#i stopped thinking or talking about you the second we amicably ended our friendship despite your inability to respect boundaries

[asiancatboy]

i'm just saying there comes a point at which you have to think long and hard about the situation(s) you have found yourself in. the reason why you think i'm the common denominator across all of your failed relationships is because you are still obsessed with using me as a scapegoat for all your problems despite having zero evidence to suggest it's true, and because it's easier than admitting you have not changed in the past two years. perhaps you should look at yourself and your own actions

[sleepylixie]

I Hate to Admit

College! AU Bang Chan X fem! reader

Imperium Universe || Jisung || Seungmin || Chan 

2k (I’m so sorry), fluffiest fluff 

Request? Yes! Hope you like this, Anon!! Apologies about getting a wee bit carried away. >.<

Warnings: None!

A/N: I liked writing this, even though it’s waayyyy longer than I expected it to be oops. This is an extension of the same universe as this Jisung fic and this Seungmin fic, but you can definitely read this as a standalone! Do let me know what you think about this fic, I’d love to hear feedback!! ONTO THE FIC :D

Requests are open for SKZ and BTS! || Masterlist

The skate park right outside your campus was always an interesting sight. There were always a lot of people around, enjoying themselves on the gentle slopes and plateaus. You were always mystified by the way the skateboarders could so easily throw themselves into the air, seemingly unafraid of taking a tumble to the concrete floor.

You’d pass by the skate park thrice a week in the early evening, on your way to a part-time shift at Imperium- the closest bar to your university. Your shifts ran late sometimes, bordering on midnight when you’d step out of Imperium’s back door.

More often than not, you’d encounter the same lone figure in the skatepark on your way back- an average-sized, lean figure who had a way with the skateboard that you’d never seen anybody have before. The first time you spotted him, you stopped and watched for a few moments as he made his way up the slopes like it was nothing at all- he was that good.

Skateboarding wasn’t your thing as much as people watching- there were so many interesting people in the world, so many different kinds of personalities that you couldn’t get enough. You would write them into stories of back-alley romance, tales of rippling fantasy and chronicles of traitorous woe,  reveling in the way your worlds and characters built themselves up along the plot.

It became an unconscious habit, seeing the boy(it seemed like a boy, judging from his impeccably built shoulders and a penchant for extremely sleeveless muscle tops.) on your way back from your late bartending shifts.

He was curious, you decided. Who only visited the skate park when it was at it’s emptiest despite being so good? Did he not like attention? Was he shy? You made a mental note to try and talk to him one day- you weren’t hesitant with your curiosities. Someday, when you weren’t bogged down by your already numerous Works in progress and university, you would approach him and find out more about this midnight skateboarder.

But as it turned out, you didn’t have to wait too long.

//

“Y/N! Where were you, it’s almost 1 a.m!” Your sorority sister Chaeyoung sat up on her bed as you walked into your shared room. Her short blonde hair fluttered around her face as she slipped off the bed, bounding towards you. “I had a longer shift than normal, Imperium was weirdly full.” You responded, pulling your bag off your shoulder.

“Alpha Phi Alpha is throwing another rager. Do you want in?”

That’s when you heard it. You’d been so absorbed in the music from your own earphones that you didn’t even noticed the deep bass thumping through the air, the muffled cheers and screams of enjoyment. Of course there was a party going on, it was a Friday night.

Life next to a fraternity house wasn’t the most peaceful, but you didn’t mind it. Your sorority, Delta Kappa, was housed right next to the Alpha Phi Alpha frat house, close enough to share a fenced wall.

The Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity was the most sought after fraternity on campus; acceptance meant instant skyrocketing of social worth. It was all extremely cliché: the best frat on campus, filled with the smartest, most attractive guys, throwing the most memorable parties and yet maintaining their stellar record of being good at pretty much everything.

“Sure, why not? I have some energy to let off.” You smile, throwing open your shared wardrobe. Chae’s eyes shone wickedly, she was sold by the idea of any kind of party. “Are any of the other sisters coming??”

“Jennie, Lia and Yeri already left. I thought I’ll wait around for you.”

“How nice of you, Chae,” You huff out another laugh as you held out an outfit for her to see. “Ooh, I like it. Now hurry up, right?”

“Okay, okay!!”

20 minutes later, you were walking into your next-door frat house with Chae, already warmed by the electric vibe. “Y/N!!! You’re here!!”  There he was-tall, blonde and devastatingly handsome. Also seemingly tipsy, by the looks of it. Hwang Hyunjin was one of your closest friends, but he had a hard time handling his liquor, even though he would stoutly disagree when sober.

“What took you so long?” He slurred slightly, slinging an arm around you and giving you a tight, alcohol-smelling hug. “Unlike some of you, I have a job, Hyunin,” You quipped, returning his embrace and pecking his cheek- your usual greeting.

“Whatever, you’re here now.” He scoffed and ruffled your hair. “ We just made some new additions to the frat, you should come and meet them.”

“Sure, why not?” So Hyunjin took your hand and led you through the throngs of partying people. Soon enough, you stepped onto the roof of the frat house, a fairly clean space for being set up by a troupe of boys. Fairy lights left the people on the terrace bathed in soft yellow lights, a rather aesthetic sight.

There were around a handful of people lounging around on the couches and carpets, but Hyunjin led you to a particular group of people nearest to the railing, laughing and talking in a circle. You knew he had a gang of friends from all over the campus that just seemed to have an inexplicable pull towards each other.

You knew some of them by appearance from other ragers- music major Jisung with the cheeky smile, law student Seungmin with the puppy-eyes and an acidic tongue, Changbin with his almost flawlessly built body (you always paused for a second to admire his physique) and Minho, the guy who for some ominous reason always had bruised knuckles.

“Y/N! Hey!” Jeongin exclaimed, eyes brightening up in an endearing smile. “Hey Innie,” you grinned, happy to see another familiar face in the junior from the same major as you. “Yes yes hello and all that, Innie,” Hyunjin rolled his eyes, ignoring the look of mock offense he got from Jeongin. “I brought Y/N to meet Chan, coz he’s new to the frat, and my favorite sorority girl should be the first to know about the new fish.”

He threw an arm out, pointing to one of the guys leaning against the railing of the terrace, all smiles and black hair. You extended your own smile towards him, already giving him a casual once over- He wasn’t too tall, with impeccably built shoulders in a muscle top….wait. The question was out of your mouth before you could stop it.

“Are you the weirdo that goes skateboarding at midnight?”

A pause rippled across everybody in the circle, the smile on Chan’s face reducing to an incredulous splutter as Jisung choked on a giggle- that did it. All of the guys dissolved into peals of laughter, loud and unrestrained.

“Sorry about that,” You said, letting out an embarrassed sigh as you stepped around the circle to get closer to Chan. “I’ve seen you in the skate park when I’m getting back after work.”

He shrugged, his handsome features still splashed with sheepishness. “It’s fine, it was just a matter of time, I guess.” Over the laughter, you could hear how smooth his voice was, like melting chocolate.

“If it counts for anything, I thought you’re really good at it.” You weren’t the beat around the bush with your words. “You made it look so easy.”

A light blush reddened his ears as he grinned at the compliment. “Thanks.. Y/N, was it?”

You spent the rest of the night with the boys, caught in easy banter- but particularly, you got to know Chan. He had been living off campus until he’d decided to apply for the fraternities on a whim, ending up with an acceptance to Alpha phi Alpha. He was a business major, with a creative minor in music producing- just like Changbin. He was a natural extrovert, effortless with conversation and people skills, a man married to his work-to the point that he regularly lost sleep over it. He was also a bit of a dork, you noticed, with his random bursts of exaggerated hand movements and lame jokes.

The sun was beginning to rise when you decided to get back home. “It was nice getting to know you, Channie,” you grinned, pulling him into an easy hug and pecking his cheek.

“Likewise, Y/N.” He smiled his captivating smile at you, before walking you to the frat house door. “Before I go, what do you say about exchanging numbers?” You asked. He was a good sort, the kind of guy who’d make a really good friend. Why not?

Chan agreed amicably and sent you off with promises to catch up soon, leaving you feeling light and happy.

To your surprise, he ended up dropping by your sorority the very next morning, asking if you were up for waffles at a nearby café. You happened to be awake at the time and decided to tag along with him- even though it was 6 in the morning.

“The guys refuse to wake up early and join me,” he complained, holed up in the café with plates of waffles and orange juice in front of you. “Chan, be honest,” You chuckled. “The only reason we’re awake at ass o’ clock is because both of us can’t sleep to save our lives.” He rolled his eyes in amusement. “Stop wise cracking and get on eating, Y/N.”

That café run cemented your day-old friendship into one of peaceful camaraderie, a safe space for each other within the chaos of your friend circles.

//

Winter melted slowly into spring, bringing tidings of new beginnings, assignment and semester exams and subsequently, end of semester parties. As always, Alpha phi Alpha was throwing a rager of a party that was expected to be the best all semester.  Your entire sorority had received invitations and were all excited to drown out the stress of exams week. You, on the other hand, were also thinking about something else. Someone, rather-Chan.

You and Chan had only grown close over the course of the past months,  gradually bonding over ungodly morning cafe runs, late night texts between breaks and video calls asking for outfit opinions.

You frequented the frat house more often, a fact that Hyunjin rejoiced (and teased you relentlessly) over. Chaeyoung only gazed at you with a suggestive look in her eyes when you slipped into the room at 2 a.m in the morning with one of Chan’s many black hoodies hanging off your shoulders. What, it was winter, it was cold on your way back from Imperium and he offered! Chan, to his credit, seemed to be just as invested in this newly growing friendship as you were. He walked you back from Imperium whenever he was at the skatepark, invited you on his midnight skate runs,  even almost breaking his arm trying to teach you how to balance on his skateboard.

It was an outlet for his energy, he explained one day. Sometimes working on music or going on a run didn’t give him the same sense of calm that skateboarding did. It wasn’t about the attention for him- with Chan, it almost never was. Not surprisingly, you liked that about him.  You liked Chan, for all his insomniac, stress skateboarding, black hoodie hoarding self.

The party was already in full swing when you and Chaeyoung knocked on the main door. One of the frat boys you didn’t know opened the door, smirking at you before yelling over his shoulder. “Yo, Chan, your girl’s here!”

Your eyes widened, exchanging an amused glance with Chae, who was openly laughing at your expression. Chan’s girl? Not that you hated the sound of that.. But you were just a friend- a friend who had a crush on him.. Right??

Chan hurried to the door that very instant, shoo-ing his frat brother off. “Sorry about that,” he murmured , exchanging hugs and cheek kisses with you and Chae. “To the usual spot?” he grinned, comically offering you his arm.

“Of course, my dearest,” you gushed, the two of you bursting into a fit of giggles as you linked your arm with his, allowing Chan to steer you towards the staircase leading up to the terrace. Once on the rooftop, you were met with a familiar sight- 7 boys giggling and talking amongst themselves in a loose circle near the railing. “Chan, don’t hog all of Y/N’s attention, she’s here for the party, you know?” Jisung called out the second he spotted the two of you heading towards them.

Amidst a gale of laughter, Chan frowned indignantly, opening his mouth to give Jisung a tongue lashing before you broke in, a sly smile stamped across your own face. “Who says I’d mind it??”

A chaotic chorus of 7 male voices responding to you had you laughing aloud, scanning Chan’s face for any discomfort. But he only had flaming ears, shifty eyes,  and a shy smile trained on you- a smile that shifted from shy to teasing in split seconds.

“If that’s the case, then I’m stealing Y/N for the night, you guys!” He declared, grabbing your hand and pulling you towards the door the two of you had just walked through. “Chan, what are you doing?” You breathed out in amusement, not pulling your hand away. Your heart was beating out of your chest at everything going on, especially with Chan’s warm hand enclosing yours and the way he’d just smiled at you-

“Something I’ve wanted to do for a while now,” Chan’s voice was exactly as you knew it, smooth, warm melted chocolate. “Come with me to the skatepark. Just for a while.” Who were you to say no to that voice?

//

Chaeyoung opened the door to the sorority early next morning, squawking in laughter when she saw who stood in front of her. You in Chan’s hoodie, your hand in his, your lipstick staining the side of Chan’s jaw and the kicker- you hugging Chan, quickly landing a soft kiss on his lips before skipping into the house.

Chaeyoung could only look at the adoring look on Chan’s face as you disappeared into the house and close the door, laughing quietly.  Ah, young love. 

[thatcrappypuppy]

Fic request from Grootiez!

This is a lot different than what I normally do, but I think @grootiez could use some cheering up. Hope you like this and thank you for the request! I can’t put the request up here because it would spoil the story.

It’s a long request so I thought I’d at least write some angsty-teen Groot going to school first chapter. Couldn’t say for sure how long it would take me to continue or finish it!

Takes place after Endgame, so there are definitely spoilers.

//———//

Earth wasn’t Peter’s idea but Missouri was. School wasn’t his idea, either. That was Rocket’s, since he thought he Groot could use some socialization. Come to think of it, Peter didn’t really like any of this. Not even the Missouri part.

And since when had Rocket warmed up so much to humans? Being cooped up on Earth should’ve been more torturous to Rocket than it was to Peter, but he couldn’t ignore how much his friend had changed.

To most of the Guardians, they’d only been gone an instant, and in that instant, everything changed.

“See, Rabbit? I told you it wasn’t far.” Speaking of changes, Thor’s voice brought Peter back to reality. “Groot could easily walk here on his own.”

The entire Guardians of the Galaxy, minus Gamora and plus Thor, who Peter was reluctant to include into the family, was walking Groot to high school.

“You don’t decide what’s best for Groot,” Rocket snapped.

“I should get some say,” Thor muttered, then added, while pointedly looking at Peter, “as the team leader.”

“You’re not the leader,” Peter interjected, “and we’re not just a team.”

“Yeah, we’re a family,” Drax insisted, nodding with confidence. He and Mantis beamed at each other.

“No!” All eyes turned to Peter, who had just blurted the word without thinking. “I mean - yes, we are. But, more importantly, we’re heroes. You can’t just have anyone step in and become leader. It’s gotta be somebody who’s responsible.” When Thor looked like he was going to argue more, Peter continued, talking over him, “And! Someone who’s been responsible for the Guardians for years. Which is why I’m-“

“I’m the leader,” Rocket interrupted.

“What?” Peter shook his head, “No…”

“In case you’ve forgotten, Nebula and I have been the only Guardians of the Galaxy for five years! And she sure as hell wasn’t diplomatic enough to be leader!”

The Guardians turned to see if Nebula would argue, but she was making threatening faces at a nearby group of gawking teens as they made their way to school, only stopping when she felt their eyes on her.

“It’s true,” was all she said.

“AND,” Rocket continued before Peter could say anything, “at the very least, I am the leader of Groot!” He pointed at the teen in question with his thumb.

Peter couldn’t argue with that.

Groot, meanwhile, scowled. He didn’t feel like himself in their new home in this new neighbourhood. And he didn’t like toting around a backpack full of heavy textbooks and school supplies.

“I am Groot?” he asked rhetorically if anyone was going to ask him what he wanted.

“No, we’re not. We - or, more accurately - I am not gonna ask. I’m gonna tell you what’s best for you.”

“I am Groot?”

“You can’t bring yer holotab because you’d just play with it all day. Besides, they don’t publish Terran textbooks for you to download there. And none of the other kids will have that kinda tech.”

“Yeah wouldn’t want him to stand out,” Peter said sarcastically.

“Shut it, Star-Munch.”

“And, hey! Did it occur to you that if Earth’s textbooks aren’t published on the intergalactic web that they may not be accurate? Or useful?” Peter walked backwards as he spoke.

“I am Groot?” Groot agreed, asking the age-old question of “why do I have to learn this bullshit?”

“Watch yer frickin’ language!” Rocket barked. Then, he turned to Peter. “Don’t you think I know that Earth’s the most backwards, barbaric planet since Hala?”

“Woah! You’re saying we’re worse than the Kree planet?” Peter asked, his face scrunched in disapproval.

“I think the Kree are worse,” Drax stated.

“All I’m saying is this planet sucks and school sucks - ya probably already know more than most of those idiots-”

“I am Groot?!” rather than wait for Rocket’s explanation, Groot burst out his frustrated question.

“If you’d let me finish!” Rocket waited a moment to see if anyone would interrupt him. “You’re there to make friends. Learn what it’s like to be around people your own age ‘n all that crap.”

“I did wish for real friends my own age when I was a teen,” Mantis chimed in.

“There ya have it. We’re sending you to school so that you don’t end up like Mantis.”

Mantis squeaked, but couldn’t quite place whether Rocket was insulting her or if he was just stating that he didn’t want Groot to be lonely like she was. Ever the optimist, she went with the latter, and, in any case, was quickly distracted by a long building in front of them.

“This is it,” Peter confirmed.

The chain-link fence beside the sidewalk they had been following finally ended at a set of yellow, metal bars that served as the gates to a massive parking lot. The school itself was white at the base and red at the top and looked more like the back of a strip mall or a warehouse. The Guardians looked left and right, but the only indication they had that this was, indeed, a high school and not a prison yard or sketchy back alley was a small, tilted sign that said “DRUG-FREE SCHOOL ZONE.”

“Haha, yeah right, right?” Peter stood by the sign and pointed at it, grinning. Most the Guardians ignored him, except for Rocket, who looked pissed.

“Alright, you guys stay here. Office said to sign him in at building one…” Rocket stepped forward and Groot obediently, albeit reluctantly, followed.

The buildings were plain, undecorated, unless you counted the large white numbers indicating which building was which painted on the second story, too high to be vandalized. Groot observed that the first floor walls were not so fortunate, as the inconsistent paint jobs suggested their habitual desecration - that and the fact that it seemed the school’s janitorial staff wasn’t even bothering with the latest obscenities painted on the walls.

The students who attended this school clearly didn’t like or respect it. Groot supposed he could be thankful that he already had something in common with the people who would become his peers.

//———//

Sadly, it seemed the only thing the students hated more than school was Groot.

He was blamed for half the universe disappearing for five years. “It was one of you aliens that did it!” Which was why he was blamed for their families falling apart. “Mom didn’t think dad was ever coming back. Do you have any idea what an asshole her new boyfriend is?!” Not to mention, he was also blamed for ruining their lives. “If you aliens hadn’t’ve started your alien war, my friends and I would have graduated together, like we promised! Why does Earth have to pay for your problems? You should just go back to space and stop being our problem!”

Groot tried to reason with them. They were all enthusiastic about being all-inclusive of race, gender, and sexuality. He’s point out that he was one of billions of billions of aliens out there, and it wasn’t his fault that Thanos did what he did. He’d point out that it was, indeed, racist to define all aliens by the actions of just one man, Thanos, and that it was also racist and stupid to think that Groot was just like any other alien.

Thor once had the good intention to walk Groot to school, since Rocket always insisted that somebody walk with him. He walked with Groot all the way up to the school doors. For once, nobody made any comments at Groot.

“There, that’s better, isn’t it?” Thor amicably patted Groot on the shoulders as he said goodbye to make a show of their friendship, but that only silenced the other students while Thor was still there. As soon as he was out of the parking lot, they were back at their usual jibes and glares.

There were a few students that tried to talk to him, to tell him how immature the bullies were acting and not to take those assholes seriously. But, after a while, just like the rest, no matter what Groot tried to say, to bullies or otherwise, he would eventually be met with frustration on their part.

“Who the fuck cares?! We know you’re Groot!”

School had just become a routine of sitting at the back of class because, even though it was easier for students to throw garbage or spit at him, it was also easier for him to see it coming and stop or dodge it, hiding in the bathrooms during the shorter break of the day, and sneaking food into the library because it seemed the librarian understood that Groot couldn’t eat peacefully in the cafeteria.

He was hurt. The Guardians weren’t the most popular group in the galaxy, and he certainly wasn’t anyone’s favourite, not like the Hulk or Thor of the Avengers, but he wasn’t used to being universally hated.

He was confused. Rocket insisted that this was best. How was this learning to get along with people his age? He was quickly learning to hate people his age. Or perhaps all people in general, since the teachers equally ignored him, despite being informed about the language barrier.

“The school can’t afford for every teacher to have a universal translator, are you kidding?” Rocket told him noncommittally as he worked away. He was busy getting a freelance repair business off the ground since, aside from Mantis and Drax, most the Guardians would be able to help with that and they’d be able to make extra money. “You’ll figure it out - you always do everywhere else.”

But everywhere else had a universal translator at best, or they were used to meeting people they didn’t understand. Groot would point this out, but Rocket would just tell him to deal with it since he was too busy to do so.

Groot couldn’t even skip school the way he’d seen other kids do, since he was walked to and from school, and any missed classes promoted the school to call Rocket, who would take away gaming privaleges for the day when he found out.

So Groot was trapped. Trapped in the back of the class, the bathrooms, and the library. Trapped on a planet that couldn’t understand his language - refused to, in fact. Trapped alone with a family that equally refused to understand his problems. Well, Peter seemed to get it - he had hated school, too, but he couldn’t convince Rocket to leave this damn delusional planet.

Groot was known for being outspoken in his grumpiness, he was known for being loud with his complaints, and he was known for being upfront with his negative attitude. But, now, trapped, he knew that it didn’t help him to argue, yell, scream, or cry. So he became silent. And since Rocket didn’t seem to have time to realize that Groot wasn’t talking to him, Groot realized that his family wouldn’t care if he was gone.

His only company became his games and some books in the library. There was a whole section of “Teen/Young Adult Drama” devoted to conflicts like the one he found himself in.

He read about teens who were at a disadvantage because they were different, and were bullied for it.

He read stories about friends turning to enemies over a mutual love interest and the triumph of overpowering the enemy with wit and intellect. But Groot couldn’t prove his wit or intellect because no one would listen.

Mysteries about why a quiet kid at school had used narcotics to kill himself - the journal he’d left behind for his friend had to discover and decipher. But Groot didn’t have even a single friend who would care if he was gone.

His life had become a routine of being trapped. And he desperately wanted to escape.

One day, he was pushed over that edge, when he got in trouble for leaving the school premises. He knew Rocket would find out but he didn’t care.

“I don’t want you skipping school and I DEFINITELY don’t want you leaving the property! What were you even doin’?!”

“I am Groot!”

“What do you mean what do I care? Of course I care!”

Groot yelled one last time, a voice-cracking scream that everyone in the house could hear before slamming the door to his room shut.

“Groot! That’s not true! And don’t you slam that door!” Rocket stomped towards his son’s room, but Peter stopped him.

“Rocket, wait. Don’t you see what this is doin’ to him?”

To Peter’s surprise, Rocket did wait. And he sighed, his ears drifting down shamefully. So, he continued.

“You know first-hand how mean and judgemental people can be. It’s not just teens, either. And Groot can’t even stick up for himself! We’re lucky he’s not getting into fights or anything because he could probably kill them.”

“I know…”

“Groot’s actually a really good kid.”

“I know.”

“Then why are you putting him through this?” Peter asked. “Why are any of us doing any of this? He doesn’t need the education and he’s not learning how to get along with people.”

“I know!” Rocket turned to look at Peter and his eyes were wide, wildly so. “But it’s safe.”

Peter then realized that Rocket’s tough guy act and his obsessive need to tinker with technology was still, first and foremost, a front to hide his fears. Of all the things in the galaxy that had changed, this remained true.

While Earth was boring at best and brutal at worst, few creatures inhabited it that could harm Groot. And, secretly, Groot was gentle. He knew when he could overpower someone and was careful not to unless they really forced him to. He was part of a team that protected people, even if the people they protected were assholes like the ones he went to school with. This meant that he would never give the world leaders of Earth any reason to wage war against him, but it also meant that he would pretty much never defend himself if it meant hurting a human being.

Peter had more to say.

“Right now, Groot is dealing with one of life’s hardest challenges. You don’t know because you never went to school. And when he says you don’t care about what he’s going through, I think he really believes it. It’s gotta stop. You’ve gotta let him live a good life, even if it’s not particularly safe.”

“You’re right…” Rocket looked to the floor. “I shouldn’t’a… I should go talk to him.”

Rocket knocked on Groot’s door, trying to show that he wasn’t still mad and that he was willing to respect Groot’s privacy - a major improvement from just a minute ago, but found the door wasn’t even fully closed.

“Groot?” Rocket pushed the door the rest of the way open. Vines, let loose and unkept, as usual, littered the floor and even crept up the walls and out the open window, but there was no Groot in sight.

//———//

To be continued???

[sunnysojourn]

Bridging The Gap Between Two Realms

Full thread below the cut.

sunnysojourn: 

Nadal had come along as a bit of an accessory for Poppy today, though he’d add on one little detail to his plan’s recap before they approached the forest where she had these rendezvouses with her as-of-yet unknown dark elf friend.

“Let me speak to him for a moment first,” he offered, holding his hand out as if the offer was of a physical item. “I believe there are things I can say to him that you could not. Then, you can begin to try to-- softly-- put your perspective forth. I may have to translate this into terms he will understand.”

@themaryiestsuetoeversue​:

It was just her and Nadal, like she promised - well, Noir was sort of in the rough area, with the rest of the party, she assumed - boy, not having a link to these three was annoying - but not in the designated meeting clearing. She couldn't stop herself from looking for his birds, before looking at Nadal's offered hand, too nervous to take it.

"That's a good plan. The best plan. Explain everything - because I think all I can do at this point is apologize, still. He'd believe you over me..."

She didn't even have the bag of stuff nor her crossbow, in an attempt to both be nonthreatening and avoid the eyes of bandits.

What was she saying, though - they'd discussed this! Damn her nerves for erasing everything...

"I'm gonna try to do what we talked about. Gonna...gonna plant a seed..."

@vassarazorclaw:

The sparrows knew first, chattering about new faces amongst themselves.  Gossip was a past time of the forest's residents, so it wasn't long before the the ravens knew, and by that rote, Ran also became aware.  He consulted his spellbook and took his skinning knife with him...just in case.

He made sure his steps were light and silent as he followed Salmon's flight from tree to tree.  Better to leave no trail back home.  The raven perched himself in the high branches and Ran felt Soup's talons prick reassuringly through his tunic.  The ranger breached the tree line silently, tense as he took in the pair.  Where was Noir?  Was this an escape on Poppy's part or was this a trap?

"Hello again.  Hello."  The second greeting was for Poppy's companion.  One of the brothers no doubt.  The elderboy maybe?  Then where were the other two?  Ran's fingers twitched.  <Are you well?  Are you safe?>

sunnysojourn:

Nadal snapped to attention, and starkly took a defensive stance. Though he carried no weapon and only wore his bright red clerical robes, he could still defend himself in a pinch-- but he eased upon the sight of the ranger. "<She hardly knows our tongue,>" he spoke, in the language of their people. "Nice to meet you. <I am Nadal Hun'ar, Seventhboy and First Daughter.>" He gave a respectful curtsey to the ranger, then continued, "<I will explain the latter half of that title in due time; all you need remember is that you and I are equals and this small meeting was at my request.>"

Now, he pointed a confused raise of the eyebrows in Ran's direction. "<Now, why should I be unsafe? You have seen the two of them, haven't you?>"

@vassarazorclaw:

Ran shifted back, ready to bolt back into the woods.  But the other elf relaxed so Ran relaxed.  Slightly.  What a strange introduction.  Why would the seventh boy be here as a speaker and not the elderboy?  Something was up.

Poppy was the one that offered to "bring him along" so why was he claiming he asked for the meeting?  Where was Noir?  Soup pushed off his shoulder, off to scout for the moon elf.

<I've seen them.>  Was he meant to be saving Poppy from Nadal then?  Ran flexed his fingers.  He could...maybe get the spell off in time?  Or not?  This wasn't going how Ran had imagined.  <It's really just the one I'm worried about, really.  But if you're safe, that's good.  I thought you might be...uh, very, very out of favor...with Matron Hun'ar.>

The slave market could have gotten dark elves UP just as easily as they dragged surfacers DOWN right?

sunnysojourn:

Nadal frowned, appraising the strange ranger's words. Out of favor he may have been, but his mother wouldn't waste resources like that unless-- Unless she found out about him, he imagined.

"<I was. Horribly out of favor, in fact. You see, I was one of Vhaeraun's people. I still revere him even now, to some extent. But you see, Poppy and Noir rescued me from the slavers' chains. Mostly Noir. Poppy had also been captured.>" Truth was like water. Just enough of it would keep him alive. "<I have allowed them the use of my surface home since then.>"

He straightened up tall. "<Morennil, our eldest, followed me out. Vyth, I dragged out myself. Speaking of, I have been informed that-- because these people don't understand our ways-- you might be under the impression that you would be punished if you are not unreasonably nice to Vyth whether or not you like him? Disregard that notion. If you become his friend, that is your choice.>"

@vassarazorclaw:

There was that Vyth again.  Ran scowled.  <How was Vyth dragged with you exactly?>  Ran had a guess but it didn't speak well of Nadal's character.  The story explained spoke better of Morennil, really.  Vyth just seemed to be along for the ride either way.  Must be tough.

<If Vyth and I become friends that's...also dependent on him.>  One sided friendships apparently weren't real, after all.  <...but yes, I had been informed that I had "better be nice" to him, or else it would upset Poppy.  And given that I may be on thin ice with Noir I...feel it's in my best interest to not upset Poppy.>

sunnysojourn:

If only Nadal's back could get any straighter, he'd do that now. "<I returned to the underdark and took him with me,>" he answered. "<If being Vhaeraunite was enough to get me sold, and Vyth is himself an enemy of Lolth, would you not agree that it was in his best interest to come with me before someone found him out?>" Even if he didn't trust himself for the longest time--

His composure broke completely once he heard the exact words Poppy had used come out of Ran's mouth. "<I'm sorry, she said what?> Poppy, you didn't tell me-- <When she came crying to me about how she thought you didn't want to be her friend anymore, she had not told me she used explicitly forceful language to address you. I apologize on her behalf. I have no idea what she was thinking when she said that. You are not going to be punished if the two of you do not end up in an amicable relationship.>"

@vassarazorclaw:

Going back was certainly brave.  Ran had to commend Nadal for going back to get his brother.  He nodded.  That sorted out the first part of the Vyth conundrum.   <That makes sense.>

He relaxed even further as Soup confirmed for him Noir's location.  Out by the river, preoccupied with chores.  Still, Salmon continuing his lookout couldn't hurt.  He blinked, focusing back on the view in front of him.  <Oh.  She was crying?>

That couldn't be good.  He fidgeted, fiddling with his own fingers.  <It's fine.  Not that she was crying!  I mean, I want to be friends with her!  It's simply that I may have made overtures at her without knowing her exact relationship with Noir who--don't tell her I said this but she is awful at watching Poppy.  When we met Noir was not so graceful in reacting to my greeting?  Neither was Poppy, actually, thinking on it.  But uh, I feel that sort of, well, I feel like Noir may have it out for me but has not acted because I have Poppy's favor?  At least a little.  I mean, it was nice before the uh, the whole thing where I thought maybe she was collecting dark elves.  But she isn't!  Which is great.>

sunnysojourn: 

Nadal straightened up again, hands at his sides where Ran could see them. The look on his face returned to its usual half-lidded neutrality, and it seemed the tension had simmered down a bit, despite Ran's lengthy ramble.

"<Your footsteps are whisper quiet. You even startled me for a moment.>" That was as much as he needed to say about that. Nobody needed to dwell on the fact that he got scared by a noodle with messy hair. "<Noir is harmless once she meets someone. The two of them... really, they're the furthest from graceful I've ever seen, but they mean well and they'd like to improve.>"  One hand hovered over his belt's purple buckle, a color that didn't quite go with the bright red target he wore. "<I, too, have made overtures in Poppy's direction. As it turns out, she's only interested in female bodies.>"

He flipped the switch from purple to pink, and let everything shift-- regained his balance-- then bowed his head all the same. "<This...>" His voice, though starkly feminine, still resided in the low range for his sex. Just as it did before. "<This is a longer story and I'll explain it later. When I'm not trying to bridge the gap between you two.>"

@vassarazorclaw:

When was being part of the background bad?  It was better not to attract attention!  Safer!  Just quietly go about your work.  Ran likewise didn't agree that Noir was harmless.  She definitely had the potential to do harm.  Well, the potential for intent to harm.  Well...she was quick to consider violence as a solution.

Ran's train of thought stalled.  What.  OKAY.  First daughter now made sense, but--WHAT.  His eyes slid to Poppy.  Poppy was safe to look at.  "Salmon."

The raven landing on his shoulder was a comforting weight.  Ran reached up to dig his fingers into thick feathers.  Right, he could do this.  He took a breath and looked back at Nadal.  <Right, okay.  That's fine.  So, to be clear, no one is being held hostage and no one was actually enforcing a hierarchy?>

sunnysojourn: 

Noir would be harmless soon and that was what mattered. Shame Nadal couldn't say they'd speak to her about this, or risk losing favor with Ran-- so he just added a qualifier to the word 'harmless'. He offered a second curtsey to Ran as the ranger finally gained the nerve to look upon him again.

Maybe he wasn't quite as far gone as Nadal's practice runs would have suggested. Only one way to find out:

"<To be clear?>" He repeated, as a question. "<The surface is not the underdark. These people have no idea why you'd make either of those assumptions.>"

@vassarazorclaw:

Ran took in a breath.  <Okay.  Fair.>  His eyes flitted upward.  Ah, there she was.  He held out an arm for his second raven to land on.  Feathery comfort.

<It may have also been...a language barrier.>  Ran understood more than he could string together, but what he could string together wasn't always received how he intended.  <And I guess I wasn't very outspoken in my worries?  I'll have to expand my vocal-bulary.>

He turned his face, briefly hiding it in Salmon's feathers.  Dictionary and diction needed improvement for sure.

sunnysojourn:

Commoner, then. Any noble would have been taught how to taunt his surface enemies and appear intelligent while doing so... His advice, were Ran a noble, would have been to ask more questions about their intent, but that wouldn't be possible as long as Ran's common wasn't up to snuff.

He nodded, stifling a smile at Ran's little pun. "<You have a choice, then. You can wait for us to tutor Poppy and Noir in our tongue, or one of us could stick around and tutor you in theirs. Poppy, she's intelligent, but we have many pressing matters that tend to get in the way. I'd like to do this, personally, but logically, I would ask Vyth-- he understands native speech better than I do-- if he would teach you.>"

@vassarazorclaw:

Tutoring?  It would be helpful.  Really, he just needed time to practice.  Market trips were good, but hanging out bothering merchants seemed a bit like asking for too much.  He hummed, fighting to keep from grinning.

<I wouldn't want to hold you up from your travels?  Given the gaps between visits, I assume travel is important to Poppy.>  Having someone over for longer than a visit might be nice, but... <Also my house is rather small?  I guess I never really foresaw having guests my size over, really.>

sunnysojourn:

"<Travel is very important to Poppy,>" Nadal confirmed with a nod to punctuate the statement. "<However.>" He folded his arms behind his back, to stand firm at attention. "<The others would continue to travel.  We would leave one person here, temporarily. Then retrieve them. I'm certain Vyth wouldn't mind the stability.>"

Neither would he, if he was being honest about things. "Poppy, he tells me that he has been particularly fearful with regard to Noir, who he sees as not only dangerous, but as potentially vengeful, considering he acted outside of his assumed station. That she had not acted due only to your favor."

@themaryiestsuetoeversue:

Poppy sighed. Yeah, that made a lot of sense. "She did kind of point her sword at him when we first met..." She shook her head. "Noir's okay with him now, though! Since, like, he hasn't tried to hurt me or anything and honestly..." She didn't trust Nadal to NOT directly translate this, but he'd definitely read between the lines anyway. "She knows I know how to refuse, even if I feel bad about it..."

Ran was so nice, was the thing. It wasn't like turning down a raunchy squire from back home or a leering bard from on the road.

"Noir only acts if somebody's gonna hurt me, and we're both pretty certain Ran will never do that. She kinda thinks his attempts at courtship were, um..." Oh, this would sound so insulting... "Funny? Because she knows how loyal I am and what my answer would be." Sorry Ran, you never had a chance to begin with. Maybe if she were single and you were a woman, but only then. The situation with Nadal was, uh...

Different. Poppy could only handle so many lovers, and knowing that Nadal could basically function if she ran into a streak of not much free time to spend with him went a long way in making this work.

"He doesn't have to be afraid of Noir, she won't hurt him."

sunnysojourn:

Nadal nodded and kept his expression flat, even when Poppy told him about how Noir was... basically making fun of the poor commoner over his crush. "<Noir only harms those who are a definitive threat, she says. Noir has determined that it is not in your desire to commit assault against Poppy. That is all that matters.>"

@vassarazorclaw:

Wow.  Ran stroked his fingers over Soup's back thoughtfully.

"Si siofme coi ui diwhafup batobot ihk creolna nouhaia mrith wer tokeqwim di jacioniv thurirl, jaciv ui gethrisja vi sumf."  Soup mused.  Salmon laughed, bobbing on Ran's shoulder.

"Lemon, wux jalla visp jacioniv batobot!"  Ran...was clearly missing something.  He gave both ravens a pat.

[I'm not telling her that.]  The response was in yet another language, and maybe four tongues on the table was a little too much.  Undercommon could at least be understood by everyone but Poppy?  Ran shook his head.

<I wasn't exactly a fighter down below, and I'm not too keen on picking fights up here, so no worries on that front.  I think I'm pretty over it.  Being friends is fine.  Uh, if Vyth really wouldn't mind, I wouldn't mind having a tutor.  It's really just getting to practice and having time to do it.>

sunnysojourn:

Nadal leaned a bit more toward Poppy as he translated Ran's words to Common. "He claims he has gotten over his crush, if that helps you in any way. He is also worried that there was too much of a language barrier between the two of you, and I have offered to ask Vyth if he might stay and tutor Ran or help him practice."

To Ran, he added, "<If everything is well between you, might I ask a personal question? Just from me to you.>"

@themaryiestsuetoeversue:

"It makes me feel better that I didn't hurt his feelings, yes." Claims, though...poor guy. You'll find someone eventually, Ran!

"That's okay but make sure Vyth actually wants to stay, of his own free will." And then maybe they could come back in a month, see how the tutoring went... Heck, she should've been practicing Draconic somehow. "Learning Common will help him beyond being able to communicate with me, so if Vyth's up for it, I don't mind. This place isn't too dangerous for people like Vyth."

@vassarazorclaw:

Ran honestly wasn't looking.  It just would have been nice.  Poppy wouldn't have been an ideal partner, really, if he was pragmatic about it.  What with her lust for travel and all.  Enough of one to drag at least four others along with her it seemed.  Though...maybe some of that was Noir.

<I don't mind personal questions, ask away!>  This was nice, talking in his mother tongue.  Though maybe he just thought that because Poppy and Nadal were talking at a hard to follow pace.  Too many new words  among familiar ones or ones he knew well.

sunnysojourn:

"If Vyth decides not to, then I'll do it," Nadal replied in Common. While that succinct response hung in the air, he turned his attention wholly on Ran, keeping his arms folded behind his straightened back.

"<There is this surface custom surrounding courtship... A...> date, <I believe it's called. Where two people come together and determine their compatibility, as in, how well they would do together if they knew each other intimately.>" His face heated up and he found himself thankful for two things. First, Poppy couldn't see him blushing. Second, Poppy couldn't understand how awkward the lead up to this question was. "<Would you like to try that?>"

@vassarazorclaw:

A "date"?  Ran blinked, tilting his head as Salmon tugged an errant leaf from his hair.  Nadal wanted to spend time with him?  Ran suppressed a giddy laugh.

<Okay!>  Wait, no, cool it.  <Okay!>  Nailed it.  Soup gave him a look, whispering in his head that maybe he shouldn't seem too over eager.  Little late for that.

sunnysojourn:

Gods, if Ran wasn't like an excitable little puppy... So cute.

Nadal nodded and bowed his head slightly at the end of it. "<Wonderful. Do you have a preferred day...?>" His face felt warmer than before, and he found himself blinking down at the ground a lot. He did it. He initiated an encounter and got an affirmative response. An enthusiastic affirmative response.

"<Would tonight be too soon? I need to refresh myself on how that works.>"

@vassarazorclaw:

A day?  Ran didn't have anything pressing matters on any day, really.  He set Soup on his other shoulder, smoothing down her fathers.  She huffed anyway.  Salmon gave him a pat with his beak.  <Any day is fine!>

Ran shook his head, grinning.  <Tonight is good!  I mean, if that's fine with you!  It's fine with me!>

sunnysojourn:

Tonight. Tonight was good. Okay. Nadal could prepare for that within the day, he was sure. "<Could we meet here again? It should only be a few hours.>"

"Poppy. I think I have a date tonight." He still continued slow blinking. "I am going to need to look that custom up again."

@vassarazorclaw:

<Oh yes!  I can be back here in a few hours easily.>  That was enough time to wash up and look presentable.  Check on his chickens and plants and maybe a few of the traps closer to home?  How did you prepare for a date?

<I'll see you in a few hours then!>  Ran waved, trotting off with the same quiet steps he'd entered with.

[theliterateape]

Sex, Lies & Improvisers

By Lauren Huffman

We met in our improv for anxiety class at The Second City. I signed up on a whim and it ended up saving my current life. I was living with my long-term boyfriend. He had alcohol abuse issues and I knew I had to leave him. I didn’t quite have the strength. I felt trapped. Until now.

An older man in my ensemble caught my eye. But, I caught his eye first. He confided in me about his divorce. I confided in him about my relationship struggle. I broke up with my boyfriend. The older man and I started having sex. He started becoming emotionally abusive. I started feeling trapped. Again.  

A younger man in my ensemble caught my eye But, I caught his eye first. He confided in me about his anxiety toward women. I confided in him about my new relationship struggle. His anxiety began in college. His ex-girlfriend came out of the closet while they were dating. I broke up with the old guy. Me and the younger guy started having sex. He was leaving for the Air Force. We decided to do long distance. I started feeling insecure.

We were in a full blown relationship for almost a year. After his basic training his personality shifted and he started showing his true colors: a narcissistic, insecure, chauvinist. I ignored it. I held on to the beginning of our relationship, when we were obsessed with each other, having sex non stop, taking exotic vacations, talking about marriage.  

We would take turns visiting each other. Every other month one would fly to the other. He was stationed in Texas; I was in Chicago. He would make snide remarks like "People in the military have the best work ethic I've ever seen." Or "Sometimes innocent people have to die for the greater good." I couldn’t believe my ears, but I kept holding on to the guy I knew before he entered the military. The vulnerable guy who had to get up strength to talk to women, especially me. The guy that worked so hard on his issues to date me, who adored me, who couldn’t wait to marry me.

He loved the outdoors and athletics and was obsessed with his body. He would work very hard on building muscle mass. It made sense as he received a running scholarship to a D1 college. Athletic ability was in his blood and served as his barometer when measuring other people. The stronger, faster and more dangerous you are, the better a person you are, according to him.

I, on the other hand, have always been a gal of the arts. I did theater growing up, I take voice and acting lessons, I co-produce storytelling shows. My passion lies within this realm. I value the array of traits different people possess. To be cliché, it’s what makes the world go round. Additionally, I am not an advocate of war.  

During our monthly visits, we always did some sort of athletics. It never failed and it was always something I am not good at. It’s not that I don’t want to be active—I do yoga, dance, I go for runs.  I’m just not good at it. I need a little push and help. Even growing up, the thought of gym class gave me such anxiety it would keep me up at night. But partaking in these activities with him was not really an option for me. He never entertained anything other than what he wanted to do. And I obliged because, for some reason, I wanted to impress him.

He always made sure I knew I wasn’t very good. He would act annoyed that he had to slow down for me. He even told me he was worried I wasn’t active enough to stay thin forever.  

We broke up. 

We stayed in touch though. Somehow. We found a friendship. He became softer when he wasn’t so stressed out. Despite my anxiety-fueled relationship with him I always had an inkling we would end up together. He would grow up and come around and let his softer side out again.

Two years after we split, he came to visit me for New Year's. We discussed getting back together. But he decided he couldn’t do long distance again. We ended amicably, and I cut contact.  

But deep down, I still knew he’d come around. I had this overwhelming feeling we belonged together.

Six months later, I got an email from him. “Happy birthday, I hope you are doing well.” It wasn’t my birthday. My birthday was a few weeks away. I didn’t respond.

Two months later, I was dumped via text message from some loser who couldn’t get it up. My self-pity entered into questionable territory. I responded to the military ex. I thanked him for the birthday wishes.

He replied back with a novel. He regretted how we left things. He couldn’t stop thinking about me. He made a huge mistake. He was in Afghanistan but was returning in a few weeks. He wanted to see me. He figured I wouldn’t respond because he had been such an asshole after New Year’s but took a risk.

It was happening. What I always knew was meant to be, was happening.

I told him I would consider it. We started talking daily via Skype, Gchat, and email. He sent me flowers. He persisted on giving him another chance. He was sitting on this for nearly a year and was certain I was what he wanted. He wanted to be together forever but knew it would take a lot for me to trust him again. And that was OK. He told me to take my time, he’d be there waiting. If I gave him one iota of a chance, he’d change my mind.

He invited me to upstate New York for a week to visit his family. Coincidentally, I was starting a new job. I had two weeks off that overlapped with his two weeks off after returning from Afghanistan.

The stars were aligning.  

He flew to Chicago to pick me up. We drove eight hours to his family’s house in New York. We spent the week laughing and eating good food and drinking fine wines and exploring the area and having sex in a bed and in a hot tub and in a car. Our time together was fun and sweet and hot. I was starting a new job on Monday, this getaway was a nice way to reset.

The week concluded and on Saturday we spent the day driving back to Chicago. Sunday, we went to brunch and decided to make it official and be boyfriend and girlfriend again. I gave him a chance and he didn’t disappoint. He lived up to his word and I was trusting him. He moved into a new place on his base so we were going to go couch shopping. We had one more day and night together. On Monday, the next day, he was leaving me to visit his sister in DC. On the way to couch shopping, we stopped at my apartment to drop off our leftovers. 

I walked out of the kitchen. He looked at me, told me his feelings changed, there was no spark between us. And walked out the door. I opened my apartment door to find him waiting for the elevator. I asked where he was going. He said “I don’t know."

And in a symbolic gesture only a writer could love: The elevator arrived. The doors opened. He got in. The doors closed. And that was the last I was to hear or see of him ever again.