#i miss the dA stuff too and i wish it wasn’t cringe and i wish i could have everything that’s ever been part of me all in one place. lol

[melzula]

Refined Taste

pairing: Zuko x Princess!reader

notes: an anon requested some more Iroh and Princess content so I delivered hehe

~ part of the fire lilies series ~

The soft whistle of the boiling tea pot is a welcomed sound that brings you a great sense of peace and comfort as you work in the kitchen of the Jasmine Dragon. Few customers occupy the shop as they sit and chat over cups of tea and mini cakes— a limited time only delicacy curtesy of the Chief of the Southern Water Tribe— and with a lull in the crowd after a very busy day at work, you’re happy to spend your free time chatting away with Iroh.

Today marked the fourth day of Zuko’s much needed slumber, so while you waited for him to wake you spent your time revisiting old friends and places in Ba Sing Se. You said hello to Miss Tai and bought three new dresses to help support her small business, you went out for a pleasant lunch date with Jin, and, something you were admittedly embarrassed about doing, you spent your evenings wistfully gazing out your window in hopes of spotting the Blue Spirit. It was odd being back in the place that held some of your happiest and some of your darkest memories, but you loved it all the same. During the day you made sure to check on Zuko as he slept, and when your presence was no longer needed you made yourself useful by helping Iroh run the Jasmine Dragon.

The events that had occurred in Yu Dao had almost been disastrous, but with the help of Katara and the residents of the colony Aang was finally able to see that Zuko had been right all along. You stayed on the sidelines just as you had told Zuko you would, it wasn’t your place to interfere, but now that things had settled and King Kue was willing to negotiate you would be attending the meeting as a representative for the South and to offer any aid you could. However, such a council could not take place until Zuko awoke, and so you found yourself in the company of Uncle Iroh.

“I don’t even want to imagine what my nephew’s life would be like without your courage and support,” Iroh says over the boiling water. “Thank you again for bringing him to me, y/n. Spirits know he wouldn’t have come on his own, he’s too stubborn.”

“Well, I did have some help from Aang,” you admit with a quiet laugh, “but you don’t need to thank me. I love Zuko, and I’ll always look out for his best interests.”

“So you’ve proven time and time again. He is lucky to have you, you know. Very lucky.”

“Thank you, Uncle,” you smile, gazing down bashfully at the sleeves of your dress. “But Zuko’s also lucky to have you.”

“He is lucky to have both of us. I mean, we are an excellent team,” Iroh says with a wink. Your shared laughter quiets at the sound of careful footsteps making their way into the room, and you feel your heart swell with love and adoration at the sight of a sleepy Zuko standing in the kitchen doorway.

“Well, look who finally decided to wake up!”

“Hi sleepyhead,” you say with a smile, rising from your seat to meet him halfway. Zuko is grateful for your touch as you rest a hand upon his cheek and press your lips against his own in a delicate kiss. You taste of honey and ginger, your intoxicating scent of fire lilies invading his senses, and though Zuko wishes he could kiss you with fervency, he settles for one last lingering kiss before finally parting from you; making out in front of his Uncle is something he’d rather not do, so he composes himself.

“How are you feeling?” Iroh asks, watching with an amused smile on his face as you and Zuko immediately cling to each other. Your arms wind around one another and hold each other close, and the love you share is enough to warm the old man’s heart. Yes, Zuko is in very good hands.

“Better,” Zuko notes faintly, “but tired.”

“I’ll make you a nice cup of green tea to wake you up a bit,” the man says as he immediately gets to work.

“Let’s go sit down,” you suggest, taking Zuko’s hand and guiding him towards one of the empty tables in the shop. He seats himself with a yawn and smiles gratefully as you take off your warm shawl and drape it over his shoulders before pressing a chaste kiss to his cheek. “Hungry? There’s still some mini cakes left over.”

“Are there any strawberry cakes?” He asks with a meek smile.

“But of course! What kind of girlfriend would I be if I didn’t make my boyfriend his favorite kind of mini cakes? I’ll be right back.”

“Thank you,” Zuko calls after your retreating form, hearts in his eyes as he watches you disappear behind the curtains. Would it be selfish of him to ask you to be his Fire Lady right now?

Iroh leaves the kitchen with a pot of tea just as you walk in to fetch Zuko his cake. You make sure to grab the one with the most strawberries and extra frosting, the way he likes it, and set it neatly onto a plate before returning to your beloved. Aang is now seated across from him, and so you say nothing as you place his food before him and sit down beside Zuko.

“—Since Roku’s my past life, in a way you’re my family, Zuko. And no matter how hard I’ve tried, I’ve never been able to detach myself from those sorts of bonds,” Aang laments. “It’s a flaw, I know, but it’s one I’ve decided to accept, for this life at least.”

“You’re not the one who’s flawed, Aang,” Zuko sighs. “Why can’t the struggle get easier for me? Even just a little? Sometimes I wonder how long I’ll last.”

He doesn’t meet your gaze when the confession leave his lips, but the way in which Zuko reaches over and tightly grabs hold of your hand is enough. Your heart breaks at his words and you desperately wish you could ease his pain and worries, but you know that being here by his side is enough for now. And you’ll be by his side whenever he needs you to be.

“You know, in that dream, a woman stood with us on that mountaintop watching from the shadows. I think she was my mother...”

“Sometimes, dreams are the way a person’s spirit reveals the answer to his own problems,” Iroh notes wisely. Then, with a humorous smile on his face, “but, then again, sometimes they are just the result of eating spicy food before going to bed.”

“Maybe finding my mother would connect me to a part of my heritage that isn’t so murky and confusing,” Zuko notes thoughtfully. “Maybe then I’d finally find peace. I’ve never told anyone this, but right after I became Fire Lord I sent out search party after search party looking for her. I even hired June and her shirshu. They all came back empty handed. What can I do now that I haven already tried?”

“It’s a new world, Zuko. You need to take some new risks,” Aang says wisely.

“We all do,” you agree, your mind already beginning to drift elsewhere as you calculate how long you can stay away from home without being missed too much.

“Speaking of risks,” Iroh cuts in with a smile as he presents three glass of odd looking to your trio, “why don’t you all try this brand-new beverage I invented?”

“What is it?” You ask curiously, taking the glass Zuko hands to you and swirling the odd looking balls at the bottom of it with your straw.

“Well first, I cook tapioca balls until they’re soft and tender. Then I put them in the tea, where they sit like little pearl-sized snacks at the bottom of each cup! Add a little milk and— ta-da!— a revolution in tea is born!”

Zuko and Aang share uneasy glances with each other before slowly taking sips from their glasses only to immediately cringe the moment the tapioca balls hit their their tongues.

“What is that trying to sneak into my mouth?!” Zuko exclaims after promptly spitting out the pearls.

“Wow,” Aang chuckles nervously, “I’ve never had tea that’s quite so... chewy.”

“It seems I am a man ahead of my time,” Iroh says sadly, his eyes casted downward to the floor. However, the noisy sound of a straw directs all attention towards the smiling Princess and interrupts his bout of sadness. Oblivious to the gazes of your friends set upon you, you happily suck the last of your tea from the glass until it’s completely empty. It’s only once your drink is gone do you finally notice the strange looks sent your way by Zuko and Aang.

“What?” You retort with furrowed brows. “It’s really good.”

“Finally, someone with taste!” Iroh exclaims happily at your praise. “It appears I am a revolutionary after all.”

“You actually like that stuff?” Zuko says flabbergasted.

“It’s just tea, but different,” you shrug, grinning when Zuko hands you his leftover drink to finish for him. “However, the only thing I would add is some ice. It tastes better cold.”

“Genius!” The tea maker compliments, watching in awe as you bend ice cubes of your own to plop into the glass. “Y/n, you must come to the Jasmine Dragon more often, I could use your refined taste.”

“‘Refined’ is a strong word,” Zuko murmurs only for you to elbow his side. “Ow! What did I say?”

“I’d be happy to, Uncle,” you say with a sweet smile.

“I think I know who the new favorite is,” Aang jokes only for Zuko to roll his eyes. However, he can’t help the smile that grows on his face as he watches you and his Uncle interact together. It was safe to say you hadn’t made a good impression on his sister or his father, but the only thing Zuko really cared about was his Uncle, and from what he could see the two of you were like peas in a pod. Faintly, Zuko wondered if you would be the same way with his mother.

“What are you thinking about?” You whisper to the Fire Lord, immediately taking notice of his far off look.

“About you,” Zuko admits to your surprise, “and how much I love you. And how I’m really glad you’re here.”

Heat spreads its way across your face and you smile bashfully at his profession, resting your head upon his shoulder as you converse with Aang. Though Zuko hates to keep you away from home longer than you need to be, he knows he’ll need your help with something else. But before he can ask you, there’s one person he still needs to see before he can begin his next journey.

He needs to talk to Azula.

| tags: @rainteslerrrr @simpinforsukka @sirkekselord @protect-remus @oddment-niwit-blubber-tweak @thebluelcdy @royahllty @the-firebender-girl @coldlilheart @ilovespideyyy @yiyibetch @eridanuswave @lammello @a-monsters-love @knaite-solo @draqondance @taeeemin @user12345321 @just--artemis--with--ghost @titaniafire @dekahg @emberislandplayers @kikaninchen-2 @lozzybowe @izzieserra @melacholy @music-geek19 @thia-aep @thyunnamed @haylaansmi @nataliahaslosthershit @idkdude776 @aangsupremacy @thirstyforsometea @ihaveaproblem98 @brown-eyed-thang @djskfkdkkf @xapham @yeetletzgetitjae @misnmatchedsox @chewymoustachio @that-bucket-hat-gal @chilifrylizard2 @kyomihann @kaylove12 @kiwihoee @freggietale @neighborhoodpansexualdisaster @noodlesfluffy @moon-spirit-yue @bubblegum-bee-otch

[rainwolfheart]

i've been playing lovelink for a few days and i have reviews

Adam/Dominic - total sweetheart. lil basic but I am absolutely spending gems on him. 9/10

Aesha/Samantha - I wanted to like her but I can't deal with the cringe. and mc being so oblivious to game culture. also I am not into the sexy videogame outfits thing. 3/10

Albert/Jonathan - no thanks I don't respect the troops. might match with Albert if I'm desperate to farm gems. 1/10

Alex/Calum - too forward, wish there were more "cool your jets bro" options like there are with Blake/Keanu. also just doesn't feel realistic. "couldn't afford canvas so I painted on myself"??? you can buy canvas at the dollar store, it's good paint that's expensive. try harder. 3/10

Alice/Eve - matched with Eve before I reset and I want her back. didn't get far enough to really get to know her tho. 7/10

Ana/Milena/Ruby - I'm not into the "born sexy yesterday and you're the only human she knows" thing. I think she's super sweet and interesting and I want to help her, but I want her to make real friends and do stuff without mc! the obsession makes me uncomfortable. 3/10

Angel/Emmalyn - super sweet but I want to have nuanced animal rights/veganism conversations with her every time 😬 5/10

Antoine/Noah - one of the only pairs who's never come up! I want to match with Noah and get dog pictures. 5/10

Austin/Damien - ehh could take it or leave it. probably gonna match with Austin to farm gems. maybe I'll be surprised. 2/10

Blake/Keanu - kinda enjoying it. I matched with Blake first with a more femme mc in mind and I was kinda creeped out, but after I reset I matched with Keanu with a more masc mc and I'm into it. he's cuter. wish his pics were actually covered in ink tho?? he's got a sleeve and like 2 big pieces, he's not even the character with the most lmao. 5/10

Charlie/Jake/Zayn - ngl Charlie was one of the reasons I reset. I had already matched with Zayn but I found out Charlie is probably trans and I couldn't not. honestly not super into the storyline, as a theatre major who is a terrible actor, but I can live with it. 6/10

Clementine/Grace - matched with Grace before I reset, gonna go for Clementine tho. Grace has too many "sexy nerd halloween costume" vibes for me. Clementine has the same name as my cat but at least she's less cringe. 4/10

Cpt. Muffin - BEST MATCH. BRING HIM BACK. 11/10.

Dahlia/Rose - I think Dahlia is the most like someone I'd date irl she's too fucking cute. I have spent gems on every single option so far. I am buying an engagement ring and all the snacks as we speak. 10/10.

Daniel/Ryan - matched with Daniel before I reset and probs will again. kept rolling my eyes at his story tho. you can't just breach your NDAs to a random person on a dating app!! 4/10

Didier/Mamoru - waiting patiently for Mamoru.... 5/10

Dr. Vile - I'm a lil disappointed he greyed out so early. I'm having fun with the story but not sold yet. 6/10

Eveline/Jade - had Eveline before I reset and I want her back!!!! possibly my fave after Dahlia and Adam. also the kind of person I'd be into irl. 9/10

Garrett/Rory - pls match with me Garrett. 8/10

Hazel - ??? 4/10

Hugo/Marco - unpopular opinion but I really really dislike him. he's constantly flirting with someone behind Sally's back, I'd call that cheating, and yet you can never be upfront with him. I choose the friendliest options every time and yet he persists. 1/10

Jaden/Skylar - everyone's obsessed with Skylar and I haven't found him yet. curious to see what the hype is about. 5/10

Jamie/Seth - I've heard so little about these two. curious but only vaguely. 5/10

Jasmin/Kayla - pleasantly surprised by how much I like her? I feel like both their profiles don't reflect how they are in conversations at all. wish she and mc weren't such dumbasses tho. 5/10

Julien/William - match with me pls Julien. 6/10

Liam/Min-Jae - matched with Min-Jae briefly before I reset and I'm curious about his story, not sold yet. I'm not into kpop so it's interesting for mc to also be an outsider. 5/10

Michael/Sam - you are a child!!! I don't want to match with them tbh. 1/10

Nicholas - I like the concept but because mc keeps worrying he's pranking them, he sometimes reminds me of those people who are really into historical rp to the point where they pretend to not understand modern life. that da Vinci pic is hilarious. I wish you had the option to talk about being queer in the 18th century with him!! 6/10

Nick - ??? 4/10

Oliver/Stefan - no. 1/10

Raphael/Wyatt - Wyatt looks too much like Shaggy for me 😂 curious to talk to Raphael tho. 4/10

Sage/Vitoria - big titty goth gf. love her. she's not a werewolf yet in my game but I am waiting respectfully. also wish mc wasn't such an asshole after she ditches the first date. 8/10

Sheng/Tomas - idk enough. curious. 4/10

Theo - so mad I missed them. come back. be queer with me. 7/10

Tiros - as long as you don't think too much about how centaur sex works he is so much fun. sexy constantly shirtless man lost on a beach trying to reclaim his honour. sign me up. 6/10

[melwritesstufff]

Hiya your Tim drake imagine was *chefs kiss* lovely and I was wondering if you'd do a Damian or Tim x reader where they introduce their so to the batfam and the reader is like drop dead gorgeous and the batfam spend the whole time asking reader tf their doing with him (if you don't feel like it das cool) :))

hi thank you so much for the request! I did this for Tim since I feel like I have a bit of a better understanding of his character than I do Damian. sorry this is also a bit shorter than expected, the end was a bit rushed.

Tim Drake x reader - Gorgeous

warnings - making out, flirting, a little bit of angst

word count - 3200

requested - yes

“Babe, how do I look?” I turned, showing my knee length red dress to my boyfriend. It was a simple look, not too basic to make me appear boring, but not too many accessories to make me seem snobby or obsessed with looks. I had planned the outfit weeks in advance of this event, yet I was still worrying my head off.

“You look amazing, as usual.” He responded.

It was just like any other ordinary day. Except that it wasn’t. Today was the day of the dinner. I mean the dinner. The dinner that all relationships have eventually. The terrifying dinner where you finally meet your lovers parents. In this case though, I think I have it worse than any other ordinary person. You see, my boyfriend is Tim Drake. Yes, the Tim Drake. Son of Bruce Wayne. And brother to… a whole lot of people.

I mean don’t get me wrong, I love Tim. A lot. I would do anything to make him happy, and if that means meeting his terrifying and rich family? Then so be it. I just hope I don’t screw anything up.

“Are you sure? I mean is it too casual? You said it wasn’t fancy but I don’t want to be the only one there in basic clothing… What if we show up and they’re all in suits! I mean, i can’t-” Tim interrupted me.

“Darling, you’re going to be just fine. They may seem intimidating but I promise you they’re going to love you. No need to worry.” He walked up to me, placing his right hand on the side of my cheek, caressing the skin with his thumb. He then scrunched his nose in what appeared to be.. concern? Worry? I wasn’t sure.

“Actually, scratch that thought. I’m the one who I should be worried. My brothers might steal you from me.” He turned away from me, his expression clearly displaying worry and fear.

“That’s nonsense, Timmy. I want to be with you, not any of your brothers.” Looking back I should have made a larger effort to cease his negative feelings and doubt, but I didn't know any better.

He looked at me, the worry disappearing from his eyes, almost completely. There was still a hint of it there, but I brushed it off as just nerves. We were both nervous. Just for different reasons.

“Yeah, alright babe.” He smiled at me. I smiled back. I turned to the door and grabbed by purse, slipping on my shoes simultaneously. I turned to Tim who was fixing his hair in the circular mirror hanging on the wall near the front door.

“You wanna head out? It’s almost time for the dinner.” He grabbed the keys, opening the front door for me, then doing the same when we reached the car. My cheeks heating up. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to how sweet Tim is.

I avoided his cocky smirk and as we both got seated, Tim started driving us to the mansion. Hopefully, this wouldn’t turn out as a disaster.

“Alright, let’s go.”

.

“Hello Master Drake. I presume this is the y/n I’ve heard so much about?” Tim and I arrived at the mansion door, only to find their butler, Alfred, already waiting for us out front with the door opened. We paused for a bit as Tim and Alfred conversed.

“Yup, this is her Alfred. Are Dick and them here yet?” Tim looked over Alfred’s shoulder to peak into the huge home. Curiously, I also tried to peak over the older man’s shoulder but saw nothing as Tim was in my way.

“Yes sir, they just arrived a few minutes ago. I presume you shall find them in the main room, probably breaking something I’ll have to clean up later.” I chucked a bit as Alfred made a subtly annoyed look. I felt obligated to say something, so I separated from Tim as he walked into the doorway, entering the hallway.

“Um, hello. Thank you for opening up the door for us.” Alfred smiled at my thanks. While it is his job as a butler, there’s no harm in saying thank you, right?

“It’s my pleasure, Miss l/n. And thank you for taking care of Master Drake. He has been significantly happier in recent times.” I blushed at the butler's words. I knew Tim didn’t always have the best habits but did I really have that much of a positive impact on him? Quite frankly though, it was nice hearing about Tim from his family members, and how he’s happy.

“Oh it’s no problem! I love Tim, I’m glad I could help.” I brushed a strand of hair away from my face and tucked it behind my ear.

“Y/n? Come on, you must be getting cold out there.” I turned at the sound of my boyfriend's voice, it was getting a bit chilly and I was only wearing a dress, no sweater or leggings.

“Oh, that’s my call, bye Alfred! I hope to talk to you more soon.” Alfred stepped aside, giving me access to walk through the open doorway. I turned back a bit, waving towards Alfred.

“Likewise, Miss l/n” I cringed a bit at the honorary title. I wasn’t a member of the family or household. The title ‘Miss l/n’ just didn’t feel appropriate or right.

“Oh do please call me y/n.” I waved off the butler, hoping he would respect my wishes.

“Likewise, Miss y/n” i huffed a bit at his stubbornness, but chuckled and walked deeper into the large place, the sound of Alfred closing the door behind me.

So far this has gone well, maybe I was worried for no reason.

.

“Wait, you’re Tim’s girlfriend? You?” I was suddenly bombarded by two older men and their abundance of questions as soon as I entered what I assumed to be the main living room. It was quite scary, to be completely honest. Not only were they Tim’s family but they were both very large men, clearly very fit.

“Ye-yeah. We’ve been together for about 4 months now.” I stuttered, stepping a few inches back as I tried to get myself some space away from the two men.

One was a bit more aggressive than the other, he had a lot of scars and seemed to be very flirtatious. He was the taller and more muscular out of the two, with aquamarine eyes. I assumed he was Jason, Tim mentioned a few times that he was a “stupid brute” with “stupid scars” after he arrived at home after what he said was an argument with Jason during patrol.

The other I assumed was Dick, he was a bit kinder, and seemed effortlessly flirtatious, unlike the other who was purposely trying to flirt with me. Dick, I’m guessing, had more greyish-blue toned eyes and had very dark hair. Regardless of how handsome both the brothers were, they were far from my type. Their strong flirting and comments on my appearance was, quite frankly, off putting.

“But.. why?” Jason propped his elbow against the wall they had backed me into.

“Uhm, what do you mean.. ‘why’?” I hesitantly answered. Slowly becoming less nervous and more annoyed.

“I mean, you’re gorgeous. And Tim’s.. well, Tim.” Dick stood to the right of me, leaning on the same wall Jason was propped up on. He chucked a bit.

“I.. don’t follow.” I raised an eyebrow in confusion, they were Tim’s brothers. They should know how amazing he is and should be supportive of his relationships, not trying to dissect how he got into the relationship.

“Princess, why date that nerd when you could be with me?” I turned to the left, Jason leaning down and getting a bit too close to comfort, at this point I saw Tim scoff a bit as he left the room. I frowned a bit but then was distracted as Dick pushed Jason back and got even closer than his younger brother.

“Or, instead of being with a nerd like Tim, or a total brute like Jason over here, you could be with me.. I’m a total gentleman.” I scoffed shuffled to the side a bit, averting close contact with the tall man.

“Well, I highly doubt that seeing as your name is literally Dick.” He looked taken back, and went from way to close to me, to leaning back against the wall. Muttering something about “Is my name that bad?” or something along those lines.

“Pft- she’s feisty. How’d you score a total 10 like her Tim?” Jason turned around only to see Tim was nowhere to be found. I noticed it too, but took the sudden silence as a chance to defend not only myself, but my boyfriend.

“And I’m perfectly happy with Tim, for your information. I have no need for dating anyone other than him. Especially not his brothers, adopted or otherwise.” The two looked taken back at my sudden lecture.

“Don’t you think it’s also a bit unethical and immoral to be flirting with your brother's girlfriend? I was so worried about impressing you all, but now that I see how immature you all are I see that there was no need for worry. You are all easily impressed children.”  The two looked embarrassed as they stepped back, both going to sit on the couch as the youngest chucked at them and their stupidity.

“Tt, maybe you’re ok…possibly s bit too good for Drake though.” I looked at the child who gave such a big attitude and he looked no older than 13, there was only one candidate for who he could have been.

“You must be Damian right? I've heard a lot about you. You can do some pretty impressive stuff, huh? I’ve been told you’re more than a bit mean though. I would greatly appreciate it if you stopped terrorizing my boyfriend.” I bent down a bit, to get more to his level. Height-wise and respect-wise.

“... I’ll think about it.” According to what I’ve heard from Tim, that was about the best response I could have gotten out of the little gremlin. He ‘tt’ed and looked away, his sky blue eyes holding a glint of what I saw as respect.

“Ok. Thanks.” I smiled and turned around, meeting the eyes of Alfred as he walked through another entry to the right of where I came in through.

“Hello again, Miss y/n.” He smiled at me

“Oh! Hello again Alfred!”

“I came in to announce that dinner is being served in the dining hall. I suggest you all hurry before the food gets cold.”

.

“So, y/n, how’d you end up so gorgeous? Were you just born so beautiful?”

Dinner had just ended. Everyone had stayed at the table, besides Mr. Wayne who couldn't make it due to a ‘business emergency’, and we all made small talk. Unfortunately, my mini speech earlier was not enough to drive the two oldest brothers from asking me odd questions and borderline flirting with me. This time Tim was sitting right next to me, looking more annoyed with each question. I tried my best to stay respectful though, as they are still Tim’s family.

“Oh uhm, thank’s Dick.. uh I-“ my response was cut off as Tim got up, grabbing my hand and dragging me away from the rest of his family.

“Let’s go, y/n” I looked at Tim’s face and he looked more upset than i had ever seen him.

“Wh- what? Tim, babe, where are we going?” While I was a bit grateful, there was still a part of me that felt a bit nervous about our sudden leaving and the impression it would have.

As I let Tim pull me, we entered an unfamiliar room. I assumed it was his as it smelled faintly of his cologne. He let go of my wrist and shut the door. Walking over to the bed in the middle of the room, sitting down and resting his head in his hands. I followed his steps and sat down next to him. The silence killed me. The words that he spoke after though killed me even more.

“... I mean, they’re right you know..” his voice was slightly muffled by his hands but i could still hear the crack in his voice.

“What?” I stared down at the hairs on his head, not being able to see his face.

“They’re right to ask why you’re with me,” he looked up at me, his eyes watery and lips slightly quivering. He was insecure. I should have realized it earlier when he got worried about his brothers stealing me from him. Or when his brothers actually tried to steal me from him and he just walked away. He continued as I was wallowed with guilt.

“You’re an amazing person, y/n. You’re smart and funny and are good with people. You’re naturally friendly and people are just drawn towards you. Not to mention you’re incredibly gorgeous. You’re the most beautiful person I’ve ever met. But me? I’m none of those things. I’m not amazing like you, or any of my brothers. I’m not good with people and charming like Dick. I’m not brave and strong like Jason. I’m not incredibly skilled and widely faceted like Damian. I’m not even that good looking. You’re an amazing, wonderful person. I love you so much. I just.. I don't understand why you would reciprocate and stay with me. You could have so much better. You cou-“ i interrupted him before he started crying. There were tears in his eyes and I couldn’t take it any longer. I needed to tell him I love him and reassure him before his insecure thoughts broke the both of us.

“I’m going to stop you right there. I love you, Tim. I love you. Not Dick, not Jason, and certainly not Damian, I mean he’s a child, that’s gross. You are so much more than what you give yourself credit for. You may not be like your brothers, but you have your own strengths. You are the smartest person I know. And it’s bullshit that you say you're not charming or handsome, because you charmed me the second I saw you. You remember? How I got your order completely wrong because I wasn't paying attention when you ordered? Because you were just so fine that i was stunned?” He chucked a bit, gently grabbing and caressing my hand.

“You didn’t even make me coffee, you just put coffee beans in the cup and drizzled caramel syrup over it.” He softly chuckled.

I used my unoccupied hand to caress his cheek, wiping the tears from his eyes. Continuing my speech, I scooted closer towards him on the bed, our legs pressed against each other and our faces almost touching.

“Yeah, I’m not as perfect as you think. And that’s ok! We all have faults, Tim. We just have to find the people whose faults are worth looking past. And you’re that person for me, Tim. I love you so much. You’re smart, funny, not to mention handsome. You can solve an incredibly complex case in less than an hour. You can learn at an incredibly fast pace. You are incredible at the things you do. Hell, you’re even a vigilante! You go out every night and protect thousands of people! You have a huge abundance of skills. Who cares if Damian has ‘more’ skills or ‘better’ skills. I don’t. Because it’s you I want. Not Dick, not Jason, not anybody else. You’re an amazing person, more amazing than you think I am, and I’m willing to bet way more amazing than your brothers as well. I mean, who was the one who lifted Bruce up out of his depression when Dick hated him and Jason died? You. You did that. Who forgave me after I completely forgot how to make coffee the first time I met you. You. Who’s the one who’s dating me? You. You’re the one I want and the one I love. I honestly need you Tim. I don’t know where I’d be without you. I could never do better because there’s nobody better than you.” I pecked Tim on the lips for extra reassurance and leaned back a bit, looking into his eyes that were watering once more. Hopefully out of joy instead of sadness.

“... you really mean all that?” He spoke softly, voice still a bit weak and raspy from the crying. His eyes were red and puffy, and his lips were slightly swollen. It broke my heart to see him so upset.

“Of course Timmy, I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t.” I leaned in and kissed him, once again. This time, it lasted much longer than a simple peck.

It was sweet and soft. I could taste the tears that had run onto Tim’s lips, giving him a salty aftertaste. He deepened it, grabbing my waist and pulling me so close our torsos were touching. I could feel him smile into the kiss, and I’m sure he felt me do the same. Before we both ran out of breath, Tim broke off the kiss. This created a comfortable silence that followed, until he finally spoke.

“... thank you, y/n. I love you. I can’t express with words how much I adore and am amazed by everything you do, are, and stand for.” Our faces were still close and as he whispered these words i could feel his warm breath on my cheek.

“Can’t express it with words, huh? Well I guess you’ll just have to show me then huh.” I smirked and leaned back a bit, teasing the boy sitting across from me. He paused for a second, looking taken aback, until he shook it off and leaned closer to me.

“I guess so, huh, why don’t you come here so I can show you?“ In that moment, the both of us crashed into each other, turning the sweet moment into a flirtatious make out session.

.

“Well, now we have our answer. She’s perfect for him.” Dick looked at Jason as he spoke, nodding in agreement.

“Yeah, we’ll have to explain and apologize to both of them later but, it was worth it.” The two looked back into the room through the cracked open door. They both cringed and backed up a bit as they saw their brother completely making out with his girlfriend.

Maybe it wasn’t the best idea to spy on their brother... Maybe flirting with his girlfriend wasn’t the best idea either. No matter why they did it.

“Tt, you’re both dumbasses. You didn’t need to flirt with her to get her to prove her loyalty. There are other ways of doing it.” The youngest brother, Damian, popped up leaning on the wall opposite from Tim’s door. The two older brothers looked back at him in suspicion.

“Oh yeah, like what?” Damian raised his eyebrow and scoffed like the answer was so obvious.

“Put her in a high risk situation where she would have to risk her life to save him. That’s true dedication.” He said it as if it was nothing. The three boys all looked at each other in an awkward silence until Jason finally spoke up.

“.. you have issues, kid.”

[unhingeddumbass]

Ben, Kevin and Gwen answer random questions:

DISCLAIMERS: THE QUESTIONS AREN’T MINE, I FOUND THEM IN ANOTHER POST, CREDITS TO OP. I FOUND THEIR BIRTHDAYS IN BEN 10 WIKI, THE CANDLES WERE MADE WITH A BUZZFEED QUIZ AND I’LL PRETEND KEVIN’S DAD WASN’T A FAKE MEMORY, HE WAS REAL, BECAUSE IT WORKS FOR ANSWERING SOME QUESTIONS. I TRIED TO DO THIS BASED ON THE TRIO’S PERSONALITY LIKE THE SHOW AND BEN’S SINGLE BECAUSE I DON’T WANT ANY BEEF AND BECAUSE EVERYONE SHIPS DIFFERENT PEOPLE WITH BEN.

😷Where or with who are you spending quarantine? 

Gwen: I’m staying with Kevin at his mom’s house.

Kevin: What she said lol

Ben: At home with my folks, since Grandpa Max is a risk patient, he’s staying at Galvan Prime with Azmuth. 

✊🏾What’s your position with the current racism tragedy? Are you getting involved in any way? 

Gwen: I’m horrified. I can’t believe we’ve come to such high levels of intolerance and hate and that the government just adds more violence instead of trying to change the situation peacefully. I’ve been getting informed and learning, doing videos teaching people about racism, posted them on my social media so I can try and teach people more. I’m claustrophobic so I don’t go to protests, but I’m supporting from home. 

Kevin: I’m fucking angry. I’ve been at the protests with Ben and we’re trying our best to keep people safe. I’m also working on a piece of tech to cover tear gas before it blows and some bulletproof stuff.

Ben: Like Kevin said, we’ve been on the front with protesters providing help and keeping everyone as safe as possible. Our parents are donating and we’re trying to get the Plumber’s help too, but they said it’s not their jurisdiction. Either way we’re doing our best and we’ll always stand with justice, peace and equality for everyone. 

🐰- do you believe in soul mates?

Gwen: Yaaaas, it’s so romantic! 

Kevin: Uh.. *Looks at Gwen* Only if it’s her. 

Ben: Dafuk’s a soulmate?

💌- diary or journal?

Gwen: A mix between both, I love scrapbooking.

Kevin: Das some soft shit bro *He secretly hides a journal but he’ll never admit*

Ben: Why wasting paper? It’s better to keep everything on the Cloud

💕- are you crushing on someone?

Gwen: Hmm… Patch Cipriano *Kevin glares at her* JUST KIDDING, only you. 

Kevin: This babe right here *Grabs Gwen’s waist and kisses her forehead*

Ben: *Simping* Jennifer Lawrence, Selena Gomez… there’s too many 

💋- kissing in the dark or kissing in the rain?

Gwen: A rainy autumn day *Daydreams*

Kevin: Three words: Dark. Backseat. Lake *Smirks and winks at Gwen*

Ben: *Cringes for the Gwevin moment* Anywhere I guess. 

🍼- what is your favorite memory?

Gwen: Fishing with Grandpa Max and my first karate tournament

Kevin: Buying my car xD

Ben: THAT ICONIC summer vacation, hell yeah

🌸- what is your favorite flower?

Gwen: Yellow roses, ofc.

Kevin: Weed *Gwen elbows him in the chest*

Ben: None, tho I kinda like sunflowers

💖- have you ever been in love?

Gwen: *Looks at Kevin and smiles*, yes. 

Kevin: *Starts singing I’m in Love With My Car by Queen, Gwen glaring at him* Ofc I love you babe, I’m kidding.

Ben: My love belongs to Mr Smoothies

🍰- strawberry or vanilla?

Gwen: Both! Also love coconut.

Kevin: Those are some lame ass flavours, I rather chocolate or blueberries.

Ben: As long as it can be made into a smoothie, I’ll love it.

🍯- describe your favorite smell

Gwen: A new book and a autumn scented candle

Kevin: Gasoline and... *blushes*... Gwen’s shampoo.

Ben: Pickles and chili fries, duuuh. 

🎂- if you had 3 wishes, what would they be?

Gwen: An infinite supply of books, making high education to be accessible to everybody and to reverse the damages the human race has made to the environment.

Kevin: My car to be completely indestructible, free food forever not only for me but to everybody and…*whispering* getting to see my dad at least one last time.

Ben: Infinite chilli fries and smoothies, to stop racism, misogyny and homophobia, and Grandpa Max to be around for a lot of more years. 

🍪- cookie dough or cookies?

Gwen: Freshly baked cookies!

Kevin and Ben: *Screaming* Cookie dough! Salmonella won’t ever stop us!

☕- coffee or tea?

Gwen: Coffee in the winter or at college, tea for relaxing.

Kevin: Bring me the strongest coffee! *Slams fists on table*

Ben: F U C K I N’  S M O O T H I E S 

🍃- would you rather live in a sea with mermaids or a forest with fairies?

Gwen: I can’t choose, I’d love both.

Kevin and Ben: *Smirking with pervert thoughts* MERMAIDS!

🍂- what’s your middle name?

Gwen: Catherine, but I rather being called Gwendolyn instead.

Kevin: Ethan, but dare to call me that and I’ll yeet you into oblivion. 

Ben: Kirby, COULDN’T BE ANY MORE CRINGEEEEEE?

💫- what is your zodiac sign?

Gwen: Cancer (14th July)

Kevin: Scorpio (4th November)

Ben: Capricorn (27th December)

🌧️- favorite thing to do on rainy days?

Gwen: Read, drink tea and listen to calm music.

Kevin: Either I sleep all day or I’ll go to Gwen’s house. 

Ben: Eat, sleep, TV, and rave repeat. 

🍭- how tall are you?

Gwen: 5’6

Kevin: 6’3

Ben: 5’10

💒- which show would you want to live in?

Gwen: The Vampire Diaries or Friends.

Kevin: Law & Order *Screams DUN DUN*

Ben: Summo Slammers!

🎄- what is your favorite holiday?

Gwen: Thanksgiving, because of the family reunion.

Kevin: Saint Patrick’s Day, cuz I have an excuse to get fucking drunk and party

Ben: Christmas! Good food and gifts heck yeah

🍦- what scented candle is your favorite?

Gwen: Warm Vanilla Cookie or Pumpkin Spice.

Kevin: Enchanted Pine

Ben: Citrus Mint

🎶- favorite song right now?

Gwen: Sit Still, Look Pretty by Daya

Kevin: I’m In Love With My Car by Roger Taylor (Queen)

Ben: Human by Cher Lloyd or Game Over by Falling In Reverse

💘- 3 ways to win your heart?

Gwen: Don’t be a dickhead, be supportive, be funny.

Kevin: Respect my space, be brave and plz don’t hate my car

Ben: Be playful, funny and patient of my lifestyle which is very hard

🍩- current mood?

Gwen: Normal, concerned about the pandemic and missing my bff

Kevin: Meh, I don’t go out as often anyway

Ben: I WANNA GO OUT, I HATE QUARANTINE

❄️- what is your favorite season?

Gwen: I like summer but I love autumn

Kevin: I don’t actually mind

Ben: SUMMEEEEEEER 

💍- your current relationship status?

Gwen and Kevin: Taken! *Kiss*

Ben: *Gags and glares at the happy couple* single and enjoying my peaceful life.

🕊️- 3 habits you have?

Gwen: Organizing my books by height, having always my room clean and never leave my house without my earphones

Kevin: The volume on the tv has to be in an even number, my car has to be always well maintained and my phone is mostly on silent or vibration mode.

Ben: Never spend a day without a smoothie, text Grandpa at least once a day or two, and collecting stuff I like.

🦄- how do you perceive yourself?

Gwen: Hardworking, introverted and intellectual

Kevin: I’ve got some roguish charm *smirks* and a little soft sometimes

Ben: Quirky, loud and funny.

🦋- how do you think others perceive you?

Gwen: Some call me golden child or goody two shoes. Probably teacher’s pet too.

Kevin: *Points at Ben* well, he thinks I’m strange and dangerous, so I guess other people think that too, maybe also an asshole.

Ben: A couple people think I’m an egocentric pain in the ass.

🌈- things I find attractive in girls/guys

Gwen: Physical appearance isn’t important, but I love smiles. I like a person who I can be myself with and is honest always. 

Kevin: If a girl is fearless, strong and independent I become a simp for her tbh *Looks at Gwen* That’s how you got me at your feet babe. 

Ben: I really like someone supportive and understanding, also bonus points if they’re not that serious, I want to joke around.  

🍓- one secret about yourself

Gwen: I tend to be a people pleaser and I struggle with standing up for myself around my parents. 

Kevin: I’m a sucker for my mom’s food and I’m actually sensible around the people I care the most about. 

Ben: I’m not as careless and cocky as I pretend to be. Also I secretly love Lady Gaga’s music. 

🎥- what show are you currently binging on?

Gwen: Gossip Girl, bakery shows and Stranger Things

Kevin: CSI and Law & Order, also Pimp My Ride cuz hell yeah old MTV shows

Ben: I mostly watch Summo Slammers but I also like Rick and Morty, Big Mouth and Stranger Things.

💗- who do you miss?

Gwen: My family and my best friend, Emily. 

Kevin: ...my dad. 

Ben: Grandpa Max, no cap. 

🥀- last time you cried?

Gwen: The other day, while we watched A Dog’s Purpose 1 and 2. 

Kevin: I don’t wanna talk about that soft shit

Ben: I had a very lucid nightmare the other day and woke up crying

🔪- scariest/creepiest experience?

All of them: Coming back from death in Legerdomain

[thebrochtuarachs]

I just watched it and I just cry because I suddenly don’t recognise Claire and Bree anymore and I feel super bad for Jamie - not because Roger deserved that beat up - but that Brianna and Claire did nothing - NOTHING - to, at least, make him understand.

HERE ARE SOME OF MY OTHER THOUGHTS ON THE 4x10 EPISODE: 

1. Though I really missed the JB fireplace/cuddle scene (which I feel is equally, if not more important scene to be featured), I did like that they included the part where Jamie provoked Brianna and showed her that she couldn’t fight Bonnet even if she tried her hardest. I loved that Jamie was hesitant about hurting her but it was the only he knew how for her to realise that it wasn’t her fault. I hope Brianna knew that Jamie did it as his way to show his love for her. 

2. That scene in the end where Bree revealed he knew Jamie understood what was done to her because she knew it happened to him is indeed another block in the building of their relationship. I loved the fact that Bree opened up to him even though the topic was about murder, but trusted Jamie enough to guide her  in understanding the situation. I loved that Jamie said that he did for Claire and he would do all over again if need be - in some way, its his way of telling her that he’ll do anything for her too. 

3. I skipped all the Roger parts. All of them. 

4. I felt that the “abortion” conversation ran too long and Claire keep circling around the topic in very vague terms which elongated the conversation. When Bree asked if she considered it with her, my heart swelled a bit when Claire declared that “she and her father wanted and loved her” (I just didn’t like that the dialogue went ‘I wanted you, I loved your father and he wanted you’ - I mean, why can’t it be a collective like ‘we loved each other and we wanted you’, small thing but meh). I loved that revelation thinking about what happened in 2x13 and Jamie and Claire’s decision to part forever for her sake. Brianna, I think, also needed to feel that she is loved unconditionally by both of them and that they’ll do everything they can to help her whatever they decide. 

5. Loved that when Claire suggested that she leave back for the stone now, she didn’t want to leave. I think she wanted to spend more time with her mother and Jamie as well. She wanted to know Jamie. 

5. Again, bummed that the writers didn’t include Jamie and Claire’s argument when she was contemplating suggesting abortion to Bree. It was to be another impactful moment for J/C as they navigate being parents together, especially to a daughter caught in a complicated situation as Bree. 

6. TIME TRAVELING THEORIES TIME!! Hahaha!

7. Wee Ian being all grown-up and Brianna finally having a cousin! What a momentous moment. 

8. Am I the only one who cringes and hurts for Jamie every time Brianna refers to Frank as “my father”? UGH UGH UGH 

9. “I CAME HERE TO FIND YOU TOO” JUST PULL MY HEART OUT ALREADY. I NEED MORE JAMIE X BREE MOMENTS. THANK U, NEXT.

10. Is Lizzie even sick anymore? I guess not? 

11. I honestly didn’t get the trade scene? Is it important? Was it in the book? 

12. Claire must’ve really done herself in with all the gardening cause she looked awfully tired in the dinner table. 

13. Love Claire and Bree scene just talking about stuff in the future. Of course, these are things they cannot mention to anyone but to each other and surely, there’s a certain relief and freedom that they can talk about it now and its such a relief for both of them. Love this mother-daughter scene (though not sure how this scene adds to the story, I mean they could’ve used this airtime for some other important thing?)

14. OMG THE NIGHTMARE SCENE - DANG, BREE IS GOING THROUGH PTSD JUST LIKE JAMIE DID BEFORE AND I FEEL SO BAD FOR HER. It’s the same when Jamie thought he saw Claire and then Randall will seep through. For a while, I thought Bonnet was really there! I guess that’s how victims feel inside their head - good representation for me. Kudos to Sophie and Ed for giving me the chills. 

15. OH GOD HERE WE ARE IN THE MISUNDERSTANDING SCENE THAT TOTALLY MISSED THE MARK FOR ME. Though I dinner justify Roger’s beating, Jamie couldn’t have known what Roger looked like. Lizzie said it was the man and she was sure and Jamie was acting on pure instinct to save his daughter’s honour. But the way Bree explained it to him at the beginning of this argument was confusing already and Jamie, albeit not intentionally, thought otherwise of Bree’s intentions because he did not know there was another man. But slapping him? I get she’s angry, but he’s still her father and he deserved some respect. I wonder how many times in his life Jamie have been slapped, not many I’m guess, and especially from the people he loves. I think this part went a bit far especially when the “other man” is revealed. AND CLAIRE JUST STOOD THERE AND NOTHING, DID NOT EVEN MITIGATE A BIT, DID NOT DEFEND HER HUSBAND NOR LIGHTLY REPRIMAND HER DAUGHTER. I get that she had to appease Brianna but her face says that she’s angry with Jamie too but that was not the time nor place to show that anger. Jamie apologises and Brianna just blurts out “go to hell” I MEAN WHAT IS THAT. THAT IS JUST CRUEL. AND CLAIRE DID NOTHING STILL. (I AM SO ANGRY AT THIS SCENE AT THIS POINT). AND THEN WE GET “MY FATHER WAS A GOOD MAN AND YOU’RE JUST A SAVAGE” MORE CRUELTY THAT JAMIE DID NOT DESERVE. Gosh, I wonder what Frank Randall would do if he found out his daughter is unwed and pregnant - I bet he’d suggest losing it first. Brianna has been Frank Randall’s daughter for 20 years and it shows and I don’t like it one bit). 

16. WHEN CLAIRE REVEALED IT WAS BONNET, THE WOMAN HAD THE NERVE TO LOOK AT HER HUSBAND WITH ANGER AND RESENTMENT - WHEN SOME EPISODES AGO, SHE WAS TELLING HIM ITS NOT HIS FAULT BUT NOW, SHE’S BLAMING HIM. I HATED THAT LOOK CLAIRE GAVE HIM. I HATED THAT SHE HAD THE GALL TO EXPRESS IT. I JUST HATE THAT SCENE. THAT IS SO NOT JAMIE AND CLAIRE. THAT IS NOT HOW THEY DEAL WITH FIGHTS AND ARGUMENTS. NOT LIKE THESE. THEY DO NOT RESENT EACH OTHER BUT NOW, APPARENTLY, THEY DO. Jesus Christ, I AM SO SAD. 

17. DEAR LORD SAM HEUGHAN. HE IS THE SAVING GRACE OF SEASON 4. THE LOOK OF DESPAIR IN HIS FACE WHEN BREE ASKED “WHERE WAS ROGER” AND HE HAD TO HOLD HIMSELF TOGETHER. DAMN, THAT WAS SOME FINE GREAT ACTING. WHEN HE GOT ANGRY AND BRIANNA CALLED HIM OUT, THE RESTRAINT IN HIS ACTING, JUST WOW. HE DESERVED ALL THE NOMINATIONS THIS YEAR. JESUS, HIS ACTING IS JUST SO STRONG AND IMPACTFUL THIS SEASON. 

18. BREE IS JUST ALLOWED TO HIT PEOPLE, SERIOUSLY?! HERE WE ARE DEFENDING ROGER’S BEATING AND BREE JUST HITS PEOPLE. AND JUST THEN DID CLAIRE TRY TO REPRIMAND HER. SERIOUSLY. THE INCONSISTENCIES OF THE WRITING THIS SEASON IS JUST DESTROYING THE SHOW. 

19. I don’t even have words for the “Planning” scene other than Brianna is so demanding and Claire is being dramatic and everyone is just in a foul mood. 

20.  AND THEN WE GET ANOTHER UN-JAMIE/CLAIRE-LIKE SCENE. Jamie, now, wants to understand and he asks his wife for answers too. He’s asking so he can understand the extent of the damage he’s done, if he can repair his relationship with his daughter, he just wants to know and understand and what does Claire do - WALK AWAY. If this was the Jamie and Claire I know, they would hash it out all in the open until all is said and done (aka First Wife scene, Blade under the grass scene, FAITH scene, etc..) SHE DIDN’T WALK AWAY. HE DIDN’T WALK AWAY. THEY TALKED THE PAIN AND ANGER OUT BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT THEY DO - that’s what healthy relationships do, that’s always been them, it’s why they work. Secrets but no lies (well, Jamie lied about the hand but the Claire I knew will call him out then shut him down). I AM SO ANGRY THAT THIS SCENE DIDN’T GO TO AN ALL OUT CONFRONTATION CAUSE THAT IS WHAT I EXPECTED FROM JAMIE AND CLAIRE. Clearly, the writers had them in a different light where they walk away from each other - I DO NOT LIKE JAMIE AND CLAIRE WHO CAN EASILY WALK AWAY FROM EACH OTHER. NO. NO. NO. Because if it was easy to do that, then Jamie and Claire’s relationship are in trouble. 

21. I hated this “goodbye” scene too. ALL JAMIE WANTED TO DO, AND YOU CAN SEE IT IN HIS FACE, IS TO HUG IS DAUGHTER AND SAY A PROPER GOODBYE TO HER - BECAUSE TO HIM THIS IS A MISSION HE MIGHT NOT RETURN FROM (spoiler: it’s why Bree made her mama go with them). NOW MAYBE I JUST WANT JAMIE NOT TO RETURN TO BREE CAUSE SHE DOESN’T DESERVE HIM (okay, I went a tad overboard with this but I am so frustrated with these characters and story, im letting me feelings out). AND CLAIRE JUST STOOD THERE, DID NOT EVEN ENCOURAGE HER OR HIM TO PROPERLY SAY GOODBYE. SERIOUSLY, WHERE IS CLAIRE FRASER? THE REAL CLAIRE FRASER?! Seriously, and then Claire and Bree hug and Im just imagining Jamie there at the side, wishing he could too. I mean, he even passes by them again just so maybe he could but still, nothing and they all went in their merry way. (im so emotional about this scene) 

22. MURTAGH AND JOCASTA MEETING AND REMINISCING ABOUT ELLEN IS THE ONLY SAVING GRACE OF THIS EPISODE. I HAD SO MUCH FUN WITH THEIR INTERACTION. 

23. “WHILE MY MOTHER AND JAMIE...” Wow, I just don’t like Bree in this episode. So Jamie is relegated from Da back to calling him Jamie. Wow, such a disrespect. Could’ve called her “father” if she wanted something more formal or distant to call him. But calling him just “Jamie” just boils my blood with anger cause Jamie doesn’t deserve this cruelty. Jesus Christ, he sacrificed himself for all and it still is not enough, especially for the people who mean most to him. Brianna’s bratty attitude didn’t sit well with me this episode and I hate it. 

Bottomline, I knew this scene was coming. From book to TV, I didn’t expect the writers would delete important parts to give more context to feelings to justify it. No, they just jumped from one place to another, trying to go through the chapters so fast, they missed the point of it all. I missed a lot of scenes from the fireplace cuddle to the abortion argument. But Brianna’s and Claire’s attitude towards Jamie in this whole ordeal have felt nothing short but cruel for me. They didn’t give him a chance to explain, give themselves a chance to make him understand the depth of the situation. Instead, they shout at him, keep secrets from him, call him names, don’t acknowledge them, walk away from him, shut him out, and I hate that because he knows he’s done wrong and just wants to make it right but no one would tell him how or at least, again, make him understand. Jamie must be frustrated as heck between his wife and daughter, the only family he cares most about but he just stays silent. The turmoil inside must be killing him and he’d already decided that he will bring Roger back even if it costs him his own life. 

But damn, the writers just missed the mark so much with Jamie, Claire and Bree and how to handle the progression of their situation and I am so sad because I’m anticipating this moment most and they ruined it. 

Now, I don’t even have the courage or will to watch the last 3 episodes. They story, characters and actors (except Sam) aren’t just there this season and I just sad because this is my favorite book in the series. 

Fin. 

[lupienne]

Days of his Wives (14)

Negan X Wives

Negan X Wives (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13)

Chapter 14: These Boots Are Made For...(In Which Negan gets the boot-y)

Warnings: SMUT IN DA BUTT

Notes: Jasmine is Negan’s weirdo wife. She likes boots, walkers, biting and never uses question marks in her dialogue.

--------

"You girls should appreciate the effort I put into getting this shit for you." Negan set down a box filled with 'wife garb.' It was filled with all manners of shoes and expensive lingerie. He claimed to have raided it from a 'fussy little boutique.' From what she could see, Jasmine could tell the items were well-crafted. She hoped that meant they weren't itchy. Some of Negan's favorite wife garments were dreadfully scratchy. She preferred the sleekness of leather and silk. And he liked that too.

"Your panty raiding skills are so impressive...and what is this shit?" Sherry dipped a hand into the box and withdrew a leather corset. It had cut-outs to expose the nipples. The eldest wife rolled her eyes and tossed it back. "That's ridiculous."

"That's hot. I was thinking of you when I grabbed it."

Sherry didn't look happy. "We have enough of this crap."

Jazzi wanted to look in the box. Negan's bulk was blocking it as he stood, pouting like a gigantic baby. Why he did that...she didn't know. He wasn't really sad.

With an equally affronted voice, he whined. "The men were giving me epic stink-eye the whole time I was getting this stuff for you. Said we should be raiding worthwhile shit. Givin' me a hard time for being such a frou-frou little fag boy – their words, not mine. Yeah...until I reminded them of the women I'd be fucking as they wore my frou frou shit. All those fine legs in the air, wearing these boots, as I plowed their motherfuckin' asses-"

Jazzi could tell he was getting turned on, because he started shifting his weight, but more so because she could see his erection pressing against his jeans.

Sherry snorted, not missing the signs of arousal either. "You're right, Negan, you really did work hard. It's only right that you ought to get to wear some of this shit yourself. Why should we hog it all?"

He reached down to adjust himself. "You meet me in here later tonight, Sher, and I'll model it for you." He took up the corset. "I think my titties would look hot in this."

Jasmine frowned. He didn't have 'titties'. She tried to edge around the two of them. Their banter was boring and she wanted to look through the box. Something was catching her eye.

Sherry's hand latched around that very something, and she made a face as she pulled it out.

A pair of thigh-high leather boots. The supple black skin dotted with silvery studs in intricate patterns. Stiletto heels of shining silver. Jasmine sucked in a delighted breath.

Sherry's lips twisted. She didn't like heels. "Are you shitting me, Negan? Who's going to wear these monstrosities?"

Jasmine reached out. "I like them. I want to wear them."

"Pah. You can have them." Sherry shoved them into her hand.

The rest of the box was forgotten. Jazzi clutched the boots to her skinny chest, and ran to her bedroom to try them on.

--------

Negan was gone the next day. He'd been gone early in the morning, and hadn't gotten to see her boots.

She sat on her bed and even with her skinny legs, she had to tug them on. She stretched out her legs and looked down the length of them.

"Why don't you save those for Negan?" Sherry asked from her bed. "They can't be comfortable, and you might break your ankle walking on them."

"I'm fine." Jasmine dismissed Sherry's concern. "I want to break them in." She wasn't wearing them for Negan anyway. She was wearing them for herself.

She stood in front of the floor-length mirror in his room later that evening. She'd worn the 'monstrosities' as Sherry called them, for the entirety of the day. She hadn't broken her ankle, but they were starting to cause her feet pain. She supposed it was the 'price of fashion' people spoke of. The price of these was in the thousands, according to the small price tag she'd stripped off.

The boots were a thing of dangerous beauty. Dark leather clutching to the mid of her pale thighs. The garb of an Amazon. The sharp studs clustered around the ankle. The heels of pure shining silver.

The front door slammed, and she jumped.

"Neegs!" She heard Nova cry.

"Outta the way, I've got to piss."

She went out into the sitting room. The bathroom door was shut, and Lucille was leaned up against the wall. Her wire was bloody, so she knew the bat's thirst was temporarily sated. What that said of Negan's thirst was yet to be seen. Sometimes the violence brought out a sullenness in him. Other times... he translated it into raw, rough sex.

When he came out of the bathroom, he observed them all. His eyes were very dark. It was going to be the sex, then. And she knew, as he looked past all the girls and to her – standing there in her favorite black silk babydoll, and those boots, she'd be wanted in the bedroom immediately.

"You look like you're ready to take it hard, huh?" He growled. "Get the fuck in the bedroom."

Nova opened her mouth with a look of disappointment, but Jasmine backed away into the bedroom, and Negan's eyes were only focused on her. He slammed the door behind him, and locked it.

She cringed at the loud bang.

He sighed and leaned back against the wood. "Shit. It's been a rough day."

"Lucille has been busy."

"Poor girl only got to eat the dead. I need to get her fresh meat." He eyed her, and she saw the front of his pants stir, like he had a snake hiding in there. The thought made her lips quirk. She liked snakes.

"Fuckin' Kingdom was acting up. We had to teach them a lesson. I finally got a face-to-face with His fucking 'Highness'. Can you believe the gall of this guy? Refusing to have an 'audience' with me all this time, cause I ain't 'naught but a base barbarian'."

Jasmine shrugged. She was only half-listening as she shifted restlessly in place, glancing down at her boots. Did he like them? Negan took his coat off and tossed it onto the fireplace armchair. Pulling his shirt off, as he continued to talk all the while.

"...I told his men...oh excuse me, I mean his subjects... you want fuckin' barbaric? I'll give you barbaric unless you trot your happy little crown wearin' ass out here. Had Connor break a few kneecaps." He smirked. "That got him out of his palace in a fuckin' hurry!"

Jasmine wasn't really interested. She was more focused on his trouser snake. Negan droned on about a King named Ezekiel. How he ended up being 'a fat hippie with dreadlocks. And he wasn't even wearing a crown!' How he was objecting to the tributes they had to give the Saviors. She was bored. In a moment, she was going to start touching herself without him.

"They wanna act like it's fucking Medieval Times?" Negan grinned, and finally said something that perked her interest. "I said: 'Fuckin' fine.' Tally-ho and shit! I took one of those fucker's swords... and I took his goddamn head off with it."

Her eyes went wide. He emulated swinging a blade, and she could see it... the hapless victim kneeling before him, the head detaching from body and rolling away. The nerves between her legs began to spark and tingle.

"I think they got my point after that." Negan chuckled.

"I want to see you kill someone."

"You sick bitch." He smiled, and it was cruel. "It was great, though. It's making my dick hard just thinking about it."

He wasn't lying about that. She pressed her thighs together. She was aching to rub herself, to make the sensations grow.

"Yeah." His eyes were dark with reminiscing. "Almost makes me wish they'd act up again, because that shit was fucking awesome!" His voice rose to a gleeful boom, and she cringed again.

"I don't like it when you yell."

Negan's eyes went even darker. He was in front of her with two big strides, his hand locking around her throat. "I don't give a singular fuck if you don't like it."

She squeaked as he forced her back onto the bed. His free hand tucked between her legs and ripped her panties down her thighs. He pressed a thumb into the wet spot she'd made on them. "This shit making you wet, you filthy little bitch?"

She didn't know why he asked.

He took his hand off her neck and replaced it with his mouth. Sucking a red stinging mark on her skin. She gasped. He groped under the babydoll, pressing a thick finger inside her. She whimpered, pressing her hips into his touch.

"Oh yeah..." He breathed, curling another finger harshly up inside her. Pressing hard, lifting her hips off the bed. It hurt and she whimpered. "Leaking like a fuckin' faucet." He eased the fingers into a more comfortable position and she ground herself against them. It felt good. She moaned. Heated arousal flushing pink across her face and breasts.

He was bent over the bed as he finger-fucked her, and he drew his free hand down to his jeans, fumbling to undo the belt and buttons. His cheeks were getting pink too. Just a sliver of golden iris around his dilated pupils.

"Fuck..." He groaned as he spread the fly of his jeans. He didn't remove his penis yet, and Jasmine reached towards his pants to do it herself.

"Nah..." His teeth gleamed wickedly, and he took his fingers out of her, sucking them into his mouth. She reached for him again. He stepped back. "Nope. I ain't in the mood for condoms tonight. You know what that means?"

She swallowed hard and nodded. Another rush of nerves and tingles.

He went to the bathroom and came back with a bottle of lube, which he tossed onto the blanket next to her.

"Should I get undressed."

"No." He growled as he sat in the armchair by the fireplace. "Leave that shit on, and hurry the fuck up. You better get that ass ready for me, and quick, or I'm gonna fuck you raw."

"Won't that chafe your penis."

He hissed, finally springing his erection free. "I told you not to say 'penis' in the goddamn bedroom. Or ever. It's a fuckin' boner block." His big hand wrapped his dick and began to stroke. "And hearing you scream is worth a little dick burn."

She uncapped the lube and slicked her fingers. The gel was very thin, and ran down her wrist. She curled on her side and reached her hand behind herself.

"Turn towards me. Let me see." His breath was getting heavier. His boner was definitely not being blocked.

She did so, circling a finger around her tight hole, teasing at it gently.

He moaned. "Fuck yeah." She liked to watch him. He used a thumb and two fingers to grip his foreskin, pulling it up and down over the swollen, thick head. Sometimes, he'd stop to rub his thumb on the underside, in a spot she knew was very sensitive. His teeth would grit, and she could see the muscles in his stomach tense. She wanted to see him finish himself that way.

She shivered from another rush of arousal, feeling the cool air kiss the wetness between her legs. Biting her lip, she wiggled one slick finger inward. He liked that. She could tell by the noises he made. She withdrew the finger, only to thrust two inside. "Oooh." A soft moan of her own.

"Shit!" He clenched his hand around the base of his dick, then drew it all the way up the shaft. The clear fluid of arousal beaded at his tip. "You fuckin' ready? Huh? You're fucking dripping! You filthy girl...you can't wait for this cock in your fucking ass, can you, you little whore?"

His words made her squirm. Her position was awkward. She couldn't thrust her fingers very far in, but they felt nice. He would feel even better. She shivered and spread her two fingers apart inside her.

"Well?" He demanded, and she snapped her attention back to him.

"Yes, Negan." He liked when they said his name.

"Get the fuck over here. Now."

She unfolded from the bed and brought the lube with her. She pooled the fluid in her hand and batted his hand away from his dick. She replaced that hand with hers, slicking him from head to base. Lube dripped down to puddle on the chair.

"Oh. What a mess."

He didn't care. His hand locked around her throat and he dragged her up onto his lap.

"Negan...please... go slow." She clutched his chest as he forced her to kneel upright on his thighs. His slick head pressed to her slick entrance. Warm and hard and pressing up into her. "Ooh, ohh!" Her eyes went wide as it popped inside. It didn't matter how many times they did this. The jolt of sensation overwhelmed her every time.

Her head flung back as he lowered her down onto his hard length. From where he pierced her, every nerve twinged. Sensation overload. She could truly perceive the thickness of him when he was inside her this way. "Oh. Oh!" Her voice nothing but a squeak.

He chuckled. She braced his shoulders to slow her descent. He stretched her as he pushed deeper inside. "Negan. Slow."

"I am going slow." He exhaled. "Fuck...you are always so goddamn tight! It feels like my dick is gonna fuckin' pop." He grinned. "Pop goes the fuckin' weasel, right?"

She shrugged. She never really understood his jokes, if that was what they were supposed to be.

He pushed her hands off his shoulders, and pressed her down the rest of the way, laughing as she whimpered.

"Jesus fuck!" His eyes rolled back and she felt a shudder go through him. Or maybe it was her own shudder echoing back to her.

She no longer cared about taking anyone's name in vain, but old habits died hard. "Don't say that."

"You telling me what to do?" He bounced her hard on his lap, and she squealed. Sparks of pain shot up her spine.

"No, no..." she whimpered and he grabbed her neck tight, squeezing until her vision went spotty. His length driving in to deliver pain and tormented pleasure. Her insides contracted over and over and she groaned as he let her neck go. Pressing her sweaty forehead against his hard shoulder, her ass clenching around him, wetness oozing down onto his jeans.

"You're fuckin' soaking me," he grunted. "You gonna wash your spunk out of these pants later? Huh? Did I say you could get off on me already?"

She panted for breath, leaning back to narrow her eyes at him. "I didn't ask."

"Exactly." He traced his fingers up her neck. "Too fuckin' bad for you...I'm nowhere near being finished with you."

"I'm not finished yet, either." That had been far too quick for her liking.

"Hell yeah, that's what I like to hear." He pulled both straps of her babydoll off her shoulders, and went silent as he buried his mouth between her tits. They were so small he could nearly fit her entire breast into his mouth, and he seemed to enjoy the challenge.

She shivered and set her hands onto his shoulders. Rocking her hips back and forth. It didn't take much movement to please her. Him deep inside, caressed by every inch of her tight passage. She felt stuffed to the brim and nearly bursting.

He held her hips while she rode him, continuing to lavish her breasts with affection. Every few moments, a soft groan would escape him and he would grind harder up into her. He turned his head finally, breathing hotly onto her wet breast. "Ugh...this is too goddamned slow."

He stood, pulling her off him. She whimpered as he popped free. It hurt. He gripped her hair and pulled her towards the bed. Roughly, he shoved her onto her back.

"Negan... I liked it slow..."

"Too fucking bad. This ain't about you, is it?"

His hand wrapped her neck and pinned her to the soft mattress. She cried out as he entered her again, pulling her thighs up around his hips as he stood at the edge of the bed. He didn't pause to let her adjust. Grinding in, deep hard thrusts that rocked her entire form back and forth. She locked her ankles around his back. Sleek leather sliding against the sweat blooming on his skin. He grunted as her boot studs dug into his flesh. She smirked. Her own personal pair of spurs.

"Shit...those things are dangerous." He ran a hand up the length of her leather-clad calf. "Sexy as all fuck though."

"I love them."

"Yeah. You love this too?" He leaned down to nip her ear. His hand heavy around her neck like a collar. "You filthy goddamn hussy? You love my cock stretching your little asshole?"

She nodded. He rocked into her harder, watching her nose scrunch, the sweat beading and sliding down into her blonde curls. "Yes. Please..." She whimpered, grinding up into his thrusts. She wasn't sure if she pleaded for more, or for him to stop, because either way, she was becoming overwhelmed. She wanted his hand to tighten and send her into oblivion. The calm grey space at death's doorstep.

"Harder? That's what you want?" He dug his fingers into the leather at her thigh, driving in at a relentless pace. But it was no longer smooth and pleasurable. The drag of dry flesh on flesh. It was starting to hurt. She struggled to pull away, pushing her hand against the hard muscle of his stomach.

"Fuck..." He grit his teeth, bucking his hips hard into her, and each jolt felt like a stab.

She cried out. "Negan! It hurts."

He dug his thumb painfully into the hollow of her throat, grunting in displeasure. She thought he might ignore her, but he slowed his pace after a moment. "Yeah. It's starting to chafe. Where the fuck-?" He twisted around, eyeing the chair where the lube bottle sat. "Just a sec."

He left her, retrieving the bottle. She burned inside, feeling sore...but still wanting more.

"This shit sucks." He poured a large puddle into his hand. "We need like... the ass kind. What's it called?" He laughed. "AstroTurf? Asshole Glide? Something like that?"

"Anal lube."

He pouted, not pleased with her factual response. He would be waiting for a long time if he expected laughter for his so-called jokes, but she did grant him a relieved sigh as he prepared them both with the inadequate lube. His false offense faded as soon as he pushed his slippery cock back inside.

She arched her back, moaning, her hands drifting over her breasts and ribs. Raw pleasure shuddering over her skin.

"Better?"

"Yes."

"Good. Cause I'm not even close to fucking you as hard as I want to be."

He leaned over her, while she kept her boots firm around his back. Planting one hand next to her. The other braced on her throat. His balls slapped her skin as he pounded inward. Her breath was labored, only short sips of air allowed into her aching lungs. He bit at her ear, left a stinging red mark of teeth on her breast. She returned the favor with nails dug into his chest and dragged downwards.

"Fuck!" He yelped as her second clawing nearly drew blood. "Jesus Christ, do you sharpen those claws of yours?"

"Negan," she moaned. "Do it."

He grit his teeth, continuing to batter her with hard thrusts. The mattress creaking underneath. His breathing was erratic, his hand hot and moist with perspiration as it clenched her neck. "Not yet."

"Negan...please." She was too overwhelmed, spent from the aching inside. Her muscles tense, her heart pounding. "I want to orgasm."

"I ain't ready yet." He nipped at her breast again. "Shit, when you go off the edge, you take me right fuckin' with you."

She gave him three more thrusts before begging him again.

"Sssh..." He hissed. "I said-"

His eyes went wide as she clawed him again. Begging wasn't going to work. So she was going to demand. She turned her head and sank her teeth into his arm.

"Ow, goddammit!" He smacked her ass, a stinging blow that only made her dig her teeth in further.

"Do it..." she growled, her words muffled around his wincing flesh. He sucked in a breath, trying to wrest his arm away. She didn't let go.

"Oww! Fuck! You spend too much time around those undead fuckers." He grimaced and tried to pry her mouth open, only to have his fingers snapped at by quick teeth.

She dug into his arm before he could pull it away. He tugged on his trapped flesh, a slight whimper escaping.

"Fuck, Jazzi! Fucking let go! I'll give you what you want, babe, just stop cannibalizing the fuck outta me!"

She chuckled softly, and loosened her teeth. The wet crescents of her bite marks graced his arm. He was so melodramatic. She hadn't even broken skin.

"Crazy bitch..." He huffed and trailed off, his eyes glinting darkly. "Next time I'm gonna put a fucking muzzle on you."

"Negan..." She squirmed under him, grinding against his length. "Do it!"

"You want it? You fuckin' got it." He nipped hard at her ear, but that wasn't what she wanted. She wanted -

His fingers tightened on her throat. She squeaked. There was so much crushing strength in those appendages. She wished she could watch him choke someone to death – she imagined she was the victim. Her air was denied then, save for the withering breath left in her lungs. She writhed on the bed, her eyes going wide. She could feel the blood rushing to her face to redden it. Cheeks burning.

He pushed her neck down into the mattress, that big hand covering her. Relentless. His cock digging into her, in out in out. Her eyes fading. Her blood pounding. Every inch of him inside. His veins, his blood, his violence. One hand clutched at his choking arm, feeling the hard muscle and bone, the sheer power. The second hand nestled between her legs, rubbing fingers onto that spot that throbbed and begged for touch.

Faintly, she heard him encouraging her to climax, his voice a rough, throaty growl. She could barely see his face anymore. But she could feel everything...in these last moments before the blackness.

Her eyes went wide when he forced two thick fingers inside her cunt, her body filled to a delicious breaking point. She wanted to scream. Her body desperate for air. She was too weak to move him. Bucking helplessly into the fierce slams of his hips, her fingers moving wild between her legs, his fingers curling up inside into the core of her.

It was too much! She needed air! Life! Breath!

She needed to...

Release!

She couldn't voice her elation, but he could feel it as her body convulsed. A warmth spread into every cell of her body. Her head tossing, her ass tightening around him in spasms. He took his hands away, and she drew in great gasping breaths. She clasped her hands over her rib cage, trying to hold the feeling inside. She could only contain it so long before it seeped away through her fingers.

"Fucking shit..." He groaned. "That is so-" He didn't finish his thought. Gripping her thighs and pulling her into him. He needed that feeling too. Choking out another groan, grinding his cock in. Hard thrusts, the hardest yet, like he wanted to force his entire self inside. "Shit...s-s-shit..!" He went rigid and suddenly, limp. His head bowed as he drew in panting breaths. She could feel his semen oozing out of her and onto the sheets.

"What a mess," she said.

He gasped a laugh. Gentle this time as he removed himself from her. He curled onto his side amongst the rumpled blanket, his eyes closed as he came down from the high of orgasm. "The bigger the mess, the better the fuck."

Well, that was true. She nodded.

"Not saying much. Must not have been good."

"It was good." She felt very sleepy. And sore. And very much in need of bathing. For now, she closed her eyes and let her body recover.

Negan's finger softly touched her neck. She half-opened her eyes to see that odd look he sometimes got. Like he regretted his rough actions. "You're gonna bruise again. And Sherry's gonna give me shit about it."

Sherry needed to mind her own business. Jasmine wasn't interested in their domestic disputes. "That isn't my problem." She swung her legs over the side of the bed. Admiring her beautiful boots. It was time to take them off, and wash her body clean. "I'm glad you liked my boots."

"Yeah, I liked the fuck outta those boots." He laughed into the sheets. "You are one weird fucking bitch."

"Thank you." She took it as a compliment.

She started to slide off the mattress, and he grabbed the strap of her babydoll. She froze, not wanting to rip it.

"Where you going?" He smirked. "Don't you want to cuddle?"

"I don't like cuddling." He knew that. She stared off at the bathroom door.

"Come on." He tugged at the strap. "Keep your Negan company. He had a long day."

"I gave you company." She tried to pry his fingers off. "Don't rip it."

"I won't if you cuddle with me."

She eyed his fingers, thought about biting him again. He was pouting at her, which had little effect. She knew he was only trying to get his way. She shifted back onto the bed, curling up tight next to him. He pulled her closer and she whimpered.

"Damn, girl, you know how to make me feel loved." He chuckled, pressing his face into her hair. A long contented sigh escaped him.

"I don't love you."

Another chuckle shook the entire bed. "Shit..." He squeezed her hip. "And people said I was too fucking honest. At least the other girls pretend they like me."

"I like you." She was getting tired of this already. Her skin was too hot and sweaty. She wanted to wash away the squishy feeling of semen and lube. "The other girls like you."

"Yeah, yeah...it was just..." He yawned. "Forget it..."

"Can I come to the Kingdom with you next time. I want to behead someone."

"Fuck no. As fun as it was, they're behaving for the moment. No need to take anyone else out."

She sighed.

"Tell you what...?" He pulled her flush against his chest and kissed her neck. "How about I take you out shoe shopping?"

Her eyes lit up. "Boots."

"Yeah. Boot shopping. And we can break them all in, if you know what I'm saying..."

"I would love that."

She squirmed and he loosened his arm. She turned around to face him, and he laughed as she planted a kiss on his chin.

"I know you would, you filthy bitch." He smirked. "Because you actually said you would love it."

Her lips quirked slightly. He laughed again and pushed her blonde curls into her face, mussing them all up. "Alright, alright. Git the fuck outta here. I know you can't stand cuddling."

She sprang off the bed and headed for the shower. Stripping off her favorite new boots, already envisioning their replacements, and all the pleasure that would go along with breaking them in.

-----

MMMM That was some kinky shit. I think Shanda’s the only wife I haven’t written an individual sex scene for yet. Better get on that! XD

Also, the cuddling at the end was a suggestion from @217fanfic Go read her stuff, yo.

[daisies-and-lilies-castle-blog]

SPOILERS! WLATE/AER Chapter 62 English Script

SPOILERS! READ AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION!

Hey there, fellow WLAE/AER fanatics! We present to you today this fan-made English Script of Chapter 62 of Lezhin webtoon “At the End of the Road” by Haribo, which is available in Korean. The English version will release soon. 

As most, if not all, of you know, there are parts of translating that are objective, and other parts that are subjective. No two translations will be identical. We hope that our version of this chapter’s dialogue and text will enrich your experience in reading “What Lies at the End”.

Please be sure to purchase the chapter to follow along. 

FRIENDLY REMINDER: Please do not ask my collaborators or me for pirated raws. We read this webtoon on Lezhin. Thank you for understanding. 

DO NOT REPOST OR SHARE LINKS TO OUR STUFF ON MANGAGO OR OTHER ILLEGAL SITES. Please! We have very good reasons for not wanting that. Please respect our wishes.

~GET READY TO DIE FROM CRINGING AT THE HAND OF WOOJIN’S CHEESEBALLNESS!~

TRANSLATED BY: Kirin

PROOFREAD BY: Daisies and Lilies  

PROOFREAD PROOFREADER: Kirin (As in she proofreads my edits, haha!)

AT THE END OF THE ROAD CHAPTER 62

By Haribo

English Script

*ding-dong*

*ding-dong*

*ding-dong..*

*ding-dong...*

TAEMIN: ...The doorbell is ringing.

Go check.

WOOJIN:....

*ding-dong*

*ding-dong*

TAEMIN THOUGHTS: Wasn’t there a similar situation before this, too…?

WOOJIN: …

I’m going to kill whoever it is.

*rumble…*

*quick strides*

*quick strides...*

TAEMIN: I don’t know who’s at the door, but I should probably pray for their souls to rest in peace.

Scary bastard…

*creak...*

*slide over*

MINJUN: Siwoon-ah♥

I missed you♥

*slam*

*shoves in*

MINJUN: Wait, wait!!

We even bought a present for you, so if you act like this, won’t you break our hearts~?!!

WOOJIN: So what.

MINJUN: You’re too much~!!

Open up~!

Siwoon-ah♥♥

*crumpled...*

MINJUN: As expected, I knew you’d be home~.

What were you two doing?

Were you guys doing scandalous things?

Hm, hm♥?

WOOJIN: Stop spewing nonsense; just say what you need to say, and quietly go home.

*rumble*

TAEMIN THOUGHTS: So you’re still angry.

MINJUN: So mean~!!!

It took a lot of hard work to buy this present and lug it all the way over here!

Isn’t that right, Hoon-ah~?

HOON: …(nod)

MINJUN: Well, at least take a look, for starters~.

We brought something super fun♥

MINJUN: Ta-da☆

*voila*

TAEMIN: What the heck is that?

MINJUN: Huh~?!

Siwon doesn’t know what Jenga is?!

So you really are an old country bumpkin~?!

TAEMIN: ...Shut up.

MINJUN: This, you see~.

You first set it up like this

And when it’s your turn, you have to carefully remove one block, without knocking over the tower!

If the tower crumbles, then it’s game over for you~

And then the penalty game begins~♥

MINJUN:Rather than explaining it hundreds of times,

And because it’s more fun to learn as you go,

Why don’t we just start, and have Siwon go first~?♥

TAEMIN: ...Hm.

TAEMIN: This,

Is this how I’m supposed to do it…?

TAEMIN THOUGHTS: This is surprisingly nerve-wracking...

*carefully*

TAEMIN: Oh,

I did it.

MINJUN: Good job, Siwon~.

Just like that!

TAEMIN: What?

Unexpectedly, it’s ea-

-sy…?

Huh?

What’s this?

For 5 turns, please speak with a toddler-voice?

TEXT ON BLOCK: For 5 turns, please speak in a toddler-voice.

MINJUN: Ah, that’s a mission♥

If you can’t do it, then a penalty is waiting just for you ><♥!

TAEMIN: ...What?

*drop*

TAEMIN THOUGHTS: Tell me these things sooner!!!

MINJUN: Hey~.

How long do we have to wait~?

Do you give up and accept the penalty?♥

TAEMIN THOUGHTS: Toddler?

What would I know about how a toddler talks!!!

*tremble*

*tremble*

TAEMIN THOUGHTS: Why do I have to speak like a 5-year-old toddler at 19 years of age…?

TAEMIN THOUGHTS: ...but

*frustrated*

A penalty from Choi Minjun would be craploads worse than this, right…?

I have no choice...

TAEMIN: ...Next!!!!!

EVERYONE ELSE: !!!!

TAEMIN: Next person’s tuwn…!!!

Min,

Minjjwun’s tuwn…

Huwwy up and stawt…

EVERYONE ELSE: ……..

…….

…..

………

…….

MINJUN: PUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH~!!!!!!!!!

“Minjjwun” kekekekeke

“Minjjwun” he says. kekeke~!!!!!

*snicker,*

*lowers head*

MINJUN: Siwon

you’re really cute~!!!!♥

Ahahahahahah-!!!!!!!!

Dearie me, dearie me, was that it~?

Toddler Siwon~?!!

MINJUN: Since it’s Minjjwun’s turn,

Shall Minjjwun go for it~.

Hm~.

“Please hold hands with another player of your choice until your next turn.”

Hoon-ah~♥

Lend me your hand~.

WOOJIN: Han Siwon.

TAEMIN: ……

TAEMIN THOUGHTS: No matter what you do, I’m keeping my mouth shut, so don’t even try to bait me.

WOOJIN: Yoon Taemin.

TAEMIN: ……

WOOJIN: Want to kiss?

TAEMIN …!

*abruptly*

TAEMIN: Are you crazy?!!!!

WOOJIN: Where’s your toddler speech?

Shouldn’t you properly do your penalty?

*smirk*

TAEMIN THOUGHTS: This…

This asshole…

On purpose!!!!!!!

TAEMIN THOUGHTS: Damn it,

I was supposed to endure it…!!

I was supposed to endure it…!!!!!

*grinds teeth…*

*grinds teeth..*

*plops down*

*plop*

TAEMIN: Argh…!

Ugh…!!!

Weawy pwisses me off!!!

I said, it pwisses me off...!!!!

Min Woojin, you fwuk…

You fwuking bwastawd…!!!!!!!

*slides out*

TAEMIN: What?

What’d you get?

TEXT BOX: End of penalty

TAEMIN: “State 3 characteristics you find charming about the player to your right.”

TEXT ON BLOCK: “State 3 characteristics you find charming about the player to your right.”

TAEMIN: Right side?

What’s this?

Isn’t that me?

Keke. That turned out well.

Go on; let’s hear it~. You bastard.

Don’t I have countless charming qualities?

WOOJIN: … …

WOOJIN: Ahh.

Yeah, you do have a lot.

You say you want to protect someone, and then you actually go for it, and that’s really cute.

You pretend to be tough,

But when you’re under pressure,

You have no clue what to do-

All of that is cute.

Because your pride is a force of nature,

You want to see things through to the end and win,

That’s also really cute.

*POOF*

*what!!*

When you mumble in your sleep, it’s really cute,

When we kiss, your face gets all red-

TAEMIN: THIS BASTARD!!!

STOP!!!!!

*Quiet….*

TAEMIN: ...I’m exhausted.

*slides...*

TAEMIN: Those guys,

They finally left after being so bothersome until the end.

WOOJIN: They probably did all that just to pick on you.

TAEMIN: You did the exact same thing; you know that?

*Ha..*

TAEMIN: It’s already morning.

It’s pointless to get some sleep…

TAEMIN: Min Woojin,

Do you have time today?

WOOJIN: Why?

TAEMIN: ...There’s a place I want to visit.

TO BE CONTINUED.

DUN DUN DUN...

[high5nerd]

Alone Together---Chap. Sixteen

Valentine's Day creeped up on me without any notice. I mean, it normally does and before I met Alice, it was a meaningless day that was only different for the mortal kind, not us spirits. Well, besides Cupid of course. Still, I didn't realize the purpose of it until Sadie asked me that Saturday morning if I had anything in mind for Alice.

"...What would I have in mind?" I asked, looking up at Sadie as she stood in front of the couch armrest.

She raised her brows, her mouth open in surprise. That expression sure did make her blue eyes bigger in a comical way. "You know Valentine's Day is today, right?"

"Yeah, so?" I turned back to the newspaper in my hands.

Sadie gently tugged the newspaper down from my vision, and I gave her a warning look. But her serious face outmatched mine this time. She was speechless as she crossed her arms, hell, she even tapped her foot to add seriousness to whatever the occasion was.

"Alright, clearly you're trying to act mature, so I'll play along." I shook my head as I folded up the newspaper, chuckling.

"Pitch, Valentine's Day is a day to celebrate true love! It's a day to celebrate everlasting love with the person that matters to you with flowers and chocolates and fancy dinners!" she said sternly, but soon a smile crossed her mouth at the gestures of affection she listed.

That made a heavy feeling like a rock drop into the pit of my stomach. I forgot how much this day meant to humans, and I completely forgot that Alice was one of them. It wasn't that I was forgetful, it was that I've grown so used to their presence around me I considered them like myself, never aging and unphased to the days that floated by. For so long I considered, why must Valentine's Day just be one day? If you love someone with all your heart to the point you cannot fathom the idea of them being out of your life, wouldn't every day be Valentine's Day?

Then again, once you've received chocolates and flowers every day, it'll get a little old.

"Well?" Sadie asked, a hint of desperation in her voice.

"I'm screwed," I moaned, burying my face into my hands, "I don't know what to do."

"What about flowers? Alice loves flowers. You just gotta get the right colors for the roses." Sadie suggested as she sat next to me. She looked pitying at me. I didn't quite like that. I hate it when people give me a piteous look.

I shook my head, "Too cliché. Not only that but flowers die, while love is undying. They'd just sit in a vase and do nothing afterwards."

"Chocolates, maybe?"

I made a face showing disapproval, "Not sure about that. She'd be expecting that, you know?"

"Yeah, chocolates are pretty common. So you're looking for something really special? Like, rare special?" she asked.

I slowly nodded, thinking through with what could possibly pass as a good idea. I'd give her anything she would ask for, but to be quite honest, I don't know what she wants. She's modest, and keeps her wishes to herself unless I ask her or when Sadie probes her for answers. Not only that but on Valentine's Day, you have to be inconspicuous with your gifts. There was only one wish that I knew Alice wanted, and it was something I could never, ever give her.

She wanted her parents back.

Exactly. I can't give her that. No magic, either good or wicked forms, could let her see her parents one last time. No spirit alive has that kind of power. The only thing we could do is allow her to watch her memories of her parents, but that would just make her hurt and lonely inside.

"Hey! I have an idea!" Sadie's bright voice snapped me from my melancholy state as she jumped forward to stand in front of me, eyes sparkling with excitement, "You like to dance, right?"

I blinked, unsure where this was coming from. "Well, I guess."

"And you're kind of a fancy person too, right?" Sadie asked, folding her arms in pride.

I rolled my eyes before nodding. She wasn't exactly right, but she isn't one to know the definition of sophistication or regality. Sadie was literally jumping on the balls of her feet with whatever she had in mind to help me.

"How about a dance with her?!" Sadie burst, "Cause when she was eighteen she really, really loved fairytale stuff and in June the senior prom was coming up and-!"

"Whoa, whoa, Sadie," I laughed, gently pressing my hands on her shoulders so she could calm down and stop jumping, "Slow down, alright? What are you getting at?"

"Alice…" Sadie took a breath before saying clearly, "couldn't go to prom at her high school because she couldn't afford a dress, and her date bailed on her. It was her dream and she used to dream about going back in time and just going alone."

"So...just have a dance with her, but only us?" I asked. I honestly didn't know what 'prom' was, but I assumed it was a giant dance party with the entire student body in formal wear.

"Yeah, like a date, but prom, because she missed it."

Impressive. This girl is certainly creative. I think she noticed the impressed expression I wore as I was thinking, because she grinned again and began jumping up and down, this time quicker before I could tell her to stop before she drilled a hole in the floor.

"I could do that...that would be worthwhile. With just us, soft music...under the stars…" I had to admit I was smiling at the thought.

"Hey! Loverboy!" Sadie snapped her fingers in front of my eyes, making me both stop and raise a brow at her word choice, "Come on! We have no time to lose!"

Alice was due back to the house around five thirty or six, and by then the stars would be out. Luckily for us, the weathermen predicted a warm night, around forty to fifty degrees, so it wouldn't be as cold as usual. Sadie led me to Alice's bedroom by the hand, eagerly running down the hallway to get to some location she needed to go to. I'm telling you, running in a robe isn't easy, especially when you're bending over to reach the height of a ten year old who's pulling you at lightning speed.

"Before Mommy and Daddy died, they left us savings that we got as Christmas presents. Gramma also gave us money to go into an emergency card. Since Alice had a lot of scholarships from her college, she also put money in the emergency card."

Sadie yanked open a drawer in the desk east of Alice's bed and pulled out a rectangular card with a head of an ancient Greek soldier on the front, with bold numbers imprinted into it sharply. It had a shiny look to it. I knew it wasn't currency, because I've seen what the American dollar and coin looks like, so this must be some sort of card that can be used like it, in a way.

"This is definitely an emergency." Sadie said, grinning widely.

Apparently it was a credit card, something people use to pay with if they don't have enough cash in their wallet but enough in their bank. At least that's how Sadie told me when we walked towards the center of town. I knew it had to be more complicated than that, but for now her information would have to do.

"First, we gotta buy stuff for decoration. You have anything in mind?" she asked as we perused through aisles of a massive store. I noticed Sadie's childlike behavior when she peered down the aisle of candy and toys, but also a sense of maturity in not begging to go down there and keep walking, unlike what other children do.

"...paper lanterns?" I suggested, completely unsure if where I was going was going to be completely expensive.

Wouldn't Alice get upset with our spending? I know this money was meant as a gift to splurge on but for special 'emergency' occasions like Christmas and other holidays and dire events like accidents, but something like this made me worried. I didn't want Sadie getting in trouble if Alice didn't want us spending money on something that we'd never use again.

Then again, it was in fact Valentine's Day. It was meant for Alice, too. Maybe this once this could be excusable.

We ended up leaving that store with a good amount of yellow paper lanterns that were reusable, along with pink and red rock candy for Sadie. She insisted that since it was her idea she should at least get some for being creative. Who was I to argue? Though the sound of her drilling her teeth into hard candy made me cringe. Kids these days, with their choice of unhealthy junk food. No one would catch me dead chomping away at hard candy like that.

"Now we gotta get you a suit," Sadie said, stopping in front of a store that simply said Men's Warehouse, "A really fancy one, too!" She smiled as she licked a rock candy stick before throwing it into a nearby trash barrel.

"How are we supposed to get one when they can't see-?" I started as we entered the building, but was cut off by one of the store clerks.

"Well, hello!" the man knelt down to Sadie with a broad smile, "And what brings you and your father by today?"

"Father?!" I blurted, stunned. I was shocked at the title along with the fact that this person can see me. He could be fifty or sixty years old!

Freak.

"He's actually my sister's boyfriend. He needs a suit," she leaned in and said softly, "he forgot today was Valentine's Day."

"I did not! I just-!" I started, but the man smiled and stood up.

"Well, lucky for you we still have an array of choices. Go ahead and take a look, the specials are all in the back," the man took a look at my robe and smirked back up at me, "Though uh, we don't carry cloaks and robes here. Sad to say."

Though he laughed as if it was a joke, I sarcastically laughed before he turned his back and walked back over to the register, and I cursed at him under my breath. Sadie must've heard because her eyes went wide as gumballs, but then continued leading me towards the section the man pointed to.

As we walked down towards the back of the store near the dressing rooms, I leaned down and whispered, "They put them at the back because they know people will be too lazy to go back here, and see the expensive, good ones in the front."

"You want an expensive one?"

"No."

Sadie grabbed a grey looking blazer and put it in my arms to try on, "Then let's get dawdling!"

Alice just finished the daily editor's meeting by the time her shift was about to end. Nothing really changed since the last one, promising others to still be used to the steady flow of incoming reports and such. Once Alice was inside the building, her mind was focused on her work at full blast. She wasn't exactly a workaholic, but knowing that unlike her job at the bookstore, people liked having her around and she proved worthy of the editing staff.

She had two work friends there, Emma and Thomas, who were a married couple. Most of the colleagues there were married or beginning a family, and some were even elderly with so many anniversaries behind them they had laughing wrinkles imprinted into their skin to show the happy years they've had with their loved one. It kind of made Alice feel left out. She was the only one still in the dating phase.

...Maybe a part of her was wishing she was married. She wasn't sure.

Emma knew Alice would feel left out on Valentine's Day since everyone had something planned. Being her friend, she told Thomas to wait in the car for her so she could quickly talk to her. Going up the stairs was hard for her since she was six months pregnant, but she did it in the name of exercise. Besides, and Alice knew this as well, Emma was a kick ass strong woman that would not back down from a challenge, and a flight of stairs and a bulging womb wasn't going to stop her either.

She finally made it to Alice's small office, a smile on her face. But then her smile slightly fell as she saw Alice in her office, looking so dejected.

Alice stared out the window, holding one of her desk photos in her hands gently. She looked up at Emma's knocking on the side of the door and softly smiled.

"Hi, Emma." Alice greeted as she put the picture of her parents and sister back near her computer.

"Hey. Tom and I are going out to eat for dinner, and we're inviting you to come with us. Wanna join? It'll be at that Italian restaurant that just opened up down the road." she offered, rubbing her lower back.

Alice beamed but shook her head to politely decline, "I can't. I've got a baby sister and a boyfriend that need food."

"Can the guy cook?" Emma asked, watching Alice pack up her backpack with papers and her empty lunch bag.

Alice shrugged as she stood up, her winter coat over one shoulder. "I'm not sure. I mean, I don't remember making quiche, but I found it in the fridge one day."

Emma laughed at that as she walked beside Alice towards the door to leave the building. "Oh, man! Trust me Alice, if you've happened to find quiche in your fridge that you didn't make, he can definitely cook."

"Does Tom cook?" Alice asked as they stepped out into the evening air.

Emma nodded, "Probably more than he should. He has an entire collection of recipes he still has yet to try," she grinned at Alice, "You should try his croque-monsieur, it's pretty good."

"He likes...French food?" Alice raised a brow.

Emma knew Tom was into the French language, basically learning new cultures and languages, so it didn't come as surprising when he began making foreign foods with their gourmet kitchen. Thanks to her and Alice, Tom now likes Mexican food as well, but the poor bloke still couldn't speak fluent Spanish worth his life. At least Emma can, somewhat. Teaching him came at a price. Especially when he tried commenting on how cute a dog looked in the language but actually said 'but'. That definitely drew eyes at him, and Alice was there to witness that hilarious moment.

"Yeah, he's gotten me into it since we were dating. Hell, his cooking is the reason I got married!" Emma and Alice laughed at her joke, "But a croque-monsieur is basically a fancy term for a grilled ham and cheese. Don't tell Tom, cause he'll try to explain to you why it 'isn't' and how it 'has a different technique'."

"But it doesn't?" Alice smiled as she dug around her pocket for her car keys.

"Nope." Emma giggled, sidling up to the passenger seat of Tom's dark blue Volvo, with him happily sitting in it listening to music.

Tom noticed Alice standing near her car and rolled down his window, smiling kindly, "Hey Alice! You coming?"

"She's got dinner at home, love. It's just us this time," Emma said as she sat carefully in her seat, but then smiled up at Alice, "But you'll come next time we ask you out, right?"

"Sure." Alice nodded, giving a tiny smile to show gratitude for being thought of.

As Alice drove home, her high beams on due to the darkness despite it being near dinnertime, she thought about what Emma said about her marriage, her relationship with Tom. She was so happy, glowing with life and love. Alice wanted that. But with how things were now, she knew she could never see that happen. She had other worries and concerns in her way, like making sure Sadie was properly raised since no one else could, and she had her own responsibilities that distracted her from really enjoying life, besides being around Pitch.

...What would life be like if she was married to Pitch?

Alice turned her blinker on at the stop sign and took a left, her mind both focused on the slippery road and on her thoughts. It made her both excited and nervous at the idea of being married to him. Nervous because at any second she could lose him since the bond between them is forbidden, and also nervous that since he is a king in technical terms, she'd be given more responsibilities a normal wife wouldn't have. Would she dwell in the darkness of the Earth's core like he does? Would her entire lifestyle become dark, and she'd have to sacrifice life on the surface to life in the darkness?

Worse...what if Pitch had another dominating, tyrannical streak to take over the world's belief and all the other spirits would perish? She would have to be by his side no matter what she thought of the matter.

But she knew those thoughts were irrational. She saw Pitch slowly change, and from the bottom of her heart she knew he would never force her to side with someone and be that domineering person the Guardians say he was before.

What would Pitch think of the matter of marriage? Would he agree with committing to that, despite being immortal?

Now that she thought about it, it couldn't work. Even if she did get married to him, he would outlive her. He'd still look thirty or late twenty something, while she would age onward towards her grave. That made a shiver run down her spine and her mouth pull into a frown. She knew that would both hurt her and Pitch, knowing that she would die and he would continue to live on.

Would he move on from that? After she passed on and many years later, would he fall in love with someone else yet keep her in his mind?

Alice had to put those thoughts at bay. If she were less serious about the subject, or maybe if Pitch was mortal, she'd be daydreaming about what the wedding would be like and what song she would walk down the aisle to, or what color the bridesmaid dresses would be.

Maybe black.

Alice smiled at that little joke in her head as she parked the car and shut it off. The weather was still slightly warmish, but she kept her coat on anyway. Just as she unlocked the front door and trudged into the front room, she was met with Sadie right smack dab in the center of the room, staring at her seriously.

"Sadie? Where's-" She started, but Sadie cut her off with a suspicious question.

"Do you still fit in your prom dress?" she blurted, keeping her straight face on.

Alice raised a suspicious brow, and saw her little sister fidget a bit before regaining her composure. Alice dropped her backpack on the floor near the door and hung up her coat, thinking.

"Um, I think I do? Why?"

"I need a picture of you in it for art class. We're doing this picture thing where we have something looking out of place, and I wanna get a picture of you in your prom dress out in the snow."

Alice smiled at that, and Sadie did too, but for different reasons. While Alice smiled in admiration for taking her classes seriously, Sadie grinned because she knew Alice would not decline. Of course she would help her baby sister! Alice led her to the attic and brought down the long box containing her dress, bringing it to her room.

"I'm surprised you're not waiting until Sunday like you usually do. I'm glad you're on the ball." Alice said, shedding out of her clothes and pulling on the lavender dress.

Sadie liked Alice's prom dress, too. Surprisingly, it still fit her. The dress hugged her waist but flowed outwards like the elven dresses from Lord of the Rings, touching the floor like a ghost. Tiny little crystals lined the waist and the deep v-neck, spreading into a fleur-de-lis in the middle of her stomach.

"It's a little tight, but I can manage." Alice said, looking at herself from behind in the mirror. She forgot how much the dress exposed her back.

"Put your hair down," Sadie commanded, "That ponytail looks ridiculous with the dress."

"So you're a fashionista now, huh?" Alice laughed, pulling out her white hair tie and letting her dark auburn tresses fall to her shoulders. "I'm going to need to dye my hair soon," she noticed, touching her hair gently as she peered into the mirror, "It's getting too dark again."

She turned to Sadie and and raised her hands in a form of saying ta-da! Sadie could tell she wasn't used to being in the dress, and by the crinkle in her brow it told her that she was remembering how her prom night was never meant to be. Or that she wasn't a very big dress enthusiast.

Welp! It's about to happen now!

Sadie led Alice out of her bedroom and towards the sliding glass door, quickly opening it. Alice stepped out, watching her feet as to not trip on the hem of her dress against the threshold of the door.

But then she looked up…

I stood in the middle of a homemade, polished dance floor, looking extremely handsome-as usual- in a black suit and a red tie, neatly pressed and formal. I shyly smiled at her, unsure of what to do or even what to say. The shocked face she wore clearly told me that Sadie succeeded in surprising her older sister.

Paper lanterns hung around on strings in a square formation, encircling the little dance floor. Off to the side was a table with a picnic blanket draped over it with an old CD player belting out Alice's favorite collection of soft guitar and flute songs. Beside it was a bottle of red wine and two beautiful wine glasses, glimmering from the light of the moon and the lanterns.

Alice didn't realize she was smiling broadly until her cheeks started hurting. I grinned back, my eyebrows raising in concern at seeking her cheeks shine with tears.

She lifted up the hem of her skirt a bit and ran towards me, and I laughed at seeing she still wore her red casual shoes underneath. She collided into my chest, softly crying happily into my shoulder as my arms wrapped around her securely.

"Happy Valentine's Day, my darling Alice." I whispered, kissing her neck.

"I love you. I really, really love you." Alice repeated as she pulled back, smiling up at me.

I chuckled one last time before releasing her, and bowed to her. I extended a hand as I rose back up, smiling gently, "May I have this dance?"

Alice beamed again, and her hand was soon in mine, holding on tightly. Her body fit perfectly close to mine as I held her close and guided her to the music, allowing her to rest her head on my shoulder in peace. I looked over at where the porch was, and saw Sadie smiling happily at us.

I beamed and mouthed, 'Thank you.'

Sadie nodded, her dimples showing from her genuine smile.

I didn't know that the reason she had her hands behind her back was not because of confidence of her achievement, but that they were hiding an object from our view.

A letter.

Once the kitchen clock struck ten thirty at night, Sadie crept back outside stealthily as to not wake up her sister and the Boogeyman. Everything in the backyard was cleaned up, not a single trace of the little dance party was left behind. Only wonderful memories.

The moon shone brightly on the melting snow that lay in the branches of trees and on the soft ground, glimmering with brilliant white light. Stars twinkled in the sky, and Sadie watched them before going over to the banister of the porch and placing her hand on it. She wore her favorite pair of winter pajamas, white, yellow and blue polka dots with her black socks to keep her feet warm in the chilly night. Her hair was a little mussy from rolling around restlessly in her bed.

She wasn't sure if this was a good idea, leaving a note like this out in the open. But sometimes when Sandy makes his rounds she's usually asleep unless he comes early to play with her. She had no choice but to leave it outside, since the Sandman respected people's privacy in their own homes.

What if Alice or Pitch woke up before her, went outside and opened the letter? She knew Alice's response would be calm and collected, maybe even understandable, but Pitch...well, he's unpredictable.

Was Sandy still his enemy? She wasn't sure. Pitch could be a rather confusing man, and didn't necessarily voice his opinions on people unless someone was listening and he felt like gloating. His relationship with Sandy is getting better than before when they tried killing each other, but still...you never know.

Sadie placed the folded letter written in her own handwriting on the banister before whispering a soft, 'Happy Valentine's Day' before running back inside. The last thing she wanted was to be caught outside after she was previously sent to bed by her sister. Or worse, getting caught by her newfound crush.

Dear Sandy,

Happy Valentine's Day. I don't really have a gift for you, cause I don't have money. I don't know what boys like on Valentine's Day. If I did have money I'd give you a really big blanket to cuddle in or a yellow nightcap. Something sleep related since you enjoy it so much.

I really like you, Sandy. You mean a lot to me.

Love,

Sadie Xaviers

[joyofcrime-elinorhigh]

Powerpuff Girls 2016 REVIEW: Part 3

Part Six: Dank Memes, Bra! So here we are, we're finally talking about the elephant in the room. It is time to talk about one of the biggest complaints about the 2016 Powerpuff Girl reboot, as a whole, the use of memes and internet references as a source of humor. If you are reading this and are somehow unaware, the new reboot has had several jokes referencing memes and internet slang in the show. For example in the episode "Painbow" we get Bubbles saying "OMG, Yaass!" and "I can't even!" as well as a scene Blossom and Buttercup twerking after they where mind controlled to party with a talking panda bear that lived in the clouds above Townsville. (Okay, now that I say that out loud that episode was really weird...) Also in the episode "Tiara Trouble" we have Bubbles getting mad at her sisters and yelling "No me Gusta!" at the end of her rant. There has also been a clip of an upcoming episode featuring Bubbles creating a "Mojo Meme Generator." So, how has the internet reacted to the reboots use of memes and internet related humors? Not well, as you could of probably guessed. Almost every online review uses either the "No Me Gusta" or the twerking as part of there thumbnail, with people acting like this show is nothing more than an endless barrage of internet slang that is trying to be "hip with da kids, bra". Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that there complaints aren't at least somewhat warranted, as these memes are definitely used more frequently than in most other shows, but I personally feel that people might be exaggerating the extent of these jokes. If you look through all the episodes and combine all the instances of meme-ery, it honestly isn't that much, like combined all the memes probably take up less that forty seconds from the entire series thus far. Now I get why people would be against memes in a show like this, as it does seem pandering and will age the show, but what I don't get is why THIS show gets the shaft for using internet and meme jokes when other cartoons get off scot-free free. Gumball had an entire episode devoted to Gumball and Darwin watching Youtube clips, where they parody Rickrolling and the Ice Bucket Challenge. Nobody talks about how Uncle Grandpa had an entire episode dedicated to "Duck Lips." We Bare Bears uses internet jokes in almost every episode, and made a "I like turtles." joke, IN 2016! Now I honestly don't really have a problem with meme references in cartoons (I think the "I like turtles" joke was actually really, really funny.) But it seems unfair to target Powerpuff Girls for this when all these other Cartoon Network shows do the same thing. Now you could argue that part of the problem is that when PPG 2016 uses memes, it's just not funny. You could also argue that Gumball and We Bare Bears reference internet trends while Powerpuff Girls does specific memes, and thus isn't as timeless. I would agree with this, as I feel like Powerpuff Girls is nowhere near as clever with it's internet jokes as something like We Bare Bear's is. The only reason I like the Powerpuff Girls meme jokes is because I like how cringe it is, and if where looking at the jokes in an unironic sense there not really that good, I mean Bubbles just randomly shouts "No Me Gusta." I won't argue that at all. You could also make the argument that the old Powerpuff Girls was a timeless show, and thus this show should try to be timeless too. I do agree with that too..For the most part. The show was timeless, but...do You remember "Powerpuff Girls Rule?" It was the 10th anniversary special made by Craig McCracken himself had a reference to "Surprised Chipmunk" in it. Heck Craig McCracken even referenced the He-Man "Fabulous Secret Powers" meme in the Wander Over Yonder episode "The Cartoon." Now if the memes are still a problem for you, I get it. I can see how it could appear desperate or running the timeless quality, or just plain unfunny. I just personally don't mind it that much, because other cartoons do the same thing, and all together the memes don't even account for a minute of the actual show. I just feel it's a little unfair to take a few clips and say that that's what the entire show is, when really it's a pretty small percent. But if you still have a problem with the memes that's fine, I don't think your opinions are wrong or anything stupid like that, it's just my personal perspective. Point Seven: Teen Titans Go! Crossover So it's been recently announcing this July there is going to be a Teen Titans Go! Crossover with the 2016 Powerpuff Girls. This has sparked outrage among the internet (which is pretty much the internet default opinion of the reboot at this point, all things considered.) Now what is my take on this? Well...I Depends on if it's really a "crossover?" Now that may sound really weird to some people, but please here me out. Teen Titans Go! Has done stuff like this before, They had a crossover with the Young Justice team in the episode "Let's Get Serious" and a crossover with the TMNT in the episode "Truth, Justice, and What" Oh wait...I'm Sorry, it wasn't the TMNT, it was the Super Cool Youngish Kung-Fu Turtle Dudes, how could I mess that up. Anyway, neither of those crossover featured anybody who worked on those other series, except for the voices actors. Not only that, but those crossovers didn't really even have the guest stars in important roles, they where really just cameos, with only the character that was voiced by a TTG cast member actually talking, and only getting a couple lines at that. I suspect that the Teen Titans Go! Crossover will be something like that. I.E. It will be created by the Teen Titans Go! Crew, without any involvement or possibly permission from any of the Powerpuff Girls writers or crew member,  and have the Powerpuff Girls show up for like, a minute and a half at most, only have Bubbles say any of the lines (because Tara Strong also voiced Raven) and then the rest of the episode being about the Teen Titans characters doing something unrelated. The plot will most likely be about people hating reboots, and the show claiming that people only hate TTG and PPG because there reboots and not for any legitimate complaints because, well that's kinda what Teen Titans Go! Does. Now I don't know this for sure, but I'm calling this now! If this isn't the case, if the crossover has writers from BOTH series, and is a real super hero team up type thing, than yeah, people can complain about this episode all they want, but If I know TTG (and trust me, I could probably talk about that show for even longer than I've talked about this show) that would be my guess on how this crossover will most likely go down. If it does go down the way I described that I really don't think it's fair to blame the Powerpuff Girl Reboot for an episode made by other writers at another studio just because they used their characters. But we will have to wait until July to find out for sure, so let us move on. Point Eight: Final Thoughts Now I'm most likely bias when it comes to the Powerpuff Girl reboot. When it was first announced I was hesitant, but as time went on I became excited. Then when I saw everyone online hate the show prior to it coming out I wanted to like it even more, out of spite. I felt like nobody was giving the show a chance, and so I wanted to be that person to give it a chance. I wanted the show to be great, partially to prove all those people wrong but also because I love the original Powerpuff Girls! I grew up with that show, and I loved it! The idea of Powerpuff Girls becoming a franchise, in the same vein as Batman and the Ninja Turtles got me really excited. If this show took off there could be a new Powerpuff Girl cartoon ever decade, constantly evolving, and adding elements onto each other. Becoming a part of the American pop culture landscape, and I'm still hoping that that can happen, we've just gotten a rocky start. (But still, I mean the first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles TV show after the 80's one was the live action one, and that franchise recovered.) I don't want to come off as a blind fanboy, as I do have problems with this new series. I think the writing is okay, but not great, I don't like the removal of Ms. Bellum, I wish they change the majority of the cast and not just the girls, the show being less action driven and more character based could of worked, but not the way they decided to do it, and the animation errors really need to be fixed. But the show isn't God awful either. The backgrounds and coloring are beautiful, I like how they added new villains and side characters to the Powerpuff Girl roster (even though the villains and side characters can be kinda hit or miss.) the show is still at least fairly funny, and I love what they've done with Bubbles. A lot of people say that reboots are just easy ways for big studios to make money without doing anything original, a while this may be true in some respects, a reboot might be easy money for an executive but for the cast and crew working on it it's pretty dang hard. I mean sure you'll have a built in audience and the reboot will most likely make a lot of money, but you also have to fill the shoes of the original creators. You have to deal with all the premature hatred that comes with that built in audience, and you have to juggling meeting there expectation, being your own thing, and making the show you want to create. It's frickin' hard! And you could say that's just the trade off but remember it's the networks who decided to reboot the property, not the showrunner or executive behind the show itself. It's easy enough to write a character you've made, but when it's a character you haven't made it presents it's own set of challenges that must be a nightmare for some creators and directors, and I'm not just talking about Powerpuff Girls. I think the show is good. Not great, but good. It's far from the worse thing ever. I would probably say I enjoy the reboot about as much if not more  than most of the episodes in the last two seasons of the old series, and I do hope that the people behind the shows will improve as time goes on. After all, it is just the first season, and the old show had some dumb things in there first season too (remember that episode where three criminals disguised themselves as the girls with costumes that where just conveniently inside there prison cell...yeah.) I hope you liked my massive review on the Powerpuff Girls Reboot, I've never done a project like this before and the feedback has been fantastic. If you have any other ideas for reviews or topics for me to cover in my other series, "Cartoon Thoughts" let me know. Also if you want, feel free to check out my webcomics, "Joy of Crime" or "Elinor High." If you like this review please fav, follow and comment and I will be most appreciative. And so once again, the day is saved, thanks to...over analyzation! (...I'm pushing it, aren't I?) 

https://www.deviantart.com/joyofcrimeart/journal/Powerpuff-Girls-2016-REVIEW-Part-3-610024966 DA Link