise him more, his responses were creative and he figured out how to interact with everyone. Since most of the guests were women and girl groups, he had to get used to acting like a 'straight guy', which was not difficult as he's been doing that since 2PM's debut. He also tried not to get too excited when a boy group or an actor showed up.

“Hyung, you were funny on today's episode. Why are you so different at home?” Junho asked as they were getting prepared to perform on a music show.

“Shush, let me sleep.” Louie had his eyes closed and arms crossed while he was sat on the couch.

“See?! This is what I'm talking about.”

Unfortunately, the energy he spent while recording had to be recharged by spending most of his time alone. They were also promoting Promise (I'll be), which meant more energy to dance and sing. Still, he was pleased to be busy. It did not take more than five minutes for him to fall asleep when they got home.

“Chansung-ah, scold him for me.”

“Yah, stop bothering Louie hyung. He's tired.” Chansung did as asked.

“Everyone is tired, why he's the only one grumpy?”

“Lee Junho, if I get up from here, we're going to have a real fight.”

“Stop it, you two.” Nichkhun realized what was happening and intervened.

“He's always like this when we have promotions, why are you even asking?” Wooyoung tried to light up the mood, which made Taecyeon laugh nodding his head.

“Get ready, we're next!” Minjun clapped his hand to get their attention.

To celebrate a year since the first episode of Knowing Bros, the team organized a party at a small restaurant. Due to the team's size, half of the tables in the restaurant were occupied by them. They ordered snacks first, but it did not take a long time for the tables to be filled with bottles of soju and beer.

“Come on, let's drink!” Woon Hyuk, the director shouted with the beer glass raised.

Everyone cheered in response, also raising their glasses. The beer tasted too strong, so Louie decided to stick with soju and bulgogi skewers as a snack.

“Louie, your cup is empty already.” Heechul, who was sat right next to him, noticed.

“The maknae's glass is empty! Let me fill it for you~” Hodong already seemed to have had quite a bit of drinking, as his tone seemed cuter and he was doing aegyo without even noticing.

Louie quickly held out his glass for the man to pour more, politely thanking him. In fact, he didn't want to drink that much, just eat, but it was rude to deny a drink offered by an older person.

But the thing is, everyone there was older than him. First, it was Hodong, then Soo Geum, Young Chul, Jang Hoon, Sang Min, Kyung Hoon, and even Heechul. He already had 7 glasses, the director also wanted to pour a drink for him.

“Aigoo, your face is already red. Good job, drink more.”

“I think... I need to eat, director-nim.” His words came out slurred.

“Nonsense, we came here to drink.” The man shook his head, finishing pouring the liquid.

“One shot, one shot!” Kyung Hoon started and everyone followed him.

Louie had no choice so he drank it all down, not leaving a single drop. The burning sensation made him frown, the men shouted with excitement, and little by little he regretted having come. It did not look like they were drinking just to celebrate, they all wanted to get wasted.

After the tenth glass, he didn't even know how many hours had passed. Louie looked at the glass and laughed for no reason, which attracted the attention of a man sitting next to him.

“Okay, I think it's enough for you.” Heechul took the cup from his hand. “Guys, Louie's drunk. I'll call a taxi for him.”

“Aish, 'm not drunk. Gimme that!”

He didn't know how, but he ended up outside the restaurant, crouched down as he watched the annoying lights of cars passing back and forth.

“Here, drink this.” Heechul handed him a bottle of water. “It'll get you sober.”

Louie lifted his head to look at the man. He grabbed the bottle but didn't let go of his hand, still staring, which made Heechul react with confusion.

“What are you looking at?”

“Nothin... you're cute.” A smile appeared on his face. “Want to go somewhere quiet?”

“Don't fall for me, I'm too pretty for you” he joked, tucking a strand of hair behind his ear.

Louie chuckled, probably not even understanding, and let go of the other's hand. He opened the bottle, drinking as much water as he could before pausing to breathe.

“You're different.”

“How so?”

“The normal thing is to react with disgust.”

“Let's say I'm used to it.”

“So are the rumors fake?”

“I'm straight, if that's what you want to know.”

“Ah...” His voice sounded disappointed, and he lowered his head. “I thought... we were the same.”

Had Louie been sober enough, he would have seen Heechul's face become more serious.

“I'll pretend I didn't hear that since you're drunk. Get up, I'll call the taxi.”

“Why you never address the rumors? They must be annoying,”

“People can say whatever they want, it's part of my image as an entertainer anyways.” He shrugged, crossing his arms.

“Haha, I should've doubted it. If you were really gay, you would try to do anything to hide it, as it would ruin your entire career,” he said, pausing for a few seconds, “that's what I'm trying to do. Hide from my fans, from the members...”

“Is it hard to hide it?”

“When I realized I would never be able to be myself if I became idol, it was really difficult Then I debuted, we started being called the Beast Idols, and more and more I felt out of place and guilty.”

He knew that was the fate of any gay idol trying to survive in a boy group. Louie was not the type to get depressed about something like that, but the members of 2PM became like family for him. His real family knew about it, but the members didn't.

If they got uncomfortable or even wanted to disband, the guilty Louie was feeling would be far worse.

“Aish, I hate to drink. It makes me think of useless things.” He drank more water, trying to get sober.

“Louie, I-”

“I'm sorry sunbae, can you please call the taxi? I want to go home.”

Heechul sighed out, quietly nodding his head. He took out his cell phone and called the number, giving the address where they were. In a few minutes the car showed up in front of the restaurant, and he helped Louie get into the vehicle, careful not to bump his head.

Being a little soberer, he at least managed to remember where he lived and told the taxi driver. He paid the man and got out of the car when he arrived at the apartment.

After leaving the elevator, he struggled to type the door's password, getting it wrong a few times. That's when the door opened, and Lee Junho was looking at him as surprised as he was.

“What the hell, hyung!”

“Damn door, who put such a difficult password?” He entered, forcing Junho to step back.

“It's 2am already, were you drinking?”

Louie didn't answer, kicking off his shoes at the entrance and walking barefoot inside. Junho shook his head, arranging the shoes and following the other.

He silently watched Louie take a packet of instant cooked rice and heat it up in the microwave, pouring a small quantity of hot water and mixing it with the remaining kimchi. Whoever invented instant rice deserves an award, Louie thought while eating.

“And you always complain when you have to drink with us...” Junho muttered, hoping the other would hear.

“I had no choice.”

“Yeah, yeah, I believe in you.”

Since Junho was awake, he would at least wait for the other and go to bed. Louie didn't take long to finish eating, but he kept staring into space.

“Hyung? Hyung, don't sleep here. Look at me,” said Junho holding his face.

The maknae's face showed surprise as he saw the tears in his eyes. Louie turned his face away, pulling Junho's hand away.

“What happened? Did someone harassed or offended you? No, you would curse them off, you aren't the type to cry for these things.”

“Nothing happened,” he replied in a low, barely audible voice, “Junho-ah.”

“Hm?”

“Sorry.”

“Okay, I forgive you.”

“Do you even know why I'm apologizing?”

“For being boring and no-fun?”

“Gosh, I hate you.”

Junho wiped Louie's eyes with the sleeve of his pajamas. He didn't insist on questions, just told Louie to go shower and sleep. Those words were far better than any comfort.

But the next morning he still had to deal with the hangover.