fic: (Is this seat) taken (rated G, pairing: kakairu) Team X collab with my partner in crime @kageillusionz for our beloved @mandapandabug20 and for @uminoirukaevents´s Iruka Birthday Bingo 2024
HAPPY BELATED BDAY, MANDA!! We are late but we are HERE✨✨✨
Prompts: Kage's Board (NSFW: First Time / Temper / Blindfold / Headache / Mentor / Mentee) | Cica's Board (SFW: Temper / Found Family / Idiots in Love / Mentee / Headache)
Warnings: namecalling, violence, other dark elements. Proceed with caution.
Note: someone said August.
Part of The Club AU
"Kam," you tug on Kamlai's arm, "we have to go."
The guy she's with gropes her from behind, grinding on her as she keeps him from tugging up her skirt. She gives you a look. The look. Please.
"Dude," she elbows the spiky-haired pervert, "get off."
He's reluctant until she stomps his toes. She yells at him in Thai, you're not sure what, and sways his arms away from her. You shake your head as you pull her free of his embrace.
"Where's Manda?" She asks with a slur dragging her tongue.
"Dunno," you cling to her, "that weirdo tried to roofie me."
"Huh?" She yells behind you.
"Put something in my drink."
"Ew," she nearly bowls you over as you stop short.
"Yeah, uhhhh," you look around, "where would she–"
"Gross!" She points over your shoulder, "typical."
You follow the direction of her finger to Amanda tangled up, macking on the guy she picked from the lot. Ugh, she really has to be the one and only. You roll your eyes and haul Kam with you as you approach.
"Amanda," you call above the music, "let's go."
She doesn't stop. Doesn't seem to hear you as you latch onto her arm. It's only then she turns her head, the guy's mouth almost continuing its sloppy work on her ear.
"Fuck off!" She shakes free of you and shoos you with the flick of her acrylics.
"Manda," you shout, "we gotta go."
"I'm having fun," she barks back, "you wanna go home, go."
"But–"
"Fuck her," Kam pulls you back. "Look."
You turn with her and look across the room, Cole and the spiky blond staring in your direction, chatting to each other. Shit. You thought the bouncer scared him off.
"But…" you spin to face Kam.
"Nope, not sticking around for her. She got the hot one anyway."
Kam lets go of you and stomps off in her heels, ankles threatening to bend as her arms swing violently. You trail her in a tenous scramble, hands sligthly out to keep from toppling. The flashing lights and the pumping music add to the disarming atmosphere.
The cool night breeze beckons to you through the open door. Kamlai is first out but as you exit, you run into the elbow of an unsuspecting barrier. The same bouncer as before recoils and grumbles.
"Sorry," you smile sheepishly. "You okay?"
He stares at you, his face drowned in shadows, "yeah," he answers dryly, "I'll survive."
You cringe and brush by to catch up with Kam. The glow of her phone lights up her features as her pointed nails tap.
"Calling an uber," she mumbles, "I can't believe Amanda. She's so stupid."
"Mmm," you peek back at the doors. "Maybe we should go back and get her."
"You think she'd help you? She's selfish," Kam sniffs, "remember the school trip to New York?"
"Uh huh," you squint at the dark figure beside the door. You can't tell if he's looking at you but it feels like he is. "I… guess you're right."
"You know I am," she scoffs.
🥂
Just after noon, you wake to the chirp of your phone. You snatch it blindly, rolling over to check the messages. Just Kamlai whining how hungover she is. Mood.
There's a notification that Amanda posted a story. You check it, anxiously, relieved at least to see her alive in the video, though unimpressed at the naked back of the man next to her. If she wants to make Seth jealous, you're sure she's doing a great job.
You get up and get going, the previous night following you around as it rattles in your head and mulches in your stomach. Such a happy birthday, almost drugged and ditched by your supposed bff. And that bouncer… a bit gruff but you can't deny he saved you.
Hmmm. You know exactly how to thank him!
🥂
You walk up to the club. It's not yet open and in the light of day, it's a bit less showy. As you approach, you see a face you recognize. The second bouncer, the pudgy one, yawns as he struts up to the doors.
"Oh, sir, sir," you run forward, your skirt fluttering around your legs, "hi."
He looks at you woth a crooked smirk, "why, hello, darlin'."
"Uh, hello," you reply, "um, I'm looking for your friend."
"Friend?" He frowns.
"Um, yes, the tall one! The other one," you explain poorly, you can't even remember what he looks like.
"Auggy? Ah, well, he should be 'round," he thinks, "didn't think he was seeing anyone."
"Oh, no, no, no," you deny, "I was only hoping to thank him. He really helped me out so I bought some cookies from Marie's…"
"Cookies, you say? I might know where to find him for a price."
"Uh, sure," you open the lid, "snicker doodle?"
He smirks and takes a cookie. He chuckles as he turns on his heel and heads for the door. He elbows it open as he swallows, "hey, Aug, out here."
He lets the door close and you wait on the stoop. You bounce impatiently and after a few minutes, the hinges grind again. You look up as the large man pokes his head out with a dull stare.
"Oh, hi," you keep your smile wide. You didn't notice last night the scars along the right side of his face. A curved ripple around his temple, and several long marks down his cheek and jaw. His eye is completely white and part of his eye brow permanently shorn.
"What?" He snarls.
"Oh, I… you might not remember me, but you uh, you helped me last night so I just wanted to thank you."
He sneers and doesn't react. You open the box and angle it towards him.
"Cookies!"
He stares. Silent.
"Cause you were so nice–"
He steps out completely and you lean away, but don't retreat. He grabs a cookie gruffly and holds it up. He wraps his fist around it and crushes it, letting the crumps rain to the ground.
"I don't want your fucking pity, you bimbo," he slaps the box out of your hands as he looms over you, "so why don't you get the fuck out of here?"
You stand in shock, hands still out as you look at the cookies littered over the pavement. You gape at him and fold your arms over your stomach.
"Why–"
"I said go," he growls, "don't let me see ya back her either."
He steps forward, half a lunge that has you staggering backward. You let out a pathetic squeak as you spin and flit away. You get halfway down the street before you look back over your shoulder.
Wow, he didn't have to be so mean. If he didn't like snickerdoodles, he could just say so.
Oof, this may be the dumbest and most chaotic thing I've ever written. I'm writing the second part to the fic where the Party forgot Steve's birthday so stay tuned. Please leave your thoughts in the comments!
~*~*~*~
Robin was his best friend, his ride or die, his Platonic soulmate with a capital P. He knew she still wasn’t comfortable enough to come out to the Party just as he wasn’t. So when she accidentally made a gay comment that outed herself, of course Steve jumped to focus everyone’s attention on himself.
Robin was talking to Nancy about the failures of dating or something when it happened. She laughed at Nance’s comment about having crushes on poor choices.
“Yeah, I had a crush on Vickie until I found out she had a boyfriend.” Robin’s eyes widened as soon as she realized what she said.
“I mean-“ her panicked eyes whipped over to Steve’s and he knew he had to fix it.
“How’d you get over it? My crush on Eddie just won’t go away.” He asked, sounding confident and nonchalant but his insides were riling.
His words caused Eddie to suck in a deep breath of air and start choking. Steve looked at him and patted his back which only seemed to make the choking worse.
“Dude, are you okay?” Eddie just gave an undignified whimper in response.
Nancy’s eyes narrowed on Steve, “so what, you’re gay now?”
He felt oddly defensive in the face of her scrutiny and narrowed his eyes in retaliation. “No, I’m half-gay. What’s it to you?”
Robin cut Nancy off from the tirade that was sure to come, “Steve, it’s called bisexual.”
“Yeah, I’m that. I like guys and girls.”
Nancy paled a few shades, “that-that’s a thing?”
“Um yeah, obviously. I didn’t really realize it until I saw Eddie in the boat shed though.”
Eddie’s back tensed under Steve’s hand and he made a muffled shout of frustration and outrage. Steve just gave his shoulder a pat in commiseration. Yeah, he’d been there for months. Welcome to the club, Munson.
The rest of the Party was silent. Dustin was staring between him and Eddie in unbridled glee like all of his wishes had come true. Lucas and Max looked unperturbed like they’d known for months which knowing them, they might have. Will looked hopefully ecstatic and El was smiling happily. Mike though, looked pissed.
“That’s disgusting!” Mike yelled with his lip curled in disgust.
“Shut the hell up, Mike!” Nancy yelled at her brother.
Robin, Steve, and Eddie whipped their heads toward her but she just shrugged. “He shouldn’t talk to you guys like that. Plus, I’ve had a crush on Robin for weeks. I just didn’t know it was okay.”
Robin gasped obnoxiously and started hitting Steve’s shoulder over and over again. “Oh my god, oh my god, Steve! Oh my god! Can you believe this? Oh my god, no, does this violate our bro code? Oh no, she broke your heart. Of course you wouldn’t want me dating her.”
Steve just shook his head, “Robs, I just want you to be happy. I don’t mind if you want to date my ex. But if Nance hurts you like she hurt me, I’m gonna go after her and make her regret it.”
“Oh, thanks Steve!” She hugged him and he closed his eyes. At least everything had turned out right in the end.
He didn’t notice Hopper and Joyce at the top of the stairs. They were both staring into the basement in confusion at what they’d just heard. All Hop could do was look at Joyce in utter befuddlement and mouth “what the fuck just happened?”
She just shrugged her shoulders, how the hell would she know?
April 29: Happy 69th Birthday to Voice Actor Richard Epcar, who provides the English voices of the characters of Zangetsu on Bleach and later as Ywhach in the Thousand Year Blood War, Manda & Hanzo of the Salamander on Naruto, and Joseph Joestar on JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Stardust Crusaders and Diamond is Unbreakable.
Kurt: Guys like you don’t happen to people like me. I’ve…My whole life I’ve been alone. I didn’t meet another out gay guy my age until I came to New York. My whole life I didn’t get the guy or the part in the musical or the college that I wanted. I had to settle for being alone, for the secondary role, and for the other path. Then I met you. And I’m terrified that once again, somehow, I’m not going to get the guy and I’m going to end up alone.
↳ CHARACTER AESTHETICS: KURT ELIZABETH HUMMEL ( @kurthummel-nyc )
Funny day, it’s my birthday but I cried a lot this day. There’s so many anger and disappointed. I don’t really feel special today, it’s just ordinary Thursday, so many revision and so many things to do.
Well I can’t even think what I want in this year, I already planned it before. But looking back this past year, my 22 is a lot I can say. Graduated, magister, IAI, adhipati, internship most of this is my very big step. 23 will be so hard cause my dream will be so big that last year.
I will cry a lot, disappointed a lot, there’s so many plot twist, but I know I can do this, I know I’m brave. I know what to do. I know who I am. And there’s no one can take that from me. My identity and my spirit. I will glow, and even that will hurt someone let it be cause I know I’m good person and that’s what matter.
Remember manda, you can sad or mad or disappointed but don’t ever. let. that. shit. stop. you.
It’s part of the process, you can do it. You will and you must.
Happy birthday for me, I’m so proud of you and I love you.
Town Fiesta Experience: A Somewhat Chaotic Story-Telling
Every year our town celebrates the birthday of the woman who was blessed among all the women, AKA Mary, our blessed mother. And with that comes the role-playing of the Padul-ong Festival. It is a retelling of the tale of how the image of the blessed Virgin Mary got transported to Borongan from portugal, and the legend of the Lady in white who frequents the Hamorawon spring where it is said that the water has the ability to heal the sick. Now, that's all I know about it. But it sure is always a lovely fiesta. Festive and vibrant as it should be.
Just a few weeks before the fiesta, everyone's been busy with all the preparation. The hanging of bandaritas around every barangay, the marching bands trying their best to out show their fellow competitors- working hard to perfect their routine, and the most exciting of it all, was the parade and the Padul-ong festival itself. I'm sure all their hard work has paid off. All the sleepless nights making all the props for the festival competition and with all the dancers sweating and dancing their asses off to give their best performance and please the crowd.
I actually didn't grow up celebrating this festival. I know, it was a bit sad, if I'm being honest. I've been missing out on all the fun. But now I get to decide if I want to celebrate it or not, because I'm old enough to decide for myself, and I'm no longer part of a cult-ish fellowship club or whatever you want to call it. I grew up really religious, you know, but now I'm not anymore. But anyway, going back to the festivities and what my experience was. It was nice... That's basically the summary of my town fiesta experience. The end.
Nah, I'm just Kidding with ya! No, but seriously it was nice, I swear. Look, I wasn't really feeling it, but at the same time it was nice to see how other people were enjoying it. I was just going through something, but I managed to show up during the Essu Nite, and was able to see some old friends, which was genuinely nice. I'm always happy to see them. Then I went home after checking in for the attendance that no one was facilitating.
Ah, here's a funny story though. It was the day before Vesper. And me and my cousin were out having dinner near the plaza. After we ate, we decided to go to the pharmacy, and as we were on our way, we passed by the plaza, and it was jam-packed because it was also "Tuklas", so there were artists like, Khalil Ramos, and Gabbi Garcia, and also Ej Falcon, but man, I was more interested with Ian Veneracion. Wuuuuuhhhoo good lawd. Anyways, we were passing by, right? So we hung around a little bit to see if we could spot Ian. And then, boom, the crowds started shrieking, and I was like, damn it must be Ian, so I ran near the backstage, had my camera ready and waited to see if I'd see a glimpse of one of my DILF crushes. And there, a man wearing a brown polo shirt came out of the backstage and I screamed for my life. My octave range went to heaven. I only saw that good-looking man for a second, dang it, and there were cars blocking my view too, but nevertheless, I was elated. So we went to the pharmacy grinning and giggling. Mr. Bodyguard was like, "kinita manda hi ate hin artista" Damn right I did, kuya.
I went home feeling over the moon, but then, as I was on the tricycle, I thought, "Wait, hold on, what if it wasn't Ian?" Because I had no idea what he was wearing, right? So I hurried home and did some digging on Facebook and damn, Ian Veneracion was wearing a denim jacket.💀
I was heartbroken.
The man that I saw wasn't Ian, but Ej Falcon.💀💀💀
Bruh, and the way that I screamed?
Gorl that was embarrassing.
Then I messaged my cousin that it wasn't Ian, and she was dying from laughing her tonsils out.