#forget everything else about this run. it isn't important. it doesn't matter.

[tbcanary]

Connor Hawke as Green Arrow in Green Arrow Vol. 7 (2023)

[writingforatwistedworld]

Requests are open?? May I request Lilia and Malleus from the self aware au with a player who is an artist and draws them a lot?

Self-aware au

I do not take any responsibility for you reading this no matter which age group you are from!

WARNINGS: Yandere themes, obsession, death, murder, hypocrisy, fire, coma, unhealthy relationship, possessive behavior

Malleus Draconia/Lilia Vanrouge-Player is an artist who draws them a lot

Doesn't matter what kind of style and form of art you practice, you have a fan

Classical? Great! Realism? Wonderful! Stick-man-style? He put the picture in a golden frame (All hail the stick-man style!)

But if Malleus were to ever find out that said stick man is supposed to be him, well he would be over the moon

It was a totally normal day, a cat was choking up a hairball and some poor student fell off of his broom in flying class and was now stuck in a tree

But that is of no importance to us

What is of importance though is Malleus strolling down the path down to Ramshackle and seeing you sit on the stairs with paper and other drawing utensils

Completely normal. Peaceful even. Maybe a bit too peaceful

You see, if you hadn't been too absorbed into rubbing colored pigments into dead wood then you would have seen the tall black wall approaching you

A shadow falls over your shoulder and you scream

Is that... him? Why is the Overseer draw-oh

Malleus is metaphorically (more or less. Meh, he is probably this close to doing it also literally) frothing from his mouth after seeing himself in more than just one paper after the small stack stabilizing the paper you drew on slipped from your hands

Forgetting his manners he rips the paper from the ground, staring with eyes wide as plates onto the thinly pressed wood (granny is somewhere shaking her head)

Why would the Overseer, watcher over worlds, almighty ruler of everything, a god, draw him?

Coughing nervously you explained that you just are interested in are and liked to draw him

Later when he is back in Diasomnia Lilia is greeted with the sight of a tail-wagging Malleus (yes Malleus has a tail and I have no idea how he hides it)

“Lilia, the Overseer likes to draw me.”-moments before calamity struck and Malleus accidentally lit the dorm aflame from sheer joy

But... perhaps you shouldn't draw anyone else

Who knows? Maybe that person disappears for a while and just to be found in a deep coma (don't do it)

Whoa whoa whoa darling, let us not jump at him from nowhere with the fact that you like to draw him

After all, he is quite old and we don't know what his poor heart can still take

Now how about you tell him about your interest in art fir- ah... From your expression I take that it is too late for that

Indeed it is

One day you were just sitting there in Ramshackle, T-posing or whatever you do when you are not drawing

Remember that scene when Lilia was introduced to us? Well “How do you do fellow kids” over here just popped out of thin air

Now, that would have been nothing special if it wasn't for the stack of paper with his face on it on the table...

Lilia is staring, you are staring and the gargoyles are facepalming

Poor man has to take a seat all whilst you watch him with cold sweat running down your back

Suddenly Lilia isn't that “always energetic” guy but looks a lot more vulnerable

In Lilias mind however he is planning how to burn that one portrait of himself in the Draconia castle and replace it with your art

Or so he thought until he looked what else you drew

For goodness sake, someone call an ambulance! I think he is about to pass out!

If the situation wasn't already awkward enough for you (and euphoric for him) Lilia suddenly kneels down, saying something about being honored and him swearing to be forever loyal to you

Oh sweet summer child, how easily you told him “Oh thanks...” If only you knew what would follow...

You see, Lilia might have had seen a few too many heads being severed from their bodies but, oh well, all those students were a teeny tiny bit too close to you for his comfort

Suddenly there is an increase in missing students who get found in... uh... “not compatible with life” conditions

See? It's dangerous outside! Let him watch over you!

Says the person responsible for everything

You had shown your appreciation through your art, now it's his turn to show his

And what if a few students need to get hurt? (Yeah, “hurt”)

[pix3lplays]

Yandere! Aventurine Implications of kidnapping, illegality, erasing memory, negligence, abuse of power mentioned, and I don't know what else, it's not family friendly, poorly written, it's 2:34 am

Aventurine is traumatized to the max, he needs your attention as if your hands were the oxygen of his body

Touch his head, shower him with compliments and promise that you will not leave his side, swear by everything existing and unimaginable and then kiss him

Aventurine doesn't understand why you're going to need your friends now if he's your everything, you can't help him that easy, but you can still try

But it's no use, and the day doesn't come late when you realize that Aventurine can't be helped that way, you have to run away

...

But you don't have a house, you don't have money, you don't have a job, you don't have friends, you don't have family... And you don't have the keys to the house either

At what point did Aventurine do all that? Before you can think about it anymore, you return to the same moment of your relationship beginning. Take him in your arms, promise that you will not leave him and console his worries

Can't you see how much Aventurine suffers from being separated from his beloved for weeks while having to work? Ah, but don't worry, he will pull all the strings to make you a useless IPC worker who needs supervision and curiously piqued his attention

There are strange flavors in the drink, and you always feel like you forget even more of your life before you met him... But his loving words are captivating towards anyone

How sweet it is to have Aventurine with you, don't worry about anything other than following him around like a lapdog... Wasn't that always Aventurine's plan? And he's already been through too much, there's no need to fight with someone who's already suffered unjustly.

He must have his reasons, he promised, right?

But you no longer remember that promise

Oh, don't worry, you can go ask Aventurine, he has no problem, the only cost is a chaste kiss on his forehead to revive his memory

What would he do wrong? Maybe being his docile wife waiting for him at home isn't such a bad idea...

"I'm forgetting something... Aventurine, do you know if I forgot something to do?"

"If you forget it's not important darling!"

"Haha, you're right Darling♪"

Aventurine knows, you don't need to remember what happened before. Burn the unpleasant photo of your ex-husband, how nice it is to have good connections

He is your only and first love, not even memories can get in the way of his purposes.

He never fails, because he has set his mind to it and he will never fall.

He will preserve you in the beautiful box of fine silver, covered with gold ornaments carved by the most talented of artisans, no one will set his eyes on his beloved, no one will use their tongue to insult your name, no one will use their hands to rest on your body.

But no matter how hard you close the box with all your might, the dust keeps coming in and burying everything in the thinnest layer of abandonment, when will the oxygen to breathe run out?

And when the inevitable moment comes, how can he look back and not consider himself the same slander that sentenced him?

How long will it take for the oxygen to become scarce and the dust to flood your blood crimson with filth?

—📦

So the implication is that he keeps you locked up, makes you a prisoner? How ironic…I know he’d see it. The irony. He’s aware but…he can’t help himself.

Not fair not fair not fair but when has life EVER been fair?

I think he’d be a pretty self-aware yandere, but that doesn’t stop him from the horrible things he does. He knows better, knows it’s wrong but…he can’t help it.

[shini--chan]

Can i req yandere sheet: attributes,flight, punisment for canada and russia?

Yandere Character Sheet I

1p Russia - Ivan Braginski

This is probably something I should have said before, but better late than never. Some of you might be inclined to voice your political opinions - with this I politely ask you to refrain from doing so. This has nothing to do with my own political stances and everything to do with this not being a politics blog. If somebody does decide to air their political opinions in the comments or ask box, it will be deleted without prior warning or further ado. Freedom of expression also means freedom to not express my opinions which is why politics will never be discussed on this blog. 

Also, only whole Character Sheets may be requested!

Trigger warning: isolation, hyperthermia, hunting (with you as the prey), murder, disposal of corpses, controlling behaviour, manipulation, hints of survival horror, neglect, implied physical abuse

Attributes - What sort of Yandere is he/she?

Ivan is ultimately possessive. He has been lonely for so long, unable to connect with other people on a deep emotional level for so long. Therefore, when he has you in his grasp, you can be assured that he'll never let you go. Why should he, when you are his happiness? In the end, it isn't very important to him to know everything there is to you, as long as you are at his side (Though, that doesn't mean that he isn't curious about you). 

If there is one defining thing about him, it is that he is unpredictable. He is a land of contradictions, the ultra rich live close to the dirt poor, with warm summers and hellishly cold winters - it is something that also reflects in his demeanour. He can be cultured - leading you out to theatre plays and ballets, visiting art museums and cuddling on the sofa at night and reading the classics with you. Or he could drag you along on a hunting trip, where the two of you have to live off the land for a few weeks. The ballroom or the heavy metal concert in the cellar of an old factory. It thus extends to his more unhealthy behaviour where he can maintain a stoic appearance for long, only for the emotions to concentrate into something more intense and then bubble over. It could often catch you unawares. 

This is only amplified by the fact that he tends to humour the misconceptions that many people have about him. After all, if they base their actions on stereotypes and fantasies, then it means they'll underestimate him, and he'll have the upper hand and wipe the floor with them. 

Aside from that, he is also very persistent. Russian winters are long and harsh, and additionally, Ivan has learned through his own history that nothing good ever comes easily. As such, he definitely wouldn't be dissuaded if you'd throw obstacles in his path. If anything, he would find it amusing that you think him so weak. So, no matter how far you run, no matter how much time passes, he won't forget you; all you can hope is that he'll lose interest or something else will take up the majority of his attention for a lengthy amount of time. 

He can also be surprisingly astute and attentive to you, and this can be to your advantage as much as it can be to your disadvantage. Advantageous in that be can be very considerate - offering his jacket, or buying you presents that you like. It is also where his obsessive nuances would come to the fore and he would be so eager to please and pamper you. 

The flip side of this coin is tied in with his paranoia. Having lived under countless occupations, regimes and suffered through rebellions and revolutions, plagues and famines, he would constantly be on the lookout for signs of betrayal. He is the sort to always look at his bedroom door before turning in and take keen note of people on the edges of his vision. Applied to you, that means he'll keep a very close eye on you if he thinks that you are being … disagreeable. There is the temptation to keep you under lock and key, but he knows that he has the best chance of catching you if it is in the middle of the act and if you are completely unaware of his suspicions. 

There is also the matter that he has the proclivity to be very harsh. After the life he has lived, the bloodshed he has witnessed and even partook in at times, it is difficult to faze him. Thus, his interpretation of what is hurtful or even traumatising is severely different than that of other people, thanks to his blood soaked frame of reference. While he is aware of this, it still would often happen that he would scoff and label you or other people fragile when tears are shed about genuinely hurtful things. Naturally, this further influences how he treats you - varying from being too harsh with his punishments to then treating you like a fragile doll that would need toughening up before being allowed out without supervision.

Ivan is also patronising. Not to the extent Yao is, but still to an overtly noticeable degree. The main difference is that he bases it not at all on seniority but on having lived through interesting times aplenty. He has had to claw his way to his current position with nearly nothing given easily and everything painstakingly defended over and over again (at least that is how it is in his mind). Can you even claim to have suffered through a fraction of the tragedies he has? So heed his word since he is a more knowing and experienced person than you.

Cornering - How would they get you?

Ivan would much prefer you come to him willing. Perhaps you are charmed by his appreciation of the arts and literature - then he'll try to woo you by playing the gentleman or the daring young hussar. Maybe you met him as an attendee of heavy metal concerts, as a hunter in the steps and the woods - he'll indulge you so as well, showcasing the more savage part of himself. The point is that he'll try to pinpoint an angle from which he can hook you in, and then pull you closer. 

But soon enough, conventenal wooing wouldn't be enough for him - his "passion" would only overcome his patience and he would want to haul you in quicker. Perhaps he would orchestrate circumstances so that you would be forced to move in, or he would manipulate events that you would have to rely heavily on him. He would dissuade you from seeking out friends and family, depicting them as parasitic and unhelpful. Whatever fears and doubts you have about your other chosen company. If he has to stand against the world, then he wants it to be with you at his side. 

Though, it can just as well be that he'll have to resort to more permanent and extreme measures. At his core, he is a hunter and like any accomplished hunter, he doesn't automatically go after the weak or old - rather, it is the prized pelts of the strongest creatures he wants. The more you prevail against him, the more it will excite him. To him, catching you will be more of a game than anything else, a game of cat and mouse. If he were angry with you, it would also serve as a moral lesson. 

Then there is the matter that he likes to manipulate events so that you end up in his arms - he is calling in favours, or gently nudging circumstances to play out in his favour. When it is required, he can be very patient and act with a lot of thought. He is more the sort to plan for the long term, even if he does have bouts of impulsivity. 

Expectations - What do they expect of you?

He holds a certain ideal in his head, that he wishes you to fulfil. If you aren't really there yet, it is still fine - diamonds have to be cut and polished as well in order to achieve their brilliance. Why shouldn’t it be the same with you? Nevertheless, he has some expectations that you have to fulfil, in his eyes. 

Politeness is one of them. This doesn’t mean that he wishes you to be unfailingly appeasing and gentle and kind all the time, all no. In his eyes, it is perfectly worthy of praise and encouragement if you have sharp edges. It is simply that you have to have tact and not make any scenes in public, and know how to act appropriately in any given moment. And that when you don’t really know how you should act, or are exceptionally jittery, that you don’t make a fool of yourself. What Ivan expects is that politeness that comes from having lessons on diplomacy or etiquette, or even just a good upbringing, and not that that stems from being a doormat. 

Topping that, he wants you to be both cultured and witty. Ivan is of the opinion that you have to have a good balance of both - those that are only book smart and not street smart can be painfully entitled and self-righteous. That is something that dives into that sort of idealism that makes Ivan physically ill. He would rather not have a missionary for a spouse - they can be so hard set in their way, no room for budging and certainly no reverse gear once they start to escalate. And they are certainly of the sort that will always place any blame on him. Street smart because he would love it if you can give your own input on social situations, and relieve some of the burden from him. So that he doesn’t have to guide you through interactions, and doesn’t have to clean up any mistakes that you make. So that he can let you out of the house without having to worry. But not too street smart please, and not just that - he needs you to be able to converse on higher topics that gossip and psychology and bread prices. Book smart because it often means cultured and he wants somebody that he can share his passions with - going to the theatre, reading books on stormy nights, going on long walks and appreciating nature. 

Related to that in a way, he would loath it if you are lazy. Participate in some sort of sport, preferably of the sort that isn’t of the team variant and allows you to shine on your own. Figure skating, fencing, chess, swimming … either one, maybe even all of it. Mind and body are connected so ensuring you have a healthy body through physical exertion should help prevent your mind spiralling down to insanity while at his mercy. Be the sort that doesn't procrastinate on chores and puts effort in running a good household. 

Additionally, Russia likes people that are ambitious, be it in the practical sense of building and acting, or in the manner that poets and philosophers are. Have more intentions than to just stare at a screen and give out money. Have passion, dare to dream and crave more than what you have. Life in the weather extremes of his domain don't favour those without fire in their souls, and steel in their spines. Sink or swim, and if you don't have the discipline to cling to your dreams and not give up, then you won't survive him.

Though, don't forget him amidst all your calls and desires. He wants you to care for him, to sooth his paranoia and worries. Run him hot baths and cook the meals. Come New Year's lay all the homemade biscuits and cakes and salads on the table for a feast. Be family to him and he'll be family to him. Be caring and affectionate and playful (but carefully so) behind closed doors and stoic and proper in public.

Faded - Would they let go of you in any way?

Maybe, when engaging in his favourite pastime of existential dread, he would come to the conclusion that he isn't good for you; he would let you go or even deliver you to your preferred person. At times, the self-hatred does come to the fore, and makes him conclude that the wisest course of action is the one he detests the most. 

Aside from that he has dreams that are bigger than his relationship with you. If you were to threaten his dreams of empire and the securities tied with it, then he would choose his dreams over you. While he would die for you (given that he will revive) he would never sacrifice himself for you. 

Or, you could evolve into the sort of person that he detests. Of course, he would attempt to take control over the wheel and righting the course, but a lost cause is a lost cause. He would reluctantly let you go and cherish the memories he has. Though he'll do everything in his power to avoid such a scenario.

Punishment - How would they proceed if you do something they disapprove of?

This is the case where he doesn't really pull any punches - though he wouldn't beat you. That is something he considers himself above and besides, common punches and kicks wouldn't even teach a dog right from wrong, so how would such methods be suited for his partner. 

Ivan views punishments as a form of re-education and it would be useless if he doesn't make it clear what lesson he is trying to impart, or if you don't learn it over the course of your chastisement. Besides, he doesn't see you as his enemy or an unruly subordinate, so why should he treat you as such? 

Thus you'll usually receive a long lecture on your misdoings - what exactly was wrong, why and how he will deal with it. And then the actual correctional actions would commence. 

In winter, he may leave you out in the cold for a few minutes, stripped of your clothing until you develop hyperthermia. Then you are forced to lay your life and wellbeing in his hands as he nurses you back to health. Besides, isn't it so romantic to have somebody save you from death's door?

In the warmer months, he would tie your hands and feet to weights and anchor you to the shoreline of a river or lake. You would be up to the chest or hips in water and he'll have you wearing either something short-sleeved or just leave you there in your underwear. That way, you would be at the mercy of the mosquitoes and insects and the creatures in the water. And at risk of getting a nasty sunburn, if you are prone to it. He would leave you for hours out there, so don't think it would be a walk in the park. If he is feeling particularly provocative, then he'll start a BBQ or do some fishing. And no, you're not getting anything to eat or drink. If you end up getting sick from drinking the water you're standing in, or eating some water plant, then he'll pump out your stomach. 

Of course there are other punishments, all along the vein of the carrot and the stick. Ivan will give you your own room during the first few years, and have it fitted to your tastes. Though, you'll only be allowed to have these if you behave yourself. The same goes for good food and beverages other than water. Should you start rebelling, then he'll start stripping away the luxuries that he has given you until only the basic necessities remain. People have had to survive on less than overcooked food and plain water, so you will just be fine. 

And don't presume that you can argue that you'll only give him respect if he shows you respect in the first place. While at his mercy, you're on the shorter end of the stick, powerless in relation to him, so you'll have to make careful and very good arguments. Also, don't even try to play at being a fixer-upper. He is not some broken clock that needs repairing, so don't try to "fix" him. Attempting to do so will push him very close to wringing your neck as one would a turkey on Christmas.

Though, above all, this isn't a poker game where he'll take bluffs and slights of hand and hollow promises with a mere scowl and some harsh words. Play him for a fool, make promises you have no intention of keeping, prove yourself to be utterly untrustworthy, then he'll make you feel sorry. Either, it will be solitary confinement for a week or two, or he'll dump you in the middle of nowhere, weeks away from any other human being. Perhaps he'll have to confine you to a sick bed afterwards. 

Reaction - How would they react to you escaping?

His first reaction is anger, though not of the screaming and breaking things. Rather, it is that ice cold anger that makes his blood freeze and his mind razor sharp in its focus. There is part of this wrath that is due to the disrespect you show him through running away. A good relationship relies on good communication, so why did you have to run away? Why didn't you just talk about your problems with him? Why do I have to behave like a sugar-addled brat? Perhaps he should lay you over his knee, and give you a good hiding. 

The other side to this coin is anger born out of worry. In terms of chinks in his armour, you can be considered one, and Ivan know of a great many people that would ruthlessly exploit it. And those people would care about honour, propriety or even so-called rights, not when ignoring that can get them what they want. Aside from that, you are so fragile and helpless compared to him - just how can you hope to survive the big, bad world out there? But don't worry, he knows how you feel, having been in a similar position a few times, so he'll be quick to come to the rescue.

Should it be possible, Russia will endeavour to retrieve you without the help. It is a private matter after all, and he does feel some second-hand embarrassment due to your antics. In the case he does involve some agents or other people, he'll be as vague about the true nature of your relationship. Just don't think that you can really use this against him - it will end up harming you more than him. 

However, there could be a scenario where he would even anticipate and hunger for this. A mind game, perhaps, one designed to break your hope of escaping and flaunting his power and skill to you. In his bid to make a lasting impression on you, he is willing to declare open season on you. If he is feeling particularly vindictive, he'll draw all of this out, play with you, like a leopard toying with a baby impala before ultimately killing and eating it. Beware, for he can empathise and think like you, and thus deduce your movements and ultimately track you down. You are the prey and he is the hunter and he is willing to let you think you have the upper hand, only to crush those fantasies underfoot when the time is right. 

Turnabout - Scenario: You have the upper hand? What would be different from their usual MO? 

He isn't the sort to take defeat lying down, given since past events have taught that that only leads to subjugation and misery. Each time he could think about giving up, about surrendering even just a fraction of the control that he has over himself, all the times he did so before flash before his eyes, especially the 90s of the past century, of Alfred imposing his shock therapy on him and the apocalyptic circumstances it spawned. All because he was naive enough to believe an enemy would show him mercy. Why should you be any different? So if he has to go down, then you'll go down with him - he burn the cities, salt the fields and flood the mines. If he has to die, then you can ride to hell with him. 

If it doesn't come to that, if the turn of events is born due to betrayal and false expectations, then he'll proceed slowly. Gradually he'll undermine your actions, or at least nudge the course of events to suit his needs. His goals don't have to be diametrically opposed to yours, or seem like things worthy of your attention. If you are ignorant in some category, then he won't hesitate to use it against you. He does intend on repaying you for everything you've inflicted upon him, and that with interest, compound interest if you are not cautious. 

Should you be kind and considerate, he'll be more open to such an arrangement, as long as you pay a lot of attention to him. Ivan will still find ways to influence you, and while things will be quiet for a while, it will eventuell end like the events described above in the second paragraph. He'll make it clear to you that it is nothing personal and just business. 

Vengeance - What would they do in the face of competition? 

Quiet like a tiger would act if somebody steals/tries to steal his meat. At first, he is content with threats and displays of powers, puffing himself up in order to appear bigger. Cold expressions and even colder words towards any other potential suitors. Commonly, he carries himself with such authority and purpose that he scares away most of those that stand in his way. 

If that is not enough, he might send some boys to knock the opponent around a bit. Or maybe stick out a leg at work to trip the other. A small message, a swipe with his claws - back off. Just a tiny incident to show the concurrence that he is serious. 

But if that isn't enough, then matters get dark. Perhaps the other has his reputation ruined, with illicit material of that person posted online. Maybe he'll warn everybody to stay away from that person, a recipe for insanity. Or if the man/woman dares hurt you, or worse, then that person will end up chopped up and rendered to pig food. Anything to keep you safe, after all.

Art is not mine: from Irina Vinnik and other artists

Info an the Yandere Character Sheets

[mysteryshoptls]

SSR Malleus Draconia Dorm Uniform Personal Story: Part 1

"Briar Valley's own."

Part 1 (Part 2) (Part 3)

[Mirror Chamber]

Crowley: Now, the Dorm Leader meeting will come to order.

Crowley: Today's agenda begins with…

Lilia: Apologies! I'm terribly late!

Crowley: AAAH!!!!

Crowley: V-Vanrouge-kun… When did you slip into the Mirror Chamber? Don't startle me so!

Lilia: Ah, thousand pardons. It's only, Malleus has disappeared.

Lilia: While Silver and Sebek are currently out searching for him, for the time being, I will attend the meeting in his stead as the Vice Dorm Leader.

Crowley: Eh? …AH!

Crowley: NOW THAT YOU MENTION IT... DRACONIA-KUN ISN'T HERE!!

Lilia: …Did you all forget? About poor Malleus?

Kalim: S-Sorry… I totally thought someone else would let him know.

Leona: Hah. I ain't his babysitter, and why should we have to go so far as to say, "Oh, Malleus-kun, let's go to the meeting together."

Vil: You know, I've been thinking ever since I became a Dorm Leader this year…

Vil: Malleus isn't ever at these meetings, is he?

Idia: Yeah! I want to know about that too.

Idia: Even I'm forcing myself here remotely, even though I def don't wanna be here.

Idia: IT'S NOT FAIR THAT MALLEUS-SHI GETS TO SKIP ALL THE TIME! OBJECTION!

Azul: Indeed, these slights against us does not foster a good feeling.

Azul: He is continuously absent. On occasions where he actually does attend, he is constantly tardy. I can only assume that he thinks very little of this meeting.

Lilia: Malleus has no such intention. I know he must be hoping to participate in these meetings with you all.

Vil: All this lip service means nothing so long as no results follow.

Vil: Leona, Riddle. You must have indulged him a considerable amount last year to allow Malleus's despotic behavior to continue like this.

Leona: Us, indulge him? …You can say that because you don't know how much I had to deal with last year.

Riddle: Leona-senpai just dictated, but I was the one who really had to handle everything.

Riddle: In the beginning, the Dorm Leaders last year attempted to enact many a plan in order to have Malleus-senpai attend the meeting.

Riddle: We would send him several reminders via email, send physical letters, and even went directly to his dormitory…

Idia: Aaand how'd that go?

Leona: A total failure. That bastard doesn't check his email, and that bat over there kept losing the letters.

Leona: When we went to the dorm, those zealous draconians'd be on alert and wouldn't let anyone in.

Leona: It's the biggest pain I've ever had to deal with. Why does everyone else have to run around for him, instead of him workin' on it?

Riddle: Like I said earlier, the one running around was me… Ahem. Anyway, we did all we could.

Riddle: Everything else is up to Malleus-senpai.

Azul: So, essentially…The two of you gave up on Malleus-san.

Vil: Even Leona the slacker gets dragged here by Ruggie, and Idia the shut-in participates by way of his technology.

Vil: Do you truly believe it is appropriate that Malleus is constantly absent for these meetings in which we discuss important decisions for the school?

Vil: Perhaps it was acceptable up until now. However, I do not approve of his negligence.

Crowley: Hmm. It rather feels as though it will be difficult to continue this meeting amidst this uncomfortable climate…

Crowley: Vanrouge-kun, could we have you contact Draconia-kun and have him come here right away?

Lilia: I would love nothing more, but…

[beep!]

Smartphone Voice Assistant: The number you have dialed is either in a non-service area, or is not turned on, and therefore your call cannot be connected.

[beep!]

Lilia: …No matter how many times I call, I still cannot get through. It was working last night, though.

Lilia: It's most likely that he broke his phone today.

Crowley: Well, it can't be helped. I suppose we should all go out and search for him.

Leona: Hah? Why should we? He ain't a lost kid. Don't baby him.

Lilia: Sob, sob… What unfriendly folk…

Kalim: Hrrrm, if there was something I could do, I'd like to help out…

Azul: Kalim-san, this is not an issue that can be solved by simply "helping out."

Azul: Do we intend on starting every meeting with a search for Malleus-san? He must learn to better himself.

Lilia: Tch. Crocodile tears didn't work, huh…

Vil: There is no way that such a terrible performance would successfully deceive us. It seems both the Dorm Leader and Vice Dorm Leader both are just fooling around.

Leona: Kukuku. Maybe that guy's the least suited to be a Dorm Leader outta all of us, ey?

Idia: Is that kinda boss really gonna be ok? Makes me sooo worried for the future of Briar Valley.

Lilia: Hmph… What a thing to say towards the heir of the Draconia family.

Lilia: …Malleus's reputation will be tarnished at this rate.

Lilia: I understand. Malleus will attend the next meeting, I swear it.

Part 1 (Part 2) (Part 3)

Requested by @x0-luna-mix-0x, @sakurakudo, and @symphonyprincessuta

[i-literally-cant-with-this]

A/N ::: @katkitkats and I talked about this about a week ago. I'm sorry this took me so long, Kat. I know it's a lot shorter than what I was anticipating. Ha, isn't that some shit. I DIDN'T write something freakishly long. Jesus. How weird. Anyway, I hope you like it, Kat. <3 As always, thanks for discussing your ideas with me

C/W ::: Timeskip Hanma x depressed F.reader, talk of feeling worthless, mention of leaving - I don't mean suicide, I just mean like, literally going away/leaving.

Hanma is uncharacteristically sweet and compassionate in this piece. Do I think he could ever be capable of such feelings? Honestly? I can see it happening but he's got a lot of growing up to do first.

WC ::: 1,284

Cry Until You Laugh

For Kat

The light from outside was an assault on your eyes that you would not soon forget. Or forgive, for that matter. Hanma pulled back the blackout curtains in favor of the light yellow embroidered sheers to filter the world from your sensitive disposition.

"It looks like it's going to be a warm day. What do you think about going for a rid-" You met his question with a loud groan and rolled over, pulling his pillow over your face. "Ok. So no ride along the coast. Noted. But you know you should at least-" He started again.

"Try to get outside. Yes, Shuji. I know. Thank you." You said softly, despite interrupting him. You knew that he was only trying to do his best for you. For the both of you. "But I think I'd like to stay in. You know how I feel about that fiery fucking thing in the sky. I hate it."

That drew a soft laugh from him. "Hana, what am I going to do with you." You knew what he meant but you just couldn't help yourself.

"It's recycling day, is it not? Just put something decent on me and sit me at the curb. Let the city handle the rest."

"Han- hana. Don't talk like that. Please? I'm never going to ... to do whatever the fuck you're talking about. Now come please. I have to get you up and running and then we’re going out. What sounds good for breakfast?"

You pulled the pillow the rest of the way from your face and flipped it behind your head, sitting at a comfortable incline. The look on Hanma's face was absolutely heartbreaking. He shouldn't have to be dealing with this shit. With you. It made you feel bad, knowing you were such a burden on everyone that has stuck by you up to this point.

Normally, you'd make some offhand comment about how a bowl of shredded glass and bleach would be all you'd need for the morning. But there was a noticeable sadness that was almost heavier in Hanma's eyes than in your own. It made you want to cry. But then that would only make him feel bad. And that was just one more thing you never wanted for him. You were sad enough for the both of you.

"Hana ... please? I know you feel like there are better things to do, but it's important to take care of yourself, baby. Don't you want to show the world how beautiful you are." He chuckles as he says the last part. "Eh, I know you don't care. I know you don't."

Hanma helps you up off of the bed and helps you walk to the bathroom. He lifts you up and sets you on top of the counter and pulls out the brush to run it through your hair. It's been hard for him, this experience with you. He loves you with every piece of himself. But sometimes he doesn't know how to act around you. You're a loose canon sometimes and if he says or does something that can set you off, there's no telling how long you'll be on that downward spiral.

"Hey... Look at me. It's going to be okay. We'll take some time just for us today." He tips your face up so you're looking at him. His amber eyes are glowing in the morning sunlight.

How, you wonder, can one person be everything when you are nothing.

He manages to take care of things and makes sure you do the bare minimum on top of everything else. It's so fucking exhausting being you.

Sometimes you play the "If I just left" game. But you would never leave him like that. You don't think, anyway.

"Look at me." His tone shifted from soft to commanding. "I mornings are hard for you. I know this morning is hard for you." As he notices you're not responding, he brings his face close, and caresses your cheeks, to make you see him as he stares at you sharply. 

His reassurances are your downfall. You can tell him no over and over again. Tell him to fuck off until you're blue in the face. But he'd only tell you that blue looks really pretty on you.

"I love you." You break down in tears.

He holds you tightly, shushing you softly. "I'm here. I'm here, baby. I'm not leaving. I promise. I'll stay as long as you want me to stay. I'm not going anywhere." He whispers softly to you as he gently runs his fingers through your hair. "It's going to be okay."

You feel so stupid and vulnerable right now. You just want to crawl in a hole and disappear. But Hanma won't let that happen.

He helps you get ready for the day and takes you to the kitchen for breakfast. You hate it when he cooks for you. It makes you feel like a child. But he insists and you're just too fucking tired to argue.

After you eat, he helps you put on your shoes and a light jacket before grabbing his keys and wallet. He opens the front door and lets you walk out first before following behind you.

The sunlight was damn near blinding. You hadn't been outside in weeks and the fresh air felt foreign.

Hanma takes your hand and leads you to his car. You can already feel the anxiety starting to shake loose in your chest. It's been so long since you've been out in public. You just hope that no one you know sees you.

The ride to the park is a quiet one. You're still upset and you're trying not to cry again.

When you finally reach the park, Hanma parks the car and comes around to open your door. He offers his hand and you take it.

You walk in silence through the park. The only sound is the crunch of the leaves beneath your feet.

As you're walking, you notice Hanma taking pictures of you. You don't like it but you don't say anything. You know he's just trying to make you feel better.

You both stop at a bench and sit down. Hanma wraps his arm around your shoulder and pulls you close. "How are you feeling, hana? It's been some time since you've been out like this." He says softly.

"I'm alright." You respond quietly.

"You don't have to pretend with me, baby." He says as he caresses your cheek. "It's okay to not be okay."

"I just... I just don't know what to do anymore. I can't stand how I feel like this. I hate that I'm not able to be normal anymore." You sigh as you lean into his touch.

"You're doing the best you can, sweetheart. You're so brave and so beautiful." He presses a soft kiss to your temple.

"You don't have to keep doing this, you know." You say quietly. "You don't have to keep putting up with me. You can leave if you want."

"I'm not going anywhere, hana. I'm here for you. I love you and I'm not leaving you."

You lean against him as tears start to well up in your eyes. "I don't deserve you."

He stretched his arms above his head. "I know." He whispers as he gently strokes your hair. "Everything in the world, hana. You're worth it. I'll never leave you."

You sniffle as you try to hold back the tears. "I just want to be normal again."

Hanma sighs softly. "I know, hana. But what's the fun in that?"

He looks down and smiles at you.

And for the first time in a long time, you smile.

Really smile.

Taglist ::: @darkstarlight82 @viburnt @arlerts-angel @kazutora-kurokawa

[weebsinstash]

Just some more ideas for sone stuff Mr Rich Douche Yandere would do to his darling/the Reader

--apparently hair elastics like ponytails can technically damage your hair, so if you use them he insists on tying your hair up with silk ribbons and other soft materials (and wants to do it himself obviously)

--doesn't let you swim in public pools or public bodies of water besides the ocean and even then that's on private property. Not only does he not want to have to share your half nude body with anyone else, but, poor people can be dirty and gross to the point of being another species in his eyes. And not to enable him but have you ever read those stories of people who don't bathe before going into pools because they believe the chlorine is like a shower? 🤢

--really, activities that require you touching other people or sharing things with other people just strike him as unsanitary and "you're too good for them anyways". He kind of thinks all poor people in general are trashy and you're just an exception, perfect to him in almost every way. No buffets, no public gyms, no bowling, no clubbing, no strip mall beauty salons/spas that might have dirty equipment, no sports events not in a private box, like, the list goes on and on

--pressures you into having "real hobbies" aka things he approves of, likes himself, and/or can do with you, but are usually like, rich people bullshit: painting, golfing, teaching you to play a classical instrument, archery, horseback riding

--dresses you in only the best, kind of excessively. Once you enter a serious relationship with him, he'll make you forget what jeans, t-shirts, and sneakers even are. Absolutely buys you new clothes to throw out and replace anything you owned before him.

--you know how some yanderes will go as far as to collect tissues, they're so obsessed with anything you've touched or owned? Not his ass! If it isn't super sentimental to you or something you use often, he slowly replaces everything you own with things he's bought for you. Only the best for his baby 🥰 and also no traces of your past can be allowed to remain. He's all you need now right? so let's get rid of all those things given to you by people who came before him. You don't need those useless old memories...

--none of your friends are good enough for him and he'll heavily discourage you from spending time with them, even outright bribing them/threatening them into avoiding you.

--wants to get married and tie you down basically right away, but he's calculated enough to at least kind of wait and make you love him first. If he's a noble, he'll pull strings for another noble to adopt you or something to "legitimize your status", and if he's a king or emperor he may just ignore the laws to let you be directly at his side and not a mere concubine. Who's gonna stop him? He's literally the man in charge

--i like to imagine at some point in the relationship you're living with him in one of his homes and he's in his office with his multiple computer monitors that he uses for work, and he's just sitting there watching you through security cameras to see you in your private moments, simply craving and consuming every last detail about you no matter how personal

--when he's away, you're assigned private security because he's wealthy/important enough that you could be kidnapped. He definitely overplays the possibility of danger when you bring up doing anything that loosens his control and surveillance, though. He'll tell you it's only because he treasures you much and has to keep you safe

--all im saying is that he's "leader of a country" level rich and money can achieve anything. That ex-boyfriend you bumped into on a date with him? Missing without a trace, the cops don't even investigate. Relationship go south and you run away? A black van rolls up while you're on the sidewalk and you get taken right back by men in black suits who are being paid way too much to mind if you bite and scream. You start cracking under the pressure if all his expectations and say you'll leave him? Threaten to hurt yourself? Hippity hoppity your body is his property, and he's sending you to a private clinic where they'll force meds into you and monitor you while he finishes his business affairs and sets up a nice little "vacation home" for you both to "take time off" and for you to "clear your head". He's thinking an island, something nice and remote....

[ishouldsleepbut]

1, 20 and 29 for the music asks :)

have a fabulous day bestie <3

this was so fun to do so thank you thank you thank you for asking it!!! fair warning, my answer to the second one is pretty long. so proceed at your own risk and have a fabulous day/night as well <333

1. the red means i love you by mads buckley (1): this is the only song i consistently like with a color in the name and it was so hard to find T-T

2. deep breaths by sushi soucy (20): i have a lot of feelings about this song. basically, it's about this boy and he can't breathe. and no matter what anyone tells him or what he does, it doesn't get fixed. he still can't breathe and he ends up running away. for me, this song has two meanings: one relating to gender and the other to gifted kid syndrome stuff. for the gender part, it's all about how this kid is growing up in a world where everyone expects him to do this one "simple" thing. it's natural for everyone else, so why can't he do it? and except for breathing, he can do everything else fine. but people are only fixated on how he can't breathe. it's very real in the sense that if you're not cis, people will fixate on your gender like it's the most important thing and forget about everything else you do that isn't defined by that. also, it talks about how there's something wrong with his chest and maybe his lungs are "too big" or "too small". that has something to do with gender dysphoria, i think. i'm not really sure. as for the gifted kid part, it speaks about how eventually, "smart" kids (like moi) hit a wall where we can't just pass just on our own. we have to study, we have to put in effort. and most of us never learned how to do that since it came so easily. but now we have to and we can't deal with all that pressure and it quite literally feels like we can't breathe. yet everyone around us is still staring, expecting us to continuously and consistently keep reaching that high standard. we should able to breathe. we've done it before. but we can't.

3. can't help falling in love by elvis presley and ho hey by the lumineers (29): the first one is actually the lullaby that my parents used to sing to my sister when she was younger. they call it "her song" which i think is really cute and every time i hear it, i think of her. the second one is the one they would sing to me. though, i remember it specifically playing during my baths.

[theseusernamesarehard]

Stuck on the puzzle: Chapter five

previous | next | masterlist

pairing: Luke Castellan x Olivia Messer (daughter of Apollo oc)

summary: Luke hurts Olivia once again and it takes them right back to their first fight.

word count: 3,5k

"You don't know what you're doing", Chris told Luke.

They were sitting in the empty Hermes cabin, Luke was finally dismissed and didn't have to spend his nights in the infirmary. He just had to go there twice a day for a checkup, although Chris notified him that he was there a lot more. The kids were off at archery practice, so the counselor and interim counselor had some time to talk while Luke unpacked.

"I know", Luke sighed. "I feel like I'm walking on eggshells around her, but after everything, I'll take what I can get."

"There has to be a reason why she's being friendly again. Maybe she just needed the time to cool off."

"She's hasn't been able to stay mad at me for longer than a day in three years and suddenly she goes eight months? It wasn't just cooling off. I think she never meant to talk to me again unless she had to."

"But now she is."

"When I came back she suggested a deal where we act like everything is fine and nothing ever happened between us", Luke pondered. "I think it was supposed to just be until she can get the poison out, but it's been a week now. It might be for good."

"There's no way you can just keep being friends when she cut you off for eight months and you don't even know why. You two have to talk about it."

"But do we? If I bring it up it might just end up the same way it always did when I tried to mend things. She's going to yell at me and close off from everyone around her. I finally have her back."

"Do you?"

"Pretty much yeah."

"You feel like you can just casually hold her hand while you two roam around camp again? Throw her in the lake or sneak her in here when you can't sleep? As much as you two were 'just friends' you sure didn't act like it."

Luke blushed.

"I think that if you can't do those things anymore, things are not back to the way it was. And besides, there's the whole Theo issue."

"Theo issue?"

"Athena cabin counselor who clearly likes her and who she doesn't push away like she's been doing to everyone else in her life lately."

"And why is that an issue?"

Although Luke knew exactly why it was, an uncomfortable feeling growing in his chest.

"I don't know Luke, why is it?"

He didn't respond.

"I think the kids are about done with archery", he said instead.

"I'll get them to lunch. But this conversation isn't over", Chris sighed.

Once he left, Luke plopped on his bed and looked at the wooden ceiling, thoughts starting to race through his head at an alarming rate as they had been lately. He finally understood the dragon that tried to claw his face off. He felt like he had a hundred heads as well.

One head didn't think he had anything to complain about. He'd finally gotten his best friend back, which was something that he'd prayed from an embarrassing amount of gods, he was back at camp and best of all, he was alive. Was there even anything else to ask for?

Yes. There were so many things Luke still wanted. He wanted to forget the fact that he ever went on that stupid quest. But he wanted his father to do anything except go back to ignoring him like he did before. So maybe he didn't want to erase the quest. He wanted to have succeeded in that quest. He wanted to receive anything other than the looks of pity he was getting. He wanted his goddamn kleos, felt entitled to it actually, and that feeling brought out a head that he hadn't seen since their years on the run with Annabeth and Thalia. One he didn't particularly like.

And then there was one head. The one was always able to crawl its way to his consciousness, even if he had bigger, more important matters at hand. The head had been suffocated for a bit, willed out of existence, but it was back and filled with thoughts of curly hair that Luke liked playing with, a soft smile that made life worth living and eyes that felt like they could x-ray his soul. Even in his darkest moments, alone in the silence when he felt like all there was left to do was rip apart this world and build a better one by his design, his thoughts wondered over to the person he wanted to build it for. Whose hurt and pain should be his to carry just because he was already too lucky, too blessed to just be able to exist in her vicinity.

Luke's thoughts always found their way back to Olivia. To Liv.

Who looked like she was regretting ever meeting him. Luckily she didn't slam the infirmary door in his face, although he knew it was close.

"Don't tell me you played", she sighed.

Her brown eyes were fixated on his face, clearly hoping for an answer he couldn't give. He looked down when he couldn't bear looking at her.

"If it helps, he was on defense", Annabeth Chase replied.

Yes, Luke was so scared of her, of losing her, that he had to beg his adorable little sister, who he knew Olivia had an extra soft spot for, to take him. Incase that maybe stopped her from ghosting him again.

"You're un-fucking-believeable", she huffed and dragged him in.

Annabeth followed, seemingly finding this whole situation a tad bit amusing.

"I didn't think anything would happen! Like Annabeth said, I was on defense, I just wanted-",

"You wanted your honor, your kleos, didn't you? Just admit it. Admit that you haven't changed, you still need to show everyone how tough you are and you don't care who ends up being collateral!"

"No one's collateral."

"It's exactly like last time. You think you can do whatever because I have this goddamn blood that's going to fix everything and you don't even think about what giving it away does! Nobody does! It's like I'm not even a person. Just a healing concoction that happens to also administer the dose. I'm the fucking collateral."

Annabeth didn't find it so funny anymore. People recovering from the game were silently leaving the infirmary, trying to avoid getting into the crossfire. Annabeth started slowly stepping out as well with the excuse that she needed to help the people figure out where they could do the healing now.

"Sit down, Luke."

"Come on, Liv."

"Sit down. I'll patch up your cheek."

She wiped her face, trying to get rid of the tears inconspicuously, but Luke saw, or rather he knew. And he cursed himself for hurting her again. He was longing for the times when all he meant to her was comfort, something to take the pain away, not cause it.

"I really don't think of you like that, Liv."

"It's what everyone thinks of me at some point. Just hurts more when you do it."

She took off his gauze, which was now stained slightly with blood.

"I'll just redo the stitches. The strain made it open up again."

She was back to being cold, there was no glimmer in her eyes, no soft smile reserved only for him. He felt like going back to San Fransisco and letting that dragon finish the job.

"Will you ever talk to me again?" his voice was weak and in another life he might've felt embarrassed, but he was so scared that he was willing to go down on his knees and beg her if it meant he could have her back.

"I'll clean it, which might hurt a little bit."

"More than this. Liv, please I can't do this again. I can't have you not talk to me again."

"I don't know if I can do this, Luke", she sighed. "I'm tired."

And she did look it. Eyes red with crying, eyebags deep and dark, matching Luke's. He wondered if she had gotten a full nights sleep since they stopped talking. He for sure hadn't. And he still didn't fully know what it was about.

Last fall, Olivia and Luke had started school once again. Olivia went into her junior year and Luke had his last year of high school. Luke's senior year had begun exceptionally well. He was doing fine in his classes and the nightmares were finally easing up. The more time he spent with his school friends in New York, the less he seemed to struggle. They helped him take his mind off the other world they didn't even know existed. Especially Sheila. Sheila, who he found he really liked. And who was nice to kiss. So they started dating. Which meant that Luke was spending even more time in the city with her.

Meanwhile Olivia's life was starting to go downhill, quick. There was a weird infection going around camp. It was some sort of internal poisoning, which meant that she was constantly giving blood, organizing shifts for the infirmary and overall trying to keep everyone alive. Her iron was low, she felt dizzy all the time and she wasn't sleeping for a few reasons. Her nightmares hadn't eased up, in fact they seemed to be getting worse with the stress and now that Luke had a girlfriend, they obviously couldn't share a bed. Which she understood. And she wanted to be happy for him, really did, but she just didn't have the energy.

Especially when it felt like he was flat out ignoring her. She noticed that their joint breakfasts' were only happening when she sat down at his table and decided to see if he'd notice her absence and join her at her own table. So they stopped having breakfast together. He didn't seem to realize or care how stressful her life had become, since he was too busy recapping events and parties he was going to in the city and although he always asked her, he didn't bother to concern himself with the fact that she could never go.

But the last stitch happened on October 2nd. October 2nd was the day Olivia's mom died, the day she was left with no one in the world to look out for her and chucked into a foster home. She eventually found the note her mom was trying to write to her about her origins and found the address to camp Half-Blood through that, but it was preceded by the absolute worst months of her life. So saying it's a hard day was an understatement. But Luke had always made it better. He always had something special planned and he somehow managed to make it into a somewhat nice day. You're never going to look forward to the anniversary of your mom's death, but at least trying to figure out what Luke would do for it gave it some other meaning.

So when he ended up going to Sheila's straight after school, Olivia went back to camp and cried in her bed. She had wanted to continue that activity for the whole day, but seeing she had ten new sick campers, some of which were her siblings and co-healers, she got a good half an hour before she had to get back to work.

So when Luke came home injured from a run-in with a hellhound, she was less than pleased to be woken up. Reason one being that she was actually sleeping finally and reason number two being that of course she had to heal him. Which to her credit, she did.

"Thanks, Liv. That dog really had it out for me", he chuckled.

Luke was flashing his signature smirk, which Olivia had once found borderline irresistible. Now it was just annoying. And a little bit irresistible. The smirk was dropped quickly when she didn't respond and just started returning the things to their places.

"Why the long face, doc?"

That was admittedly the worst question he could've asked at that point. She let out a laugh that sounded an awful lot like a sob to Luke.

"You know that's probably the first question you've asked me in a month."

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing."

"Come on, Liv", he grabbed her arm, pulling him towards him.

"Don't do that", she warned.

"Then just tell me, what's going on with you?"

Olivia sighed.

"Do you know what day it is?"

"Tuesday, why?"

"What date Luke?"

His face dropped.

"Shit. Fuck, sorry Liv I didn't-I didn't even realize. I don't know how I forgot."

"I do. It's like you've been ignoring me. We haven't had breakfast together in ages, you only hang out with Sheila during and after school and you haven't even bothered to check in on me on the rare occasion we do get to talk."

"Why haven't you said anything?"

"I have enough on my fucking plate already. Which you would know if you bothered to care about me."

"Of course I care about you, are you kidding?"

"Well you don't really show it, do you?"

Luke sighed.

"Sheila asked me to take some distance from you. I didn't mean to flat out ignore you, but I figured it was fair."

"Fair", she let it hang in the air.

"You know how it looks from the outside, you get as much shit for it as I do. This was always going to become a problem eventually."

That made her properly tear up.

"Doesn't take away from the fact that I really needed you today. I've actually needed you for a long time, but especially today. Everyone's sick, I'm already giving out too much blood and everybody expects me and me alone to fix it."

Luke took her hand and interlaced it with his own.

"And I used to be able to handle it. Feeling like everyone is thrusting the weight of the world on my shoulders was fine when I had you. When I had one fucking person that didn't expect everything of me. Who instead knew how it felt."

Luke was silent, cursing himself. Olivia took her hand out of his.

"But now you're becoming just like everyone. You don't care how I feel anymore, you don't stop to think about me. You're blowing off your duties not thinking about who they fall on or not bothering to check in with what's going on in the camp 'cause you're too focused on yourself."

"That's not fair, Olivia. That's not fucking fair and you know it."

She didn't like the way he said her name. Her full name.

"I've given up so much for other people", Luke began. "I've been on my own since I was nine, I took care of Thalia and Annabeth, I run the biggest cabin in the camp. It's me who takes in the new kids, assures them. I'm their older brother, their parent, whatever they didn't get growing up and I get nothing. I think I deserve some time to be a teenager."

"And I don't?"

"Never said you didn't. But you can't put it all on me. Maybe you should let other people in too."

"It's not that easy."

"You could try, though."

She glared at him.

"Come on. You can't blame others for expecting you to carry the world on your shoulders if you try to put yours on mine. It's the same thing! You're just relying on me for constant support with everything."

"I thought you wanted to support me."

There was no more anger, no yelling. Just a teenage girl who was losing trust in the one person she thought loved her.

"I do. I do, but I can't do it forever."

"Let's not be friends."

"Are you kidding me?"

"Let's not be friends than. If you can't do this forever, why prolong the time you have me to drag down your life? No more hanging out, no more talking, we can maybe say hi to each other and that's it."

"That's not funny."

"I'm not trying to be. It's what Sheila wants and clearly what you want as well. You'll be free from me and all my fucking baggage."

"Liv, let's just think about this."

"No. No more Liv. No more we. I'll be Olivia from now on. Liv is what friends call me."

"You can't be serious. You're not throwing this away."

"Maybe we've just grown apart. A lot of people don't talk to their childhood best friend."

"We're more than just 'childhood friends'."

Luke didn't know it, but that was the worst thing he could've ever said. Hearing the words she'd been hoping to hear for the last years in the wrong context solidified the fact that Olivia couldn't bear to be friends with him while loving him the way she did.

So she walked out, got Lee to do the rest of Luke's healing and refused to go in the infirmary until he was dismissed.

Eventually it was found out that the strawberries had been cursed by some weird disease and the epidemic stopped. But Olivia still wouldn't speak to Luke despite him trying everything. He broke up with Sheila immediately, followed Olivia around for days and spoke extensive monologues riddled with apologies. Eventually she threatened him with her knife and that made him stop. But it didn't stop his shocked face appearing in her dreams. Those brown eyes looking in shock at the knife she'd angled at his throat and despite Olivia repeating in her mind that it was for her own good, it didn't make the pain any easier.

And they once again arrived at the same place, months later. There were too many feelings unspoken, too many words unsaid. For two people who knew each other better than anyone had ever known them, they seemed to have certain blindspots.

"Liv, I swear. I'll do anything you ask me to, anything. I'll never get hurt again, I'll never tell you you're a bad singer, whatever you want. Please. Just don't leave me."

"That's the problem Luke. It'a not about you getting hurt, it's not about you making fun of my singing."

"Then what is it about? I know you want me to just know and I wish I did, but I don't! I know absolutely everything about you except this and it kills me."

"I just need some time to think. Alone. Lee can deal with the rest."

Luke just nodded and turned his head. Olivia had never felt so bad, but she couldn't do it. It wasn't even about the fact that Luke played, it was all the feelings that him being hurt caused her. When he showed up she realized she'd never loved him more and he'd once again taken her for granted. As someone who was there, who was his friend, in the background. Olivia didn't want a future where she had to stand at the altar and watch Luke marry someone else. Or where she had to look his dead body in the eyes and once again have someone she could've saved haunting her. She had to cut him off. They didn't work, even though she felt like Luke was all she was.

She was so deep in thought she didn't even notice Annabeth trailing her all the way to the forest until the little girl opened her mouth.

"He feels the same way, you know", Annabeth said, scaring Olivia.

"Christ Annabeth!" Olivia put away the knife she'd reflexively drawn. "You can't just go around following people."

"Luke's just an idiot who doesn't know anything about anyone, least of all himself, but I can see that you're the most important person in his life. And I'm counting myself in that."

"He sure doesn't show it", Olivia muttered. She really didn't want to have this conversation with an 11-year-old, but she was intrigued to know more.

"Doesn't he? He might not say it, but I've never seen him more scared than just now, when he realized he'd lose you again. He hasn't been himself since your fight and now he's going around sulking all the time if he isn't with you. I know Luke is clueless about his feelings, but I didn't expect the same from you Olivia."

"It's not that simple. Maybe he has feelings for me, so what? That doesn't mean everything will magically fall into place. You just said he doesn't even know it", she took a deep breath. "I love him so much it sometimes feels physically painful. That's not something I can just 'not realize'. I don't want to feel this much for someone who can just go and date Sheila fucking Widows and ignore me because she asked!"

Olivia had never revealed to anyone why she was really so upset at Luke, but since Annabeth seemed to once again know everything about anyone, she had to let it out.

"Didn't he break up with Sheila based on sheer hope it would make you talk to him again? You should take into account the fact that maybe Luke ignores his feeling because he's scared."

"Luke's barely scared of anything. I feel like he could handle a crush."

"It's not a crush. Anyone can see it's not just that."

"I don't want to waste my energy on this. It's easier to just let the entire thing go."

"Easy? Has it been easy for you? Staying away from Luke. Because from what I can see you're doing absolutely terrible and there's a simple solution."

"No offense, but you're eleven. I think I know what's best in this situation", Olivia huffed and started walking away.

"You're doing exactly what Luke is doing, hiding your feelings away because you don't want to face them!" Annabeth said after her.

Olivia kept walking away. Annabeth sighed in annoyance. Luke and Olivia were two pieces of a puzzle, it was clear to everyone. So why were they getting so stuck on solving it?

[volturiwolf]

Ker si en delček vzela s seboj - Bojan x fem!musician!reader - part 2

A/N: Sentences/words written in italics are in their native languages.

A/N 2: Not everything is accurate/according to what actually happened. Many things are made up, like this story.

A/N 3: This story and the way the characters play out have nothing to do with the real people. This is an imaginary story, in an imaginary world, with imaginary situations.

This series contains mature/adult content (use of drugs and alcohol, explicit material, swearing, etc).

I woke up in the morning, having no idea what time it was. My eyes felt so heavy I could barely open them, but I knew I had to eventually, because if I didn't, I'd quickly fall back asleep again.

So, I forced myself to open them, expecting to find a sleepy Bojan lying beside me. Though, when I did manage to fully open my eyes, I realized that Bojan was gone and I wasn't wearing my nightgown anymore. Or my underwear if I were honest.

I jumped off the bed, covering myself with the sheets, whisper-shouting "Bojan? Bojan?" around the room, hoping he was in the bathroom.

"Bojan's not here, (Y/N)."

I turned around to see Mini having a smoke on the balcony. She had changed clothes since last night. But how did she, if she slept over at Alex's?

"Bojan was never here, (Y/N). You were hallucinating."

What?

Mini pointed at the bottle of wine on top of my nightstand. "I got this bottle out of curiosity; to see what I'd do to me. I think I got my answer already."

I was still totally confused. Why wasn't Bojan here? What happened last night? What's in that wine? Why was I naked? 

I felt a liquid running down the back of my neck and back. I wasn't sweating that much. I patted my head. Was my hair wet?

I stumbled to grab the bottle and check around the label. Shit!

"Why does this wine have cannabis in it?"

"Because I wanted to try it out! Why did you open it?"

"I was tired and I wanted to take a sip. I didn't see what it was!"

"Really? You didn't notice the big skull in the front?"

"At that time, I thought it was just the aesthetic! I didn't think of it! Obviously!" 

"Okay, whatever, that doesn't matter right now. What matters is that, even in this state, you're clearly obsessed with Bojan, to the point where you self-destruct yourself. Again. I think it would be better for you AND the band if you stopped…whatever this is. This isn't you. Since when do you even drink so much?!" 

I took a look at the bottle in my hands. Over half of it was gone. I'd usually have a glass or two and feel dizzy, but half of this? How did I even make it out alive?

"We’re less than a month away from the Semi-Finals and we have to think of the competition. YOU have to think of the competition. You have to focus on the competition, not hoping for someone who gave you mixed signals once and nothing more after that. Okay, (Y/N)? I sound cruel; I know that, but this is important for all of us. So, try to forget him and whatever he’s doing.”

Mini did sound cruel like she always did, but once again, she made sense. We were here to compete in a music competition that was broadcasted to the whole world. We were given a once-in-a-lifetime chance to show our talent to the world; to show that Greek can be as successful a language as English or other languages in the competition. Thinking of Bojan, or anyone else for the matter, should and could wait. 

“Yeah. You’re right. I should focus on our goals.”

“I knew you’d see that. I don’t say that you shouldn’t be friends or whatever you are even supposed to be right now, but think that we don’t do this just for ourselves but for the whole country, our families, and friends. To give them something to be proud of.” Mini caressed my cheek, her eyes pinned on me, full of meaning, reminding me to forget about unrelated things and not fuck up, like we promised to ourselves. "And try to take care of yourself, okay? Don't do crazy shit anymore."

“Okay, Mini. I understood that in the first place.” She didn’t have to be mean about it by bringing up such seriousness when we were supposed to have fun, no matter the result.

“I’m going back to the boys before they start to worry even more. When you called us last night and started blurring things on your phone, we all got worried for you. I’ll go calm them down.” Mini kissed my cheek and left me with thoughts racing through my mind.

What even happened last night? I barely remember myself tasting the 'wine' Mini brought here. But the evidence didn't lie. The bottle was almost gone; no glass needed. 

I tried to trace my steps back to anything that could possibly remind me of last night. The room was a bit messy, but that was probably because I messed up everything around already. I quickly put on a bra, underwear, a t-shirt, and shorts that I grabbed from my suitcase, and took two aspirins from the shared suitcase, along with some water, before I went on to investigate.

At first glance, the bed sheets were messy - I slept in them, after all. Mini and I's shared suitcase was open and a few snacks were missing - just like in my hallucination. Though when I looked over at the couch, they weren't there. I found them, at some point, under the bed, by Mini's side; all open, all partially consumed. Snacks that I wouldn't normally eat.

I went over to the bathroom, where I supposedly called Mini. There was still water dripping down the shower door and walls, and a few used towels tossed on the floor. Some black details stood out from the pile of white towels. I was disgusted that I had to go through the used fabrics, but I was now pretty sure that I made this mess anyway.

Pulling out the foreign fabric from the pile, I felt like I was instantly hit by a brick wall. It was a pair of “SEIZE THE DAY” boxers, and I knew already that there were only 5 people - maybe more, but I for sure knew 5 people - who only wore those for promotion.

I felt numb and dizzy. Who was here and left with no underwear? Why did he take his underwear off in the first place? What have I done? And most importantly, with whom?

I tried to gather up my mind, trying to remember anything from last night, but the more I did, the more my head hurt. I let myself slide on the floor, still holding the underwear in my hand. It didn’t have an identifier whose underwear it could be, but it was the only clue that narrowed down my hotel room’s “intruder”.

Also, the fact that Kris and Nace had girlfriends, narrowed down the results to 3 people. And I still didn’t want to think that I may have done something with any of those three. It would be so awkward and bad if I ever got to look any of them in the eyes, which was inevitable since today was the pre-party.

I cursed myself for getting wasted a day before the pre-party when we should have been focused on getting well-rested and performing for the fans. As painful as it was, I had to clear out everything before I could even walk on stage.

I pulled myself up and embraced myself. Just to be sure, I searched again through the pile until I confirmed that that was where I also got naked when I found my own underwear and the nightgown I was missing. I sighed heavily, before washing my hands meticulously.

I grabbed my phone and then it hit me: I was talking to my friends last night. Maybe I should have looked at my phone first. I clicked on the messages first. I had sent a message to Alex at 01:13, saying nothing - it was basically Greek letters here and there, making no sense. But Alex only read the message two and a half hours later.

I scrolled through my texts, having sent messages to all my bandmates after I texted Alex, and got no response. Still, no response from them for at least 2 or 3 hours. I saw that, for some reason, I texted Bojan?! I pressed to see the conversation, and it was so embarrassing from the very start:

(Y/N): Γειά, Μπουποογαν. Τι κνς; Πς εσιδοδςξφω ; !23μξ

B: ???

(Y/N): *Μπόγιαν *κάνεις u no wut? I ain’t gon try

B: (Y/N)? Are you texting me?

(Y/N): Yeaaa! How d u no it was m?

B: I suppose because you texted in…Greek? And your name is literally at the top of my screen.

(Y/N): hihihi

B: Btw this is Jan, Bojan is taking a shower and he’s taking too long in the bathroom, as usual.

(Y/N): cm here then.

B: What?

(Y/N): Bojan’s tkng 2 long. cm here. i’m alone

B: To do what?

(Y/N): 2 tk a showr. i no mind. i hav e3tr towls

B: Hey, can I text you from my number? It’s 0038659…..

(Y/N): Sur!

The texts stopped there, so I switched to the conversation with Jan’s number on it.

J: Hey, (Y/N). Are you okay? Where are your bandmates?

(Y/N): Out. they lef me her. min left a bootle vine. it tast fun. will u cm ovwer?

J: Okay, I will. You need someone to take care of you. I guess I’ll have to for now. I’ll be there in 5’.

(Y/N): Ok, Janci. c u soun.

The texts stopped there, and now I knew who I’d have to talk to about all this mess. What was I even thinking when I told him to come over to shower? Who does that? Why am I so cringy?

Talking to Jan was now my number one priority. I saw myself in the mirror; I was presentable enough to go out of my room, despite the obvious tiredness I still felt. I grabbed a purse and threw my keys and my phone in, and I put Jan’s underwear in my shorts’ pocket, heading to the elevator. Normally, I’d take the stairs, but I didn’t trust my legs now to get me up two floors. I looked around, seeing if anyone was watching me before I stepped in.

Within a couple of minutes, I was standing in front of Jan’s door. It was either that or one of three in total. Joker Out were spread among three different rooms, just like we were because the organizers preferred us to sleep in proper beds rather than couches.

I knocked on the door, waiting for someone to open up. After a minute, I knocked again, still waiting for an answer. The door opened, and a rather sleepy and upset Nace opened up. His hair was messy, but, thankfully, he was wearing pajamas.

“(Y/N)?” His voice was deeper than usual, and he sounded somewhat surprised or irritated, I couldn’t figure out which one. He was trying to rub sleep off of his eyes, but I was certain he’d rather be sleeping than talking to anyone right now.

“Hey, Nace, I’m sorry to bother you. Do you know where Jan’s room is? I needed to ask him something… About guitars.” The lie came out easily; of course, a guitarist would talk to another guitarist about guitars. Duh!

“Okay? He’s in room 507, down the hall.” He pointed towards my left side.

“Thank you.” I smiled at him, and he smiled a bit in response.

I waited until he shut his door to take a breath and embrace myself because shit was getting real and I still hadn’t decided what I was going to say to Jan. I walked down the hall until I found Jan’s door and knocked on it, a bit harsher than before.

I waited and waited, and knocked again. Either those guys were all passed out or they slept more heavily than even I did. The door opened, and while I was expecting to face Jan, I didn’t. Bojan opened up the door and he looked just as surprised as I was.

“Bojan?”

“Hey, (Y/N). Long time no see, right?” He laughed awkwardly.

“Yeah, it’s…been a while, right? Like a week? Less than a week?” I laughed back at him, also awkwardly. “I heard you got sick by the way. I’m so sorry. Do you feel any better now?”

He laughed but he was a bit more genuine than I was. “Yeah, I was a bit sick, but I’m better now, thank you for your worry. And I mean since we really saw each other. Back in Barcelona?”

“Oh, yeah. Things are going by so fast and you guys are growing so successful, and the interviews, and meet and greets, and everything, you know. And I met some of the girls that participate in the contest, and I thought it’d be good to connect with them too, you know?” I was trying to hide my nervousness, but my delirium did not help.

“Yeah, yeah. But I’d like to hang out again, whenever you feel like it, okay? I don’t want to intervene in your busy schedule, so just tell me when.” He laughed and my heart filled with the warmth of his charm. It was so easy to fall for the singer, and so hard to forget him.

“Don’t worry, if I ever find some time and want to hang out with anyone, I’ll let you know.”

“Okay.” His eyes were sparkling, and I had to remind myself why I was actually there.

“Right. Ehm, is Jan here? I needed to talk to him about guitars.”

“Guitars?” He raised one eyebrow as if he was trying to figure out both me and the real reason I was there.

“Yeah… I was actually looking for new guitars but I could not decide between a few models, so I needed some other guitarist’s expertise on it. And I figured out Jan knows his guitars and he could suggest something to me.”

“Oh, okay. I thought you knew more about guitars since you play better - and longer - than Jan, but don’t tell him I said that. I’ll never hear the end of it.” He put one finger on his lips to emphasize the ‘not telling Jan’ part.

“I would never tell him, I promise.” I raised my pinky and we made a ‘secret’ pact with our pinkies. “But I’m pretty indecisive about everything and anything. I really get stuck on the details and in the end, I have to use one of my old guitars. And I really have to buy a new one. That thing’s crying for help.”

Bojan let out a laugh, not taking his eyes off me yet. “Okay. I’ll leave you two alone to talk. I’ll go see Jure. Props to you if you manage to wake him up. He came back from your room really early today.” He winked at me and walked towards the path I came from.

I froze. How did Bojan know? Was it the texts on his phone? It was probably the texts on his phone! How much did he read? But he didn’t know what happened! Did Jan tell him anything? I didn’t even know what happened!

I felt my cheeks burning up from the embarrassment, but I remembered that I was still standing alone under the doorframe. I stepped into the hotel room and walked towards the beds where a sleepy Jan was lying, trying to avoid the small piles of clothes around the bed that were scattered all across the room. I approached his side.

He looked so peaceful and cute when he was sleeping. His lips looked full and puffy as they always were, and his hair was stuck around his face, but he looked like the most beautiful person I had ever seen at that very moment. He was also shirtless - I hoped he was just shirtless - and his chest was showing.

I couldn’t deny that I liked Jan - maybe, at first, not as much as Bojan, but my mind was reminding me of the subtle moments Jan and I were close all this time; during the pre-parties, or interviews, or when we would hang out all together.

I may have been focused on Bojan or on avoiding Bojan and thought that Jan was only a character in the background, but he was actually the quiet, discreet friend I needed. And apparently, the only one who immediately came to help me when I was at my lowest last night.

“Hey, Jan? Janči?” I whispered, trying to wake him up but not scare him. I shook him a bit - it didn’t work. I slid my hand through his hair. It was so soft, luscious, and shiny. And they were definitely still wet.

The feeling of caressing Jan’s head lit a memory in my mind of something that I either dreamed about or that actually happened, but I couldn’t remember exactly what, as the spark left as fast as it came. The sensation seemed to stir Jan a bit.

He mumbled a few things, but the only thing I could make out of his words was the sweet, yet deep “Bojči?” His voice was deeper and more coarse than usual, and it caused sensations all over my back, neck, and head.

“Hey, Jan, I’m not Bojan. Can you please wake up? I want to talk to you.”

He could barely open his eyes, but he seemed to recognize me quickly because he slipped away from my touch, trying to cover himself up. “(Y/N)? What are you doing here?” His eyes were popping out, and his hair was still sticking all over his face.

“Ehm, I don’t know where to start, so I’m just gonna give you this one back.” I reached out and grabbed Jan’s underwear from my pocket. It took him a few seconds to realize what it was, but when he did, he reached out to grab it with shaky hands.

“Is this my…?”

“I think so. You’re the one who came by my room last night, right?” 

Jan could not speak a word, but, by the way he seemed lost in thought, I assumed he either remembered something or was trying to remember something. “Yeah. Yeah. I came to your room. You…didn’t sound so well from the texts and I got worried. I came to check in on you. You opened the door, and you seemed really drunk. You…danced around? And you sang something in Greek? You offered me wine, I think.” Jan grabbed his head with both hands, and I assumed he had a terrible headache; the result of last night.

I grabbed a couple of aspirins that I knew I always left in my bag and the bottle of water standing on his nightstand. “Open up.” Jan opened his mouth and I popped the pills in and carefully gave him some water to swallow them down. “It will take a few minutes but you’ll soon feel a bit better.”

Jan looked at me. He was calmer now, his eyes shining, and whispered a ‘Hvala’. I smiled at him. The more I stared at him, the more fuzzy and warm inside I felt. I didn’t know if that was the result of last night or something I always felt for him deep inside.

I didn’t know what got inside me when I leaned to hug him tightly. Jan seemed taken aback but eventually hugged me back. He smelled like musk, but also baby powder, vanilla, and sandalwood; just like my hallucination Bojan did.

“What’s that for?”

“Because you were the only one who cared about me when I was at my lowest.” I let out a sob I was trying to hold in, and Jan hugged me tighter, one hand caressing me up and down my spine.

We stayed like that for a while. I didn’t want to let go of Jan. For some weird reason that I couldn’t explain, it felt like his hug brought immense meaning within it. In some weird way, it felt like I had someone who looked out for me; someone who cared; someone who wouldn’t like seeing me hurt.

It felt familiar and comforting in a way hugging a friend who you haven’t seen for a while and want to communicate all your feelings to felt like. It felt like a hug between friends who had been through a lot together, and only they could understand each other. In a sense, Jan and I had been going through this unique experience together, though at a bit of different pace, rhythm, and pressure.

But at the same time, it also felt like so much more than a simple hug between friends. Touching him made me feel warm and fuzzy on the inside again, and not in a friendly or cute way. No one could deny that Jan oozed mystery, eroticism, and desire. Every single member of JO looked like a different Greek god, but Jan's mystified persona reminded me of a forbidden fruit that I suddenly and desperately wanted to bite into.

I pulled away from the hug with a sudden hunger for the man before me. His eyes were looking me up and down, just like mine were. The air around us was charged and heavy as neither of us made a move or said anything. I saw Jan gulp and his Adam’s apple bob up and down.

With my newly-found confidence driven by my desire for him, I leaned forward capturing Jan’s lips with mine, as my hands went up to capture his cheeks. Sparks of memories that had most definitely happened bombarded my brain, and I was now sure that Jan and I kissed last night.

In the shower we took together, naked; on our way out of the shower and towards the bed, after we attempted to dry ourselves off; lying on the bed, on our sides, before Jan pulled me on his lap to straddle him. 

For some reason, it seemed that, at some point, my brain went off of the effect of the tempered wine, and I knew I was with Jan in the shower, and not Bojan, as my delusional mind wanted me to think. And I was okay with that, as long as he was.

As a response, Jan wrapped his arms around my back, and pulled me impossibly close, so much so that I felt his growing erection, even under the relatively thick fabrics of my underwear, shorts, and bed sheets. I left an involuntary moan on the contact, and Jan took the opportunity to deepen the kiss. I slid my hands through his thick, dark brown hair, pulling slightly, eliciting a moan from him this time.

Hearing him moan was the sexiest sound I had ever heard. His deep voice was already driving me insane, but his deeper moans created another level of ecstasy for me. As my hands were gliding between the back of his neck and his shoulder blades, he slightly pulled away, only to lift my t-shirt off of me and throw it somewhere on the floor.

We went back to making out, but Jan took his chance to leave kisses all over my neck; my weak spot. Goosebumps filled my whole skin, as his lips moved expertly over my cold skin that was now burning up from pleasure and delight. I moaned loudly - open mouth and everything - and I felt Jan smile against my skin.

I had never been touched like that, and though I had experienced neck kisses and whatnot, none of my previous partners was such an expert as Jan apparently was. He was nibbling, biting, leaving open mouth kisses, and generally driving me insane. One of his hands was grabbing a handful of my hair, just like I did, and the other one unclasped my bra. I let out a surprise sound and Jan laughed in return before I finally removed my bra and went back to making out.

Our bodies were pressed against each other and I was already in heaven. Jan’s hands traveled to my shorts, trying to pull them down, exposing my underwear and ass. At that moment, I was certain what was going to happen between us and I was too willing and horny not to respond to his touch.

My shorts being halfway down already gave Jan easier access into my underwear, as he slid one hand in. He started rubbing and circling my clit lightly, making me stand still and forget about everything else. As he started applying a bit more pressure, I could feel my mind slowly numbing; the only thing I felt was pure pleasure building up, and the only thing I heard was my sharp breathing, as Jan worked his magic fingers on me. 

But I was also pretty sure that someone had cursed me or given me the eye, because just as my shorts were almost off, exposing the entirety of my underwear and my ass, the door clicked and opened, and Bojan and Jure’s heads popped from the side, now staring at Jan and me. Their expressions were something between shock, embarrassment, and horniness.

I froze, trying to cover myself up, but Jan opted to cover me with the bed sheets and expose himself to his friends, which…could have happened before? I wasn’t sure. He covered his dick with his hands as he walked off the bed, talking to his friends in Slovenian. I wondered what he was telling them because he was stuttering, and I had never heard him stutter this much before.

As Jan was trying to talk to them, Bojan looked at me with a look I couldn’t really decipher; I wanted to say it was a look of jealousy, regret, possessiveness, and lust, but I was probably delusional once again. Did I regret not telling him I liked him since the beginning? Definitely. But would I not have sex with Jan if we weren’t caught? Definitely not.

I liked Jan, just as I liked Bojan, but Jan took his chance when he was given one. Both times. Bojan never approached me like this. Would he if he was given the chance? I wouldn’t know. He treated me as a friend, and then he avoided me, so I avoided him. And then Käärijä came along, and I let them be because he seemed happier all of a sudden. So, I wouldn’t know how and what he felt, and I was too chickened out to ask him directly anyway.

Speaking of Bojan, he just nodded, still looking at me, and he finally left, along with Jure who was smirking wildly and winking at me. If I wasn’t blushing before, I definitely was now. Not only because we got caught but also because we may have become a spectacle for Joker Out to gossip and laugh about. I just wanted the earth to open in two and swallow me whole.

Jan closed the door behind them and turned around to look at me. He looked just as embarrassed as I was, mouth agape, cheeks flushed, and hair somehow messier than before.

“Maybe I should go?” I suggested, and he only nodded. I pointed/asked him to turn around, and he turned his back on me as I was gathering up my clothes and putting them back on. I couldn’t help but take a sneak peek of his ass. Nice.

I quickly got dressed and ready to leave. I was too embarrassed to tell Jan anything, but I didn’t want to leave us on a bad note. I only dared to step on my tiptoes and lightly kiss him on the cheek, before I finally left the room. I didn’t get all the answers I came here for, but I got more than enough, as well as the certainty that this wouldn’t be a one-time thing between Jan and me.

.*.·:·.☽✧✦✧☾.·:·.*.·:·.☽✧✦✧☾.·:·.*.

My head was killing me already, and we still had a long day to go. It was our first performance in the Netherlands, in front of - probably - the biggest crowd I had seen at a pre-party so far. Fans had been gathering outside for a few hours now, while all the performers were inside, practicing before the big show.

Thankfully, everything else, regarding the interviews and sound checks, was going smoothly, and the only thing that bothered me for now was waiting another 10 or so minutes until lunch. The organizers were generous through and through, providing us with dressing rooms, our own bathrooms, extra help for our “instruments”, and a long buffet full of different options, catering to pretty much every dietary need and allergy.

Out of everything, I truly appreciated good food, so when the time came, I ate like I had never eaten before. I didn't expect such good food from Northern Europeans, but everything was delicious. It was probably the first time I didn't care if anyone was watching, and I finally enjoyed food after a long time.

Some would say that sandwiches, tarts, wraps, salads, and side dishes couldn't be considered food; more like snacks. And I would tell them that when you hadn't eaten properly for a while, these "humble" snacks would be considered the best food you had ever had. I grabbed a few snacks here and there and walked towards my bandmates’ table.

“I see we eat.” Alex giggled from my right side. His plate was already full, and he had another one like that next to it.

“They have options! Of course, I’m gonna eat!” It was probably the first time there was such a wide variety of snacks for everyone; usually, there were 5 options max, not over 20.

I went back to eating, finally happy to enjoy food again. While the others started chatting about their night out, I kept quiet, eating and occasionally looking around. The tables’ area wasn’t too big or too small, but with over 40 tables around for the acts and technicians, the room was already crowded. Most performers were sitting at their tables, eating, while others went around to have some chat and fun.

I felt a tap on my shoulder and I turned around to see who it was, still holding my sandwich because if I let it go, I wouldn’t guarantee Alex wouldn’t eat that as well. It was actually Teya and Salena, and I got so excited to see them that I actually let go of my sandwich.

“Hey, girlies!” We went for a group hug. “What are you up to?”

“So,” Salena started speaking, looking at Teya with a look they only understood, “we were thinking of playing a game between us, before the doors open and we have to take the stage. Would you like to join us?”

“What kind of game?”

“We were thinking of playing ‘Would you rather?’” Salena smiled widely.

“Are you sure about that? It can get pretty bad, pretty fast.”

“It will be just a few of us.”

“How few, Teya?”

“About 26.”

“26 are ‘a few’?!”

“Please, (Y/N)! Please, please, please!”

“I don’t know, guys.”

“Well, if only you come from your band, it will be 22, plus Alessandra and Brunette as the mediators, but we wanted to include as many people as possible.”

“Okay, I guess. I’ll come with you. Mainly because I like you too much to lose this opportunity to spend some time together and probably laugh at everyone.”

Teya and Salena cheered at that and squeezed me into another group hug. They were such nice and open people, honestly, and I couldn’t say no to whatever they asked me. I slipped away just for a second to tell my friends “I would go play with the other kids” and if they wanted to come. They laughed but refused to leave the table, saying that they may come by later.

I told them I’d see them in a bit, before I was dragged away by Teya and Salena, who, for some reason, were too excited for this whole ‘game’ we were going to play. I wondered what they had in their mind. Walking away from the table area, we walked towards the dressing rooms area where the others were already gathered. Jan smiled at me and I smiled back, feeling my heart fluttering.

“Okay, guys. Gather up. If we want to play this game right, we must explain the rules first.” Alessandra started. “We’ll ask a question and we’ll give you two options. If you choose option A, you’ll move towards me, to your left. If you choose option B, you’ll move towards Brunette’s side, to your right. Got it? Let’s start.”

We all walked in a line between the two girls, ready for the game to start. It seemed fun as a concept, but I was worried about the weird questions that were most likely to come.

“Okay, first question: Would you rather never be stuck in traffic again or never get another cold?’

That was so easy for me. My friends knew how much I hated getting sick, even if it was a small cold because I couldn’t stop complaining every time I got sick. And as for the traffic, there was no way you wouldn’t be stuck in traffic in Thessaloniki. One accident on the ring road around the city, and chaos was sure to ensue in the city.

A few chose never to get stuck in traffic, but I saw Bojan at my side, probably because of his latest experience which made him lose a couple of days before he could finally fly to Amsterdam. I laughed to myself.

“Would you rather travel the world for a year, all expenses paid, or have 40,000 euros to spend on whatever you want?”

This time I moved towards Alessandra’s side. It had always been a dream of mine to travel around the world, but the financial part was what prevented me. If I could travel, I’d travel the whole of Europe, and then the Americas, Oceania, Asia, and then Africa. If I could, I’d also love to travel to Antarctica, just for the experience. I saw that everyone had actually chosen the same thing.

“Would you rather be the only one drunk at a party or the only one sober?⁠”

Oh, that was a good one, but I knew already so I moved to Brunette’s side.

“Really, (Y/N)?” Jure called from the “only one drunk” side, smirking and laughing.

“Yeah. Alcohol gets to me quickly. I don’t look good drunk.”

I thought I heard Jan whispering “You do.” from nearby, also having chosen the “only one sober” side. I felt my cheeks burning slightly at Jan’s cute comment, and I tried to hide my involuntary smile, going back in the line.

“Okay. The next question is not really a ‘would you rather’, but I really like it: Cats or dogs?”

Also easy. Probably the easiest to answer, as I moved to Alessandra’s side, along with Jure, Jan, and Kris, out of the 22 of us.

“Really?!” Jure questioned me.

“Yeah! I love cats! I actually had a family cat. Well, my sister did, but we all took care of him.” The memory of our baby brought me instant sadness.

Jan noticed. “What happened to him?”

“It’s a really long story. But…he was hit by a car.” It was still difficult to think about it.

Jan didn’t say a word but caressed my knuckles in understanding. As a cat dad himself, I couldn’t even imagine the pain he’d feel if anything happened to his cat, Igor.

"I'll be honest. I'm actually surprised that you, Kris, chose cats. I thought of you as more of a dog person."

"Yeah, dogs are cool, but I really like cats. They're fun and relaxed. And also crazy and hyperactive, which is me in both cases." The tallest guy of all here laughed, and his face turned bright pink. The young one was adorable.

“So, no dogs then?” Bojan tried to put his two cents in the conversation.

“No, not really. I’m actually terrified of dogs. I’ve been chased…3 times before. Two of them I was really young. One was many years later. It was a tiny dog but still, I haven’t run faster in my life.” I laughed, as others joined me, and we walked back in line.

“I can help you with your fear if you would like.” Bojan whispered from behind me.

“I appreciate that, but there’s nothing and nobody to help me get over my phobia.” I whispered back at him, snorting.

“I can try.” I felt him smirking.

“We’ll see about that.” I turned my focus on Alessandra and Brunette, as Bojan caressed my back. His touch brought goosebumps all over my back and sides, but I refused to react in any way.

“Next question is triggering for Alessandra.” Brunette laughed, as she continued, “Would you rather eat pasta with ketchup or carrots with Nutella?”

“Are the carrots boiled, grilled, or raw?” Kris asked a reasonable question because I also had that same question.

“Let’s say raw.” Alessandra answered, with an eyebrow raised, waiting for people’s answers.

I moved to Alessandra’s side and she kept looking at me as I kept looking at her. It felt like a scene from ‘The Office’.

“Ma perché, (Y/N)? Perché?” Alessandra turned into a triggered Italian within seconds.

“‘Cause I’ve eaten pasta with ketchup before. It’s not that bad, though it is really sweet. But if you said boiled carrot, I’d probably try that. So…it’s really on you.” I was holding back my laughter as Ales was fighting to keep the Italian in her but chose to laugh instead, thankfully.

“Next question: Would you rather get rich in a way that upsets your family or just make enough money to live?”

That was a question that divided us. Almost half chose one side and the other half chose the other side.

“Does anyone want to elaborate on choosing option A?” Asked Brunette.

“Well, we already do something that upsets our family one way or another, so we might as well get rich out of it.” Jan stated the obvious.

“I second that. Balkan parents can disapprove of anything that’s not university-, teaching-, doctor-, or lawyer-related.” I replied, and others also seemed to agree with Jan and me.

“Well, it makes sense, I guess. I haven’t experienced that ‘disapproval’, honestly, so I wouldn't know.” Alessandra shrugged. Lucky you.

“Next question: Would you rather stay in or go out on a Friday night?”

Again, easy for me, as I walked over to Alessandra’s side. Only Jan followed me this time.

“Okay, party people.” I laughed at the 20 people who were standing across from me.

“Do you seriously prefer to stay in instead of going out, (Y/N)?” Salena questioned me, dancing around a bit.

“Yeah! The most I went out clubbing was when I was 16, and that was a long time ago. But seriously, I so much prefer staying in, watching Netflix, listening to music, coming up with lyrics or melodies, sleeping, or just lying down on the couch. But don’t target me! Jan chose the same thing!”

“Jan is a cat. He’s tired of everything, and prefers sleeping in.” Nace burst into laughter, and Bojan, Kris, and Jure followed suit.

“Jure is also a cat!” I pointed out the obvious.

“Yeah, but Jure is a crazy, orange cat. You can’t stop him when he starts going crazy.” Kris replied, in between laughs, and the JO boys started singing “And when the world got me going crazy”, like they usually did.

Yeah, Jure seemed nuts, but in a good way. He was good nuts. He probably was the impersonation of everyone’s impulsive thoughts put into one person. I loved that for him. He was everything I sometimes wished I was, but I still knew that I got bored of everything as quickly as I got interested in them.

“Okay, fair enough. But, side note, if you manage to convince me to go out, and I’m actually having a good time, you won’t be able to get me back home early. Just ask my bandmates.” I raised an eyebrow, smirking. It was true that I didn’t enjoy going out, but once I was mentally prepared to go out, nothing else mattered.

“We’ll note it down for the next time, then.” Jure smiled and winked at me, while Jan coughed next to me, to which the older blonde stopped smiling. I didn’t want to know what was going on between them, though I had a thought.

“Ehm…”, Alessandra interrupted whatever was going on, “...should I continue? The next questions are…a bit…sexual.” She pursed her lips, not knowing what to do.

There were a lot of enthusiastic “Yeah!”s, mostly from the guys, so Alessandra had no other option but to go on.

Alessandra shallowed before asking “Would you rather have a sex playlist with classical music on it or hardcore rock?”

I walked towards Brunette’s side, mostly because I didn’t enjoy classical music in any situation, and hardcore rock could, most likely, lead to hardcore situations - not that I had ever lived something like that, but a girl can only dream, right?

What surprised me was that there were a few people who chose classical music over hardcore rock, like Alika, Andrejs, Jeffery, Andrii, Mia, Mae, and even Salena, who I thought was an actual rocker. Other than that, I expected that Joker Out and Jere would choose the hardcore rock.

“Okay, the next question is worse, so I’m gonna have Brunette ask the questions from now on.”

Brunette laughed, until she saw the question, swallowing. “Ehm, okay this is awkward, I’m just gonna start with that. Would you rather have long, slow sex or a quickie?”

Oh, that was an embarrassingly interesting question to which I didn’t have a direct reply. Both were enjoyable, each one in their own nature and sense, under different circumstances and times, and each one required different prerequisites. I decided to remain neutral.

“(Y/N)? Will you pick a side?” Alessandra showed between both lines.

“I think I’ll remain neutral in this question, ‘cause I cannot choose both at the same time, right?”

“No, but is it even allowed? Can you remain neutral?”

The others started whispering around, not knowing if there were even rules for this game.

“Okay, let’s just say you can remain neutral if you cannot pick a side. Anyone else wants to switch after that?”

And suddenly, pretty much everyone moved between the two girls, not actually knowing definitively what to choose between the two options. I smirked because I was pretty sure nobody preferred either over the other; they each had their own magic and their different needs to fulfill, so, personally, I could never say one was better than the other.

“Okay, and last question because we don’t want to go out on the stage looking like that. Would you rather be kissed all day or teased all day?”

I took a minute to think well about it, before moving to Brunette’s side for the last time. Funny thing was that both Jan and Bojan chose the same thing as I did, and it really made me wonder how it would feel like to tease them all day long. Or be teased by them all day long. Fuck! Focus, (Y/N)! Though, thinking about it again, it didn’t seem right to ‘play’ with both of them like that, or them playing with me.

“I think we’re not gonna go with a follow-up question, just for the sake of our own sanity, okay? We learned a lot about each other already.” Alessandra looked like she was gonna have a meltdown, and I wanted to laugh looking at her, but it wasn’t appropriate.

I turned to look at Teya and Salena, and mouthed a “I told you it’d turn really bad, really quickly.” Both girls slightly blushed, but still laughed quietly. I guessed they seemed to like the whole thing that led us to open up at this level.

I took a look at my phone. We still had about 30 minutes to be done with lunch before the doors opened for the audience, and we had to go backstage to get ready. I thought I had enough time to grab something to eat, so I walked back to the table where my bandmates were still sitting, having eaten my food as well.

I gave Alex an unamused look because I was certain he was the one who ate my food, to which he just smiled and did a halo above his head. That bitch ate twice or thrice as much as the average person and was still fit. I wondered how he would actually look like if he didn’t spend so much time at the gym.

I rolled my eyes, walking toward the bathroom to look myself up and fix whatever needed to be fixed. In reality, I could spend hours looking at myself, staring at every imperfection and messing up with every single pimple or scar I saw.

I tried to keep myself from reopening wounds, but they always fascinated me too much not to scratch them. I liked the way my blood dripped on small streaks. I didn’t think of myself as ‘weird’ on that topic, until others pointed it out - that it was weird to scratch my healing wounds, just to see the blood dripping.

I tried extra hard to control myself, especially now that we were watched by the general public. I didn’t want people to think I was weird, but I couldn’t find any alternatives or solutions, and the more I kept looking at myself and the small bumps on the surface of my skin, the more I imagined some pimples here and there, and the more my hands were eating me to scratch and pinch my skin.

I needed to keep myself occupied before I dared touch my face. I needed a smoke. I walked out of the bathroom, looking for someone who I knew smoked a lot and pretty much everywhere and every time I saw him. I found him sitting at their table, eating and chatting with Kris.

“Hey, Jure? Can I ask you a favor?”

The blonde man turned around on his chair, swallowing down his food before answering. “Yeah, sure.”

“Do you have a cig to spare?”

He looked at me in slight disbelief. “Yeah. Let me check.” He stuck his hand in his pocket and pulled out half a pack of cigarettes. “I didn’t know you smoked.”

“I usually don’t. I haven’t smoked in a while, actually, but I need it right now.”

Jure passed me the pack and a purple lighter. “Take them if you want. I have more with me.”

“Are you sure? I just needed one.”

“Yeah, I am. One is never enough, (Y/N).” He smiled understandingly.

“Hvala, Jurček.” I put the pack and lighter in my pocket, so nobody could see, and smiled at my peer, who, though blonde and Slovene, was acting like a proper Greek, or, better yet, a true Balkan.

I walked towards the nearest exit, letting the cool air hit me. I was grateful for how cool the air was at times in Northern Europe. Back home, it was cool but still warmer than here. Here I would still need a jacket in a month or so, while t-shirts and sleeveless dresses would be the only things I could handle with Greece’s heat.

I leaned against the wall, taking a breath and trying to loose my thoughts. I looked around to make sure nobody was there, before pulling the pack from my pocket and taking a cigarette out. I lit it and took a puff, feeling the smoke filling my insides quickly. I coughed a bit, quite unused to smoking for a while. The more I puffed, the quicker my lungs remembered how it was when I smoked.

I usually didn’t drink alcohol or regular coffee; I usually didn’t smoke. But I seemed to have stepped over a few ‘rules’ of mine lately, so why not break more? I wondered when was the last time I smoked. I hadn’t smoked either since before Covid or for two years now; I wasn’t sure. But I know I did smoke shisha at some point during the last 2 or 3 years, and I had also picked up vaping at some point.

It didn’t matter anyway. The smoke was slowly obfuscating my mind enough to make me forget about my sudden worries or my habit and urge to ‘self-destruct’, as my friends called me picking on my skin, among other things.

I told Jure I would only smoke one cig, but he was right. One cig led to another one, as the smoke burned my tongue and made me dizzy enough to finally relax. I didn't even look up when the exit door near me opened, not caring if anyone saw me now. My bandmates knew me already, and I didn't care enough for anyone else's opinion.

"Hey, (Y/N), Kris told me I'd find you here." I would recognize that voice among a thousand others. Because that voice still made me weak on my knees.

"Yeah, I wanted to take a break. You?"

"I wanted to talk to you."

"Oh." I wouldn't expect him to talk to me, especially after our awkward encounter earlier that day. Being surrounded by others calmed the awkwardness, but the two of us alone?

"You shouldn't be smoking, you know." He looked at me sadly, but he also was clearly criticizing me.

"Bojan, I've seen you smoke as well. And you're your band's singer. Nothing will happen if I smoke." I took another drag of the cigarette before it was snatched and stomped on by Bojan's foot.

"Ei! Why are you trying to take charge? Go back inside! Your band will be looking for you." I reached into my pocket to grab another cigarette before Bojan grabbed them and threw them away.

"What are you doing? These weren't yours!"

"They weren't yours either. Why are you trying to hurt yourself?"

Why did he seem to know everything that was going on with me? "I'm not trying to hurt myself. Just…mind your own business, please." I didn't want to be mad at him, but I had no patience at all.

"I cannot watch you do that to yourself. You're too good and too innocent to smoke. Don't hurt yourself, please." Bojan's hand caressed my cheek lightly as his eyes half-closed, and my heart was about to burst out of my chest.

I didn't want to like him - I needed to forget him, so I could try with Jan, something which I wanted, but Bojan didn't seem to share the same intentions with me. Before I could even process a thought to blurt out, he leaned forward and pressed a light kiss on my lips.

Despite how small and soft that kiss was, it still made me feel heavenly. I didn't realize I had closed my eyes, and when I opened them, Bojan was still looking at me, smirking lightly, probably seeing how much he affected me.

"Don't play with me, Cvjetićanin. I'm not in the mood for games."

"I'm not, believe me. I like you. A lot. I have liked you since Barcelona. And I'm tired of trying to hide it just because I don't know how you feel about me. I want to know how you feel, (Y/N)."

It took me a minute to process a thought. "What if it's not what you want to hear?"

Bojan gulped deeply. "I'll respect your decision and I won't try to pursue you anymore. I'll move on and won't disturb you ever again if that's what you want. Or we can stay friends, or whatever you want."

I bit my tongue, trying to think of a way to let him down slowly, but I had to be honest, otherwise, everything would turn against me eventually.

"For everyone's sake, I'll tell you the truth. My truth. And frankly, I don't care what you or anyone else thinks at the end, okay?"

Bojan simply nodded, waiting for me to finally speak up.

"I have liked you since our tour around Barcelona. On the first night, at the lobby hotel, when we first met, I thought you were obnoxious and thought of yourself as above everyone else. But you're not. You're a good person and that's what attracted me to you. But you're also a serious flirt, and when I saw you with Mae, I lost it."

"You're talking? I lost it when I saw you on Alex's lap. I thought you guys were together and every chance I got to get to you was lost at that very moment."

"What are you talking about? Alex and I are just friends! That's what we do! We're so close to each other that it seems weird to an outsider but we've been in the same band for a decade. Aren't you, Kris, and Jan like this? You've known each other forever!"

"Well, yeah, but…"

"Don't assume situations, Bojan. Just because you see two people close to each other, doesn't mean they're together, or fucking, or whatever."

"But you assumed the same thing about me!"

"Yeah, because you were actively flirting with pretty much everyone. And I am tired of this behavior. I've been through it before, I don't want to relive it. So, I decided that I'm gonna protect myself first, and that's when I started avoiding you. And then, you were flirting with Noa, and I had seen your post about Noa, Bojči, so don't try to deny that you like her."

"I'm not, but I don't like her the way I like you. That post was way before I got to meet and know you. To be honest, I forgot about her the moment I saw you."

"And then, it was Käärijä, who I actually love and respect a lot, so when I saw you were genuinely happy when you were with him, it made me realize that I may have finally lost you, but at least you found someone who puts a genuine smile on your face, and who makes you forget all your worries."

"Jere is just a friend. Yeah, we like to play this 'will they/won't they' game, because for some reason it excites the fans, but I don't think of him like that, (Y/N). Not entirely, at least. I'm not against gay people, I'm an ally, but that's all we are. That's all we ever were."

"I'm an ally too, and part of the community actually, which was why my first thought was that you like him as more than a friend. And still, if you ever felt something more about him, you should let him know, before it’s too late. Don’t make the same mistake I did. Otherwise, you’ll end up confused and lost, and you won’t know what to do or say.”

“You are LGBTQ+?” Bojan was now looking at me with a lot of genuine curiosity, not weirdness or disgust.

“Yeah, I’m bi, actually.” It was probably the first time I was so casual about my sexuality with someone I didn’t know that well. Because, let’s be honest, despite the attraction and the hangouts, I didn’t actually know Bojan, and there were a lot of malicious people around, but my gut told me it would be okay to tell him.

“Oh, that’s nice. I’m happy for you. But, I still want to ask you. Forget about Mae, Noa, and Jere. Forget about Jan.” I took a deep, shaky breath in, upon hearing Jan’s name. “Would you have ever given me a chance to get together? Would you have given us a chance?”

“I would. Honestly. It would have taken some time to think about it, definitely, because I overthink everything, but I would. But you never showed me a sign that you actually liked me, and you flirted around; you didn’t try to hang out with me, and I don’t think I had talked to you face to face until this morning.”

“I saw you with Alex and I assumed things, but I could see after that that you were avoiding me and you were looking at me weirdly like you wanted to choke me or something.” Bojan laughed, but it was a somewhat pitiful laugh.

I laughed along. “It’s just my ‘resting bitch face’. Don’t think I wanted to kill you or something. But I did try to avoid you, so I wouldn’t have to deal with all those emotions and fall on my face when nothing worked out.”

“What about Jan? Do you like him?”

I moved my body back and forth, nodding my head. “I do. Jan was surprisingly always there, even if he was too quiet to notice him. He was subtle and likable. And after yesterday, it was too sudden and intense, and I realized I like him too.”

Bojan looked down at his feet. “I see. Did you sleep with him yesterday?”

“Not that I remember, no.” I did remember making out with him, but in my mind, I had no recollection of having sex with Jan.

“Would you? If we didn’t interrupt you?”

“Yes, I would. I was in the mood. Jan seemed to be in the mood. So, we would have.”

He chuckled at himself. “Would it be weird if I said I’m glad we interrupted you?”

“Honestly? It wouldn’t. That’s how you feel. I thought I caught something in your eyes at that time, but I didn’t want to assume or say anything.”

It felt hard to breathe as if the air had gotten so thick from awkwardness, it wasn’t even gas anymore. We stayed quiet, sometimes sneakily looking at each other, but still without saying a thing.

“(Y/N)?”, Bojan broke the silence first, “Would you like to go out with me? Tonight?”

“We can’t do tonight. We have to be in London tomorrow.”

“Then tomorrow? After the pre-party? Please?” Bojan looked at me with puppy eyes, as if he wasn’t already impossible to resist.

“Okay. Tomorrow. Pick something good, okay?” I teased.

His whole demeanor instantly changed, and a bright smile lit up his face. “Okay.” He moved closer and grabbed my face between his palms, smashing his lips with mine.

This kiss wasn’t as hesitant as before; this one was confident, self-asserting, almost smug. But it felt so good and it felt like I was finally awake, having forgotten my headaches and bad mood. Bojan was an amazing kisser - that was for sure. His kisses caused a feeling of euphoria to the point you thought you were drunk and you wanted more.

I slipped my arms around the back of his neck to pull him closer, having briefly forgotten about Jan or the actual pre-party that was about to start in one hour or so. I pulled away abruptly, and Bojan whined.

“The pre-party! We have to go! Get ready!”

“Okay, okay, don’t worry. We still have time.” Bojan hugged me tightly, moving us around, all smiley and happy now.

“Yeah, but we have to get our makeup done. Come on! Let’s go!” I slipped out of his embrace and grabbed his hand, dragging him inside, without him actually resisting at all.

For a moment, I felt so carefree. For a moment, I was happy.

[prehistoric-duo]

HELLO ROTOMBLR!!

It's your favorite MewTube Paleontologist Power-Couple, finally making an account on a social media site that isn't MewTube!

This is Taire- if you couldn't tell by my charming energetics (AKA Arnie didn't feel like making our introduction post lol).

I figure some of you don't really know who we are, if you don't find this blog from our description links, so why not talk about it real quick?

As I've said before, I'm Taire! I use he/him pronouns, and I'm 27 years old. Which, in my opinion, is actually not that old because I've worked with rocks older than uh. literally humanity? I have three Pokemon-

Rafflesia the Venusaur (She/her)

Geode the Sandslash (They/them)

Onoi the Omastar (They/them)

Here's my trainer card:

Arnie uses they/he pronouns, and is 26! He is like. My favorite person in the whole wide world and I love him so so so much and YES me gushing about him is a regular occurrence irl and in private. They also have three Pokemon-

Pablo the Torterra (They/them)

Grey the Aggron (They/Them)

Shelley the Carracosta (She/her)

Here's their trainer card:

We've been doing MewTube for about 3 years now, and married for 5! We work for an organization called The New Epoch Foundation as, you guessed it, paleontologists! The goal of the organization is to help further scientific research and runs mostly on donations! I might also end up as their head of social media because of the stuff we do on MewTube, we'll just have to see!

Of course, we can't forget about Baby Helix, we had them about a year ago and we love them so so much. We don't really post pictures of them, but maybe in the future? We aren't like. A family vlogging channel anyways (chills). We'll both sign off our posts!

Feel free to send us asks and pelipper mail! I'm hoping to be able to interact with the fans more this way :)

Hi! Mod here, just call me Vessel! ooc text from me will be red

My other blog is @canesvenatici-ribbons! But this blog is going to be more plot-based than slice of life ;)

A couple of ground rules:

1- I operate on DND and Improv rules: "yes and" and be respectful to other players.

That doesn't mean NO anon hate or whatever, it just means that if someone is playing a character in a way that makes me uncomfortable, I'm probably not going to interact with you. If the anon hate is egregious I'm going to stop responding to it, etc.

Typically I try to just go "yes and" to stuff, it's more fun to me that way and adds a layer of unpredictability to my stories- BUT- please DM me if you want to do BIG plot stuff (I don't bite!)

But if something makes me uncomfortable I won't do it, feel free to ask prior though if you want confirmation! If it's like. An overly dark subject matter I probably won't do it though.

2- No Magic anons or anon hate related to their identities please!

This is my one hard-stop! everything else like sentient pokemon, pelipper mail, regular anons, anon hate, is all fine right now!

3- Feel free to remind me to respond to a post or ask if I haven't gotten to it in about two days! I'm a college student and I'm really busy. I do this mostly for fun but I do really appreciate reminders. adhd brain

4- I want to confirm this rq cause I know people will ask about it- Helix is their biological child, one of them is trans but no actual like. Pregnancy is gonna be shown or mentioned on this blog because they think it's funny to keep it up in the air on who had Helix or if Helix is adopted. Trans families (no matter what kind) and seahorse dads are just. Very important to me as I am a trans guy/trans masc who wants kids myself one day. I expect you all to be respectful and mature about this. People who make M///pr///eg jokes and/or comments will be blocked and deleted.

Literally it's only funny with people I'm close with so if I don't know you, don't do that. This is my one other hard stop

Asks about who had Helix though- and speculation on if Helix is adopted, is encouraged and very funny!

I do plan on having actual references for the family done up at some point, I just haven't had the time or resources for it quite yet. But for now, here are their picrews + short add on descriptions! (Minus Baby Helix)

Taire:

Blue, Feathery hair, Oddly sharp teeth

Red, scaley patches of skin has grown in the three years of making videos- they started out small and almost unnoticeable and now it's beginning to take up their face.

Arnie:

DO NOT let this picrew fool you. Arnie is a large fat man. They also have a full beard that is not pictured.

Hair has turned white in the past few years. Blue Patch of skin over eye and looks strangely smooth, has only appeared since last year

[snorkling-in-sodasea]

Moments of Stupidity 14

One more episode before I catch up so let's not waste anymore time

Oops -

First up, Fizzarolli when he came down to Greed with a limo, dick-shaped fireworks whatevers, and a pack of cumfly dogs to do a little show with. All the while still believing that he's out of the spotlight. Even without the shitshow that is the Crimson/Striker teamup (love the idea, just not the execution), Fizzarolli obviously would have been attacked and/or taken hostage and/or killed. All because Fizz couldn't be bothered to learn what the fuck 'low-key' means

Next is Blitzo, who had the fucking bright idea to buy coffee specifically in Greed. Did fucking Crimson, who you should know by now is in Greed, really means nothing to you? You apparently couldn't be bothered to check just where Crimson was so that you wouldn't bump into him?

Now Ozzie's got about three moments, starting with the one during his meeting with Stolas. So Ozzie gets a text video from Fizz and he's eager to open it. For some fucking reason, he doesn't send Stolas away and just opens the text video. If it was just a video in your phone, fine, but text videos in Helluva Boss apparently grow as big as a fucking flat-screen TV or whatever so it was in completely perfect view of Stolas. Why the fuck would Ozzie feel so comfortable just opening a text video from Fizz if he's supposed to keep up some kind of charade with him when Stolas is right there? Ozzie said everything he wanted to say so he should have sent him away. If it wasn't, then Ozzie should have gone somewhere private

The next moment was the fact that Ozzie wasn't at all willing to read the damn contract to save Fizzarolli. Because the contract apparently had been asking for signed permission to hurt Fizz, despite how Ozzie would have done to get him back. Fuck seriously, there's nothing wrong with wanting to protect your loved ones. How you protect them could be the fucking problem

The third moment of stupidity on Ozzie's part is that he never just goes down to fucking Greed and wreck havoc or even just send some team to rescue Fizz while he entertains the lawyer. For some fucking reason, he's completely entertaining this ransom and never even tries to hurt the lawyer until Fizz comes right in. (I'm not counting Stolas here because he apparently doesn't have a life if he's going to think that reading paperwork to help out a demon who denied him a crystal, isn't actually very close to, and has no other special reason to help is fun)

An incredibly stupid moment goes to Crimson, for goading the fucking sin of Lust of all demons. What the fuck does it matter if Lust is the weakest sin? It's still a goddamn sin! Sins still ruin people! And what does it matter if Ozzie's the weakest? He's a far more powerful demon than Crimson ever will be!

Quite an abundance of stupid moments go to Crimson's goons and to Crimson himself. And let's not forget Striker; the cowboy is just as guilty of being just as stupid as everyone else.

But first just the goons in general, when one goon decided to just fucking start shooting just because his. Then some goons at the pool table decide that they're just making annoying noise and not even look up to see what's going on until they're about to be run over by one of those

Then there's the part where all the goons just fucking watch Fizzarolli in his weird entirely-improvised show. Here's where Crimson and Striker are just as stupid, too. In fact, Fizzarolli and Blitzo say right in front of everyone about the whole 'steal dad's booze' plan and they still fucking fall for it

In fact, Fizzarolli and Blitzo are idiots for saying the plan right in front of their goddamn captors and they're only lucky that they're just as stupid as the hostages that the plan even fucking works

A stupid moment goes to the lawyer, who thought it was super important to get all his paper shit packed in a briefcase before hightailing the fuck out of there. It's thanks to that the lawyer took too long and was heavily implied to have gotten killed

Oh, and the final stupid moment goes to both Fizzarolli and Ozzie for killing the lawyer but not going after fucking Crimson, or at least make sure that Crimson's dead. Fuck seriously, the lawyer was never the fucking mastermind to this and what the fuck is stopping them from going after said mastermind? Fizzarolli knows exactly where he's been held hostage and knows exactly who held him hostage. Ozzie knows that second thing, too! And given Ozzie's position and money and influence, there's no reason he can't find Crimson to fucking END him. Sure, I would have liked Moxxie to have gotten a win over him but my desires don't change a damn thing about this moment of stupidity

[intotheabyssofunknown]

Few things I like about vampire knight memories is the fact that Kaname isn't running away from his memories of Yuki , he is trying his best to remember her , though he has a feeling that he did something... To protect her yet he still hasn't given up . I like this new found confidence in him especially when I read the last chapter again , and his confession kinda broke my heart , like his words just breaks me from inside , i wonder how yuki must be feeling so broken hearted when she heard such sad words from him . But I am glad he doesn't regret them , i am glad he doesn't regret loving her or making love with her . I wonder how he felt about making love with her , i really wish to know , was he happy to be connected to her in such a way or was he cursing himself more that he took her virginity. I hope he was happy to be connected with her , and I think he was cause this might be the first time he said if you will have me , i am sure it was his way of showing his devotion to her , i think he was happy and also the fact that he said that it's ok if she forgets him that he will always remember her , i think he really meant these words , he was ok with being the only one to have memories of their love . I really wish that he had some sort of conversation after their night together like did he felt that they were meant to be , did he not feel her desperation like he should stay , i guess not . As yuki said Kaname suppressed his desires altogether that he was in constant agony . The way he is so accepting of his daughter and even his step daughter makes me feel like he enjoyed everything about her . Just because he said it was a mistake doesn't mean it was entirely a mistake, in so many panels he just looked so mesmerized by her , just having her near was enough.

Well it was off topic but although I hate yuki a lot but I am kinda glad as well that she brought him back to life, i am glad to see that he is actually trying his hardest to be closer to Yuki anyway he can , like opening shop at the place where he could feel her presence, hugging their children to feel closer to her . Enjoying their company . Instead of giving up on Ai that she won't come back or blaming himself , it was really heartwarming to see him trying to find her , only abandoning the quest when he was assured that she was safe and sound . I also really love the fact that he finally realised the importance of communication that he never addressed before . He realised that he needs to talk to Yuki , there's a lot he must talk to her about. This is something yuki has been desiring for a long long time , she wanted to talk to him a lot , i wish this moment could be granted to them .

I think being human is good for him , he deserves this peaceful nice time after all the shit he went through. I am so glad he is a human now . I am so grateful to yuki that she didn't give up on him . I am so grateful that he can feel the same sense of peace wash over him as most of us feel when they see a starry sky . I am so happy that you are happy now . No matter who you end up with , whether you live alone with Yuki inside you , i am happy or you choose to be somebody else I will be happy too then (just wishing somebody would be me hehehee) .

I may despise yuki but it's all because of her enduring love that you are still breathing and smiling , have a chance to meet your cute little daughters . You have courage and hope now . No matter what happens now you will be happy and trust me Kaname I will read your story till the end .

[ursaspecter]

For a long time Skyrim was my favorite game. While I was still playing it that is. Once I did everything there was to do, I just stopped playing. I could've spent time maxing out every skill and do endless minor quests, but the grind would have gotten old really fast. I haven't picked up the game in years because it doesn't have any replay value to me. There's not much else I could do differently in subsequent playthroughs other than different character builds and joining the other side in the civil war, but nothing else changes.

The characters are bland and feel like set pieces and stage dressing rather than actual people with lived history. Except for a small handful of characters, they're all pretty forgetful. And even with the characters that do stand out to me like Cicero, Astrid, Aela, Brynjolf, and Paarthurnax, the player character never really forms a bond with anyone. Even the eligible bachelors and bachelorettes are wooden and void of personality.

The most boring character of all though would be the player character-the Dragonborn. I know that the intent is to make them a blank slate for the player to project onto or make a character out of them, but the roleplaying in Skyrim is honestly incredibly lackluster. A lot of the time you're given the option to be mean, awkward, or nice in conversations and sometimes it feels like what you say doesn't matter at all. You can even go through the entire Dark Brotherhood questline saying absolutely nothing and it's ultimately unchanged. You just get different dialog from the targets you're about to kill anyway.

Ironically what really makes the Dragonborn boring is that they're too important. They're the Dragonborn: the ultimate dragon slayer. They absorb the souls of dragons and use their power for themself. But they're also the linchpin to the civil war and whichever side they choose to join is just enough to tip the scales in their favor to win. And they're also thane of every hold. And leader of the Companions and get to be a werewolf. And guildmaster for the Thieve's Guild and a servant of Nocturne as a Nightingale. And also the leader of the Dark Brotherhood and the assassin of the literal Emperor of Tamriel. Oh but also they get to be the Archmage of the College of Winterhold after saving the world again. Oh and also they get super cool weapons from the Daedric Princes after completing quests for them. All these special things keep happening to the Dragonborn, but when everything special happens, it's not special anymore. There's nothing to tie them back down to earth.

The quests I remember most fondly are the ones that really have nothing to do with the major questlines. I remember running across Sindig one night and helping him out because he was nice. I helped him get rid of the ring of Hircine and find him a little spot where he could live in peace. Yes it was a Daedric Prince quest, but it was more about helping Sindig than helping Hircine. The other quest I thought was neat was when I got into a drinking contest with someone else in the bar and woke up the next morning with no memory of the events the night before. The quest was just going around piecing together what happened and it was great! If only Skyrim had more of that, I would want to play it again.

And that's why I'm so thrilled to have found a game such as Red Dead Redemption 2. It might be a bit unfair to compare the two considering there's about 7 years between the two releases, and RDR2 is 20 times the size of Skyrim just by space requirements alone.

But more importantly, Arthur Morgan isn't this all important savior figure. He's just some guy. He's not particularly special other than he has a $5000 price on his head for his crimes. He has history with the other people in camp. He has his own personality, thoughts, and opinions and even butts heads with the others in the gang including their leader and his adoptive father figure, Dutch. He feels real. He feels lived in.

RDR2 doesn't have him campaigning for office in each state or join as many gangs as he can to become the leader because it's just not needed. Instead outside of the main story, he's just helping out every day people and bounty hunting. These colorful characters that also have their own lives. That have actual personality and don't just speak in MCU sarcasm all the time. Albert Mason, Margaret, Deborah MacGuiness, Charles Chatenay, Professor Bell, Marko Dragic, and so many more that I could mention. Even if I don't remember their names, I still remember their missions. I can't say the same for the side quests in Skyrim.

Even the companions in RDR2 feel so much more alive to me than in Skyrim. If Lydia or any of my other housecarls get lost or die in Skyrim, I'm more annoyed and frustrated than anything. In RDR2, when Sean died, I fully mourned him. And again with Kieran. And Hosea. And Lenny. They were written so well and with such care that they mattered to me. When Tilly was kidnapped and Susan grabbed Arthur to go with her to rescue her, I felt that urgency as if she were my own sister. When Jack was kidnapped, I felt the stress and confusion everyone else was feeling especially after barely getting over Sean's death. Skyrim doesn't give you the time or the option to forge those bonds with the NPCs.

A while ago I read a comment on a video essay about Heavy Rain that went something like, "To make a character's misery more effective, it's important to show when they are joyful." I think the same principle can apply to RPG protagonists. To make a character's significance more effective, it's important to show their mundane life as well.

I'm not even done with my first playthrough of RDR2 yet as of writing this, and I'm looking forward to when I get to do my second playthrough. And my third, fourth, fifth, and so on ad infinitum.

TL;DR Friendship with Skyrim over. Red Dead Redemption 2 is my new best friend

[rubywines]

I LOVED the moment where in the city of the righteous (during the apocalypse) the harlot pretended to be a preacher. Cas said that only a minister of heaven could kill her, and then began to explain why everyone present didn't fit, in explicit order "from best to worst." And he named Dean first, only then himself. I mean, you see, he, the angel, put himself below the hunter who has been in hell for forty years and tormented souls there with pleasure... I dream of meeting someone one day who will look at me with the same warmth and love, as if I were the perfect person, always deserving of salvation, as Cas looks at Dean.

BUT I LOVE the resentful way Cas looks at Dean when he wants to agree to let Michael in. He's done everything for him, given everything away, and now the damn Winchester is going to sacrifice himself again – what an idiot! And he runs to Dean in the bomb shelter so soon, just to make sure of his condition, to help, to follow up as best he can. To be exorcised by the sigils. And then he runs again and finds him without difficulty; maybe sometimes Dean does need a good beating to bring him to his senses.

I LOVE that Dean thinks he's naked without that amulet pendant, but almost immediately gives it back at one request (command) from Cas. And lets him lug it around, doesn't ask, but just, well, gives it away. He even forgets about it for a while. Just because Cas said "please," just because it's important to him, even though Dean himself doesn't believe in God, just because there are no other options.

And I REALLY LIKE the fact that Cas brings the amulet back, even when he's totally trashed and frustrated and devastated. Well, promises are important to Castiel, he doesn't mince words, but his condition is too human-like for an angel at that time, so hardly anyone would blame him for forgetting. A little later he would have returned the pendant anyway... Or maybe that's what the clipping lose of faith in God and devotion to him showed. Either way, no one would blame Cas. But in his mind, that promise was brighter than his own strife.

I LOVE that Castiel didn't regret bringing Dean back to life for a single second. It almost goes without saying – he did it and would do it again, even if he were stuck in a time loop with Winchester's death as the exit. No way in hell; better to be dead than... this.

It's a little different for Dean, though: he's got that "Why me? Why me of all people?" look, and Castiel has nothing to say, at least not that he knows what kind of words Dean would like to hear.

While speaking of freedom, Cas looks at Dean. Staring intently, catching his gaze and holding it so that he understands first, even though the conversation is supposedly with Sam, too. It's as if Dean's awareness is most important; he's hard to reach, of course, he's the bone structure of impulsiveness, but a little attention to the other Winchester wouldn't hurt either. No kidding, it's easier to tell when Castiel isn't staring at Dean in a huge crowd of people, just at him. Or when Dean doesn't do the same. Really.

And maybe Cas didn't kill fifty thousand people for him and Sam, but he probably would have done it under different circumstances, because Cas is more in love with humanity than anyone else. With the Winchesters. With Dean, as a matter of fact.

He's patient. All of Dean's tantrums, the rudeness, the injustice, the ingratitude, his constant challenges during the war, when Cass is the busiest, he’s patient. Gently takes any insult and also gently responds, as if speaking to a child, so affectionately and ingratiatingly. Everything tolerates and complies with every request. Maybe it's the nature of all angels, but Castiel changes, and we all remember how he was at the beginning of the fourth season. That Cas wouldn't even listen. This one listens and complies, as if he had put a collar on himself, holding out a leash to the Winchesters, but saying: "I don't serve people and certainly not you, Dean." Just to be clear, we all believe him, of course. Yeah. Totally.

And Dean, oh… Dean wants to be special and unconsciously gets angry when that status is taken away. To Castiel, he’s more important than anything, but it's not enough. Probably. He says as if he doesn't believe in Dean the way Sam does, but, damn, he believes and very much so, and the death of hundreds of versions of Winchester doesn't give him the strength to take the life of the real one (the only version who secretly would love to die).

I LIKE that Dean, this person with the most painful and impressive trust issues, was the only one who faithfully believed that Cas was not involved in Crowley's plan. He kept repeating, "That's Cas, our friend! He won't work with Crowley, hey, come on," though doubts obviously plagued him, no matter how desperately he tried to quell them. And Cas was winning him over. His gaze was permanently fixed on Winchester's grim face, on the denying and struggling with his thoughts Dean, who had so rarely thanked him aloud before, but paid off everything with his inhuman devotion.

And when the truth is revealed, when it's obvious to everyone, Dean stubbornly continues to hope; he says, "You have to look at me. Look me in the eye and tell you're not working with Crowley," he begs. Perhaps, just perhaps, he is asking for Cas to lie. But Cas doesn't lie, he's an angel of the Lord, and Dean looks with such despair, as if a needle of a dead man's blood had been thrust into his heart, wounded by betrayal as deep as his fear of being betrayed extends. He feels bad. But even then, he's the only one who says it's not too late. And that everything can be fixed. That he's always been here. As he runs away, he turns around to look at Cas one more time, rejected but not yet abandoned, and later Cas really comes back to him.

"After Sam, Bobby and you are my dearest people," Dean opens up to him, trying his best to reach out, saying things he sometimes didn't do for Sam either, but Cas turns away from him so cruelly, but with the same regrets in his soul. Because he's confused, he's lost, and he thinks he's doing the right thing; he cares so much about the Winchesters, about Dean, that he's confused about aspirations, about what he wants to do and how to achieve it.

Dean hates himself so much. No one – not the monsters he's killed, not the souls he's tormented, not the people he's let down for some reason – hates him as mind-blowingly as Dean hates himself. And he sees everything as his own fault: if a volcano erupts somewhere, of course he blames himself alone. If he saves only a hundred and ninety-nine people out of two hundred, he'll be drowning in regret for the rest of his life. And I honestly think Sam had no right to be angry when Dean killed Amy; of all people, Sam knew better than anyone what his father had taught him, and what an excellent student his brother was.

Dean's eyes are dim, though he smiles broadly, and his eyelids redden very quickly; he wants to cry, but he can't afford it, because he is the eldest. It's as if he lives only because of his seniority over Sam, and not in the sense of suicide (well, not just it), like... Almost as if he wasn't worth living, but someone has to look out for Sam and his troubles with head.

Dean always loves others more than they love him. Always. And he is willing to do more for them. People, family, friends – Dean needs them all more than they need him; "Thanks for caring, but I don't need you anymore," "Did you ever stop to think that everything is your fault?"

"Why do you ask? As if... you don't think you're worthy of salvation."

Hammered. Abusive. A lonely, tired and shattered man. Lost, abandoned, God, how does he wake up in the morning? How does he still breathe?

It's ironic, really, that the only one with whom his "curse" doesn't work is also forced to suffer the same thing: Cas’ true happiness is in acknowledging his affection and love, and he's dying for three damn words. Dean, no doubt, thinks it's his fault, too. And he won't let others confess their love to him anymore. Never.

He's anxious beyond belief if nothing bad happens in his life because he's used to constant fear; he's so lonely, but so afraid to let himself get close to others. He has been betrayed, abandoned, even Cas has done it. But Cas is stronger than the others, though, and he probably would have been strong enough not to die as a mere mortal. Dean's usually protective – so, well, it would be nice to feel safe, wouldn't it? But Cas is dead with ends, and Dean is dead, too, but in a very far away place where even the illusion of Cas is not here. And he's happy… Not completely, though, but as always.

Let's say it again: the only one who loved Dean more than Dean loved in return with his immensely large and affectionate heart was Castiel. And Castiel was the one who died to love Dean exactly to that extent.

[hinatastinygiant]

Chapter Thirty Two

Back to the Laundromat

Pairing: Osamu x Fem!Reader

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"Y/N, wake up," Osamu whispers early one morning. When you open your eyes, you see him looking down at you as if you've spent a week in bed. He's even got dressed already, did you forget something important?

"What's going on?" you tiredly ask him.

"We're going out."

"Oh my god, it's today, isn't it?! I can't believe I forgot!" you gasp.

"Yeah, so go get dressed," he chuckles.

After your talk with Daisho at the gravesite, you officially got his laundromat signed in your name. You jump out of bed, wash up, get yourself dressed, and run downstairs to eat. Osamu hands you a bowl of cereal that you devour within seconds.

"Done!" you say with a smile as you look across the table at him.

"And in record time," he laughs. "I'll clean this up for you."

You lean over the table and kiss him with a sweet "Thanks," before running off to brush your teeth.

When you are finally ready, you bolt from his house to the car. The entire ride you're so anxious. You've never even bought a house before let alone owned an entire business. It's all so thrilling you just can't wait.

When you get to the rundown building in the red-light district of town, all you see is a rainbow of colors as though you're in some sort of dream. It distorts your field of vision from everything else that's happening on the street. 

Inside, you run your hand across the dirty washers and driers, only seeing them as shiny new appliances, not ones covered in filth and grime. Osamu then takes you by the hand and leads you into the backroom where he asks you to sit at the same desk Daisho used to sit behind.

"As long as you decide to stay boss, this place will be yours, Y/N," he explains.

You sigh as you put your feet up just as you saw Daisho do. Now you know why he was so prideful, this place is like heaven.

"How could I not be boss," you grin at Osamu. "Besides, I quite like pointing a gun at people now." You touch the gun on your hip to make sure it's still there even though you know you'll never need it with Osamu around.

"Do you remember what Kita and I told you about Aoba Johsai? About how they're hired hitmen?" he asks.

"Yeah, what about it?"

"Well, Nohebi, Daisho's group, was into something quite different than merely killing people-" he begins before you cut him off by sitting up straight in your seat.

"I don't care what Daisho was doing behind closed doors. That was his business, not mine. I love this place and I'm going to run it as well as I can, I promise you that, Osamu," you cheerily respond, still in your trance.

"That's really not what I was getting at but I suppose it doesn't matter," he sighs. "You don't need to worry about it."

"Thank you," you smile just before there's a knock on the office door. "Come in!" you shout.

When the door opens, the smile on your face disappears. Your new manager has just stepped in- your own hire- Rhodes. 

"Did I just... interrupt something?" he asks with a bit of an attitude in his tone telling you he doesn't care if he did or didn't.

"No, of course not," you shake your head as you stand up. "Hi, I'm Y/N, your new boss," you smile as you hold out your hand to him.

Rhodes watches your shining smile and looks hesitant. Why would some innocent-looking girl like you buy a rundown laundromat that's seen better days?

Rhodes has such long eyelashes that catch your attention right away. Why would a handsome man like him look for work in a rundown laundromat that's seen better days? Maybe it's got something to do with his appearance, his long pink hair tied back into a ponytail and those beautiful freckles covering his face. Or, perhaps, it's those black piercings on his ears and nose. Not to mention that bold, black cross tattoo right on the center of his throat. 

"Rhodes," he replies as he places his hand in yours. "Just here for a paycheck. Not questions or judgment from you or your little boy toy over there."

You smile even bigger after his introduction. "Ooo, I like you already!"

The natural pout on Rhodes' face intensifies as he purses his lips together. "Yeah, whatever, lady. You gonna let me sit down and work or what?"

Osamu stands up and glares at Rhodes. "Don't talk to your boss like that or you'll get canned before you even get that paycheck you're so eager for!"

"Or what?" Rhodes scoffs. "Don't act like you don't recognize me, Osamu."

Your lips part as you look between the two of them. "Samu, you know him?"

Osamu takes you by the hand and pulls you a bit closer to him. "Let's go, Y/N. We should let him earn his keep."

The two of you leave and drive to a small café a few blocks away in a safer part of town.

"How do you know Rhodes?" you ask eagerly.

"How do you know him?" he asks right back.

"He applied and I liked his profile," you shrug.

"And what exactly was on his resume?" he continues to pry.

"A few odd jobs, retail, cashier, HIV tester..." you begin to list.

"What?! That's all bullshit. There's no way he did all of that!"

"How would you know?!" you repeat, going back to your question.

"Y/N, Rhodes is a male prostitute. As I was trying to explain to you before, Nohebi deals in prostitution. He probably knew Daisho well."

You laugh but it dies down as Osamu glares at you.

"Well, I like him so I'm gonna keep him around. I don't care that he lied and what he does outside of work is his own business," you sigh.

"That's fine but if he gives you a problem, let one of us know."

"I will," you nod, "but I think he's going to be great!"

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