#i love the translator of most of the stories being like 'im using more 'neutral' language so i dont get accused of pushing the ship' | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

yumeyooa · 3 years

Text

hopelessly in love | sakusa kiyoomi

—sakusa’s got a secret: he’s a hopeless romantic; and it’s all thanks to you.

➢ pairing: sakusa kiyoomi x gender neutral! reader

➢ word count: 1.9k+

➢ warning: nothing major :>>

➢ love letter: this was supposed to be a short timestamp but it became a full blown drabble i-- T_T. i absolutely live for the trope wherein kiyoomi is a loving soft person once he’s comfortable so i just indulged myself IM SORRY i hope y’all like it and let me know what you think <33

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Not many people know this, but Sakusa Kiyoomi is a hopeless romantic.

It’s a secret he likes to keep to himself, afraid that if it were to fall on the ears of another, he would never be able to live it down. More so if it were the rowdy bunch he calls a team. He was sure that Atsumu, that insufferable idiot, would tease him for it every chance he got should he have known.

Which was why he keeps it discreet, hiding his wishes and desires behind a cold facade that warranted others to believe that he was anything but hopelessly in love with the idea of romance.

Well, everyone except for you.

The chimes of the bell ring as Sakusa enters your quiet bookstore just ten minutes away from his home. For the longest time, Sakusa had always loved books. They allowed him to indulge in his romantic fantasies without being so overtly apparent to the prying eyes of the world.

“Ah, Kiyoomi! Welcome back!” Like milk and honey, your voice greets him as he enters the place he had considered a paradise for the past two years. You stand up from where you sat on your desk, glasses perched atop your head as you give him a warm smile, causing a fuzzy feeling to grow in his chest.

You and Sakusa go way back, all the way to your days as a book-loving library assistant and a covert volleyball fanatic (not that Sakusa would ever admit it, but you knew better). The two of you had been classmates all throughout your high school journey, and Sakusa considered you to be one of the closest friends he had, even to this day. After all, as time has proven, nothing between the two of you has changed.

Sakusa greets you with a nod, although there’s still a kind glint in his eyes that makes you grin. As a man of few words, Sakusa’s emotions reigned supreme in the hidden crevices of his actions. Sometimes it’d take an expert or a long-time friend to even notice those tiny nuances. However, you had known Sakusa for years. It practically came like second nature to you at this point.

He sets down the book he bought from his last trip-- a translated copy of The Fault in Our Stars. There’s a determined gaze in his eyes as he softly nudges the book to you, and you try to hide your desire to coo at him, waiting for him to speak with a patient smile.

“This,” he finally says, averting his eyes. He was still embarrassed to admit he enjoyed romantic novels, even if it was in front of you. “Are there any more books like this?”

“Plot-wise? Or do you want something from the same author?” You ask curiously, already making your way around the counter to face Sakusa. He looks at you with a shy glance before mumbling “Author,” and you smile once more, gesturing to the tall player to follow you down the aisles.

“Here you go!” You say, handing him a few fresh translated copies of Paper Towns and Looking for Alaska. “These just came in the other day. You’re pretty lucky, Kiyoomi!”

“Thanks,” he mutters as he grabs the books from you gently, fingers hovering over the cover as his heart pumps with excitement at the thought of unwinding himself to another fantastic story. The last one had him hooked until the end, and he had broken his carefully crafted sleep schedule just to finish it. He couldn’t wait to dive into a whole new world waiting for him within the pages of these books.

But most of all, he couldn’t wait to talk about them with you.

With a knowing smile, you quickly usher Kiyoomi into your back office, knowing that the counter wouldn’t need you for a while. No one else would come to your store at 1 in the afternoon, except for the old lady that came by every so often, but she could wait.

“Here,” you say as you hand Kiyoomi a warm cup of tea. “Freshly brewed, just for you!” Kiyoomi smiles, although you don’t see it as it’s hidden by his mask. He removes his mask, placing it gently into the ziplock he had brought with him before grabbing hold of the mug you had specially reserved for him and taking a sip.

It was soothing and relaxing, just the way he liked it. He can feel his muscles relax as he leans back into his chair, sighing in bliss as he closes his eyes. “You like it that much?” You ask with a giggle, setting down a plate of cookies you had bought from the bakery across the street.

“Of course,” he replies, watching as you take a seat in front of him, taking a cookie to eat. “There’s nothing like your tea, you know that.”

Of course, you did. For the past two years, ever since you and Sakusa had rekindled your friendship and had begun to meet up regularly, you had been brewing him a cup of warm tea. It wasn’t meant to be a habit, but somehow it became that way ever since the first time Sakusa had decided to open up and rave about romance novels with you.

You remember the first time it happened. Sakusa had dropped by for a surprise visit after the two of you bumped into each other on a trip to the supermarket earlier that day. You mentioned that you ran a bookstore, but you never expected him to show up to it. It was a pleasant surprise, one that you welcomed wholeheartedly.

He had asked for a book recommendation, not knowing how else to reignite that connection you two had back in high school. He remembers the days where he used to escape to the library, and you’d keep him company, rambling on and on about the books you were sorting out and how much you loved them.

Those were the most enjoyable times throughout Sakusa’s high school life, and how he wished to reclaim those memories and renew them once more now that you were adults.

That day, you had recommended him to read Pride and Prejudice, to which Skausa initially grimaced, remembering how much he had hated the book back then when he was younger. But with your encouragement, he had decided to purchase it without giving it any thought until he finally read it on his rare day off.

And to say he was floored would be an understatement.

“Incredible,” he had mentioned to you, in a frenzy the next day, returning to your store like a man who had just been shown the truth of the universe. “Utterly Amazing!”

“Sakusa?” You had called back, confused at his sudden behavior. From your puzzled expression, Sakusa finally snapped out of his senses and cleared his throat, embarrassed at his sudden outburst.

“Sorry,” he mumbles, averting his gaze. “It’s fine,” you say, reassuringly gesturing him to follow you to the back office that would soon become a special hangout place for the two of you.

“What was it you were talking about?” You ask as you prepare your first-ever cup of tea for him (the first of many). At your question, Sakusa perks up, grabbing the book he had purchased from his bag and setting it down on the table in front of him.

“This was incredible,” he reiterates, and you turn your head to see what he was talking about, only to nod in understanding. “How does one write love in such a compelling and enchanting way? It seems too good to be true. I can’t believe I didn’t appreciate this masterpiece back in high school.”

You laugh, setting down the cup of tea. It’s the first time you’ve seen Sakusa this expressive. It reminds you of back in the day, in those few moments where you would catch him in a rave about how fantastic volleyball was as you rearranged the science books on the shelves. It was in those moments that you found the usually quiet man quite charming.

“(Y/N)?” Sakusa asks, bringing you out of your trance. You look up at him, snapping out of your thoughts as you tilted your head in question. “You okay? You’ve been out of it for a few minutes.”

“Oh,” you giggle, realizing your mistake. “Sorry, Kiyoomi, I was just reminiscing about the past, that’s all. How did you find the book?”

“Heartbreaking.”

You blink, caught off guard by how blunt he was before letting out a hearty laugh, to which Sakusa frowns, not quite understanding why you were laughing. “What’s so funny?” He asks, a pout settling on his lips.

“Nothing Kiyoomi, It’s just, I didn’t expect you to say that so bluntly,” you say, wiping off the tears that had begun to form at the corner of your eye from too much laughter. “Continue.”

“You wouldn’t believe the number of times I cried while reading the book. How could John—whatever his name is—write something so heartbreaking and expect to get away with it?”

Your laughter rings through the room, and Sakusa can feel it tug on his heartstrings. He wasn’t one to express his thoughts out loud. But being around you just made him do it. You had this magic about you, something Sakusa couldn’t quite put his fingers on. Perhaps that was just your natural charm to draw people into your rhythm, and Sakusa wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Well, just wait till you read the other two. They’re both as equally amazing as the last one.” You say, gesturing to the books in front of Sakusa tenderly. “Are they just as heartbreaking?” He asks, already giddy with anticipation.

“Hmm, you’ll have to read to find out.” You tease, causing another pout to form on his lips as he groans, choosing to chug down the remainder of his tea.

The two of you continued your conversation, talking about anything and everything about your lives at the moment. Sakusa vented about their most recent game, which was a win for the team. However, he didn’t play as well as he wanted, which caused him to be benched for two sets. It was a low blow on his part, but he knew that with proper training and motivation, he could overcome it.

“Of course you can!” You said once he was done voicing out his doubts. “You’re the Sakusa Kiyoomi I know and love. Of course, you’re going to ace it!”

Your words cause Sakusa’s heart to skip a beat, trying to process what you had just said. Did you really love him? Was it in a platonic or more romantic way? Why did you have to say that? Don’t you know how much it drives Sakusa wild?

“Thanks,” is all he says, looking down to hide the blush that was beginning to form on his cheeks. Was this what all the books were telling him about? Was he slowly but surely falling in love with you? Because if he was, then Sakusa would wholeheartedly admit that this was the best feeling in the world.

Falling in love felt surreal.

As he leaves your store, two new books in hand, greeting you goodbye as you wave him off, Sakusa can feel the love in him continue to grow. He makes the short trip home, yet all he can do is think of you and how much you’ve become part of his life. You had wormed your way into his heart and made yourself stay, and honestly, Sakusa didn’t mind.

He was a hopeless romantic after all. And if this was the beginning of a life-changing love story with you by his side, then so be it.

He would fall until you’d catch him in your arms and love him until love could be no more. And would wholeheartedly do it all over again.

➢ general taglist (send an ask to be tagged!): @loveinhaikyuu @mirakeul

#haikyuu x reader #haikyuu!! x reader #haikyuu x gender neutral reader #hq x reader #sakusa x reader #sakusa kiyoomi x reader #kiyoomi x reader #sakusa x you #sakusa kiyoomi x you

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elecmon · 3 years

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Curious what you think of Chichos, name aside? Also Coatlmon?

And on a tangent, I once came up with a story idea where Ken visits Chichos and winds up staying during the Day of the Dead. And of course since Osamu is my Minor Character Obsession, he plays some role in the story. There’s also maybe a side plot of Osamu getting flirted with by one of Chichos’ relatives who died at a young age as a parallel to Chichos’ crush on Ken. Given that I am not Mexican, it is not a story I would feel comfortable fleshing out and actually writing, but I felt like sharing the concept.

SSSsssssooooo we're actually not gonna go name aside for this one as her name got used a lot in this ask and I'm feeling not that okay with it

Chichos, in Spanish, means love handles. That's not an okay name to give a child, and like I KNOW rude nicknames are a thing mexican /latine cultures, but lord allmighty calling a 7-9(Im assuming age range) child Love Handles is just about the worst damn thing.

HERE'S WHAT I ASSUME HAPPENED:

Chicos in Spanish translates to young boys, OR/AND children (this word can be used as gender neutral)

She was MOST LIKELY supposed to be named Chicos, like one would name a random one-off character "lad" or "kid" (as she really is just A Random Kid)

Somewhere in translation, what should have probably chi.ko.su, was turned into chi.cho.su

It's the explanation I've found myself living with, don't like it, but it's been 20 years since and I have to learn to deal with it someday.

HER ENGLISH DUB NAME was changed to Rosa, or 'Pink'

its cute! its sweet its short it fits her, lovely.

BUT THEN HER LATAM SPANISH DUB NAME was changed to Guadalupe. Guadalupe is the Virgin Mary, this name is usually given to someone with lots of love and affection for the person. (My personal experience with the name was my cousin being named Guadalupe as thanks and in honor of the Virgin Mary after my aunt + cousin both nearly died during the birthing process)

Chichos as her name? I don't accept it. I refuse it. It's sexualized. I'm on all levels grossed out by it. Want nothing to do with this canon.

Rosa as her name? Yea sure! It's cute, I'll take it.

Guadalupe as her name? That's it, that's the one, 100% my one and only choice. We were given one (1) Mexican Digidestined, and that's the name that was lovingly given to her, Viva Mexico Cabrones. Plus!! It comes with a free nickname! Lupita! LOOK AT HER! SHE'S ABSOLUTELY A LUPITA!!!

SO, NOW WE CAN GO NAME ASIDE.

I've also been working on a day of the dead comic featuring Ken/Osamu/Daisuke/Guadalupe, actually!! (and also featuring some of my Mexican Digidestined OCs. I included some headcanons there for Guadalupe ALSO giving her a deceased brother actually, love that coincidence on both concepts lol)

It's extremely personal and I've pushed it off for years on how it's gotten me Very emotional while working on it, but it's been fun nontheless.

I'm a biiiiiit confused on how Osamu would be interacting with one of Guadalupes relatives ? Are you operating on land of the dead Coco rules? (nothing wrong w it ofc, do love that movie with all my heart, but how'd that lil guy get there🤔)

Do love the concept of Ken celebrating the holiday of course! Glad you see something there too!

OH I FORGOT ABOUT THE COATLMON PART OF THE ASK

Coatlmon is adorable, but I WISH the line had continued, there's so much mythology in many Digimon designs, I wish they could dive into Aztec influence a little more

But for Coatlmon and Mercurymon being the only two, it's a decent start

(also for Coatlmon to NOT have a line that leads into Airdramon is a fucking CRIME Airdramon would be an amazing addition to a line based off Quetzalcoatl)

#asks #ree fireparrot #the name thing got a little long but its important to state how ***BAD*** a name it is for her #I want to like that episode. I want to like it SO MUCH but there's too much going against it that 😬😬😬#like the grownass adult pointing a gun casually at the child that was not.................the best depiction........................#temp tag

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btsxmalereaders · 4 years

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Masterlist and Guidelines

Last update: May 5th, 2024

Notes: I will update this often (most likely on weekends). | This masterlist doesn’t have all the groups / soloists I write for, so you can ask if I write for the artist you want*.

Here you will find my works and, if you request anything, you can find it on the ‘Up Next’ section so you know for sure I received your request. Also, you can know which requests I’m taking at the moment.

If within a week your request is not here, please send it again!

Please do not repost, plagiarize, translate or use my works.

Fluff: [♡]

Angst: [✿]

Male Reader: [☆]

Gender Neutral Reader: [✧]

[N/A]: I will add more categories as I open more slots for requests and / or I post original stories.

Kim Namjoon

Love is nothing stronger. [♡] [☆]

The Bet. [♡] [✧]

Hold me Tight. [♡] [☆]

Kim Seokjin

Nothing to see here... yet

Min Yoongi

Proposal. [♡] [☆]

♡ Valentine's Special #1. [♡] [☆]

Jung Hoseok

Jealousy. [smut] [☆]

Park Jimin

Affection. [♡] [☆]

Impatient. [smut] [☆]

Kim Taehyung

Untitled. [smut] [☆]

Jeon Jungkook

Paper Hearts. [♡] [✧]

♡ Valentine's Special #1 [♡] [☆]

OT7

Nothing to see here... yet.

Bang Chan

In good hands [♡] [☆]

Truth or Dare [♡] [☆]

Grow Up [♡] [☆]

Untitled. [♡] [☆]

Even in zero gravity, I would still fall for you! [♡][☆]

I know you always stay. [♡] [☆]

can we stay a while and listen for heaven? [♡][☆]

Lee Minho

♡ Valentine's Special #1 [♡] [☆]

Play Date [♡] [☆]

When it rains in your heart, I'll take you with me [♡][☆]

Break my heart myself. [♡] [✿]

Seo Changbin

Zero O’Clock [♡] [☆]

Baby, it's cold outside. [✧] [♡]

♡ Valentine's Special #1 [♡] [☆]

Hwang Hyunjin

Meant To Be [♡] [☆]

Han Jisung

Nothing to see here... yet.

Lee Felix

Nothing to see here... yet.

Kim Seungmin

the sound of your heart. [✿]

Yang Jeongin

'Cause I like you. [♡] [☆]

OT8

Reaction to having the same birthday as their s/o. | hyung line | maknae line [♡] [✧]

Reaction to their oblivious boyfriend being flirted with. | hyung line | maknae line [♡] [☆]

3racha reaction to: their idol s/o using a beat they gave them for their new comeback. [♡][✧]

Im Jaebeom

1:31 AM. [✿] [☆]

Mark Tuan

Nothing to see here... yet.

Jackson Wang

LMLY.[✿] [☆]

Park Jinyoung

Nothing to see here... yet.

Choi Youngjae

Nothing to see here... yet.

Kunpimook Bhuwakul

Nothing to see here... yet.

Kim Yugyeom

♡ Valentine's Special #1 [✧] [♡]

OT7

Nothing to see here... yet.

I’m not very strict about this, but there are some things that I do NOT write:

🚫 NSFW

🚫 Underage

🚫 Female reader

🚫 Incest

🚫 Serious medical conditions I’m not familiar with

🚫 Yandere

🚫 Hybrid

🚫 Magical, Historical AUs — except Harry Potter.

🚫 Basically any thing I don’t feel comfortable writing. I’ll let you know if you request something I don’t like.

However, I do write:

✅ Angst

✅ Fluff

✅ Poly

✅Reactions

✅One Shots

✅ Texts

• You can ask what would you want to read in the request, specific reactions, dialogues, etc. It’s up to you!

Requests for Reactions/Scenarios: Closed

Requests for One Shots: Open

Requests for Pride: OPEN

BTS:

Namjoon, drabble from prompt list #87

Jungkook, drabble from prompt list #61

Reaction to: army wanting the members to break up with reader.

Yoongi fluffy / angst -long distance relationship.

Stray Kids:

Reaction to their idol s/o dyes their hair a primary color for their comeback.

Reaction to s/o having a cynical humor.

Changbin x tattooed bf

Reaction to having a tall/tattooed boyfriend.

Poly chanlix with aussie/british boyfriend.

Reaction to s/o moaning.

Reaction to having a talented s/o but them not being self confident.

Bang Chan - Future AU

GOT7

Jaebeom using reader's clothes

#masterlist #guidelines #requests #rules #bts #stray kids #male reader #gender neutral reader #kpop x male reader #bts x gender neutral reader #bts x male reader #got7 x male reader #stray kids x male reader

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zatyrlucy · 3 years

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we need more of Vaggie, she really deserved so much better and she is so lucky to have someone like charlie with her, I love her 💜💗

Vaggie is so soo lucky to have literally the only nice person in hell, and they are so cute together. I really wish the best for their relationship in the show, because Im sure there is going to be some problems between them that will have to solve as a couple.

I really like when people draw Vaggie alone because it looks like other fans only remember her as “Charlie’s gf” and nothing else.

She is a good character on her own, we just have to give her more time to know her better. And if she ends up being a fallen exterminator or something like that, her story would be very cool indeed.

I really like her, she is a millennial Latina and so do I, so I clearly relate with her more than any other character of the show (and kinda reminds me of myself when I was in high school).

Her spanish accent is like mine too. When Monica Franco speaks as Vaggie, is with such neutral spanish, reminds me of my country, because in Colombia a lot of people talk with a “clean” accent. For me, Vaggie doesnt have the marked accent of “the latino” character. She actually talks clear and slowly, not as quick and mark as the accents of Mexico, Chile or Argentina for example. In the pilot, I couldnt know from where she was, not even when she talked in spanish, not even when I asked Monica to speak spanish in the hunicast. If it werent for Viv I still wouldnt know from what exact country Vaggie comes from. Vaggie also uses curses that are used in Colombia. “Malparido” and “come mierda” are very common here. Idk, when she talks in spanish, it feels like home, even more than with the Mexican dubs (they are in charge of most of the spanish translations in LATAM btw).

I also really really wish for a flashback episode where we could see how was her life in El Salvador. How the hell she ended in...hell? I also wanna see how she was like when she was alive. Im crossing fingers for brown skin, brown eyes and black hair, that way I could cosplay her human form haha I would only need an eyepatch xD (and not even that because in the flashback she might have her two eyes).

#hazbin hotel #Vaggie #Colombia is the country most recomended for spanish beginners #Only few accents here are as quick as the other ones of the other countries #Those who think all latinos speak the same are wrong soo very wrong

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serpentinesarang · 4 years

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Bend, Not Break

pairing: i.m (im changkyun) x gender-neutral reader

genre: non-idol!AU, boss/subordinate!AU, third-person POV, similar to the kdrama “Romance is a Bonus Book” (small book publisher setting), part of a series

word count: 1683 | next

content warnings: one mention of blood, one mention of alcohol

summary: you work as a copy editor at a publishing house, and you’re a genuine hard worker who never breaks rules—that is, until a new boss takes over your department. you find yourself magnetized and lusting over him, and vice versa, so perhaps your morals can bend just a little?

requested by: @livingwithmx

a/n: From here on out, I’ll be incorporating more Korean language and cultural things into my writing, but fear not: I will list a handy key each time with translations and pronunciations! To make it more universally easier to understand my included Korean, I’ll write the Romanized words in the story and add the Hangul in the key.

korean key:

⦿ biseonim (비서님) = secretary; pronounced “pee-suh-neem;” (titles follow one’s surname) ⦿ annyeonghaseyo (안녕하세요) = most common and formal hello; pronounced “on-yawng-ha-seh-yo” ⦿ pyeongjibjangnim (편집장님) = editor; reader’s work title; pronounced “pyung-jeeb-jahng-neem” ⦿ soju (소주) = clear Korean grain alcohol, similar to vodka; pronounced as it looks ⦿ jungyeok (중역) = executive director; pronounced “jung-yuk” ⦿ pyeonjibguk (편집국) = editorial department; pronounced “pyun-jib-gook”

♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤

“Good morning, YL/N-pyeongjibjangnim!” Seoyoon calls out from behind the wide reception desk, her adorable chipmunk cheeks dimpling as she watches Y/N step off the elevator and onto the eighth floor, where their employer is located in the building.

“Annyeonghaseyo, Park-biseonim!” Y/N replies, throwing their hand up to wave briefly. They stop at the desk and peer down at Seoyoon. “How was your weekend?”

“Really good, actually,” she chirps with raised brows and blue-contacted eyes aglitter. She moves her hands off her keyboard to prop herself up on her forearms. “He finally kissed me!” she whispers excitedly.

Y/N’s mouth drops open in happy surprise. “It’s about time!” they say, matching Seoyoon’s excitement.

Seoyoon leans back in her swivel chair. “Right?! I still feel so good.”

Y/N smiles, bringing the black coffee tumbler in their hand to their lips.

“I even slipped some soju in my tea,” Seoyoon murmurs, raising her eyebrows again and jerking her head toward the dainty cup in front of her computer.

Y/N swallows their coffee hard and shoots Seoyoon a disappointed look with pursed lips. “Park-biseonim… You know alcohol isn’t allowed on premises,” they remind her softly, friend to friend.

Seoyoon exhales. “I know; I know… Just this one time?”

Y/N pauses, examining the secretary’s face. How could they alert their superior when the sweet girl was just so happy about her boyfriend finally kissing her?

“All riiight,” Y/N replies, turning toward the main doors leading into the office. “Only because of that kiss.”

They smile again before disappearing through the windowed double doors and making their way to their corner office on the far end of the floor. Y/N greets their coworkers, waving at those already submerged in their work and bowing to their superiors. Odd, they think, the entire executive board is here today. Something must be happening.

Y/N gets themselves situated at their modern Plexiglas desk, powering on their huge monitor and turning on lamps here and there. As soon as the computer hums to life, a loud two-toned chime goes off, signaling a high-importance email.

Smoothing out their slacks as they sit on their swivel chair, Y/N opens the email, which was sent to the entire editorial department. Something is happening, indeed.

In it, the department’s director had written:

Good morning, team:

Please meet in the conference room at 8 today to join me in welcoming a new employee to our department. I have important news to share, as well.

~Choi Jaeho-jungyeok

Y/N glances at the time on the computer: 7:57 AM. Yeet! they mentally screamed, shooting out of their chair and bee-lining for the conference room, situated between the editorial and creative departments.

Bursting through the large room’s white double doors, Y/N is greeted by a small symphony of good morning!s and annyeonghaseyo!s, and they bow their head to everyone while walking around to the last open chair at the corner of the rectangular table. Some coworkers have pads of paper in front of them; many have cups of steaming liquid; and others simply have their cell phones lying out. There’s one unfamiliar person sitting directly across Y/N in the other corner seat, though, looking like a stone with their elbows on the chair’s arms, hands clasped, and with nothing in front of them.

As soon as Y/N sits down and scoots in, they glance up to find this man already gazing at them.

Oh my God, they think.

The man across from them is young, around their age or older, and he looks like an Olympian god. Plentiful, chocolate-brown hair frames his intense, dark eyes, and his full lips are slightly pressed together in the tiniest of smirks. He’s wearing a crisp, white button-up with a skinny, dark purple tie. The lanyard holding a small placard hanging over it reads, Im Changkyun and beneath it, Jungyeok, Pyeonjibguk.

We have two directors now? Y/N thinks to themselves. Is that Choi-jungyeok’s big news?

Im Changkyun is still watching Y/N, and normally in a situation like this, they’d break eye contact. But something about this guy has started sucking them in, and the enigmatic glow of his eyes is not helping.

Jaeho causes both of them to snap out of it, though. “Okay, everybody, let’s get started.”

Jaeho is a fortysomething man, gray hair peeking through at his temples and his youthful face looking strangely alight today. He’s not normally this smiley, either. Standing at the head of the table, he clutches a large mug of fragrant coffee.

“You all got my email, evidently, so thank you all for being here and on-time. I mentioned that I have news, and I don’t intend to beat around the bush, so with that being said, I will be resigning as jungyeok, effective next Monday.”

A gaggle of gasps, what?!s, and nooo!s sounds from around the table.

“Order, order!” Jaeho dramatically raises his free hand like a judge, grinning at his joke. “I have been offered a wonderful opportunity on the other side of the city, and I spent a long time thinking it over, so this wasn’t an easy decision.”

He pauses to gulp some of his coffee, pocketing his other hand. “Many of you have already noticed the new face among us, and he’s here today to get acquainted with his new team, as he will be replacing me.”

Several of the surrounding executives collectively respond with an excited, “OH-ohhhhh.” No one seems really upset by this news, and even Im Changkyun has broken into a sheepish smile.

Y/N observes Mr. Im in the moment, noticing his sharp cheekbones and thick brows. His lips look the most tantalizing, totally full on the bottom with a perfectly curved Cupid’s bow above. They recognize a pair of silver hoops on his lobes, specifically from Cartier’s Love collection—ironically, the same design as Y/N’s gold ring on their thumb. Without realizing it, they emit a small hm in their amusement.

When Mr. Im glances at Y/N, they stiffen and immediately angle themselves toward Jaeho again.

“I have been training this employee both off-site and after-hours for the past week now because I, admittedly, wasn’t sure how you all would take the news. So I wanted to train him away from prying eyes,” Jaeho explains, occasionally looking down at the table. “For the next week, though, he’ll be in-house, sharing my office with me—’cause it’s really his now—and familiarizing himself with everyone as well as how you all work together. This is the last leg of onboarding for him and the last leg of Phenomenon Publishing for me. I’m very excited for both my and his future.”

Jaeho drinks more of his coffee and steps around his chair, pushing it in and resting his free hand on top. “I’d like everyone to get back to doing their magic now, and your new jungyeok will spend the day going around meeting everyone. Thanks, guys.”

And with that, Jaeho exits the conference room.

Everyone sits around for a moment, processing their director’s words, but more so trying to figure out if they should say something to Mr. Im, who’s still in the room.

Mr. Im speaks up, sitting upright in his chair. “Annyeonghaseyo, everyone. I want to make my introduction to you all a little more personal, so instead of doing it here and hiding with Choi-jungyeok the rest of the day, I’m going to spend a little time with each of you today. I don’t just want to know your name and role; I want to learn a little about you guys too because we’ll be working closely from now on. I hope to fill the jungyeok’s shoes, quite honestly,” he finishes with a deep chuckle.

Im Changkyun’s voice is like hot blood sliding down Y/N’s skin: unsettlingly appealing, deep, magnetic, and velvety. They gulp hard, fidgeting with their gold ring under the table as Mr. Im speaks.

Y/N’s coworkers rise from their seats, formally bowing to their new boss and making hush-hush conversation amongst themselves as they filter out of the brightly lit room. Y/N is the last to follow the crowd out, and as they send one last furtive glance toward Mr. Im while approaching the double doors, he turns to meet their curious eyes and raises an eyebrow.

Stunned at their unusually brazen behavior, Y/N nods politely before ducking out and speed-walking back to their office. They close the door a little too hard but only because they’re desperate to sit down and catch their breath.

What is happening to me, they think, drinking their own iced coffee.

Y/N spends the rest of their day immersed in their editing tasks, working diligently to keep their mind from dwelling on God himself and how heart-stopping-attractive he is, how entrancing his voice is. They respond to emails as normal, reference the same books as normal, listen to the same low-fi playlist as normal, field interns’ questions as they take turns knocking on Y/N’s door as normal, and they even spend their lunch hour in the cozy break room.

Im Changkyun is nowhere to be seen, and by the time 4 PM rolls around, the last hour of the workday, Y/N had calmed down. In fact, they’d had a spurt of productivity after lunch and were able to finish editing two of the larger manuscripts that’d been stressing them the past few weeks.

Y/N even debated taking off the last hour to quietly read at their desk instead of emailing the finished documents for Choi-jungyeok to skim over, as he gives final approval before the company convenes with the respective authors again. But that’s never been Y/N’s style, breaking rules. They were there to work—“do their magic,” as Jaeho had put it, and that’s how they’d spend the remainder of the day.

Wrong.

The all-glass door to their office swings open, and God himself walks in, plopping down in the small loveseat on the right side of Y/N’s desk.

“I saved you specifically for last,” he says, leaning back in the chair and freezing his eyes on Y/N’s.

They pause for a second before cannonballing into the unknown. “I figured.”

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madlittlecriminal · 5 years

Text

just realized i should’ve put limits to my writing...oops:

as in limits, i meant what i write & don’t write. im going to make his clear now, before i get more requests that are out of my comfort zone. NO, it is no one’s fault because i forgot to say anything about my limits. anyway, here’s what i write & don’t write.

edit: the first one for what i don’t write is an addition i didn’t think i would have to add, but i got a request that actually fucked me up emotionally. yes, i cursed because it really did. i nearly had a panic attack

WHAT I WRITE:

fluff: send me anything fluffy as im a walking cliche :D i love writing stuff that’s just soft, happy & positive!

smut: yes, most of my smut just leads to making out as either the requester never says anything about how smutty they want it OR i don’t know if people are 100% comfortable with smut. ~limits do apply~

angst: sad, yes. send me sad things, send me things that’ll break my heart! ~limits do apply~

kinks: send me kinks! it does not have to have smut! ~limits do apply~

any gender/sexual orientation: the reader doesn’t have to be female! don’t be shy to send me anything that has to do with a male reader, gender neutral reader, trans reader, or female reader. you can go anonymous if you’re shy :D

reader being a POC: im Hispanic and have a medium skin tone, so i try making my stories inclusive by not adding any specific skin tones or eye colors (keep in mind that im fine with ANY ethnic background & race. i might have to do some research though)

plus sized: yes, please! we don’t discriminate on this blog. if you do, leave, please & thank you! ~limits do apply~

_____!reader: you want a specific job? a specific age range? a specific role? don’t be shy! im fine with it! ~limits do apply~

pregnancy: it’s the first connection to a mother & her child. it’s beautiful! yes please! ~limits do apply~

Spanish: as i said, im Hispanic. you want a Hispanic/Latinx!reader? request it :D

any language: ill try to use something other than google translate unless you wanna be my translator! :) i don’t mind writing for someone who knows a different language & i certainly don’t mind learning a bit :D

tags: my good friend, if you wanna be tagged, let your girl know with the link in my bio :D i will gladly, with no hesitations, tag your lovely user on each one of my writings. if you want to be a permanent tag or just for the one writing, lemme know :)

forbidden/alternate universe (AU): Y E S! i love these so much, whether it’s writing them or reading them, they’re just so fun cx don’t be shy to send me one if you got an idea :D (high school, teachers student, soulmates, royalty, werewolf, noir, gang/mobster/mafia (~limits do apply for this~) & any other ideas you guy have that follow my limits)

making an ex jealous/fake relationships: my friend, if you want the person of your choice to help make a ratchet (made up or from the same fandom) ex jealous, request it. please. these make me feel like im throwing shots even thought im not. ~limits do apply~

making character jealous: sure! ~limits do apply~

headcanons: send these bad boys in! i don’t mind writing headcanons at all, especially if im busy! :D ~limits do apply~

markings (birthmarks, “beauty” marks, stretch marks): i try to be as inclusive as i can when it comes to appearance. i feel like people don’t write about markings, but if they do, it’s always sexual. ~limits do apply~

glasses: i wear glasses because i have to, so feel free to send these in! reader definitely doesn’t have to be a nerd to wear glasses because im not a nerd :P

WHAT I DONT WRITE:

!!TRIGGER WARNINGS!!

abortions: didn’t think i would have to add this because never in my life has someone requested this, but here we are. umm, i have my own beliefs on this that i won’t share. i actually get physically, emotionally & mentally messed up with this topic

miscarriage: i know people who’ve gone through this and it breaks my heart when a woman has a miscarriage. it’s heartbreaking.

trouble getting pregnant/can’t get pregnant: i know someone like this & it breaks my heart because when you know how badly they want a child, it hurts. women go through this & so do men if they’re deemed infertile.

yandere/dark!____: it just makes me uncomfortable. plus, im a softie. i have ptsd (which ill open up about in the future maybe) & i get terrible panic attacks. no exceptions for this. don’t even care if you want it for a fitting character. take it to someone who’s willing to write it because I won’t & can’t

cheating: your girl has been cheated on, so like...please don’t send these. no, im not a hypocrite. if you read Cheater you know it was just a joke. like literal cheating, i will not write. i will mention it as part of the reader’s past, BUT the reader or the person of your choosing will not be doing the cheating.

purposeful jealousy: this ain’t Euphoria. you all up on someone else while the person of your choice does the same to get one another jealous is toxic. we don’t do that here. we also shun those who purposely flirt with others to rile up their significant other. sorry!

abuse: mentions? they’re fine. i won’t write about what the abuser did to their victim simply because it’ll open an old wound for me & many others as well. discipline is NOT abuse though

parental disrespect: listen, i know people disrespect their parents, but im not writing that. don’t disrespect your parents. it’s not funny, it’s not brave, in fact you’re hurting them & their feelings.

parents disrespecting their children: no. you didn’t deserve it if you went through that. no parent should sit there & disrespect their child like they got the fault for something. everyone deserves respect. respect your elders? respect the youngsters too. they’re the ones that are gonna make a difference in their futures, good or bad.

consensual non-consensual/sexual assault: ill put a warning for a mention, but i will never go into detail with it! don’t send me anything that has to do with that because i will delete the request. i won’t even put it out because i don’t want people getting hurt whether they went through it or know someone who has

sex trafficking/human trafficking: mentions are fine, but im not going to do a whole thing based off of this. it’s a pretty heavy topic as it triggers me even though i never been through it.

forced relationships: this includes arranged marriages. unless the fake relationship is best friends doing a favor like the cliches, that’s different.

cuckolding: that’s a big no! it makes me uncomfortable. im too loyal for my own good to even believe this kink exists, but i will not be taking requests for this

kinks that involve blood or pee: that’s a big no. don’t send me these. not even as a joke.

foot fetish: im not gonna discriminate you if you have this, but i know many people are uncomfortable with this

furry: not discriminating, like if you’re a furry, cool. i just like to be inclusive.

tiktok inspired: i don’t have a tiktok, i don’t watch tiktok videos, im also not a fan of tiktok, sorry.

incest/family relationships: just don’t. don’t even try to send them. you like incest? good for you, but im not writing it. not even between step siblings or step parent x step child. no thanks.

oc or dedications: i only do x reader. don’t ask me for an oc, don’t ask me if i can make the reader just you because i want to be as inclusive as possible. if you do this, ill say no. IF you helped me come up with an idea or anything along those lines, you’ll get a dedication. don’t ask for a dedication if you’re not part of my tag list or my series tag list.

long requests: if it’s long, you basically wrote it. there’s nothing i can do about it. literally, i can probably only add dialogue because if the request is more than one ask, you wrote the story.

racism: i will not have the reader go through an experience of racism if you send me one where the reader is a POC. i won’t do that because the world is already filled with racism. so, i will not accept angst for the reader being a POC. just fluff & smut

angst that involves the reader being plus sized: SEND ME FLUFF FOR THIS! PLUS SIZED PEOPLE DESERVE FLUFF, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD

not just smut that involves the reader having natural body marks: y’all CAN send smut, but like, PLEASE send fluff. don’t underestimate me because i have natural body markings & i do know what it’s like to be insecure about them. trust me, accepting natural body markings DEFINITELY doesn’t need smut involved ;)

anorexia: i know it’s serious, but i can’t write that. it’s honestly heartbreaking.

reader having cancer: it’s too heavy for me...

bulimia: it’s serious, but i can’t bring myself to write that. another heartbreaking topic.

self harm: mentions are okay, but most definitely not describing how they did it.

suicide: hardcore no. it’s serious, but i can’t write it. it’ll physically hurt me to know someone feels like this. i don’t want you guys feeling like you’re giving up. you all have a purpose! please don’t give up. keep fighting because you’re meant for something great ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

death: unless it’s part of a case for Connor, Spencer Reid, Sherlock or Lucifer Morningstar, don’t request. they’re all in a field where they see dead bodies on cases. that’s different. don’t twist my words though because it’s their job to go through cases. they can’t do anything but investigate the crime & do justice.

i think this sums it up. remember, im human. please say, “thank you,” when requesting. please say, “hi” or any way you say it. also, please say, “please,” because it’s basic manners.

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writings-of-a-hufflepuff · 5 years

Text

Silver Wings In The Moonlight

Fandom: Dunkirk

Pairing: Collins x Reader

Warning: N/A

Writer: @imaginesofeveryfandom aka @hufflepuffing-all-day-long

Summary/Request: Based off Anne Shelton’s ‘Silver Wings In The Moonlight’: Jack finally comes home after the war is over.

Notes: No Gender Pronouns used, neutral partner terms, but marriage is mentioned just in case that’s off putting.

Jack Collins loved flying. You knew that form the moment you met him. That he loved flying with everything in him, that it brought a thrill to him, as much as it scared him. He once told you that he felt the same way about you. That he loved you, you thrilled him, excited him, but that you scared him as well. That he was scared of how much he loved you, scared of leaving you to go fly in the war...that it was all a rather scary thing, being in love that is. You found it funny that he thought falling in love was as scary as fighting in the war.

You would always share him with his love of flying, you knew he’d be torn between the two and you never asked him to stop flying, to finding a safer job in the war...because that wasn’t fair and because ultimately you knew that he’d never stop you doing what you loved, no matter how dangerous, so what right did you have of doing the same.

You had just hoped, much as the familiar Anne Shelton song went, that eventually his love of flying, of his silver wings, of his plane, would bring him home safely. That he’d survive every single encounter and that you’d finally get to live in a world without war together.

Demobilisation was a long process, however. When the war in Europe was announced as over, won, done, completed, everyone had been happy, excited, overjoyed knowing that so many could finally come home even with the war in the pacific still ongoing. You were rather lucky that demobilisation of the Royal Air Force was a rather quick affair compared to the hundreds of thousands of men in the Army or Navy. You had known that Jack would be stationed at a nearby air base, that he’d be home...because while you knew he’d stay in the RAF post-war, you also knew without the war on he’d have more time for you, more safety, and you’d actually get to fall asleep in his arms for once.

When you finally got the letter telling you he was coming home it was the biggest relief you’d ever felt. Knowing you’d see him again.

Dearest Y/N,

This is a short letter compared to our usual exchanges, but i’m writing to let you know that i’ll be home soon. They’re stationing me back nearby now that the wars over. Giving me leave too, three whole weeks!

I’ve missed you with all my heart, as much as I love flying it is horrible being away from you. It will be great to be able to see you and fly again rather than having to choose between the both of you.

I always told you i’d make it back, even though I know you’ve worried every day for the past six years. It seems so strange that after six years we’re finally done with this bloody war.

Forever yours,

Jack

It had been brief considering his usual letters spanned two or three pages, but you’d understood why. He was coming home and why write about things that were happening when he could simply talk to you again, hold you in his arms and tell you every funny story, every sad happening, every moment that you’d missed over the six years of war.

You hadn’t a date for his arrival, but every day you made sure the house was perfect. That it was clean, that you had a good stock of tea, that you had enough to make a nice meal. It was the little things you wanted him to come back and not have to worry about going down the shop or clean up a tiny bit of mess. You wanted him to be able to come in and just hold you. For hours. Without any responsibilities or things to worry about. You’d spent six years with rare leave dotted here and there. A few days often at most to spend time together. Now you had three weeks. Three weeks and he’d be working nearby, perhaps able to live at home and go to base each day.

You’d been reading the paper when you heard the door unlock and open, close shut, and the sound of a familiar voice call down the hallway, “I’m home!” You’d been so excited you dropped the paper on the floor and rushed out of the living area, not stopping until you’d almost launched yourself at him for a long awaited hug.

He still smelt the same like carbolic soap and the aftershave he always used. He still felt the same, solid, warm, arms wrapping around you and pulling you tighter as he buried his face into your shoulder.

“I’ve missed you.” You mumble it into the blue of his uniform, not wanting to pull away even for a second to talk to him. Letters allowed you to talk to him, but the physicality of having someone there? Nothing could replicate that. You couldn’t simply get a hug any time you wanted, a kiss on a cheek, a hand on the small of your back. The physicality just didn’t translate the way words did.

His grip tightens on you and you can hear and feel him take deep breaths, contented ones, taking in everything that surrounded him. “I’ve missed ye too, love...so much.”

You pull back, only enough to see his face. He looks the same. Blonde hair, cut short back and sides, long on the top, combed over neatly. Blue eyes that are so soft and kind, eyes that helped you fall in love with him. Soft smile, the type of smile that still managed to make you flustered and just a little bashful. He hadn’t changed much, older, certainly older. You both were. You’d first started dating when you were barely in your twenties. Now you were in the latter part of that decade of your life. You’d spent so much time apart, writing letters, keeping your relationship going.

“I can barely believe you’re actually here...finally...six years.” You press your forehead to his, close your eyes, taking in the feel of him, the smell of him, the presence of him once gain.

“Well, ye better believe it. I’m not goin’ anywhere anytime soon.” You open your eyes again, scan his face briefly, before pressing your lips to his. A little chapped and slightly unfamiliar after so long apart, but still Jack. Still the soft press of lips, the sweet hum of happiness from his throat before he pulls back and smiles down at you.

You’re not really prepared for him to sink to one knee, mostly because you’re still finding it hard to believe that he’s finally back, that the war is over and he’s finally back. So its rather something else to find him sinking to one knee.

“I don’t have a ring yet...I was going to wait till I found one, but we’ve waited six years and I just want to marry ye finally. I spent six years without ye and you’re the best partner I could ever ask for. You’ve put up with me for six years, without me help around the house, with me shitty handwriting. Will ye marry me?”

Its not something you really have to think about after so long, because you’ve already thought the answer before today, thought of this possibly happening a million times. You decided that if you could survive being away from him during a war, then you could manage the trials of married life. Of a life during peace time.

“Of course I will, Jack” You pull him back to his feet and grip him in a tight embrace once again. You don’t really need a ring or something fancy or a big speech, the fact that he’s here, that he’s alive, that he wants to marry you, that is enough.

“I love you.” You cup his cheeks in your hand and meet his eyes. You want to make sure he knows just how much you love him, that after everything you still love him the same as when you first fell for him. It hasn’t mellowed, hasn’t dissipated. Its still as strong as ever.

“I love ye too, sweetheart.”

#readerinsert #reader insert #dunkirk imagine #dunkirk #dunkirk reader insert #collins dunkirk #collinsxreader #collins x reader #collins/reader #collins / reader

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dxmedstudent · 5 years

Note

hi dx! im really nervous but what on earth do you talk about while on a date? its on tuesday, and i dont want to seem like an airhead to them 😟

Hey, friend! That’s an excellent question! Fortunately, it’s something I’ve had a bit of experience with recently, so I and medblr can try to help. Is it a first date? I’ll assume so.

Before the date, you’ve usually already clarified what you both do, how old you are, and a little about yourselves like our hobbies and interests, but there’s still a lot you don’t know about each other. So I find that the best thing is to gain an idea of what you have in common before the date. This is partly why I like to message people for a little while before meeting; partly due to my timetable, but also so that when I meet a guy, I already have a good idea that we have lots in common, and there’s more to talk about. Most dating advice tends to tell people to meet quite soon after establishing contact, to avoid wasting too long if it turns out that you lack chemistry. But for me it really paid off to get to know people a bit first. Because that way I just didn’t meet people I felt I had little in common with, or couldn’t keep up a conversation with. This means that even the dates with no chemistry were still fun, even if I didn’t want to date those people again. But don’t worry if you haven’t! You can still get to ask those kinds of question on the date. Things like:

What do you do for a living? What do you love about it? What excites you most about your job right now? If you weren’t doing your current job, what would you have picked? Would you ever change jobs? Anything bothering you? (Try to focus on positives; they might not feel comfortable complaining to a cute stranger). There’s something attractive about someone who asks about your life, and just listens to what you have to say, so don’t underestimate the power of just listening on a date.

They’ll probably in turn ask you about your work or studies, which lets you share things that make you passionate; this could be ranting (I’m guilty as charged) or speaking positively, but it helps if you speak about things you feel strongly, but not bitterly about. People want to have fun on a first date, so gross work stories or ‘yeah, the NHS is busy’ are fine, but spending the entire date speaking negatively are less so.

What hobby are you into right now? What do you like most about it? How would you explain it to someone who’s never done it? People love talking about their interests. Not only is it a little hot to see them do so, but it also makes them feel fuzzy inside. Plus you might get to learn about some interesting hobbies, and it’ll tell you a lot about that person.

Don’t be afraid to share your hobbies or volunteer which interests you have; anyone who dates you needs to respect what you enjoy, so the first date is a perfect time to get that out of the way. They should be keen to find out more about the things you like, but also to accept them. Steer clear of anyone who appears judgemental or scoffs about your interests; they are not the one for you.

What do you both do to unwind or relax?

Favourite foods.

Favourite places; museums, cafes, etc. I even asked for suggestions for these kinds of things in my profile, because I love discovering new places, and I think where somoene loves to hang out can say a lot about them. Plus it gives you an idea of what you can do together.

Sharing memories of interesting places each person has been on holiday, particularly if recent. It gives you an idea of how they like to spend their holiday time, and how they take their fun. Talking about your dream holiday can also teach people a lot about what you like.

Cool things you’ve seen/done/read/watched recently. There’s something really exciting about listening to someone talk about things that interest them.

What you were like as a kid. Surprisingly funny to talk about, under the right circumstances.

Music and films are always a good topic, though having similar tastes doesn’t necessarily translate to similar in other arenas.

Sport, if you like sport. If like me, it’s not a big thing, then you don’t need to dwell on it, though it’s nice to get an idea of whether you have stuff like that in common.

Hopes and dreams for the future; not in a ‘kids and marriage’ way, but things like goals, or stuff that you’d like to do. Talking about things that make you happy, or things you hope to do can bring out the best in you, which is attractive on dates.

Show a sense of humor. Take those chances to make jokes.

Some people say avoid politics or religion, but actually if you’ve already got an idea of their political leanings or religious views (say from a dating site or previous convos), then I say go for it. There’s a high chance that you might both be disappointed, but it’s better to find out now that they are an anti-choice republican fundamentalist Christian sooner rather than later. That said, I often don’t raise these on first dates, though I usually throw in serious hints in my messages (and profile) that I’m very left leaning and not particularly religious. This won’t make it a ‘good’ date, but it can be a chance to cut your losses if you realise they feel very differently about the world.

Topics to avoid:

marriage, kids etc. Most people just aren’t certain about these initially, and certainly don’t have a clue if they want them any time soon with you. And frankly I feel it’s more appropriate to talk about later on, even if it’s explicitly on dating profiles to begin with. Even if my profile says I want both, I would run screaming in the other direction if a guy mentioned these on a first date or really early on in a relationship.

Your usual type. This comes up all the time on programmes like Dinner Date, but really? There’s no good answer. If you’re their type, you feel stereotyped. And if you’re not, you would worry that they don’t normally like people like you. Personally, I don’t really believe in having a type, but even if you do, it can so easily backfire if you talk about it.

How long they have been single. Avoid. Again, no good answer; too long and people are judgemental. Too short and you worry about being a rebound. I’ve had several guys tell me they’ve not dated in ages, or not had much luck on online dating, or just got out of a longterm relationship, and whilst I appreciated the honesty and they weren’t heavyhanded, it always worked better if it was at the end of a first date or after, once you’ve already got to know them a bit. It’s something that’s useful to know so you can tackle problems that arise if you start dating, but at first both of you want to focus on just seeing what you have in common and if there’s a spark.

Exes and previous relationships. No no no no no. When a person talks about his ex on a date, it’s a clear sign they are still processing things and probably need more time alone to get over it. I would not date a person (and have turned them down) for talking about recent exes in such a way that makes it feel that there’s still a lot to work through.

Nightmare online dating experiences. Uh, you don’t really want to imagine your crush seeing other people. And it’s not nice to dwell on negative experiences or each other seeing other people. Save these anecdotes for your friends. I personally find people who complain a lot about the dating process a real turn off. I was out there just trying to be optimistic and meet fun people, and it was always such a buzzkill when men were like ‘women never reply, online dating sucks, I have no luck with women!’. Save that for your friends, and for much later.

Sex. Unless you’re about to have sex, please leave it for when it’s an option. There’s something uncomfortable about people who bring it up really early on without any warning, or write about sex in their dating profile. Make sure that the other person is comfortably reciprocating and as flirty as you before you escalate the flirtation.

Generally being very negative. Life is hard, but you also owe it to anyone you date not to dump all your stuff on them, particularly when you are just starting out. Share a bit of your life, gradually, but leave discussing your major issues with friends or therapists for now.

I like to ask people about their work; what they enjoy, and what they do; I’ve learned a lot of interesting things about people’s jobs on first dates! It’s also quite attractive when you see someone fired up about things they care about. I also like to be honest about my work and my life, too; so much so that I subjected the poor guy I’m currently seeing to talk about death on not only the first date but also a few subsequent ones! It made sense in context, but it just goes to show that topics can be pretty varied. I’m sure you won’t come across as an airhead, but I think sharing the things you enjoy (or find challenging, or interesting anectotes) from work or school are a great way of showing that you’re passionate and switched on and have a rich and exciting life outside of dating. I also carefully introduce the realities of my work - not in my profile, but during the initial messages and/or first few dates (the odd shifts and being busy on weekends/evenings/nights, the exams, the moving around etc) early on; before I meet people, in fact. I didn’t take an apologetic tone; the key is to state it neutrally as a fact of your life and not something terrible, because dating you is a gift, not a terrible thing. It is then up to the other person as to whether they are OK with those things. The person who ends up with you will have to accept your life for what it is, just like you’ll have to decide if their idiosyncrasies and quirks are something you like, can accept, or are straight out dealbreakers for you. Hobbies are also a great topic; if you have any in common then that’s a surefire winner. Maybe most people don’t talk about museums, anime, Terry Pratchett and D&D on a first date, but I do and that worked out great because I’d already established with the guy that we had those interests in common, so we both ended up talking relaxedly about stuff we liked. I find that these topics usually made up the bulk of what I’ve discussed on first dates with people.

Don’t put too much pressure on yourself; you’re not meant to be carrying the conversation on your own; the other person also has a responsibility to ask lots of fun questions, too! As long as you talk about things that make you passionate, and that you know stuff about, like your interests and what you do, I’m sure you won’t look like an airhead, because your interest and knowledge will shine through, whatever the topic under discussion. There’s this expectation that a first date is bad if there’s no chemistry, but that really isn’t necessarily true. I’ve had really interesting first dates with zero chemistry, just because the topics were entertaining in themselves and the people were smart and interesting. As long as you’re polite and make an effort to ask considerate and engaging quesitons, you’ll do great! Hope it goes well; let me know how you get on! :DI’m more than happy for others to add dating tips, since it’s always a useful topic for anyone looking to get into it, or back into it

#ask dx #askdx #dxdates #dx dates

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peachyrm · 5 years

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i feel like a lot of ppl on this site see a callout post for BTS, look at all of the problematic things they did in the past, and immediately ‘cancel’ them or see that as a valid reason to finally hate them or kpop in general, without considering the context of the situations or how the kpop industry works.

im definitely not here to defend the things they said or did, because it WAS gross. but those things are also from 3-5 years ago, have apologized for or had no control over whether it happened or not.

this post serves as a ‘clearing their name’ type of post, and will actually take a look into the problematic things theyve done and how they dealt with it, along with all the positive things they have done in the past few years. it will be pretty lengthy and will have lots of sources/screenshots. before i get into this though, i want to say that no one is obligated to like BTS, or forgive them for what they/their label did. you reserve the right to feel the way you feel, however that may be. that being said, this post is for people who never saw the apologies, who vaguely know who BTS are and saw only bad things about them, who want to get into BTS but aren’t sure if they’re extremely problematic, and more.

starting off, i want to explain the context behind the links of this post. i would link the original, but op has deleted it. so, obviously, yes bts did do all of the above. but like i said before, it was 3-5 (now, technically 6) years ago. when BTS debuted in 2013, they were all 21 or under. 15-16 year old Jungkook being the youngest, and Seokjin being the oldest at 21. they were merely teenagers and on top of this, had no or very little control of their self image. the hairstyles & photoshoots, the boys had no control over. bighit and bts’ stylists are in charge of these things. if you want someone to be angry at, be angry at bighit, bts’ label company. this includes RM’s hairstyle back in the ‘No More Dream’ era / early debut days, Suga’s dreads, and any other hairstyle, clothing, or photoshoot that caused controversy. (in case anyone, who isn’t familiar with kpop, is confused; kpop label companies usually control everything their idols do. from what they wear, to what their songs are about, to if they’re even allowed to date. it’s a very disgusting industry that has a history of abuse, but that’s an entirely different subject i could get into.)

here is an article where BigHit apologizes for the antisemitism + the ‘bombing’ shirt Jimin wore, and they explicitly state that “the band members were ‘in no way responsible’ for the controversy.” which further proves my point that the boys had no control over what they wore/how they looked.

here is a thread about RM’s racist behavior in the past, and admitting + apologizing for what he did, including how he has changed certain lyrics of songs because they could be seen as (or were) misogynist. to this day, RM hates and regrets how his hair looked at the time.

in case anyone doesn’t want to read the entire thread, RM says this: “As I went through the year 2016 I came to think about that. My words or behaviors, regardless of my intentions, could cause troubles or hurt others feelings. In the process, I thought I need to hold responsibility for that and I need to think about such things. What I said or did would not be undone. I thought so. Then I learned how to admit myself. [...] Anyways, to become a better person, I need to hold responsibility for what I do. I need to change my mindset. I need to change my way of thinking if it’s wrong. I learned I need to hear from many people. I mean, I came to think like that. Now when I do something, I think, ‘how would people feel about my act?’”

again, this is not excuses for what they did, but rather how/why it happened or how they had no choice in the matter & what they had to say about it afterwards. BTS are living, growing people who have acknowledged their mistakes and apologized. in RM’s speech at the U.N. he says this: “Maybe I made a mistake yesterday, but yesterday’s me is still me. I am who I am today, with all my faults. Tomorrow I might be a tiny bit wiser, and that’s me, too. These faults and mistakes are what I am, making up the brightest stars in the constellation of my life. I have come to love myself for who I was, who I am, and who I hope to become.”

since the apology part of this post is mostly over, i wanted to talk about the good things that bts has done in the past few years. things like their continuous support of the LGBT community, the powerful messages in their music, the bending of the ‘typical kpop style’, etc.

over the years and as their popularity grew, BTS have actually managed to seemingly take more control over what they stand for and how they present themselves and their music. since around 2017, BTS have made a very impactful social stance with their string of albums & their concept: “Love Yourself”. for people who don’t know, this concept consists of three albums over the course of 2016-2018 and are in order as follows: LOVE YOURSELF 承 'Her', LOVE YOURSELF 轉 'Tear' LOVE YOURSELF 結 'Answer'

the summarized version of the stories are love at first sight, the failing/one-sided-ness of said love, and then learning how to love and accept yourself before you are fully able to love others. along with this concept came the partnership with the anti-violence campaign, UNICEF, who work to protect young people from all over the world. the entire album concept consistently promotes self-love and acceptance, something that is not very explored in kpop or even western pop music in general. while some of the songs in “LY: Her” use female pronouns, almost all the rest of them across all the albums use gender neutral or no pronouns. this was done intentionally by RM (who writes/produces a majority of their songs), as he believes “feelings/love transcend genders, cultures, and barriers between people.” the title song of “LY: Her”, “DNA”, (as stated in the screenshot) further expresses this idea with the lyrics: “None of this is a coincidence Because we’re the two who found our destiny - I only focus on you You steer me a little harder The DNA of the genesis wants you This is inevitable, I love us We are the only true lovers”

and in “Serendipity”, as well:

“The universe has moved for us Without missing a single thing Our happiness was meant to be Cuz you love me, and I love you”

while, obviously, there is one ‘her’ pronoun in the song, most of it expresses what RM says. and bighit being bighit, im sure they had some say in how the lyrics were presented, esp since it was the title song. what i’m trying to say is that i truly believe BTS are doing their best to support the lgbt community, even with the tight restrictions that their label and the kpop genre puts on them. being on the topic of LGBT+ and support of the community, here is suga pretty much saying he’s bi. + and of course, his iconic lyrics in “Cypher Pt.3″

here is the bisexual flag colors in j-hope’s music video for his song “Daydream”.

RM saying he liked “Same Love” twice as much after reading about the lyrics, and Suga outright saying “Nothing is wrong. Everyone is equal.” in the first screenshot.

Jungkook’s love and support for troye sivan + Jimin wearing jeans with lyrics of troye sivan’s “Youth” on them

bts defying gender norms over and over and over.

fondness & friendship with/of multiple lgbt artists

RM referencing the film “Moonlight” in the song “4 O’Clock”

RM wrote the lyrics for GLAM’s song “XXO”, that say “Are you a boy? Girl? I don’t care, passion is the key”

Jungkook and Jimin covering the song “We Don’t Talk Anymore” and not changing the pronouns.

an excerpt from RM’s speech at the U.N. ; “Tell me your story. I want to hear your voice, and I want to hear your conviction. No matter who you are, where you’re from, your skin color, gender identity: speak yourself.” + full transcript here.

and these are just things i can think of off the top of my head. as for their political stance and social messages in their music, & talking about other things considered taboo in kpop (such as mental health/illness), here you go:

suga talking about (his) mental health and struggles in various songs on his mixtape.

their ENTIRE “IDOL” music video is basically a response to how people stereotype them/the kpop genre & have said that they are “too westernized”. the song includes a “traditional African-Korean sound”, the boys wearing hanboks/traditional korean clothing, on top of lots of korean history references & symbolism, and how they take pride in what they do. here is a really good video analyzing & explaining the mv. heres 3 more posts explaining why it sounds/looks the way it does, and how BTS did it intentionally. in case nobody has seen/heard the song, here is the first verse: “You can call me artist (artist) You can call me idol (idol) No matter what you call me I don’t care I’m proud of it”

the song “Epiphany” on “LY: Answer”, is (as you can imagine) a song about having an epiphany about loving yourself. the lyrics are pretty self-explanatory. the chorus: “I’m the one I should love in this world Shining me, precious soul of mine I finally realized so I love me Not so perfect but so beautiful I’m the one I should love”

RM talking about his mental health/depression in “Forever Rain” on his mixtape “mono.” + as well as in “Reflection.” the outro of the song which i wanted to add, is just a repeated “I wish I could love myself.”

the lyrics to the song “I’m Fine” on LY: Answer express being able to love yourself without relying on somebody to fix you or make you happier, because only you can complete yourself.

the outro to the album, “Answer: Love Myself” concludes the Love Yourself album series, and has extremely beautiful lyrics. the full translation here, if anyone wants to read all of them. it’s about, as im sure you can guess, loving yourself even with all your flaws and mistakes & striving to be a better person each day.

SO TLDR; BTS absolutely have made mistakes, like every person does, but have apologized and learned from those mistakes. they have moved on, and have done more good in this world than bad. they have grown over the past 6 years and continue to grow every single day. as a young gay fan, their message and their presence means a lot to me. that fact that they’re so popular and use that power to spread kindness & self-acceptance (no matter Who you are), is really important especially in today’s society. doubly to youth who, themselves, struggle with mental illness and family issues, school/education, and any typical problem young people face in their lives. i have struggled with self-hate, suicidal thoughts, anxiety, trauma, the whole ordeal. their songs have helped me heal, even if only a little. and they give me another reason to keep going everyday. even if you don’t like their music or the boys themselves, there is no denying the positive impact they’ve made on millions of people, adults and children alike. BTS are absolutely not perfect, but they acknowledge this and do their best to BE the best they can be.

#bts #kpop #jeon jungkook #kim taehyung #park jimin #kim namjoon #jung hoseok #min yoongi #kim seokjin #bts v #bts rm #bts suga #bts jhope #bts jin #mine

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mayaparker · 5 years

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Bars in Bars;

Stonefruit Inn Karaoke Night Christmas 2018 - Night One

Katarina walked out of the elevator and towards the lounge. Her blonde hair was bound in a sleek and tight bun. She stopped in the doorway, looking around for anyone she knew and needed to greet. Finding no one, she made her way to the bar to order a glass of merlot. As she waited she turned to the person next to her, "Do you happen to know when this starts?"

Aedan was dressed in his favourite leather jacket, buzzing with nerves about going to this event. He had to come, though. If a leaflet with his name through his door didn't mean he was wanted there, he didn't know what did. He spritzed himself with his favourite handmade cologne and made the long walk into town. He had no idea where the venue was.

Ephram spotted a man basically turning in confused circles about a block from the Stonefruit and grinned, loping over. "Hey there, buddy," he said, "You plannin' on headin' to the Stonefruit Inn for their Solstice party thing? I'm going, if you wanna know the way." He stuck out his hand. "Ephram."

“Huh?” Adean looked at the stranger and threw him a smile. “Oh, yeah. I'm thinking of going to that party myself. Aedan.” He took the offered hand and gave it one firm shake, “Lead the way.”

"Aedan, Irish, huh? I've got Irish way back in my kin. Most of us from Appalachia do." Ephram chuckled. "Way, waaaaaaay back, though. Ain't like I know nothin' much bout the old country." They came upon the inn, lit up and practically sparkling with bonhomie, and Ephram swept open the door as if he was in charge of it. "Bar's right on in there. Best place to start, hey?"

“Few people do know about Ireland, really. And those that say they do, don't,” Aedan nodded his thanks as he entered the bar. The place smelled of mistletoe and mulled drinks. “It's the only place to start! I'm not going to karaoke without at least three inside of me,” Aedan stopped by the bar beside a woman and waited for the barman to approach.

After a moment the bartender returned to hand, Katarina her glass. She thanked him and pulled out her card to open a tab. She was curious about what sort of talents might be hiding in this town, but it was always easier to appreciate with a drink or two. She noticed the two men come up to the bar, but as she didn't recognize them didn't immediately speak.

"Aw, now -- ain't it some sorter rule that if you're Irish, you got a voice that would please the angels? That's what my mamaw always said," Ephram ordered himself a beer and smiled at Katarina. "Tell me you heard of this rule too. C'mon, I need backup."

Katarina turned at the sound of someone entreating her into conversation. She gave a catlike smile "I'm sorry," she replied with a small shake of her head and the faintest note of her Russian accent, "I've knew an Irish gentleman in St. Petersburg who's voice couldn't be described as angelic, but perhaps the exception proves your rule."

Aedan nearly let out a strained laugh and glanced at Ephram, “I might have a voice that pleases the angels but I also have the performance nerves of a wee deer.” Aedan glanced over at the woman Ephram spoke to, “See? I have every reason to be nervous!” He'd not sung on stage for about eight years.

Ephram repeated in delight, "A wee deer!" before picking up on Katarina's comment and groaning. "Honey, you was supposed to help my side of the argument. Now it looks like we're all gettin' a round on me." He motioned to the bartender and said, "My new deer friend here is Aedan and I'm Ephram. You ... from around here? As in settled here?"

Katarina laughed lightly, "I'm afraid that's the risk you take when you ask a stranger for help in an argument." She took a sip from her merlot as the man called over the bartender. "Katarina," she replied and put out a hand, "I've recently settled in Soapberry Springs. I imagine that you, Ephram, are a local and I would suppose Aedan is not?"

“I'm nowhere near a local,” Aedan said as he took one of the drinks the bartender was pouring for them.

"I'm a transplant," Ephram drawled, turning so he was leaning back on his elbows against the bar. "From the great state of Kentucky. But there ain't no place I'd rather be at this point than Soapberry." Waving his glass around, Ephram whispered loudly, "...my sweetheart's a part owner of this place. Neat, huh?"

Katarina nodded as both men explained their relationship to the town. She took another sip of her merlot, about to ask that if it was true in small towns that transplants never truly got to be locals. Before she could though Ephram spoke again. In a stage whisper he announced that his sweetheart was part owner of the inn. It was easy for her to guess who he was referring to. "Ah, you are Freddie's husband?" she asked.

Aedan remained quiet as he enjoyed his free drink. He had no idea who most of the people in town were and much less who owned what.

Ephram beamed as if Katarina had given him the directions to El Dorado. "Yeah! Freddie, he's my lil darlin. I'm glad you din't think it was Cardero." He shuddered, then looked back at Aedan. "You met Freddie yet, Aedan deer, or you jes caught wind of this shindig on your own?”

Katarina smiled at the clear joy that came with her recognition of his husband. However she felt an internal twinge of confusion when he mentioned that he was glad she hadn't thought his husband was Iann Cardero. Given his shudder it seemed a strong feeling. "Why are you glad I didn't think it was Iann?" she asked in a perfectly neutral tone. She looked over to at Aedan to hear how he had found his way to the Stonefruit Inn this evening.

Aedan looked up from his beer like a deer in headlights, “Huh? Oh, someone posted a leaflet with my name on it through my door. I don't think I've met a Freddie, yet. And I thought that I should mingle a wee bit.”

Ephram scrunched his face up in distaste. "Cardero and me get along about as good as buggies and bonfires, which is to say hardly. Freddie loves 'im, though, so what can you do." He grinned at Aedan, patting the other man lightly on the back. "You should definitely mingle," Ephram approved. "You're minglin' right now! With us. For until you git them three drinks down and sing us all some Danny Boy."

“Oh man, I am not singing Danny Boy. It's Pogues or go home,” Aedan grinned at Ephram. He took a swig of his beer as he shucked off his leather jacket.

Katarina thought there was probably more to the story. However seeing as that was all Ephram said she let it go. Instead she turned her attention to Aedan. She laughed at his comment that it was Pogues or nothing. "Ah, I think you've backed yourself into a corner now," she said with the same catlike smile, "I think before this night is over you'll find yourself singing Pogues for all of us."

Ephram chugged the rest of his drink and nudged Katarina. "You'll Kirsty for him, right? What is it, Fairytale of New York?" Ephram knew only the vaguest of things about the Pogues, but he was pretty sure on that one. Fairly sure. Well, sorta had an inkling. He ordered another beer.

Katarina laughed, "Will I now?" She could sing and decently well, but wasn't quite as familiar with the discography of the Pogues as she'd like to be before singing in front of all these people. "I think perhaps we should rather consider if any music, other than Christmas music, is truly restricted to one time of year or another," she replied.

“You don't have to sing with me,” Aedan said, protesting. He wasn't drunk yet and definitely didn't intend on a duet with a stranger. Well, yet. He polished off his beer and asked the barman for another round, on him this time.

"Fairytale does mention Christmas," Ephram said loftily, wrapping his arm around Aedan's shoulder. Whatever's on tap, it's certainly potent. "And if it makes you feel better, son, later on we can do Wild Rover together. I ain't no grand voice neither, but I like to sing and I like it even better with company."

"I'm not certain that alone makes it a Christmas song just as taking place during Christmas time doesn't make Die Hard a Christmas movie," Katarina replied. Turning to Aedan, she added, "Thank you. Although after a few more glasses I suppose we'll see what I think of singing duets." She wasn't planning on performing, but it was how people always left the door open for that sort of thing. After a sip of her merlot she added, "Although I'd hardly want to be the poor person who has to follow up the two of you doing a duet."

“I've literally never heard of Wild Rover. But as long as there's a cue screen and enough drink,” Aedan turned to Katarina, “And Fairytale of New York is THE best Christmas song. Anyone who says otherwise needs to listen closer!” He grinned and accepted the next beer. It barely touched him, yet. He preferred whiskey, after all.

Ephram's jaw dropped. "No, nay, never!" he said mournfully. "Ahhh, well. Reckon this is one of the ways us long-ago Irish and you modern Irish got to be different along the way. We still got plenty of the oul' songs up in the holler." He nodded at Katarina. "C'mon, there's gotta be some sorter traditional winter song that your people sing, right?"

Katarina sipped her wine as Ephram lamented the fact that Aedan didn't know what she guessed was a Irish folk song. She nodded when he asked if there was traditional music from 'her people'. "Yes, we have traditional folk music like anyone," she replied, "However it's all in Russian."

Aedan buried himself in his drink as he was scolded for being a poor Irishman. He was about to say something but was glad the conversation turned to Katarina, “Mmhm, you should definitely sing in your language. I can sing in mine!”

"See now, here's where you both got it over me. I speak hillbilly and ain't no call for that in song. Unless it's Cotton Eyed Joe, of course," Ephram said.

Katarina laughed, "Here I thought it was Pogues or nothing. Perhaps I missed it, but I don't think they sing in Gaelic."

“I can translate Pogues into Gaelic and Old Irish... on the spot!” Aedan gave him a cheeky grin.

Ephram looks puzzled and interested. "Old Irish? I thought Gaelic was the same thing as Old Irish. It ain't?"

“Now that," Katarina replied, "is absolutely not an act I would want to have to follow." She didn't comment on whether or not Gaelic and Old Irish were the same language as she had no idea as to the answer.

“No, not at all. Gaelic is the older more traditional form. Ireland's bloody complicated,” Aedan replied before he hid himself in his beer, again.

Ephram patted Aedan on the back, not quite sure if he'd embarrassed the man somehow. "Ain't no big deal, wee deer. I jes don't really know much about Ireland apart from the stereotypes and the murals. You want somethang stronger'n that beer?" He called to the bartender again, saying, "Let's git a bottle of, uh -- let's git one of Irish whiskey, one of Kentucky bourbon, one of Russian vodka. How's that?"

Katarina filed away the information about languages in Ireland, curious about it in the same way she was curious about most things. Seeing as Aedan seemed somewhat uncomfortable with the topic she didn't ask anything further. Ephram piped up next, offering to buy a bottle of liquor from each of their respective homelands. She showed no change in expression although she found it curious as well that he assumed that was the liquor each would prefer. He did just say that all he knew of Ireland was from the stereotypes and murals. She smiled and said in a conspiratorial tone to Aedan, "I think Ephram intends to get us both drunk enough to sing."

Aedan couldn't help but laugh at that, “Don't worry about it. Most people seem to not know that there is a Northern Ireland and a Republic. And seem to think Danny Boy is our national anthem.” He grinned in appreciation at the offer of whiskey to show that there were no ill feelings. “As long as he's paying…” he added.

"Damn straight I'm payin'. Freddie can take it out in trade later," Ephram gave a hooting laugh and poured himself a generous shot of bourbon when it came, "I'm aimin' to git everbody drunk enough to sing. No wallflowers allowed, them's house rules."

Katarina laughed, "Well, at the risk of sounding like a Russian stereotype myself I'm afraid you'll need more vodka than this."

Aedan poured himself a glass of the whiskey and raised his glass in a mimicry of the 'cheers' and sipped the drink. ”Hmm we're all stereotypes, I think,” he said as he drew the glass from his lips, “Most of us will get more drunk than you intend if Katarina is any example of our mindsets.”

Ephram squinted suspiciously at Katarina, "So what's your deal? You like ... Black Widow, or some other sorter superspy? Come to track down a supervillain in sleepy lil' Soapberry." He pointed at Aedan. "We already know wee deer is here to guard his pot o' gold, and I'm takin' a break before I gotta head back and marry a cousin, but what's your story?"

Katarina raised an eyebrow, "What's my deal?" She paused to take a sip of her wine and consider her answer. "If I were sticking with stereotypes, I think I would be the supervillain myself. However I am not this exciting. Simply, I moved here from Portland to get away from an unfortunate situation."

Aedan slipped off of his stool, “'I'm gonna go to the bathroom. I'll see you both in a wee bit. If I'm not back in five, someone tried to nick my pot o' gold.” He chuckled and wandered off shaking his head. Any other way, he'd have been offended. But this seemed to be all good fun.

Ephram took the opportunity to nick a slug of Aedan's whiskey instead, and returned to his conversation with Katarina. "Supervillain, huh?" he said, figuring that unfortunate situation wouldn't be much fun to talk about. "That's sorter dire. What would your MO be? And more important, would you talk in that exaggerated accent?"

Katarina shook her head, "I suppose, I would probably use poison, but no, I wouldn't speak in an exaggerated accent. It would too easily give me away. Besides I'm certain you've seen the acting in those old Bond films, behaving in such a way would render me ridiculous."

Ephram grinned, helping himself to a (more modest) shot of her vodka. "Naaaaaw. I cain't see any scenario in which you'd end up lookin' ridiculous."

Katarina shrugged, "I'm certain there are one or two, bu I do try to avoid them" She took a drink from her wine, intending to finish it before starting in on the vodka.

Aedan took his time in the bathroom, cooling his cheeks down and checking for any damage the snow might've done to his hair. He then took his time wandering back, letting the other two have their wee conversation. After all, he still needed to explore this place before it got too crowded and he was too drunk.

Ephram wrapped his hand carefully around his bottle of bourbon, saying, "I'll jes bet you do. It was nice meeting you, Katarina poison villain. I'll see you later. When you're up on stage." He chuckled and sailed off into the crowd.

Maya arrived late on purpose. By doing so she intended to avoid any requests that she sing too. She had absolutely no intention to sing. As she walked into the lounge she saw a few people she knew. Clearly she hadn't managed to arrive as late as she intended though. She therefore headed first to the bar to order a Long Island Iced Tea before scanning the crowd more thoroughly.

Aedan found his place back at the bar with his bottle and glass. “Where's he going?” Aedan glanced over his shoulder to watch Ephram disappear into the slowly growing crowd. He had not noticed the new visitor appear at the bar.

Katarina gave him a nod and said, "Nice to meet you as well Ephram." She watched him disappear into the crowd. As he went she thought briefly that old saying about opposites attracting was true. Turning to Aedan as he returned, "I'm not entirely sure, although I might guess to find his husband." She took another sip of her wine before saying, "May I ask how long you've been in town?"

“Barely a week, even. And I've already met quite a few people around here,” Aedan gave her a smile as he sipped his whiskey, “And you?”

Katarina had to think for a moment. "I've been here since a little bit before September," she replied. It surprised her in fact how long it had been.

“Sounds like you're still settling in,” Aedan smiled at her and watched the barman work. It was only then he noticed a familiar face around the bend in the bar, “Holy shite! Can you- will you excuse me a wee second? I think I recognize someone!”

Katarina gave a smile and a small shrug, "I've been doing something like that I think." She finished off her wine and poured a shot of vodka. She nodded as Aedan asked her to excuse him. "Please, go say hello. I have plenty of company," she said with wink and a gesture to the vodka bottle

Aedan gave her a good-natured grin and wandered over to Maya with his bottle of whiskey in one hand and glass in the other. “Fancy seeing you here Cake-Girl!”

Maya thought she saw Aedan on the other side of the bar, but he seemed in conversation with a blonde woman she didn't know. She therefore chose to make a mental note of it and say hi later. Movement a few moments later caught her eye. She looked over to see Aedan coming her way. As he approached she gave a smile that turned into a laugh when he greeted her. "Fancy seeing you here Duped By Werewolves Guy," she teased.

“There's drink,” Aedan said in a conspiratorial tone, “What kind of man would I be if I turned down a drink and a good sing-song?” He set his bottle on the bar. “You want some or are you happy with your... what the hell is that?” He looked at her Long Island Iced Tea with playful disapproval.

Maya had to laugh. "Well, I certainly can't disagree with that," she replied, "And I'm never one to turn down offered booze. Although this is a perfectly acceptable drink in and of itself." She turned slightly to ask the bartender for an extra glass.

Aedan poured her a glass of his Irish whiskey the moment it hit the bar, “It's only fair. I didn't buy it.” He winked at her and then took a swig of his own.

"Well in that case I'll have two," Maya replied with a laugh. She tossed back the first drink easily and set down the glass beside the bottle again.

Aedan poured her yet another and topped his own up. “Give you an inch, eh?” he said with a playful nudge.

Maya shrugged, "And I'll take a couple of miles." She didn't throw the second drink back with quite the same vigor. Instead she sipped it like a mildly responsible kind of person. "So, we going to be hearing you sing later?" she asked.

Fane had been sorting last minute celebration bits and pieces back at the estate gardens, the stalls were coming together and the bonfire was stacked for the solstice get together he'd been planning. With everything falling into place he'd popped inside changing into an appropriate fitted slim-jeans and black knitted jumper with the words merry christmas you filthy hobbitses on the front and a few Lord of the Rings pictorial references before heading over to town and the Stonefruit Inn and heading inside.

Aedan playfully rolled his eyes, “Good God, what is it with everyone in this place? You all think I can sing.” He cast her a smirk and sipped his whiskey. “Mmhm, maybe. I've not sang in public in years. Not counting the nake-” He caught himself from saying something wholly inappropriate.

Maya laughed, "I have no idea if you can sing. But that's irrelevant to my question and I think to karaoke in general." Her eyes lit up at his almost admission. "Not count the naked what?" she asked with a devious smile and a long drink from her whiskey.

Fane glanced around once he was inside, spotting a couple of familiar faces and walking over. He grinned at Aeden and wrapped an arm around Maya's shoulders pressing a fatherly kiss to her head, "what's this about naked shenanigans? Nothing too inappropriate I hope," he quipped having no clue what he was walking into.

“I will not be telling anyone that, because it's wholly inappropriate for everyone. Even me!” Aedan grinned at her before he caught sight of the sweater. “Holy Hobbitses,” he said, with a broadening smile on his face, “I didn't even know those existed!” He pointed at Fane's amazing jumper.

Maya glanced up at Fane when he slung an arm around her shoulders. "Please, I'm an adult. I can handle inappropriate," she replied. She turned her attention to Fane's sweater when Aedan pointed it out. With a laugh she added, "Aww, we almost match. Cute."

Fane nodded his head sagely in agreement with Maya's point. "All adults here, more or less, emphasis on less," though as Aedan commented on his jumper Fane winked "just have to know the right dragon's horde to search to get one. Also, no using jumpers to divert the conversation. We're owed a wholly inappropriate story now."

Aedan gave a look of 'oh shite' and sighed, “Fine! But you'll owe me a wee drink for it.” He shook his still half-full bottle at him, “And you better sit down.”

"Sit down for what? You tellin' a story here?" Ephram came wandering back, having completed his circuit of the room and finished off about half of his bottle of bourbon. "Oh hey, Fane, Maya. I shoulda guessed youn's knew each other already."

“Is my wee naked story becoming a spectator event?” Aedan said with laughter in his voice and a deep pink flush on his cheeks. It wasn't clear if that was the alcohol or the embarrassment of an audience.

"Awww, c'mon now -- don't refer to it as a wee naked story. That's jes settin' yourself up," Ephram said.

Maya glanced over at Ephram as he arrived. "Hello Ephram," she greeted him before turning back to Aedan. "Just think of it as your head start in stand up," she replied. She would've offered to tell an embarrassing story of her own in return, but decided against it.

Fane looked amused though whether it was putting Aeden on the spot or poking fun was questionable. Still he moved over to the bar indicating for a drink in the meantime before a familiar voice sounded nearby. Looking over once his order was made he offered Ephram a smile leaning an elbow on the counter "evening Ephram, having a good time?" Though not wishing to be rude and intrude over Aeden's moment he looked back to the Irishman "I mean sounds like you have spectral audience enough at your place - no doubt there's plenty of naked stories they've got on you, what's a living audience by comparison hm?" he joked playfully.

Ephram nodded at Fane, returning the smile easily. "Gettin' better and better," he said, and left it at that as well, interested in hearing Aedan's story. He felt a little rush of warmth, though, at Fane's friendly greeting in response to his own; maybe this was the right time for them to finally get along.

“Ouch,” Aeden chuckled and shook his head. 'Fine thank you Fane, for reminding me. Fine. Well, the last time I sang in public I might've been as bare-arsed as the day I was born.' He cleared his throat and took a long sip of his whiskey as if building tension. Instead he was just buying time. 'Well, one day I was more than a wee bit drunk with my Welsh friend, Jack. And he decided he had this amazing idea to try getting in the local newspaper of this small French town. So he tells me to whack my clothes off and stand on a mural in the middle of town. I was two sheets to the wind at this point, so I decide it's an amazing idea, too. So there I am, naked as a babe and a crowd start to gather. I panicked and tried to climb down. But I realise Jack's stolen the ladder. To get it back, I have to do this whole song and dance number. Everything of mine just... out for the rural French folk to see.'

Maya held her composure until Aedan finished his story with the help of sips from her drink. At the end though she had to laugh. "Okay," she replied, "But did you get into the newspaper?"

"I git the feelin' a wee bit drunk means a LOT bit drunk," Ephram laughed, shaking his head.

Fane hooted upon the completion of the little story. "Hey better the French than the English and their damn refined sensibilities right?"

“You bet your sweet arse I got in the paper! And not just of the local paper. Everywhere I went that summer I was called the Naked Irishman,” Aedan sipped his whiskey, his flush deepening red. 'And yeah, I don't think it really matters who sees your balls when you see them pixelated in black and white.'

Fane shook his head, "Naked Irishman? Classic, that's it, official nickname garnered right here."

Ephram solemnly says, "That's gonna be my new motto in life.“

Maya laughed again. "If it helps," she replied, "I've had much worse nicknames that stuck around longer than a summer Although I managed to avoid getting photographed."

"Er, the part about the balls, not the Irishman part,” Ephram added.

“Christ above, I just moved here and now I have that nickname! Okay, now you all owe me a wee drink,” Aedan tapped his glass on the bar.

With an easy smile, Maya turned and ordered him a double of well whiskey. "My penance," she said as the bartender set the glass down on the bar beside them.

Ephram holds up his hands with a laugh. "You got all you're gonna git outta me, wee deer! These two can take care of your libations."

Fane nodded and gestured to the barkeep, "once he's finished that one fill up his glass would you mate? Open a tab and keep it coming I think he'll need it to survive mortification."

“Agh, you weren't part of the deal I guess,” Aedan said to Ephram, “And I think these two can handle it.” He gave a playful wink at the group, the whiskey softening the blow of having that old nickname come back to haunt him.

Maya turned to Fane. "So," she asked, "What cheesy duet have you and Faye cooked up for tonight? Don't Go Breaking My Heart? Islands in the Stream?" She faked horror, "I Got You Babe?"

Ephram looks interested. "Did she manage to convince you to do somethang more bluesy instead?"

Fane raised a hand to his heart, an expression of over the top mock offence registering on his features. "How dare you! They're not cheesy at all, gosh youth these days it's clearly going to be Lou Rawls - You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine" he drawled giving her a little nudge though his eyes crinkled fondly. Ephram's question caused him to shake his head a little, "blues is okay, she's tried to convince me but I'm not completely converted. Jazz is way more my sort of speed."

"So long as she ain't hammered enough to try sprawlin' out on the karaoke keyboard, I reckon," Ephram chuckled. "And I've Got You Babe is a classic karaoke song! Especially when you got a girl singin' Sonny and a feller singin' Cher."

Maya shook her head and turned to Aedan, "I'm pretty sure you can't find anything cheesier than Fane here and Faye outside the entire state of Wisconsin." She rolled her eyes affectionately for good measure

“Can’t you now?” Aedan said as he nursed his free drinks, “The trick is to try out-cheese them.”

Maya glanced over at Ephram with confusion in her expression, "What makes that more classic?" She then turned back to Aedan to shake her head and say, "That's a very dangerous game and one I personally am always guaranteed to lose. Although Ephram and Freddie may be able to give them a run for their money."

Fane chuckled at the mental image that provoked, "don't give her any more ideas. I have enough trouble with her and the one at the house. But I don't know," he said of I've Got You Babe "that one never hit me really. Honestly, on a day to day basis I'm way more into Scorpions, Guns 'N' Roses, Metallica and AC/DC. Give me a solid riffing guitar anthem you can listen to when you're cruising down the roads, you know?" Fane keyed into the other conversation and shrugged, "don't get that woman involved in a competition I swear none of us will survive it if she loses... Either that or she'll be pouting for days and I won't hear the end of it."

Ephram said with great seriousness, "Because karaoke is really goddamn camp. So the chintzier the song, the better. I mean, hell--" he gestured at the burly atronach currently doing a baritone Que Sera Sera -- "if he was singin' some serious song, it wouldn't be half as fun." He grinned. "Me and Freddie doing Sonny and Cher would be hard to beat. What would you do? Lemme guess .... uh ... Sk8er Boi?" Ephram attempted to pronounce the number and spelling, making it hard to discern what the hell he's even referring to.

Maya let the point go. She still wasn't convinced that a dude singing Cher's part was somehow more classic. Instead she turned to Fane to laugh and tease, "Yes, back in the day you were quite the rocker." As far as whatever song Ephram was referencing she shook her head, "I'm just here to cheer." She took a drink from her Long Island Iced Tea.

Ephram didn't press either, nodding at Fane's list of bands and saying, "There was this girl I considered goin' out with once but Thunderstruck came on in the car and she was like, ~na na na na na na na na na SUNDAY! and I couldn't take it, man. Sunday."

Aedan had polished off yet another glass of whiskey listening to this lot bicker over ‘classics’, “Y’know, you’ve not heard a classic til you’ve had an old woman sing in Gaelic at you. Those songs are the classics.”

Ephram poked Aedan good-naturedly. "Yeah, but they ain't cut out much for makin' a monkey of yourself in front of folks when you're too toasted to be on-key."

Maya shook her head, "Then I think only a very few people have heard the classics." She was teasing his hometown superiority a little, but good-naturedly Having lived in New York she'd heard it plenty and had a little bit of it herself.

“Bah, you'll all see. You'll all see,” Aedan said as if he was some cartoonish villain scheming to overthrow the doubters.

Fane huffed a quiet laugh at Maya's jibe, "back in the day, rude" he tsked lightly "I still am thanks though I never could rock a guitar like I can the piano." Fane raised a brow at Ephram’s rendition of AC/DC but shook his head in amusement, "dude that's a total keeper right there I have no idea what you mean." Though when Aeden spoke Fane just grinned a little slanted, "you and your Gauls, I raise you little old Romanian washerwomen from the hamlet singing rather questionable things when they had a few too many."

Maya laughed, "Wait, if we're playing who has the best singers its obviously drunks in New York, especially on the train."

“Bah! Your Romanian washerwomen! I’m talking druids,” Aedan hung onto the S, now clearly drunk. Not drunk enough to strip naked and climb a monument. “And most of those drunks are ex-Irish!”

Ephram raised his hand, "I got toothless grandmaws and granpappies rockin' on their front porches while they sing, how's that?"

Bella headed inside, her dress trailing slightly on the ground behind her as she immediately headed in the direction of the bar, she couldn't see Iann or Freddie and figured they were off working the background for a while but so far as she could tell no one was singing, hoping she hadn't missed anyone. Least there were a few familiar faces.

“What’s the state of their teeth got to do with anything? Are ye saying that if I lost my teeth my singing will mean more classically?” Aedan sounded ready for a fight but he was wholly enjoying this random debate about how classic was classic.

Ephram bristled, although similarly fakely. "That there's the proud tradition of my kinfolk! The fact they can still sing even though they cain't eat corn no more is classically classic and no mistake, wee deer. Way more than your old druid women singin' round Stonehenge or whatever."

“Then the Pogues are classic too! Shane Macgowan has donkey teeth. Or did... once,” Aedan said.

Ephram spat in his hand and held it out. "Deal."

Aedan mimicked him and clapped his hand on Ephram’s. He immediately regretted it.

Ephram furrowed his brow after a moment. "Hey, bartender," he called. "A couple napkins here?..."

Maya shook her head, "And once again my theory that all men are really just twelve year old boys gets proven right." She turned her attention briefly to the rest of the room to see if anyone else she knew had arrived.

"Nothing beats a good washerwoman's sing-song whilst she's fulling cloth, neither of you will ever convince me of that" Fane tsked at the other two reaching for his glass to take a sip. Though the mention of Stonehenge made his inner historian ruffle if only because it was a generally held misconception "hey hey, stonehenge is a burial ground built by-- Neolithic Britonians not druids that's that damn antiquarian Stukeley's fault for that one."

Ephram paused in scrubbing the napkin against his palm to blink at Fane. "Uh. Okay, uh ... sorry?"

Fane waved his hand, not meaning any offence by it more just wishing to clarify a widely held false fact "doesn't matter point is god I hated Stukeley."

"Well then, in that case." Ephram lifted his glass. "Fuck Stukeley!"

Maya laughed. "Fuck Stukeley!" she agreed raising her own glass as well.

Fane raised his glass in turn, "damn right, fuck that guy."

“Fuck everyone! Wait…” Aedan checked out for a moment, “I once got naked there, too. Who's gonna sing first?”

Ephram bellowed, "YOU!"

“Oh God above. I'm not going up unless I've got my Kirsty MacColl. And seeing as none of you seem to have the fluty pipes to pull her off, I won't be singing,” Aedan poked his tongue out and sipped his whiskey with a smug smirk.

"Yeah, it's going to be a no from me too," Maya replied with a shake of her head.

Ephram made a disappointed noise, but then rallied when he saw Ruby bopping around near the bar. "Hey, Ruby!" he shouted. "C'mere, sing a duet with this guy! He's nice, I promise!" Ephram patted Aedan's chest, assuring him, "You'll love 'er. We used to be a thing. Sweet girl."

Fane rolled his eyes at Aedan's refusal to sing "I might not be Kirsty MacColl but I'm game to sing a song with the famous Naked Irishman if no one else will."

“Looks like I have two offers, now,” Aedan seemed to sighed with a fake apathy, “I guess I'll have to, now. Don't I?” He polished off his drink and stood, “So, which of you actually wants to get crucified with me?”

Fane knocked back the last of his glass, "Well, if I'm going down I'm totally going in a crown singing Queen."

Maya took a sip of her drink before saying, "Or going down swinging as I'm sure they say in the karaoke business."

Fane wagged a finger at Maya giving her a look. "Swinging or singing? 'Cause in my book those are two veeeery different activities..."

“You can sing what you want, but I think a Queen, Pogues mashup will make my ears and EYES bleed,” Aedan took a steadying breath and nodded, “And my grandparents were swingers.”

Maya tried and failed to stifle a laugh. "That was information I very much didn't need," she said, "But more power to them I suppose."

Fane clicked his tongue, "wow and there was me thinking it would be a goddamn amazing mashup-- but fine," he said in a long-suffering but joking sort of fashion. "Let me guess, Fairytale of New York?"

Miguel was quickly realizing that the silly and cozy image of him and Iann singing bad karaoke to each other wasn't going to be a reality. Or if it was, it was going to be a reality in front of a ton of people in a very full Inn. It wasn't the kind of crowd Miguel would sing in front of, but it was the kind of crowd he could knock back a few drinks with. At least he saw people he recognized. Including Fane, Ephram, and Maya. He slid up to them, trying to be nonchalant, a Moscow mule in one hand.

“Would I need a Kirsty if it weren't? C'mon Legolas, we're going,” Aedan beckoned Fane to join him on the now waiting stage.

"Have fun storming the castle," Maya said as Aedan and Fane headed towards the stage. At the sound of someone approaching she turned to see Miguel. "Hey Miguel," she said with a smile, "You here to grace us with a song?"

Fane scoffed under his breath "I'm clearly Aragorn thanks." Regardless he walked towards the stage and stepped up picking up a microphone and handing the other to Aedan as the system booted up. "Alright then, take the lead Shane."

Ruby was a bit late, but better that than never. She made her way through the crowd, shouldering up to the bar to order a drink before finding her friends.

Katarina didn't mind being by herself at the bar. She enjoyed watching the townspeople mingling. While she had been in town for several months she didn't know anyone all that well. She was brought out of her people watching by someone trying to reach the bar beside her. "Oh, sorry," she said to the brunette woman who she didn't recognize as she moved out of the woman's way.

Ruby waved at the others as she waited on her drink.

Miguel chuckled a little and smiled at Maya. "Not a chance in hell." He drank from his copper cup and smirked. "At least not until there's more alcohol in me."

Aedan swore under his breath and took the mic, “I swear to god, I'm blaming you if I die up here.” He cleared his throat and the intro music started up. The started to sing along to the song, loosening up with each word.

Fane stepped up on stage with a seemingly natural confidence his shoulders and body loose as he held the microphone. It was a full minute and a bit before the music cued up and Fane raised the microphone and while he was no Kirsty he hit the words and beats near perfectly for a first-time go swaying a little in time to the beat and grinning throughout the course of the verse.

"At least not until you have more alcohol in you?" Maya said with that mischievous glint in her eye. She turned to the bartender to say, "Vodka and make it a double." When it arrived she handed it to Miguel with a smile.

Both men were fantastic together. It helped that Aedan could pull off the accent and slurring tunefulness of a drunk man who could sing.

Miguel rolled his eyes, but he was grinning the whole time. He picked up the vodka without putting down his copper cup - he could double hand it. "Gee thanks, Maya." His eyes narrowed and he looked at the stage. "Is that Fane singing?"

Maya flashed him a brilliant smile, "You're welcome." She nodded at his question with a roll of her eyes, "There's a stage and music. Yes, its Fane singing," despite her eye rolling though there was a warmth to her tone.

Miguel sipped his vodka, then his mule, "Hmm, he doesn't sound half bad. Who's that other fella with him?"

Maya took a sip of her own drink too before replying. "Aedan," she said, "He's pretty new to town. Witch from Ireland."

Fane hooked an arm around Aedan's shoulders as they belted out the tune together, Aedan's drunken enthusiasm just feeding Fane's own enjoyment not that he particularly cared about being up on a stage in front of a crowd. He knew he could hold a tune after all. Eventually the song came to a close and Fane patted Aedan on the back. "See? No one died I'd say the Naked Irishman's making his comeback hey?"

"Aedan? Sounds pretty Irish." Miguel actually had no idea about anything having to do with Ireland, but it just seemed like one of those things that people would say. Besides it might help him remember the guy's name. As the song came to a close he put down his (two) drinks and clapped.

Aedan took the last few lines with a great enthusiasm, his singing background showing up. When they were done, he grinned over at Fane, “That remains to be seen! Back to the bar!”

"Ha! My sentiments entirely,” Fane said.

Ruby waited for her drink - the bartenders were working overtime tonight it seemed - and surveyed the crowd. She couldn't see the stage from where she was, but whoever was singing had a great voice. They both sounded vaguely familiar.

Katarina shook her head, "It's perfectly alright. I should probably move further into the crowd, but then I'd have to carry around an entire bottle of vodka." She gestured towards the bottle Ephram had bought or put on his husband's tab or the like. "You're right though. It is quite crowded in here," she added.

Maya gave Aedan a smile as he returned to the bar. "See from the way you resisted it I thought you were going to suck. I'm perfectly happy to be wrong though," she said, "Also have you met Miguel?"

Aedan gave Maya a huge grin, “I used to perform for pennies every one and a while. Use to. Meaning I didn't know if I would be any good. But Thank you.” He looked at Miguel and shook his head, “Can't say I've had the pleasure.”

Fane trailed back over a little time after Aedan and upon seeing Miguel's appearance broke out in a grin. "My main man, I was wondering where you'd gotten to."

Faye finally made it over to Stonefruit. The sitter had been running late, so she'd sent Fane on ahead, since there was no reason for them both to miss the beginning of things. She hung up her coat and headed into the crowd in search of Fane and their friends.

Miguel smiled at Aeden, the new witch, and held out his hand for a shake - a litmus test if there ever was one for other witches. "Nice to meet you." He glanced at Fane and grinned. "Main man? That's a new one. I like your sweater," he said easily. The love of Tolkien was something they shared.

Aedan took the offered hand and gave a shake. “Hello,” he turned back to his whiskey, wincing as someone sang Simply the Best onstage.

Maya sank a little bit into the background as the men introduced themselves. She used it as a chance to glance around and spotted Ruby at the bar, talking to the same blonde Aedan had been earlier. Her attention then turned to the stage to watch the next person.

Fane glanced around the group figuring they knew each other and then spotting Faye "well, since we're doing introductions I think you know Maya, my daughter, already if earlier is anything to go by--" He pointed out the other blonde witch across the room making her way through the crowd in a similar Lord of the Rings style jumper to his own his gaze growing far more affectionate. "And that gorgeous lady is the Faye you were hearing about earlier."

Miguel mulled the feel of Aeden's magic over for a few moments after the handshake, there was a feeling of mud, blood, and tree sap. It was a writhing chaotic feeling full of potential energy, but not quite kinetic. The image of roots tangled underground came to mind. His magic reminded Miguel of the feeling of his yet untrained niece. That was interesting. He filed the information away for a later date. And then he realized that he was still treating people like ingredients for a spell and his stomach rocked for a moment. It was time to stop doing that. But it had been his reason for playing nice and shaking hands for so long. Not knowing what else to due, Miguel quickly finished his vodka. No use being guilty and melancholy, might as well have fun.

Faye finally spotted who she was looking for and made her way over to Fane and Maya and a few others. "Hey..." she smiled, standing on her toes to kiss Fane's cheek before turning to the others. "I miss anythin' newsworthy?”

Aedan felt a wee bit disturbed by the sensation of shaking Miguel’s hand, immediately trying to tug away. He felt like he’d just been exposed of some bad secret. Instead, he gave one last swig of his whiskey, “Is this a karaoke or what?”

Ruby grinned at the blonde. "True enough. I'm Ruby, by the way. Are you new to town?"

Katarina smiled back, "My name's Katarina." She offered Ruby a hand to shake. "I suppose I'm fairly new to town. I arrived in September."

Fane slipped his arm around Faye's waist drawing her into his side and beaming after the buss to his cheek but taking a moment to kiss her properly in greeting. "Hello love, everything okay at home?" he murmured in her ear, voice soft when he spoke to her. Though while he cradled her against his side he looked back to the slightly disturbed look Aedan wore wondering what had happened after his introduction to Miguel. "Have you met Aedan? He's our new resident Naked Irishman."

Maya shook her head, "Not especially." She gave Fane a friendly swat on the arm, "Fane, I'm not sure Aedan wants us to resurrect his old nickname and certainly not until we also see him naked."

Miguel looked at Faye with big hopeful eyes. Her presence had started to soothe him ever since she got her original magic back. "Hi Faye," he said, smiling around his copper cup.

“Only way you're getting this Irishman naked is if you get him drunk-er,” Aedan waved for the barman to top his glass up. God, he was going to regret it in the morning.

Maya shook her head again, "You can't make it sound like a challenge, dude. The whole family can't resist a challenge."

“I am a very sore loser,” Aedan said.

"Everything's perfect," Faye said back just as softly. "And no, I haven't," Faye said a bit louder of Aedan. She glanced between the new face and Miguel's familiar one, smiling softly. "Hey, Miguel. Nice to meet you, Aedan."

Fane scoffed, "Well, I say if you have a title you should own it, especially if it's good enough to make a headline in a newspaper. Though I can't tell if that's a challenge or not, it certainly sounds like a challenge. His grin was sly and a tad playful, but in a relaxed and nonchalant fashion settled into the mood of making jokes and poking fun at people.

“Hello, Faye?” Aedan said, unsure if he caught Faye's name right. He then turned to Fane, “It might be a bloody challenge! I like being naked and I like being drunk.”

Maya shrugged, "Fair enough then. Challenge him away."

Miguel turned his head and took a moment to appreciate Faye's LotR jumper. Then he took a second look at Maya's sweater. "Wow, did all three of you plan your outfits?"

Faye nodded at Aedan. "Faye's right, and you should listen to her," she said of Maya. "Don't make challenges around this lot..." she grinned.

Ruby shook Katarina's hand. "Nice to meet you." She nodded, thinking back on what she had been doing in September, and couldn't quite remember. So much had happened. Her drink finally came, and Ruby gestured to the crowd with it. "Big turnout."

Katarina nodded, "It is nice to meet you as well." She turned to glance at the crowd. A few people out of the crowd she'd recognized, but not terribly many. "Yes, it is," she agreed, "Have you come to sing?"

Fane snapped his fingers and pointed them at Aedan, "well, then everyone deserves another drink if that's how this is going to go." Though he grinned at Miguel's question wiggling his fingers at his friend, "well, we did" he gestured to Faye and himself "but that one was a total awesome coincidence," he pointed at Maya's, "and shows that we totally are related and have awesome taste.”

Ruby nearly choked on her drink as she heard the words 'naked and drunk' used in rapid succession. She coughed as she turned to Katarina again. "I'll probably sing yeah. It's pretty much the only talent I have..." she laughed.

Faye nodded at Miguel. "A holiday party without matching sweaters? Never," Faye laughed.

Aedan cheered and raised his glass. He was only a few drinks away from being very stupid.

Maya had to pipe up. "In the interest of not confusing you later, we' re not actually related. I'm their adopted kid, but clearly they picked the right weird adult to take in.

Katarina waited a moment as Ruby regained her composure. The words at least didn't appear to phase her. At her old job she'd heard far worse and far more often. "Did someone tell you that?" she asked.

"Me? Oh... no," Ruby shook her head. "It's just... it's the only thing I'm really good at. Ain't I bad thing I guess. I'd rather be real good at one thing than shit at a dozen of 'em."

Katarina considered Ruby's statement. She could understand it on its face. For a great many years, she had worked hard to be remarkably good at one thing at the exclusion of others. However, she would never say she was only truly good at ballet. It certainly wasn't true these days. She didn't think any of the other ballerinas were that way either. However Ruby was a stranger and hadn't asked for Katarina to boost her ego. "I suppose," she said, "Is there a particular style you excel in?"

Miguel glanced between the (adult) 'mother' and (adult) 'child' and smiled warmly. He loved this silly family. "Maybe Maya and Faye should go sing a song together, since Fane's already done his."

"Related," Faye stage-whispered to Miguel, making a circle with her finger to indicate the three of them. "Oh, I missed it? Damn." Faye gave a mock pout. "You'll just have to do another one then. Maya... wanna sing?" She gave the other woman a poke in the arm.

"I super don't. Thanks for asking," Maya replied to Faye, trusting that the older woman would understand her issue was with the activity not with Faye herself.

Aedan checked an email from his work and was tempted to drunkenly reply. He didn’t though, simply because he couldn’t tolerate drunk typing.

Fane looked at Maya and then Faye with a proud happy sort of affection that might just be overly sappy regardless. "I might need some convincing to go again, but if anyone can manage that it's you..." Though he looked at the others in the group "you guys planning on coming by the Yule festivities at mine later in the week?"

“I am,” Aedan said, not looking up from his phone.

“Alright then, I'll just have to go all alone then..." But Faye wouldn't press Maya to do something she wasn't comfortable with. "Though I need a few more drinks before I get up there."

Ruby shrugged. "Not really. I just... sing what I like. I guess I'm better at... folk songs though?"

Katarina sipped her vodka. From what she could tell Ruby was not a classically trained singer. If she was she would probably have a preferred genre. The knowledge didn't make Katarina think less of Ruby, only differently. "Ah, I apologize if I sound interrogating," she said, "I've known many musicians and always found them interesting to talk to."

"No, it's alright, I don't mind," Ruby didn't consider herself a musician, and she certainly wasn't classically trained as Katarina realized. It was simply something she'd always been able to do. "Are you a musician?" Ruby asked.

Katarina shook her head, "No. I'm a dancer."

"Oh, a dancer? What kind?" Ruby asked, clearly interested.

Katarina smiled, always happy to talk about her dancing, "I was a ballerina for most of my life, but until recently I was a stripper."

Ruby hummed around her drink at Katarina's answer, not blinking an eye as the other woman said she'd gone from ballerina to stripper. "What made you stop? Either of them? If you don't mind me askin'? "Though feel free to tell me to be quiet. I sometimes forget that most folks that come to town are here for a reason. And not always good ones."

Katarina finished off the rest of her vodka before speaking. "I was asked to leave the company and there was a bit of an unfortunate situation in Portland that was easiest to solve permanently with my leaving," she answered. It wasn't a terribly specific answer, but it was technically a fully one.

"But," Maya added, "Miguel, you said you might sing once we got you drunk enough. In which case you could be Faye's duet buddy."

Miguel coughed on his Moscow mule and looked at his friends. If Faye wanted to sing with him... maybe... it could be fun. He didn't feel drunk enough, but he trusted Faye and Maya enough not to make fun of him. "Maaaybe."

"Duet!" Faye said, pointing at Miguel. "I love it!"

Miguel sighed but put his drink down and got up. There was no fighting it. "Alright, duet."

Maya cheered as Miguel gave in to her suggestion, "Yay duet!"

Faye downed the rest of her drink and handed it to Fane, asking for another as he said he was going to the bar. She linked her arm with Miguel, giving him a squeeze. "What'd'you wanna sing, partner?"

Miguel blinked and his mind froze. All he could think of were show tunes, and none of them duets. Okay the duet from wicked, but his voice had (thank god) dropped enough that THAT song wasn't very possible. "Uhm... I can't think of any songs. You pick."

"I'm sorry," Ruby said, genuinely sympathetic. "Sometimes though... leavin's easier. Unfortunately." She took a long pull of her drink. "What d'you do now? In town that is?"

Katarina gave a slight shrug, “I’m not sure yet. I’ve been dancing my whole life and thought it might be time to consider other careers.”

Ruby hummed. "Nothin' wrong with that. I've done... hell... six or seven different things since I got here? Only startin' to settle just recently on what I think I wanna do."

If Katarina was perfectly honest she wasn't entirely concerned what Ruby thought of the fact at the moment the former ballerina wasn't doing anything at the moment. It was kind of Ruby to say it anyway. "What is it that you finally settled on?" Katarina asked.

Ruby hadn't commented to get any particular reaction or response from the blonde. It was merely her own thoughts, probably more related to her own issues with finding a steady job than anything. "I think I'd like to be a PI. Find missing people

Katarina was about to respond when Sonya, her fox familiar, came running up to her. With a smile she picked Sonya up and placed the fox on her lap. "привет, где ты был," she asked. The fox yipped to tell Katarina that she had been exploring. Turning back to Ruby, she asked, "You wish to be a private investigator rather than a detective? Is there any reason for this?"

"You're gonna let me pick? Really?" Faye hummed thoughtfully. "Okay... first off... what do you absolutely not wanna sing?"

Miguel thought a minute but could only come up with a joke. "Anything from Sesame Street."

Faye grinned, "Don't think I won't..."

Miguel laughed and unlinked their arms so he could straighten up and take one of the microphones. "Whatever you'd like Faye, really."

Faye took the other microphone and grinned over at Miguel. "We'll knock their socks off no matter what we sing..."

Ruby smiled down at the little fox at Katarina picked her up. She was getting better at picking out the species by scent, but with so many people around tonight, it was hard. "Hello, lovely," Ruby smiled, acknowledging the little fox before she looked back to Katarina. "Let's just say a good friend inspired me," Ruby grinned, thinking of another fairy she knew. And missed.

"Ah, I forgot, people here know about familiars," Katarina said, "This is Sonya." She scratched the creature behind its ears. For her part Sonya looked over at Ruby and after deciding that she was more interested in her fairy's vodka started trying to drink that. With a good natured roll of her eyes she requested another glass from the bartender. "I assume this friend was a private investigator?" she asked, just to be sure.

"Nice to meet you, Sonya," Ruby said, grinning as the little fox started drinking the alcohol from the fairy's glass. Familiars were singular creatures, and Ruby didn't mind that the vodka was more interesting. "And she was, yeah," Ruby nodded. "She's a journalist now."

TBC

#[christmas 2018]#[bars in bars]#ephram pettaline #fane savin #faye andrews #aedan o'ruaidh #miguel ojeda #ruby devereaux #katarina romanova #//night one as in Thursday Dec 20 #bellamy barnes

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lou-bonfightme · 7 years

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Toulouse Henri Bonfamille - Character Sheet

if you get sleep or if you get none / the cock's gonna call in the morning, baby / check the cupboard for your daddy's gun / red sun rises like an early warning / the lord's gonna come for your first born son / his hair's on fire and his heart is burning / so go to the river where the water runs / wash him deep where the tides are turning...

Archetype — The Caregiver Birthday — May 10, 1995 Zodiac Sign — Taurus MBTI — ENTJ Enneagram — 3, the Achiever Temperament — Choleric Hogwarts House — Slytherdor Moral Alignment — True Neutral Primary Vice — Pride Primary Virtue — Diligence Element — Earth

Overview:

Mother — Adelaide Bonfamille (nee LaBlanc) (Portia de Rossi FC) Father — Hector Bonfamille (Tony Goldwyn) Mother’s Occupation — socialite Father’s Occupation — politician Family Finances — wealthy Birth Order — oldest child Brothers — Berlioz Bonfamille (Matt Hitt FC, 20, Birthday: June 20, 1997) Sisters — Marie Bonfamille (Olivia Holt FC, 17, Birthday: April 22, 2000) Other Close Family — Maternal Aunt: Duchess LaBlanc Best Friend — Hades Other Friends — Sophie, Daisy Enemies — Roger, Perdita, literally so many people tbh Pets — A cat that is not his. Also his plants. Home Life During Childhood — emotionally manipulative/abusive; argumentative with father; parental disagreements; was put in charge of younger siblings Town or City Name(s) — Paris, France Details of Town(s) or City(s) — loved the river and parks, only place he had refuge What Did His or Her Bedroom Look Like — rather plain, big windows, bright, painted a cream color, not a lot of toys but an easel and paints in one corner, a large desk with art supplies. Any Sports or Clubs — nope, he focused solely on his art. Favorite Toy or Game — didn’t really play a lot of games, but he liked building legos with his siblings, or reading to them. Schooling — did excellently in school Favorite Subject — science (especially biology), though he has a fondness for literature as well. Popular or Loner — loner, but girls liked him alot; he had the broody bad boy thing going on, which annoyed him immensely. Important Experiences or Events — moving to Swynlake Health Problems — undiagnosed manic depressive; some minor PTSD and agoraphobia Culture — french, and proud of it. Religion and beliefs — raised catholic, attending church mainly to keep up appearances, he finds parts of religion very beautiful, but also calls bullshit on most of it; he’s too logical and scientific to really find any sort of comfort in it; respects those who are religious though; has a predisposed inclination to dislike muslims based on rhetoric and a lack of proper understanding about the religion.

Physical Appearance:

Face Claim — Freddy Carter Complexion — pale and freckly! Hair Colour — Russet Eye Colour — Green Height — 6′0 Build — slight and tall Tattoos — none and never will Piercings — none Common Hairstyle — perfectly styled 90% of the time, if you catch him without his hair styled he really likes you. Clothing Style — the Most fashionable, very flamboyant, lots of colour Mannerisms — tucks his hands behind his back when he’s nervous or being respectful, if he’s embarrassed his ears turn red Usual Expression —

Health:

Overall (do they get sick easily)? — not since he’s become a werewolf, but he never really got sick Physical Ailments — none Neurological Conditions — bipolar II Allergies — none Grooming Habits — grooms better than some of my girls lmao. takes very good care of himself--when he’s not in a depressive state, then he has more trouble, but if he’s going out he’ll still go through the motions. Sleeping Habits — terrible sleeper. has really bad insomnia. is up late a lot, sleeps in late a lot. wakes up a lot throughout the night. tosses and turns. has trouble falling asleep. Eating Habits — super picky eater. when depressive/manic sometimes doesn’t eat that much Exercise Habits — lmao what exercise Emotional Stability — off his meds? like a 2/10, on his meds he’s closer to a 6/10 probably. Body Temperature — normal Sociability — very charming, knows what to say to get people to like him. that doesn’t always mean he says those things lol Addictions — none really? Drug Use — smokes pot, doesn’t do other drugs thank god that’d be so bad Alcohol Use — drinks more than he should

Your Character’s Character:

Bad Habits — what habits are not bad habits? Thinking he is right about everything, pointing out people’s flaws, getting in fights, generally believing he knows better than everyone else, not feeling out his emotions, withdrawing when things get tough, not speaking to anyone about things that suck in his life, taking on all challenges alone, i could go on... Good Habits — he’s a good brother, he takes care of his siblings, he takes care of himself, for the most part; he’s an excellent studier; he’s very loyal once you win his loyalty Best Characteristic — his unfaltering loyalty Worst Characteristic — his lack of ability to properly communicate his emotions Worst Memory — all the times he had to hide in the closet, or his father sent him to bed with no dinner and kept him there for hours Best Memory — his siblings being born Proud of — his siblings, his art (sometimes) Embarrassed by — not much, honestly. When people catch him having a proper emotion Driving Style — doesn’t drive but he’d be a total soccer mom Strong Points — his loyalty. It’s unwavering and uncompromising Temperament — volatile Attitude — melancholic. Weakness — not being emotionally vulnerable. Seriously, it would solve so many of his issues Fears — not being good enough, being unlovable, worried that he will always be horribly bitter Phobias — pfft nothING (jk he’s lowkey afraid of storms) Secrets — lmao so many where to start? Mostly that he actually does crave affection Regrets — lol everything; probably the biggest is being so hard on ber during their teen years Feels Vulnerable When — he’s having emotion Pet Peeves — god where do i start? People who dont say what’s on their mind Motivation — protecting his siblings is his main motivation Short Term Goals and Hopes — he doens’t really have any im realizing this rn Long Term Goals and Hopes — also does not have many here Sexuality — grey asexual, biromantic (he could be either rly) Exercise Routine — pfft exercise is for the weak Day or Night Person — night owl Introvert or Extrovert — introverted extrovert lou really does thrive in a crowd but needs a lot of recharge time after Optimist or Pessimist — pessimist highkey

Likes and Styles:

Music — Classics. Classical. Stuff with not a lot of lyrics. Though, he’s also fond of the Opera. He really likes Faust and Don Giovanni. Also, he secretly likes a couple of musicals--Les Miserables and Cats are probably his favourites, though he very rarely indulges in them. Books — Candide by Voltaire is his favourite novel, he’s read it several times. He is a fan of the gothic period, he enjoys books like The Phantom of the Opera. Is not a huge Victor Hugo fan because he finds him a bit wordy, but he does like Hunchback of Notre Dame. He prefers concise language in his novels, but also likes beautiful imagery. He’s an avid reader. Magazines — He reads National Geographic and TBH probably gets a copy of Vogue, as well as a few museum magazines, just to keep up with the art scene. Foods — Lou is not a very big sweets person, he prefers richer foods. His favorite is frozen grapes--red or green, that doesn’t really matter. He’s almost always snacking on grapes. Drinks — Lou loves champagne. He also is an avid drinker of water. Animals — Lou loves birds, they’re his favorite. He’s also a fan of reptiles. And he has a particular interest in dinosaurs. Sports — Lol. Social Issues — Lou takes a bit of a middle road on these issues. There are things that he is rather passionate about--such as LGBTQIA rights (this is a recent development), but he also has some rather...unethical opinions about things like immigration that he usually keeps to himself because he knows that they are contentious subject. Favorite Saying — “Chacun voit midi à sa porte” Translation: Everyone sees noon on his doorstep. Basically, everyone views the world the way that they view it. Color — Ah, he cannot choose--but he does gravitate to warmer, earth colors in his paintings, oranges and reds and browns. Clothing — Lou is extremely fashionable and he always is dressed impeccably. He loves color and very rarely wears dull ones. Jewelry — Not a huge fan of jewlery, I’m sure he has a nice watch though, that his father gave him. Games — Chess. Puzzles. Things that challenge the mind. Websites — Eh, he’s got a tumblr blog, and he’s #instafamous so. TV Shows — Lou doesn’t watch television enough to have favorite shows but he detests reality shows and probably watches them with his brother to make fun of people. Movies — Lou doesn’t watch movies often, but he loves good cinematography. Also, documentaries. Especially nature and historical ones. (Also loves Legally Blonde on the lowkey.) Greatest Want — To be needed. Greatest Need — To learn to embrace his emotions.

Where and How Does Your Character Live Now:

Home — lives at his mother’s home in Swynlake Household furnishings — very modern, aligned with the latest Parisian fashion. Favorite Possession — his art studio, does that count?? Most Cherished Possession — the drawer of arts and crafts that lou kept from his siblings when they were little. Neighborhood — the woods, very posh Town or City Name — Swynlake Details of Town or City — small magic friendly Married Before — to Anita Dearly, long story. Significant Other Before — none. Children — none. Relationship with Family — close with his siblings, though closer with Marie than Berlioz, a bit of a momma’s boy, and has a cordial relationship with his father, is very close with his life-long nanny, Nounou. Car — none. Career — will probably be an artist; should be a surgeon. Dream Career — surgeon he just doesn’t know it yet Dream Life — a successful magical animal treatment center, where he can also practice his art on the side; very little chance of having a family but deep down would love a wife/husband and children, maybe he’ll adopt. (he does not know any of this.) Love Life — a hot mess; tries not to develop feelings for people. Talents or Skills — painting, obviously Intelligence Level — he’s very intelligent and observant Finances — wealthy af

Your Character’s Life Before Your Story:

Past Careers — he’s been a student. Past Lovers — many; mostly one night stands, very few repeats Biggest Mistakes — being so hard on ber in secondary; marrying anita. Biggest Achievements — uhmmmmm his art has hung in several galleries

#character sheet #about #this was p much finished and since #everyone is POSting them #viola

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dumbassbaby · 7 years

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“should we know us a little better” tag 📜 RULES: you must answer these 92 statements and tag 20 people I was tagged by: @lesbianblossomjimin thanks honey!!! (sorry it took forever i was stuck on mobile) THE LAST: 1. Drink: lemonade 2. Phone call: my not-girlfriend 3. Text message: my best friend 4. Song you listened to: goodnight moon by go radio 5. Time you cried: im emo i cry all the time 6. Dated someone twice: oh boy let’s not bring it up 7. Kissed someone and regretted it: like a week ago 8. Been cheated on: never (or maybe i don't know something) 9. Lost someone special: two years ago 10. Been depressed: ?????? im a walking depression 11. Gotten drunk and thrown up: in january LIST 3 FAVORITE COLORS: 12-14: blue, pastel pink and turquoise IN THE LAST YEAR HAVE YOU: 15. Made new friends: yes!! a lot of them and they all make me so happy! 16. Fallen out of love: no 17. Laughed until you cried: yes! i laugh a lot 18. Found out someone was talking about you: oh boy did i 19. Met someone who changed you: yes!!!!!! she's the best and she's so wise and tells me i should love myself every day and that’s great 20. Found out who your friends are: kinda 21. Kissed someone on your Facebook list: i kiss everyone GENERAL: 22. How many of your Facebook friends do you know in real life: all of them but like two i met in my emotions days 23. Do you have any pets: a baby aka my cat, richard, whom i love and appreciate greatly 24. Do you want to change your name: kinda?? alex is v plain but also gender neutral which is comfortable 25. What did you do for your last Birthday: i ate a lot of pizza with my friends and drank wine 26. What time did you wake up: 9am 27. What were you doing at midnight last night: talking to my friends and befriending a dog 28. Name something you can’t wait for: my not-girlfriend coming to visit me in august 29. When was the last time you saw your mom: yesterday?? 30. What is one thing you wish you could change in your life: my health and my weight but hey what is new 31. What are you listening right now: blackpink 32. Have you ever talked to a person named Tom: no. never. 33. Something that is getting on your nerves: being too tired to function and being too stressed to get some rest 34. Most visited Website: tumblr?? facebook, youtube 35. Mole/s: everywhere? like five on my face, a lot on my legs, three on my left arm and countless on my right arm 36. Mark/s: one surgery scar on my neck, a lot of needle marks on my hands and scars on my legs 37. Childhood dream: i wanted to be a biker lmao 38. Hair color: natural dark blonde/honey, current: light blonde turning turquoise in a few minutes 39. Long or short hair: very short!! 40. Do you have a crush on someone: yes and im?? gay 41. What do you like about yourself: the fact that im so stubborn i actually achieve my dreams because i just...won’t give up 42. Piercings: three in my right ear and two in my left one 43. Bloodtype: no. idea 44. Nickname: alex, ola, chica, lala, mom 45. Relationship status: not?? in an inclusive relationship but also not really single 46. Zodiac: libra/scorpio 47. Pronouns: she/her 48. Favorite TV Show: bones 49. Tattoos: unfortunately none but!! id love to have some 50. Right or left hand: right handed 51. Surgery: some shit in the back of my neck?? no idea what for 52. Piercing: why. why is this here twice. is this a trap 53. Sport: ...chess? 55. Vacation: italy!!!!!!!!!!! every single time i go there i feel like heaven is real 56. Pair of trainers: bordeaux ones i bought with my mom because they have rainbow shoelaces MORE GENERAL: 57. Eating: just ate dinner! a fish burger and fries 58. Drinking: tea 59. I’m about to: greet my friends!!!!!!! 61. Waiting for: a trip to the seaside 62. Want: to cry/laugh 63. Get married: yes i’ve been planning to for years 64. Career: translator! WHICH IS BETTER?: 65. Hugs or kisses: kisses i like them 66. Lips or eyes: eyes 67. Shorter or taller: don’t care 68. Older or younger: doesn’t matter 70. Nice arms or nice stomach: i have a thing for muscly arms in girls?? help me im gay 71. Sensitive or loud: don’t care 72. Hook up or relationship: depends on my mood? i like both sometimes 73. Troublemaker or hesitant: ?????? HAVE YOU EVER: 74. Kissed a stranger: every party i attend is me ending up with someone i don’t know 75. Drank hard liquor: oh boy let me tell you 76. Lost glasses/contact lenses: fortunately not 77. Turned someone down: yes :( 78. Sex on the first date: i don’t go on dates 79. Broken someones heart: i hope not? 80. Had your heart broken: dude.bro. 81. Been arrested: not yet 82. Cried when someone died: i try not to but yes 83. Fallen for a friend: *imagine me sitting at a table and crossing my arms* let me tell you some stories DO YOU BELIEVE IN: 84. Yourself: nah 85. Miracles: nah 86. Love at first sight: nah 87. Santa Claus: nah 88. Kiss on the first date: dude 89. Angels: nah OTHER: 90. Current best friends name: aleksandra lmao this is so awkward every time 91. Eyecolor: brown and i hate them @namgii can fight me 92. Favorite movie: im not really into movies but if i had to choose it’d be the whole x-men series fight me i won't tag 20 people?? tagging @gay-jk, @mangotrees, @lovelyhobs, @1gfmomo, @mediterraneangay, @trendylesbian, @lesbianjimin, @mixtapenamjoon, @parumaffinis! only if you want to!!

#tag games #!!fun #sorry for messing up your notifications

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samingtonwilson · 7 years

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Loot - Part 7 - Jim Kirk

Loot masterlist Word count: 2,734 (GOD WHAT THE HELL) Warnings: language

A/N: let me start off by saying part 8 will be a lot better and will actually push the story along, i just wanted and needed some leonard mccoy in my life. i want to wrap this story up in 10-11 parts so we’ll see if i can actually do that. also the romulan in here is pulled right from memory alpha because im too lazy to look for more somewhere else. i also added uhura to this part because i would die for her. that’s all i guess. ENJOY N LEMME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK! tell me if you want to be tagged, etc.

You sat beside Lieutenant Nyota Uhura on the bridge. The officer usually in that place, Lieutenant Bashir was cooped up in the medbay with something resembling Legionnaires’ disease but of an unknown origin— McCoy assumed it came from the away mission Jim and six others carried out despite advice not to.

The doctor’s advice was sound considering the hostile natives of the planet that forced the away team into hiding. This wouldn’t have been much of a problem had there not been an ongoing storm— that interference rendered Scotty unable to beam the seven officers back on board and forced said seven to fend for themselves food-wise. Usually well-stocked with rations, Jim ensured the crew there would be absolutely no way they would miss any meals. This, of course, was wrong and poor Lieutenant Bashir, who filled the medbay with his groans and winces, likely ingested a foreign bacteria through the planet’s limited water and food supply.

While you were thankful to shadow probably the absolute best xenolinguist in Starfleet Academy history because of Jim’s decision to execute the away mission, his behavior worried you.

You’d always heard that Jim was daring, brave, and adventurous, but each decision he’d made in the last week was made without consideration for consequences. Being the last person to preach that, however, you kept quiet— and it wasn’t as if the two of you were speaking enough for you to say anything in the first place.

“Here— put this in,” Nyota told you, placing her metallic earphone in your hand. She rose from her chair next. “And sit here. I want to play you a recording from a few years ago.”

You nodded and stuck the speaker in your ear, a bobbled portion of it sticking out. You smoothed your hand over your tied hair and slid into her seat as she stood behind you.

You enjoyed Nyota’s company. She was a better teacher than most at the Academy. Her technique, her knowledge, and her humor helped beyond what any class would. Aside from her total brilliance, she was quick-witted, kind when merited, and extremely understanding— not to mention outrageously beautiful.

Her dark hair was usually pulled back and tied out of her striking features, her large brown eyes always lined impeccably with black eyeliner and the thickest frame of eyelashes, and her cappuccino skin managed to glow in even the abysmal lighting of the bridge and the commissary. You had to physically stop yourself from constantly flirting with her— especially around Commander Spock.

She reached over your shoulder and flipped a switch, the screen displaying several sound waves.

“Now, listen carefully. I want you to tell me what you hear— an origin planet of the dialect and a translation.”

You nodded again and listened as she played the recording at a louder volume. You bit down on your bottom lip and leaned forward. “It’s Romulan.”

“What’s it saying?”

You listened carefully and tilted your head a little.

“Setha-tri par trukatha. Setha-ki par trukatha. Setha-mille par trukatha.”

Your eyebrows came together and you repeated the message in your head. “Is it a self-destruction message?”

“Yes!” she said loudly, her hand clapping against your shoulder. She laughed when you winced quietly. “Oh, honey, you’d be surprised how many communications officers actually speak and understand any of the three Romulan dialects. It’s how I got this position— the officer before me couldn’t distinguish Romulan from Vulcan.”

“And he was the primary communications officer?” you snorted.

She motioned for you to move back to your original seat. “I know, I couldn’t believe it either. I guess not everyone has an aptitude for languages like you and I,” she said with a sigh, brushing her hair over her shoulder.

You laughed and sat back. You crossed your legs, setting your arms atop your knee. Your fingers went from being clasped together to twisting one another and the toe of your boot went from bouncing to kicking the air.

You knew your restlessness was a by-product of your anxiety caused by your presence on the bridge— and you thought that domino effect was awfully tiring.

Though the bridge crew was nice enough, Jim constant occupation of the captain’s chair was unnerving. Once aboard the bridge, Captain Mode was his default setting. His arms placed on the armrests so his fingers could dangle off the ends, he would sit with his icy blue eyes narrowed at the large window overlooking open space. He spoke only when he deemed necessary and rarely smiled in the way you were so used to.

As if you didn’t know, Nyota told you this was unlike him. Of course, he would behave as a captain should whilst on the bridge, however, he would rarely snap as he was beginning to and would rarely keep the atmosphere so full of tension. He usually spoke non-stop, expressing his observations to Spock, Chekov, or Sulu— depending on who he thought would be more interested in his musings. She said the behavioral change had come about in just the past two weeks or so.

He seemed vacant.

His eyes felt vacant, his voice sounded vacant, and his smiles appeared vacant. He didn’t look lost or uninterested, nor did he look sad or especially frustrated, he was just absent. Physically there, his features and behavior made you think he’d gone as far as he could in his mind and sat there without the ability to face what was before him. He reminded you of a shell.

You thought he might have sensed the intense emptiness of his actions and tried to make up for it with increasingly risky behavior— as if he was overcompensating.

From the execution of an unendorsed-by-his-crew away mission, to his blatant disregard for Spock’s warnings about the native population by poking the natives’ patience with a stick, Jim seemed to be hoping his riskiness would give his superficial frustration, his disingenuous lack of interest the appearance of substance. Like he really was an angry young man stereotype that thought himself above all else.

It was poor decision-making on his part considering each member of his crew knew him well enough to know he rarely embodied and relied on stereotypes— even you knew him well enough to know that.

But he stuck to it. He remained vacant and continued to overcompensate with bouts of anger and precarious behavior— and you couldn’t help but feel totally responsible.

The thought that you made Jim into the shell he’d assumably become when your intention was to prevent the occurrence of such a thing in the future pushed your tired body to the point of utter exhaustion— an exhaustion too deep for sleep to cure, an exhaustion inching you toward regretting coming on the bridge each morning.

You returned to the bridge like clockwork each day regardless.

You only observed Nyota for three hours and the objective benefits outweighed the subjective cons. Besides, you were beginning to think of going to the bridge and seeing Jim act this way as penance for your mistake-prone, likely blister-covered soul.

At the end of your three hours, you would find relief in solitude. Solitary turbolift ride, solitary walk from the lift to your quarters, solitary evening in your quarters. It was a relief like no other.

However, much to your dismay, today was a bit different.

Unfortunately, you were to head to the medbay for your weekly check-in with McCoy. Although it was only the second time you had one of these appointments, you were tired of them.

You loved Dr. McCoy— he was as funny as he was grumpy, and he was very grumpy— but the idea of needing to be checked over every week to make sure you hadn’t charred another part of your body felt a bit excessive.

As you rose from your chair after saying goodbye to Nyota, you pulled the left sleeve of your shirt to cover the scarring that remained over your palm and fingers and took a deep breath to sooth your lightheadedness.

You smiled at Chekov when you caught his eye as he turned around and silently waved.

He returned the wave, his action gaining Jim’s attention.

Jim twisted his neck a bit, a lock of his otherwise neat blonde hair falling over his forehead. His blue eyes met yours and you watched his eyebrows fall to a neutral position rather than furrowed. His frown straightened out and his usually clenched jaw came loose.

You smiled at him a little, nodding once. The lightheadedness, in turn, grew stronger.

He offered you a similar smile and turned to face the window again.

You took that as your cue to rush to the lift and not stop deep breathing exercises until it came to a halt upon your desired deck.

The medbay doors slid open as you approached them and the smell of antiseptic was overpowering. The pretty blonde nurse seated at the nurse’s station smiled at you politely.

You knew she recognized you. You felt in the medbay what frequent flyers probably felt in airports— you just didn’t like it.

“He’s in Exam Room 2,” she said, motioning towards the corridor to your left.

You nodded and, once you were two feet from entering the exam room, called out, “Bonesy, I’m still scarred.”

“Emotionally or physically?” was the response you received as you stepped through the door. You could hear the smirk in his gruff voice.

“Oh, both.” You smiled at him and hopped onto the biobed. “Obviously.”

He was leant against the counter on the far right of the room with his arms crossed over his chest. His dark hair was combed perfectly and his blue shirt was totally wrinkle-free— it was hard to believe he was on hour seven of an eight-hour shift. “What’s the damage this week?”

“Minimal,” you answered honestly, rolling your sleeves up. You held your arms out to him. “See? No new burns.”

He rolled his hazel eyes with a purse of his lips— his usual disbelieving expression. He stepped before you and began recording the many numbers displayed on the monitor. “Vitals are off. Heart rate is quick and temperature’s a little high. Have you been feelin’ a little sick lately?”

“No more so than usual.”

You wanted to back away from his hand as he laid it flat against your forehead, his lips forming an abyss-like scowl.

“Last time we did your bloodwork, your hemoglobin and sodium were low. Takin’ those iron supplements and salt tablets, I trust.” His expression said he did not trust.

You shrugged. “Whenever I remember to.”

“Not good enough.” He stared at his PADD again. “Eatin’ well?”

“We’re on a starship, Bones. No one is eating well.”

“Try to,” he said simply, looking up at you through his thick eyelashes. “What about sleep? Gettin’ enough of that?”

You narrowed your eyes. “Define ‘enough.’”

“Darlin’, have you been sleeping at all?”

“‘At all’ is, like, one minute and above, right?” you asked. “If so, yes, I have been sleeping at all.”

He offered you his most sarcastic look. “You’re not eating right, your vitals are all over the place, you only take your supplements when you remember to rather than when you’ve been asked to, and you aren’t sleepin’. This is what you’re callin’ minimal damage?”

“Yes, but all of those things were true last week, too. This week, I didn’t burn myself,” you pointed out with an almost pitiable amount of pride. “That’s real progress, my friend.”

“That’s real pathetic, my friend.”

“You’ll heal more flies with honey than vinegar.”

He snorted. “It’s ‘you’ll catch more flies with honey.’ Either your lack of sleep is already takin’ a toll on cognitive processes, or you’ve never been the sharpest tool in the shed.” He paused to frown in consideration before continuing, “Maybe a lil’ bit of both.”

“Has anyone ever told you to heal with love?”

“Ain’t a chance in hell I’ll be takin’ your advice after ‘you’ll heal more flies with honey,’” he told you with a laugh, shaking his head once. “I take it the lack of burns means Scotty fixed your replicator.”

“Something like that,” you shrugged. “He threw it out and gave me a new one.”

You’d thought that, in itself, would be a pain. You wouldn’t have an excuse to have forearms littered with crescent-shaped burns anymore. You would be forced into being careful— something you weren’t used to.

The artifact wasn’t giving you much trouble, however, and didn’t bother the ship much either. After you returned from the medbay and retrieved it from the storage closet that night, you tossed the burnt shirt aside and stared at the ancient metal in your hands. You ran your finger over the inscriptions and fought the urge to throw it against the wall. Instead, you once again placed it in your closet and prepared yourself for the worst.

But, over the last two weeks, a strange calm had come over the artifact. There were no temperature hikes, no increases in humidity, no spikes in volatility— an orange glow stayed over your clothes and a soft hum emitted from the closet. You assumed it was due to the artifact’s overcoming of the nebula’s magnetic impact and hoped for precisely that, extremely satisfied that you weren’t roped into heedful behavior.

“Wise man.”

“Wise snitch of a man,” you corrected, scowling.

McCoy snorted. “Don’t be such a child— he did the right thing.”

“Yeah, yeah— agree to disagree. Let’s move on.”

“Okay, new subject then.” He looked up from his PADD and set the tablet beside you on the biobed. “Is there a reason you aren’t able to eat or sleep?”

“Seamless topic change.”

“Thanks, I try. Answer the question.

“There’s a reason,” you nodded. “The food’s gross and my mattress is made of broken glass.”

He narrowed his eyes and raked his long fingers through his hair. “I’m bein’ serious. Did you notice a pick-up in your sleeplessness and lack of appetite?”

“Cut to the chase,” was becoming a common phrase for you since boarding the Enterprise and you used it again in that moment, crossing your arms over your chest and cocking a single eyebrow.

“In the last two weeks, you’ve barely been eating.”

He shook his head when you opened your mouth to speak. “Don’t try to defend yourself, sweetheart— I pulled your replicator logs.”

He nodded when you shut your mouth and continued, “Judging by the onset of your pale appearance, your lightheadedness, forgetfulness, obvious deficiency in knowledge of idioms, you haven’t been able to sleep for approximately the same amount of time.”

“Okay. I’ve been busier these last two weeks— with Uhura on the bridge and—”

“I make it a point not to get involved with Jim’s love life.” He shook his head and clicked his tongue, “Or rather, sex life. But I’ll interfere when I feel like it’s necessary.” He sighed and crossed his arms over his chest just as you had. “So, tell me, darlin’, what the fuck is wrong with the two of you that two weeks of nonsense aren’t enough?”

“What?” You sounded a bit annoyed— mostly because you were. “What are you talking about?”

“Botha y’all, I swear,” he said under his breath. “Fuck if I care who is sleepin’ with who, but when your health starts slipping, it becomes my concern. Same with Jim’s.”

“I’m fine, Jim is fine.”

“It’s like y’all fuckin’ rehearsed this shit. I can see who’s fine and who isn’t with objectivity, I don’t need your input or Jim’s input. Be adults, talk to one another, sort it out— there would be no reason for the both of you to be so upset if it was unsalvageable.”

“Bones, my reasons haven’t changed. Think of it as preventative measures, like a vaccine.”

He smiled at you softly. “Darlin’, dealing with people and dealing with diseases are two very different things. Stop worryin’ about what’ll happen in the future and causin’ yourself pain on a ‘what if.’”

“If the ‘what if’ comes true, it’s gonna be a lot worse than this.”

“Take it as it comes. This whole thing might be worth all of that.” He paused and raised a single eyebrow, frowning. “Hard to believe y’all have feelings for each other in the first place— you both have the emotional depth of goldfish and the attachment tendencies of nomads.”

“Please, God, no more analogies.”

tagged: @outside-the-government @daughterofthebrowncoats @multifandom-slytherin@buckyy3s @cinema212 @caaptain @dani-fae @wonders-of-the-enterprise @imaginesofdreams @the-witching-hours12-3 @kaitymccoy123

#jim kirk #jim kirk imagine #kirk imagine #jim kirk x reader #star trek #star trek imagine #captain kirk x reader #captain kirk imagine #imagine kirk #imagine jim kirk #imagine this story not going off the rails #imagine me actually writing something decent #imagine getting a good night's sleep #byeeeeeeee

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