#i just realized she follows me uhhh whoops she’s also the person i talk to abt everything but i didn’t know how to say all of this i’m sorry

[explosionoftara]

uwu

[razorblade180]

Interdimensional Moms pt3

Part 2 right here! <-

Team RWBY continue their interesting chat about their respective worlds. After the emotional roller coaster that was Weiss’s, a bit of light hearted stories would be welcomed.

Yang:Okay, does anyone have some real feel good things to talk about for their world? Just run of the mill pleasant life?

Ruby:Guess I’m going last....

Yang:Oh no!

Weiss:We’ll circle back to you then. Blake, I guess you’re up.

Blake:Wouldn’t you want calmer stuff at the end?

Yang:Blake, I would very much like to go at least ten minutes without wanting to cry.

Blake:Hmmmm I can guarantee you like...six I think.

Yang:I’ll take it! Blake Belladonna, tell me about a world where you and Jaune Arc are happily married. How did such stars align?

Blake:You make it sound crazy?

Weiss:Blake, there’s list of people I could see you with. Now I’m not saying Jaune couldn’t be one of them, but he’d have to fight his way up that list.

Blake:You...that’s kinda fair. It’s a bit hard to explain really. It happened back at Beacon initially, or our bonding did. Some days his team was busy and I didn’t tag along for the crazy antics you three wanted to do all the time, so we occasionally bumped into each by circumstances. He’d go to the library for a book, I’d do training and he was there, or sometimes he’d knock on our door and not realize I was the only one around.

Weiss:Was he trying to sing to me?

Blake:That plan did show up at our a few times, yes. One of those times I asked him out of nowhere to sing the song anyways because I just had to know if it was any good. Hehe, it wasn’t sonically pleasing at times, but you could tell it was genuine. Eventually though...he just sort of gave up on you. It was actually a little sad to see, even you thought so. It was strange. Jaune was definitely stumbling through his flirting and it came off as childish, yet the day he gave up, it was easy to see his heart was breaking a bit. Like all his insecurities ate even the faux confidence away.

Yang:Ma’am, it has barely been three minutes and I’m getting sad about thinking of Jaune being sad.

Weiss:Yeah don’t tell me I broke his heart!

Blake:Whoops, sorry. It’s important though. Jaune kinda kept to himself a little more after that. He still chatted pretty regularly but it was easy to tell he dived more in studies as a way to keep his head clear, which lead to us being on a project together. I was the only person in our friend group that wouldn’t actively try to make him open up about how he feeling. At first I thought it was a bit rude when he told me that, but I didn’t room to talk when it comes to socializing.

Yang:One more time for the people in the back.

Ruby:I’m the back.

Blake:*smirks* I was very against socializing about my feelings at Beacon.

Ruby:Yeah you were.

Weiss:I couldn’t even ask if you slept well without a lukewarm answer sometimes.

Blake:I’m better now. That’s all that matters. Romance and feeling love is a personal thing and talking about it is uncomfortable. I think we both recognized that in each other during our project. Trouble is, there’s only so many conversation starters and small talk subjects. Talking only about the project was dry and eventually all the facts a person could say about themselves ran out. Favorite food, color, hobbies, etc. We eventually had to dig a little deeper into those topics. To our surprise, we actually more in common than we thought when it came to how we felt about certain pieces of literature and music.

Ruby:Awwww, bonding over smut.

Blake:*red* It wasn’t all adult literature! Some were poems and stuff. Even when the project ended, we began being less formal around each other and hanging out. We went to the bookstores we mentioned and he even got us tickets to bands I liked. It...it was nice. I never really got to have just a normal teenage experience before without it being political. He always felt bad about being average compared to everyone but average was so foreign to me that I welcomed it. I liked having a normal time out. It was a thing we all took for granted. Especially when Beacon fell.

Yang:Yeah, that probably put a real bind on your relationship.

Blake:Actually....we technically never officially started to date.

Ruby:What? You courted each other all of Beacon.

Weiss:Ruby, who the heck says courted? I’m a Schnee and even I have never used the word courted.

Ruby:Hush, I read a lot of bed time stories to a five year old.

Blake:We were a bit shaky on labels. Me for obvious reasons. As for Jaune, it’s really true about what they say about guys when they get heart broken.

Yang: “Never again.”

Blake:Hehehe, it’s funny to look back at it but he’ll tell you it’s a bit cringy. He was so on gaurd. I could tell all the time when he was mentally telling himself to not be excited whenever we hung out or I complimented him.

Ruby:Hey it takes guts to shift feelings to a teammate of your first crush. That could blow up in your face.

Blake:Yeah...about that. *looks at Yang* you...were another reason why nothing was official. You uhhh, we actually had some jumbled up emotions.

Weiss:*sarcastic gasp* You and Yang, liking each other? Who could’ve seen that coming?

Yang:Was it mutual or...

Blake:Very mutual. Also...intimate at times.

Yang:*red* Oh....yeah. Yeah that tracks.

Blake:That jumbled mess was only more confusing after you got hurt trying to rescue me from Adam. Meeting up with-

Ruby:Question, so was Sun just not on your radar?

Blake:Sun? We’re just friends. He’s cute and I’m glad he was there for me when I needed help but things between us were always pretty calm. I think he noticed how confused I was with other people in my life and chose to not add to it.

Ruby:Bless him. Please continue.

Blake:Learning about Salem and reconnecting with you all was a lot. I’d really been out of the loop and my Yang and I were on....shaky ground.

Yang:That’s what happens when you leave someone who’s been left their entire life.

Blake:Sigh...yeah. It was a trying time, but not with JNPR. It’s funny, Oscar and I also hit it off quite well from the jump. I think we were both glad to have each other learn on the craziness at once. Even with readjusting, Jaune and I fell back into a groove naturally. Instead of doing average things we day dreamed of the things we did. Once again we become this little slice of simple life in this crazy adventure. Still didn’t date.

Weiss:What is this, a slow burn!?

Yang:Weiss, you literally didn’t date your Jaune until Atlas.

Weiss:There’s a difference. I didn’t make any heart eyes at him until around Atlas. I say I may have been a little quick. These two were “courting” for over a year at this point.

Ruby:Stop making fun of me!

Blake:Well anyways, I wouldn’t say much was too eventful in terms of romance with world destroying things happening. Salem, she was way too much to deal with. Every move age did was calculated and unrelenting. Keeping our head above water wasn’t easy. In fact, it was boarder line impossible. Yang and I barely beat Adam after all.

Yang:How’d you two feel about that?

Blake:Relieved. Huge weight off my mind, and yet...a piece of me still wishes things never got so dire. At least now I know that in another world, things aren’t.

Ruby:Sounds like your world was put through their paces? You survived though.

Blake:Not conventionally. I gotta say, hearing the ages and how you beat Salem so far makes me feel more than a little embarrassed. To be frank, we didn’t have this grand battle that involved the entire world making a final stand. We had Atlas, and then we had Haven. With their might and a plan to gain more time, we managed to seal Salem in a vault.

Yang:*chokes on water* Y- cough what!?

Ruby:You put her in a vault!?

Weiss:Thah sounds harder than a last stand honestly.

Blake:No matter what way we looked at things, we just weren’t ready for her, so we locked her away until we were. Two years on constant defense from her followers and grimm until Ruby had trained enough to use her silver eyes and we were all strong enough.

Ruby:Two years!? How old was I then?

Blake:Twenty I believe.

Weiss:Hey, you beat mine by a year.

Yang:Not mine, I think we either tied or just narrowly beat yours by like a year. Honestly it hard to keep track of birthdays and stuff.

Ruby:Wow. No offense to myself, but that’s a little disappointing. I guess being the same person really doesn’t mean we were all at the same level.

Blake:Hey, my Ruby put everything she had into saving the world. There wasn’t a second she wasn’t trying her best to defend it!

Ruby:My point exactly. If that was her at her absolute best then by all accounts, she doesn’t hold a candle to me; at least back then anyways. But I have no reason to believe she would be at my level now.

Yang:Okay little miss prideful, care to tell us when you saved the-

Ruby:Seventeen.

The reaper took a long swig of coffee while the others processed that information. It took a her a couple of seconds to realize she may be acting just a tad bit arrogant.

Ruby:Uhh, sorry. I think I was tooting my own horn a bit there.

Weiss:Seventeen....why so soon?

Yang:Why? Don’t you mean how?

Blake:That’s....almost unbelievable.

Ruby:Really? I don’t think so. I’ll dive into it when it’s my turn but for now all I really gotta say is people needed help, and I was going to answer those cries. I bet your Ruby had a similar urgency in her, but for some reason or another just had different limitations. I got hurt a lot as a kid. Maybe an injury did more damage in one universe than another? Who can say?

Blake:I...wouldn’t know. Odd, I know if my Ruby heard this, then she’d probably be more than a little upset. Saving lives is still what she’s all about. I know when she put everything she had into fighting Salem when the day came. All that training paid off. Her skills were polished and her silver eyes eradicated the grimm essence in Salem.

Ruby:Wait, she’s not dead?

Blake:No. Salem roams Remnant with Oz keeping an eye on her until one day she can finally grasp the lesson the gods wanted her to have.

Yang:That uhhh sounds risky.

Weiss:Yet oddly okay?

Blake:Funny, my Weiss said that too. Those two get checked on in secret. Can’t be too careful. With Salem beaten though, Remnant entered a state of...let’s call it average chaos. All in all, it’s way more peaceful but you know, people will be people. Downside about a secret war is you don’t get the unity of the masses. Atlas and Haven working together was still a great step in the right direction though.

Yang:Woah, I’m a little jealous. My world felt like a race against the clock. The pressure either broke you or made you harder than diamond, with most people crushing under it.

Weiss:Yeah. The tension and meet of extremes I had on the frontlines was beyond imagination. The unity was great, but to feel it on the battlefield against the odds was feeling with way too much adrenaline and stress. Can’t say I enjoyed it. I simply lived through it.

Blake:Well it isn’t like I had a walk in the park. But I guess in comparison, my experience was a tad more mellow. Still, people were lost and hurt. Oscar isn’t himself anymore, don’t have Penny, former classmates and a few enemies turned allies fell in battle. Family.... it took a bunch to get the plan of containing, then it took a lot more to do it. In a way though, the two years of training is time I can’t regret. It tested bonds, strengthening and reestablishing others.

Ruby:I take it since love couldn’t bloom on the battlefield, it bloomed in the training yards?

Blake:*red* You can say that. That’s when Jaune and I got serious. *frowning* But.....

Yang:We fell apart?

Blake:Yeah. I didn’t learn my lesson well enough the first time about the potential problems of dating a partner. Only difference this time was I felt like I was the one being cruel. We had gotten into arguments and apologized more than once. Your fear of being left and my own insecurities just kept butting heads. I’d cry, you’d cry, our friends would be concerned. Then the day came where you put it all on the line. You confessed genuinely how much you loved me and how you felt a bit jealous when it came to Jaune. I had never seen you look so vulnerable; letting your gaurd completely down. And though a piece of me loved you and wanted you in my life for ever....this sense of genuine comfort Jaune gave was something I want-needed for so long. So I did the one thing I didn’t want to do. I broke your heart. I hurt you again.

Yang:Sigh....*leans back in chair* Okay, let’s see how well I know myself. My eyes went red automatically, followed by tears. I lashed out at you angrily out of pain and embarrassment until I was probably blue in the face. But to take make things worse, somebody probably overheard. No matter who it was, I yelled at them too for trying to calm me down and then I eventually run off leaving everyone unhappy. A good old meltdown. Sound about right?

Blake:To the letter. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so distraught.

Yang:Of course not, I’ve never been in love before meeting you. I....did a similar thing with my Blake over the stupid Adam shit. *covers face* of all the things to be similar, it had to be my temper. Please tell me our team didn’t suffer too harshly?

Blake:The good thing about two years of training was it didn’t have to be together all the time. Team RWBY didn’t fall apart, but it didn’t feel comfortable either. Outside of missions, the four of us didn’t hang out as much. It was three at the most. Nobody pinned blame on me or Yang for it but it was obvious.

Ruby:I mean how can you blame someone for feeling sad or not in love with someone? Pointing fingers doesn’t do anything. However, I bet missions were rough.

Blake:Bumblebee was shelved. We did any other team up we could. When push came to shove, Yang and I did put feelings aside. Neither of us wanted our feelings to get anyone killed. That’s probably what kept us connected for awhile, especially with Salem. I don’t think we questioned each other when it came to watching one another’s back. Slowly, our relationship got a bit better. Until....we stopped speaking to each other altogether about a couple years later.

Yang:Wait, why!?

Blake:I got pregnant.

The three listeners’ faces scrunched up and they let in a sharp breath like they just got cut. No one had considered that bombshell.

Blake:Marriage was rough enough. Having Jaune’s kid and starting a family just...cut deep I guess. You didn’t make a scene or anything if that’s what you’re worried about. One day you told me “I just can’t do this” and exited my life. I wanted to keep you close to me, but you wanted to be closer. That was a thing I couldn’t do. Hehe, I can’t tell you how weird it is talking to you like this again.

Yang:So that’s it!? We just don’t see each other at all!?

Blake:Certain events and celebrations have us in the same room, but that’s all. Ruby is the only thing that regularly links us, but she’s busy living life too.

Ruby:Is it a good life?

Blake:The best. You’re the huntress you always wanted to be and a hero to many.

Ruby:*smiles* Really? That’s good. May she ride that high for as long as she can. Though I bet she wished she had a special someone to share that with.

Blake:Huh? Oh, you married Weiss.

Weiss:*red* What!?

Ruby:Aye, nice.

Weiss:Weren’t you upset about thinking of other people with Jaune besides you!?

Ruby:Yeah, but I won’t deny if I am going to be with someone that isn’t him, I’m very happy it’s the other special person in my life. I mean come on, the only reason we don’t get weird in your universe is because I married your brother and you already invited my sister.

Weiss:I mean...it’s mainly the brother portion. The second part...

Ruby:Weiss, that’s weird.

Yang:Eh...

Ruby:IT’S WEIRD! YOU CANNOT TELL ME OTHERWISE!

Yang:*sips coffee* Eh.

Blake:Anyways, Weiss, you’re running your company. The Schnee Dust Company was scrubbed top to bottom to remove as much corruption as possible. No department was overlooked. In times of money, there’s a notable decrease in how much the company used to make.

Weiss:Gee, I wonder if that’s because the other me is doing oh let me guess, paying all their workers and not cutting corners in safety?

Blake:The SDC people approval has gone up considerably, just so you know that too. Turns out people like it when the company they buy from have good morals.

Weiss:Am I happy though? I make time for my social life and hu- I mean wife?

Blake:Yea, you’re happy. In a way I think we’re all happy, but....

Yang:We’d be happier if we were all happy together? Yeah, that’s how it works. You’re only as happy as the most miserable person in a family or group; if you all care about each other that is. Ugh, I wanna punch the other me. I get how she feels but it’s fucking immature to just ignore years of teamwork and family. At the end of the day, team RWBY is a family! Can’t believe I’d runaway from it instead of figuring out...I don’t know! Something!

Blake:*small smile* Well if you feel that way then there’s no reason to believe she doesn’t. My Yang just struggles with it more I guess, but I hope she can come around one day. Not really for my sake, but for her own peace of mind. As well as Lucas’s.

Ruby:Lucas? Your son I take it?

Blake:Mmhmm. My strong and lazy young man. He got his father’s hair but my eyes and ears. I can’t think of a person who warms my heart quite like him. He acts uninterested in a lot of things, but his heart is so big.

Weiss:Ah, so he’s just you?

Blake:More or less hehe. Though I’d say I was passionate about things all my life. Lucas will sleep all day if he could and doesn’t like going out without a reason.

Weiss:Still sounds like you if I’m being honest. Teenager?

Blake:Seventeen, almost eighteen.

Yang:You said he’s need peace of mind too? I’m not...hostile towards him am I?

Blake:No, not by a long shot. On the occasions you two have meant, you were polite. It’s just he knows why you don’t visit or talk to me. That’s rough, knowing your parent’s closest friend stopped being apart of their life because you were born. I think sometimes he believes it’s actually his fault.

Yang:I really, really want to meet this other me and have a few words. She needs to know she isn’t trying hard enough. I’m proof.

Ruby:Yeah, but you’re only well off because the person that helped you get over Blake, was Jaune. Yeah she still can find love, but who that person will be would be uncharted territory for everyone.

Blake:Also I’m not entirely sure exactly if my Yang is even bi like you.

Yang:Sigh....

Weiss:Love.

Blake:Huh?

Weiss:As long as a person shows your Yang genuine love and a place in their heart where she’ll remain forever, Yang would fall for them. They just have to make it a point to make her feel like they’ll stay. Yangs are softies like that.

Yang:Wow, you an expert on me and all the versions of me now?

Weiss:No, you’re just a bleeding heart that’s super emotional. Let me guess, you fell for Jaune the moment you realized just how relaxed and vulnerable you could allow yourself to be around him.

Yang:*red*.......he holds me when I’m overwhelmed.

RWB:Awwww

Yang:Shut up! Blake, take the heat off me.

Blake:Not too much more. Lucas is a smart kid who generally stays out of trouble. Unfortunately, trouble finds him. Mainly because of his semblance.

Ruby:Don’t tell me...

Blake:No no, it’s not bad luck like your uncle, but Lucas can’t always control it so their similar in that regard. Premonitions, that’s his semblance.

Weiss:Like...the future? You child can see the future?!

Blake:Yeah. *sips drink* it’s terrible.

Ruby:What? That sounds so handy! Man, if I could someone fighting me before it happened, I’d be a monster on the battlefield.

Blake:Lucas isn’t a fighter. Well, he’s not aspiring to fight. He can fight, pretty dang well in fact.; but randomly seeing the future is not a gift. Imagine picking up a book and you suddenly know the ending, or watching a movie and you start seeing the middle of it right after you press play?

Yang:Ahhh, that’s why he’s lazy and unmotivated. His semblance is massive spoiler alert. Half the fun of new things is not knowing what will happen.

Ruby:Oof, you have a point. I’d be paranoid to no end.

Blake:To a point, he was. Ever since he was ten. Disasters happen at the drop of a hat. Lucas isn’t the kind of person to watch bad things unfold, so whenever it was possible or even if it was risky, he’d do whatever he could to prevent said disaster. But.....there’s only so much anyone person can do. There’s only so much information he sees. The constant strain and guilt that came from failing ate him up. The. There’s the incidents he’s seen that didn’t show him how it began or how it will end. *rubbing her hands* It’s bad...

Weiss:Hey, I...I’ve noticed your hands and frankly even your face are a bit....slim. Your skin isn’t as colorful as I’m used to either. Almost like it’s regaining color.

Blake:Hehehe.......I guess you were bound to notice of all people.

Weiss:Of course. I may not run a a company in my world but I keep tabs on my brother and have had my fair share of visits to a doctor. Why wouldn’t I notice.

Yang:So can we talk as if there are people who have no clue what’s going on?

Weiss:Blake has had one of two things happen to her. She’s either worked way too hard to the point she’s not taking care of her health, or she’s fallen very ill and her body is still recovering.

Blake:Yeah, it’s more of the second one, but probably because of the first one as well. Forwarding equality, I was overzealous with it. One day Lucas just started shaking and crying when he was twelve and I couldn’t understand why. Turns out he kept seeing me bedridden and unconscious without a reason. Day in and day out he simply cried and tried his best to get another premonition to learn more, but couldn’t. A week later I started feeling a little dizzy, and then blacked out after vomiting. At first I thought maybe I had the flu or something. Nope, a tumor.

Weiss:What?

Ruby:Blake!?

Yang:Oh shit, are you-

Blake:Perfectly fine! *smiles* I’m fine. Liver cancer, but it was caught early. No more tumor what so ever, but the meds and the entire process was really draining. Got sicker a couple of times. Not once did I feel like I was dying necessarily, more like...slipping? I felt myself getting drained. The whole time Lucas was so scared; blaming himself for not preventing this or knowing how to fix it. Though simply knowing he saw me like was a warning most people wish they got. I know I said seeing the future is terrible, but the scariest part through all of this was not knowing how it ended. Choosing medicine, doctors, surgery possibilities, it made me crack under pressure a little. I think he noticed that. I wasn’t sure if I picking an option that lead me dying or getting better. The stress alone may have killed me. Ever since then Lucas hasn’t been so outgoing.

Ruby:....

Weiss:....

Yang....It was already said, but there was no way this wasn’t going to get sad was there?

Blake:Take it from me, there’s joy in pain. So many people came to visit me when I was recovering. Even Yang dropped by for a bit. After I got out, I don’t think Lucas ever hugged me so hard. Jaune tried to stay calm through the whole ordeal but it was rough for him too. He was all but spent emotionally when I came home.

Weiss:I’m surprised Lucas didn’t become an older brother.

Blake:The last thing a recovering patient needs is a pregnancy, but as far as missing me goes...

Ruby:You can stop right there with that tangent.

Yang:We’ll talk about that in private. I wouldn’t mind that story.

Blake:*playfully rolls eyes* These days I try not to over do things. I’ve only officially been deemed completely cured for about a year. I can feel that I’m still not entirely up to strength. It’s fine though. It gives me an excuse for Lucas to dote on me a little. He’s a mama’s boy at heart. My biggest worries these days is peeling him out of this shell his semblance had put him in. At the very least I want him to smile like he used to and find away to live in moment when possible. His entire life is ahead of him. Hopefully he doesn’t see all of it.

Ruby:I guess too much of anything really is bad. Knowledge included. I hope things work out.

Yang:Me too. A happy life is something you definitely earned.

Blake:Thanks. That seriously means a lot, which is why I made sure to not end this on a sour note.

The happy faunus pulled out her scroll to scroll through pictures and her friends eyes lit up. The first one was a beach photo. This Jaune was different from what they were used to. He let his hair grow a little bit longer and the back went down his neck, but it was definitely still him. This jaune was pretty toned and went for a lean look than bulky like Weiss’s, but a tad slimmer. On his shoulders was an adorable toddler with wide amber eyes and big blonde cat ears. Both men were enjoying the sunset on the waves.

The next photo was more recent with Blake right in the middle of hopping into Lucas’s arms. Weiss noticed the girl still had on the hospital bracelet. She must’ve just gotten cleared. Lucas had grown like a weed. He was now roughly Jaune’s height. His hair was messy and looked like Jaune’s in his younger years. Also like his father, Lucas was jacked! His sleeveless purple shirt should off his biceps as they wrapped around Blake’s torso for a hug. His baggy purple shorts had black and gold trim through the seams and the shorts stopped right below his knees; but showed of his well defined calves. A smile of pure joy and what could’ve been a few tears were visible as he looked lovingly at his mother. It warmed all of the ladies hearts. Still, the girls also could tell under his eyes were a little dark. Lucas must’ve been very tired.

The final picture had to be the most recent. It was Blake and Lucas sparring. Both looked at each other with excitement and ease as their wooden blades clashed. Their clothes mirrored one another by being black and white kimonos. They even wore the traditional shoes and everything.

Weiss:Yeah, that’s your kid.

Blake:Damn right. Unfortunately that makes him a little too stubborn. But I guess that’s okay. Without a doubt, someone’s gonna break through that shell of his.

Yang:Oh? It sounds like you already know who?

Blake:Well....I have a hunch.

xxxxx

RING! RING! RING! Lucas’s scroll chirped, in the middle of the night. The boy let out a long, agitated groan of sleepiness as he rolled over in bed; reaching for his scroll on the nightstand to answer.

Lucas:Hello?

???:Did you know you are mathematically more likely to choke on a hotdog than get attacked by a shark?

Lucas:....Serenity, who gave you my number?

Serenity:Your parents, and it’s Serendipity!

Lucas:Too many syllables. Also a bit ironic given who you are. With the way you act though, my name for you is better.

Serenity:Ooooo so we’re moving on to pet names? How forward of you.

Lucas:Five seconds before I hang up. Three...two-

Serenity:You’re late! You promised to guide me around the beach at twelve. That’s now.

Lucas:.....P.M. Twelve P.M. Serenity. Why in the world would I mean midnight!?

Serenity:It’s romantic and personal. Nobody else is around. I thought you were trying to use that Belladonna magic on me by acting all cool and aloof in the moonlight.

Lucas:.....

Lucas:Please delete my number.

Serenity:Not on your life, my whiskered bodyguard!

Lucas:Don’t have whiskers-

Serenity:If you don’t wanna move that butt of yours to hang out with a pretty girl in a floppy hat and sundress with a bikini underneath, that’s your loss. I’m still going for a dip.

Lucas:Do not go in the water when nobody is around.

Serenity:Pfft, I’m a strong swimmer.

Lucas:Sharks.

Serenity:It’s more dangerous to eat a hotdog.

Lucas:Sharks feed at night.

Serenity:Are you trying to tell me the statistics aren’t as reliable just because it’s nighttime.

Lucas:That’s exactly what I’m saying.

Serenity:Then you better move your butt just in case. Either you get a snack or the sharks do. Either way, I get attention.

Lucas:Difference is one wants to eat you.

Serenity:My goodness Lucas, oh brazen of you.

Lucas:......

Lucas:Tell the sharks I said hi.

Serenity:Okay! Byyyyyyeeeee! *hangs up*

Lucas:(She’ll be fine.)

..........

Lucas:*putting on shoes* This is bullshit. Who thinks midnight!? *walking down stairs* Can’t have a peaceful day or night....

Jaune:*watching tv* Hey Lucas, going some-

Lucas:I’m giving out your phone number to a homeless man the first chance I get! *walks out door*

Jaune:.....(Whatever gets you outside more.)

It took about fifteen minutes of aggressive walking for Lucas to wrap around to the back of his house towards their section of the beach. Where Serenity walked around humming and collecting seashells without a care in the world.

Lucas:The next shell you grab will have a crab in it.

Serenity:Huh? Oh hey you’re finally-ahhhh! Ow ow ow ow ow ow!

Lucas:Should’ve listened.

Serenity:Have a better warning!!!! It won’t let go!

Lucas:Pull it off.

Serenity:That’s hurt!!! Lucas, help!

Lucas:Fine, if you delete my number.

Serenity:*sniffling* Stop being mean!!! This really hurts, it’s breaking the skin. Isn’t a young and pretty girl’s tears payment enough!? I thought you were getting paid to-

Lucas:Oh my goodness! Okay, just shush. I’m too sleepy for this.

Serenity:You’re mean when you’re sleepy. At least your waking up voice sounds handsome though.

Lucas:Please....stop. Stop everything. *removing crab* Happy?

Serenity:No, you’re not happy. Also my finger is bleeding.

Lucas:Yep, looks like you can’t go swimming now for real.

Serenity:Eh, I lied anyways. I’m not getting in that water. There are sharks in that watery grave.

Lucas:So. Why. Did. You. Wake. Me. Up?

Serenity:....*red* I...don’t really, have friends here. Besides you. Umm *points to pail and shovels* sandcastles?

Lucas:*inhales*......I’ll get the water.

Serenity:*smiles* Yes! I’ll delete your number later.

Lucas:*red* You....can keep it of you really want.

Serenity:....Kek, okay Mr. Tsundere

Lucas:You can remove the next crab alone.

Serenity:Don’t joke like that! That was a joke, right?

Lucas:Welp that pail isn’t gonna fill itself. *leaves*

Serenity:What!? Lucas!!! You were joking right!? Right!? *looking around the sand* you’re a lousy bodyguard!

Lucas:Good, fire me.

Serenity:I...you....ugh!

Lucas:Cheer up, I’m happy now after all. *smiles*

Serenity:*pouting* This is why I’m a dog person.

[fanficsforheartandsoul]

A Strange Jedi | [Fem!Reader]

3rd part woohoooo!

Notes: Still don’t know anything about the US :/

Fandom: Star Wars

Warnings: Non-Canon Story, Minor Swearing, Unrealistic Depiction of California, Non-Canon Timeline from Star Wars, Original Characters

Summary: Y/N meets Adam Driver, an actor. The man knows things about the Jedi and the padawan will find out what he’s hiding. Only problem: He’s not really keen on trying to help her. So she takes matters in her own hands. Meanwhile, Y/N’s Master and Obi-Wan and Anakin are worried about her disappearance...

Word Count: 3686

Part I Part II

Taglist: @infinte-exist-ence​

If you want to be tagged in my stories send me a pm with the fandom/character name!

"I'm sorry I didn't realize it."

Y/N got flustered, and Adam Driver didn't reply. She silently cursed her cybertech and the translator device. She automatically assumed that Driver was meant as the profession. The names people have here... 

"It's alright."

Her shoulders relaxed slightly as soon as the dark-haired man replied. She noticed another human male behind him that held some kind of device. Was that a weapon?

"You said the Sith are gone..."

Y/N's eyes stayed focused on the person behind him when she asked Adam.

"But that isn't true. We're in conflict with them on Mandalore."

The actor - she only vaguely knew what that was - just stared at her for a few seconds. He seemed confused at first, then his expression changed. She watched him with caution, and her hand was close to her hip and her lightsaber, just in case.

"Well, you seem to be a passionate fan. What's your name?"

There it was again. That strange word. Fan. The meaning was still unknown to her. Y/N contemplated if she should tell him a fake name, but then she decided that being honest was probably the best for now. Her hand went back to her side, and she straightened her posture.

"I'm Y/N L/N, a Jedi padawan."

Adam's brows slightly knitted together, and she could feel the confusion radiating from him.

"Nice to meet you, Y/N," he said anyway, and she noticed that he must have good manners.

And then they kind of just stood there, being awkward and everything.

The padawan had many questions, but they were out in the open, and Adam didn't really seem keen on answering either. The fact that he towered over her gave him an intimidating aura even when he said that he wasn't a Sith. Though she didn't quite believe him. Her years with her master showed her enough proof that the Dark Side of the Force could influence people who weren't Sith.

But he seemed like he would stay peaceful for the moment, so she didn't want to pry. It also stopped her from hitting him with questions and inquiries about the Jedi and probably saved her from embarrassing herself.

"Adam, maybe we should continue the route?"

Somebody finally said something to interrupt the weird silence, and Y/N was relieved. Then she remembered that she forgot about R7. 

Oh no! 

As if he was summoned, an angry droid rolled up to them, he was whistling and beeping, and she just knew that he was fuming.

"Uhhh, sorry, buddy," she apologized while he angrily slapped her thigh with his gripper arm. 

The question that was asked seemed forgotten because Adam didn't answer and only stared at the droid next to Y/N.

"This is R7-S9, my droid."

Bee-Woo Beep!

She just rolled her eyes. Your Jedi, yeah, whatever. She patted his metal head and then turned to the other men again. They stared at her, stunned, and she furrowed her brows. R7 rolled forward and made a loop around the actor, who watched the droid with eagle eyes. Y/N observed his reaction with a frown.

"Have you never seen an astromech droid? Do the inhabitants of this planet not use droids for work?" 

Adam squinted his eyes, and she knew that he was trying to figure something out. Then he opened his mouth and slowly spoke:

"I'm sorry, padawan, but we have some business we must attend."

Was that sarcasm? His tone was distant, and Y/N tried to figure out if he wanted to get rid of her. The men behind him seemed to sigh in relief, and they already turned around to leave when she stopped them.

"Wait! Are there..." she bit her lips. Would they respond like the man with the kid? "Are there any Jedi here? Is there a Republican outpost where I can contact Coruscant?"

Adam, who had also begun to step away, stiffened. 

"Aren't you the Jedi?" 

This time his answer was definitely mocking. She could hear the irony in his voice. 

"I am! But I need to contact my Master! Please help me, I-"

The desperation in her tone spoke against the code, but she ignored her flaring emotions and tried to reach out for the dark-haired man. He seemed to know something, he was the only lead she had. She couldn't let him go.

One of the men wearing the strange white armor stepped before Adam and held an arm out as if to protect him. 

"Miss, that is enough." 

She looked up to the guy. The laughing faces she had seen before were gone, and grim expressions remained. They really were guards...

"No, please. I really need to- Adam!"

Her voice grew louder when the actor behind the man walked away.

R7 beeped in confusion, and she nervously thought about knocking the man, who held her back, out, when her droid whistled to get her attention.

Y/N turned her head, and he waved his gripper arm as if to say let Adam go. 

She sighed but relaxed slightly and bowed to apologize to the man. 

"I'm sorry."

The other watched her with furrowed brows and then turned when he made sure that she wouldn't follow them.

The padawan crouched in front of R7, and the astromech droid beeped excitedly. Her dark expression that had spread when her only lead walked away cleared instantly. 

"What? How did you do that?"

Bee-weep be-whoop boop!

"Phone? What is a phone? GPS?" 

Y/N only watched while her friend wildly explained to her that he found a way to follow the man. He waved his gripper arm, and he looked slightly crazy while doing it. But she didn't care because the genius bucket seemed to have saved the day!

"So, all we need to do is follow the signal?"

If the droid could nod, he would've definitely done it. Instead, his buttons blinked wildly. The padawan patted his head, and he beeped happily.

"Buddy, you're amazing!"

Apparently, almost every human on this planet used something called a cellphone, which sends a signal. To locate Adam Driver, they would use the personal signal of his phone. 

She wanted to continue talking about the plan with her droid, but the people around them seemed to turn their attention to them, and Y/N decided that they must leave the area first. 

"Let's go somewhere else, R7", she whispered, and he agreed with a whistle. 

She imitated the strolling all the other humans appeared to use and then walked down the path that she believed would lead them to a quiet place in the park.

Her droid followed her, and although people turned their heads to look at them, they soon found a resting area behind some bushes where only a group of 4 people stayed. 

Y/N crouched down after making sure that the others weren’t watching her, and R7-S9 wheeled over to her and began to beep to explain his plan further.

-

Two hours passed, and the padawan was sitting on a bench and ate some of her last rations she took with her from the Icarus, while she was waiting for her astromech droid. 

R7-S9 had whistled about gaining access to something called the internet and suddenly drove away. Now she was waiting for him to return. 

She didn't want to admit it, but without him, she would be totally lost. Of course, she could have followed the man with her abilities, but her concentration wasn't the greatest at the moment. Hiding with the force would be difficult in that state.

Y/N landed on a planet where apparently no Jedi resided, and not only was her ship broken, but the Republic didn't seem to have an outpost here either. How would she leave? Was there even a possibility to return? Did she want to return? 

The war between the Republic and the Separatists was destroying lives, and the Jedi tried their best to help. They became commanders, generals, soldiers—something she never expected to become when she started her training. Even less when her master took her in. 

Her thoughts got interrupted when her astromech droid returned. R7 was beeping loudly and waving his gripper arm triumphantly.

"Whatcha got there?" she asked and pointed to the thin silver box he was holding. 

Bee Whoo-Beep Beep Whoop!

"That's a cellphone? From where did you get...?"

He turned his head and acted innocently. She sighed but didn't scold him; this was for their survival after all. The droid beeped and then jammed his scomp link into the phone, which seemed rather dumb because the port of the phone was way too small for him.

"Don't break it, R7!" she rushed to take the device away from him, but the black screen suddenly flared, and a small white logo appeared. Wow, it actually worked!

"Is that a droid?"

Both she and the astromech droid watched the little green figure on the screen until it disappeared, and some menu showed up.

"What... Enter pin code...?"

R7-S9 whistled and turned his head slightly. 4 dots appeared, and the menu faded away. 

Y/N only watched in awe while her genius friend hacked the cellphone in a matter of seconds. The screen lit up, and three faces appeared. 3 girls, all smiling, stared back at them from the small device. The padawan squinted her eyes, but it wasn't any kind of holoprojection. The droid beeped, and she tilted her head.

"A photo? Similar to a hologram but only two dimensional... Hmmm." 

While she pondered over the technology of the humans here, R7-S9 hacked an application, and it took only a few minutes until he chirped happily. 

The padawan looked up again, and he showed her the screen, a blue dot moved slowly across the phone, and the astromech droid whistled.

The thing they were looking at was a map, and the dot was the actor, Adam Driver.

"And where are we?" she asked R7 and read the names of the places marked on the screen. He whirred, and the map changed, zooming out to reveal another dot. They were quite far apart. Y/N bit her lip. How would they overcome that distance?

Beep Boo-Wheep!

She stood up slowly and turned around to look over the resting area. The other people had already left. Her eyes traveled to the wall behind the bushes. It was as big as the one she jumped over when she entered Disneyland. 

"Are your rocket boosters still working?"

R7-S9 beeped, and her face lit up.

"Okay! We got no time to lose!"

She swung her backpack over her shoulder and then faced her astromech droid.

"Ready?"

He whistled excitedly.

-

While the young padawan and her loyal friend tried to find a way to follow Adam Driver, there was an uproar at the other end of the galaxy. 

On Coruscant in the heart of the Jedi temple was a meeting being held. The Jedi council discussed the next step for a mission on Mandalore when the automatic door of the room was forced open with a bang. 

All council members turned their heads to see a brown-haired woman whose dark amber eyes flashed in anger. She strutted inside the council room and interrupted Mace Windu, who wanted to know why she was coming in during an important meeting.

"I've had enough. Let me go and search for her!"

Although her eyes were clearly full of emotion, her voice was surprisingly monotone, and only her slightly trembling hands showed her agitation. 

"Master Ath'nuel, we already discussed this. We cannot afford to give up on you and your abilities during this critical time."

Master Windu's voice was stern, and some of the other council members nodded. The expression on the woman's face changed slightly.

"There are other capable Jedi out there, as a Jedi Shadow I won't ever be on the frontlines so why-"

"We wanted to discuss this with you actually," said Shaak Ti, whose holoprojection slightly flared. 

Master Yoda nodded and spoke up:

"You to lead a clone squad and go to Kamino, we want."

Obi-Wan Kenobi, who was one of the members who was physically attending the meeting, observed the Jedi Shadow's reaction closely. 

He understood her but also knew that the council was right. The Republic needed a capable Jedi like her in this crucial time. 

The fact that he agreed with the High Council didn't mean that he wanted her to give up on the search for her padawan, though. He was an acquaintance of both her and Y/N L/N, and he worried about her too. 

After the fiasco on Mandalore, her disappearance wasn't well-received by the councils, the council of First Knowledge voiced their disappointment in the form of sending Master Ath'nuel to meditate for a long time. They wanted her to reflect on her choices as L/N's Master, while the High Council prohibited her from searching for her padawan.

"No."

The eyes of the council members widened. Master Windu furrowed his brows and pointed at her.

"What is your objection?"

Shaak Ti showed a worried expression for her friend. Obi-Wan also felt concerned, and he bit his lip.

"About attachment, we talked, Master Ath'nuel. Our teachings, you must remember."

Yoda sighed, and the woman stiffened. The wheels in her head seemed to turn, and she gritted her teeth.  

"I am indeed worried about my padawan, but it's because of her apprenticeship. Together we have found many Sith artifacts, we cleansed places soiled by the Dark Side and got rid of dangerous individuals."

The mention of her duties as a Jedi Shadow caused a shiver to run down Obi-Wan's spine. He knew enough about the Sith and the Dark Side to feel sympathy for her. The Jedi could imagine better ways to spend time. The other council members listened attentively. Kit Fisto smiled slightly when he heard about Ath'nuel's and L/N's feats.

"Before the war started, we have created a map with the help of the Council of First Knowledge. The locations of different artifacts and supporters of the lost Sith Empire are marked in it. Both I and Y/N had to engrave the map into our memory. If that knowledge gets into the wrong hands... I do not dare to imagine the consequences."

The expression of the Council members changed. 

"This is indeed a reason to find her padawan," said Ki-Adi-Mundi and faced the other members. Shaak Ti and Plo Koon nodded in agreement, their expression grim. 

"Are you suggesting that we send a troop to restrict her?"

The Jedi Shadow furrowed her brows. Her hands went behind her back. Obi-Wan felt the force shift in the room, and he breathed in slowly. Don't get agitated, Sara.

"There is no reason to. Let me lead a troop to find Y/N and bring her back."

Windu crossed his arms in front of his chest. 

"Am I wrong when I say that Y/N fled from a fight on Mandalore? Shouldn't we think about the possibility of her falling to the dar-"

"She would never!" hissed Master Ath'nuel, and suddenly her emotionless mask fully cracked, and she looked exhausted. Her shoulders slumped, and she brushed through her hair with shaky hands. 

Yoda's face softened, and he gave Obi-Wan a look. The man nodded slightly and then turned to the Jedi Shadow.

"Let the council discuss this matter. Could you wait outside?"

When her amber eyes met his blue ones, he smiled slightly, and she returned it weakly.

"Okay."

She turned and walked out of the meeting room. 

.

While the High Council discussed their decision, Sara Ath'nuel stood anxiously waiting outside. She paced back and forth deep in her thoughts.

She remembered Windu's words. It was true that Y/N had fled from a battle, but she could guess why. She knew her padawan best, after all. I hope she's alright. Thankfully R7-S9 seemed to be at her side. The astromech droid would watch over her wild padawan. 

A hand suddenly weighed on her shoulder, and the Jedi Shadow turned. In a flash, her lightsaber was activated and pointed at the person standing behind her.

"Woah, Sara, calm down. It's me!"

She lowered her dual lightsaber immediately, deactivated it and bowed apologetically. 

"I'm sorry, Anakin." 

He only smiled. The Jedi was accompanied by his padawan, Ahsoka Tano, who was staring at her curiously.

"What got you so nervous?" he asked, his expression showed concern. 

"The council is discussing if I'm allowed to go search for Y/N."

Both of them looked at her, surprised. 

"She still hasn't returned?", asked Ahsoka and her worry was clearly audible in her voice. She and Y/N were good friends, although they rarely met because of the different missions of their Masters. 

"No. No trace of Y/N or the Icarus. R7-S9 is also missing."  

She wrung with her hands, and Anakin observed her carefully. The fact that the usually stoic Jedi Master showed her emotions so obviously was an indicator that she was deeply concerned.

"Did you storm in?" he asked, remembering that Obi-Wan had spoken about a meeting for Mandalore.

Both Anakin and his padawan only watched while she sighed and nodded defeated.

"I lost control for a second." 

Her confession struck them, but Ahsoka was truly surprised. She only knew Y/N's Master as a controlled and stoic person.

Anakin patted her shoulder to comfort the Jedi Shadow, and her not avoiding it was definite proof that she was having a hard time at the moment. He wanted to speak up to show his emotional support when the door opened, and Obi-Wan appeared.

"We have come to a decision," he said, and his eyes watched her warmly.

Master Ath'nuel nodded and walked into the meeting room. Obi-Wan noticed his former padawan and Ahsoka.

"Are you here to report?"

Anakin nodded. 

"Come in."

They both followed him in but remained in the background while Y/N's Master stood in the middle of the room. Master Yoda folded his hands in his lap and then announced:

"A search group, we will send. Out on Kamino, help you will. And your padawan, we will promise to find."

The Jedi, who knew Sara Ath'nuel well enough, watched her in anticipation, but the Jedi Shadow thankfully controlled her emotions and nodded. Only Anakin and Ahsoka noticed her clenched fists behind her back.

"Yes, Master Yoda. Thank you."

She bowed slightly. Master Windu wanted to dismiss her when she looked up again and requested:

"If I may ask how many people are you going to send?"

The Council members shared a look, and Ki-Adi-Mundi took the initiative:

"We will discuss this later. Master Ti will send you your instructions for Kamino."

The Togruta Jedi Master gave her a slight smile that she returned with a nod.

"Okay, thank you. Then I will excuse myself."

Master Yoda opened his mouth to say something else, but she had already turned, and briskly walked out of the room.

Anakin and Obi-Wan exchanged a glance, and they seemed to communicate silently. Both knew that the Jedi Shadow would never let go of this matter so easily. Not if it concerned her padawan. Obi-Wan's expression seemed to say Let's go look for her later.

-

While her Master walked back to her room and readied a backpack full of necessary supplies, Y/N was about to get killed by R7-S9's reckless driving.

"I told you to slow down, R7!" 

Her screeching was ignored by the astromech droid, and he chirped excitedly - or maliciously - while driving the car down the highway. 

Before all this madness, they had jumped over the wall that confided them inside of Disneyland and walked towards the parking lot. 

R7 said that the best way of transport was going by car but for that they, well, needed to get one first. Few minutes and a jammed keyhole later, the astromech droid had hitched them a ride. 

He gave Y/N the phone, and she took it, although not without voicing a complaint about stealing again. If the law on this planet was as strict as on Coruscant... 

She ignored her worries and wanted to jump into the seat that seemed to steer the car, but the astromech droid didn't let her. 

He beeped in protest and waved his gripper arm. 

"What? No. This is not a starfighter, R7. Let me handle this."

She wanted to climb into the car, but he wheeled in front of her and whistled furiously. 

"Sssssh! Okay, okay, I get it, but don't be so loud!" 

The padawan turned to the other cars, but she could see no other person. 

Bee-Whoo-Beep Wii-Boop-Beep!

Y/N nodded, sighing, and he let her pass to move the car seat back so that the droid had enough space to get in.  

"Are you sure you don't need those pedals?"

R7 chirped, she nodded and then he used his rocket boosters to get into the gigantic car. According to the astromech droid, it was a Van. When her metal friend finally got in, she closed the door, and he watched her through the window. He blinked his buttons, and she only rolled her eyes. 

Y/N moved to the other side and also climbed in. She remembered the seat belt thing inside Jenna's car, and she looked around and found one inside the Van too. 

"Okay, let's think this through. We have to be careful and make sure not to draw any attention towa-"

The Van jerked back, and her head bopped.

"R7!" she hissed, and the droid beeped innocently.

The padawan was about to reprimand him when the car moved again in a jerky fashion. The droid maneuvered the Van out of the parking spot and crashed into the cars in the row behind them. 

"What did I just say?!"

R7-S9 chirped and turned his scomp link. The car moved forwards and almost hit the neighbor of their parking spot.

"Hey! Hey, you asshole!"

A voice suddenly screamed, and Y/N looked into the mirror hanging from the car's roof. A man came running at them, his face was red, and he was swinging his fists in a fury.

The Jedi padawan held onto her seatbelt and dear life when she shouted:

"Drive, R7! DRIVE!!”

[wellhellsbelles]

Hi! i absolutely loved both the 1st chapter of to the rythm of your wild heart and the mini fanfic you wrote :) i found somewhere this prompt that was like farkle and riley are best friends and they work as teachers in the same school and their students ship them and have bets on when they are going to finally admit their feelings for eachother

omg thank you so much!! i’m having such a fun time writing all these prompts, and this one ended up being my favorite by far (especially considering the word count is uhhh 7.1k whoops lol) 

Enjoy!!! :)

ao3 link or read below

//

Even if the universe hadn't pre-ordained them getting together, their students would've forced them in that direction.

OR

The one where Farkle and Riley are teachers, best friends, and their students are maybe a little too involved in their love lives.

(i. the challenge)

“Okay, I know I’ve said it the last few years, but this will definitely be the year my photography class beats your puny little physics class,” Riley told Farkle, dropping a box full of supplies on his desk. He peered up from his computer, adjusting his glasses as he quirked a brow at his best friend.

“So that’s how we’re starting tomorrow? With a fresh cup of competition? What happened to Miss ‘I-Wanna-Take-It-Easy-This-Year’?”

“That was summer Riley. She’s different, you should know this by now, Farkle,” Riley scoffed. “And besides, that was before I was able to get funding for really cool cameras for class, photoshop for all our computers, and was given the greenlight to start photography club. Face it, Minkus, you’re toast.”

“Okay, Riley. Whatever you say,” Farkle rolled his eyes at her, stealing a sip of coffee from the mug on his desk (Riley got it for him a couple of Christmases ago and he loved it; it said, “I don’t give a flux”, and had a helpful diagram underneath that she couldn’t even begin to understand.)

“Damnit, Farkle! Stop using your stupid head games so I can feel victorious! I know you’re in this just about as much as I am, so stop feigning disinterest. I will be the best teacher this year for once! All of those physics students are going to be begging to be in my class!” Riley shouted, picking up the box off his desk and disappearing out of the room. Farkle listened to the sound of her sneakers squeaking against the hallway tile fading out in the distance, shaking his head and chuckling as he continued typing away on his computer.

//

(ii. the meeting)

Riley spotted him hiding amongst the teachers filling up the auditorium seats for their mandatory teacher orientation for the beginning of the new school year. It warmed her heart to see him sunk low in his chair, trying to appear invisible and yet clearly waiting for her if the denim jacket draped over the seat beside him was any indication.

They’d done this meeting numerous times now since they started—they’d met five years ago, both new teachers to the school and unsure about their place amongst the other staff. Riley had been nervous as hell, but as soon as she saw Farkle sequestered to one of the rows further back by himself, she realized she wasn’t alone. She took a seat beside him, introduced herself despite his desperation to remain unseen, and from then on they were glued to the hip, the best of friends. Neither of them had been apart from one another during any school function, and they didn’t intend on changing that.

He was her partner in crime, after all.

“Miss me?” Riley asked when she reached him. Farkle breathed a sigh of relief when he noticed her, picking the denim jacket up off of the seat and gesturing beside himself.

Even after all this time, he still remained nervous at the beginning of the year, still hiding himself away from the rest of the staff he knew well by now. His penchant for anxiety was a curious one, but not anything Riley chided him for. She’d done her job by helping him get acclimated to everyone else and was definitely pushing it by encouraging him to sit closer to the rest of the teachers during these meetings; she chose which battles she fought very carefully.

“You’re late by five minutes,” he said pointedly, and Riley rolled her eyes.

“So dramatic, Farkle.”

“I prefer ‘reasonably ceremonious’.”

“Whatever you say. Now, did you bring our entertainment or what?”

Farkle flashed his phone, showing off an image of a bingo sheet.

“Bingo,” he smiled cheekily, “It’s an updated version. I think I notice new quirks about Principal Carson every year.”

“As long as the bingo space is ‘Gals and Pals’, then we’re good as gold,” Riley told him.

“Oh, you know it is. I did have to replace some of the obvious Einstein quotes into their own category to make room for the comedian stool and water bottle.”

“It’s like he wants to do standup. I think we should just encourage him to do standup, it’d be a wonderful time,” she laughs.

“It’d be fantastic, but then we’d be out of a principal. He’d be too good,” Farkle said, and Riley’s laughter quickly turned to a full-out peal. Some of the teachers around sent her looks of disdain and she cut herself off, but not before allowing one last cackle to slip past her lips.

“Alright, gals and pals! Are we all ready to get started for our new school year? I know I am!” Principal Carson exclaimed, taking his place at the front of the stage. “We better get started, because as Einstein said, time is relative!”

“Wow, two in one go. This is getting to be too easy,” Riley whispered, and Farkle couldn’t help but agree.

 //

 (iii. the bet)

Riley watched with amusement as all her students gathered around one student in particular, whispering in hushed, conspicuous tones. She loved her advanced photography class because they all had been together for so long, had formed their own friendships with one another after sharing the same class. They were sort of one big family at this point, and it wouldn’t be the first time they’d done something sneaky behind Riley’s back.

It’s only the second week, Riley thought, What could they possibly be planning?

“Alright guys, break it up. Don’t you wanna learn some neat photoshop tricks?” Riley asked rhetorically, waving her hands apart to mimic separating.

The students fled to their seats, allowing her to finally see the student in question they had been crowding around. The girl, a small red-head named Penny, was busy compiling a stack of cash and then shoving it into a plastic bag, and despite knowing Penny was harmless, Riley didn’t want to leave the matter.

“Penny, whatcha got there?” Riley said, pointing to the money. Penny shrugged.

“It’s the pot. I’m the bookmaker.”

“Bookmaker?”

“Ms. Matthews, no offense, but please follow along. It’s not that hard; I’m taking bets.”

Riley narrowed her eyes at her student.

“What could you guys even be betting on? We’re in a high school,” Riley mused, bewildered. “Also I am not about to let you guys run a gambling ring under my nose. That reeks of something I can get in trouble for.”

“Relax,” Penny told her, “It’s nothing bad. We’re all just placing bets on when Mr. Minkus is going to ask you out. Or vice-versa. Actually, there’s also a bet for if it happens at the same time. I think Frankie’s the one who’s got that bet, he’s been holding down the betting pool for the AP Physics class.”

“What?!” Riley exclaimed, “What do you mean you’re betting on us getting together?”

“Ms. Matthews, you and Mr. Minkus have been toeing around one another the last few years. We just figured we’d try and capitalize on it this year. I ran a soft betting pool last year sans money, and I think it turned out really well, personally,” Penny exclaimed.

“You two are just so cute together!” Maggie crooned from behind her.

“I really thought I was gonna win it, too, but then we came back and I had lost,” Jess pouted from the back of the classroom. Riley’s head was still reeling from the fact that her students were betting on her love-life.

“What made you think you were gonna win?” she asked Jess.

“Well, Tanner had told us that Mr. Minkus had moved into your apartment building at the end of the year, so I assumed it’d take you to the end of summer to get your crap together. I was wrong, apparently,” Jess said.

“Oh my god, I cannot have my students betting on my personal life. That is just all levels of wrong,” Riley announced, running her hands down her face. “Alright, no more of this! I am not condoning this strange gambling ring you’ve got going on. And Penny, you better tell Frankie to cut it out, too! Mr. Minkus and I need our students to recognize that there’s a reason we keep our personal lives out of the classroom. We’re here to learn, so if I catch you guys talking about it in class again, I’ll have no choice but to give you detention, okay?”

That effectively cut off any further chatter on the matter, and Riley sighed, shaking her head.

 This was going to be a fun school year, no doubt about that.

 //

 (iv. the new teacher)

“The kids have a bet going on,” Riley told Farkle three weeks later. They were waiting their turn in the makeshift buffet line in the cafeteria, paper plates in their hands as they made their second trip for dessert. A potluck had been set up after school for the staff to celebrate the first month of school going off without a hitch (it was always Riley’s favorite; Lisa the Latin teacher always brought homemade lemon squares that were to die for.)

“Oh yeah?” Farkle asked.

“Apparently they’re in conjunction with your kids, as well. I had to stop a gambling circuit with actual money from forming in my classroom, but I think it’s already too late,” she groaned, stepping forward when the line moved.

“Wait, my kids, too? I know we get competitive against one another but isn’t that taking it a little too far?” he said, eyebrow raised in concern. “What could they possibly be betting on, they’re high schoolers!”

“You know, I asked the same question. Penny thought I was nuts for pestering her about it.”

“Penny Miller? Notoriously shy Penny Miller? That Penny?”

“Yeah, she’s the bookmaker. I think I made her too confident in my class, if that’s possible.”

“I think someone has an inflated ego. Narcissus, eat your heart out!” Farkle exclaimed, clenching his fist. Riley jabbed him in the side with her elbow.

“Rude! I am not egotistic. I just know my worth is all.”

“Narcissistic,” he coughed, earning him a look of disdain from her.

“You’re mean, Farkle Minkus.”

“I am what I am,” he shrugged, grabbing a piece of cake to place on his plate. “This cake looks too good to be Stacy’s. Is it possible that she honed her cake-making skills this summer, because if so, I’m here for it.”

“Pretty sure the new teacher made it,” the teacher across from him, Landon from the history department, cut in. “Stacy had to go on maternity leave at the last second.”

“New teacher?” Riley furrowed her brows.

“Yeah, Isadora Smackle, teaches calculus. She’s right over there,” he pointed ahead to a small, lanky girl with tan skin, long raven hair, and black cat-eye frames. Farkle’s mouth dropped open and Riley had to poke him to get his attention.

“Farkle?”

“What?” he answered, not really paying attention as his eyes remained on the new teacher. Riley pouted.

“I wasn’t done telling you about the bet. Don’t you want to hear about it?”

“Yeah, sure, but could you give me a moment? I’m gonna go talk to that new teacher,” he told her as he walked off towards Isadora Smackle.

Riley felt a pang of disappointment go through her, but she ignored it for the sake seeming ridiculous. He was just going to go talk to the new teacher, it wasn’t like he was going to abandon Riley at the potluck. It was their tradition to go to these things and bear them together, because as much as Riley put on a front about being comfortable around everyone, it really was only because she had Farkle there to make her feel comfortable.

Without him it was like . . . it was like she was missing a limb.

Riley stole two lemon squares (what, she was feeling sorry for herself!) and sat back down at the table the two of them had once preoccupied. She pretended not to watch them from afar, but she couldn’t help herself in the end—she’d never seen Farkle put himself out there like this; it was strange. But there he was, standing in front of Isadora Smackle with a goofy grin on his face, and despite seeming stiff still, she seemed just as charmed by Farkle.

Suddenly Riley didn’t feel like eating her lemon squares.

She waited for him to come back, too, but after a long while, she realized that was a fruitless effort. Farkle was glued to the new teacher and Riley was left deserted, so she threw out her lemon squares, found her bag, and left to go finish work in her classroom.

And if she ignored the obvious hurt snaking its way down her throat, well . . .

 So be it.

 //

 (v. the grudge)

“Alright, I’m forcing you to eat with me, effective immediately,” Farkle announced as he barged into Riley’s classroom during lunch. She had her door shut to deter any office hours while she tried to catch up on grading, something that seemed to have been slipping by her lately.

The door was not shut, however, to one Farkle Minkus—she couldn’t keep him out even if she tried.

Riley eyed him warily as he set a bag down on her desk, pulling out the contents to reveal Chinese food from their favorite Chinese place down the street.

A bribe.

“Bribe me all you want, Minkus. I’m still busy,” she tried to brush him off, but Farkle was persistent. He didn’t take no for an answer, opening all the containers of food and placing chopsticks in front of her.

“Nope, not going to happen. You’re going to have lunch with me because snuck in all this food, and I’m not going to let it go to waste because somebody is being snippy with me,” he told her, tossing a plate in the only empty spot on her desk. “I hope you appreciate me because I bought orange chicken which I know you love and you know I detest, so dig in or so help me god.”

Well, Riley really couldn’t argue with that logic.

She sighed in resignation, abandoning her position at her computer and turning to face him. She picked up the chopsticks begrudgingly and began scooping rice onto her plate, a small smile on her face.

It was hard for Riley to stay mad at Farkle; he made it impossible.

“Fine, thank you for the food I didn’t ask for, Farkle,” she told him, emphasizing his name at the end for dramatic effect. The smug grin spread across his face quicker than lightning, and she would’ve done anything at that point to wipe it off (except she wouldn’t, she couldn’t.)

“You’re welcome, Riley. Now catch me up on stuff. I haven’t seen you in a hot second.”

“Penny’s still driving me nuts, there’s that. I know she’s still running that underground betting ring and it makes me so mad that I don’t know how to stop it,” Riley huffed. “Then, of course, I have to learn how to use photoshop along with the rest of the kids because I haven’t been able to afford photoshop on my own, so not only does my class get to fail, but they get to see me fail at it, too.”

“Riley,” Farkle said softly, reaching out to grip her hand, “You’ve got this. Your kids know how amazing of a teacher you are, and they know it’s as much of a learning curve for them as it is for you. You’ll get the hang of it because you’re Riley Matthews.”

She couldn’t help the feeling of warmth that spread through her body from his touch, how being around him alone made her mind ten trillion times calmer.

“Thank you, Farkle. For everything, really,” she smiled. Farkle smiled back at her, his mouth dropping open as he made to speak, but then Isadora Smackle (Smackle, she insisted upon being referred to as) opened the door and stuck her head through. Farkle released Riley’s hand at once, his attention turning to Smackle.

“Farkle, we have math club in five minutes! Did you forget you’re supposed to be going over important theorems in preparation for next weekend’s competition?” she asked. Farkle glanced over at Riley then back at Smackle, and Riley didn’t need to be a mind reader to know his decision.

“Go ahead, Farkle. Your math club needs you,” she told him, waving him towards the door.

“Rain check?” he asked as he stood up from the chair he’d pulled up to the desk. Riley nodded.

“Sure thing.”

Farkle waved and parted with a quick goodbye, disappearing out of Riley’s door and leaving her with a desk full of partially touched Chinese food.

 Your math club needs you, she said aloud.

 But I need you more, her heart cried out softly.

 //

 (vi. the planning committee)

As per usual, once October arrived, everyone began planning for the school’s fall festival. It was Riley’s favorite event of the year, the one she looked forward to every time autumn came around. She’d loved it so much her first year of teaching at the school that when the student council needed help after deciding to expand the festival outside of the gym, she volunteered without hesitation. And, of course, where Riley went, Farkle followed.

They always asked for volunteers inside of their classes, but this year Riley was proud that she could enlist her entire photography club to help, along with Farkle’s math club. Sure, things had changed between her and Farkle since the beginning of the semester, but that didn’t mean that they weren’t going to uphold tradition to help plan and set up the festival.

“We should be set for next week,” Rebecca, the student body class president, announced towards the end of their final meeting for planning. “I contacted all the food trucks that had said yes to confirm their attendance and they’re all still on board, Chelsea called the pumpkin patch to check and make sure the pumpkins would be delivered on time, all our booths have been divided between the photography club and math club, and we have a final announcement. Wanna take it away, Ben?”

Ben, the vice president, cleared his throat and a grin grew on his face.

“We didn’t want to say anything until the last minute just to make sure it was going to actually happen, but we booked a Ferris wheel this year!” he exclaimed. Everyone applauded and Riley’s mouth dropped open in surprise.

“That’s amazing, guys! This is going to be the best fall festival yet!”

“Thanks,” Rebecca said, a bashful smile creeping at the corners of her mouth. “Now, any last questions before we break until next week?” No one said anything, everyone in agreement that they had everything on lockdown. “Awesome! Thank you guys so much, and I can’t wait for next Saturday. This is going to be the bomb!”

Everyone began packing up, excited chatter filling the room as they all talked about the anticipated fall festival. Riley picked up her own bag and walked to meet up with Farkle, knocking her shoulder into his.

“Hey,” she greeted him cheerfully.

“Hey!” he echoed back, pulling his laptop bag over his shoulder and following her as they left the room they used for committee meetings.

“So, isn’t this awesome? We’ve got so many cool booths going on this year, food trucks, and a freaking Ferris wheel.”

“I know, I can’t believe how big it’s going to be. To think it was only a small set of booths and homemade crafts when we started out.”

“I loved it then, too, but I’m so glad we’ve been able to help it branch out a bunch. I just know I can’t wait to kick your ass at the ring toss. I don’t mean to brag, but I’ve been practicing all summer long,” she told him, smug. Farkle paused mid-step in the hall, a frown tugging the corners of his mouth downward.

“Uh, about that, Riley . . .”

“What?” she asked, glancing over at him. The look on his face was apologetic, and it suddenly dawned on her why.

“I asked Isadora if she wanted to go with me this year, I’m sorry,” he told her, brow furrowed.

“Oh. Okay,” Riley said, trying her best to keep her features schooled, “That’s . . . that’s fine. I’ll just help out with one of the booths this year. I’m sure Penny would love to have me help with pumpkin carving.”

“Riley, you love getting to do all this stuff at the festival. You don’t need me to have fun there.”

She shook her head.

“No, it’s really fine. I know Penny needed help with coordinating all the pumpkin stuff, so I’ll just do that. I want to see people enjoy it themselves more than anything, so this will make me just as happy,” she tried to reassure him, but her words felt flat even to her own ears.

“Riles . . .” Farkle trailed, wanting to fight her on the matter, but Riley gave him a sad sort of smile.

“I’ll be busy with work and photoshop classes, so see you at the festival?”

“Yeah, of course,” he agreed half-heartedly, and Riley waved goodbye before abandoning him in the hall to walk to her car.

 In that moment, Riley felt like she was losing everything. She didn’t want to, but her heart felt the loss all the same; Farkle was supposed to be her best friend, the one who she went to all these school events with, the person who stuck by her side no matter what. But now that Smackle was in the picture, Riley found herself abandoned at these functions more often than not. What was once enjoyable to her had hinged entirely on Farkle being there with her, and that realization left her feeling . . .

Alone.

She felt alone, and she hated it.

 //

 (vii. the festival)

Riley put on her favorite purple-striped t-shirt, overalls, black converses, and braided her hair into twin pigtails, preparing herself for the festival. She topped the look off by tying a bow around her head, looking at herself in the mirror with confidence afterward. She was determined to enjoy the festival despite the fact that she was flying solo this year, and really, she could. The festival was always her favorite and although her plans changed, she had a feeling she’d still have fun.

She’d be damned if she didn’t.

Riley grabbed her bag and left her apartment, locking the door and resisting throwing a glance at the apartment door across from her. All she needed to do was shut her brain off and not worry about anything, not bother being bent out of shape about the sudden shift in her life.

Easier said than done.

Her brain had this unparalleled habit of holding on to every worry and anxious thought that cropped up inside her mind. It was hard to just shut that off; it was all she ever knew. But she also knew that she’d never forgive herself if she didn’t at least try to enjoy the day she’d been looking forward to all year long. It didn’t behoove her to ruminate, either, so she remained optimistic, actually thrilled to help carve and decorate pumpkins. Fall was still fall, her favorite season of the year, and nothing could stop her from that.

Not even dumb boys and dumb dates.

 The festival was an array of glowing lights when she arrived, and that familiar spark of overwhelming joy coursed through her at the sight. There were already cars filling up the spaces of the parking lot despite the festival not starting for another ten minutes, and Riley couldn’t believe her eyes as she got out of the car, the Ferris wheel standing tall in all its grandiose glory. She beamed at all the hard work coming to fruition, knowing for certain that this was going to be their best festival yet.

“Ms. Matthews, I can’t believe you’re helping me out with pumpkins this year!” Penny greeted her, face already covered in wild face paint that made her look like a scarecrow.

“Yeah, I’m excited!” Riley exclaimed. “I’ve seen the way you’ve manned this booth singlehandedly the last couple of years and can’t wait to help you out.”

“Do you mind setting out some pumpkins for me, then? I still have to get the paint set up for the stations,” Penny asked.

“Sure thing!”

Riley did as she was told, setting out pumpkins of all different shapes, sizes, and colors, admiring each one as she set them down. She was glad that they used pumpkins from a local pumpkin patch and that they didn’t just stick to the standard orange ones, but the other sorts of gourds that came in a variety of colors. As soon as she finished, she noticed that people had already started filing in, kids, teenagers, and parents alike. They all wore bright grins and their eyes sparkled in wonderment at everything around them.

It made Riley’s heart feel warm to see it.

They manned their booth until all the pumpkins had been given away and decorated, happy to see everyone decorate their pumpkins in their own styles. Riley found herself caked with purple paint up the entirety of her arms, and when Penny saw it, she added a brushstroke of orange to her nose.

“To balance it out,” Penny had explained. Riley couldn’t argue with that logic.

By the time the last pumpkin had been gifted, the last few people remaining at the decorating stand, a familiar pair of people arrived.

“Hey, guys,” Farkle said, Smackle at his side. Riley’s smile at him came and went within a few seconds, from the moment she spotted him to the moment she noticed his fingers laced with Smackle’s.

“You look like you jumped in a vat of purple paint,” Smackle pointed out to Riley.

“I may as well have,” Riley found her voice.

“Too bad you two just got here, we’re out of pumpkins,” Penny told them with a shrug.

“That’s okay, we were just stopping by here to check out how everything was going before heading to the Ferris wheel,” Farkle said.

“Oh,” Riley said, her voice small.

“Well, why don’t you two go enjoy it, then? We’ll finish up here ourselves, thanks for visiting!” Penny cut in, an urgent edge to her tone as she shuffled Farkle and Smackle away from their booth. Riley sighed, crossing her arms against her chest as a dry hurt stuck itself in her throat.

“Hey, wanna get some funnel cake? It’s on me, Ms. Matthews; you look like you could use some sweet, fried food,” Penny offered, and Riley didn’t even have it in her to try and fight her on it. She just nodded her head, waiting while Penny grabbed her purse and then tugged her along towards the funnel cake truck.

Penny was right, in the end. Riley’s mood peaked again at the first taste of powdered sugar and fried dough, bursting into a fit of laughter when she noticed Penny had sugar caked all over her face after two minutes of having the confectionary. They wandered around the rest of the festival just to check things out, but Penny remained silent for the benefit of Riley, who appreciated the sentiment very much so. It floored her how caring and amazing her students were, especially Penny who had managed to land herself on Riley’s list after the bet debacle.

“You know, I am sorry about the bet thing,” Penny announced later, breaking the silence. Riley peered at her curiously, finishing her last bite of funnel cake before responding.

“Thanks. It did annoy me, but it didn’t matter to much to me until recently.”

“Do you think,” Penny began, “And don’t get mad at me, but do you think there might be another reason it bothers you?”

“What do you mean?” Riley asked. Penny’s mouth opened to respond, but her bright green eyes peered over to the Ferris wheel, widening in surprise when she saw something. Riley turned in time to see what it was exactly that Penny saw—

Farkle and Smackle were on the Ferris wheel together, and he was kissing her.

Suddenly, Penny’s question to Riley made sense, and more than that, the entire time since Smackle had entered the picture. Riley’s heart plummeted in her chest, her eyes stinging with regret.

 Riley was in love with Farkle.

 But she had realized it a day late and a dollar short, and now she had to face the repercussions and watch as he fell in love with someone else.

 //

 (viii. the breakup)

Riley’s epiphany at the fall festival was earth shattering and it hurt like hell, but that was it. Life went on after that and Riley did her best to ignore her feelings. She knew in retrospect that it had made sense, but there wasn’t much that knowing could do for her now. So she put herself into making herself better at photoshop for the kids, even signing them up for a special class at a local community college that focused on basic fundamentals of photoshop.

Her life wasn’t what it used to be, sure, but she learned to be happy with that. And she was.

Penny didn’t mention the underground betting ring again. In fact, she made it her personal goal to become Riley’s aide in class, sticking to her like Velcro. Riley didn’t know how to feel about the fact that her current best friend was twelve years younger than her but having Penny around was a welcome distraction. She was sweet and it made her happy that she had such wonderful students. Penny was also incredibly talented and actually knew a few photoshop skills that helped Riley out immensely.

Riley hardly saw Farkle anymore.

They were still friends, of course, but he rarely made the time he used to to see her, instead focusing his time on the math club and spending time with Smackle. Riley figured that she needed the space to clear her head, anyhow, because as much as he was her best friend, she depended on him for a lot.

This was . . . this was good for them.

Or that was what Riley tried to convince herself of.

She missed him more than anything, and not just because of her new-found feelings. Riley missed Farkle because he was her person, her best friend, the person she could depend on no matter what. And right now he was doing the one thing she never thought he could do.

He was letting her down.

But she ignored it, pushing her emotions deep down into a cavern in her chest and locking it shut. Riley had to focus on teaching her kids and enjoying her photography club, and idle feelings about Farkle were making themselves an obvious obstacle to that. So she allowed him to fade into the back of her mind, and things got better little by little.

Right until he threw himself back into her life.

“Do you mind if I take a seat next to you?” he asked her one day during one of their monthly staff meetings. It hurt Riley that he’d even feel the need to ask, but she understood that things were different. Not unfixable, just . . . different.

“Of course,” she told him, gesturing to the open spot beside her. His long gangly limbs settled himself into the seat, and Riley tried her best to not be charmed by him.

It didn’t work; it never really could when it came to him.

“You’re not sitting with Smackle today?” Riley inquired, curious. He shrugged half-heartedly.

“We broke up.”

Oh.

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Don’t be. We all have a whirlwind romances,” he said, trying to brush it off, but Riley could tell he wasn’t unaffected by it. She relaxed herself around him, unable to tame her natural instinct to comfort him.

“Farkle, romance is romance. You care and regardless of the amount of time you spend together, it still sucks when it ends, even if it’s on your terms. You’re allowed to be affected by the world around you.”

“Can we just talk about it another time?” he asked instead. Riley gave him a soft smile.

“Of course. Wanna pull out the bingo board?”

Farkle beamed.

“Do I ever.”

 //

 (ix. the crush redux)

The thing was, Riley loved holidays. She loved the major holidays—Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Halloween—all of them were her favorites. But she also loved the lesser-known or lesser-loved holidays just as much.

She was just a holiday fanatic.

So, despite the event not having as much traction as the fall festival, Riley still maintained excitement for the winter formal. Dances weren’t quite the same for teachers; they didn’t get to enjoy that wonderful feeling of teenage angst and romance, of nerves and excitement at the prospect of getting to enjoy time with your crush. But it had an air of fun attached to it regardless, so Riley helped plan for it all the same.

This was, of course, one of the tasks Riley never asked Farkle to help with.

She volunteered her time completely of her own volition because she genuinely enjoyed planning events for the school, so anything outside of the fall festival Riley assured Farkle he didn’t need to participate if he didn’t want to. And he didn’t want to—usually.

Which was why it came as a surprise to Riley when he arrived five minutes past starting time and sat beside her in the planning committee room without a single word, just pure determination on his face.

“What are you even doing here?” Riley had whispered, only to earn a hush from Farkle.

“Shhh. We’ve gotta focus right now.”

She huffed back at him but obeyed directions all the same, her curiosity by his presence still piqued, nonetheless.

Everything had gotten better between them; they’d spent the last month getting reacquainted with their friendship, not only spending time together in school but out of school, as well. He’d insisted on taking her out to eat every Friday, and the two of them created lesson plans together every week. There was just one small hitch in their friendship that made everything just a little more complicated.

Riley knew she was in love with him now.

That was something she could hold back easily before, when she knew he was unavailable and didn’t want to make time for her. But now that he was single, he wanted to spend every second with her, and it made Riley want to tear her hair out from the frustration that was bubbling up inside her.

At least she knew she had the angst and romance ready to go for the winter dance.

“Any questions?” Rebecca asked. Riley stared blankly at her, her brain having picked up on none of what Rebecca had been saying.

“I’ll fill you in later,” Farkle whispered to her when he noticed the expression on her face. Riley hated being an open book sometimes.

“Let’s split into partners to get some ideas flowing for decorations. We’ll come back in five minutes. Alright, break!”

Riley and Farkle turned towards each other, both knowing they were going to be partners without having to ask.

“So, the theme is ‘winter’,” Farkle said cheekily. Riley stuck her tongue out at him.

“Up yours, Minkus.”

“Ms. Matthews,” he gasped, acting mock offended, “This is not appropriate conversation for the children.”

“You’re such a nerd! We need to be coming up with ideas, let’s go. We don’t wanna look like idealess losers.”

“Okay, okay, we can start brainstorming. I just have one question that you’re going to have to answer me honestly,” he said. Riley quirked her brow.

“Oh yeah?”

“Can you promise me we go to the winter formal together? I missed being able to be with you at the fall festival,” Farkle told her, and Riley felt the blood rush to her face.

This isn’t a date. He’s not asking you out on a date; you’re just friends! It’s a friend thing, and you’re going to be chaperones, Riley tried to convince herself.

“Of course I’ll go with you, Farkle. There isn’t anyone else I’d want to go with than you,” she said, groaning internally when she registered the weight of her words. It was too late to take them back, but it didn’t seem to matter because Farkle was beaming from her answer.

“I can’t wait,” he smiled, and Riley knew from that point forward that she was in too deep.

 //

 (x. the winter formal)

Riley signed up to help place all the decorations for the winter dance, so by the time she’s finished, she knows she’s gotta perform a miracle to get back on time. She has to return to her place, shower, get dressed, and apply her makeup all within the span of forty-five minutes. So she set a timer on her phone, painted a look of pure determination on her face, and took off like a rocket (while maintaining proper speed in order to avoid traffic violations.)

By some form of divine intervention, she accomplishes her goal with five minutes to spare. She zipped herself up inside her dress—an icy-blue, knee length dress with a semi-sweetheart neckline, spaghetti straps, and a shimmery, chiffon skirt—and slipped on her silver, strappy high heels, checking her makeup in the mirror one last time to make sure it was perfect. Her doorbell rang and she grabbed her crossbody purse, rushing off to answer the door.

“Hi,” she greeted Farkle happily as soon as she swung the door open. He looked very handsome in his navy-blue suit and silver tie and Riley felt her hands grow clammy.

This was starting to feel a lot like a date.

In fact, when she appeared in front of Farkle, his mouth dropped open as his eyes raked over her, and butterflies began fluttering around in her stomach at the notion of him checking her out.

“Uh, you look gorgeous,” he told her, Adam’s apple bobbing hard in his throat. He held a hand out to her, obviously trying to regain his cool (something she’s never known Farkle to have once in the entirety of her knowing him). “Ready to go?”

“Ready,” she nodded, grabbing his hand. His fingers laced with hers and she stepped out to shut and lock her door, following him down the hall and to his car afterward. They didn’t talk, but Riley didn’t mind it at all.

 They arrived at the dance ten minutes after it began (they really didn’t mean to; The Backstreet Boys started playing on the radio and they had to jam out to it!) Riley smiled at all their hard work once they made it inside the gymnasium, happy to see it balanced out by the soft glow of disco lights they had placed all around. Iridescent snowflakes dangled from the ceiling, twirling around and shimmering playfully. Everyone looked wonderful in their formal outfits, all paired with huge grins just from having fun being out and around one another.

“Looks fantastic, Riles,” Farkle told her, nudging her gently with his elbow.

“I mean, I didn’t do all of it,” she shrugged, bashful, but Farkle shook his head.

“You still helped it look amazing. Anything Riley Matthews sets her mind to always turns out incredible.”

Riley wanted to squeal from embarrassment and giddiness from the compliments he was giving her, but she remained calm, instead tugging him towards the refreshments table. She scooped a cup of punch for him and then herself, and then they both stood off to the side of the gym in their own little area partially sequestered from the rest of the teachers. They made sure to do their job being chaperones, of course (high schoolers had a real knack for getting too close too one another for her comfort), but they also enjoyed themselves. Riley appreciated getting to spend quality time with Farkle, and he always knew how to make her laugh.

Then a slow song came on, one Riley could only call an indie slow dance song, and Farkle turned toward her with a sparkle in his eye that she couldn’t forget if she tried.

“Wanna dance?” he asked, his eyes bluer than a sky on a cloudless day. Riley could hardly find the words to say yes, so she nodded and allowed him to draw her out to the dance floor amongst the rest of the teenagers. He laid his hands on her waist while she hooked her arms around his neck and they swayed together rhythmically, their eyes never leaving one another’s.

“I feel silly dancing among all these teenagers,” she laughed.

“Do you wanna stop?” he asked.

“That’s the last thing I wanna do right now, Farkle Minkus,” she told him, her words soft as they left her tongue. Somehow, they had shifted closer to one another, and Riley could the ghost of Farkle’s breath on her cheeks.

“What’s the first thing you wanna do then?”

“I wanna kiss you,” she confessed, her eyes darting down quickly to his lips and then back up to his gaze. She wasn’t sure what had made her so brave but she was certainly glad for it, relieved to get that thought off her chest finally. And then Farkle said something that surprised her more than anything.

“I wanna kiss you, too.”

“Then what are you waiting for? Get the girl, Minkus,” she whispered to him. Farkle grinned and then leaned in, hovering for a second before pressing his lips against hers.

Nothing could have prepared her for the feeling of kissing Farkle Minkus—it was like electricity coursing through her system, all of her neurons firing off in her head at once. His fingers reached up to cup her face, the warmth of his hands burning an imprint into her skin.

Finally, her heart sang.

“Oh my god!” someone screamed behind them, causing them to break apart. Riley peered over Farkle’s shoulder and saw Penny standing there, pure elation on her face.

“Oh no,” Riley groaned into Farkle’s chest, and she felt the vibrations of his chuckle against her skin.

“I can’t believe I won the bet!” Penny continued, grinning ear to ear. Riley shot her a look of surprise.

“Wait, you guessed we’d get together at the winter formal of all things?”

Penny shrugged.

“I’m a romantic at heart. I had a good feeling about it.”

“Well, congratulations, Penny, but do you mind?” Farkle said. Penny turned red, sputtering a goodbye as she left them on their own. Riley laughed at the ridiculousness of the entire situation.

“What even are our lives?”

“The best ones out there, I’d wager. If I didn’t take this job, I’d never have met you, Riley Matthews,” Farkle told her.

“And I’d never have met you, Farkle Minkus. Guess life has a funny way of making things work out in the end,” Riley said.

Farkle agreed with her by pulling her in for another kiss, and Riley couldn’t help but think she had the best life in the entire universe.

[thewritewolf]

Two Cursed Detectives in Paris Chapter 2: Revealed

As first days at their cover jobs went, today could have gone a whole lot worse, all things considered.  

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 (Final)

Enjoy!

Read on Ao3

Eerie took a deep breath as she stepped out of her car, fighting down a whirlwind of emotions. Some of them were from just trying to drive around in this city - maybe she would have been better off applying as a bike delivery person. But it was too late to worry about that now. No, she had much bigger things to stress over.

Like mentally steeling herself for whatever reaction these little bakers would have to her curse. It was always the most humiliating part of meeting new people - having that part of herself that she didn’t like always exposed for the world to see. At best, people generally just gave her weird looks, as if she opened up a bottle of hair dye labeled ‘mossy green’ and just went to town. At worst, well… she made it through.

The door to the bakery rang and Eerie stepped inside. She quickly had to make a mental adjustment - two of the bakers were little just like she thought, but the other one was a giant of a man built more like a gorilla than a person. If it weren’t for the fact she had never heard of a gorilla-cursed man before, she would have thought that he was one of them.

Two of them looked toward her with a speed that could have only been reflexive, bright and honest smiles already on their lips as they began sounding out a greeting. A greeting that sputtered out quickly when their eyes landed on her, widening in surprise. Their smiles remained plastered on, but there was uncertainty behind them.

There was an awkward pause which seemed to catch the attention of the third person in the room, who paused in her sweeping. She glanced between Eerie and the older bakers, then walked over to Eerie. Eerie sucked in a deep breath, expecting the worst, but the girl stopped a respectful distance and gave her a smile.

“Hello! My name is Marinette. You must be the American exchange student helping out for the next couple weeks, right?”

Eerie switched seamlessly into the role she had made for herself. Returning the smile, she gave a polite nod. “Yes! I’m excited to see Paris. Delivery felt like the best way to do that.”

“Now, normally we kiss cheeks here, but I’ve heard you might be more comfortable with this?” Marinette held out her hand and Eerie cautiously took it.

“Oh, and my name is Eerie.”

“I’m thrilled to meet you, Eerie! Let me show you around the bakery. It won’t take long - we might be the best bakery in Paris, but we aren’t the biggest!” Marinette laughed and Eerie couldn’t help but laugh too. “Maybe we can even let you try some of our stock? What do you say, papa?” She asked, looked at the giant of a man in the back.

The man jolted. “Oh! Yes, definitely.” Earnestness returned to his grin. “And welcome aboard, Eerie! I’m sure we’ll learn a lot from each other.”

As she was guided into the back of the bakery by her newest friend, she already felt affection blooming for the younger girl.

------------------------

Connor’s tail itched, which made sense given that it was strapped to his leg under his baggiest pants.

Despite what his dear partner and intern might say, he was pretty good at cleaning up. At the moment, he looked every bit the part of the foreign tutor brought in from out of the country to give lessons to a wealthy child. Provided that the foreign tutor was a little rumpled and smelled faintly like garbage from a dumpster dive on the walk over to the mansion. Turns out the instincts of his curse weren’t as easy to hide as his raccoon ears, which had only taken a half decent hat to conceal.

Stopping in front of a giant gate, he double checked that he got the address right before pressing a button right beside the gate. He jumped when a camera on a stick leapt out of the wall and a female voice came from nowhere.

“Yes? What is your business here?”

“Uh…” Connor took a moment to mentally translate what she had said and form his own answer. “Teaching English.”

“I see. Right on time. Go inside and up the grand stairs, first door on the right.”

Before he could ask anything, the camera retracted into the wall and the gate rumbled open. His hands idly passed over the space where the camera had gone through. Even with his well-honed sense of touch he could barely feel the depression in the stone. What kind of person puts that kind of serious money into gadgets that wouldn’t look out of place in a cheesy spy movie?

Then Connor walked into the mansion itself and saw a giant painting of a stern looking man and the most depressed child he had ever seen staring into the distance. Understanding began to dawn on him. He took a rambling path to the stairs, stopping to run his hands over the various objects and surfaces in the room. If there was a secret space for a camera, who knows what else they were hiding in here?

Just as he was reaching for the big bummer of a painting, Connor heard a door to his right open. He froze, hand halfway toward the artwork as he locked eyes with a blonde boy staring back at him. After a few seconds Connor realized the kid had said something but it went completely over his head.

“What?”

“I said, ‘I wouldn’t touch that if I were you.’ My father doesn’t appreciate people messing with his things.”

“Maybe but not here is he?”

“I… guess? Are you supposed to be my English tutor?”

“Yes.” Connor followed him into the room he came out of. “How know?”

“Because your French is, um…” The kid rubbed the back of his neck. “Not the best, let’s say.” He switched languages and said, “Would you prefer we talk in English?”

“Yeah that’d probably be for the best,” Connor said as nonchalantly as he could but on the inside he breathed a huge sigh of relief. He whistled as he entered the room. The bedroom was bigger than his entire apartment and most of it was just empty space. “You’ve got a decent set up here…?”

“Adrien. Adrien Agreste.”

“Connor MacThomas." His eyes locked onto the giant television against one wall and the Ultimate Mecha Strike game sitting just in front of it. “Say, kid, your English sounds fine as is, but I think it could use some work in certain areas. Specifically with trash talking. How about a few rounds of that?” He pointed at the television

Adrien’s eyes widened as he looked between the television and Connor, clearly torn. “This… this isn’t a test or something, right?”

“Of course it’s a test,” Connor said as he rolled over the back of the couch. “It’s a test to see how fast I can whoop your butt in Mecha Strike.” He took the controller in his hands, idly mashing buttons while he waited.

After a moment’s hesitation, Adrien sat down next to him, eyes locked on a spot above Connor’s eyes. While there was surprise, it mostly just seemed to be an innocent curiosity. It was then that Connor noticed that his hat was on the ground in front of him.

“Dang. Well, raccoon’s out of the bag then.” Connor reached into his pants leg.

“Um, what are you-” He cut himself off when Connor freed his tail from its prison. “Oh, cool! Tails are awesome!” Adrien coughed. “Or, uh, so I’ve heard. Anyway! Mecha Strike?”

---------------------

“-Needless to say, after that whole thing with the glitter glue I try not to ask too many questions about what Connor keeps in his desk.” The two girls laughed.

“So…” Marinette began, a knowing smirk on her lips. “You talk about this Connor guy a lot.”

“Well yeah. He isn’t just my sorta boss. He’s definitely my friend. It takes a while to get used to him-”

“Because he eats things that definitely aren’t food?”

“-but he’s also good guy and a great partner. I couldn’t have asked for anyone better.”

“Reminds me of someone I know…” Marinette said wistfully. She didn’t explain and Eerie didn’t press.

It was two hours into her first delivery shift and Eerie was actually having a lot of fun. Chatting with Marinette felt a lot like what she imagined having a younger sister would be like. If she thought she was attached to Marinette when they first met, she was absolutely protective of her now.

So when a giant monster in a business suit stomped into view down the street, Eerie’s first reaction was to make sure Marinette was safe. To her horror, she was unbuckling her seatbelt and jumping out of the car.

“MARINETTE!” Eerie screeched at her retreating back.

The girl in question froze and glanced back at her before a roar drew her attention back to the monster. “Sorry! We’ll meet up after the akuma is beaten. Find somewhere to hide!”

And just like that, she rushed off.

Surprise gave way to determination. She was not about to let this child run off on her own into a battlefield. Flexing her talons, Eerie reflected that at least her curse gave her some means of protecting herself - and Marinette, if it came to that.

Without another thought, Eerie followed.

------------

When the first roar shook the glass of the room, Connor didn’t think much of it as he beat up Adrien’s suddenly-motionless character. A cheap victory is, after all, still a victory. As he got to work racking up his next win, Adrien took his controller out of his hands.

“Hey!” Connor frowned at Adrien.

“Sorry! Akuma attack,” Adrien said, as if that explained anything. “You should probably head home. Or to your hotel? Wherever you’re staying that’s safe.”

At the moment, Connor didn’t feel like going much of anywhere. They’d ordered pizza not too long after he got there and when they ran out of that he’d gnawed his way through the cardboard it had come in. Much to Adrien’s starstruck awe - it was always nice to find someone who appreciated the true benefits of Connor’s curse.

All that to say Connor was feeling fat and content and not in the mood for this attempt to push him out the door.

“Shouldn’t I stay here, then? Must be all sorts of defenses here, right?”

“Uhhh…” Adrien swallowed heavily. “Well, um… I need to take a shower! Yeah, akuma attacks always make me nervous and a nice warm shower is just what I need to calm down!” Adrien laughed with a hint of hysteria on the edge of his voice.

“Right… I’ll just… go then…?”

Connor took a few hesitant steps out of the room, Adrien watching him while casting nervous glances out the window. When the door closed, it was quickly locked behind him. Curiosity overcame him and he pressed his raccoon ears to the door while his hands floated over the knob of the door. As he listened, he pulled a bobby pin from inside his coat cuff.

“Come on, Plagg! Ladybug is sure to need our help for this one.”

“Uhhh kid, you sure you don’t want to wait just a little-”

“Claws out!”

Connor strained to hear more, but there was only silence. When he got the door unlocked, he saw that the window was opened. He rushed over to check below and caught a glimpse of a figure in black rushing towards the commotion.

The gears in his head began turning as he pulled out his phone and sent a few rapid fire texts.

Connor: We got a situation? My rich baby ran off.

Connor: He jumped out the window

Eerie’s reply came up just as he sent his second text.

Boss: Mine 2. Big monster? Meet up w/ me

Boss: WHAT GET HIM BACK YOU CAN’T GET FIRED

Connor: DONT WORRY I WONT GET FIRED OUR FAMILY WON’T GO HUNGRY

Boss: -_- Just come find me. We can look together.

Connor put away his phone and poked his head out the window. Good handholds, not very far to the ground… Piece of cake. His climbing technique might not have been graceful, but he made it down in record time. Breaking into a brisk jog, Connor felt pretty hopeful. After all, how far could Adrien have gotten?

---------------

Eerie sent the message, shoved the phone back into her pocket and turned into the alley she was sure she had seen Marinette go down. Sure enough, she heard Marinette’s voice just ahead… as well as one other. Her gut instinct prompted her to duck behind a dumpster and listen in. She pulled a hand mirror out from her purse to look around the corner.

“Are you sure she’ll be okay, Marinette? She’s new to Paris and this is probably her first akuma attack.” She frowned as she tried to track the source of the voice, but all she could spot out of the ordinary was a red shape on Marinette’s shoulder.

“Trust me, Tikki - Paris needs Ladybug and Eerie will be fine if I can beat this akuma as quick as possible. Spots on!”

Eerie’s jaw dropped as she watched a red energy transform Marinette into a spotted red hero. She was vaguely aware of the superheroes of Paris - their sudden appearance a year ago had hit the headlines even back in America for a couple weeks before the next big news hit. But Eerie’s daily life dealt with the paranormal, so she hadn’t given it much thought.

Until now, at least.

Marinette - or, more accurately now, Ladybug - turned around, hand pulling the yoyo off her hip when her gaze settled onto Eerie’s mirror. She pulled her hand back, but the damage was done - they’d locked eyes.

“H-hello? Who’s over there?”

Taking a deep breath, Eerie stood up. She was halfway to waving before awkwardly giving up halfway and putting one hand on her arm. “Hey, Marinette.”

“Oh no…” Ladybug paled, but she set her jaw and took on a commanding stance. Her eyes were pleading as she asked, “Please, for the sake of Paris, you can’t tell anyone what you saw. If Hawkmoth were to find out…”

Eerie nodded and couldn’t help but smirk. “Trust me, I know a thing or two about undercover work.” At Ladybug’s confused look, she added, “I’ll tell you about it tomorrow, okay? It’ll make us even. Just go beat up that bad… thing? Whatever it is.”

Slowly, Ladybug nodded. “Alright. Can you stay here? I’ll come back after I purify the akuma.”

“I-” Eerie stopped herself. She really wanted to catch up with Connor, but that would have to wait. “Sure. Stay safe out there, kid.”

Ladybug smiled and for a moment, the confident mask fell away and Eerie could see the sweet bakery girl underneath.

“I will.” She gave a two finger salute and threw her yoyo. “Bug out!”

Eerie stared at the brick walls of the alley around her for a long moment, wondering how exactly her life had brought her to this point. Once again, she pulled out her phone and sent a text to Connor.

----------------

The buzzing of his phone prompted Connor to pull it out, pausing part way through his clambering up the wall of a house.

Boss: Stuck in an alley. Safe but can’t move. Meet up later?

Connor: Sure boss. Still trying to catch the kid, but I’ll stay away from the fighting. Raccoon’s honor.

Boss: That doesn’t reassure me

Connor: >:O Raccoons are very honorable creatures

Boss: If you say so. Just stay safe. Please?

Connor: You got it boss

As it turned out, it wasn’t that much of a problem. The battle didn’t last long and the commotion was already dying down when he got close to the scene of the crime. Connor watched from the rooftops as two figures in what seemed to be spandex and leather fist bumped. The red spandex one he recognized from Adrien’s computer screen. The black leather guy he was struggling to place.

The two of them split up and before he realized it, Connor was tailing the black leather guy. His animal instincts weren’t wrong often and he’d long since gotten used to following them without question.

Years of stealthily tailing people paid off and he managed to follow behind the guy without alerting him. Connor poked his head over the side of the roof and watched as he looked behind him and hid himself behind a dumpster. A flash of green light and where the superhero was a moment ago, his rich kid was now.

A tiny floating cat stretched its tiny arms and was about to say something when it noticed a shadow in front of it. Looking back, Connor locked eyes with it.

“Ah geez. Looks like we got company kid.”

Connor clambered down to ground level, where he was immediately grabbed by both of his shoulders by a desperate looking Adrien.

“You have to promise not to tell anyone! Please, I can’t lose my miraculous!”

The panic in Adrien’s eyes stabbed Connor in the heart.

“Woah, buddy. Don’t worry. Deep breaths now, okay?” He brushed Adrien’s hands off and pulled him into a one armed hug as Adrien started to calm down. “I can keep a secret with the best of them, trust me. That’s kinda why I’m here, but we can get into that later.”

“So… you won’t tell? Not even my father?”

Connor thought back to the mysterious woman in the speaker, the absent father, the home built like a fortress. Was it to keep people out or to keep someone in? His eyes set in determination.

“Especially not your father.” He let go of Adrien and began walking. “Let’s go. We need to get you back home and I need to get back to my partner.”

“Partner?”

“I’ll tell you later. First things first, I need to keep this cover job and that means getting you back before anyone notices you were gone.”

“I… okay. Let’s go.”

As Connor lead the way back to the Agreste mansion, he wondered how he was going to break the news that he discovered a superhero’s identity by accident. Or could he even tell her?

[savnofilter]

okay so im just gonna my tingz and whatever since people can believe what theyd like.

whoop its more drama. 😅

so if you hadnt already seen it, great if you havent great. ahh im literally shaking oops but this is serious so i'll only what i have to say, and she blocked and deleted all my apologies and explanations.

i wasnt going to post anything because i replied and had said my words and left it at, if you dont want to like me thats fine, i'll live.

i one, would like to say that she even removed it so like rip me. uhhh i would make a video really to talk it because im bad at words and me typing it makes it worse ahahah.

essentially it was just a bunch of screenshots of me being mean so yeah that was it. er um wooph this is too much for me, the only account i can properly say was that i can say i was harsh was that christmas thing with someone who i havent spoken with in months and its that i said i hate people who celebrate it mad early. and yeah i can harsh because ive already explained that sometimes im blunt about it and when im in a bad mood i dont care.

on the other accounts let me say which i dont remember cause she had all the screenshots and i deleted all the chats because it was turning my already sour mood, even more sour.

so she said i didnt greet her properly which i even talked to you once before so idek what she was trying to get at there. 😅 ahh i asked who she was because i had been having on and off issues with a writer and that was already in the server. she suddenly added her to the discord after it being open for many months so naturally that added suspicion and i also have a great deal of knowing when something was up so yuh... call my instincts right cause it was in the messages that were sent to me. 😅

ahhh (ignore my many ah's when i get anxious it just happens ahahah) but those were taken out of context and like were set up to make me look bad. and even just in the whole post, the whole reason why they talked to me was to venge for something to bring me down LMAO.

just like before ive cooled down tremendously so im done from my mental breakdown to properly say this:

1) i didnt know it was even a slur. i just thought it meant dumb and it was only yesterday i had found out that it was bad.

now i'll say this again because people like being on this sav hate train to even read my words LMAO, im sorry for the words i said.

literally the person that i used it on doesnt even fucking like me so the fact thatd they were rude to me and then get shocked that im rude. i even said that day i had not been fine, i was not well. and if you got your secret santa friend you could also get screenshots saying that i said at the point in time i did not care what i said to people because i was planning on killing myself so i didnt care what i was going to say because you know id be dead.

2) may i say again, i had suspicions of other party friend talking about me because she even messaged me on many times and even brought up one situation that i took piss poor shit in handling. 😂

and may i mention she (christmas person) left because she didnt speak up about other issues that couldve been talked out with and decided to leave.

not only that i thought we were talking about our opinions on celebrating christmas so stop trying to feed word into me mouth m8.

AND ALSO, YOU KEEP SAYING THAT I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS LIKE THAT WASNT EVEN THE THING. 😂

and also the conversation had lack of communication so everything was jumbled up, and i didnt even know she was actually leaving the server i thought she was going "tata" for a bit and i was going to talk to her, i eventually did but we do not speak anymore.

3) the main reason why she spoke to me was to basically catch me red handed LMAO. and she got what she wanted. 👏🏽i literally had people message me, asking why she was even asking for peoples ages.

one how do you even know i was referencing you?! i... but anyways... again you want to make me out to be a bad person lmao. i have bad moments just like everybody else. but because i like to be nice and uplift people i cant make mistakes? like what flawed logic is that?

how am i supposed to grow if i dont make mistakes and learn from them. it woudve been a whole different story if i used it multiple times and didnt give a fuck. and no, its not every day that im a "dumb fucking cunt" to people.

4) you legit deleted my responses and apologies. 😂 and people are just jumping on this and dont even

know me.

ever talked to me.

not even in the server.

so now the "brought to tumblr" again i was just sharing my damn sadness dude. your call-out post makes no sense. trying to make it sound like im out here trying to ruin peoples days is not even close to the truth... i myself hate making people feel bad about themselves.

im not some sociopath, and youre mad because i was bummed i realized that someone that i thought was amazing doesnt like me??? like youre telling me that you snapping at me everytime we talked im just supposed to take it? i just...

and ive said it on my blog, im not in the best place. youre gonna get me off on my off days. i even said that me even interacting is not even a good idea but i choose to make the conscious decision to even talk to people just makes me feel even worse because someone was mean to me first.

you cant take me being my worst and saying its my fucking whole. you dont care about me wanting to "fIx My WaYs" you just want to fucking embarrass me and have people hate me.

if youre trying to show character, youre doing a terrible job at it.

i tried adding you as a friend to even talk to you but you had even BLOCKED ME on discord. you dont care. at all. stop pretending youre some knight, if all i was even trying to talk it out to you and youre response is "youre mean you suck" like what the fuck...

you and your friends and your followers my "followers" who havent asked for my side just show how much you guys really want to pUrIfY this erotica for anime community,,

and also you were a massive prick to my friend because she was sharing her own thoughts so i dont even know why youre trying to act like youre an angel. unless you can tell me that you have never been wrong, i will just crucify myself on the cross and apologize to jesus for being such a sinner.

the more i type, the more i get spiteful so i will stop myself here. have a wonderful night/day/whenever you see it dude or never see it cause you blocked me lol.

EDIT: also i never even hinted that it was you so it just confirms this was only for malicious purposes... and i now just feel like you made it because you feel like i shouldnt have feelings either.

~

apologies if its all over the place, i wrote this in a state of panic to a slow burn of being mellowing out.

[purplesurveys]

739

Do you enjoy watching birth vlogs? OMG never. Those are a thing? I would imagine there’d be enough butthurt people flagging them enough to be taken down YouTube, but if they’re being uploaded there and are able to stay uploaded then that’s a really good thing. I’ve seen birthing photosets on Facebook but I’ve never watched an actual video. Would you rather paint on canvas or wood? I don’t paint but if given the chance I’d probably pick canvas just because it’s more common. What regret keeps coming back to haunt you daily? Recently it’s the daily decision to keep ignoring my thesis. UHGJGHFKD I’ll do it and have it finished in May I fucking swear, I just can’t right now. Do you miss someone? I miss all my best friends, close friends, friends, acquaintances, classmates, groupmates, and everyone I’ve ever come across in school including the cats and dogs. If you could cure yourself of one allergy, what would it be? I don’t have any allergies but I wish the irritation in my eye that will occasionally annoy me like an allergy would go away forever.

Do you know anyone else with your name? Yeah when I was applying for AIESEC there were two people there with the same name and even the same spelling - I had never felt so common until then lol. I know more Robins with an i. Have you felt like the main character in a book was you? No, but I know if I read more then I will probably be able to name a character for you. Which country's flag is your favorite? Nepal’s. I also found Libya’s old flag interesting since it used to be just green with no designs whatsoever. What would you be most afraid of happening if you were to visit Africa? This has some pretty awful undertones but uhhh I’d be wary of being attacked or scammed as a tourist, which is just the same thing I’d be scared of if I went to a different continent. Where are you tempted to move to sometimes? Chicago. Have you ever hiked a mountain? I’ve hiked before, but not for a mountain. Who seems like they have the perfect life? One of my acquaintances, Chesca, is reeeeeally intelligent but also incredibly rich and funny and POPULAR and pretty and trendy and an insanely talented speaker and very well-loved. I know no one has a perfect life per se but out of all the people I observe, she’s definitely the one who seems to authentically have it all. Do you ever take pictures of negative moments? I only did that once. The only thing it did for me was remind me of how much I was in a shitty place then. Do you think it would be a good idea to post photos of negative moments as well as positive? ^ Clearly, no. I never wanted to take photos of shitty moments after that. What time zone are you in? I never memorized the format but it’s something with +8 in it. Would you ever post a picture of yourself crying on social media? No. ^Why or why not? Because I find that extremely personal/private. Do you like dark blue jeggings or light blue jeggings better? Light blue even if I don’t wear jeggings, I guess. Dark blue isn’t as trendy these days. What color is the rim of your whiteboard? I don’t even own a whiteboard. Do you have trouble staying organized? For some spaces, yes. I can’t ever keep my car clean, for one. Throughout college it’s kinda served as my second home so I’ve never been able to avoid having my stuff from home pile up in there instead lmao. What was the last thing you cried about? The Philippine Bar exam results got released today and there was a video that quickly went viral of a family finding out their daughter/sister passed before she knew, and the passer only found out because they were all whooping and screaming downstairs. When she realized what they were making noise for she fell to the ground and started crying and oh my god there is a lump in my throat right now just thinking about it again. Have you ever held a newborn baby? No, I’ve never been in a delivery room nor met a baby a day or two after they were born; there’s just lots of sanitary/hygiene stuff to worry about and I’m ok with getting out of the way for a few days to ensure their health. Do you know anyone who has twins? I know sets of twins, which I guess kind of means the same because it means I am at least remotely aware of their mom lolol. Would you rather look older or younger than your age? Younger. Where do you buy calendars from? I don’t. Do you shop at the dollar store often? That’d be impossible to have here because we don’t even use dollars. But we don’t have anything equivalent to like a peso store either, so no I don’t. What does your name rhyme with? Foreign. Are you following in the career path of any family members? Yep. I have two aunts who worked as journalists; one of those aunts also worked as a radio DJ at one point; my great-uncle was a historian, author, and a professor and dean of history; and I have too many lawyer relatives to count on one hand. Have you ever met anyone who talks like a robot? Yeah, some really bad reporters in some of my past classes. Name something unique about your town. We have an authentic Swiss restaurant. That’s genuinely the most random, unique thing I’ve seen come out of any towns lmfao because any restaurant that isn’t Chinese/Japanese/Italian/American/Mexican is just not a common concept here at all, much less Swiss. I haven’t tried it yet since it’s fine dining but hopefully soon. Who does all the chores in your home? My mom. She’s super particular about chores and likes things to be done her way. Every time we’ve tried to help her we just end up getting yelled at because as much as we try to imitate her, somehow we always do the chore wrong. Do you feel you missed out on a lot as a kid? I missed out on the emotional foundation/support, for sure. I had to figure all that out on my own. What is your best kept secret (or one big secret you have right now)? This blog that to this day, only my sister knows about. Do you have anyone you can tell your secrets to? Yes. ^If so, who? You. Hahahahaha Who was that best friend you ever had? This is in past tense, so my best best friend that I’ve since lost was Sofie. I’m sad we drifted apart but we both seem a lot happier today and that’s what matters. She was an important person in a certain period in my life so I don’t regret the friendship. Do people appreciate you and accept you for who you are? I feel this from them, so I guess they do. What color is your laptop? Silver. What class would you like to repeat over again just for fun? Bio 1 because it was easy and POLSC 180 because I learned so much.

What are five careers you think you'd be good at? Corporate lawyer, any job that requires a lot of spreadsheet-y and internal work really, PR, a consultant for something I’m interested in, historian. I tried to delete this question but I brought it back at the last second because now is so not the time anymore to still dodge my future career prospects lmao. Are you thriving in your life right now? I don’t think anyone is at the moment, and that’s okay. Who do you have moral support from? My girlfriend and close friends, mostly. Who encourages you to go after your dreams? Them, and sometimes my parents. Do you have people in your family who want you dead? That’s horrible lmao I wouldn’t think so? Are the police criminals in your town? Yes. List all the antiques you have in your room. I don’t have any. What Bratz doll resembles you the most? JADE. My homegirl through and through. Do you have a walk-in closet? No. What was the last thing you ate? I had a chocolate chip cookie. What would you do to save money for your wedding? Allot some money from my salary for it, lmao. Have you ever been manipulated, lied to, abused, or controlled? Yes, of course, yes, and sure. Are you against plagiarism? Of course. That’s literally the biggest no-no in journalism.

[parkaiur]

One Night Stand - Byounggon

❀ Romantic Comedy + fluff 

❀ Word Count: 8.4K words 

❀ Waking up in a stranger’s bed is always a bad way to start your morning. But, waking up in your best friend’s brother’s room is even worse. 

❀ A/N: no this is not smut you nasties ;( !! also i didnt think i would write for these boys again ...but the silver boys fandom made me want to ,,so here i am :)

❀ warning: suggestive content (not smut tho), vulgar language

⭢ spinoff of [Real]istic Fiction

❀ ❀ ❀

I woke up with a nasty headache.

My vision was blurry and as I rolled onto my side, the bright sunlight blinded me. I groaned and covered myself with the blankets once again.

And that’s when I realized.

These blankets are white. 

My blankets are red. 

My vision was suddenly clear as I shot up and looked around. Immediately I grew shocked at the boy snoring next to me who obviously wasn’t supposed to be in my room. 

But this wasn’t my room.

The room was a dark blue color with messy notebooks sprawled everywhere and empty beer cans on the ground that I’m assuming we had been drinking before we got in bed. 

I instinctively reached to touch my body and found I was only wearing shorts. 

Nothing else. 

I felt my chest turn ice cold at the morning air.

“Fuck this.” I whispered to myself, searching on the ground for my shirt. I eventually found it... across the room. 

At this point, I wasn’t even curious as to whose room I was in-- I just needed to get out. 

The boy next to me was snoring heavily, so I wasn’t that scared of waking him. Ok I was majorly scared because this was my first time running out of a boy’s room and I did not know what to do if he woke up. 

I scurried out of the room, tip toeing out of there. I looked back at the boy who was covered by a shirt and some pillows. I carefully opened the door and stepped out. The door creaked shut, but I made it out without waking up.

I walked down the frat boy stairs, seeing other girl’s walking out too. 

“Phew, I’m never going to a frat party again. Ever-”

“Oh, y/n? What are you doing here?” 

I jumped at the voice, dropping my phone on the ground. My eyes widened in shock as I stared at Kim Seunghun. Aka the alpha male of this frat house. And Lisa’s brother’s friend. 

Well fuck. 

I leaned against the staircase and scratched my head. 

“UHHH, good question.” I pretended to think and scooted past him. But nothing got past the boy. 

“Did you just walk out from that room?” He pointed to, yes, the room I just came out of. I felt my cheeks start to turn red from either the shyness or the barf that was rising in my chest. 

I looked to the room and shrugged. “Uhhhh can’t remember. That’s odd the hangover is killing me, uh, I should be going-”

“Oh well, I was just wondering because that room happens to be Byounggon’s room.” 

I froze at the name. 

I slowly backed up and stared at the taller boy who was now smirking down at me. He crossed his arms and examined my facial features. “Oh gosh. You didn’t.”

My head was spinning at the realization.

I had just slept with my best friend’s brother.

That was wrong in so many ways.

“Kim Seunghun. We are never talking about this again, ok? Never. Ever. You will not tell Byounggon nor Lisa. Or any other living soul, got it? Or else I’ll cut off your dick and feed it to the thirsty fangirls you have.”

He flinched at my vulgar words. “Jesus, ok y/n, I won’t tell anyone... besides Jihoon.” I glared at the boy, but I knew I couldn’t fight that. Those two told each other everything.

“Just don’t tell anyone who would tell Lisa or Byounggon, ok? Now I’m leaving I feel like shit dude.” 

“Ok but congrats for boning your crush! Woohoo!” I rolled my eyes and pushed myself past him, my cheeks burning furiously.

Before Seunghun could say anything else and before anyone else could find me doing the walk of shame, I left. 

❀ ❀ ❀

I had a lot to think about on my walk home.

The fresh air, the morning breeze, the multiple other girls walking back to the dorms after being boned by some of the hottest guys on campus, and also the fact that I had to hide one of the biggest secrets from my best friend.

It was no secret that I used to like Byounggon.

Lisa knew. 

Byounggon knew.

Everyone.

Unsurprisingly though, the boy had turned me down years ago. And ever since then, no one has truly known if I liked Byounggon anymore. I stopped talking about it and even I didn’t know how I felt about the boy. 

And no, I was never truly that upset because everyone thought me of as “that weird girl”. I was kind of socially awkward and annoying at the same time. It was a true talent.

Lisa was the only person who had embraced my oddness and we’d been best friends ever since the fifth grade. 

I didn’t know how it would sit with her that I slept with her older brother though.

I sighed in frustration. 

Soon, I reached my dorm and swiped my card, walking into the familiar halls. Thankfully, there were no kids up at 7am so I could calmly get to my dorm room that I did not share with Lisa. 

I opened the door quietly and saw my roommate, Sooyoung, passed out in bed. She was the heaviest sleeper.

And at that, I busted open my bathroom door and barfed all the alcohol out of my system.

❀ ❀ ❀

“So, how’d you get home after the party?” I almost spat out my chocolate milk at her question. Lisa grabbed the napkins out of her pocket and handed them to me. I thanked her and covered my mouth with the tissues.

“What do you mean?” I asked nervously. Lisa gave me a suspicious glance but said nothing. “I mean, you told me you wanted to stay longer at the party, so I left with Jackson, my friend from art class, and told Byounggon to bring you home. Did he give you any problems? I know my brother is SO annoying sometimes.” 

Oh... so that’s how we ended up... yeah.

I shook my head quickly. “Uh, yeah it was good, fine. Didn’t talk much, I was so drunk ahahahaha” I laughed nervously. Lisa was really dense. She couldn’t tell a thing when I was lying. She shrugged and smiled happily. “Cool, cool. So, your first frat party, how did you-”

“Never going again.” 

I tossed my carton in the trash and walked out of the cafe we were peacefully sitting in. Lisa got up abruptly and followed me.

“Woah, what? You seemed to be enjoying yourself last night.” I blushed red thinking back to last night. I had no recollection of what I did last night, but I could only imagine. And that was enough.

“Um, I was drunk, I had no idea what I was doing. And I’m never drinking again. That was terrible, I hate waking up sore.” 

Maybe you weren’t just sore because of the alcohol.

I shook my head subtly. Nasty brain. 

“Ok, ok, frat parties aren’t your thing. Got it.”

“Correction: parties aren’t my thing. I hate people.” I noted carefully while tightening the straps on my backpack. Lisa snorted and held open the door for me as we moved to our next class: chemistry.

“I hate chemistry. It’s a waste of my time as a foreign languages major.” I snorted at the Thai girl. “Whatever, chemistry is the only thing that makes sense to me. Learning languages is too hard.” I sat higher in my chair as the professor walked in so that I could see the board.

“You’re too hard.” The girl deadpanned. I shot her a death glare, but I couldn’t help but laugh shortly afterwards. 

❀ ❀ ❀

“Ah, here comes our favorite chemistry tutor, y/n.” I grinned at the other tutor there. 

“I’m the only chemistry tutor here, Junkyu.” I set down my backpack in the ‘tutor’s only’ area. The boy laughed and nodded his head happily. 

“You’re right.” I rolled my eyes and sat on the table. 

“Another day, another lack of tutoring.” 

Seriously, it amazed me at how many people were failing their classes, yet, no one ever got help. Until, of course, midterms and finals week, then the line became long. But it was only the beginning of the quarter meaning the load was light.

I got lost in my phone until I looked up at Junkyu who was writing something intensely into a journal. 

“What’s that?” I asked curiously. I jumped over to the boy and tried to look over his shoulder. He immediately shut his journal and glared at me.

I pouted and crossed my arms in anguish. “Wow, hiding things from me now?” Junkyu rolled his eyes at me. 

“This is none of your business, y/n.” He spoke with that same condescending tone all boy’s talked with. I hated it. 

“Ugh, whatever. Keep your damn secrets.” I sat on the table once again and huffed angrily. A few minutes went by until I heard him sigh loudly. 

“Ok, so you know my sister?” I set down my phone and nodded happily even though I only knew of her. Junkyu sighed and opened his journal again. “Well, so she sort of wants a boyfriend.” 

I raised a brow. “Well, can’t help with that.” I gestured to myself and Junkyu rolled his eyes. 

“Not you! Ugh, anyways, I’m helping her fall in love I guess.”

...

I grew more and more confused as the conversation ticked by. 

“What?”

Junkyu sighed and tossed the journal at me. 

“Realistic Fiction Operation. Number one, you must talk to him-” 

Then, I realized what it said scribbled on the top.

“Operation: fall in love with Lee Byounggon? What?” 

Junkyu snorted and hopped off a table. “So, my sister failed this writing assignment of hers because she only writer fanfiction and the professor failed her. Blah blah blah, she is sad because she’s never been in love. So this way, she can write her story and fall in love with a super nice guy like Byounggon.” 

He then snorted.

“You would know how that feels right?” 

I hit him with a book and I felt happiness when he flinched in pain. “Fuck you, Junkyu.” I spat. “I was never, ever, in love with Byounggon, ok? I liked him when I was 14 years old, big fucking whoop. So did every other girl in our high school.”

Junkyu raised a brow at me. “Moving on, so now I’m trying to set my sister up with him ‘cause Gon is a great dude. Nice, funny, smart, athletic, good looking, charming, he’s everything.”

I glared at him as he said those things. Like I didn’t notice them or something.

“So, even though you think I’m in love with Byounggon, you would still set your sister up with her?” I question.

Junkyu smiled. “No offense, but Byounggon probably suits a quieter, nicer girl. You’re sort of vulgar and... mean.” 

It wasn’t the first time I’ve heard those words, but I admit, they weren’t nice words to hear. 

I felt a pang in my chest and I ignored the way it stung.

"Mean? I tutor people for a living! How nice is that: I’m sharing my knowledge with others.” I argued. Junkyu peered around the room.

“What others?” 

Suddenly, as we were arguing, we heard a bell ring. 

“What is that bell?” Junkyu said dumbly. 

“You idiot! That’s the bell people are supposed to ring when they need help.” I smacked him with a book one last time before walking over to the desk we had neglected for too long.

“Hi, how can I-” I paused when I looked up at the face. “Oh, hey Byounggon, what can I help you with ahaha?” I said nervously. The boy smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes like normal.

Oh fuck he knows. He’s going to kill me and bury me so his sister never finds out.

“Yeah, I was having some trouble with my chemistry homework, I was wondering if you could help me?” 

Oh... so it was only chemistry.

I felt my anxiety die down. I fake smiled like I did with all of the students I worked with.

“Oh sure, just... sit at a table. We’re pretty empty today.”

Byounggon nodded and then noticed Junkyu. “Oh hey dude.” Junkyu waved back and then his eyes lit up.

“Hey Byounggon, I heard you have creative writing with my sister.” Byounggon nodded and smiled. “How’s she doing? Getting into trouble yet?”

Byounggon laughed and shook her head. “Oh never, she’s not a troublemaker like someone we know.” He peered down at me and I rolled my eyes. When have I ever caused trouble? Besides sleeping with my best friend’s brother? Besides that?

Junkyu gave me an “i told you so face” and I flipped him off blatantly. 

“I’ll be in the lounge.” Junkyu shut the door and left Byounggon and I alone.

“So, what do you-”

“Can we just like, address the elephant in the room?” He finally said. 

Oh great, the jitters are back.

“W-what? What elephant?” I asked, feigning innocence. Byounggon sighed like he was frustrated with me already. 

“Y/n, I’m talking about what happened a few nights ago. Friday night to be exact.” 

He remembers. Definitely remembers. 

“Um... oh yeah, fun party that was. Exciting. Yup. That’s it. Now, chemistry-”

Byounggon pulled his homework away and I saw it was already completed. He just came here to talk to me. To turn me down once again.

“y/n, you know what I mean.” 

He then tossed something on the table which I realized was mine. My face turned sheet white as I locked eyes with him. 

“You left your socks in my bed.. and I know they’re yours because I got you them for Christmas.” He deadpanned.

A million ideas of how to get out of this went through my mind, but nothing came out of my mouth.

Instead, I shrugged and leaned back in my chair. “Why did you come to tell me this?” I said. The boy raised his eyebrows at me in surprise. Before he could say anything, I waved him off. “Ok, Byounggon, you don’t need to tell me anything. I don’t even remember it and I doubt you did too so like, we can move on. Ok? Thanks for coming, I’ll walk you out, and-”

Byounggon didn’t move even though I ushered him out. 

“Y/n, I didn’t come here to tell you to have you ignore it. I just....” He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. “I just feel really guilty about it because Lisa and...” He trailed off once more which played with my emotions. 

“I just wanted to let you know that this was just a mistake on my part... we never should have done what we did.” He blurted.

For some reason, I felt my heart sink all the way to the floor at his words. Even though I’d expected them, it didn’t mean it hurt any less. 

“You’re right, we shouldn’t have done what we did so let’s just forget about it ok? We don’t even remember having sex so it doesn’t matter. Basically didn’t happen.” I fibbed. 

Byounggon gave me one last once-over before standing up. 

“Glad we’re on the same page then.” I nodded as he picked up all his stuff. 

“Exactly and uh, you’re not gonna tell Lisa right? Just to be sure.” 

Byounggon lifted a brow. “’Course not.” 

He walked off with one final wave and I tried to wonder if Byounggon was being honest with me.

❀ ❀ ❀

Later that night, it was the end of my shift since it was 9pm. 

“Later, y/n.” Junkyu left as soon as possible, typical Junkyu. I huffed and slowly packed up my stuff, scanning the room to see if I forgot anything.

“Wait, y/n!” I looked up and saw the familiar tall, caramel-haired boy running towards me. I narrowed my eyes at him.

“Seunghun, my tutoring hours are over. You’ll have to come back tomorrow.” He shook his head. “No, I just wanted to talk.” Seunghun’s face was full of confidence and hope which meant mine was full of confusion and fear.

“About what?” I asked hesitantly. The boy hopped on the table across from me and stared at me. 

“Hm, so, I have a favor to ask of you.” I raised a brow. “And what do you have over me that...” Before I asked the question, I realized what dirt he had on me and I grew furious that he tried to hold it over my head.

“No, no, no, I wouldn’t do that. But, I do have an idea.” I raised a brow. “What?” 

Seunghun smirked and leaned back slightly to adjust his legs. “So, I sort of have this chemistry report that only needs to be five-six pages long and it counts for basically my whole grade. I’m already failing chemistry and my teacher told me that if I failed this too, then I should just not come back.”

My eyes widened. Seunghun couldn’t be failing that hard... could he?

“And... what are you trying to say?”

“I’m saying, can you please please please write it for me?” Before I could say no, he stopped me. “Ok, look, I’m not a prick so I would never tell Lisa about you banging her brother. But, let’s return to the idea I said I had earlier.” 

At this point, I just wanted him to shut up.

“Well, Junkyu told me that he was trying to set up his sister with Byounggon and if that happens, that means Lisa will no longer be suspicious of you and Byounggon because knowing you and Gon, you both suck at lying.” He was right. “And also, then Byounggon will be distracted by Junkyu’s sister that he’ll forget all about you. It’s perfect truly!” 

“Ok... and how does this involve you?” Seunghun gave me a smug look.

“I’m one of Byounggon’s best friends and I also see him everyday. I’ll give him advice and push him towards it.” I thought carefully about this. Despite Seunghun being obnoxious and crazy at times, people took his advice to heart. He was a nice guy and had a nice heart, his ideas mattered. 

I grumbled and couldn’t believe I was doing this.

“Fine, when do I start?” 

❀ ❀ ❀

Seunghun told me he would come back tomorrow during my tutoring hours and give me all the stuff needed to write the paper. I wondered why he didn’t just give me the stuff when he saw me yesterday, but he insisted he come back.

I sat at my usual tutoring table and of course, it was dead. I was reading a book until I heard someone clearing his throat. 

I looked up and almost dropped my book. 

“Byounggon, what are you doing here?” I spat harsher than intended. The boy scoffed and took a seat. 

“I think I know what’s going on...” He trailed off. 

“What are you talking about--” 

Before I could say anything, Seunghun appeared out of nowhere with all smiles. I wanted to strangle him. 

“Oh hey, seems like you guys are already here.” 

“What do you mean?” I asked with a jolt in my voice. I was so confused as Byounggon sighed.

“Seunghun, why did you tell me to write your paper if you already had y/n doing it?” Seunghun smiled innocently and my head spun at Byounggon’s statement. 

“Because, I felt bad and thought two smart heads would be better than one.” I sighed and ran my fingers through my hair. “Now, here is the rubric along with all my notes for his essay. Good luck and thank you guys so much.” Before we could fight about this, the long limbed boy ran away, leaving me alone with Byounggon.

We sat in silence until I broke it.

“Ok, you can leave, I can write the paper myself.” I said sternly. Byounggon sighed and shook his head. 

“No, let’s just write it together. It’s not like we hate each other.”

I wanted to asked him ‘are you sure?’ but that seemed inappropriate. It wasn’t that we hated each other, it was just awkward between us at times since he had rejected me a long time ago. Obviously I didn’t have the same feelings for him.

“Ok, fine, how about this? The paper is split into 4 sections. I’ll take the first two and you take the last two and then we can combine to write the intro and conclusion. Sound good.” The boy nodded. 

I nodded too and pulled out my laptop and started typing away. I had already had this basic knowledge of chemistry but I occasionally flipped through Seunghun’s notes. 

Byounggon and I sat in silence for a long while until I heard him lean back in his chair. 

“You hungry?” I stared at him and shook my head. “Thirsty?” I shook my head again. 

“I’m fine, but if you’re hungry, you can get something.” I said. Byounggon was a lot of things, but he was always caring. It’s one of the reasons why I fell for him years ago.

Byounggon nodded and got out of his chair. 

It was about 15 minutes until he came back. He set two drinks on the table and two sandwiches. One cold sandwich, one warm.

“Wow, you extra hungry today?” He chuckled at my tone.

“Very funny. I got the strawberry frappe and one ham and cheese sandwich for you. And I got it pressed for you since I know you don’t eat cold sandwiches.” 

I melted at his actions. He remembered my favorite drink and the way I liked my sandwiches, things I mentioned long ago. 

“Thanks, that’s very nice of you.” I said quickly and took a sip of my drink before digging into my sandwich. Byounggon smiled, showing off his dimple that every girl swooned over.

“No problem.”

We ate in silence for a short while. 

“You know, it’s weird how we barely talk even though my sister and you are best friends.” He blurted randomly. I shrugged my shoulders and took another bite of my sandwich.

“I mean, most people don’t talk to their best friend’s siblings.” I pointed out. 

Byounggon sighed. “But we used to be so close.” He said nothing after those words, but I could tell he didn’t want to finish that sentence.

“Before you rejected me.” I finished for him. He flinched at my words, but nodded nonetheless. 

“Yea... before that.” 

We paused at the awkwardness that filled the room.

“You know, I wasn’t that upset at the rejection. I knew you didn’t like me.” I blurt.

Byounggon’s eyebrows shot up. “Why did you think that?” I laughed.

“Um, maybe because no one liked, or likes, me. I am weird, even I know that.” I gestured to my multi-colored hair. Byounggon chuckled.

“You’re weird, but that’s what makes you unique, y/n. Everyone’s a bit weird in their own way, but you do what you wanna do, say what you wanna say, that’s what sets you apart from other people.” 

I felt my heart speed up as he got closer to me. 

Shit, I cannot let this puppy crush come back. It was so lame. 

“Thanks. And for the record, I do NOT still like you.” 

Byounggon laughed as he sipped on his caramel latte.

“I’m being serious you asshole. I feel like everyone still thinks I pine after you and it’s so annoying. I was fucking 14 for pete’s sake!” Byounggon laughed harder and set down his cup.

“That’s not what you were saying Friday night.” 

I choked on my frappe and gaped at him. He was holding in his laughter and staring at me intensely. 

“You... I’m going to pretend you never said that.” He laughed even harder as I tried to ignore the topic. But then I realized something, “Whatever, you don’t even remember what happened. We were both so blackout drunk.” 

Byounggon said nothing which is what made me nervous. 

“Wait... did you remember?” He avoided my gaze and returned to typing on his laptop. My jaw dropped.

“What the fuck, you what?” I suddenly felt nervous around him. Byounggon sighed and looked at me with a gaze that made me want to burst into flames.

“Ok, I didn’t remember who I slept with at first. I just got somewhat of flashbacks to what happened. But when I found your socks, I suddenly remembered a bit more...” Byounggon said honestly. I gulped as his eyes flickered to my lips. 

“Well... try forgetting it.” I spat and tried to rid of the deep blush on my face. Suddenly, his leg that was so close to mine made me feel nervous. My whole body felt like it was on fire. 

Stop it, you horny teenage girl.

❀ ❀ ❀

Night came sooner than expected. 

“Let’s work on this another day. You free tomorrow?” I nodded as I tutored every day of the week. “Yup, same time?” He nodded. 

Soon, Junkyu came out of the tutoring lounge. He usually never sat out in the open unless someone rang the bell for him. He turned to wave to me, but stopped short when he saw Byounggon.

“Byounggon, dude what are you doing here?” The boy smiled and gestured to the work.

“Seunghun.” Junkyu nodded in understanding making me realize Seunghun probably did this often.

Junkyu then gestured me to leave. I rolled my eyes and packed my things faster than usual.

“So Byounggon, I hear you got the hots for my sister.” Oh wow, so he was going to start that while I was still here.

Byounggon shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “Um, who told you that?” 

Junkyu shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. But, she likes you, so you should ask her to the party Friday.” 

Byounggon laughed and his black hair flopped around. I resisted the urge to fix it for him.

“Are you sure she likes me? I thought she had a thing for Mashi.” 

Junkyu shook his head vigorously. “Oh no no, they’re just friends. She likes you I swear.” Byounggon sighed.

“That’s what Seunghun said I should do too... but I don’t know man. She’s a nice girl and funny too, but-”

“No buts! Take her, ok?”

I saw Byounggon nod and I couldn’t hide my sadness. I walked away before I could hear Junkyu say anymore about how perfect she was for him and how I was inferior. 

“y/n, wait up.” I paused and felt Byounggon’s presence next to me. 

“What?” 

“It’s late, you shouldn’t walk home by yourself.” I felt giddy at his kind manners, but I ignored it. I hadn’t had a crush in a while and this was me trying to make up for it.

“Um, thanks.” To be honest, I was paranoid about walking home in the dark, but sometimes I just power through. 

We walked in silence to my dorm that wasn’t too far from the library. 

“So, party Friday? Do you guys have one every week?” Byounggon sighed and nodded. 

“Unfortunately.” He sighed. Byounggon was fun at parties, but he liked the quiet life as well. He was no Kim Seunghun.

“So, what’s this thing with you and Junkyu’s sister?” I asked like it was just a conversation starter, not like I was jealous.

Byounggon chuckled lightly. “Hm, why? Jealous?” I hit him on the shoulder and walked past him in anger. He caught up to me easily. “I’m kidding! And it’s nothing, just harmless flirting... I don’t know, I may like her but I haven’t liked a girl in a while.” 

I sighed. “I think you should go for it.” 

I unlocked my door but didn’t go in just yet. “What? Why, you don’t even know her.” I shrugged thinking about Lisa and Junkyu. I could move on from my confusing feelings towards Byounggon once he started to date Junkyu’s sister. And Junkyu was right... I wasn’t right for Byounggon. 

“She seems like a nice girl and Junkyu told me that she really likes you.” I said. To be honest, I was a bit wary about the whole “operation get Byounggon to fall in love with her” thing, but if that’s what it took, then so be it. 

Byounggon didn’t respond with words but just stared off into space to show he was done with the topic. “Can I use your bathroom?” I nodded and walked in. 

“Sure.” 

He thanked me and then went in. I walked shut the door to the outside and noticed that Sooyoung wasn’t there. She never was in the dorms besides the weekends. Which was weird since it was usually the opposite. She simply just told me it was because her boyfriend and her studied and hung out during the day and she was too lazy to walk back to the dorms. 

Soon I heard the toilet flush and Byounggon walked out shortly after. 

He was still putting on his belt as he walked out from the bathroom. That prick, he knows he looks attractive. 

“Well, I guess this is goodnight.” He said in a deeper voice than usual. I nodded and this time, I stared directly into his eyes which were dark and soft both at the same time. 

“See you tomorrow?” He nodded, but didn’t make any motion to leave. I nodded slowly and when I said nothing, he took a few steps back. 

I couldn’t help but feel disappointed that he didn’t make a move. 

Oh... fuck it. 

“But if you want, you can stay a bit.” I pulled him in by his belt as he instantly had his face close to mine. 

“Fuck, I didn’t think you would ask.”

He brought his lips to mine and I felt the immense pleasure that brought back faint memories of last Friday night. His warm hands gripped my waist and then worked to pull off my shirt. I should’ve been intimidated that he did that so easily but I wasn’t. He ran his hands back and it made me shiver in excitement.

Suddenly, his shirt was off and I guided him towards my bed. I whipped his belt off and he groaned; I felt my brain go into a frenzy.

So much was happening so fast and I could barely process anything. I traced the outlines of his abs which made him sigh in content. I was about to take off my pants, but then, I felt him hold me back.

“Wait... we can’t do this.” I felt my heart drop at his words. “We can’t.” He sat up and tried to not look at my body as he picked up his shirt. 

“Why?” I hated how small my voice sounded.

“Because, I would feel like a dick if I slept with you and then went on a date with Junkyu’s sister a couple nights after.” Byounggon sighed and ran his hands over his face like he was regretting this ever happened. 

I felt anger rush through my veins as I jumped off of him and tossed on my own shirt, humiliated and confused at this whole situation.

“Ok... this whole thing with Junkyu’s sister is kind of suspicious to me. I don’t know.” I ended lamely. I felt like I was betraying Junkyu if I told Byounggon about how Junkyu’s sister was basically using him to write her paper, but I felt bad not letting Gon know she was tricking him.

Byounggon scoffed. “Really? Just like give minutes ago you were telling me how good she was for me.” 

I felt my cheeks burn at his tone of disbelief. “Well, I just... it’s complicated!” I fibbed. 

“Complicated how?” 

“Just complicated. Just be wary of her, ok?”

Byounggon shook his head. “This shouldn’t have happened ok? It was a weak moment.” This time, I was the one laughing.

“Weak moment? Is that we are calling this? Fine. Then it’ll never happen again, sound good?” 

He paused buttoning up his shirt and stared at me. 

“Sounds perfect.” He stood up and started to walk out of my dorm. “I guess I’ll go back to her then.”

He didn’t have to specify who “her” was, but we both knew I knew.

I clenched my fists and controlled the anger that was threatening to flow out of me. 

“Don’t come back crying to me when you find out that she’s using you!” I blurted. As soon as the words come out of my mouth, I wanted to take them back.

Byounggon laughed wildly and shook his head.

“You are exactly what people say about you. You’re mean. You would bring her down just to get what you want.” 

I refused to let myself cry in front of a boy. 

“Fuck you! You’re just as much as a player as everyone told me! Lisa deserves a better brother than you!” I lied. Byounggon was an amazing brother, but I knew it would hurt him.

“I guess I was just a one night stand to you after all!” He stopped moving at my words and I wondered if I went too far, but I couldn’t help but wonder.

He said nothing but slammed my door shut. 

Once I was alone, I fell to my floor crying. I picked up to call Lisa out of instinct, but I couldn’t tell her about this. I couldn’t tell her anything about this situation. She would kill me before she would comfort me.

I laid on the floor, crying undisturbed, wishing for my best friend next to me. 

Suddenly, my door flew open and there revealed Lisa. My eyes widened in shock at how she caught me like this. Instead of being surprised, she shut the door quickly and came next to my side.

“H-how-”

“Byounggon called me and told me that you some mean guy was causing you some trouble during tutoring and you were really shaken up. I know how anxious you are about those things, but I’m glad he was there. And I’m happier that you’re safe now, ok?”

I nodded and felt safe in her company. I couldn’t help but cry harder knowing Byounggon called her, knowing I wouldn’t. 

Why did he have to be so caring til the end?

“Thanks for coming.” I whispered out. She flicked my forehead. 

“Don’t thank me, that’s what best friends are for.”

❀ ❀ ❀

I finished the report without Byounggon and texted him that I would. He didn’t argue with me. 

Soon, it was Friday night. Lisa was getting ready in my dorm.

“I can’t believe you’re not going with me.” She pouted. She looked stunning with her hair in a short bob and her fashion was always on point.

I shrugged and thought back to the last frat party. 

“Yeah, I am definitely not going to another frat party.” She sighed and applied the finishing touches of her makeup. 

“Fine, but just call me if you change your mind. You know these parties last all night.” I nodded, but I knew I wouldn’t change my mind. 

She sighed and started to pick out her shoes. “Well, Bobby is meeting me in the lobby in 5, so I should go now.” She hugged me and pulled back with a soft gaze. “You sure you’ll be fine?” I nodded even though I would probably use this time to cry over Byounggon again. 

“Totally, now go have fun with your hunky date.” 

She laughed and turned red. “Fine, fine, bye~” 

I waved and said “call me if he gets too handsy.” Even though we both knew it would be no problem if he got handsy. 

She laughed and shut the door.

I inhaled the scent of strong perfume in the air and I plopped on my bed. 

I closed my eyes to get some rest, but I heard my phone ring. I picked it up, thinking it was Lisa checking in on me but I heard a deep voice.

“Dude, what happened between you and Byounggon?” Seunghun’s voice was loud even though I could hear loud music in the background.

“What are you talking about?”

“He’s all over Junkyu’s sister tonight. Where the hell are you at??” He spat. I sat up feeling my anxiety wash over me again. So he did go with her in the end. Great. 

“That was the plan you dimbo! He was supposed to get with her and now it’s happening. Why do I need to be there? To interrupt their date?” I snapped. Seunghun sighed loudly.

“Y/n, we all know that you and Byounggon have the hots for each other.” I laughed and shook my head even though he couldn’t see me. 

“You’re wrong. Byounggon does not like me. In fact, I think he is disgusted by me right now.” Seunghun laughed. 

“Y/n, you are a lot of things, but you’re not dumb. You can’t seriously believe that right? He’s been in the moodiest mood since Wednesday night... I’m assuming something happened then?” My face turned red as Seunghun chuckled. 

“He likes you, y/n. Now get down and get your man. Or at least make him hella jealous and make out with some other dude.” I sighed and rolled back in bed.

“Seunghun... it’s over. We had too big of a fight that other night and I told him that I wouldn’t go back to him. I have too much pride.” I said softly. Seunghun said nothing for a couple of moments, but then didn’t waver.

“I’ll pay for your next two hair appointments if you come down here.” That definitely got my attention.

“What, why?”

“Do you doubt me?”

Seunghun was a rich dude... I did not doubt him. But I felt myself feel emotional at what he was doing. It wasn’t because he was bribing me, but he knew that by saying that, I could come down and pretend the reason I was coming down was for the free money, not because of Byounggon. 

“Thank you, Seungh-”

“Just come.”

❀ ❀ ❀

My blue hair was curled nicely and the layers showed beautifully. I had slapped on makeup and an edgy outfit. I threw on a beige skirt and a white crop top. I hated dressing up but oh well. 

The party was not that far and I took an uber, not wanting to walk so far in these shoes. I jumped out of the car and stared at the frat. 

I took a deep breath and made my way in. I was instantly bombarded by loud music and loud people. I sighed and made my way to the bar. 

“Hello, what can I get for you?” 

“One can of beer.” The bartender gave me a glance over and nodded. I didn’t like pretty drinks, I was pretty simple. I liked things that got me drunk fast. 

“Y/N! YOU MADE IT!” Seunghun acted drunk, but truth be told, the boy didn’t like to drink. He was naturally crazy. I nodded and opened my can of beer. 

“I did indeed. I don’t turn down money and thank you for feeding my hair dye addiction.” Seunghun laughed and slapped me on the back. 

“You look hot. You should go find Byounggon.” The older boy whispered. I shook my head and took a big gulp of beer to distract myself. 

“I’m not that big of a bitch. He’s here with another girl.” Seunghun shrugged. 

“I don’t know, the girl didn’t seem that into the party. You party better than her despite being a total homebody.” I laughed and shrugged. 

“I’m good at not caring what people think I guess.”

❀ ❀ ❀

Soon, the night picked up and the party got more intense as more and more people came. 

A boy sat next to me and ordered a can of beer, similar to me. I knew the boy wanted to be drunk. No one likes the taste of beer.

“Bad night?” I asked trying to strike up a conversation with him. Everyone else was on the dance floor. 

The boy turned to me. He was quite good looking and had big and bright eyes. He looked ... Japanese?

“You could say that.” He glanced to my 4 cans of beer. “You?”

I laughed maniacally. “I guess you could say I’m here to forget about someone but they happen to be here so... that’s tough.” The boy sighed. “Actually, same.” 

I laughed once he started to. “I’m y/n by the way.”

“Mashiho.” I nodded. He got his drink and then downed it. “You wanna dance?” He asked. I didn’t have the best rational at the moment so I nodded.

“Yes.” We both drunkly made our way to the dance floor and he had to hold me up so I could stay upright. 

“You are so drunk.” 

I nodded. I was never that bubbly of a drunk. I just lost control of my body truly and slurred my words. 

“I know, asshole.” The boy laughed and swung me around at the music. I loved dancing, it made me forget everything. I just loved losing control and not having anyone judge you on the dancefloor. 

Soon, the boy leaned in closer to me. “The girl I’m trying to get over is to our left.” I nodded, and took a peak but I could barely see anything in the sea of strobe lights. I took a step closer to lean in and look like we were kissing. I gave him a light smirk as he look nervous but did nothing. 

Then, I looked to my left and saw the girl storm out. I suddenly felt bad but I just helped a dude out.

“Oh shit.” I grinned forcefully but then looked who was running after her. My heart dropped and I loosened my grip on Mashiho.

“Please, please don’t tell me the girl you’re trying to get over is Junkyu’s sister?” His eyes widened in surprise. 

“How’d you know?” I then felt like everything was too overwhelming for me. I was dancing with the boy who she most likely had a past with. And I just messed up everything for Byounggon. 

I’m such a bitch.

“Fuck, Mashiho. It was nice meeting you and I’m sorry about that girl... From what I just saw, she likes you too. I’m sorry, I need to go.” I took off running and left the poor boy stranded. 

I had no idea where I was running to, but I felt myself wobble due to the large amounts of alcohol. 

Soon, I knocked into someone which made me hit the ground. 

“Hey, are you ok-” I looked up and locked eyes with the person who was watching tears stream down my face. 

“Lisa, I’m-”

She sighed and looked towards her date. “I’m sorry, it’s girl time.” 

She took my hand and guided me out of the party. 

“Ok, here’s what’s going to happen. You’re going to tell me everything that’s been happening since last week. And start with what the hell is going on between you and my brother.” 

❀ ❀ ❀

“So... you slept with my brother?!?” She screamed. I shut my eyes and shook my head, trying not to laugh.

“I know, I know, even I was surprised.” 

Lisa hit her face with a pillow and started to laugh.

We were sitting in my dorm room since Sooyoung was gone. We had ordered pizza hut pizza and were munching on it like no tomorrow.

“But you don’t remember anything of it?” I nodded. “Nothing.”

“And then... you guys ended up doing it, or half of it, again... but then he lashed out at you and you guys got into a big fight because of Junkyu’s sister?” I nodded.

She sighed and took a bigger bite of pizza. 

“Damn... I feel like I should be saying congrats but this is my brother.” I turned red and hit her arm gently. 

We were silent for a few moments until I shook my head.

“I’m really sorry, Lisa. This never should have happened. If I could rewind time, I would redo this whole week.” I felt my eyes water and Lisa tossed down her pizza. 

“Oh, y/n, I’m not mad at you.” 

I jolted up in shock. “What?”

She laughed and shook her head. “I’m not mad at you. And in fact, I sorta expected you would get together eventually...” I choked on my Coke.

“What? What how?” I exclaimed.

She gave a knowing smile. “Well, first off, you liked him when were like 13 or 14... and then he just openly rejected you. Then he told me that he liked you too but only rejected you because of me. And back then, I was thankful... but as I got older, I felt bad. I might have ruined something for the two of you.” 

She sighed and moved closer to me. “But we can’t redo that past, we can only work with the future. So, I’m sure you enjoyed canoodling with my brother, and I know you don’t regret that. But I’m sure you feel bad about fighting with him, so all you need to do is fix it.” 

I furrowed my brows at the girl.

“What?”

“Go talk to him, you dummy. You guys haven’t been talking... just.. doing.” I slapped her on the arm and she winced in pain.

“You-” I started, but I knew she was right. “are right.”

❀ ❀ ❀

I ignored Byounggon the entire weekend. But then Monday came, and I guess I saw him around campus occasionally. And he knew where I tutored. I guess I was afraid of seeing him all day. 

I walked into the library and felt my mood go down as I saw Junkyu waiting for me. This was weird... Junkyu never waited for me.

He stared at me for a few moments and I braced myself for him yelling at me.

“I’m sorry.” He blurted to my surprise. 

I sighed in shock. “Why? You have nothing to be sorry for.” He hopped off the table and followed me to the lounge. 

“Yes I do, I was an asshole to you. You’re not a mean person and my sister is not better than you. I was too hard on you this week just because I wanted to see her happy. But I should’ve realized it would hurt you because of what I was doing... so I’m sorry.” 

I felt a sadness wash over me thinking back to how miserable I must’ve looked at this moment. I nodded and gave him a tight smile. 

“Thanks dude, but don’t feel too bad. I’m not that upset.” I lied. The boy said nothing even though I knew he wanted to.

❀ ❀ ❀

I shouldn’t have been disappointed that Byounggon never came around. But I was a bit, even though I’d expected it. 

This week taught me that even though I expect things to happen, doesn’t make it any less upsetting.

“See you, y/n.” I waved off Junkyu as I walked to my own dorm. 

As I walked onto my floor, I saw Byounggon standing there. I stopped as we both made eyecontact. I felt my heart stutter as he stood there in black jeans and a striped longsleeve shirt. 

He gave me a nervous smile. 

“Um, can we talk?” 

I nodded quickly. “Sure.” I opened the door to my dorm and let him inside. I tried not to remember what happened the last time he was in my dorm. 

“So...” I started. He tucked his hands in his pockets.

“Um, so I just wanted to tell you that... I never really liked Junkyu’s sister.” My eyes widened. 

“What?”

He sighed and moved closer towards me.

“I never liked Junkyu’s sister. I feel like a dick now but I was sort of using her to get over this other girl I like...” He trailed off but stared at me with a boyish glance. I felt a smile bubble out of me onto my lips. 

“hm, wow, a girl not liking the Byounggon? Unheard of.” He chuckled.

“Yeah, she’s sort of a tough cookie.” I let out a bark of laughter and shoved him, breaking our facade. 

“You asshole, tough cookie? You’ve known for ages that I’ve liked you!” I exclaimed. He looked at me sadly and sighed. “I know, and I’m so, so sorry that I let my sister’s opinion get in the way of how I felt. I should’ve convinced her.” 

He took my hands gently and I relished in their warmth. 

I shook my head. “You did what you thought was protecting me and her. Plus, I couldn’t imagine dating you as a preteen anyways.” He smiled and I had to resist the urge to kiss his dimple. 

“I should’ve controlled myself that Friday night. I shouldn’t have slept with you before we were officially together.” I shook my head. 

“Don’t blame yourself, it takes two to tango.” He laughed at my old analogy. “Plus, we were both very drunk.” I finished. He nodded. 

We stood there in silence. 

“I’m sorry for being such a tough cookie.” I whispered. He shook his head and lowered his face to mine. 

“You have nothing to apologize for. I was a dick.” 

I laughed.

“Also, Junkyu’s sister told me that she was using me too... so I guess that would’ve never worked out.” My eyes widened. “She got with Mashiho?” Byounggon gave me a weird look.

“Yeah... how did you know that?”

“Oh, I was the reason why she ran out that night... I was dancing with him.” I felt his grip tense but he had no reason to be jealous.

“Of course you were. That’s sorta funny now that I think about it.” I nodded.

“It is indeed.”

“Also, Junkyu told me everything. About that weird operation thing and also told me that you knew so thanks for trying to protect me even though it would hurt you.” 

I gave him a sad smile. “I guess I was more in love with you than I thought.” I confessed. Byounggon was shocked at first, but then his gaze turned intense and hazy. “I was supposed to say that first.” 

I shook my head. “Well you didn’t, so hah.” 

Byounggon didn’t say anything else but lowered me onto my bed. He took off his shirt rapidly and I couldn’t help but enjoy the show. 

“For the record, you’re more than just a one night stand to me.” 

I laughed and pulled him in for a kiss.

“I know, dimwit. Now show me.” 

[invelleity]

psst. be honest. all of the questions. go.

i can’t believe jeanette is tryina kill me in public and i’m still love her??? | not accepting anymoooore | @ltbroccoli​

cracks knuckles here we go ( odd numbers 1-9 are here )

2. Are aesthetics important to you? If they are, why?

Not very. It’s fun and cute and all, but I care a whole lot more about “clicking” with people and having fun writing with them.

Exception: If someone’s aesthetic is so overblown that I can’t even find the pages on the blog or read the text, I.....won’t interact with that tbh.

4. How do you explain rp to someone in the real world?

(kicks down my roommate’s door at 10pm) “OK so I’m writing— stop screaming, it’s me,— I’m writing a character in Security and you’re like a double black belt or some shit, can you explain how—”

( My roommates all know it’s a thing I do but I’ve never sent them a link or shown them any of the actual writing. They’ve met a bunch of y’all over like Rabbit streams and @rumdaydreams​ irl though so like.... They Know. )

More under the cut

6. Do you prefer writing male muses or female more? Why?

Ehhh, depends on my mood. I lean towards female muses in general ( definitely got a bigger chunk of ladies on my list, for sure for sure ) but I love my boys.

8. Name any three things about the rpc that bother you.

Uhhhh A) We’re all such dumb socially awkward blobs so it’s often hard to get to know new people.

B) The feel that if you have a good relationship with one person who writes a canon muse, it’s some kind of lowkey betrayal to write with other people who write the same muse??

C) How much I, a certified card-carrying dumbass, stress myself out about posting on a “regular” schedule. Does that count? Like I want the blogs to look “presentable” lmao and me@me Calm The Fuck Down.

10. Have you ever had a bad experience with commissions? As either someone who makes them or as someone who buys them?

N / A

11. What do you know now about rp that you wish you knew when you first started?

Uhhhh, when I first started was long enough ago and the community was so different a lot of those lessons no longer apply. I wish when I finally jumped over to Tumblr I’d realized quicker how the new like....basic ways of meeting people and posting and all worked, which was mostly just a “calm down and go with the flow more, let go of your stupid rigid old habits” lmaooo.

12. Have you been involved in drama? Do you regret it?

yES. Yeah. Hahaha ha h. 

But ummm, not usually. No. Most of my drama has been either A) me posting the very very softest, most diluted version of barely-touching on my politics and my real goddamn life and people being fuckin butthurt as hell about or B) cutting people who were toxic and draining out of my life. So.

13. Have you ever thought about leaving rp? What caused it? What changed your mind?

cw suicidal ideation ment

Yeah. Once I actually did — when I started college I just didn’t have the time, so I peaced from the larger community to just write with close friends for a while. I’ve also considered leaving the T.umblr RPC a few times, but really only because of long bad depressive episodes. Coming back and “not wanting to literally die irl ha Ha” and catching up with my drafts gets me back on track lmao. 

14. Do you think rp has had a positive or negative affect on your life or you as a person?

Positive! Sometimes I worry that I spend too much time wrapped up in fiction and miss my real life, but I’ve learned to keep my time more separate so now it’s just good to have a healthy hobby that makes me happy. Also I’m definitely a much better writer for it, and there a lot of networking skills I think translate to real workplace skills so it’s 👌

15. How has rp changed you personally?

See above, tbh. And it gives me a lot of good outlets for writing ideas that would otherwise stew in my head until I hated myself for never ever writing any lmao. It’s good.

16. If you could change one thing about rp on tumblr, what would it be? Why?

Oh, I dunno. I wish I could post replies from mobile more easily, god. That’d keep me a lot more on top of my drafts lmao.

17. Have you ever sent a message to yourself on anon? Why?

Not on any of the rp blogs. ;^)

18. Have you ever sent hate to yourself on anon? Why? 

No, wtf

19. Do you delete anon hate or post and address it? Why?

Depends on the hate — things I feel need to be addressed or I want to be clear about not tolerating I’ll post. Personal hate and mean shit I delete.

Or if it’s stupid and makes me laugh I will definitely post that shit.

20. Have you ever felt pressured to write something you weren’t comfortable with?

Sometimes. If a partner is actually pressuring me I’m real good at saying uhhh hey, fuck off about that? but sometimes partners will perfectly-innocently be enthusiastic about things I’m not super comfortable with and that’s harder to bring up. So it’s..... more like I pressure myself, whoops.

21. Have you ever followed someone because you felt like you had to, not because you wanted to?

Ehh. Not really. Sometimes I’ll follow a friend of a friend despite lack of interest just because, like.... My friends are smart and good, maybe I’m just not getting the right “vibe” from their blog as who really they are. Sometimes that just means we never click and I unfollow them later. Or sometimes @rumdaydreams​ drags me straight to mutual hell and we write 20,000 unfinished bullshit and meet irl and she actually talks me into wholeass new blogs and muses. So, you know. Mix bag.

22. What would make you block someone?

Red flags for manipulation and lowgrade emotional a.buse, especially ones I viscerally feel in my stomach from previous experiences. Obvious r.ight-leaning politics ( Weirdly, I’m not particularly comfortable around people who don’t think I or my friends deserve to be treated like human beings! A character quirk, haha! )

Also ngl sometimes I block people just to remind myself I’ve followed them before and I don’t wanna re-follow them six times and look like I’m trying to intentionally harass them. My memory is bad but the block button always knows, lmao. 😅

23. Have you ever stolen something from someone else?

Not intentionally — I try very hard not to steal hc from duplicates or take plots without asking. But, y’know, sometimes an idea sticks in your head and you eventually just forget where it originally came from.

24. Have you ever had something stolen from you? If so, how did you handle it?

Not that I’m aware of.

25. Are you open to duplicates? Why / why not?

Absolutely, for the most part! I like seeing other perspectives, and especially since @thewrongsorts​ is such a bigass multi it lowkey just makes my life easier.

There are a few exceptions — less because they’re duplicates and more because there are hc/fanon I just......dislike enough I don’t wanna write with them. Not a feeling that’s limited to duplicates tbh.

26. How do you feel about vague posting? 

Ehhh. It’s like not a great thing, but I get the appeal. I tend to unfollow if someone posts a lot of it because then they’re just passive-aggressive as a person, but the occasional vagueblog I don’t mind. Sometimes you gotta get shit off your chest but you don’t wanna make it a wholeass call-out, I get it.

27. Do you follow people even if they don’t follow you back?

Generally I unfollow. I’m here to write, if we’re not interacting it’s clogging my dash. ( Honestly I unfollow mutuals eventually if we never write.... ) But very occasionally someone’s got such good #takes and hc that I stick around just bc I stan.

28. Do you read people’s rules before following or interacting?

A l w a y s.

29. What is your opinion on “reblog karma” and do you practice it?

It’s nice! Like.... I wouldn’t require anyone to do it, but it makes people feel better about their blogs, it’s polite. I know I’m happier getting memes as well as passing them along. You know, be social. Connect with people. I always try to practice it, yeah.

30. How have you responded to popular slang used on tumblr? Do you use it in every day life? Do you use it at all?

Uhhh, yeah. My irl social circles are a lot of dumb gay millennials, we use a lot of dumb internet slang.

31. Is there something you don’t know the meaning of but you haven’t asked anyone because you think it’s supposed to be general knowledge?

Oh yeah! Joined Tumblr rpc ten years late with Starbucks! But also like.... I’m a web developer. 90% of my irl workskills are being good at Googlin’ shit. So I’ve pretty much always found the answer on my own, at least. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

32. Was there ever something you had to ask someone to explain? 

( See above. )

33. Have you ever experienced discrimination? 

Here or irl or....? I mean yes in any case, but much less often in the rpc specifically. This blog is a lot less outspoken ( both about politics or about who I....am....generally ) than most of my others or me irl.

Shoutout to that time I complained one (1) time about how copacetic the H.arry P.otter rpc is and an actual irl n.eon.azi jumped in my inbox lmaooooooo.

34. How do you feel about personal blogs following your rp blog?

Uhhh, I don’t love it? But if they mostly chill and don’t fuck with my actual threads I usually ignore them. ¯\_( ‘ ‘ )_/¯

35. Have you ever cried while writing a reply?

No. I’m not like......good at crying. 😐

36. Do you read other people’s threads or do you only read your own?

Depends on the blog. Some multis I follow are in fandoms I just like don’t even understand, so I don’t read those. Sometimes I just don’t got the energy. But I read a lot of my friends’ other threads or threads on blogs I stan.

Good writing is good shit and I’m.....a big 👀 bitch. Tbh.

37. What’s one thing that other people seem to hate that doesn’t bother you?

Call-out posts, bringing real life politics into rp, generally acknowledging that we have lives outside of the fictional world that affect how we read and interact with fiction.

( 👏 The O.rder 👏👏 of the 👏 P.hoenix 👏👏 is A.ntif.a 👏👏👏 )

I don’t want to ever push that onto other people though, definitely. (Especially people affected by terrifying irl politics and coming here for escapism. )

38. How do you feel about tagging triggers? Do you tag them? How do you determine what is triggering content and what isn’t?

Always 👏👏 tag 👏👏 fucking 👏 triggers 👏👏👏

I tag things that are common or obviously upsetting, and if someone asks I add whatever tags they need to my list — the “list” is mostly a mental tally so I occasionally fuck up, but god I feel strongly about triggers.

Let 👏 people 👏 who are hurting 👏👏 live. 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

39. What advice would you give to someone new to rp?

Poking around to see how other people seem to “operate” and scrolling through posts about how to get started is so so so fucking helpful! Don’t be afraid to do it!

Also reach out to people as much as you can work up the spoons to. If they’re rude back to you, like..... They were never worth your time anyhow. You dodged a bullet.

( Value yourself 2k19 )

[sachi-pon]

free! dive to the future episode 6 liveblog/review thing

HEEEYYYY WHAT'S THIS?!?! I ACTUALLY DID MY LIVEBLOG ON TIME?!?!? yes, i actually did it!! i squeezed this into my schedule. also, i wrote a lot this time for my thoughts after the end of the episode. i wrote an essay!! so, um, please read??? well, i really want someone to read it!! ;__; i kept rambling because i was imagining myself lying down on a couch talking to a psychiatrist about all of my complicated emotional issues THAT WERE CAUSED BY THIS EPISODE. o__O *eyes twitch*

my previous liveblogs:  (episode 1) (episode 2) (episode 3) (episode 4) (episode 5)

see this episode here!! http://www.crunchyroll.com/free-iwatobi-swim-club/episode-6-the-mermaid-of-the-abyss-775637

***

the first thing i see is a VERY REALISTIC image of a telephone pole. o__o what do you mean it's not a photo?!?!?!?

wow, that girl is impatient. XD

he has been making that sandcastle the whole day and all he can come up with is just a big lump??? maybe if you had better sandcastle-making skills, other kids would want to be friends with you.

he read "the little mermaid" for a reason... is he reading about himself?!?!? he's a merman????

awwwww ikuya is precious ;__;

THAT YODEL!!!!! MY GOODNESS!!!! IT WAS PERFECT!!!! he needs to make an album immediately!!! XDDDDD

"haru really is gone." well i'm sorry he didn't follow you to america to continue his lifeguard career???? lol

i feel like ikuya's constant thinking "i need to be stronger" and "i can't become weak" is actually making him weaker somehow. o__o

"what can i do for him???" you have to stop and realize that you can't fix everything, hiyori.

i love how he clearly heard ikuya speak japanese and he responded in english! kawaii desu!! XD

"we've met somewhere before, huh?" wait, you guys forgot about it?? -__-

abrupt scene change... o__O

"there is one book i like." HMM, I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT IS.

yes, ikuya, it's girly. just admit it. XD

"what can i do for ikuya?" i just told you, you can't always fix everything. just because you saved ikuya before, you think you always have to be the one to "save" him from everything? but that's not realistic. you can't control everything, so you shouldn't feel like it's always your job to save ikuya.

...aaand i'm talking to a fictional character. moving on!!

HOW ARE THEY JUST HAPPENING TO ALSO READ THE LITTLE MERMAID TOO?!?!?!? i guess everyone in this area has a little mermaid obsession. okay, now i seriously want to go watch the little mermaid movie. that was not a joke. i actually feel like i want to watch it sooner or later. free! gave me the idea!!! <3

HOW IS THAT MOM JUST HAPPENING TO DESCRIBE HIYORI'S SITUATION?!?!?!?!? what the... is she psychic?? i am scared of her now. what other powers does she have?!?!?!

oh man, hiyori now has that classic look where you can't see his eyes through his glasses. that is never a good sign... lol

makoto's swimsuit <333333 i love it so much. when i think about makoto in that swimsuit, i feel like all is right with the world. i can breathe easy. i can go to sleep happy. i know that there is peace and hope in the universe.

MAKOTO'S LITTLE BLUSH!!!! <3 did you see that?!? did you all see that? he is such an angel!!!! ^___^

"what's ikuya up too? have you kept in touch with him?" OH NO, you done went there. you done went and asked the question. you done messed up, my friend.

**** AWKWARD SILENCE ****

makoto is trying to explain everything but it's not working ^__^UUU

"it's my fault." OMGGGG HARUUUUU NOOOO. STOP. NOOOOO. i'm done. i'm dead. his little quiet voice broke my heart. he feels SO guilty about all this!!! i want to give you a hug, my precious baby. <33333

oh now he's telling nao about the "suffering" thing. i thought i was already dead but now i have died again. this show is TOO PAINFUL!!!! .>___<.

"makoto and i haven't suffered at all!!" don't say that!!! the writers of this show will hear you say that and they will try to think of a way to make you guys suffer!!! that's how writers are. writers like to brainstorm ways to make our characters suffer. it's what we do. XD

having watched ikuya throughout this whole season so far, he seems to be feeling worse and worse, to be honest. =(

haha, ikuya is so clueless. um, hiyori is talking about YOU, dude!!!

haru doesn't even want to eat mackerel?!?! WHO ARE YOU AND WHERE IS THE REAL HARU??????

oh it's that shady guy again. i forget about him all the time!!!

*pauses to read all the crunchyroll subtitles for Shady Guy's blog*

haru is COMPLETELY COOL while the shady villain guy talks right into his ear. XDDDD

#cafeteriasoba #hidakauniversity #tanukisoba #sobarules

ryuuji??? he has a name? but i don't want him to have a name. i want him to continue being Shady Evil Villain Guy.

WHO IS HE?????????? now i want to know!!! >=(

i'm pretty sure you made up all those provers but whatever

wait, what?!? wait!!! what just... they are all talking about ryuuji?!?!

"he suddenly quit swimming competitively." why? i bet the reason is something bad...

haru has his excited face on, i see.

"he probably missed your calls because he's busy focusing on the next competition." sure, okay, i believe you... you've been 100% honest all the time, of course!!

hmmmmmm okay i can kinda see one reason why hiyori feels such a strong need to "fix" ikuya. natsuya has assigned that job to him!!

haru's been thinking about why he only swims freestyle... uhhh you're just now thinking about that after how many seasons/episodes??? lol

i love how makoto and haru act like this kid is a genius who just revealed a brilliant scientific discovery

*mysterious person appears* wait who is that???

i knew that wishing star thing would come back eventually. (well, duh)

"even if i sink, no one's going to save me anymore." he's talking about swimming? or... his emotions???

i had a feeling someone would start yelling soon. this scene was too quiet!!

"i couldn't become human." ha!!! that proves it. ikuya isn't human. he is a merman. like i have said before, free! is a fantasy anime <3333

hiyori??? i think that ikuya knows how to come down the slide on his own. it's not that difficult. little kids do it all the time. XD

he's on top of him. WELL THIS IS AWKWARD

that scene with their feet looks so weird o__o

"can you just forget about nanase??? i'm way more attractive than he is, so why don't you love me instead????"

ikuya finally gets aggressive toward hiyori!! i felt like that was going to happen!! but wow o___o you guys. just continue being friends already. ;__;

hiyori!!! you just told him to "forget about nanase." it didn't work the first time so obviously it's not going to work the second time!!

"sorry i just assaulted you. whoops"

omg, i want this episode to be over. it's too sad. ;__; *looks at time* uh-oh. there's time for another scene...

looks like Evil Shady Villain (i don't care what his name is) has evil plans for haru with his evil smile!!! haru... you've got to escape!! get away now!!!

that's all!!! now here are my thoughts: i was very emotionally destroyed by this episode because like i said, i noticed that ikuya kept getting worse and worse (not just his swimming times, but his feelings) and then he got into a fight with hiyori at the end. ;___; ;___; ;___; i'm so upset because hiyori is GENUINELY TRYING TO HELP and it's just not working. you saw the flashbacks where hiyori and ikuya's friendship formed. so you can see that ikuya means a lot to hiyori, which is why i said that hiyori is genuinely trying to help. plus, i pointed out that natsuya wants hiyori to watch over ikuya. so that's something that adds to the pressure on hiyori. so i felt so bad for him when first, he tried to invite ikuya to a cafe and he didn't want to go, and then, he tried to tell ikuya "stop thinking about nanase" and ikuya got mad at him for it!! remember, from hiyori's perspective, haru is just a bad person who's causing trouble. so from that perspective, it makes perfect sense that the solution to ikuya’s problem would be to stop thinking about haru. so i think it was surprising for hiyori that ikuya got mad at him. =( remember how earlier in the season, ikuya tended to be agreeable with hiyori? he went along with most things hiyori said/did. that's what hiyori's used to, and so that's why i think it was surprising for hiyori when ikuya got mad. he thought ikuya would just agree with his suggestions as usual.

ikuya actually has a positive view of haru and he does want to keep thinking about him. he is grateful for haru's rescue of him, and he wants to be "strong like haru." at the same time, he's angry at haru. but his true feelings toward haru are actually positive, which is why he rejected hiyori's advice to stop thinking about him. i don't think either of them are listening to each other. hiyori wants to fix ikuya instead of listening to him, and ikuya feels that doing things alone gives him strength, so he's not interested in trying to be fixed by hiyori or anyone else. he just wants to be "strong" on his own. ...it's not going well.

i loved the part where ikuya was on the slide and hiyori was on top of him. XD it was so dramatic. hmm, maybe i am beginning to ship them??? i don't know though, because they really need to work out their problems first. they're not quite at a point where i'm like "YEEAAAHHH I SHIP THEM, HIYORI x IKUYA 4EVER!!!!!!!" they'd be so cute if they weren't... you know... in a pretty damaged relationship right now. ^__^U actually, it's not just about this fight. even before that, their relationship was "off" to me. (not when they were kids. i'm talking about the present day) something about their friendship wasn't quite right. and so i'm not surprised that they ended up fighting.

...still, i'm hoping that they will soon work everything out and have some heartwarming moments!!! <3333

wait, i'm not done yet. i also want to say that it was so painful to me when haru said "it's my fault." there was something so broken in his voice. i could hear it. i think that every person has had situations in their lives where something that someone said or did bothered them and it continued to bother them for a long time even though it shouldn't have. you know that feeling when you can't stop thinking about something even though that thing keeps weighing you down??? it really shouldn't make you so upset, and you should let it go and not let it get to you, but you just can't stop thinking about it because you're taking it too seriously. what haru is going through right now is so relatable. 

honestly though, asahi and makoto don't seem to fully grasp how deeply this is hurting haru. asahi said that he and makoto swam with haru and were fine, and makoto agreed, but i was thinking, "haru's not going to instantly feel better just because you guys said that." when you're feeling that bad about something, one quick and simple answer isn't going to fully heal you. i expected makoto to understand how hurt haru is right now, but i'm not sure if he does!! (...which is weird.) the good news is that nao seems to have a plan, i guess. i don't have a clue what he's thinking of doing, but i'm sure that haru and the others will get through to ikuya somehow. right? RIGHT???

[kalosstarters]

One-shot: A Bad Kisser

After using the otp fluff generator, I decided to challenge myself and write something that I’m not super comfortable with: a kiss scene. The prompt goes: “Mairin is a bad kisser and she knows it. Alain gives her a tutorial on kissing.” This doesn’t really fit into my headcanons, but hey, sometimes it’s fun to write something different. Mairin is 18 (whoops that means Bonnie might have gotten into a bar underage... Or maybe in Kalos you can do that once you turn 16) and Alain 23.

”Mairin?” 

The black haired Pokémon doctor student lifted his gaze from his book (”Mega evolution and its side effects”). The girl sitting next to him was being so quiet that he was getting suspicious.

”Yeah?” she tried sounding casual, but failed miserably.

”Are you OK? You look kinda weird,” he noted, and the color of Mairin’s face turned a bright shade of pink. Alain had learned to read her pretty well during the years, even if she was doing her best to hide some of her feelings from him. There were things she didn’t want him to know because it might have affected their friendship. 

“Gee, thanks. I wonder how you’d look like if someone told you that you are a bad kisser,” she blurted out, saying accidentally more than she had originally planned.

“What?” Alain looked at her skeptically. Mairin didn’t usually talk about her relationship related issues with him, so this was new. “When did that happen?”

“Last night. I went out with Bonnie, Serena and Shauna, and originally I had the plan of just sticking with the girls, but Serena and Shauna kind of forgot I and Bonnie exist after a few glasses of wine. Well, Bonnie knows a lot of people in this town so one of her acquaintances dragged her on the dance floor, and I was all alone, so I went to order a drink, and some guy started talking to me. It was actually quite fun while it lasted; he seemed to know a lot about grass type Pokémon, and he complimented my hair too. That doesn’t happen often,” she rolled her eyes. “But then suddenly he leaned in for a kiss, and I had no idea what to do.”

Alain’s face suddenly turned very serious, and (Mairin thought she might have imagined it) a bit angry too.

“And? What happened then?” He looked as though he didn’t actually want to know, but forced himself to ask that.

At this point Mairin’s cheeks went as red as her hair, but she finally answered: “I just kind of held my lips there for a moment. It happened so fast. I think he might have tried to go for a Kalosian kiss but… I didn’t want to. He was an OK guy, well, at least until that point, but it just didn’t feel right. And then he pulled away and said I was a bad kisser. Needless to say, I didn’t talk to him after that anymore.”

Alain’s dark eyebrows almost merged when he frowned at Mairin’s words. Mairin didn’t understand why he looked like that, but eventually the boy managed to ask: “Did he… even ask you… if it was OK to kiss you?”

“Now that I think of it… n-no-o? I guess he should have, though?” She was embarrassed now. She should have realized that earlier.

“Yes, absolutely. Mairin, I can’t say I’m good or very experienced in relationships, but I do know that consent is the beginning of every good relationship. Professor Sycamore made that very clear to me when I was younger. I’m sure you would have felt better about that kiss too if he had asked or let you know what was about to happen.”

“You are probably right…”

After a moment of hesitation, the grass type trainer added: “That makes me remember something: it isn’t the same as kissing, but I didn’t ever ask you if it was OK if I followed you when we were kids. I’m still sorry about that.”

“It’s OK. That did end up pretty well, though? We are still friends.”

“Yes!” Mairin suddenly felt a strange warmth spread through her. “I’m so happy about that!”

“I might not always show it, but me too,” Alain smiled a little bit.

“Hey…” she continued after a moment of silence. “This is a bit embarrassing, but… could you give me some advice on kissing? Since you are the more experienced one of us…”

Alain hesitated, but then decided that helping a friend out wouldn’t hurt, right?

“I guess I maybe could... What do you want to know?”

“Whatever comes to your mind!” 

“First of, a thing I can say from experience: keep your mouth clean and fresh. It is not pleasant to kiss someone who has just eaten garlic or smoked or something like that. So maybe have some bubble gum or something with you if you plan to kiss someone.”

“Right! That’s some good advice. But what about the kissing itself? How should it be done?” 

His student looked so eager that Alain struggled keeping a poker face, but he finally pulled himself together and replied:

“Uhhh… Well, if you want to go Kalosian, be careful with the tongue. You don’t want to be too aggressive with it. Be calm and try to find a pace that suits you. And remember to have breaks; you don’t want to drink the other person’s saliva. Be careful with the teeth too. If you ask me, the teeth clashing against each other or biting doesn’t feel good.”

“Ewww, grosssss. Both the saliva and the biting...” Mairin shook her head.  “But… how do I start a Kalosian kiss? Not that I want that saliva in my mouth… Just curious.”

“I guess you just kinda test with the tip of your tongue… lightly touch the other person’s lip with it… Or, you could simply ask, although that might be a bit awkward in certain situations.”

“Right. Thanks. What else I should ask?” Mairin considered for a moment. “Oh, now I know! What do I do with my hands and eyes? Where do I put my hands? And should I close my eyes when I kiss?”

“Once your lips touch, it is probably better if you close your eyes at least for a moment – it might be uncomfortable for you if you keep staring at each other while being so close. As for the hands… You know, you could come here so I could show you.”

He hadn’t planned on saying that, but for some reason it felt better for him to show it than explain orally.

“OK…” Mairin walked slowly towards Alain, feeling the heat rush in her head. She didn’t know why talking about this topic with him made him feel like this… even kinda dizzy… even though she had talked about more intimate things with her female friends before and it never made her uncomfortable. But something about this rush also felt good.

“Now then…” Alain said when the girl stopped in front of him.

“There isn’t one right way to use your hands while kissing. You can put them in the other one’s hair, like this,” he combed his fingers through her red hair and then settled them on the back of her head for a moment. He was vaguely aware that the girl she liked, even though he didn’t want to admit it, was very close to him right now. “Or then you can hold them behind the other one’s neck…” he slid his fingers from her hair under her jaw, slowly, gently, and lifted her chin so she had to look up into his eyes. They just stared at each other for a moment, before Alain continued, his voice getting quieter: “or then you could put them on the shoulders…” he lowered his hands on her shoulders, and sort of automatically, Mairin took one step closer. “or then…” Suddenly Alain could only whisper, “you can wrap them around the other person’s waist.” He did that and pulled the girl even closer.

Mairin felt her heart race as fast as if she had just run a mile in her chest, and she swore she could feel his fast heartbeat too. This… was this actually happening? She understood now why she had felt so uncomfortable the other day when that random guy had kissed her; not only had he done it so out of blue, without her agreement, but he had also not been the person she actually wanted to kiss. That man was right in front of her, his arms around her waist (Mairin could still feel how his hand had accidentally brushed over her breast when he had moved her hands towards the waist), looking at her with an intense expression.

“Would it be OK if I… kissed you?” he whispered.

“I was about to ask the same... As practice?”

“Ye… no.” he wanted her to know what he actually felt, even if it was hard for him to admit.

Mairin studied his expression for a bit and gave him a nod, her voice seeming to have disappeared somewhere. When did it become this hot, she wondered, and quickly wiped the palms of her hands on her pants.

Then the red head rose on her tiptoes and set her hands on his cheeks, so she could reach him better. Alain searched for her permission from her eyes one more time, before he finally pressed his lips against hers. It was a brief, soft kiss, but after taking a breath Mairin returned her lips to his and muttered against his mouth: “If I’m gonna exchange my saliva with someone, I’d want it to be you.”

“Oh… That’s OK with me,” he said and opened his mouth for her. When they eventually stopped to breathe, he leaned his forehead against hers and said “You know… you are not a bad kisser at all.”