#im not proud of how im already level nine after two days

[acreekinthenight]

After losing all my progress when I got a new phone I've redownload phone destroyer...

[rhaenyraisadyke]

Unhealthy Competition Transcript: 8/4/21

Heres the transcript on a google doc if thats easier!

W: What do we want?

R: Burgers!

W: When- When, when do we want the burgers?

R: When they're cooked because if we get them now wait they are actually cooked right now but it would be raw if we immediately gave them out to the customers which is why we DO cook our food.

W: Wh-a what are you on there! They are cooked! Look! Does that not look cooked?

R: I- I mean.. Ah it looks fine it looks fine

W: I’ve never tried one of our own burgers before

R: Oh yeah we should've done that before- a while ago

W: Leme do it lemme do it lemme do it lemme do it lemme do it leme do it right, I need to get hungry first

R: mhm

W: Let me just quickly slap a Wilburger in there, leme leme just

R: there we go

W: I’m gonna get hungry

R: Alright let's get hungry

W: Wooh wooh wooh, how’ve you been Ranboo?!

R: I’ve been doing good!

W: Have you been vibing?

R: I’ve been doing alright! Yeah! I had a good rest, I’ve had a good day

W: Mhm, mhm

R: So far you know i'm excited to get to working the nine to five, it's a dream.

W: Wait, I don’t make you work nine to five- you just have to work when we run out of burgers man. You’re free to do what you want, this is your- you’re working part time for wilburger- oh it's the horse! We need that

R: OH yeah we should probably, we should probably,

W: I want that horse, aye! Do you know what quackity’s horse is called? Okay I’m hungry now, I’m hungry now, are you ready for this?

R: okay, alright

W: Bread first, burger, mmmm Ranboo… we gotta to better than that

R: Oh, okay

W: Ranboo that's the best burger I’ve ever had

R: Nice!

W: But we gotta do better than that

R: Okay, then to volume two.

W: WE are taking down an entire nation with this burger van- oh sorry competing peacefully outside of this burger van, we can't have just the best burgers I've ever had- they have to be the best burgers anyones ever eaten in their entire lives

R: In any universe!

W: In any universe in any universe at all, at all. You’ve done a really good job of this I know I’ve already said that but yeah

R: Thank you thank you, yeah

W: this is fun, I like this little toy you’ve made, I like this, i'm a big fan

R: I like it too, thank you.

W: I’m a big fan of a lot of things we have done Ranboo. Do you remember they um, boom boy?

R: yeah.. I do remember that.

W: Yeah?

R: Yeah.. I hope it didn't I hope it didn't, it wasn't, hopefully it wasn't too much, I don’t think it was too much

W: Oh I thought it was great I thought it was great man, when you smashed the window and blew up the wall- I’d be pissed

R: Mhmm

W: And I bet that was the right stick it to the man that he needed

R: But, butm you, you wanted that for competition, for business and all that, right?

W:... yeah

R: Yeahhhh

W: Yeahh, hmm, Ranboo I think you’ve taken a side here which feels like a change for you. I’m not used to this, you’re mister not choosing a side you know?

R: Yeah, yeah, because when I looked back especially when- especially after, your talks about Lmanburg and everything I realised

W: Look back on what?

R: You know, when you looked back on like Lmanburg and everything

W: Oh like life and all that

R: Yeah I decided to take a look back on my life and everything and I realised that I mean I’ve been involved in things, but, I haven't really done anything, I haven't really done anything

W: What do you mean?

R: I haven't made anything like, I haven't really, I haven't really done much to alter history, now if you were to write a history book, I wouldn't really be that much you know…

W: Whatttt

R: Involved in it

W: I don’t think, I don’t know what you’ve done, I don't..

R: Exactly, that proves my point

W: But you don’t need to have an impact on the world Ranboo to matter you know? You don’t need to go out, you don’t need to build a fucking effile tower just to be, just to mean something.

R: Yeahh

W: Ranboo, Ranboo don’t get me wrong

R: Yeah

W: You’re talking to me here I think it could be that you, you know, are going out and doing stuff. Look at this bozo

R: What he's doing here?

W: I think it could be that you decided to go out and change you know change this, I think change things for the better.

R: You know it's -

W: Don’t don’t start go out and breaking windows and blowing up walls just because you,

R: Oh no I won’t probably not too much

W: Just because you want to make something

R: This is why I like our little, little burger shop, you know it's small but at least it's something, you know I’ve always I’ve always wanted to go and make something that's gonna outlive me a little bit so I think this, I think this is a good start to something.

W: Mhm mhm

R: It’s a nice little burger shop you know?

W: And man? Honestly, I’m proud of you bro. I know, I know I don't know you very well man and I haven't known you for very long but you’ve done a really good job here and tell you what tell you what?

R: Thank you

W: Have you ever seen the phrase “fruits of your labor”?

R: Yeees, I- I think! I think so

W: Shall we see the fruits of our labour? Cause Quackity, quackitys online

R: I mean

W: Quackitys online, Quackitys here man

R: Oh!

W: We can go, we can go and see and chat with him about what we did. By the way after you blew it up I know you didn't see but I gave him back all the materials because

R: That's good

W: I gave him back all the materials for the wall and I also, I also left him a diamond or two just to say like you know no hard feelings you know?

R: Mhm

W: That it was just for, just you know, to prove a point but um yeah Quackitys here, and I wanna see. Do you want to ride a horse? Here, get on the horse.

R: You want me to uh?

W: Yeah yeah, it's Quackity’s its quackitys horse just a disclaimer

R: It’s quackitys? Oh oh okay,

W: Normally when I come to the las nevadas sign as im not allowed in las nevadas, normally when I come to the las nevadas sign Quackity is the first one to come and tell me to fuck off so lets see, lets go up to the las nevadas sign.

R: Alright

W: Yeah man its half the fun of making something and doing cool things is that moment where um, where you get to see what everyone feels about it now that we are here I promise wait here, I promise you

R: Wait.. wait here? Okay

W: Just you wait… Ready?

R: Alright, i'm ready

W: Um um “boy las nevadas sure is big from up here” just hold on

R: Okay um okay

W: Just give it a second, maybe from this level, hmmm maybe if I take another step, ooh what's that?

R: Oh yeah OH do you remember the cookie outpost thing?

W: Yeah yeah the little thing you built with tubbo

R: Yeah so basically right he got really upset so then I- I tried to apologise and everything because we- there was a little bit of dispute with it but we honestly just decided to really just give up.

W: I mean he hasn't accepted it… look its all in there

R: He hasn't accepted it?

W: Yeah, it's all in there….

R: Oh he said he liked it at least…

W: Is- did I just lie? This guy, Ranboo I swear to god I feel like I understand him, how his brain works, how he how his mind go and then he just, just proves that he doesn't give a shit.

R: Yeahh

W: Which is why I can’t wait to show off what I’ve done, but he's just nowhere to be seen. So this cookie shop thing? What was your intention of it? How would how you don’t pick sides usually but what was your intention with it? When you built this?

R: To give out cookies to people

W: And that was it? And that was your be all and end all hah?

R: Yep

W: Right, well how did you feel about Tubbo doing what he did then?

R: Doing what he did… What do you mean?

W: Well he.. He I heard the stories man I heard about how it turned into more than what it was supposed to be you know?

R: Well I mean that's- he kind of goes above and beyond on a lot of things, you can’t really blame him into make it a castle. That's, that's just you know, you can’t be TOO careful. Especially when you know, he has all the right to be nervous about something going wrong, so no wonder he put all those defenses and everything.

W: Why would he have the right to be nervous?

R: I mean just a lot of things, a lot of bad things have happened to him that haven't really come from his actions

W: Oh so youre talking about.. oHHHH LOOK WHO'S HERE!

Q: Hellloooooo

W: Quackity!! It's lovely to see you man, it's been awhile. How have you been?

Q: How- how long have you guys been here for?

W: I-I just arrived you know I just- Quackity you think I would wait for you? You know you know I’m just a

R: Yeahh

Q: Well I didn't even notice you guys were here. I um have been busy with uh much more important things… so, but hey I mean it's great to see you guys it's really great to see you guys, Wilbur and Ranboo together this is uh

W: It’s good to see you man

Q: What's this?

W: Oh uh Ranboo was just looking after your horse that I um

R: Mhm!

W: That I took a little bit of a joyride, it's a good horse look at it, look how high it jumps man! You got a good horse man

Q: Yeahhh who told you that's my horse?

W: Well it was tied up in your nation

Q: haha no no that's not my horse you just got someones random horse, i think you should probably put it back, I have no idea whose it is That- this is really awkward Wilbur, you should, you should probably put it back

W: Let's go! Let's go dude. I wanted- I wanted to come and ask you a question.

Q: Yeah, yeah what's up?

W: So I don’t know if you saw this? Uh you can’t actually see it, but behind this we built a burger van quackity!

Q: Really???

W: Competition, competition

Q: You built a burger van? Is that what you’ve been up to wilbur?

W: Yeah yeah!

Q: You know all this time you’ve been settled next to me and this- this is uh your big ceration? A burger van?

W: Hey man

Q: Hahah,

W: Rome wasn't built in a day. Small steps

Q: That's true, that's true. Leme take a look. Can you order anything yet?

W: No no, wait lemme- actually let me cook you up something real quick

R: Oh yeah oh yeah, you'll love this

Q: I don’t know if i trust anything coming from you Wilbur, but I’ll I’ll, give it a shot i'll give it a shot

W: Doo doot doo quackity you are so nice to me doot doo doot you never bring up my past doot doo doot Here you go, one volume one wilburger. Take a bite of that!

Q: Volume one?

W: Take a bite! It’s like an NFT Quackity

Q: An NFT?

W: Yeah no one, no ones gonna be copying that!

Q: Why would I bite it if its an NFT, then if it goes away it wouldn’t be worth anything,

W: Exactly Quackity, you can keep hold of it OR you get a bit peckish, eat the bread anyway! The bread is not bad

Q: I’m not hungry, I’m not that hungry right now but hey, I’ll keep it with me

W: At least keep it to appreciate the value, it's my NFT, but Quackity anyway I did want to ask, you have a little restaurant in your town I saw, from a distance obviously.

Q: Do you guys want to take a look? I didn’t want to mention it as I felt like it would have been awkward given that you have your own restaurant- I have my own restaurant, that's the only thing that would make it a little awkward but, you know you brought me to your restaurant and I want to bring you to mine. Can, can I do that?

W: Yeah, yeah man I just want, I just wanted to say sorry if you notice if you notice a bit of superficial damage, I left you a little gift as well, afterwards I sure that's okay. It was Ranboo and I that did that to your restaurant actually.

Q: Yeah yeah I saw it in the signs you, you guys

W: Yeah Ranboo and I did it

Q: Yeah the signs no no

W: I just thought- it it was a little bit of a you could say a misclick

Q: It doesn't seem to be like a misclick. You said MY restaurant was wank

W: I did I did I forgot about the signs, I was talking more about the window- oh

Q: But its fine its fine actually and I actually want to take this moment to thank you guys actually because uh that little destruction you did made me realise that the non tinted glass it just wasn't a good fit for the restaurant so I went with the kind of you know neon look and oh oh yeah the explosion! Right, I uh thank you guys again I was just finishing up this fish tank.

(The fish tank has salmon in it)

This nice little fish tank in the restaurant I think it gives a nice little look, a nice touch you know a nice family touch so thank you guys- this made me realise this needed a little bit of work haha so I appreciate it. I appreciate it a lot um actually you know what?

W: what?

Q: You know what Wilbur? Your little game here whatever you did, it made me realise another thing, that my country needs a source of passive income, so I decided to assign a workforce to this restaurant, I decided to hire an employee…

W: YOU'RE FUCKING ME?? YOU'RE PISSING ME

T: Hello!!

Q: Haha! Hey Tubbo!

T: Hey

Q: Tubbo look who came to visit look who came to visit

W: Tubbo!! Man it's good to see you!

T: Hey man this is my new job!

W: Tubbo aww it's nice to see you here man, I thought you were with your, your little snowy town

T: Oh I decided that you know I needed you know a job somewhere to work

W: Tubbo… what the fuck?

Q: Ha ha yep!

W: Fuck tubbo! Why are you, why? Why? Why did you get employed at the restaurant?

T: Why well eh I mean you know? Job?

Q: Tubbo is an excellent employee

T: I- I didn’t know you guys did burgers! I didn't know…

W: I mean, I mean it's - I just dude I offered for you to come and work at my burger van, it was uh hh hh hhhh hugh I told you yesterday- I told you yesterday in the Lmanburg crater and said you should come and hang out and make burgers at my burger van and now your at another burger restaurant after turning down my burger restaurant. Quackity… What did you tell him? Quackity what did you tell him? What did you say man?

Q: Listen listen, I’m gonna tell you this right now, tubbo is one of the best employees I’ve ever had. Me and tubbo had a little talk and we realised he has really great aspirations in life, and he really wants to do a lot

W: mhm

Q: and I told tubbo I would offer him maybe one of the best jobs anyone can have

W: best job

Q: one of the only jobs in las nevadas- tubbo is actually not only an employee but he is managing this place

W: mhm mhmm

T: This is my establishment

Q: Yeah, yeah and tubbo, tubbo now owns it

(note ranboo now has a grass block and is holding it along with placing and picking it up and it pacing during all of this)

Q: Tubbo tubbo now manages this place and he cooks here and makes a great deal of economic prosperity as well for las nevadas uh you should try his food, you NEED to try his food he makes these burgers kind of NFTS wait what a coincidence, it's NTFS as well and he makes burgers, and I like to call it the tubburger

T: The tubburger joint.

Q: The funny thing is we called it the tubburger volume one as well! It's really weird haha our plates are the exact same

W: Shh shh shh, quackity… tubbo, are you? Are you aware we are in competition now? Like this, this, tubbo we have always been on the same side man, we have always been together… your head to head with me now

T: Well I don’t look at it like that, it's not like complicated competition.. .Competition is good for the consumers, it helps everyone!

Q: W- Wilbur you’re taking this a little too far man, I feel like

W: Wai-twait no no I am perfectly

Q: I think you’re taking it too far man!

W: I am perfectly happy with mr tubbo

Q: At the end of the day we are all friends

W: Where did you get the NFT idea from??! Where did ya get that idea from?

T: Fazeclan?

Q: Fazeclan

T: Fazeclan

Q: Fazeclan, wilbur listen I told you this once and I am gonna tell it to you again, thank you. Thank you for opening my eyes that whole renovation came to do because I’m assuming it was a kind of renovation it really made me realise it has more potential then I thought

W: MHmm

Q: And at the end of the day that's what we all need. That's what we need, we thrive, we thrive through competition…. Healthy competition you're gonna make your burgers better and i'm gonna make my whole restaurant better and with the help of seriously one of the greatest people I’ve met in a business like this

T: Aww thank you man

Q: of course, of course tubbo

W: So,

Q: Wilbur, don’t take it the wrong way

W: I- I’m not does it look like im-

Q: to be mad about it, it's good for us it's gonna be happy for everyone

W: I’m happy, I’m really happy for tubbo, I’m happy tubbo’s got a job

Q: Really?

W: Yeah, I’m happy for him. Tubbo you were telling me yesterday how you were, how you felt like you lacked direction, you lacked purpose

T: Yeah I finally have a goal

W: Bro!

Q: That's true

W: How could I be angry about that man?

R: Yeah… that's good

W: Just you know I was just wondering why you chose that over the burger van but I get it Quackity, Quackity is a hard man to refuse.

Q: Mhmm

W: And

Q: And tubbo, tubbo is just constantly looking for whats next whats gonna happen now, and me and tubbo we think alike, very much alike actually, and I don’t know if you remember this but me and tubbo, you remember lmanburg?

T: Yeah

Q: Me and Tubbo, Tubbo was president and I was vice president, this is like lmanburg all over again isn't it?

T: Well- I mean-

Q: This is all a working- work in progress

W: It’s giving me lmanburg vibes

Q: Mhm- sorry?

W: I said yes I agree its giving me Lmanburg vibes

Q: Yeahh. Well listen uh all i'm gonna say is wilbur we are doing our own thing, you guys are doing your own thing and be healthy competition and you know….

T: Well the best burgers win!

Q: Haha- there you go there you go tubbo I agree with that yes!

W: we- yeah Ranboo you agree with that may the best burgers- say it say it

R: yeah yeah, may the best burgers win… yep

W: Wilburger vs tuburger… match match partners against crime

T: Together!

R: No-t not crime we hate crime

Q: Tubbo tubbo you gotta try their burgers sometime

W: Well, well we gotta go we gotta go

T: oh?

R: Yeahh yeah

W: It was lovely, it was lovely hanging out with you guys I - I am just thrilled with the renovations. What should we do next time we hang out?

Q: Yeah yeah

W: Do you wanna we- like

Q: I think I think we should yeah let's set some time apart and talk you and me

W: Yeah let's have a little run through a little run through

Q: Yeah yeah absolutely, and ranboo wilbur, you guys are welcome in the restaurant, las nevadas anytime

W: Wait-

Q: Anytime you guys like

W: Wait, I'm allowed in Las nevadas?

Q: Wilbur, you’re not, you’re taking this the wrong way

W: You told me I couldn't come in

Q: What kind of person would I be to tell you to leave my country. What kind of person would I be to not allow you in my premises? I wouldmt be a good person would I? Wilbur, you are my friend … I would never do that to you. I’m very welcoming, Ranboo come ahead, come inside as well ah this is all this is all healthy competition alright?

W: You’re a good man, you’re a good man Quackity, I’ll I’ll give you that. We got some burgers to flip so we will

Q: We do too we do too

T: Bye guys!

W: thanks for coming, thanks for coming down

Q: Cya guys

W: Cya guys

Q: Bye!

W:Ranboo.. Ranboo lets go

R: Yeah…. Let's go….

W: ooooOOOHHHHH boy ha- ha… ha ahhh ohhh this is good, this is what I want dude dude Ranboo did you see he was trying to act like I didn’t get to him?

R: Mhmm mhmm

W: You see the WHOLE time ohh it's not my horse

R: Geeh I mean yeah I mean he did I’m pretty sure

W: Dude he made an NFT burgers

R: He made an NFT burger- that is true

W: He cares so much he cares so much

R: That was your idea yeah

W: He cares aww man- How did you feel about this Ranboo? I mean dude!

R: I mean it's just burgers and everything so I think it's okay.

W: Eh it's “just burgers”

R: Its okay you know

W: I feel alive Ranboo, I feel alive! Someone is looking at me and talking to me!

R: Yeah yeah!

W: I’m alive I’m alive this is great!

R: Yeah, yeah I mean yeah, I again don’t I have to get used to competition and everything and be out there more with it all

W: I feel you Ranboo I feel you its scary its scary man, especially when we have a long way to go, bridges to cross and one day grab it by the horns and ride it

R: Yeah yeah,

W: And not it's just, it's just you and me against the world. The world being tubbo and quackity.

R: mhm mhmm

W: I mean why would you be against being against tubbo and quackity anywhere? I mean how well do you know Quackity?

R: I- I mean I don’t really know Quackity- Quackity all too well

W: Yeah yeah and I mean what do you and tubbo have you know going on that would block this?

R: I mean…

W: Sounds great to me

R: I mean… yeah yeah I - we kind of had like that cookie outpost we did together and everything it's fine I don’t have to get to it too much I dont um really wanna

W: You’re both businessmen

R: I don’t really ah want to get into it all too much

W: And that's fine. Ranboo I wanted to ask you man

R: Mhm?

W: You’ve had this cookie outpost right?

R: Yeahh

W: Did you like to get up to anything at the cookie outpost? Is there anything…?

R: Ahh, not at the cookie outpost but I do have something else actually… follow me I do- I do have something else…

W: Is it a secret?

R: It's a secret , yes.

W: Should we sneak?

R: Yeah um I think we can just get far enough away I think we'll be fine

W: Where are we going?

R: Into the strip club

W: heh-sh haha haha

R: Comeon, come on let's go

W: ahhaa sorry say that again

R: Into the strip club- we are going in!

W: Lets go

R: I have- I have my little hole in the strip club

W: You got a strip hole?

R: Yes!

W: I’ve never been in here before

R: Well I mean for logs, I mean look at those spruce logs over there, those are stripped. Alright ah perfect it's still, it's still here

W: This doesn't look very hidden

R: Oh its hidden trust me

W: it's very cozy

R: Oh it's very cozy and well if you need to use this for something we can definitely expand a little bit, but probably not too much though because we don’t want to infringe on everything

W: I like this, I mean we can do a little bit now! How about what we do? I like this. I like the wherewithal, maybe we can build a tunnel from here to the burger van. It can be our way in sneaking in from the burger van. aH okay okay you got your finger in a few espionage spies, I appreciate that and no one knows about this?

R: Yeah no one knows about it, yeah I think- to the best of my memory no one knows about it.. There's like a 85% chance that's right

W: That's cool that's cool because at the end of the day we’re- going right now we are the good guys Ranboo, we are the good guys, we-

R: You sure?

W: We-.... yeah! I mean we haven't done anything wrong you know?

R: Yeah

W: we haven't done anything wrong and quackity, quackity done a few things wrong…

R: Yeah yeah

W: hmm hmm is tubbo working full time? What's tubbos deal you know with the burger place?

R: I don’t know I have no idea actually

W: We don’t know we just don't know

R: I Don't know anything about that.

W: It's like how good of an employer is quackity? So I wanted to make sure before I go knowing you have already done a little act of espionage with the strip hole and other things I just

R: Mmmhmm

W: I just wanna, I just wanna say in any case of an emergency right?

R: mhm

W: When we are head to head, you know when- not head to head with each other uh when we are head to head with tubbo and big q and stuff

R: mhm

W: and maybe shits ya know hitting the fan and stuff- I need to know, that we have a saviour card to save the innocent people in this city like tubbo

R: mhm

W: Like fundy and these innocent people

R: So yeah.. So like a plan B just in case anything goes wrong we can save them?

W: Yeah, plan B

R:Okay I'm down for that. What is this- (Wilbur gives Ranboo thirteen TNT)

W: I want you to make yourself useful and..

R: oh

W:Set that up somewhere in las nevadas. I have more, I have more I have another stack if you need it but I think that should be enough to do a marketable amount of damage if you- okay so the problem essentially is that TNT as you know TNT doesnt detonate in water and as you know las nevadas is quite a large majority of water bound. However, quackity really seems to care about the inside of the casino which I’ve peaked in and there's no water in and the outsides of this restaurant section of this spire right? So what you could do is easily make a section in the casino that has a chain reaction under a button somewhere and each one of those detoniates the next consecutive one. It would take a little bit of work, I know quite a bit about TNT, I could help you.

R: Mhmm

W: So

R: o-okay

W: Look dude I’m just letting you know that's what I want you to do. PArt of working-

R: But in most cases and everything it would never see the light of day right?

W: In most cases yeah 100% most of the time maybe it won't happen, BUT if we need to protect the innocent thats what its fore

R: Yeah yeah

W: Yeah you want to protect like fundy, slimecicle, tubbo?

R: Yeah! Yeah

W: So that's, so that's what it's for and Ranboo! I shall bid you adieu, it was a pleasure, thank you for coming

R: Yeah of course!

W: and thank you for being a good co worker, you know?

R: Yeah

W: You’ve done a good job and I can’t-

R: Thank you

W: I trust you will do good work with that TNT I gave you but remember, make it safe!

R: Yeah

W: We don’t want it going off by accident we don't want it

R: Yeah I’ll maybe it very safe

W: Promise?

R: Promise, yeah

W: And you’re gonna tell me where you put the button and you’re gonna tell me where it's set up and-

R: Yep!

W: Okay. Alright, thanks Ranboo

R: Yeah, thanks, I’ll see ya, buh bye

W: I’ll see you around Ranboo. What a nice guy!

[bubmyg]

wonder - jjk

pairing: jeongguk x reader 

genre/warnings: pool boy/waiter/kind-of-baker/first-aid-extraordinaire/aspiring singer!jeongguk(ft. cherry!guk), writer/journalist!reader, the CHEESIEST fluff, tiny amounts of angst, a bad attempt at original poetry, there is a tiny blood mention

word count: 14,906

summary: romance novels lie about finding some deep epiphany in the ocean because you find your inspiration in some chlorine tainted red locks or where jeongguk isn’t smooth with a pool net. 

a/n: this is. the longest fic i’ve ever written. also the longest i’ve ever worked on a fic (...a month ajfdks) and im really proud of it :-( i hope u like it :-( 

There’s a certain breaking point for an advice columnist, one that isn’t supposed to come three years into the job and over a handwritten letter from a nine year old who has just had her dream of becoming a vet shattered by this sudden discovery that she, in fact, passes out when she sees any type of blood. Or if that breaking point comes, the draft of the response isn’t supposed to make it past an unsaved document, (Dreams are a scam, anyway. Learn that.) scrapped and used as emotional support to formulate the real answer.

There’s a nine year old little girl who rushes to the paper for a week after sending her letter, hoping to find some sort of solace in the advice column she finds fascinating, generally filled with advice on things she doesn’t have the capacity to understand: cheating husbands, the capitalist nature of the makeup industry, why “business casual” isn’t a reward for women, and taxes. She’s memorized her opening line enough to have her heart racing into her throat when she catches sight of it on its usual page, her letter transcribed and italicized just above the tiny portrait of the columnist and the bold font that would be her response.

Her mother finds her sobbing on her bed fifteen minutes after she called for her to come to dinner and consoles her enough to acknowledge that being a Disney princess is just as good of an aspiration as a vet, not before writing a strongly worded letter addressed to the editor of the paper and canceling the family’s subscription.

There’s a different document you should have scrapped completely, the sixty-seventh page of your never ending novel, never ending in the sense that it would never end because you were going to give up on everything with the exception of the column for the next day: an obscure sex toy shop escapade that isn’t fit for the nine year old and her canceled subscription in the first place.

You’d been glaring at the grainy lines across your monitor, ones that cut through the middle of the words on the sixty-sixth page, when Hoseok’s figure glided past the glass wall of your office to enter without knocking.

He cleared his throat and you turned slowly from the monitor, as if your gradual spiral cascading to a head had brought an end to your cordiality as well. There was a paper in his hand, the day prior’s edition, ink thick on the outside where a picture of a local elementary school’s service project was displayed. He opened it silently, turning to a page, your page, outlined heavily in red ink pen.

The gold links of Hoseok’s watch reflected off your monitor as the paper smacked and slid its way across your desk, forcing you to wince for two separate reasons.

“I’m sorry—”

Hoseok withdrew his latter hand from the pocket of his black slack and your fingers itched to close out of your novel but his gaze was steady on the blinking cursor next to a piece of grammar you’d fiddled with six separate times.

“Any progress?” You blinked at him and he jerked his head in the direction of your desktop, black fringe parting against his eyelashes so his dark eyes dropped a deeper shade of black.

There was a raw spot ready for you on the inside of your cheek and the taste of stale metallic flooded your tongue. Your legs unfurled from where they’d been folded up underneath you in your desk chair, gaze sweeping to the wilting ficus underneath your desk, “Not exactly…”

Papers fluttered together and you caught sight of the dogeared letter from the little girl as Hoseok brushed a bare spot on the corner of your desk to take a seat. There was a smiling cartoon character patterned to the surface of his short-sleeved button up and it’s smiling muzzle appeared to mirror that flit of an upturn on the edge of Hoseok’s dimpled lips. The subtle cock of his chin was anything but of praise, sympathy more so bleeding out the strict in his dark irises as he sighed.

“I understand this job and this column are not your first love,” He mirrored the snarky response that swallowed on the back of your tongue, “Hell, this probably isn’t even your third or fourth love.”

“But I do expect you to uphold a certain level of professionalism in your column. I’ve never had an issue with you in the past. In fact, I nearly stopped looking over your submissions before sending things to print,” Hoseok leaned forward, elbow on his thigh, chin on curled, ring clad knuckles, “However, as of recent…”

“It won’t happen again, Hoseok. I swear, I was just—”

You quieted when his fingers curled outward from underneath his chin. “...this was not the first column as of recent that hasn’t exactly been up to par.”

Quieter, barely a breath, you nodded, “I’m sorry.”

Hoseok’s index finger straightened, leaning from his lips to press into the side of your monitor, tapping his nail against the screen, “I know how much this means to you. I know how little progress comes when inspiration comes. I know that inspiration doesn’t just strike when we ask it to. I get it, I really do.”

“...and I think some time away from here, from this place, from your column, would do you wonders.”

There was something defensive in your next inquiry, “What are you saying?”

“I’m giving you the summer off—” His finger wagged in your direction when you choked, “—no I’m making you take the summer off.”

“The whole—”

“Two months. Away from here, as in, I’m sending you to the coast for two months. Beach house, all to yourself, all-expense paid. Except for your food, I know you like—”

You squinted at him, “What?”

“Namjoon,” Hoseok provided and you tensed at the name of his friend, a high-powered executive at a publishing company you’d failed three times over to score an internship at, “He really understands the plight you’re going through. It’s his house.”

“There has to be a catch.”

“Yes, I’m giving Jimin your column while you’re gone.”

You grit your teeth at the mention of Hoseok’s blonde headed assistant and Hoseok chuckled at the reaction he desired, “I’m kidding. I mean, I am giving him your paper space. But, Namjoon said, providing that you make some sort of sizable progress on your manuscript, he’ll review it.”

“What?”

“You’re my friend. He’s my friend,” He plucked your turtle shaped paper weight into his palm, tracing it with the same index finger, “I want the best for you and I want my employee’s to be working at their utmost capacity. Namjoon can never have too many clients—” He made eye contact with you when he set the turtle down, “—and he probably owes me some sort of favor.”

Your gaze wandered out the window, eyeing a taxi as it sped away from the curb and forced its way into the flow of traffic. “All because I told a nine year old that Disney princesses’ aren’t real, huh?”

“No,” Hoseok’s hand covered one of yours, patting gently, “Because you’re better than this version of you. And I miss her, frankly. Old you used to bring me coffee in the mornings, so—”

“That’s when I was in Park Jimin’s position.”

“Jealous?”

“No,” Your jaw clenched but the smile on your lips was tiny and genuine regardless, “Thank you, Hobi.”

He hummed, pushing himself up off your desk to trail around toward the door, “Put your novel away, you have two months at the beach to work on that. Submit tomorrow’s column and then get your ass out of here. You have a flight to pack for.”

You weren’t sure if it were the wet tropical air that clung to your hair follicles or the grains of sand already wedged underneath the platform of your sandal but stepping off the plane gave you at least the vague sense that your inspiration was back. You itched for the keys on your laptop, letters worn and granules of salt from potato chips lodged in between, the space bar with two glossed circles from the unconscious tap of the side of your thumbs.

But the device was lodged in your backpack which was lodged between your shoulder blades as you tried to balance the lopsided baggage while maneuvering the cheap wheels of your suitcase over cobblestone sidewalks.

The keypad granted you entry when you’d barely pressed down on the last number of the combination you were given and your suitcase thanked you when sand rippled stepping stones became smooth, white tile. You nudged the luggage aside, dropping your backpack from your shoulders in the process of the long exhale you released from tense muscles, sand splaying messily over sleek flooring as you peeled your sandals from your ankles.

The house was open concept, white tile outlined in golden, sand like consistency, flooring that disappeared from the entryway to the wide room in the middle and down a short hallway that pointed into a wide, sliding glass door. Stainless steel appliances encased by black cabinets and white marble countertops, blue accent pieces and a fruit bowl filled with plastic treats completed the kitchen while compact leather furniture in the same hues boxed in a towering entertainment center on the opposite end of the room.

Your bare feet welcomed the shag grey rug that resided under the living room furniture, carrying you toward the various DVDs peeking out of the glass case underneath the TV. Nature documents sandwiched a singular copy of The Notebook, the cover worn and tattered underneath plastic from being parted so many times.

He’ll like her then and your fingertips twitched at your thighs in search of your laptop keys.

You turned a collection of faux grapes in your palms, pressing into the waxy material, eyes squinted for the typed letter lodged underneath the wire basket.

Welcome! I trust that you’ll find your accommodations satisfactory for a few months, yes? I’m eagerly awaiting your progress, Hoseok speaks very highly of you and your skills. Happy writing!

Underneath was a bulleted list of contact numbers and a FAQOTH (Frequently Asked Questions of the House), trash days, the number of the nearest pizza delivery, the code to the shed outside that contained noodles and an inflatable flamingo for the pool. It was skimming that provided you with that information and your brain short circuited on the mention of a pool, abandoning memorization in favor of your bare feet scuffing across the warmed concrete of the pool deck.

If the pesky sand rubbing raw at the arches of your feet or the palm trees you’d spotted out the windows of the plane weren’t enough to immerse you in the mindset, the clear blue of chlorine tainted water twitched at your knuckles just a fraction more, especially as engulfed by a privacy fence and vining vegetation cut neatly through the rungs of thick white.

Your stomach argued for lunch from one of the pizza places Namjoon had suggested and your heaping luggage argued for organizing the white wicker drawers in your bedroom but your gut said your laptop and your swimsuit. You were pressed onto a candy-striped towel in a lounge chair with the sun trickling at the sweat on your hairline before any other option could out weight, your clothes half strewn in the entryway of the house where you’d dug for the spandex material but forgotten as you furiously hacked away at editing your outline.

You bolded the newest addition to your outline inside your outline, the one that held all the tropes you wished to tackle in the sensical nonsensical manner that was a novel centered around the beauty of clichés. If other authors avoided clichés at all cost, the adverse relationship of shoving any and all that you could correlate between the confines of two plastic ends and a spine could produce a similar effect, pique the interest if marketed as the cliché of all clichés, work against and for itself between worlds of bubblegum high school romance and stale mint flavored coworkers, strangers, and enemies to lovers.

 Besides, eliminating stereotypes within clichés counted for something in itself. A commentary on something much larger, at least, you liked to think it was.

SEND THEM TO A BEACH HOUSE appeared directly beneath THE SPAGHETTI SCENE FROM LADY AND THE TRAMP BUT WITH EXCESS CHEESE FROM A PIECE OF PIZZA and the giddiness from typing it out had you overloading the software with how quickly you switched documents to your outline outline, swiping your index finger until the setting appeared and you deleted it in one long, blue highlight.

You thought back to the young adult romance you’d read in high school that had taken place in a beachside town, then to the very same romantic thriller you adored as an adult, to the whimsical short story you’d written in an undergraduate, elective creative writing class, to the first time you’d dug your toes into slightly damp sand and let the soothe of the waves lap at your ankles and the fall of your eyelids to be as dark as the never ending water disappearing over the horizon.

Nothing is more cliché than a beachside town, you thought and spoke the words all the same, shoulders hunching over your keyboard as you clacked the same sentence across the screen and quickly deleted it to amend more specifically. It was the most you’d typed, switched tabs for research, and had the curled feeling of anticipation for what would flow from your fingers in the last year and you briefly wondered if Namjoon had pumped something into the seashell shaped air fresheners stuck in every outlet in the house.

Your trusty search engine provided little response for “beachside towns with little to no tourism” and you instead found yourself typing in the name of the city you’d directed your cab to from the airport, a homage to the sudden rush of inspiration. More details flowed than necessary but you allowed them in the haze of humidity and sun, the name and country and zip code following out next to the bolded location bullet point until your cursor dropped down to the third line and you cut yourself on the words Sunny Drive, where the speed limit signs end in threes?

You cracked your knuckles first, then your toes, then rolled your ankle to pop it, too, crooked fingers still sat on the middle row of the keyboard, asdf-jkl;, tapping in tune with the hum that slipped through your sealed lips.

The high top of a golf cart cruised over the links of the white fence encasing you in your writing utopia, the whir dying as the vehicle rounded the corner. Your fingers were back in action, deleting the modest, white four door sedan assigned to your main character in favor of a high-powered golf cart that you’d research later if realistically existed.

Somewhere in the distance was the call of a bird, traveling over the thrash of the waves onto the shore just in reach beyond the tops of houses suspended on frames around the boardwalk. It was the call of a sea gull or something of the same variety, but you considered giving your main character a parrot and added an entire new section of your outline for the very plot piece.

Something bubbled in the depth of the pool stretched at the end of your pointed ankles, something that had curled into the filter and elicited a burst of air. In your head, you extended the pool by significance on either side and gave your protagonist the trait of an accomplished swimmer in high school.

Nothing more cliché that dropping some characters into a seaside town, one with a parrot, a tricked-out golf cart, and an affinity for swimming rather than surfing like her love interest, antagonistic counterpart and his four door sedan with a dent in the side and caked sand on the rims.

Three documents over was your actual manuscript, one you marked with various highlights to change major plot points later. A major rehaul of location but worth it for the electricity snagging and pushing your joints to click across the keys. Your brain left a footnote to revamp the scene you’d left your characters at, previously at a crossroads of figuring out the vibe in their acquaintance, stuck in a grocery store with the love interest clutching a bouquet of flowers and squinting at your protagonist.

It was quickly changed to a late night scene at a beach, the bouquet of flowers instead a ghost crab and the line of dialog a do you want to hold him? rather than the, awkward albeit, I could buy these for you? To give to your mom, of course—

And then the artificial blue of the water behind you seemed to engulf your laptop screen, draining it into a lower quality of pixels and blurred lines that categorized your work computer, the giant stone turtle hidden behind a bush of thick vegetation shrinking into your paper weight, the line of documents open across your screen erasing into your next column that, for some reason, included every curse word you could imagine in angry red font.

A tiny emoticon reminiscent of the talking paperclip from early Microsoft word processing appeared in the corner, but in the shape of Park Jimin.

In short, you were stuck, the fire of inspiration eager to boil in the pit of your stomach evaporating like the footprint on the pool peck after you’d dipped a singular foot in. You’d transported back to your office in the uncomfortable desk chair stolen from the insurance office a story down with Park Jimin breathing down your neck for your position by bringing Hoseok coffee every morning but in a slightly better quality than you had, because it was handmade with love in the longue, with a novel that was no closer to being finished than it had been when you’d fell in love with the concept and got paid to outline the entire thing not a week into your position at the newspaper (and in between running Hoseok coffee and trying to hide your work in the limited privacy of your cubicle).

A massive control + Z was in order and the fingers on one hand stretched to do just that on the first of three documents, latter cuticles shoved in between your teeth to nibble miserably on. You’d erased any mention of a beachside town and ripped away the sticky note on the inside of your conscious that suggested touching a ghost crab for romance when something rough and cold dripped against the outside of your thigh.

Confusion caused you to place your laptop to the concrete below your chair and terror caused the startled gasp to bubble out of your throat at the sheepish looking figure stood knee deep on the pool stairs.

“Uh, hello,” The figure had obnoxious red hair to match the obnoxious yellow shirt hanging off his shoulders, a similar hue that colored the apples of his cheeks, shading embarrassment over sunburn and traveling to the peek of his teeth and the twinkle in gentle brown eyes that much resembled that of a deer pinned by some oncoming headlights. “I’m...here to clean the pool.”

It was a pool net that had hit you, misjudged from the sopping pile in the mulch of leaves and bugs and neon colored specks of unidentified objects. Your eyes trailed upward from the damp pleats of rope at your side to the holder of the pole, one who hadn’t tried to jerk the net away from you but instead kept in place, as if he didn’t move a muscle maybe you’d disappear.

“I clean the pool twice a week?” He tried again but you were too focused on the rosy shade of his lips matching the moussed fringe that curled into his eyelashes. “It should have been on the note Namjoon left—”

“It probably is,” You dismissed and he finally pulled the net away from your side, the wide sweeping circle he took to plop it back into the pool not succeeding without dripping some onto the top of your head. Unconsciously eager to amend the endearing pout that graced the stranger’s lips as he stirred the net into the center of the water, you added, “I just got in this morning. I haven’t had time to read everything yet.”

“Oh. Oh,” The man straightened from where he’d been crouched trying to snag a red thread at the far end of the pool, the ends of blue pool shorts darker than the rest and trickling against toned thighs, “Well, I’m Jeongguk. The neighborhood pool guy. And groundskeeper. And...whatever else you need me to be, I guess.”

You quirked an eyebrow and Jeongguk faltered, “I mean, like, I can fix shit. If you need me to. Like, if the cable goes out. But don’t ask me about the Wifi. No clue how to improve that.”

“Do any of us?”

He laughed and there was a peek of a dimple at the corner of his lips, turning away from you, “Fair point.”

You watched as he navigated the net with a finesse that suggested he didn’t just smack your thigh with it, depositing the red string in a sad heap near the filter. The calculated wander of your gaze drew your mouth to dry, following the jump of his calf muscles as he stepped from the pool, dragging the net with him over his shoulder.

“Seriously though,” Jeongguk’s voice snapped you out of your trance and you wet your lips and longed for your chapstick lodged somewhere in the depths of your backpack. He stood by a plastic looking brown shed, the net out of his hands, arms instead folded to his chest. “If you need anything, just call the front desk. The number is pasted on the fridge.”

“Noted, thanks.”

“My pleasure—” He paused halfway through the sliding glass door, fingers poised in an awkward pointing motion, “—what was your name again?”

You uttered it and Jeongguk winked, fingers shaking as his latter foot joined him inside. “Well, then I’ll see you later.”

“Perfect,” You breathed to yourself and you realized after the roar of his blue maintenance truck pulling from your drive that your collection of tattered bras and panties were scattered in the only entrance to the house.

Romance novels lied and movies an even bigger scam about wearing sandals for long periods of time without developing stupidly coarse blisters on the surface of the faux leather straps. You were heaving and limping and confused by the time you found the main office at the far end of the neighborhood.

In retrospect, it was hard to miss, an obnoxious aqua shade of paneling, outlined in a thick white trim led to by an equally bright staircase. Bikes accented in the same white but a clearer shade of blue lined the racks outside, complete with wicker baskets on the front and shiny metal bells that glinted just right to make you shield your eyes and trip up a single stair in your ascend. Inside the barn like doors came a refreshing burst of air conditioning, eliminating the humidity from outside and immediately calming some of the sweat curling into the hair at the nape of your neck.

A man sat behind a glass top counter in the middle of the room, legs delicately crossed on the stool he perched to, sunglasses nudged in the darkest part of dyed blonde roots, thumbing through a tourist style magazine that advertised May, the current month, as it’s date of publication. When the doors rattled shut behind you, he looked up, sunglasses bouncing to the bridge of his nose as he let out a tiny, startled noise.

“Hello!” He greeted after a moment, broad shoulders setting as you approached the counter. The magazine was flipped shut and slid closer to you, eyebrows wiggling at you beyond the frames of his fallen glasses, “Can I interested you in an entire article on the shrimp business in town?”

You giggled then, gently nudging the magazine back to him. The gold on his nametag fastened to the pocket of a blue surf shop t-shirt read Seokjin.

“No, not today.”

Seokjin balled the gloss into a roll and with a shrug, pitched it over his shoulder. “You know what, me either,” He winked, folding his hands on the counter and leaning toward you, plump lips curled back to let out an endearing wheeze of a laugh, “What can I do for you today?”

“Do you rent the bikes outside?”

“I’ll rent you two of them,” He laughed again at the expression on your face, turning to fish a clipboard off the tiny table behind him. “Kidding. I’ll rent you three.”

“I love it, but I think I only need one for right now.”

“If I weren’t on shift, I’d accompany you,” Seokjin scribbled something on the clipboard, “What house number are you in?”

You recited the number to him and he nodded with his tongue between his back molars. The clipboard was returned to the table in exchange for a set of tiny keys, ones he held out to you by the dangle of their miniature, metal hook. “These work on the first bike on the rack,” He smiled again, all full lips and an endearing red tinge to the tips of his ears, “Bring them back to me to check the bike back in or I may have to hunt you down.”

Your eyes widened and he cackled again, slapping a palm down on the glass countertop, “Kidding. But there is a fine if it’s not returned in twenty-four hours so—”

“Noted. I’ll have it back,” You pressed the keys into your palm and offered a halfhearted wave, “Thank you!”

“Always! Happy riding!”

The keys were deposited safely into the pocket of your shorts after you’d managed to wiggle the bicycle away from the rack, clacking against your phone screen as you clambered aboard the leather seat and pushed off in the direction you’d came.

You pedaled first in search of the house, finding it easier on the retrace and mapping it to memory as you dared a new trail, the one that looped and met a dead end when asphalt curled into white sand. The house whirred by again and then the main office, the air cooler in a breeze and with an easier travel than walking with a dozen blisters. You cycled slowly, taking in the unruly wind of cobblestone sidewalks and curiously planted palm trees near the planned planted flowers and each house in their own entirety in comparison to your own and the license plates of each car in each driveway as they advertised various regions and places and worlds aside from the one you were living in.

The blue maintenance truck elicited bile in the back of your throat from the incident earlier in the week as it sat parked on the street corner where sprinklers poked out of the turf and sprayed onto the green and yellow logo pasted to the side. The cab was empty but the yard it was parked in front of wasn’t, the knee height gate surrounding the shrubbery open with Jeongguk’s feet planted just on the other side of it.

You whipped your gaze from the slice of hedge trimmers through an exotic looking tree, instead looping your bike onto the opposite sidewalk and in the opposite direction. To no avail, the cul de sac throwing you back around like an out of control speed skater and suddenly the distance in front of you was filled only with the image of Jeongguk’s bare shoulders.

The bike coasted underneath you, leather relaxing its strain on your blisters as you concentration instead fell to the defined ridges between his shoulder blades, ones that rippled under a thin sheen of sweat each time he drew the trimmers open and shut, fluttering confetti like green to the grass below. The gardening tool fell as you watched, one arm staying above his head as he wiped a glove covered hand across his forehead, pasting more of the faded red fringe to the sweat already glistening there than clearing it. In the same moment did he pivot, trimmers dangling at his thigh, but this time you weren’t focused on the short black clinging desperately to his lean hips or the bunched white shirt sticking out from the waistband, rather the defined lines of his trimmed stomach starting underneath his ribs and disappearing underneath the elastic.

Jeongguk calling your name wasn’t part of the mirage and your rounded mouth jerked up just in time to notice the rapidly approaching edge of the curb.

Your dry mouth didn’t need water when it instead got the sprinkled of gravel, your bike tire colliding with the blocked concrete below and throwing you off to the side. A pain registered as a skid down your elbow but nothing quite matched the shamed embarrassment that flushed at your cheeks as a distant shit, hey! echoed in your ears and gravel crunched under approaching footsteps.

“Hey, woah, are you okay?—” You felt like you were underwater, like the ocean had suddenly decided it could eat the human race and was choosing you as its first victim, “—shit, you’re bleeding.”

A sting to your arm drew you above water and fingers that weren’t your own wiggled in front of your blurry vision, coating in a glob of dark red. The dots in your vision worsened when there was a pressure around your arm, Jeongguk’s t-shirt yanked from his shorts to act as a makeshift bandage and you couldn’t even appreciate the feeling of his hands touching you when you felt like you could vomit all over them any second.

“Hey, hey, babe can you hear me? Don’t pass out on me, it’s just a little scrape. C’mon, hey, I have some water in my truck, give me a second—”

The grass was a welcome pillow to the throb in your head, clearing the specks of black and white in your vision just enough for you to welcome the overhead blue curling around the landscape. You focused your attention on a cloud, one shaped like a disfigured dolphin, until it slipped in front of the sun, the rays spilling out in thick shards from between the transparent water vapor chilling the new layer of sweat that had slipped over your skin in your near faint.

You shuddered as more of the dots in your vision transferred to a seeming chill in your veins, goosebumps crawling across your arms and leaving a dry, cotton taste in your cheeks. Scrambling footsteps in the gravel returned as quickly as they had retreated and a gentle hand slipped behind your shoulders, aiding you in sitting up enough to bring your lips to a cool splash of water.

“I’ve been telling Seokjin to replace the brakes on these for months,” Jeongguk passed the water bottle into your still twitching fingertips, instead taking a seat next to you in the grass.

You were shaky in taking another gulp of the lukewarm water, letting it slide thickly down your throat. Various retorts snagged in the back of your throat and you suppressed them like the urge to glance over at him. Instead, a soft hum came out, one emitted through another cheek full of water.

“Well, when you’re ready, I’ll drive you back to the house and take the bike back—”

“I’m fine,” You croaked but you punctuated the sentiment by gathering your feet underneath you. A dull pain throbbed in your forearm and you swayed slightly in your crouched position, but you managed to stand with no more than a few stars decorating the back of your eyelids.

Jeongguk stuttered behind you, scrambling to his feet as you hunched over the fallen bike, dragging it to an upright position by one of the protruding handles. He slipped a warm hand to the small of your back, stalling you. “You’re not going to try to ride back, are you?”

“Yes?”

“You nearly fainted just now. Do you really think that’s...the best idea?”

Your knee caught on the seat in your first attempt to straddle the bike but you were successful the second time, standing with shaky palms clenched on the handles. “Not really. But it’s not very far…”

You thought you’d shaken him, the bike wobbling as you pushed off, getting two tire rolls away before his figure was jogging up beside you, placing an insistent hand on the bars. “At least let me walk back with you,” Jeongguk insisted, red fringe not obscuring his wide-eyed concern.

You begrudgingly ignored the veins in his forearm, slowing the speed of your pedaling to let him guide you through the desolate roads of the quiet neighborhood. It was a quick but silent trip, Jeongguk turning to balance the bike with two hands as you clambered off on shaky legs. He’d barely pivoted from depositing it back into its empty space on the rack when you’d pushed the tiny set of keys against the center of chest, too engrossed in a range of mortification.

“Here,” You bit out, “Thanks again.”

You took off in a rumpled mess of gravel, sunburn, and a bloody t-shirt as Jeongguk called after you some variation of be careful! that almost sounded like he was laughing.

The blood caked off his t-shirt on the third wash (when you managed to understand the complex mess of dials lining the top of the machine) and you hung it on a wire hanger on the tiny awning that extended outward from the house onto the concrete. He’d have to duck underneath it to do his job as you hid faithfully in your bedroom and pretended to nap for the duration of his visit.

There was a distinct clattering outside as the morning hours drew into the afternoon and you buried your head underneath the puffy duvet, taking comfort in the flash of colors across your phone screen even if you were mute to the video you’d played. But then the clutter outside transferred to the slide of the patio door and the video disappeared as your phone fell face down against your waist and you froze.

Jeongguk was calling your name, fluctuating in volume as he moved about the main part of the house. You winced each time the scuff of his bare feet moved closer, relaxed when it was farther away, and sighed when he tried, “I know you’re in here. Seokjin didn’t see you leave today. Or yesterday. Or the day before.”

You swallowed your pride and the unattractive scab growing on the flat of your forearm as you stalked out of your room. You found him mostly clothed this time, hands braced on the lip of the bar in the center of the kitchen with his phone pressed toward his nose in one hand.

“What, have you been watching me?”

There was a fond smile that crept to Jeongguk’s lips as he turned to look at you, “Making sure you didn’t bleed out, actually, but if you want to look at it that way.”

You paused in the hallway, feet as wide as your shoulders and arms folded tight to your chest. Only then did you realize you still had flannel pajama shorts and a flimsy white shirt on. “Well. Here I am. With only minor injuries. So uh…”

There was a glass plate in the flat of his palm before you could blink, a pyramid of chocolate chip cookies wrapped with plastic presented before you. “I, uh, made you some cookies,” He blinked, tossing his head toward the refrigerator. The red in his hair had faded to a harsh pink, “and there’s fresh lemonade in the fridge.”

“Your t-shirt is hanging outside,” You blurted in response, “free of blood.”

Jeongguk’s nose wrinkled, turning to deposit the cookies to the countertop again, “Didn’t want it back. I have fifty of the same thing. But thank you…”

You stared at the back of his head, where dark brown roots had begun to weave through the sharp red. After a moment, you blinked, “...so you can bake?”

He shrugged without looking at you, peeling the plastic away from the plate to pluck a cookie into his palm. He glanced over his shoulder, endearing smile dimpled into his cheeks and you melted like the bits of chocolate that brushed against his digits when he stretched the treat out to you, “Eh. Try one?”

Jeongguk’s gaze followed you as you shuffled around the kitchen, sliding out one of the bar stools with the crook of your foot to slip onto the round leather. You reached over the countertop, snatching a napkin from a pile near the sink to spread out in front of you, lips pressing into a geometric shape in your cheeks.

“C’mon, hand it over.”

He bypassed your wriggling fingers to place the cookie down on your napkin, watching you with a bated breath and round eyes. Soft irises followed the path of the piece you broke off the cookie to where you nudged it into your mouth by the curve of your thumb. The cookie crumbled across your tongue, melting in a mess of sugar and chocolate that gurgled a pleasured moan from your throat as you dived in for two, four more nibbles on the soft corners.

An amused expression wrinkled at his cocked eyebrows and the small sliver of his teeth when your eyelids fluttered open from devouring half the treat, “Good?”

“You can bake,” You affirmed, breaking off another bite sized corner. “Maybe I should wreck bikes more often.”

“No,” Jeongguk assured, replacing the cookie with a fresh one before turning to your fridge to yank out the pitcher of lemonade, “You definitely should not.”

His stature went fishing about the kitchen area, yanking open cabinet after cabinet until he found something suitable, glass pieces smudged from years of use. He pulled down two, placing them in front of the pitcher.

“You know, your food selection here is pretty sad,” He handed over a full glass, watching as you took a languid gulp.

“I don’t exactly know where the grocery store is,” You argued of the boxes of leftover pizza stacked inside your fridge and the singular bag of pretzels you’d smuggled onto the airplane. “Nor do I have a car, and biking is certainly out of the question—”

Jeongguk ignored you, opening and closing drawers until he found the packet of paper Namjoon had left for you, the FAQOTH. His thumb lodged between the pages, squinting at the ink as his voice muffled around the rim of his own glass.

His tongue swiped at the lemonade clinging to his upper lip, sighing, “You really didn’t read this, did you? There’s, like, seven cab services to choose from. And at least six of them know where the Walmart is.”

You dismissed him with a wave of your hand, snatching the packet of paper from his grasp to flatten it over the napkin you’d been snacking from. “All Namjoon has listed are pizza places…” You trailed off, “I need restaurant recommendations. Throw some at me.”

“That’s a pretty broad question. I have a lot.”

“You’ll have to show me a few before I leave.”

You stared at each other in a passing silence that heightened your mortification like bile on the crux of your throat, especially when Jeongguk cocked an eyebrow, the slightest of smirks slanting his lips as his chin unhinged, falling to his chest as he fished aside for another napkin.

“Maybe…” He trailed off, snatching a pen from the same drawer the FAQOTH had came from. “But for now—” He scribbled some more on the surface pebbled in design, scratching out a name and an address before presenting the drooping napkin to you, “—try this place. I think the cab drivers can find it...”

The Dusty Dolphin bordered the line between the natural white sands of the beach and the main strip of highway that cascaded down the coastline. It was as if sitting on the border in territories, the inside seating of the restaurant on soft grasses sticking through sand like soil with an asphalt parking lot lined in chipped neon parking spaces just a walking distance away, while the outside seating was perched on the beach, a patio raised on wooden platforms with brightly colored umbrellas stuck through the center of wooden tables.

Your fingers paled your knuckles with how tightly you clenched your fists, flip flops slapping against the wooden surface as you climbed up a rickety staircase to tell an uninterested looking hostess that it would be just you.

“Outside?” It wasn’t really a question of yes or no, more of a confirmation of what she was expecting you to say as she hopped down from her stool and began to collect silverware and a glossy menu.

Your sure was lost under your breath as she took your curt nod as the answer, weaving through the close knit tables in the indoor seating to lead you through a single set of double doors and to an empty table on the far corner. Again, her, “Is this okay?” was a confirmation, not an affirmation, and your nod had her saying your server will be right with you when she’d already slipped back inside.

The sun peaked out from behind the lapping waves on the horizon, the blackness engulfing the farthest waves a taste of the sun’s sleep for a few hours, leaving the world with a brilliant mesh of pastel hues, colored together like oil crayons as brushes of wispy clouds rushed by to the melody of the water rushing to the shore. A breeze rolled with the motion of the water and you tugged your thin cardigan closer to your torso, not helped with the fans bolted to the overhead framing that continued to rotate softly, a cooldown from their midafternoon duties where they whirred fatefully.

“Hey, told you the cab driver could find this place.”

Jeongguk stood in front of you with the dopiest of grins on his lips, a tiny and audible giggle stumbling out from the shocked expression that met your features. He was adorned in all black, tight black jeans, a black belt cinching a black t-shirt into his waist, a black apron snug just a beat above the belt buckle. His bright locks were styled, parted away from his forehead in a calculated fashion that made one swoop a tad bigger than the latter side. Pens and straws and a tiny notepad were tucked into the pouches of the apron and he held a notepad of a similar fashion up, pen clicking rapidly as he continued to giggle at you.

“You work here?” You blinked, and then added with flat palms slapping against the front of your menu, “Is there anything you don’t do?”

“Can’t quite train the dolphins at the wildlife reserve yet, but we’re getting there,” His nose wrinkled in another laugh, pen clicking out finally as he rested it against the paper, “What can I get you to drink?”

“Uh. Water, I guess.”

“Boring,” Jeongguk scribbled shorthand to the pad, “Are you going to get something a bit more exciting than chicken strips for your meal?”

“I don’t think you’re supposed to be heckling the paying customer.”

“Seriously,” He eyed you again, “Do you know what you want?”

You opened the menu for the first time, the array of seafood and pastas and salads and various other dishes overwhelming you with him hunching over you, shuffling to read over your shoulders.

“What do you recommend?”

“Well, we’re pretty known for seafood—” You shot him a look, “—obviously. But like, all the shrimp is pretty good—”

“Because of the shrimp business in town?”

Jeongguk laughed, “Seokjin?”

“A little bit.”

He hummed, chin hovering dangerously close to your shoulder before he straightened, shuffling between the railing around the porch area. “I’ll bring you a couple things,” He decided, mostly to himself and absently over his shoulder,

A couple things meant a platter of shrimp, cooked, seasoned, piled, and ripped in different variations, piled high like the pyramid of cookies you’d nearly devoured after he’d left your house. His manager complained twice upon finding him sitting with you, judging your expression as you sucked some butter contraption off the ridges of a steamed shrimp and teasing you of the flakes of garlic clinging to the corner of your mouth. He returned to refill your water when you’d only taken a few sips from the candy striped straw and ignored you three times when you asked for the bill as the sun completely disappeared beyond the water, leaving the sea to one giant stretch you could not see but could hear the threat of.

“Here, I guess,” Jeongguk settled the black fold down on your table, leaving with a wink that illuminated in the artificial porch lights hanging from the center of the still turning fans. It was enough lighting to read that he’d paid for your bill, scrawling a giant smiley face underneath the amount.

You sighed, prepared to reprimand him as you carefully folded the receipt to slide into your pocket but two colored notes underneath caught your attention. The pink one read wait on me, I’ll drive you home. You placed it aside with a check to your phone, finding it five minutes from closing time of the restaurant as a majority of the other patrons who had long fled the premises.

The second note was yellow, the handwriting a bit more loopy, calculated in a sense.

A mirage is the peace the night time sea suggests; a reality is the beauty your soul creates.

Jeongguk was free of the apron when he returned, shirt untucked, and a large blue jacket shrugged across his shoulders. The same giddy smile from before remained plastered to his features as he dug in his pocket, pulling out a set of keys that he tossed and caught in the same palm.

“Ready to go?”

You folded the sticky note carefully, slipping it with the collection of bills in your back pocket.

“Yeah, let’s go.”

He left notes while you were asleep and he had another schedule to get to, choosing your pool as the first to clean and assess and correct the chemical balance of, leaving the bright blue paper with tacky glue stripped on the top to the patio door.

You caught it when you shrugged outside with a piece of toast in hand and your laptop folded under your arm, crumbs decorating your knuckles as you slipped the paper off the sizable smudge on the glass to bring it to your nose.

Think of dream, sleep of you.

He left notes on the hedge just outside your door on his way to the neighbors to fix a faulty outlet in the upstairs bedroom for a family who’d just arrived and had decided to cram three children with twelve electronic devices between them into that very room.

It was bright pink and sealed to the petal of a flower you debated picking, a petal that dislodged anyway when you plucked the note instead, decorating the stone walkway with a single question of soft red hues.

Bloom in my heart like the question of my soul.

He left notes on the inside of your refrigerator, right on top of a family sized bottle of orange juice he’d watched you haul through the front gates of the neighborhood while Seokjin assumed he was paying attention to his instructions for the disposal of some lawn chairs at the community pool near the beach.

You found it after he left in a flurry of more cookies, the smell of chlorine, and an off handed comment about you needing more variety in your life than water and orange juice, a yellow note that rivaled the unnatural coloring of the juice when you’d purchased a brand name rather than the more expensive, family brand.

Orange juice sucks, that much I do know.

You scattered them across the screen of your open laptop like an investigator piecing together the details of a crime while your neglected novel watched on, the cursor mocking you from beyond a note that said procrastinating my destiny with a useless metal fence. Color coding failed when Jeongguk switched from pinks, blues, and yellows to purples, oranges, and greens. His handwriting didn’t falter, suggest a trend with a certain harder press of his pen. The medium in which he wrote varied, lead or red pen or what appeared to be a blue colored pencil. Some told a story, only to be ruined with orange juice or elbow scabs or half eaten shrimp.

Your laptop screen was coated in a thin layer of film from placing and plucking the notes into various orders, one that hazed over your novel as you began to stack the notes into a neat pile in your cupped palm. It mirrored the midday haze that had curled across the neighborhood, the sun eliciting the mirage of steam curling off the pool water that seemed to hinder your conscious unable to understand the growing tree of poetry in your grasp.

The contents of the last paragraph, even without a layer of tacky glue and humidity stained air, made little sense, only one of five you’d written in three weeks. It was thick and expositional, a writing exercise within the draft, a rambling discussion of your surroundings when you’d decided to have your characters visit a beach rather than force their stories into some sand and sun.

Your outline answered your rhetorical question.

Why are they going to the beach? TBD.

You deleted the fifth paragraph and shut your laptop. Four paragraphs in three weeks.

Soft fluttering of the notes between your fingertips kept the distracted state of your conscious occupied long enough to seek out an unnatural sound of nature. It was a scurrying from around the side of the house, scattering through dry pine needles and gravel poured between the concrete stepping stones. The cloud of your thoughts cleared enough to panic in confusion, leaving the notes underneath a corner of your laptop as you crept into your flip flops.

The wire gate was left open, swinging gently against the side of the house. Clear footsteps rut deep into the coarse brown needles, smudging into the mud below still damp from the morning rain shower.

Your first rational thought of it being a squirrel erased as you reached for the gate, pulling and latching it. Someone was walking a dog across the street, a tiny white poodle with a ridiculous haircut and a cat bell on its collar. A childlike scream traveled upward from the beach. The breeze clattered against the leaves of a towering tree planted entirely too close to the house.

The same gentle breeze fluttered a strip of pink against the side of the house.

“Dammit, Jeongguk,” You cursed, needles lodging between the rubber of your flip flops and your bare feet as you moved off the stepping stone path. It was pasted high, too, barely in reaching of your pinching fingertips as you leaned into the house and stretched as high on the balls of your feet as you could go.

Your back slumped against the house as you glared at your prize for thin scratches and a strain in your shoulders. A number. A phone number.

With a shitty smiley face, a curve and two dots, beneath it.

You cursed through another layer of pine needles, deserting your flip flops on the far end of the pool deck as you hopped across seething hot concrete to retrieve your phone from underneath your towel. Pointed thumbs jabbed in the number to a new text thread, equally as prominent in clicking out a message.

What the hell are you trying to tell me with these notes, Jeongguk?

For thirty-seven agonizing seconds, you thought your only answer was the smiling emoticon with tiny red hearts dotted around the surface. And then three little dots appeared in the bottom left corner.

Everything. Meet me at the beach tonight?

You followed the sound of music, passing only a family with two tiny girls, headlamps strapped to their foreheads and plastic sand castle buckets clutched in their fingers as they chatted eagerly about what they’d seen underneath their feet, and a colony of the very crabs they’d been trying to capture. Your flip flops followed the beat of the guitar melody, pattering against the flex of your thigh where you clutched them in loose fingers at your hip, bare feet sliding through the cool sand, occasionally catching on snags of sea shells and scurrying sea creatures.

The sounds grew louder, dimming the thrash of night time waves, and you found him, seated not far down the coast line on a ratty looking, red lawn chair.

Jeongguk glanced up from furrowed eyebrows when you cleared his throat, hunched over a guitar balanced neatly on short clad thighs. Confusion erased into elation as he grinned, tossing his head toward the empty lawn chair next to him, blue and with less frayed edges.

“Hey! Have a seat. I brought beer in the cooler behind you. And water. I can go get you anything—”

You ducked for the red plastic container, drawing out a dripping water bottle and cracking the lid, “It’s okay. Thank you.”

He visibly relaxed, the lingering stare on your lips wrapping around the bottle diverting back to his work on the instrument in his lap, fiddling with some of the tuners at the top. You watched as he worked, thumb coming out to strum at the bottom few strings before he sat back with a satisfied hum.

And then Jeongguk began to sing. Softly at first, a testing glance in your direction as soft pink lips seemed hesitant in parting. When intrigue lit your features, body visibly tensing, his mouth curled into a smile, voice a higher volume but a soft octave nonetheless, gentle and soothing like a retreating wave that lipped gently across the shells it was leaving behind. His gaze faltered from yours to hit a note, a scrunch to his nose, a vein down the length of his neck, a passion that you longed for as his voice fishtailed into an easy run. It was an unfamiliar tune to you, one that ended in a handful of endearing head bops and cheesy hums from Jeongguk as he strummed once, hard, down the strings of his guitar.

The smile on his lips wobbled, trying to contain his teeth but still dimpling in his cheeks as he blinked at you. He lost the battle with his smile when he spoke, testing “Good?”, with a slight giggle.

“The notes,” You said dumbly, “They’re your lyrics?”

“Some of them…” He sat the guitar in the sand with a shy hand wrapped around the back of his neck, “Some are just, I don’t know, poetry.”

“So you sing.”

“I sing,” Jeongguk nodded, “I like to think I’m a better singer than pool cleaner. Or cookie baker.”

You followed his gaze from your eyes to his clasped hands on his knees. “Have you tried to pursue anything in it?”

“No point,” His gaze moved onward from his hands to the ocean, squinting and closing, “Just a hobby.”

“For now—”

“For always,” He was staring at you again, curt in his sharp correction. After a moment, a tiny smile slanted his lips, “It’s okay, really. I enjoy doing it in my free time.”

You tilted your head, “Why are you sharing this with me?”

Jeongguk was standing above you, hand outstretched, shy smile flushing his cheeks even in the darkness. “Walk with me.”

He took the initiative the thread your fingers together, leading you down to the edge of where the water reached. The water still warm from the heat of the season lapped around your ankles as you trudged down the coast, hand in hand, silence welcome to the soundtrack of the ocean. After a sizable distance, Jeongguk sighed, footsteps stalling to yank your unsuspecting figure to a stop.

“I’m showing you because lately, they’re all about you.”

You blinked at him, hands still clasped but pulled at an unnatural distance between your statures. “Jeongguk, what—”

“Look, I’m extremely lame and not as good with actual words as I am with the notes I left you but…” He stepped closer, dropping your intertwined hands to swing between your bodies, “I like you. Basically.”

“Basically?”

A disgruntled whine left his lips and his gaze trailed over your shoulder, upward toward the sky, “I know you’re only here for another month and I know I barely know you but. I don’t know. I like you. And I felt weird envisioning a future where I didn’t at least try.”

Your skin warmed through the thin flannel draped across your sun irritated skin. Another step closer, this one initiated by you, followed by a soft squeeze and tug on his palm. “Like you said, I’m only here for another month,” Soft eyes darkened into the stars dancing around you wandered back down to your gaze, hopeful even as you sighed, “I’m supposed to be writing, anyway. That’s the entire point of my trip and I’ve barely got anything done…”

“I won’t be a distraction.”

“You already are.”

Another shy smile graced Jeongguk’s features, mumbling, “Sorry.”

“But a good distraction…” One more step and there was but a fingertips length distance between your torsos, your thumb running along his knuckles, “You’re a good distraction.”

“So what you’re saying is…”

You held up your free hand, pinky presented. “I’m willing to try, Jeongguk but—” You punctuated the word before he could hook the digit in yours, “—no obligations. Not really, anyway.”

“Do the obligations include or exclude kissing?” He braved leaning closer to you, even as the rosy hue on his cheeks spread, “Pleasesayinclude, pleasesayinclude, pleasesay—”

You tugged down on his hand, loose fist with your pinky presented falling against his shoulder as you connected your lips. He hummed happily into the seam of your lips, arm snaking around your waist to eliminate the distance between your torsos. “One month,” You punctuated between a breath of air, one he ignored with another languid kiss into your mouth.

“So I can’t tell Taehyung you’re my girlfriend?”

“Who’s Taehyung?”

“My roommate,” Jeongguk linked your pinkies while you were distracted, kissing your jaw, “I’ll introduce you to him.”

“Jeongguk,” You squeezed his hand and pinky in tandem, “One month.”

“Stop, you’re making your not-really-your-boyfriend sad.”

Kim Taehyung was all surfer, the stereotypical bleached blonde hair with dark peeking out of the roots, baggy black shorts with the white strings untied, a thin white undershirt hugging his lean figure underneath a blue shirt with some intricate design of flames and waves and a surfboard ironed on the front. His bare feet slapped through the corridor, grumbling something to Jeongguk’s greeting call, hair tossed back with a thick white headband around the middle of his forehead that pronounced his harsh eyebrows, ones that furrowed to inspect you.

“Hi!” He was loud, like an over excited golden retriever, especially when he beamed to tease his roommate, “So you’re the beautiful lady Gukkie here courted by flashing his stellar abs and less than comparable thighs.”

You gawked, cheeks heating because well, kind of, but the hand on the small of your back fist into the material of your shirt, pushing you forward and past his broad figure.

“Don’t you have a wave to almost drown in?”

“C’mon, I was just kidding, love!” Taehyung’s footsteps were heavy behind you, following your figures through a narrow hallway, “No part of Jeon is impressive enough to get you. Did he bribe you? I’ll pay the ransom.”

You giggled as Jeongguk paused around you, sucking in a breath through his teeth that materialized into a whispered, “If you ignore him, he goes away. Eventually.”

Your nose wrinkled, turning to look at the red-faced man pressed against your back, “But he’s funny.”

You’d paused in front of a doorway, one Jeongguk pushed open and glared pointedly at you. “Don’t encourage him. Go.”

Jeongguk’s room was wide, a contrast to the narrow hallway lined in creaking hardwood and paneled walls. It was open concept, not much furniture aside from a few dressers and the bed. Blacks, whites, and greys told the story with color sprinkled in from accented belongings, like a collection of keychains hanging off a billboard in the corner, the cork material of the wall hanging filed with various photographs pinned up by neon colored tacks. A string of lights hung above his headboard, polaroids dangling from the wires, similar ones pasted in a haphazard pattern on the same wall.

“You like photography?”

He watched you step to his corkboard, delicately sliding your fingers underneath a photograph so as not to touch the ink on the front. It was a picture he’d taken of Taehyung at a surfing competition, purposefully edited to look straight from a vintage yearbook.

“A little. Filming too....”

You nodded, letting the photograph flutter back against its board. Pivoting, slow steps carried you toward his slumped figure standing rigid in the center of his room, sliding your palms over his shoulders when you got close enough.

“All of these talents and you can’t dye your hair by yourself?”

Jeongguk’s fingers fell into the fringe hanging over his eyes, now blonde with hints of pink clinging to the ends of certain strands. A pout materialized but he didn’t whine, just leaning closer to you with tendrils of hair still secured between a hand behind his head.

“Just because it’s your first visit doesn’t mean I won’t subject you to Taehyung’s three hour lecture of proper surfboard waxing techniques.”

“Stop threatening me with a good time and lead me to the hair dye.”

His bathroom was as small as the hallway and you found yourself seated on the edge of the vanity with Jeongguk crushed between your legs. He didn’t seem to mind, fingers twitching from their place beside you to creep up to your thighs as you squinted at his head, plastic covered fingers globing harsh red through his hair.

“What’s your natural hair color?”

“Brown.”

You tapped at his roots, taking a glob with the crook of your fingers. “Why don’t you leave it at that?”

“Because red is cool.”

“Who told you that?—” You pulled your hands into your lap, careful to hold the stain away, “—Your girlfriend?”

“Don’t know,” Jeongguk leaned close enough to smear red on your forehead with his bangs if they weren’t pasted to his forehead, “Is my hair color cool?”

A playful look of disgust wrinkled at your nose, “Only half of your hair is dyed right now.”

He glanced behind you in the mirror, eyeing the glob of dye on one half of his head to the straight blonde on the latter. “So?” He blinked back to you, “Is it cool?”

“I don’t know,” You began to peel the gloves off, “Wash it out and we’ll see.”

You sat cross legged in the center of Jeongguk’s bed when he returned, half of his hair back to the vibrant red it had been when he nearly impaled you with a pool net, half the blonde it had been trending toward when he asked you to entertain his affections for a month more. He didn’t give you an option of a yes or no, flopping at the foot of the bed to press his cheek against your ankles, arms stretched out across your thighs.

“Hey,” He said after a moment, muffled against your jeans.

You tested the waters of placing a hand against his scalp and when he cuddled into your affection, you softly ran your nails through his hair. “Hey, what?”

“I let you read my things—” Jeongguk shifted to place his chin on your naval, blinking owlishly up at you, “—my things about you. When do I get to read part of your novel?”

“Hmm, when it’s finished and published and available in bookstores.”

“Is that soon?”

You shot him a look but he didn’t seem to be kidding. “No. Probably not. Especially since I’ve made virtually no progress.”

“Well,” He pecked your belly button over your shirt, snuggling back against you again, “I’d love to read an advanced screening version.”

You’d deleted the four paragraphs you’d completed in three weeks. Zero paragraphs in five weeks.

“We’ll see…”

You printed your outline in three separate copies, each one with their own unique set of markups of various color pens and pencils and highlighters, colors born out of your tiny sparks on inspiration that you tried to hold onto like a the end of a rope, one that would pull you to the surface for clarity, creativity, anything. But each time the trill of your red pen reached the end of the page, transferring over to your fingers on the keyboard, the half an ounce of rope had slipped through your fingertips, leaving you to tread underwater.

Those stapled pages were spread across a table on the patio area of The Dusty Dolphin, half sandwiched between your laptop that was attached to an extension cord. Jeongguk had hijacked both the Wifi password and an extra long cable, seating you in the far corner of the deck area and keeping you stocked with fresh water and samples of mozzarella sticks.

It was the third time you’d marked through and rewrote a certain bullet point, the result a smear of dying highlighter in neon yellow that you could barely read. You capped the highlighter and the open pen rolled to the center of your keyboard, turning your attention instead to the goosebumps that had appeared across your bare forearms and Jeongguk’s figure as he jogged out onto the patio deck.

“That my hoodie?” He questioned as he approached, your head halfway through the black fabric you’d had tied around your waist for the duration of the day.

“Could be Taehyung’s. I stole it from your laundry room.”

Jeongguk placed the new glass of ice water down, avoiding your papers and electronics to wrap a hand in the collar of the hoodie to tug your mouth to his.

“Nope,” He teased with a nip to your bottom lip in a whirling departure, “Mine.”

“Wait!”

He turned, nearly colliding with a high chair protruding out into the walkway.

“Come back, waiter.”

The pad of paper was drawn from his apron, just to appease the look the child’s mother shot him as he moved to stand next to you again. “Yes, paying customer?”

“Can you bring me real food, please?”

He began scribbling something before you could talk, mirroring your sentiment the same time you uttered it.

“The shrimp pasta?”

A bashful smile sunk your chin into your shoulders and you nodded. “Yes, please.”

“Course,” Another chaste peck on your lips that turned into two, then lingered on the third, only for heavy footsteps and a rough voice to have him jumping away.

“Jeongguk…” A figure was leaning out of the doorway dressed in an ironed white button up and black slacks, the tiny gold nameplate advertising manager first reading Yoongi. “Stop kissing customers, please.”

This time a horrified gasp from the mother in question, one that caused Yoongi’s eyes to widen as he moved for the table, shooting you a comforting wink as he began to explain the concept of a joke while Jeongguk disappeared back into the depths of the restaurant.

You managed to hack out two paragraphs while Jeongguk put your order in with a handful of dialog sprinkled within. His kiss was to the top of your head when he slipped the plate in front of you, careful to avoid your twitching fingers over the keys as he hummed.

“Any progress?”

Your response wasn’t a total lie. “A little bit…”

Two paragraphs and useless dialog tagged with edit later in six weeks.

You’d managed to catch a handful of the rope promising to pull you ashore, one you clung desperately to while your fingers, coiled equally as tight, wore the letters on your keyboard to nothing, backspace barely a factor as you left in typos and grammar issues and a myriad of useless punctuation. The lines from where your laptop sat in relation to the cover your swimsuit bottoms provided was of little concern, just as your hair tied messily on the nape of your neck and the lack of towel underneath the bare parts of your stature not covered by the swimsuit you’d stumbled into in route to reach the rope.

The paper outlines sat somewhere inside but you didn’t need them anyway, the digital copy enough to mark off pieces from as your word count skyrocketed, pages clicking over and over the hump you’d previously been stuck on, the rope dragging your belly first over but getting you there nonetheless. You typed until your mouth begged for the ice water you’d left inside and one of the two cookies of Jeongguk’s left, but you powered through into another page, giddy with the possibility but more focused on the emotion somewhere between determination and greed.

You heard the gate open but ignored it, you heard a call of your name but ignored it, and you felt the splash of water hit your ankles and glared at it.

“Hey!” Jeongguk resurfaced on the side of the pool. He’d fixed his hair, vibrant and red against where he brushed it out of his eyes. “Come in for a swim?”

You pursed your lips, determined to ignore him as your fingers started slow on the keys again. When you arrived at your previous speed, you huffed, “You aren’t supposed to clean today.”

He dunked his head under, resurfacing in a flurry of bubbles, “Does it look like I’m cleaning?”

“Jeongguk. I’m busy today.”

“You’re only here for another week.”

“Exactly!”

He sighed, forearms folding onto the concrete as he leaned forward, watching you, “Whatever you have is great. Better than great.”

“You wouldn’t know.”

“I have a vague idea because you won’t let me read anything.”

You were glaring at him again, the playful expression previously on his features hardened into something you couldn’t quite understand, one that softened only marginally as the seconds passed.

Jeongguk uttered your name, a gentle request, “Take a break.”

Your laptop sat open on the bare lawn chair, battery zapped the longer the heat bore down on it but the pointed stalk of your footsteps across the pool area had shoved it aside. The water was cold upon first touch but the reactions of your body didn’t show it, carrying you down the staircase until you were submerged, body crouching so that your chin skimmed the surface of the water until you were treading directly in front of Jeongguk.

“I’m in the water,” You hissed, “Is this what you wanted?”

He didn’t have it in him to giggle, a sad smile instead not quite reaching the dimples in his cheeks.

“No. I want you to believe in yourself.”

The push of your mouth against Jeongguk’s was wet, tasting of the chlorine that splattered around you when you stood to grapple for purchase on his shoulders. Strong arms encased your waist, accepting you anyway as one liquid staining your lips was replaced with something warm and tinged in salt, dripping in unwarranted streams from the corners of your eyes.

You whimpered when your back was pressed to the side of the pool, legs coming to wrap around his waist while your fingernails scraped at his back. “I’m sorry,” You gasped, his lips mouthing at your neck while he held you.

“Don’t be,” He reprimanded you with teeth on your collarbone, arms sliding higher on your waist to press you flush to his chest, “I’ve got you.”

Another miserable apology fell from your lips and your chin was jerked upward by a soft palm cupping your cheek, latter hand pressing into the concrete behind you. “I said, I’ve got you, baby girl,” Jeongguk reiterated, forehead pressed to yours. Something sad rippled in his starry irises, something that dug the dagger deeper into the hammering organ in your chest, “What do you need me to do?”

“Just, I—”

Words failed but the bury of your face into his neck, securing your ankles around his back and holding to him like he’d disappear any second, didn’t.

Jeongguk’s arms threaded around your stature again, nosing into your damp hair with a shaky sigh. “Okay. Okay, I’ve got you. Shh, it’s okay, it’ll be okay…”

Fourteen pages in seven weeks.

The weight of his palm in yours had never quite reached home, a foreign weight laced through your fingers from the hesitancy echoing a mantra in the forefront of your conscious, eerie and daunting and to the tune of your rapidly beating heart.

No obligations. A distraction. A good distraction. No obligations. Broken laptop charger. Not enough complete. No obligations. Too much dialog. Too little progress. No obligations.

Fourteen pages. Seven weeks. No obligations.

You squeezed your fingers together just to watch the joints retract under your skin, the moonlight a ghost over your knuckles. Again and it was inevitable to catch Jeongguk’s attention, his hand flexing underneath yours, smooth and gentle and waiting, accepting of the home your lost heart would need.

If you’d just let yourself knock on the door. No obligations.

“Hey.” He’d stopped walking next to you, the sand cold on your toes, the plastic straps of your sandals rubbing a blister on the soft crease between your fingers on your free hand. “Hey, can we…”

“Look,” You overlapped him, sandals falling from your grasp when you pointed instead. A small group of crabs ruffled through the sand in front of you, bumping through languidly, over and under each other. Jeongguk’s eyebrows nearly met at the wrinkled bridge of his nose, the corner of his mouth slightly downturned when you glanced at him. Softly, you nodded, “Crabs.”

He let go of your hand, crouching. A cupped palm scooped through the sand, effectively excavating one of the crabs. It shook the sand from around itself, scurrying eagerly about the surface of Jeongguk’s hand as he straightened, stretching the creature out to you.

“Do you want to hold him?”

Thoughts of your novel and the overwhelming overhauls it’d endured in your eight weeks, the first a modest to a beachfront neighborhood, from a grocery store to a beach, from a bouquet of flowers the boy had been clutching onto for months while you worked on the details around him to a tiny crab who lasted long enough for you to hate the idea.

The tiniest of smiles made it to your lips, “Is there anything you can’t do, Jeon Jeongguk?”

He crouched again, releasing the crab in a flurry of sand dusted from his fingertips before returning to you. Curled fists made it into the pockets of his shorts, foot nudging into the ground below him as he shrugged. Wide eyes lifted from their spot at the tips of his toes to yours, the same sad smile lacing his features, “I can’t figure you out, apparently.”

“Can we...can we talk?”

He nodded, slowly at first and then all at once. A hand stretched in your direction again, fingers wiggling, the smile on his features a step closer to genuine. “C’mon, let’s go sit down.”

You followed Jeongguk up the beach, finding a space just in front of where the long grasses began, fluttering gently in the night time wind so much so that their soft ambiance almost outweighed the ripple of the ocean from farther up on the shore. Your hand retracted from his, sandwiched between your thighs but your shoulders still touched, sitting side by side as the moonlight crawled up the waves to be deposited onto the coast.

“I don’t know what I’m doing,” You said after a moment. Features scrunched to the breeze, eyes shutting as you sighed, “I really don’t know what I’m doing.”

He hummed, “Do any of us?”

“You seem to,” Your cheek pressed to your shoulder, offering a smile when he glanced at you, “Mister gorgeous pool boy who can sing, play guitar, write poetry, bake, and catch ghost crabs without blinking.”

Jeongguk hummed once more, a lower sound this time, nose pointed toward the breeze. “If you think my ambitions in life stopped at tourist neighborhood groundskeeper and a waiter at a place named The Dusty Dolphin, I must have done a really shitty job at letting you get to know me over these couple of months.”

“I know that,” You nudged him, “but how are you content with your passions just staying passions? How can you not want more?”

“Let me ask you a question,” He nudged you back, chin meeting his upper arm to peer at you under vibrant bangs, “Why do you write?”

“Because I want to have a published novel.”

Jeongguk quirked an eyebrow, “Why do you want to have something published?”

“Because I’ve put years of work into the idea. I’ve drained my soul to invest it in this project.”

“Do you love it?”

You blinked, “My novel?”

“Your novel, your column, the newspaper, writing,” Jeongguk shrugged, “Any of it.”

“I did…”

“Did?”

“I’ve always been in love with the craft of writing—” Softly, you amended, “—my writing. My creations. And I’ve had slumps, I’ve endured writer’s block. I’ve gone past deadlines and I’ve scrapped entire plots, ideas, paragraphs, sentences. But never this bad. Not to the point where I don’t know what I’m doing anymore. Why I even started writing the piece in the first place, what the end goal. What it was even supposed to be about, let alone anything about it.”

Jeongguk nodded, nose pointing toward the breeze again, cheek lulling to his arm, “Why did you come here, of all places?”

“I was sent here. Work leave.”

“What’d you do?”

“Told a nine year old that, not only are Disney princesses not real, but not a viable career option.”

He chuckled next to you, legs stretching out in front of him. “Harsh.”

“What about you?” You nudged him again, “Why do you write?”

“Because I love music and words are the language of music,” Jeongguk’s finger dug into the sand, absently drawing geometric shapes before brushing them away with the heel of his palm, “Even instrumental pieces can be described in words. Whimsical, haunting, pretty. That kind of thing.”

“I didn’t have to ask you if you loved it…” It was a rhetorical sentiment, trailed off as you stared at the nudge of his fingernail into a crooked rectangle.

“Can you do me a favor, when you go back home?”

“Please don’t tell me not to forget you. We live in the twenty-first century. I expect a picture of Seokjin with his shrimp magazine once a week.”

He was smiling when his hand slipped to your cheek, turning your gaze to his. “I’m serious,” His eyes flicked between yours, dizzying you in a mess of stars that never seemed to blur with the speed of his insistent gaze. “Scrap your entire novel. Start over.”

“What? Do you understand—”

Jeongguk’s lips felt like home. You hadn’t placed your guard around those. “I don’t understand. You won’t let me read it,” His forehead pressed to yours, “but just try it.”

“But Namjoon—”

Another kiss, gentle, a brush of your mouths together, just enough to swallow your insecurities. “The new one will be just as great. Better. More than enough to send to Namjoon.”

“How do you know?”

His thumb brushed against the apple of your cheek, eyes following the movement, “Would you allow him to read your current draft in its entirety? Not just what you’ve gotten finished while here.”

You hesitated long enough for Jeongguk to kiss you again, lingering enough to properly swallow what you were going to say. No, absolutely not.

“Might as well try—” His cheeks dimpled and it was the first genuine smile you’d allowed yourself in days, “—right?”

“Can you do me a favor?” You asked after several seconds of indulging in each other’s affections, lips swollen and brushing against his mouth.

“I won’t send you shirtless pictures every morning, no—” He shifted enough to shed himself of the pink checkered flannel on his shoulders, wrapping it to your shoulders to pull you against his side, “Taehyung already thinks I’m vain.”

You smacked Jeongguk’s shoulder and he giggled, leaning forward just enough to brush the tips of your noses together. Once. Twice. Four times.

“No,” You tilted to squish your noses together, locking his gaze to yours, “Try to pursue something with music. I don’t care if it’s DJing at that shitty club Taehyung was trying to get us to go to last week. Or maybe busking on the weekends. You can set up in front of the pond as you enter the neighborhood.”

“I don’t…”

“Try it,” You punctuated it with a hard kiss to his lips, “What can it hurt?”

You’d shifted to lay between his legs, cheek on his chest, kisses shifted to his chest over his shirt, his sprinkled to your forehead, cheeks, nose. He hummed into the ministrations, nosing over your hairline.

“Theoretically, if I were to become a famous musician, would you come to my first gig? It’ll never happen, but you’re a writer. Speaking in hypotheticals...”

You settled your chin between the hard planes of his chest, “Depends. Will you buy my novel?”

“Three copies. I’ll come to three separate book signings to get personalized notes from you.”

You giggled and Jeongguk couldn’t help but kiss your nose. Twice. “Then yes. I’ll come to your first gig. Maybe two of them, if you pay for my plane ticket.”

He seemed satisfied with the answer even as an insecurity seemed to linger on the tip of his tongue, one that festered when he glanced over your head to the ocean, still as dark and thrashing as before. “You really won’t forget about me, will you? Because truthfully, I don’t think I’ll ever forget about you.”

“You’re stuck with me, unfortunately. Give me your email and we can be penpals. You can remind me not to crush the dreams of elementary students while I’m at work…”

“...but no, Jeongguk,” You squeezed his waist, pressing your lips to the center of his chest, “I won’t forget you.”

“I’ll still send you my lyrics. They’ll probably be about you for a while, anyway.”

“I’ll let you read snippets of my novel, once I restart. Actually let you read something I’m proud of.”

“I’ll send you a picture of the first dollar I get from busking. It’ll probably be from Seokjin, but it’ll count.”

“I’ll miss you. And your cookies.”

“Miss implies forgetting,” His index finger lifted to prod at your pouted bottom lip, “We aren’t forgetting.”

Another sad smile, a different type of sad, one of the up most cliche smile because it happened, adorned your features as you raised a pinky finger. Slightly crooked, open, without your guard, “Pinky promise?”

Jeongguk’s lips distracted you from the feeling of home that came with the link of your pinky’s, squeezing onto your digit. “Pinky promise.”

Zero progress in eight weeks.

Park Jimin was standing in front of your desk with a copy of your novel in hand, a nervous smile pasted on his plump lips, feet shifting awkwardly beneath him as he waited on you to finish typing. He’d told you to keep working and who were you to deny him of that request.

“What can I do for you?” It wasn’t anything work related. You’d already passed the advice column and your office down to him in exchange for a feature column and a better office with a better computer monitor. He wasn’t getting that too.

The book hit your desk and he scurried to amend the flurry of papers that kicked up around it, speaking as he shuffled through the documents. “My girlfriend, she, uh, loves your novel and I was wondering if you could, uh, sign it for me? Maybe? It’d make her day, year probably, and—”

“Yeah, Jimin,” You reached for the book, dismissing his efforts to clean your desk with a flick of your wrist and a smile, a genuine one, “Of course I can sign it. What’s her name?”

The waxy cover contained the result of your efforts, the painstaking nights you’d stayed up sobbing over your manuscript, the early symptoms of carpal tunnel from hacking at your backspace too much, your familiarity with deleting and recovering entire documents. But most importantly, the return of your passion, your love, your fears the ultimate roadblock to the end of your novel and the beginning of a new, the one currently hidden behind a couple emails and your column for the following week.

The beauty of dual screens.

“Thank you so much,” The blonde gushed, clutching the novel against his chest when you were done scrawling on the cover with a ballpoint pen, “She’ll be so excited. Thank you!”

Your phone was prepared to text Hoseok, did you pay Jimin to do that?, when you noticed another notification, red and glaring at you from your messages application. It was a familiar contact name, a message written in a font generated by something, a three step process he must have taken to type, copy, and paste it. Even through the silly font did your heart swell.

They say lest we forget, but why forget when I can be there with you, if you’ll let me.

You kicked away from your desk, propping your foot onto the seat of your chair, phone onto your knee.

Alright, Guk, what’s the significance of this one?

There was several seconds of typing, deleting, typing again, silence, more typing. Finally, a message. A single emoticon, the side eyes, the ones that knew something with a slightly upturned mouth. You were halfway through another inquiry, an okay, what the hell does that emoji mean, Jeon? when you received a picture.

His hair was brown now. Dark and fluffy and disheveled across his forehead where a single pink note was pasted to his skin. The ink was dark, prominent, like he’d sat and scraped at it for hours.

I’LL SEE YOU SOON.

You called him.

“Jeongguk, what the fuck are you talking about—”

“I got an audition.”

You paused and he continued with a shaky breath, “I got an audition. In your town. For music. Singing.”

“...so what you’re saying is you’re going to become a big superstar and I’m going to have to pay my own way to your first concert—”

“Baby,” Jeongguk whined, “I haven’t got the spot yet.”

“Yeah, but you will.”

There was another pause, some rustling in the background and then he hummed, “I’m going to sing a song about you. For the audition.”

Your cheeks heated and you rolled toward the window, blankly staring at the towering building next to the office. “Yeah? What’s it called?”

“Wonder.”

“Yeah I wonder what you’ve titled the song about me, if it’s not my name—”

“The song is called Wonder…”

There was a pause and he was singing again, just as soft as you remembered, the same lyrics he’d serenaded you with on the beach holding a different weight now, both literally without the organic strum of a guitar and figuratively to what the polished poetry did to your healed heart, open and ready.

You murmured into his soft, teasing hums, hugging a knee to your chest, “That song, huh?”

“I told you already. I can’t seem to write anything that’s not about you,” You could hear Jeongguk’s smile, “That didn’t change in the months since you went home.”

Your cheeks heated all the way to the back of your neck, filtering to the shy roll of your shoulders as you hunched over your knee, squeezing it tighter, and you reveled in that he couldn’t see you to quip, “You know what has changed though? Your jokes. I think they’ve gotten dumber.”

There was still a smile in his voice, even as he threatened, “Alright, listen here you little—"

“Watch it or I’ll sue for you using ‘me’ without my consent.”

“You based an entire character in a bestselling novel after me. It’s only fair.”

You spluttered, “I did not—”

“And for the record? Washboard abs is a lame description of my godly physique. Even I know that and I’m but a mere lyricist.”

“I’m going to kick your ass when you get here.”

“...so you’ll want to see me?”

“Of course,” Your voice softened and you watched a bird climb altitude before fluttering to the windowsill, “I have to sign your three copies of my novel.”

Jeongguk laughed, sweet in your ears.

“I can’t wait…”

[iluvsexyvoltageguys]

Full Service

Fandom: Irresistible Mistakes (Love 365)

Pairing: Shunichiro x Reader

Note: @rougepetale this is for you, hope you enjoy your man 😏

You had been completely ready for work, just about to put on your coat and head out the door when you felt his hand on your shoulder. It was early and you hadn’t expected him to wake before you left, but you turned toward him and saw fire in his eyes.

He wanted you.

Knowing it wouldn’t take long, and feeling his heat light you up, you tossed the coat aside and let him press against your body, his erection obvious even through his boxers and your pants. The kiss was brief, dirty and deep, meant only to agree upon the level of need. Shunichiro pulled you into the living room where you could brace yourself on the back of a chair, right after unfastening your pants and letting them fall to your ankles. He stepped behind you to take care of your panties, pushing them roughly to the side as he bent you over.

He freed himself from his boxers and pushed forward, using his knee to open you as wide as your clothing would allow, sliding home with one long stroke. He hadn’t even bothered to check to see how wet and ready you were; not that there was a need for that. You were always wet and ready.

You wanted him.

There was never a rhythm, the pace frantic from the first thrust. You didn’t hold back, letting your cries for more echo throughout the room. Shunichiro was well aware that you loved to be fucked hard, but you liked to remind him anyway, pleading for his cock even as he gripped your hips with enough force to leave marks. When he leaned forward to nip your shoulder through your blouse, you came on a violent shudder, breathlessly demanding that he fill you up.

He couldn’t remember you ever wording it quite like that. Sure, you had told him to come plenty of times, but the specific request to fill you up was different. Primal. And he reacted to it. “You want to be filled up? You want to feel everything I can give you? The way only you can make me come?”

“Fuck, yes.”

Any further encouragement was unnecessary and Shunichiro pumped only twice more before he held himself deep inside and let your pussy help milk him of every drop. He was still draped over you, his cock slowly softening within you, as you mumbled into the chair cushion. “I should go change before I leave for the office.”

“No.”

“No?”

“You wanted to be filled up. I want you to stay that way.”

Something in his tone kept you silent, so he took the opportunity to slip out from you, fixing your panties as quickly as possible. Your pants followed, though he let you handle the zipper and button. You were quiet long enough that he thought he might have pushed you too far, but when you turned around and hungrily attacked his mouth, letting your tongue tease the roof of his mouth before you nipped at his lower lip, he stopped worrying.

You finally pulled away and smiled wickedly, loving the secret you would share with him all day. Without another word, you picked up your coat and left for work.

~~~~~

The rest of the morning was relatively normal; you, Toma and Toshiaki continued to work on the story board of the current commercial you were working on. However, even surrounded by the mundane, you couldn’t stop thinking about the way you were marked, feeling it with every step and embracing the warmth crawling just under your skin.

When you saw Shunichiro step off the elevator, two coffees in hand, you swore you felt a new wave of your own wetness mix with his. He handed you the steaming cup at your desk, leaning forward to whisper in your ear. “I can smell myself on you.”

Wide-eyed and blushing, you whipped your head around to where the guys were huddled around Toma’s computer, then slowly turned back to Shunichiro. “Really? Do you think they’ve noticed?”

“I hope so.” He walked away before you could respond, and you couldn’t even figure out how you felt. Powerful? Dirty? Needy? Some of everything? You supposed being ashamed would be a normal reaction, yet there was absolutely none of that. Hurrying to rejoin your team, you did what you could to push it all from your mind so that you could focus on work.

Things were fine until lunchtime, when everyone went to grab lunch and you and Shunichiro were left alone for several minutes. You were leaning against a desk, still editing the story board, but he made his presence known when he nudged your shoulder and grinned mischievously, “Still filled up?”

“Well, I’m not sure how ‘filled up’ I am, but I’m plenty wet.”

He studied you for a long moment. “What happened to keeping it in all day?”

“Um, gravity?”

It was a simple fact, but he just shook his head and grabbed your hand, pulling you away from the office and down a familiar hallway. There was a small storage closet that you had become rather acquainted with, though you really tried to avoid too much sex at work. The idea of getting caught was both arousing and appalling, but on days like this, it just didn’t matter.

You both crowded into the tiny room and shut the door behind you, leaving you with a sliver of light. It only took a minute of fumbling to find the sturdy boxes you knew were there, then stack them to a height that would allow you to sit at the perfect angle for him to fuck you with little effort.

Just as had happened earlier, your clothes hung around your ankles; he let his fall as well, unconcerned with anything but coming inside you again. Your mouths met sloppily just as his cock drove deep, a gasp of relief coming from both of you. The sound of your joining was louder and wetter than normal, a reminder of what you were doing and how much you were turned on by it. He reached for a handful of your hair and pulled your head back, giving him room to suck on your neck as he repeatedly pounded into you

Your hand dropped between your bodies, fingers quickly finding your swollen clit. He looked down at your colliding hips and groaned at the sight. “You want me to come hard inside you? Fill you up again?”

"Please!”

You let yourself go, your entire body tightening as you tried to stay silent, only a desperate mewl escaping your lips. He followed quickly, in tune with your body and on edge with the desire to leave you with more evidence of your shared lust. As he spilled inside you, his forehead fell forward against yours, and you both took a moment to catch your breaths.

By the time he slid away from your body and you carefully moved off the boxes, your eyes had adjusted to the darkness and you were able to watch as he eased your panties back into place. Before his hand fully let you go, he tucked it under the elastic and dragged his fingertips through the cum he had just left behind. Bringing them up to your mouth, he touched your lips and you opened for him, sucking his fingers clean as you stared at him.

“You’ll try harder to keep it all inside this time?”

Your tongue still held him in your mouth, your lips sealed around him as you nodded.

~~~~~

You managed to make it through the rest of the day with some semblance of productivity and concentration, even as the heavy scent of sex followed you like an illicit haze. The guys had to have noticed something, but stayed quiet, the topic too intimate for either of them to bring up. Still, just knowing that they must have had their suspicions was enough to keep the arousal thrumming steadily throughout your body.

For his part, Shunichiro did lots of staring, but far less talking than normal. Instead, he followed you with his eyes, territorial and proud, eager for the moment he could get you alone again.

You had dinner reservations at a swanky restaurant and needed to stop at the apartment to change first, so you left work at a decent hour. You were both quiet on the drive home, simply holding hands with an innocence that belied the day’s earlier activities, but once you were through the front door, you grabbed at each other, removing clothing at a feverish pace.

How you made it to the bedroom was unknown, even to you. Your panties were the last barrier between the two of you and they were unceremoniously tossed to the floor, just a second before his naked body pressed you down into the mattress. You attempted to lock your legs around his waist, pulling him closer, but he stopped you, instead moving them to his shoulders. The angle allowed him to get deeper than he had been all day, and hit your g-spot perfectly. It didn’t matter that you had already fucked twice that day; neither of you would last long.

You got loud, begging to be filled up one more time. Your string of expletives urged both of you on, and you finally screamed his name, your pussy gripping him desperately and pulling him in. Several seconds later, he emptied himself for a third time, sticky streams adding to everything he had already given you.

As soon as you both recovered, he moved to pick up your panties, dropping them onto your bare stomach. “Pick any dress you want, but keep the same panties on.”

You made it to the restaurant in time, dressed to the nines and sinful as hell. There was no way to tell which of you were riding more of a high throughout the meal; he still felt dominant, having left his mark on you all day long, while you felt powerful, flaunting your unions with poorly-hidden evidence. It was outrageously dirty, but you both owned it.

By the time you had finished dinner, you were fully sated, all appetites and cravings having been satisfied over that past several hours. Well, almost all of them.

Your server came over to you offering a choice of crème brulee, cheesecake, or tiramisu, but you spoke up before Shunichiro had the opportunity to respond. “No, thank you. He’ll be able to eat dessert at home.”

IM Masterlist

[shellheadtmark2]

actually, because i’ve gotten a lot of new mcu mutuals lately, and i need to redo my 616 tony stark care manual bc i wanna tweak it and make some aesthetic changes (because i’m just Like That), things you should probably know because i am actually 616/marvel prime/main continuity-based.  i swear i’ll be serious this time.  maybe.

the original flavor tony is not going to be the same tony you’re used to from the mcu - mcu tony is actually more marvel ultimates inspired, which is a whole kettle of fish unto itself and that i have a verse for, but we’ll get to that at a later date.  instead, meet main continuity tony.

+  he started his path to iron man in a very similar way to mcu tony, in that he was injured by his own weapons (depending on where you pull from the sliding timescale, it’s everything from landmines to micromunitions) that damaged his heart and left him slowly dying.  we all know this story, right?  he built the first iron man to escape and the rest is history.

+  the difference is, main continuity was dependent upon the armor’s chestplate for a few years. the arc reactor ain’t really a thing in 616, instead we have the rt node.  similar in function, only tony could use it to do unibeams without the suit.  anyway, when tony came back, he took on iron man as an alternate identity, and told the world iron man was his bodyguard.  no one knew for a few years there that tony stark - handsome, generous, kind-hearted benefactor of the avengers who opened his home to them - and the metal-clad adventurer known as iron man was the same person.  it took a mishap with molecule man and a tiny red silk thong (no, i’m not kidding) for that little secret to come to light.

+  he was in his very early twenties when he became iron man - much younger than his mcu counterpart, and he’s very, very good at being iron man.

+  his relationship to most of the avengers - and heroes in general - is very different.  his best friend in the entire world is steve rogers - he’s had a captain america memorabilia collection since before the avengers pulled steve out of the ice (which is another thing - the avengers thawed steve, and tony has always idolized him - there’s no resentment there - and steve was not a founding member, he came in after the avengers had already formed).  his other best friend is rhodey, who was his employee-turned-military liason for stark unlimted (formerly known by many other names).  his other other best friend is pepper potts - they’ve never actually been romantically involved.  his other other other best friend was happy hogan, who died a few years back during the nightmare of civil war - which was much more us-based and much more horrific in tony’s universe.  he’s carol danvers’ aa sponsor.  he’s good friends with reed richards.  he’s been friends with stephen strange for years.  he and bucky barnes are fairly close and tony’s the one that got rid of bucky’s trigger words.  he and natasha have dated...ish, and are close.  he was never peter parker’s mentor, as his peter is a full grown adult, but peter did intern for him for a while.  and was on an avengers team with him before civil war.  he, steve, and thor are still the big three, but they have a friendship that’s been forged in the fires of really bad mistakes and they’ve come out the other side still close.  he knows the guardians of the galaxy because he was a guardian for a while during his big vacation in space.  he’s dated more avengers and x-men than you can shake a stick at.  and jarvis for him is edwin jarvis, his living, breathing, now semi-retired butler who served the avengers for many years and is part of the avengers family.

+  he was director of shield for a short time after civil war and steve rogers’ assassination.  he hated the job and he hated steve being dead and he hated what he forced himself to do so bad he literally erased that entire year out of his head.  and to get rid of the database full of superhero secret identities stored in his brain but you can’t tell me he didn’t have a more recent backup without it.

+  his first ai was named homer.  jarvis actually was pepper’s ai, for her rescue suit, and was never tony’s.  friday is and has been his main ai for years, and she has a hologram form.  she mostly runs the day to day stuff that doesn’t require tony to physically be there for the company.  which, also, tony is still ceo, he hasn’t handed that over to anyone, and pulls double fulltime duty as both a working stiff and an avenger.  his eyebags are designer.

+  he was secretary of defense for a year - he got himself elected when he found out someone in military research was reverse engineering and stealing things from the iron man.

+  he’s in his early 40s and looks younger:  being an extremis enhancile for a while and then undergoing a full-body reboot does wonders for the skin, apparently.

+  he’s canonically bisexual.

+  is known for using himself as a lab rat for incorporating experimental technology into his biology.  ask me about the suit he carried in his bones!

+  he’s 6′1 with blue eyes.  that’s, uh.  kind of important to know.  he’s tall.  he’s lanky.  and if you’re not a metahuman he might just can kick your ass, because captain america trained him in hand to hand combat (of which he’s very proud of).

+  the ten rings are literally ten alien rings used by his main archvillain, the mandarin.  they hurt.  a lot.  and he hates when he gets an up close and personal view of them smashing into his face.

+  he’s not as quippy as his mcu counterpart, and instead is more prone to bad puns and rambling awkwardly.  canonically he has depression, anxiety, and ptsd, and struggles with them regularly.  he’s also a recovering alcoholic.

+  take mcu tony’s tech.  then put it on steroids.  then make it the craziest scifi thing you can imagine.  and you’ve got the barest hint of what this tony’s tech is like.  seriously.  ask me about the suit he literally carried inside of himself.  or the time he could control machines with his brain.  616 is wild.

+  he’s been homeless.  and i don’t mean rich people homeless. i mean living on the street, nearly froze to death riding out a blizzard in a doorway and almost lost fingers and toes to frostbite homeless.  tony’s a Rich Boy but one who’s had a taste of how the other half lives on more than one occasion.  he’s also worked a regular nine to five like everyone else and lived in what was...honestly...a really shitty apartment.

+  he’s adopted, and he has a(n adopted) brother named arno.  his bio mom’s a former rockstar, and his bio dad a hydra double agent.  you literally can’t make this shit up.

+  he’s incredibly self destructive and self sacrificing.  if things look hopeless he’ll be the first to offer himself for the pyre.  because he has absolutely horrid self esteem.

+  he’s a liar.  he’s sneaky.  he tends to make decisions for other people without consulting their feelings on the matter - partly because of a tony knows best attitude, but also because there are people in the world he’d do anything, and i mean anything, to keep safe, even if they hate him in the end.  it’s kind of awe inspiring and terrifying if you manage to inspire that level of devotion in tony, because really.  anything.

+  he has a playboy reputation, but he’s anything but.  you either get casual sex out of him?  or you’re married now, sorry, that’s just how it is.  he settles and nests with a vengeance.  he’s one of those people that would love to be happy and safe and loved and married and all that happy shit but doesn’t feel like he’s worthy of it.  his issues with this have issues, to be honest.

+  if you call him in the middle of the night and need an evac and you’re on his People list he will come.  twice in two days.  dropping everything to go to the middle of indiana to do it.  if you are sad and text him about it he will bring you food.  if you don’t answer his texts he will find you and check in on you.  if you feel out of place and adrift he will try to buy your baseball team and move them back to brooklyn to make you happy.  if you die and he can’t cope with your death he will buy your first avengers indenticard for 2mil at an auction because he can’t stand the thought of anyone else having it.  if you’re really special he’ll call you “beloved” and “captain handsome”.  sometimes sweetheart.  please note these things are all canon.

+  he dies a lot.  it’s okay, he gets better.

+  his irrational fears are the dark and cockroaches.  his actual fears are waking up drunk and the suit becoming a coffin.

anyway this is a Lot.  and it’s not even really scratching the surface so.  i’m gonna just drop this on the dash as is.  and you know it helps for me to make dumb lists like this from time to time to refresh things.  anyway, i know it’s a lot!  i know it’s different!  but my (broken) ims and disco (shellhead#8434) are always open for questions and plotting.  and my inbox, too, ig.  so you know.  remember we’ve got a canon multiverse.  it’s real easy for me to drop him in the mcu to make your day annoying.

[blondecarfucker]

Bed of Roses (1988 Special)

Roger Taylor x Reader BoRhap!Roger Taylor x Reader

Fic Summary: It's 1971. You just moved to London to study, and you find a band on a local pub after a bad date. The encounter doesn’t go the way you expect it, and neither does what follows this evening as you try to deal with loving Roger Taylor.

Fic Note: So I’ve had this story in my head for the last three weeks and finally decided to write it down. It’s completely planned. It will have 21 chapters and it’s divided in three acts: Dusk, Night and Dawn. It’s will be a bit angsty in the future, and it will most likely have some smut as well. I hope you guys enjoy it! Tell me what you think about it in the asks/comments/messages. If this is your first time stumbling upon Bed of Roses, thank you for stopping by! The rest of the story is in my masterlist, the link is in my bio - can't put the link here or else the post will disappear from the tags.

Chapter's notes: so this is not even a real chapter??? i mean, it doesn't have a number - it's really a reallll epilogue, you really get to know what happen in the eleven years that follow the end of the story. this wasn't really on my outline - i just kept thinking about the characters cause theyre SO CUTE and DESERVE THE BEST and im an absolute softie so i couldnt help but write this. its probably a bit messy cause im tired atm but im happy i wrote this and i want to share it with you guys already. im curious to know what you guys think about it! - also, just making it clear, there's no story for a sequel, so there's no sequel coming. just so you guys know. thanks again for stopping by and reading my story and being AMAZING. im a bit rusty i guess so sorry about the size of the chapter

Words: around 2.8k

1988

You heard Roger hitting the drums as you opened the studio door.

"Hey, Y/N", Freddie said, coming to hug you. "It's your man recording", he told you, and you nodded.

"I see", you answer, and Jim comes closer to Freddie and says hello to you. You really like the way they feel at ease with each other - it just looks natural. It's been long ever since you saw Freddie so peaceful.

But Roger soon showed up in your field of vision, having just left the recording booth. "Babe, it's so good to see you", he said, hugging you by the waist. "Good seeing you too, Rog. What are you guys recording?, you ask, and Deacy answers.

"It's 'Rain Must Fall', just wrote it with Freddie", he says, as Freddie listens to Roger's recording.

"It's still not right", he says, and Roger sighs. "Be right back", he tells you, going inside the booth.

Now that you're paying attention, you realize it's latin percussion. "This is really nice", you tell Freddie, and he smiles. "Thanks, darling. How's the museum? Did it fall apart after you spent a month away?", he asked, and you laughed.

"Actually, they've been holding up quite nicely", you say, referring to the period you've just spent with them in Montreux. "They're getting used to it, I suppose", and he nods.

You and Roger have been taking turns the last decade on who's gonna spend time along with the other, but now, after you've got your PhD and was promoted to Senior Curator, your job could be done without official office hours, so you've been following Roger around a bit more - which is nice, especially when he's in Montreux, such a calm place you thought about retiring there, in the future.

"And this outfit, too, I love it. You look like such a serious business woman" Jim said, pointing to your tailleur. "I have to look the part, Jim", you shrug, and Brian laughs. "I miss your yellow Chuck Taylors days, Y/N", he says, and you laugh. "These shoes are killing me, so I do, too", you tell him.

"I won't invite you to dance, then", Freddie said, and you frowned. "Please do, Freddie. You know how I love these latin inspired songs of yours", you pouted, and Freddie laughed, extending a hand to you.

You could feel Roger's eyes watching you through the glass as you danced with Freddie. Rain Must Fall reminded you of Cool Cat, and even though the Hot Space days, in 1981 were complicated, it reminded you of an afternoon with Roger on a yacht on Lake Geneva, the two of you drinking mimosas and sunbathing as Montreux glimmed under the Riviera sun.

"God, I hate this fucking song", Roger said, sipping on his mimosa.

"It's not the best", you agreed, and he laughed.

"This fucking album, I swear to God. If it wasn't for you here, I would've dropped this", he said, and you got up to prepare another mimosa for you.

"Don't say that, Rog. You wouldn't drop the band", you said, and he sighed.

"You're right. But I would drop this album, though. This song, even - I didn't take part in anything regarding the production. I just watched, like you watch a car crash", he says, and it's your turn to laugh.

"You're so dramatic", you tell him, mixing the orange juice and the champagne. "But seriously, babe. Do you even like the songs we're making now?", he asks, and you take a sip of your drink.

"I like Under Pressure", you say, and you're happy to see his face lighten up as he laughs. "Of course you do. I'm impressed you didn't ask Bowie for an autograph yet", he said, and you laugh along. "I have to stop myself from fangirling every time he's around, you know. It's pretty hard, but I do my best not to embarass you", you told him, sitting by his side.

His sun kissed skin made his eyes even brighter than usual - like lapis lazuli on bronze.

"Like I try not to embarrass you by looking stupid when we're on one of your fancy dinners?", he asks, hugging you by the side. "Exactly", you told him, pressing a quick kiss on his lips. He tasted like orange.

As you now kept dancing with Freddie, Jim pulled Deacy for a dance too, and eventually everyone was dancing to Roger's percussion. Each had a different level of success, and you were trying to help Brian when Roger finished his part.

It made you happy to have moments like this. After A Kind Of Magic, in 1986, the band was fighting constantly - it made you sad to see such thing. Roger even created a side band, The Cross, and he worked with them for a while before reuniting with Queen for this new album.

You were always a huge fan of his solo work, but you never connected with The Cross - and you felt like he didn't, either. They never really challenged him, and anything only gets better after receiving honest feedback.

But now Freddie wanted to produce again with the rest of the band - as much as they could, non-stop. They wouldn't even tour after this album, The Miracle. You felt like Roger knew exactly why these changes happened, but he didn't share them with you. You didn't really mind - it was not only his privacy, but the privacy of the rest of the band members. The fact that he was trustworthy enough to keep his friend's reasoning behind a polemic decision private only made you love him more.

"Babe", Roger called, walking over to you. You hugged him, his known smell now more refined, cologne mixed with the patchouli and substituting the cigarette smoke - you both quitted smoking, since you heard it could be harmful for little ones.

"The kids are with their nanny, right?" Rog asked you, and you nodded.

It was 1982 when you realized you couldn't keep your breakfast - you vomited every morning, almost religiously, twenty minutes after you ate.

Roger was immediately concerned on the phone - you spent two weeks in Mexico for work, and it was only when Roger spent a weekend there at the end of your trip that he told you not to drink the tap water. So you were both convinced you had some parasite, and Roger took you to a doctor - he liked to spend time with you when you were both in London, even in boring activities, since you still lived in separate flats, always trying to take it slow - even though you felt like a teenager when you had to pack to stay a weekend at your boyfriend's house - and you considered talking to Roger about moving in together again.

The doctor soon realized there were no parasites inside you, but there was a baby - a 3 months old little boy, in fact, as the doctor confirmed after taking you two to the ultrasound room.

You could never forget Roger's face once he understood what the doctor told the two of you. He was going to be a father.

But the realization that you were going to be a mother took a little longer to hit you. It was only when you heard the baby's heartbeat that you really understood what was going on inside you - a baby. Your baby. Roger's baby.

Proof that you were together, proof that you belonged to each other, that you loved each other.

"This is the most beautiful sound I've ever heard", Roger told you, and you smiled in agreement.

Nine months later, Apollo was born.

You agreed on Apollo because you always thought about how Roger reminded you of Apollo, and it did remind you of New York, too - the Apollo Theater was a landmark only a couple dozens streets above the apartment you grew up in.

But Apollo was much more like you than he was like his dad. He inherited his dad's dirty blonde curls, but his eyes were just like yours, and so was his personality - he was very determined, liked to be alone, and a full blown nerd. He taught himself to read when he was four, and now, at age 6, he liked to read The Hobbit by himself.

He didn't speak with an English accent, oddly enough, even though he was raised in London - he spoke water like his dad, but copied your accent in every other word.

Roger would hold him and hug him and always spend time with "his little guy", always telling him how proud he is to be the father of a genius, and Apollo's cheeks would be flushed pink, just like yours did when Roger told you how smart you are.

When Apollo was born, you both agreed to move in together into a big family home, but you filled the walls with artwork and tapestry, and Roger made sure there was always good music playing - it didn't feel like you were abandoning your old selves to become parents; it felt like a natural step.

And for financial reasons - mostly to protect Apollo and to make taxes easier - you and Roger decided to get married. He tried to play the practical part, reaffirming marriage was just a title and the two of you were way beyond that, but you knew, deep down, that he was incredibly happy to get on his knees and propose.

It was a simple ceremony in 1984 - close friends and family under the hawaiian sunset, the Lana'i Island's atmosphere made you feel like you were in a dream. With a simple cotton white dress, you reunited with Roger - in a half open, white cotton button up - in front of a licensed marriage performer, and you became Ms Taylor.

Roger used any excuse to call you Ms Taylor, savoring the name on his tongue just like he did with your lips on honeymoon.

Apollo was 2, and stayed with his grandparents for a week as the two of you enjoyed your honeymoon on paradise. "It's funny how this is like, the millionth time I feel like I'm on honeymoon with you", you tell Roger, and he pouts. "If you consider honeymoon everytime we go somewhere amazing alone and keep fucking like teenagers, then yeah. But this is special. This feels more… I don't know. Official", he said, and you agreed.

And all that young love had a result - you soon found out you got pregnant again after a routine blood test. Roger was, again, the happiest man on Earth.

You felt calmer this time around - a kid and responsibilities didn't ruin your relationship with Roger the first time around, and you were actually pretty good parents.

So when Live Aid came about, you were huge - you enjoyed the many performances, but when Queen was onstage, it felt different. You could remember when, almost fifteen years ago, you saw these guys broke, rehearsing and travelling around in a van.

Now they were here, and in a day filled with performances from stars, they shined the brightest.

You don't know if it was all the emotions you felt watching them, but once you finally got home, the sun about to rise - Apollo long asleep - you sat down to prepare a warm bath for the two of you, but you felt something warm running down your legs. Your water broke.

You and Roger ran to the Hospital, and after a few hours, Artemis was born.

She screamed, not cried, once she first looked at you and Roger, almost annoyed - like she was sad she missed the show.

Artemis was a logical name choice - Apollo's twin in greek mythology - but the kid also got her strong will. She looked just like her father, big, round blue eyes and pink, full lips soon learned to express what she desired and complained when things seemed wrong in her perspective.

At the early age of three and with a reduced vocabulary, she convinced the two of you to get the smallest drum set you could find, and she tried to repeat her fathers movements on it, still too small for her tiny kit, but proud of the loud noises she made, hitting it recklessly.

Roger looked at it as if he was seeing a miracle.

The kids were raised primarily in London, but they spent some time in Montreux, when the band was recording, under their father's care, or on tour when you could stay with them - tour made the kids so confused about their whereabouts that it needed a conjoined effort - but now that the band was recording in London with no plans for long periods away, it was going to be interesting.

Apollo was just getting started in school, and soon it would be Artemis turn. They still had no dimension of their fathers - or their "uncles" - importance, but you and Roger talked about this, waiting for the day you'd have to explain your life for the kids, who you were before you were their parents.

You wondered if Apollo would think back on the time he went to dad's work and he was dressed as a woman - he couldn't recognize Roger when he was Rogerina while recording the video for I Want To Break Free until he took his wig off.

It was a better reaction than John's kids had, screaming in fear of the old, scary and tall lady that tried to pick them up.

The latest video recording was incredibly sweet, actually - it was for The Miracle, the single, and the band was going to be interpreted by 11 year olds. The kid that played Freddie was absolutely brilliant, mimicking all of his signature moves.

But it was the kid that played Roger who stole your heart.

As you watched the tiny Rog rehearse, you couldn't help but imagine Artemis hitting her drums - maybe in a few years, she'd be able to actually play something.

You also thought about Apollo, how he'd look like an even younger version of Roger if he was sitting on the stool, bouncing his curls and pouting in concentration.

You really loved the life you lived now, and when you looked back to all the drama that went between you and Roger so you could get here - two happy, fully realized people; and two great parents - you'd do it all again.

You kept thinking about it as the kid rehearsed Roger's part in the song, until you felt a familiar smell fill the air around you, and an arm snaking around your waist.

"Hello, beautiful stranger. Are you lost?", Roger whispered, his husky voice still able to give you chills.

"I am, actually. I can't find my husband, and I came here just to see him before work", you said.

"How did he get so lucky to have you?", he asks, and you turn around to kiss him.

"Actually, I'm his good luck charm", you say, pulling him closer to you.

He was ready for the shoot, so you felt bad when you broke the kiss and realized you transfered part of your lipstick to his lips.

"Shit, your makeup artist is going to kill me", you say, trying to wipe it away.

"It's fine", he says, kissing you again. "So I'm picking Apollo from school today, right?", he confirmed, and you nodded. It would always amaze you how you found your own level of responsibility, of the feared and dreaded domesticity, without losing the passion you had for each other. Taking it slow.

But now, back in the studio, you said goodbye to everyone, and followed Roger to a limo.

You always had your nights out - nights where you'd stay in a fancy hotel room just for the sake of being together in different ambiances. You two learned from your trip to Paris how it makes you more in love with each other, the new place making you fonder of what you know and love - in your case, Roger.

So when he popped open a bottle of champagne while you undressed, and once you were only in your lingerie, Roger took his own shirt off, knowing to pass it to you - a ritual, really.

You both went out, relaxed and comfortable, and enjoyed the view.

The Thames was below you, and you could see the entire city - if you tried, you could point where the bar you first met was, and Kensington Marked, and the first flat you shared. London was a huge part of your story.

"Let's make a toast", Roger said, and you nodded. "To what?", you asked, but you knew the answer.

You've been together for almost twenty years, now, so it's normal for you to know what to expect from Roger. But it doesn't feel boring - it feels like home.

"Us", he says.

-

Taglist: 

@taylorroger-s @sarai-ibn-la-ahad @its-nessi @anamcg317 @frenchieswiftie @queen-danielle-dani-dan @minihemo @shutup-sorry @theyrealllegends @killerqueenisthebest @ashagracelove @hardy-s @fuckinghurricanesoul @secretsweetscollectionblog @mrswinterhater @11mb0 @tamtam-go92 @derptatosaur @brianandthemays @phantom-fangirl-stuff @the-hysterical-queen @rogerofmylife @notevenlxvely @discodeakyy @x1975sos @16wiishes @jennycidesstuff @partydulce @melros-e @onevisionliz

[itsyourjoon]

You groaned as you silenced your 7.55 alarm to get the 5 extra minutes before getting ready for the coffee date with Hoseok and the new kid you’ll be meeting - Jimin apparently. You knew nothing of the him, except that he is suppose to be a good dancer, considering how much Hoseok praises him and is excited to move him to advanced so soon. It’s not common that contemporary dancers know hip-hop so well. You and Hoseok are barely in the intermediate jazz classes after all.

The five minutes pass way too fast for the full 300 seconds that they actually are. But… a second did just pass as that thought went through your sleepy brain.

Getting ready didn’t take much effort, since you prepared the clothes for today before you went to sleep, after Hoseok texted you anyways. It was just a black printed shirt slightly (or a bit more) too big for you, black ripped jeans with fishnets underneath and of course black shoes. You didn’t aim for a spectacular impression anyways so why bother.

At nine, the café where you and Hoseok always go to (I mean no one makes a better frappuccino than the baristas here) wasn’t that overly full anyways, since most students in the campus already had class or if they didn’t, they were actually in the library studying. Wow. Dedication. You noticed Hoseok’s red mop of hair in your usual seats - a table for four, but who cares if two people sit there, the view to the street is really nice from there - and an additional blonde bundle of hair, stuck under a black beanie. You skipped your way over to them and hugged Hobi from behind leaning down to his sitting figure, when you saw he ordered your usual order already. “Thank you bub! I’m so glad you went ahead and ordered it already!” Hoseok didn’t hide his (slightly) cowardly heart and let out a yelp when he felt your arms around his neck. At that the boy in front of him opened his eyes a bit wider when he saw his companion scared but smiled, shaping his eyes into crescents after the scene unfolded infront of him. You finally remembered your manners towards strangers you’re suppose to meet and quickly bowed, apologizing to the blonde stranger infront of you. “Ah I’m so sorry, I didn’t want to be rude! Hi, I’m Y/n! Nice to meet you!” Saying that you sat down on the seat where your order was - next to Hobi and opposite of the new kid. “It’s okay don’t worry I don’t blame you. I’m Jimin by the way. Park Jimin.” He spoke with a bit of formality. Like this was an official meeting discussing science or important business. You ignored it, so you flashed him a warm smile. “So where did you come from Jimin?” You were genuinely curious about him. Others came from other Korean schools but the word in the college hallways had it that he didn’t come from Korea at all. “Oh my birthtown is Busan, but my parents are forced to travel around the world, staying at one town for around 3 months, before moving to the next because of their job, and I have no choice but to follow, so my last pit-stop was China.” Your brain needed a moment to connect his rushed and already memorized answer, so after the hamster in your head started running appropriately you let out a eureka-like ‘oooh!’ “Sounds lame to be honest. Yeah you get to see lots of stuff travelling but not while trying to maintain a stable education.” You took a sip after stating your opinion, praying for an energy boost from it alone. “Don’t worry about that Y/n! He told me he had A’s in maths classes in China, so it probably wasn’t much of a bother! Plus he now has advanced math, so that again shouldn’t be a problem for our Jiminie here too!” Hoseok butted in in the conversation praising the kid. He just offered him a shy smile, blushing a bit before taking a sip too. Meanwhile you just choked on your drink, hearing the last sentence. “Advanced math! Here!? I hope you will survive Ms. Choi’s classes, I heard she’s really strict. No cheating in any way and such.” Jimin just shrugged like it was no big deal and what he said next was something that would never come out of your mouth, talking about math anyways. “Eh, I don’t need to cheat my way to get an A… Math is my forté besides dancing anyways.” You eyes probably couldn’t be opened wider after that. It was like he was an alien. Or a miracle kid. Naahhh… definitely an alien. “Hobi he’s not human I’m scared.” Both guys just laughed at your expression and tone, leaving you confused more than ever. Hoseok was laughing loud enough for people to look at him as if he’s lost it and Jimin to just fling his body around, laughing silently. The boys calmed down and Hobi wiped away an invisible tear, mumbling to himself about aliens and stuff, but you just rolled your eyes and glared at him a bit. “So Y/n how long have you been dancing for?” Jimin asked a normal question you usually get asked. But it still threw you back to when you found your first love. “When I was 3 years old actually. I started at kids ballet but just frailing and bouncing around like that wasn’t that fun for me, so at 6 I took my first hip-hop class and loved how challenging it could get.” Jimin returned you a slightly questioning look. “It got challenging at the age of 6 already? What studio were you at? 'Give a professional choreography to a six year-old’?” It was an innocent joke that was hilarious to you. Even you don’t know how but his voice laced with sarcasm was just so funny. And to him your laugh slowly got lethal. “Oh no not that. My studio was really nice. I actually showed up at intermediate on accident that day but it went well in the end.” Jimin just gazed at you. At this point the conversation was running fluently and it was the same as if Hoseok wasn’t even there. Except that he was. “Oh yeah, you told me about that day. Everyone praised her to accept the challenge of a class, way leveled up for a kid at 6. And even praised her talent at the end of it.” If you looked at him at that moment, you knew he’d look like a proud dad watching his child win a big grand competition. That’s why you didn’t so you just hid your burning cheeks in your palms. “Aghh… stop I wasn’t that good then.” Jimin looked a bit impressed at it and the admiration he already had for you grew even more. “But you grew into what you are today.”

The more all of you talked, the more you got along with Jimin. You clicked. Even if it wasn’t on a really good trusting relationship, you became acquaintances. He was a cute and interesting person. But still reserved. If Hoseok and you got a bit touchy or cracked your inside jokes Jimin pulled on a frown for a bit. He got different vibes from the two of you. But he didn’t say anything. He just let you be. He’d just met you anyways. During class it was Hobi that asked you what you think of Jimin. And you just answered honestly. “I wish I could say for sure. But he seems like a cool kid.” He’s still younger than you anyways. “At least he’ll have 2 friends in advanced now that we both know he’s a good kid.” Hoseok smiled back at you and went back to paying attention. Advanced. So he will come huh.

Social media au (4/?)

YouTube dancer/college student!OC dancer!Hoseok - the rest of the characters coming soon!

Y/n is a hip-hop major with her childhood best friend Hoseok in the same college. People transfer to the school with a lot of other art majors: contemporary dance, music, drawing & painting and many more.

So how hard can it be to be a YouTube dancer?

PREVIOUS - NEXT

Words: 1,321

OOOOKAAAY!! Being in Spain was all fun and all but finally updating is a true relief. Other than my friend no one has ever read my works (let’s leave wattpad out of this. it was a crisis of the century). If anyone asks I am shook from teh BTS LOVE YOURSELF TEAR SINGULARITY video (the danccers are dope and I have an unpopular opinion on taes dancing but won’t say it cause I know others would def hate me ;))) and WRECKED (im looking at you mr. park jimin your lane is somewhere else) from the concept photos. taes piercing is just a sin.

also i am lonely my friends pls come talk to me ;(( 

edit (cuz I’m always in rush even when not needed): i dyed my hair entirely blonde 2 days ago and everyone was shook lol

[thisisamoomoo]

taco night 8/17

the one where sam makes it clear that elliot is a bottom, danly are married and wes and leah are not happy about it, sam and ria finally get it together and angus rips it apart, mer and landon have many emotions, andie and elliot have too many and yet also not enough emotions, and catalina challenges dj’s boarding prowess.

Elliot/Mer: Elliot was still in his tux, albeit a little disheveled, after his uncle's failed wedding. His bride had left him at the alter. But hey it wasn't all bad, Elliot still got his turn at the open bar, and even got to take home a bottle once his uncle was properly shitfaced. He had almost forgotten about Taco night when he opened the door to a completely smoke filled room

Leah/who fkin knows: Leah sat on the floor against the couch, smoking a joint. Why wasn't she on the couch? Who knows. Not Me. "You look like you just went to the shittiest bar mitzvah," She snorted, slapping her knee at the sight of him.

Leah/who fkin knows changed name to Leah/DJ/Angus

Sam - Landone - Daniel maybe (Sam - Landone) joined the chat

Leah/DJ/Angus: Angus stood reading the label on a beer bottle in the kitchen. He knew Leah had only invited him this time at the possibility of some entertaining outburst, so he was acting a little too cool just to annoy her.

ria - andie - wes: Ria looked from the roach that was two centimeters from burning her fingers to find Elliot dressed to the nines. A mocking laugh cracked her usual frown open as she gestured. "Jesus Christ, I was gonna say he looks like he just came back from prom in 2001, but that's good too."

Leah/DJ/Angus: DJ was sitting on the couch trying to figure out where to put his legs.

ria - andie - wes: Andie glanced up, then took a swig from the bottle of vodka she was holding near and dear to her.

Leah/DJ/Angus: "His date didn't want to get laid in the bathroom. This boy is distraught! Tune in next week to see if he cries," Leah dug at Elliot, punctuating with a deep drag.

ria - andie - wes: Ria slapped Leah on the forearm in appreciation of her good, good joke. "This is my favorite show. Seriously."

ria - andie - wes: Andie's legs were sprawled over DJ let's just say that

Elliot/Mer: "Ladies, ladies please you're too much" He walked further into his apartment "Please my egos just gonna explode." He walked over and took the joint from Leah and took a huff before giving it back. " My uncle got left at the alter, I thought you would've seen it on beth's snap story"

Sam - Daniel - Lasmine entered for the first time

Leah/DJ/Angus: DJ was having a crisis about if he should place his hand on Andies leg or keep it awkwardly placed.

Sam - Daniel - Lasmine: Lasmine they kiss

Elliot/Mer changed name to Elliot/Mer/Finland

ria - andie - wes: "What makes you think I look at Beth's snap story?" Ria blurted rudely, laughing at the implication. "I don't even look at yours!"

Leah/DJ/Angus: As is the shock from Ria making any physical contact with her at all wasn't enough, Elliot had the nerve to take the joint from her bare hands. She refused it when he tried to hand it back. "I'm like so fucking good with not having that back. Sorry' bout your uncle. Was she hot?"

Elliot/Mer/Finland: Meredith walked in with Nick who i have the power to play tonight hahahaha, his hand on her lower back. She saw everyone just sitting chilling, and stopped only to grab a drink which she would join. "Hey gang" She said to everyone BUT Sam. She doubted she was still invited after her and Sam's fight but fuck him she still had other friends here.

Sam - Daniel - Lasmine: "Hey"

Leah/DJ/Angus: DJ's eyes darted straight to Mer's boobs, quickly distracting himself with his phone. What on his phone, you ask? House Flip with Chip and Jo.

ria - andie - wes: Wes did that one head nod thing boys do to say hey to Mer

Leah/DJ/Angus: Angus scowled at Mer from the kitchen, making his way back to the group and sipping his beer.

Leah/DJ/Angus: "Who calls their kid Meredith?" Leah pretended to gossip, quickly looking at Mer in feigned shock.

ria - andie - wes: "Who the fuck knows," Ria said, not pretending.

Leah/DJ/Angus: *When I Grow Up plays ominously in the background*

Elliot/Mer/Finland: "Sucks for you." Elliot said taking another hit of Leah's joint. "Not really but he's no prize either. " He winced at that good kush went down. " You don't look at my fucking snap story? But I look at all of yours"His eyes looked pouty and bummed for a second before they drifted up to Andie and they involuntarily lit up before he looked at Dj and raised his eyebrow. Like he was saying an inside joke and a question at the same time.

Elliot/Mer/Finland: Finley walked into behind DANIEL

Sam - Daniel - Lasmine: After finishing a poop, Daniel made his way back to the party and immediately was found by Finley. "Oh, hi," he said with a smile.

Leah/DJ/Angus: In order to play the game at optimum level, DJ resting his arms over Andies legs without thinking. "Who's snap story?" He interjected, having not paid attention at all.

Leah/DJ/Angus: 'whose

Leah/DJ/Angus: wohes'

Elliot/Mer/Finland: elliot silently went to lock the bathroom door so daniel couldnt get in

ria - andie - wes: Ria shrugged, taking a swig from her red solo cup in lieu of explaining herself.

Elliot/Mer/Finland: "Hey" Finley blurted, way too excited to see him, after only being in the strange apt for like 4 seconds and already feeling crippling social anxiety kick in. She went to kiss him but stopped, it was so public and she wasn't sure who he had told, or who knew at this point

ria - andie - wes: Andie got caught in Elliot's eye contact for a moment before taking another swig, then pulling one of her legs towards herself.

ria - andie - wes: Wes did the head nod to Danny Boi too

Leah/DJ/Angus: With nothing to occupy her hands, Leah struggled off the floor using Ria's shoulder as a help and went tf to get a bottle from the kitchen. Girl, didn't even notice Finley was there.

Elliot/Mer/Finland: Meredith looked at Leah and Ria "Assholes that's who" She left Nicks side and walked closer to them, doing her best to sit down but her outfit was more appealing than functional and she was scared her tits would fall out. " How ya doing, sluts"

Sam - Daniel - Lasmine: "You sure you wanna be here tonight? I know this isn't really your thing," he asked her with a smile, grabbing a hold of her hand. He had only went because he thought tonight might be the night that he told Wes the truth about Finley and his relationshit

ria - andie - wes: relationshit same

Leah/DJ/Angus: "Slut shaming? In this Safe Space?" Leah called from the kitchen to Mer, returning with a half full bottle of JD and a handful of Cheetos to take her seat back on the floor.

ria - andie - wes: It's More Likely Than You Think!

Elliot/Mer/Finland: Elliot got a weird feeling from Andies actions but didn't say anything instead he just smiled a half smile, at least just happy she came before going to find Sam

ria - andie - wes: Ria took a quick look around while Leah was gone, then gestured to herself as if to ask if she was the slut. "I'm great."

ria - andie - wes: Andie took another drink

Elliot/Mer/Finland: "Can't slut shame if you're the biggest slut, disqualifies me. RIGHT SAMMIE?" She yelled into the party wherever the fuck that asshole was

Leah/DJ/Angus: Angus sat in the armchair, sipping his beer and honestly just observing.

Elliot/Mer/Finland: elliot texted andie like u good like a while later ya know so its not creepy

Sam - Daniel - Lasmine: Sam couldn't help but roll his eyes and scoff at Mer's comment, taking a rip from his joint. "If the shoe fits, put it on and wear it," he said loud enough for her to hear.

ria - andie - wes: Ria quirked an eyebrow at the mention of Samuel, letting out a laugh.

ria - andie - wes: andie texts a thumbs up emoji back

Leah/DJ/Angus: DJ hadn't got an answer to his question, so he just accepted that fate for the night and sat cross legged when Mer when to sit down.

Elliot/Mer/Finland: Finley squeeze'd Daniel's hand back. "No I'm fine really." She picked up a random alcoholic drink and took a sip like see im fine super chill. "And if you're actually gonna tell Wes I should probs be here"

Elliot/Mer/Finland: "Dude did Big Boobs just call you the biggest slut?" Elliot asked, the high kicking in, and reply to andie with a simple liar all at once

Leah/DJ/Angus: Leah looked around the group, trying to figure out where the conversation was going and if it was worth speaking.

Leah/DJ/Angus: Angus laughed for the first time all day at Mer inferring that to Samuel.

Sam - Daniel - Lasmine: He nodded at her remark, his mind clearly somewhere else. At the mention of Wes, Daniel couldn't help but attempt to change the subject. "Have you tried the tacos? I thought the tacos were lovely... much better than last time," he said.

Sam - Daniel - Lasmine joined the chat

Elliot/Mer/Finland: Catalina walked in, a big ziploc bag in hand to take as many as possible. She saw DJ in the distance and the girl on him and chortled to herself before texting "is that girl on you dead? like fr?"

Sam - Daniel - Lasmine: "I'm a proud slut, El. To defend myself, I never said being a slut was a bad thing. She just pissed me off," Sam defended.

Sam - Daniel - Lasmine: Landon punch

Elliot/Mer/Finland: "Awe what she do Baby?" Elliot asked squeezing his shoulder

ria - andie - wes: andie text: "??"

Sam - Daniel - Lasmine: "Don't worry about it," Sam said quietly. He was afraid to admit the truth.

Leah/DJ/Angus: DJ eyed Catalina as she walked in, immediately reading her message and struggling not to laugh out before texting back a couple of skull emojis. Putting his phone down next to him and leaning back with his arm across the back of the couch with a grin on his face. There were too many ladies around not to smile.

Elliot/Mer/Finland: Mer grumbled under her breath and got up, a hand on her boobs so she wouldnt show a nip. "Lets hope you're a top, Elliot." Mer called out before grabbing another cup and walking out towards Landoi

Elliot/Mer/Finland: Catalina looked at her phone midway through filling up her taco bag. "What are the odds you check her pulse"

Leah/DJ/Angus: "If I hear someone say slut again, I'm gonna hulk flip this coffee table," Leah chuckled to herself, sipping from the bottle. She wasn't actually going to, but the conversation wasn't entertaining her.

ria - andie - wes: "Slut," Ria muttered, hoping for a show.

Elliot/Mer/Finland: "Didn't they make you really sick last time?" Finley mouth downturned into a frown, and then she sipped her drink. "You should go talk to him, really."

Leah/DJ/Angus: Leah gave Ria a glare, pretending for just a minute like she was going to kick the table right at Elliot with her foot. "Is this what you want?"

ria - andie - wes: "Wait," Ria said, picking up her product and her cup from the table. "Ok. Yeah."

Leah/DJ/Angus: DJ took Mer moving as his opportunity to get up from the couch, no mind paid to anyone in the way because he was busy replying to Catalinas message. "Her legs were cold to the touch." Silently, he moved to get his own taco next to her without actually saying anything.

Leah/DJ/Angus: Leah was really gonna do it, but she didn't wanna pay for a new coffee table. With the look she spotted on Sam's face, she knew that drama wasn't even needed.

Elliot/Mer/Finland: Catalina looked up at Dj and her face involuntarily twitched into a smile. "I wanted a pulse check, or a mirror under nose sorta thing. " She shoved another taco into her bag, lunch a dinner for like a week. She looked over at that party and pointed at Sam. "That white boys bouta go off, hes got that school shooter look in his eyes." She said calmly

Sam - Daniel - Lasmine: Sam felt angry by Mer's comment. Not only did she bring up his dick, which was perfectly average, but she also implied that Elliot would be a top in their metaphorical gay relationship. "Hold my joint," Sam said, handing off his joint to Elliot and standing up quickly. After clearing his throat, Sam started off on a rant that he wasn't sure he was capable of. "You know what, Meredith? Fuck you! You like to comment on a guy's body and make him insecure, but the second someone implies you sleep with the whole town -- which is the truth, by the way? How many people here have you fucked anyway? Not that I ever said it was a bad thing, but if you can't take the heat, maybe don't talk shit about someone. You were an average lay anyway, so I'm not really missing out on much. Good luck barely satisfying the next guy and getting off on having incredible tits. OH! AND YOU WANNA SAY THAT ELLIOT BETTER BE A TOP? LOOK AT HIM. Elliot is clearly and bottom and EVERYONE KNOWS IT! I can't believe you're that dumb to imply that Elliot would be anything other than a twinky bottom if we were an actual gay couple! This is MY apartment and you can either shut your mouth and leave," Sam ranted, grabbing a throw pillow from the couch and throwing it at Meredith. "Elliot, a fucking top.... what a dumb bitch," he fell back down on the couch and took a deep breath.

ria - andie - wes: Ria: the face andy cohen makes at the end of that THATS MY OPINION vine

ria - andie - wes: In a room of otherwise silence, Andie let out one low chuckle. "True."

Leah/DJ/Angus: Leah had never been so shook. This was The Best Night.

Sam - Daniel - Lasmine: Daniel grabbed Finley protectively.

Sam - Daniel - Lasmine: Landon punched

Elliot/Mer/Finland: Mer who had not left yet taksies backsies she still there stood in a stunned silence. "Alrighty then. " Meredith said and walked out, straight out of the apartment complex to the outside where she stood against a wall and lit her joint, and tried to ignore the fact that tear were stinging at her eyes.

ria - andie - wes: Wes grabbed a taco and headed out to see if he could bum a few puffs from Meredith

Elliot/Mer/Finland: Elliot looked at Sam in stunned silence and only could talk again when Andie piped up "What the fuck?" he asked in a breathy voice

Leah/DJ/Angus: Angus wondered how he'd ended up here in this place with these people. Sam ranting immediately making him feel livid, the sound of his voice just pissing him off. "What a dick," He whispered under his breath as he stood up and took a few steps towards the fridge.

ria - andie - wes: Andie shrugged. "What? Everyone knows it."

Elliot/Mer/Finland: Mer saw someone coming and blinked profusely until the tears went away. As soon as she could make out the features in the dark to be Wes she held out the joint without a word

Leah/DJ/Angus: DJ watched on in shock, lowkey pissed off that this other white boy had taken the sliver of attention he was getting. "Is he really fighting about who would be...? Wow."

Elliot/Mer/Finland: "Really?" Elliot asked looking around from face to face

ria - andie - wes: Ria eyed Angus, deciding it wasn't worth it to say anything in Sam's defense. At least not within either Angus or Sam's earshot.

Sam - Daniel - Lasmine: Landon stopped acting like a caveman and knew instantly that he had to find Mer and make sure she was alright. He let out a sigh of relief when he saw her just outside the door. "Hey, you doing okay?" He asked, approaching Mer and giving Wes a nod of hello when he noticed him.

ria - andie - wes: "I mean, I can confirm," Andie took a swig.

ria - andie - wes: Wes took the joint, took a hit, eyed Landon and held the joint out to him.

Leah/DJ/Angus: Leah could not move. Just staring at Samuel like a car crash. "Amazing."

ria - andie - wes: me too leah

Elliot/Mer/Finland: "Yeah I know, they're obviously both bottoms. "Catalina replied sucking her teeth

Elliot/Mer/Finland: Mer shook her head at Wes. "He wont want any just take it enjoy you're party, now 50% less skanky." She let out a laugh that sounded real

Leah/DJ/Angus: It took a couple seconds for that joke to make sense for DJ, but he preemptively laughed anyway. "So... tacos, right?" He moved on.

Elliot/Mer/Finland: Elliot wanted to defend himself or make a witty comment or something but instead he just opened his mouth like an idiot, then closed it and nodded.

ria - andie - wes: "Hey, listen, you've never fucked me, so," Wes said, giving a quick pout that turned quickly into a half smile, cheersing his joint before heading back in.

ria - andie - wes: Andie went back to seeming only vaguely aware of her surroundings

Elliot/Mer/Finland: "Finally, maybe you should tell Sam it's not the whole town!" She yelled at him before turning back to face Landon. "I"m fine." She answered with a half smile. " I'm assuming you heard all that."

ria - andie - wes: "I will," Wes called, truly having every intention to do so

Leah/DJ/Angus: Leah, recovering from the shook, took a couple swigs from the bottle before placing it on the table so she could get up again. The most exercise she'd done all week. "Dude, taco night started out with good intentions and now we're here."

ria - andie - wes: Wes walked back through the door, calling to Sam from across the room. "Hey, you know, Mer's never fucked me? I'm pretty offended that you think it's the whole town since I've never gotten it in."

Elliot/Mer/Finland: "Yep" Catalina said zipping up the bag of tacos. "You're dead girl moved. Guess she wasn't /that/ kinda cold"

ria - andie - wes: Ria nodded vacantly, then shook her head instead. "We should've never started inviting people"

Elliot/Mer/Finland: Elliot under his breath mumbled that he too, had not fucked Mer.

Leah/DJ/Angus: Angus gripped the fridge handle so hard that it almost came off as he grabbed a beer that definitely didn't belong to him. Passive aggression? Who knew.

Sam - Daniel - Lasmine: "I heard all of it, but it's okay.. I always knew he was just an asshole," Landon said with a sweet smile, examining her face and noticing the sadness in her eyes. If he were more aggressive, he'd have punched Sam out.

Sam - Daniel - Lasmine: Sam stood back up and burst into a sarcastic clapping fest. "Wow. It appears I was wrong. Thanks for letting me know, guys!" Sam rolled his eyes and headed off into his room, leaving his door open though because he half wanted the attention of someone following him.

Leah/DJ/Angus: "You against taking her place?" DJ tried to be some kind of smooth, but he managed to drop his phone on the counter.

ria - andie - wes: Wes shrugged, then headed over to Daniel to see what was goin' on over there.

Sam - Daniel - Lasmine: Daniel started to feel himself getting a little bit drunk and liquid courage set in. "I'm gonna do it," Daniel said out loud, though nobody knew what he was talking about except Finley.

ria - andie - wes: "Alright buddy," Wes nodded, full support

Elliot/Mer/Finland: Mer made eyecontact only briefly until her eyes stung again and she lowered her head. "Hes not wrong and he's not the first person to bring it up." She sighed. She wished she hadn't given her joint away but if she cried in front of Daniel the embarrasement would have been too great. "I just...God dammit." She half yelled at the sky. "I just want to feel something, you know?" She rubbed her forehead. "No you probably don't. I'm sorry. You should probably just leave." A tear leaked out of her eye and rolled down her cheek.

Leah/DJ/Angus: "Dude," Leah leant back against the arm of the couch looking down at Ria, "You should go talk to him." Immediately, Leah laughed. Obviously trying to instigate something that she knew would be obvious to Ria.

Elliot/Mer/Finland: Elliot heard Daniel and panic rushed through him. " SAM THE BATHROOMS" HE YELLED

Leah/DJ/Angus: Angus evaporated

Elliot/Mer/Finland: Elliot walked over to Andie and said "It's not Beth but it's still pretty dramatic." He said looking down at her with mischeif on his FACE

Sam - Daniel - Lasmine: "Thanks, man. I actually... wanted to talk to you about something. Alone," he emphasized, knowing it sounded even more intense that way.

Sam - Daniel - Lasmine: Daniel ^

ria - andie - wes: Ria gave Leah such a look, but she also was pretty buzzed and kind of glad someone had given her a reason to. She got up as if to stretch her legs, avoiding Leah's gaze, and wandered back to Sam's room, hoping she didn't look like she'd gone there on purpose. When she finally got there, she crossed her arms and leant against the doorframe. "So how does a relationship with two bottoms actually work?"

Leah/DJ/Angus joined the chat

Elliot/Mer/Finland: "As...you're dead girl?" Catalina looked up asking her God if this white boy was serious

ria - andie - wes: Andie looked up at Elliot blankly, nodding once and swallowing hard. "She'd be pretty pissed to find herself outdone."

Leah/DJ/Angus: Left by herself, Leah took the point she'd been saving in her pocket and lit up right there. Finally free for a moment of lowkey peace.

Sam - Daniel - Lasmine: "I don't care what anyone has to say about you. You're a good person and you have nothing to be ashamed of." Landon moved so that he was in front of Mer, lifting her chin up so that her eyes were facing his before wiping her tears softly. "Of course I understand. Sometimes I don't feel anything and I feel myself wanting to find a way to feel something, no matter how bad it is." Landon felt a lump in his throat, but he pushed it back. "He is wrong, you know? You're not defined by your mistakes."

ria - andie - wes: Wes blinked, then gave him a 'oh really' kinda look. "Damn, are we gonna fuck? All this bottom talk got you goin', huh?"

Leah/DJ/Angus: DJ furrowed his brow, "Um, I- Uh, not exactly what I meant." He shook his head, regretting his wording and sure he'd made a fool of himself. It read openly all over his face while he distracted himself fiddling with a spare tortilla.

Leah/DJ/Angus changed name to Leah - DJ

Elliot/Mer/Finland: "She crashed my grandmas RV just to prove a point, she can't be topped." Elliot said like he had been to war. He held his hand down to help her up.

Sam - Daniel - Lasmine: Sam had his face buried in his pillow and though he had hoped someone would come, he wasn't totally convinced that anyone would. He was completely hated, right? After a few minutes, he heard a familiar voice - the one voice he wanted to hear the most. Sam slowly lifted his head and faced Ria, "But Elliot has a nicer butt than me. I literally couldn't be a bottom," he explained, sitting up and giving a painful smile.

ria - andie - wes: "What will she do next?" Andie said, glancing at his hand but not reaching for it. "Where you going?"

ria - andie - wes: "You can do anything you set your mind to," Ria shrugged, glancing around his room rather than at Sam himself. "With a little lube."

Sam - Daniel - Lasmine: "Dude, we're both tops, I think. It would be a mess if we actually fucked, but yeah.... it totally got me going." Daniel laughed for a moment, slowly walking in a direction towards one of the empty rooms, guiding Wes. "It's nothing major. I just don't feel like announcing it to everyone yet.. it's about Finley and I," he said after he closed the door behind him.

Leah - DJ: Angus straight up bounced with someones beer because he only turned up to fuck with Sam but he couldn't do that if he was crying in his bedroom.

ria - andie - wes: "There'd be shit everywhere," Wes laughed, shakign his head at the actual thought of it. "Whats up? Y'all lookin' for a double penetration type deal?"

Elliot/Mer/Finland: Meredith wanted to kiss him, she wanted to rock onto her tip toes and kiss him. And she was sure he'd let her. But she stayed where she was, she had already fucked herself up enough did she really need to keep doing it to this poor boy. She remembered the camping trip and then ignoring him afterwards and felt sick. "I have a lot to be ashamed of, I think I and everyone in that party but you know it." She smirked sadly. "Then what am I defined by? My awful movies?My failed marriage? My incredible boobs that are apparently just floating me through life?"

Elliot/Mer/Finland: Elliot pulled his hand back and wiped it on his jeans, acting like it wasn't there to help her up at all, like the sting of rejection didn't make him want to text that girl and update her that he was only one rejection away from a yes. He walked over towards Sams room but saw it was preoccupied, he turned around and made an oh shit face at Andie. "I guess not in there." He laughed a high laugh.

Sam - Daniel - Lasmine: "That's the last thing we want. I already fucked up the plumbing in this apartment, I don't want to make an even bigger mess. I might get evicted." Daniel chuckled, growing more nervous as he realized what he was about to say. "DP? I haven't convinced her of it yet, but I'll keep you updated. It's actually about the state of our, uh, relationship. There's been some changing."

ria - andie - wes: "Beth's not here, Sam can handle himself. You're off the clock," Andie droned, falling back into the cushions of the couch. Was she being cold? Er-- colder than usual? She coudln't tell.

Sam - Daniel - Lasmine: "You do realize I don't actually want to have gay sex with Elliot, right? I feel the need to clear that up," Sam chuckled softly and gave her a slight smile. "Did I kill the party?"

ria - andie - wes: "I'm surprised they even let you back in here, dude. But shit happens, you know," Wes said, chuckling at himself. "Damn, did you guys break up or something? I'm sorry dude."

Elliot/Mer/Finland: "That tortillas not your phone it doesnt usually get anyone out of awkward situations." She smiled at him without meaning to, his /weirdness/ had come back around to being semi endearing.

Elliot/Mer/Finland: ^catalina'

Elliot/Mer/Finland: Elliot sat down, held up his index finger like he meant wait, downed the closest drink in one gulp and then said "What crawled up your ass and died?"

ria - andie - wes: "You can say that all you want, but..." Ria trailed off, giving a small smirk. "You're no Beth, no matter how much you want to be. Party's still full swing. Mer left, though. You drove the STD count down, at least."

Sam - Daniel - Lasmine: Landon knew that the sex was probably just a drunken move on both their parts, but he couldn't help but remember the way he looked into her eyes during and how much he knew that he loved her. It was the same way he looked at her now and the same way he knew he always would, no matter how hard he tried to move on. "Everyone has done stuff they aren't exactly proud of, but mistakes are what morph you into the person you're going to be. Meredith, you've only become better since I've known you and you'll continue to do so.. mistakes and all." There was truly nothing Meredith could do that would change how he felt. "You are fun loving and upbeat. You are funnier than you realize and you're a strong, beautiful woman.. inside and out. You're defined by things like that."

ria - andie - wes: Andie literally became that white dude blinking gif for a second. She couldn't remember the last time he'd said anything like that directed at her. Something way down deep in her cold dead heart stung, but she couldn't do much besides break eye contact and take a swig. "Jesus. Back atcha."

Leah - DJ: Catalina calling him out was Too Real, another second spent coming to terms with how truthful it was before he cracked a smile. "This is an awkward situation? I read this all so wrong," He tried to joke, taking his hand away from the food and leaning back against the counter.

Elliot/Mer/Finland: "Why are you acting so weird--is it the suit, cause I really only rented it for the night so it'll probably be gone tomorrow, I know, I look like a jackass. But you've been weird all night and while we're on the subject for a fucking while now too." Elliot tried to look at her but kept having to stare at the curtainsbehind her or some shit so he wouldn't get carried away or do some dumb shit.

Sam - Daniel - Lasmine: "It's because they both know that I could kick their ass, man. It was the Taco's fault." Daniel was bro-ing out pretty hard with Wes, so much that he felt uncomfortable with how unsmooth his transition into serious talk was. "No, man. We are better than ever. I uh, I don't know how to say it, so I'm just going to go right at it. Finley and I actually got married."

Sam - Daniel - Lasmine: "You're not convinced? Most people aren't, so I can't exactly be upset with you for that." Sam laughed slightly. "I feel like I'm learning, though. I'll always be a step behind her crazy shit, but I'm definitely getting better at it." Sam shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know why the fuck she was here to begin with. She clearly had something up her ass from a text I made the other day and decided to start shit in my apartment."

Elliot/Mer/Finland: Meredith stepped back from him and wiped her own eyes with the back of her hand, probably smearing her makeup in the process. She cursed under her breath and shook her head. Knowing this was all too much for her, too much kindness she hadn't deserved. "I'm an alcoholic and a skank and I think the sooner you figure that out the better off you'll be.You see or hear anyone else go to defend my honor, Landon? It's cause I have none." her voice turned steely as she tried to make space between them, literally and figuratively. It was better than kissing him again. "I came here with Nick tonight. To have sex with him in Sam's bed. Because I'm the actual worst, do you not get that." Her voice was breaking but still bitter, mostly at herself. "How can you not see that?" She asked angry tears streaming fast down her face.

Leah - DJ: Leah narrowed her eyes as she listened in on Elliot and Andies conversation. Whether she was sleeping between them or eavesdropping on purpose, it was always a good dose of something. Right now though, it was too weird for even her to listen to. "Y'all are fucked," She exhaled with a cloud of smoke, getting up to her feet. "Just chill, damn," With confusion in her voice, Leah turned on her heels and starting walking away to check her makeup in the bathroom.

Elliot/Mer/Finland: "Me too apparently." Catalina smiled and swirled a drink in her hands. "When you said there were tacos at this party I though, damn tacos, and you thought damn I can murder this girl now." She cracked her self up, chewin on the edge of the cup.

Leah - DJ: "That was definitely my plan. Was it really that obvious?" DJ tried to play cool, wondering to himself if it was actually as funny of a reply as he thought. Unable to tell if the drinking he'd been doing was helping or hindering him in the conversation. "You got me."

ria - andie - wes: "I haven't been weird," Andie said defensively, though it came out monotone. Leah was right, they were fucked. Well, Andie was fucked, Elliot was just along for the ride for some reason. And she had to get him off it. "I'm always like this. I don't know what you're talking about."

ria - andie - wes: Wes' world imploded at that one single word. A million thoughts rushed in and out of his head while his face went through every emotion before he finally settled on a passionate "Why?"

Elliot/Mer/Finland: "Well nows your chance" She pulled out the cutlery drawer turned around and said " Have at it I was an 8am tomorrow."

Elliot/Mer/Finland: finley felt the earth shift and her eyes widened, she texted stella

Elliot/Mer/Finland: (catalina is that first 1)

Sam - Daniel - Lasmine: Landon's face remained unconvinced, he shook his head at a few of her character flaws because he truly didn't see it the same way he did. "You're not perfect and neither am I. Nobody is, Meredith. People are self absorbed and don't want to handle anything serious because they'd much rather get drunk and forget about their problems. That doesn't mean that nobody cares!" He defended, his face dropping when he noticed just how aggressive she was being about it. When her final words left her mouth, Landon couldn't help but feel like he had been stabbed in the chest. Landon looked down at his feet and swallowed back another lump forming in his throat, avoiding eye contact with her so that he didn't completely lose it. "I don't care who you planned on sleeping with. I knew I didn't have a chance with you. You don't have to hurt me just because you want to push me away, Mer. I care about you and nothing is going to change that," he finally decided.

ria - andie - wes: "All these girls you're fucking seem to be pretty pissed at you," Ria said, very cool and non-jealous-ly. For real. "So maybe there's a common theme here?"

Sam - Daniel - Lasmine: Daniel felt his stomach form into knots as Wes reacted to the news, knowing full well that he wasn't taking it very well. "I don't know, Wes. I just.. love her, man. Sure, it was a very sudden decision, but this doesn't change anything."

Leah - DJ: Dave just laughed, adjusting the collar of his undone button up. God, he could not tell if she was being serious. He just smiled like an actual idiot and tried not to return to his tortilla. "That mean you won't stay for a drink then?"

Elliot/Mer/Finland: Elliot looked at Andie as she was right, if she denied it enough there was nothing he could do. There was no bright warning signs that something was wrong or things he could point to as evidence he just felt it. "I know you're like all distant and shit all the time. I know. I've been through it before but like..." He trailed of with a sigh. Panic silently coursing through him. "Andie, Andrea, dude-io, whats wrong?"

ria - andie - wes: "Dude, it changes everything. I--" Wes went quiet again as his brain exploded for the second time. "I mean, can you get it annulled? Have you guys boned yet?"

Leah - DJ: Leah looked absolutely no different when she came back from the bathroom despite attempting to fix her makeup, pulling out her phone to snapchat a picture of Wes looking kinda stressed from the other side of the room to Stella.

Sam - Daniel - Lasmine: "I guess you have a point. At a certain point, maybe I'm to blame." Sam replied, though he was aware of it all along. "You think I could become a good priest? It would be a transition, but maybe it's just what I need." Or maybe I need you, he thought, but he definitely didn't say out loud lol

Leah - DJ: VOMITS

Leah - DJ: (thats me)

Sam - Daniel - Lasmine: "How exactly does it change anything at all? It's just title given to two people that love each other. I'm still Daniel and you're still Wes -- I'll even continue to be your wingman when needed," Daniel tried to soothe his wounds. "Why would I get it annuled? And yes, Wes, we've boned."

ria - andie - wes: "Aside from our imminent death on this rock hurtling through space, nothing. Same as always," she lied through her teeth, and she knew he could tell. "I'll call you when I get over it, I guess."

ria - andie - wes: stella: living for the drama and plotting wes' death

Leah - DJ: Spotting Finley, Leah snapped a photo of Finley to Finley that said nothing except "shots?"

ria - andie - wes: also stella: very hurt she wasn't invited to taco nite. again.

Elliot/Mer/Finland: Meredith's heart broke for him. She felt hollow, like usual, but this was a bigger more consuming hollow like after the non-wedding. She looked at him for a hot minute before her face completely crumbled. She let out a strangled noise and slid down the apartment wall and put her head between her knees and let it all out.

Elliot/Mer/Finland: Finley looked at her phone then looked up for Leah like ???

Elliot/Mer/Finland: "I mean as long as you kill me before work tomorrow why should I care." Catalina turned back around with a shrug. "Wheres the drinks?" She asked, even though there was a liquor, everywhere.

Leah - DJ: Seeing Finley looking around prompted Leah to stroll over, "When the shit did you get here, bitch?" Bitch and Finley didn't really go hand in hand, but Leah was on 2 and it just felt right. "Do a shot with me."

ria - andie - wes: "I don't think the church takes stoners or assholes, and you're both," Ria said with a chuckle, surprising herself with how friendly her tone had turned. "Maybe you just need to stop boning crybabies."

Leah - DJ: DJ laughed maybe a little too hard, mentally reminding himself to take it down a notch. Biting back his smile just a little more than he had been like he still had a chance of playing it cool. "Well, uh, what do you drink? I can find you something."

Elliot/Mer/Finland: "You'd be awful at poker." Elliot smiled in voluntarily at her, like he was charmed by her lying the fucking LOSER. Elliot played with the buttons on the cuffs of his suit jacket, feeling more out of place than he had before. " Did I do something? Did you do som--dID YOU KILL THE CAT?" He asked his eyes shooting open

Elliot/Mer/Finland: "I uh-- came with Daniel a bit earlier he had to talk to him about--" She was cut off by the idea of not telling Leah. "Shots sounds great." Finley actually didnt they they sounded great but oh well

Leah - DJ: "I didn't even see you, what the fuck?" Before Finley had even agreed, Leah had started walking toward the bottle of vodka closest. Not her first choice, but laziness was a cruel mistress. Pour it up, pour it up, she repeated in her head as she poured them out and shoved one towards Finley. "Talk to who about what? Man, I cut you off. How rude, yo."

Sam - Daniel - Lasmine: Landon instantly felt a disgusting feeling in his stomach when he heard the noise that left Mer's mouth and watched her slide down the wall. The last thing Landon wanted to see was her in this much pain. "Mer, please," Landon said, kneeling down beside her and doing his best to comfort her, his arm running gently up and down her back. "Please don't cry. I hate seeing you like this. You don't deserve this," Landon said frantically, feeling panicky as he couldn't fix how she was feeling.

ria - andie - wes: Andie's mouth dropped, forgetting her aloof game for a moment to be fully fucking offended. "What? Of course fucking not! Do you really think I want that for her?"

Sam - Daniel - Lasmine: "You don't think people can change? If I wanted to, I could become the bombest priest of all time," Sam was almost offended but he started to chuckle at the ridiculous idea of him actually working in a church. "I guess you got a point. I have to find a tough ass girl to start boning. Know anyone?" Sam asked, giving her a wink.

Elliot/Mer/Finland: "I was talking to that Nick guy he's really nice." Fin tried to explain away her literally hiding. " It's okay." She said and picked the shot up and made Leah cheers it and drink this vodka straight down the hatch before she said "To talk to Wes about me and Daniel being married." She said super quickly after her shot

Elliot/Mer/Finland: "Is there an extensive collection at this taco party?" Catalina looked around at all the shitfaced people. "Whatever you can make something in me doubts your a bartender."

Elliot/Mer/Finland: "But I do" Meredith's drunk ass wailed. She tried not to lean into Landon tried to stay rigid but as she cried she felt the weight of him on her side and she gave into it, putting her head on her chest, her crying turning more into stray tears and sniffles. She felt ridiculous and stupid but she didn't dare say it out loud, instead she just listened to the crickets outside chirp and felt the smooth rhytmic pattern of her back being rubbed.

ria - andie - wes: "Yeah, but you don't want to," she said, giving an eye roll despite the smirk that could almost be described as a real smile on her face. She propelled herself from the door frame finally, opting to roam his room. She inspected the Pink Floyd poster haphazardly stuck to his wall, turning to ream him for it just in time to see his wink. Jesus. Fuck. "I might, the question is whether you can actually handle someone like that. You can't go from the softies to toughies without getting a little hurt."

Leah - DJ: Most of what Finley said flew in one ear and out the other before Leah took her shot. How she managed to actually catch the last part was a miracle? Leah almost spat the last of the vodka in her mouth all over the other girl. "I'm sorry, what?" She asked, even though she had heard perfectly fine. Jumping in again before she'd even given FInley a chance to speak. "Am I really fucked up or did you just say that? Like, for real, for real? Not rad."

Elliot/Mer/Finland: "No!" He responded immediately. "I just--I don't know." He sighed. "Obviously my cat is in good hands with you thats not what I meant I just--" He tried to form any sentence that made sense. "I just don't get whats up with you then." His voice turned almost hopeless.

Elliot/Mer/Finland: Finley chewed on her bottom lip "No like for real." She felt like she was turning in a bad reportcard to her parents

ria - andie - wes: "You're married, dude. She's gonna expect so much from you now! This is like, the ultimate fuckup! What am I supposed to do now? Who is gonna be my wingman? Who am I gonna get to be a wingman for? Dude, Daniel, this is like....I don't even know what to say...." Wes started hyperventilating. "How could you do this to me?"

Sam - Daniel - Lasmine: "I wish I could take the pain away from you, but I can't. You don't know how special you are to this world and maybe you don't see it, but I do," he nearly whispered, holding her close to his chest and letting her let her get it out of her system. "I'm really sorry, Mer."

ria - andie - wes: "Nothing's up with me," she insisted one last time with what was truly the last of her energy. "You're just looking for something to make your life interesting tonight."

ria - andie - wes: that was andie and im fucking sorry

Leah - DJ: "There's plenty to go around, I'll put it that way," Dave reached past her on the counter to grab a cup for himself while he looked around for something to make, "I can make you a mean vodka and sprite?"

Sam - Daniel - Lasmine: "You're totally right. I wanna work at Starbucks forever. I'm so close to heard barista and that's where I need to be," Sam replied with a laugh, sarcasm dripping from his voice. His eyes followed her as she made her way around his room, entranced by her every movement. Damn, was it sexual tension he was feeling or was he always just horny for the Ria? "Who doesn't like a little bit of pain? Besides, what I'm doing now isn't working for me. I want to quit the crybabies cold turkey and experience something a little different."

Elliot/Mer/Finland: "I'm sorry." Meredith parroted Landon although she knew she had so much more to apologize for. She couldn't fathom why he would stay, why he has stayed up to this point. She couldn't imagine giving that much of a shit about anyone so she just repeated "I'm sorry" Again and again for all the things she'd done and all the things she felt she could never be.

Elliot/Mer/Finland: Elliot felt like he had been hit in the head with a frying pan. He knew he should probably stay and press on, he had dealt with a lot other of her self distancing bullshit but the wound stung too deep. "Alright." He said simply and got up from the couch, not looking back for her and he headed to his room and shut the door behind him, resisting his urge to slam it.

Leah - DJ: Leah immediately understood the stress on Wes's face and regretted exposing that to Stella, pouring herself another shot as she took in the information for herself. "Um, so basically," She paused to down the shot, wiping her mouth on her wrist, "Fuck me, right?" Leah sounded exasperated. "You didn't even, both of you guys were just like, oh yeah, let's just not tell them. Could've at least text me, shit." Pissed off herself more because she hadn't been able to see the mess it probably was, Leah looked back over at Wes before shaking her head. "That's so fucking shady, Fins."

Sam - Daniel - Lasmine: "She expects me to be myself, but like... sleep with her at night and help with the dishes. Really, not much has changed so far. I can still be your wingman.. I just can't, you know, do anything with other girls. I'll still let every hot girl know how awesome you are." Daniel knew that no matter how hard he tried, this was a form of betrayal to Wes and it wasn't going to be an easy transition for him. "Relax, man. I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to upset you this much. I really do love her, man. It just seemed right."

ria - andie - wes: "Live your dream," Ria echoed his tone, but with the mood shift, suddenly feeling both incredibly exposed and powerful where she stood. Usually she was all for being blunt and to the point, but she found herself mulling over her options even though she knew exactly which one she wanted to go with. She had to take into account where they were, who was outside, and who Samuel was. Didn't she? "I guess the only way to know if you can handle it is to try it out, hm?"

Elliot/Mer/Finland: Finley figured it was a bad idea to tell her that Stella had already known and was at the wedding. "You were on the camping trip." She said realizing it was a shitty excuse. "We just did it I was gonna tell you when you got back but I knew you were going to be mad and I haven't seen you in forever."

ria - andie - wes: Andie stared at the place where Elliot had been for a long time, doing her best to quiet the noise in her head. It was for the best. Better than explaining the truth, anyway. The dull ache in her stomach would go away with some alcohol and some sleep. No biggie.

Elliot/Mer/Finland: "Ooo classy." Catalina jumped up onto the counter. "Whats in that one again?" She asked rhetorically. "Question:Do you usually come to these things slash is it usually this dramatic. I feel like Ive seen 6 Taylor Swift songs play out tonight."

Sam - Daniel - Lasmine: "You don't have to be sorry. I just want you to be alright," Landon replied softly, kissing the top of her head. "Is there anything I can do to make you feel better?"

Leah - DJ: Leah's expression was completely flat, trying to decided whether she actually cared enough in this moment to be directly mad. She didn't really. The only thing that she was really clinging to was how shitty it was of Daniel not to tell Wes. Why was she thinking that? She didn't have a damn clue, as per usual. "Did he really just not fucking tell him? I ain't even mad, like do what you want, but fuck, Fin. It's so trippy that it's me telling you that was a fucked up thing to do."

ria - andie - wes: "You can do other stuff with girls, Daniel. It's just a piece of paper. But when she finds out what you've been doing, it won't be as cool! You'd have to like, deal with the government! Holy shit! The government is involved in your shit now!" Wes pushed past him, running into the first room available, which happened to be Elliot's

Elliot/Mer/Finland: Mer sat up and wiped her tear stained eyes and looked straight forward."I'll be alright." her voice was croaky and the tears had almost completely stopped. "I'm sorry I slept with you. Not because it was bad or anything It just" She sighed. "Was a really shitty thing for me to do, when I know."She didn't add the how you feel or the and my lack of feelings but it seemed implied.

Sam - Daniel - Lasmine: Sam tried his best to keep his cool as she continued to speak, convinced that she was at least half flirting with him. It was a rare moment that Sam was not going to take for granted. "Yeah, something like that. She should know that even though the offer is always there, she should jump at the opportunity. I mean, she could change a young man's life." Sam scooted further along to bed, closer to where she stood and smirked up at her.

Leah - DJ: DJ mocked a laugh back at her at her rhetoric, grabbing the bottles from the end of the counter and filling up their cups by her leg. He was almost brave enough to make some kind of move, but he figured he'd probably get a good slap in the face. Instead, he leant with his hand just by her side on the counter and sipped his drink. "Not normally, I thought it was going to be just something relaxed. I was so wrong," He shrugged, internal monologue telling him over and over to chill. He thought maybe a little tipsy come on wouldn't be too embarrassing though. "What song are we then?"

Elliot/Mer/Finland: "I told him to he was just worried about him freaking out, which obviously he was kind of right about. " Fin watched Daniel run away out of the corner of her eye. "I thought you'd call me stupid." Finley admitted, the alcohol giving her more strength. "and maybe it is but nothing has felt right or normal these last 2 years and this does." She smiled just a little bit.

Elliot/Mer/Finland: Elliot sat up from his bed and looked at Wes. "The fuck you want dude?" Elliot asked taking off his jacket coat only bothering an irritated glance. Taco night was RUINED for him

Sam - Daniel - Lasmine: "You don't have to say sorry for that. I get it. We were both pretty drunk and stuff. I think who we really should apologize to is Angus," he said with a laugh, though it was masking a lot of hurt. Her words only confirmed to him that she didn't feel the same way about him.

Elliot/Mer/Finland: Catalina scoffed and kicked her legs out. She took her drink and took a sip. "I'm not giving myself a Taylor Swift song man I don't hate myself enough yet. Check back at like 3 when I'm lying in bed." She nodded at him. "Great drink, send my compliments to the chef or whatever.:

Leah - DJ: "You think me of all people would call you stupid?" Leah asked, looking at Finley like she was very, very stupid. "Well, yeah, no, it is stupid. You couldn't just like fuck and be normal, you had to go the whole way to hitched? Babe, I actually don't think I can name a single thing I have ever done that is stupider than that and I've snorted a line off one of my married teachers from high school."

Sam - Daniel - Lasmine: "I don't want to anymore! You know I've always been more of the monogamous type. Sleeping around with random girls just didn't feel right after a while." Daniel took a step towards Wes, trying his best to comfort him. "Wes, please.." Though before he could continue, Wes had already ran out the room. Daniel followed quickly, looking at the party go-ers for a moment and giving them an apologetic look for the drama that was happening. When he finally made it to Elliot's room, Dan instantly continued before Wes had the chance to run again. "I know you care about me and that's why this is hard for you, but I promise you that it's all going to be okay. I'm sorry that it changes things, but it doesn't change that you're the closest thing to a brother I've ever had."

Elliot/Mer/Finland: Meredith put her hand on his. "I don't think I'm cut out for what I want." She said like it made any sense. " I wanted to be someones wife so badly and now I cant see being in a relationship without soul crushing dread.I don't think I can do that again." The idea of vulnerability like that made her sick but wasn't that what she was doing here? "I keep wanting to kiss you or something but I remember how selfish that is,"

Elliot/Mer/Finland: Finley looked at her very seriously for a second and then said "No honey I think that's stupider."

Leah - DJ: Lina was hard to keep up with, even more so when he was on the way to drunk. She was always so switched on and DJ didn't even know if he had a damn switch. He tried to drink pretty quickly, some liquid courage or something. "I will," he replied, "In person, yeah? That's when I can keep that plan going, if you're still interested." He cringed at his own joke.

ria - andie - wes: Ria's eyes narrowed, a split second to let his words process before she took about two swift steps towards him, planted a knee to the left of his thigh to oddly half-straddle him, and planted her mouth firmly on his. The kiss wasn't like the one they'd shared recently, when they were high and calm. It was an insistent one, almost like a challenge in itself. She pulled away for a moment to gauge his reaction, eyebrow cocked. "How are you handling it?"

Elliot/Mer/Finland: "If you plan on being anywhere near my apartment at 3 am you better actually murder me" She smiled over her cup, a cheeky smile.

ria - andie - wes: Wes ignored Elliot entirely as he tried to catch his breath and ignored Daniel's voice wafting through the door that he'd slammed. "Fuck, dude, sorry, but my best friend just told me he got married. Dude. Married. Is that some fucked up shit or what?"

Leah - DJ: "It isn't," Leah rolled her eyes. "Who even gets married? It's 2017," Having lost sight of Wes, Leah pulled out her phone and sent him a very prompt, "u good?" text. How thoughtful.

ria - andie - wes: wes text: "fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck"

Sam - Daniel - Lasmine: "You're still young. That could change one day, but if it doesn't, that's okay too. You just have to do what feels right for you. I'll support you each step of the way." Landon gave her a reassuring smile, despite the fact that he knew he was likely going to hurt for a while over this conversation. "I of course want to kiss you. I don't think it surprises anyone that I really like you. I just don't ever want you to do something you regret in the slightest."

Elliot/Mer/Finland: "Wait the guy who blew up my toilet got married?" Elliot asked sitting up slightly more. "Thats....gross." Elliot said looking at the door where his voice wafted through " Get the fuck out or pay our plumbing bill" He yelled at it

Leah - DJ: DJ was so in over his head, a goofy ass smile forcing it's way onto lips. He really didn't know how to respond, so he just raised an unintentionally suggestive eyebrow and tapped his fingers on the counter. "We'll see."

ria - andie - wes: Elliot's words somehow broke through Wes's full blown panic attack long enough for him to let out a loud laugh, finally taking a good look at Elliot. "He's real sorry about that one, dude. Did you just get married today too or something? Fuuuuck, I can't trust anyone out here. I forgot you told your girl that you loved her in about a million different ways that one night. Am I really the only one who sees through all that bullshit?"

Elliot/Mer/Finland: Finley breathed in a deep breath. " Leah, I've made my choice, I wanted to get married it was quick and an odd one but I'm happy with it." She said it proudly but felt she could be toppled over by a feather as soon as she finished

Leah - DJ: leah text: "fuuuuuuuuuuckin same if u want me to tell him to fk off i will"

Elliot/Mer/Finland: "Sorry doesnt pay the b---Wait what?" Elliot asked his blood rushing cold. " WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU JUST SAY" He shot up from his bed.

Elliot/Mer/Finland: fin text to daniel: i cant tell if i shouldve forced you to tell him sooner or we shoudlve just not told ppl

ria - andie - wes

wes text: he'll fuck off on his own i just need time to deal with this wes text: what are u doing later

Leah - DJ: "Sweet, that's cool, Fin'," Patronisingly, and somewhat hypocritically, Leah continued, "Didn't have to fuck over people in the process." Stood with hands on hips, she didn't look at Finley once. Eyes on either her phone or on Daniel outside the door.

Sam - Daniel - Lasmine: Sam could almost pinch himself as he watched Ria come towards him, half expecting her to mess with him, but feeling pleasantly surprised at the feeling of her lips on his and her weight pressing against him. Sam immediately kissed back, his hands wrapping around her waist and pulling her as close as he could. There was a moment of slight disappointment when she pulled away, but it was replaced quickly by a lustful smile. "Better than I thought. I still might need to be pushed a little further before I really decide if this is right for me."

Leah - DJ

leah text: ofc u do like wtf leah text: y? u tryna get married?

Elliot/Mer/Finland: "It's not like i stole him from a wife and two kids. He can still hang out with Wesley." She motioned for the door.

ria - andie - wes: Elliot's sudden movement was a lot for Wes to take in, but once he got over the initial shock, he shrugged. "Yeah? The like...spaced out one, right? She's your girlfriend or something? You like, called her. Couldn't really tell if you were talking to me or to her, but I made noises every so often to be cool. It was a lot, dude. Sorry I don't remember more."

Leah - DJ: "God, just stop," Leah sighed at Finley's justification. "Do you not get it at all?"

Leah - DJ changed name to Leah - DJ - Angus

Elliot/Mer/Finland: "No" Finley admitted. "I guess I don't."

ria - andie - wes

wes text: dont joke about that shit leah what the fuck wes text: come over tonight i think unattached sex will help us cope

Elliot/Mer/Finland: Elliot had a that so raven esque flash back and remembered too quickly. He ran to his window threw it open and threw up outside it. When he popped his head back in his eyes were wide with panic. "Oh no, oh no no no"

Leah - DJ - Angus: Angus came back through the unlocked door. In his mood earlier, he hadn't thought about getting his jacket from Sam's room. What was he without that jacket? No one knew. Obnoxious as he was, he didn't think of checking or knocking before he pushed open the door. He took a beat, looking between the two of them in there expressionless. He had seen so much all at once, "I need my jacket."

Leah - DJ - Angus: leah text: as if its not funny

ria - andie - wes: Since Elliot had gone, Andie had done her best to find the strength to stand from the couch she'd been sitting and drinking on steadily for the last several hours to head the fuck home. She'd spent many a night on said couch, and even a few nights in Elliot's bed (most notably the last taco night) but she had zero plans to do that tonight, especially when she'd finally shaken him. She mustered half-smiles at anyone who mattered, and began the short but treacherous walk back to her own apartment.

ria - andie - wes: wes text: ok but are u cumming or not

Elliot/Mer/Finland: Mer closed her eyes. She was tired of fighting about what a shitty person she was when a whole party had just confirmed it. "Oh landon." She said quietly, maybe he was doomed, poor guy. "We should go back to our apartments."

Leah - DJ - Angus

leah text: ur gross leah text: but yeh i think ur right

Leah - DJ - Angus: Leah looked up from her phone, indifferent to Finley's presence now. "This is where you walk away, yeah?"

Elliot/Mer/Finland: Elliot sat on his floor whispering no's "I should go fix this right? Like tell her loves bullshit and im fine whatever who cares super chill dude right?" He asked Wes getting up and walking towards him then straight out his bedroom door, to look at the now empty couch then right out the door his feet were running without him even telling to, until he saw her. "ANDIE" He yelled at her back, slowing his run as he caught up.

ria - andie - wes: Sam's words out of anyone else's mouth would've probably illicited a disgusted grunt and potentially a punch somewhere on the more delicate end of the male body, but from Sam himself, it created a smirk on her lips and a desire for more. She pulled him to her lips this time, but the kiss only lasted about .02 seconds before a voice with an all-too-familiar tone broke the tension, creating a new kind of tension. Ria's head snapped up, glaring at who dared to disturb the moment, already at high levels of annoyance that she'd gotten caught. She pushed off of Sam to remove herself from the picture, as if it wasn't already burned into Angus's mind. "Well? Fucking get it, then."

ria - andie - wes: wes text: ready to go?

Elliot/Mer/Finland: Finley nodded apologetically and walked away, probably home, not even waiting for daniel she was too upset

Sam - Daniel - Lasmine: shook

ria - andie - wes: Wes didn't even bother telling Elliot his opinion, then left the room to find Leah lol

Leah - DJ - Angus: leah text: duh

Sam - Landone - Daniel maybe joined the chat

Sam - Landone - Daniel maybe: Needless to say, Sam completely

Leah - DJ - Angus: Leah moved straight over to Wes once he'd left the room and Finley had gone. "You good?" She repeated her earlier text as a greeting.

ria - andie - wes: Andie stumbled down the hall, eyes closed, trusting muscle memory to get her back in time. Hearing her own name snapped her out of the fog, a fleeting thought about the concept of names in general clogging her mind before realizing that the odd thing about this was that she had just dropkicked Elliot out of her life. She didn't bother turning all the way around (because she honestly didn't trust herself to be able to), but when he rolled up next to her, she glanced at him. "Hey," she said, because there wasn't much else to say.

ria - andie - wes: "Are any of us good, Leah?" he said, his philosophy classes really coming through in this particular moment of life. "Like, fuck. Uh. I mean, are you?"

ria - andie - wes: wes obv ^

Sam - Landone - Daniel maybe: Needless to say, Sam completely forgot about the drama that had previously occurred and was entirely focused on Ria and how much he missed being with her like this. Though it was short lived, Sam kissed her hungrily. The sound of his former friend's voice destroyed any chance of the two of them going any further. "Really, Angus? Just fucking grab it," he remarked in annoyance, becoming even more bitter when Ria pushed off of him. "You don't have to leave," he said in a near whisper to her, though he could tell that was exactly what she would likely do.

Leah - DJ - Angus: Leah's expression made it clear the Wes had a point, nodding and just accepting that before he continued. "Yeah, same dude. Can we just, like, go now?"

Elliot/Mer/Finland: His breath caught up as he stood in front of her about to start a sentence in between wheezing. "I'm sorry." He said it ernestly, that wouldnt be one of the many lies he was about to tell. " I was really, really drunk, and high." he remembered vaguely. " I broke up Sam and Kendall I was so shitfaced." He laughed a little. "Obviously i wasnt thinking straight--or at all and I'm sorry, just forget it all, it's gone, i swear."

Elliot/Mer/Finland: Lina looked DJ up and down and said "If you can do a 360 flip on that skateboard you have in all of your instagram pictures you can come back with me." She raised an eyebrow

ria - andie - wes: "Hell yes," Wes said, not needing a second to check. He made a beeline for the door, not even bothering to say bye to anyone (but at least bothering to grab a taco for the road).

ria - andie - wes: Andie knew precisely and exactly what he was referring to, and yet something in her felt that the only thing to do to make things better was to pretend like she had never heard it. Forget it all existed, and maybe it would go away. Even though it clearly wouldn't. "'sokay," she shrugged, deciding that she'd take his apology for tonight, rather than for the shitshow that was a week ago (ish?). "You didn't break them up, they broke up on the road trip. Don't worry. I didn't mean anything I said tonight either, I guess."

Leah - DJ - Angus: Angus, smug as ever, threw his hands up defensively and walked slowly towards his jacket on the other side on the room. As much as it pissed him off that this was happening, he knew just how this could be used to his advantage. Sams annoyance only entertained him and the idea of how cockblocked he was about to be... priceless. He could read it on Ria's face, particularly after he heard him say she didn't have to leave. "Yeah, Ria, you don't have to leave," He mocked, as he crumpled the leather jacket in his hands.

Elliot/Mer/Finland: "I did tell Kendall he kissed Sam." Elliot rubbed the back of his neck. "You didn't say a whole lot anyways so" He forced a smile, even though the adrenaline was fading and he was seeing how clearly everything was just fucked like Leah had said. "Do you need me to walk you back or?" Normally he would do it without asking but he could feel how unwanted he was in the moment.

Leah - DJ - Angus: "I didn't bring my board," DJ replied, sounding thoroughly disappointed. Head hung as he placed his cup down and placed his other hand by her other side when he moved to stand lean in front of her. Thanks vodka. "I can't do it when I've had drinks anyway, honest."

ria - andie - wes: She hoped Angus could feel the 'fuck you' vibes without her having to actually say it, because she truly didn't think her voice could reach the decibel necessary. He was going to lord this over her for months, and she was already fed the fuck up with it. "Oh, I'm fucking leaving," Ria insisted to both of them, anger radiating through her bones as she tore through the pile to find her denim jacket, which was a really inopportune moment to realize that it was the same denim jacket she had stolen from Sam years before. She threw it on without looking either of them in the eye, and left the room with a simple "Bye, fuckers."

Leah - DJ - Angus: Even if Leah had felt the need to say goodbye, Wes didn't give her time. Following just behind him, she grabbed her bag on the way out. Ain't no time to waste when you gotta distract, ay?

ria - andie - wes: Andie truly wasn't used to feeling the same ache in her chest multiple times a day, let alone within a few hours. She knew she'd fucked up, but she couldn't bring herself to admit anything else. "Uh, I mean, you're still in half a suit, so..." she shrugged. "You should probably...get home before you get teased or robbed."

Leah - DJ - Angus: Rias reaction was exactly what he saw coming and lordy, it felt even better than he ever thought. Everything was coming up Angus tonight. Grin plastered on his face, Angus left after one last look was given to Sam. What goes around, comes around, he thought. No problem at all having screwed up what was happening after what had come out on the road trip. Angus Burke had Struck Gold, folks.

Elliot/Mer/Finland: "yeah you're probably right." Elliot swallowed hard. "Night, Andie." He said and turned to walk away, none of the usual text me when you get home sorta bullshit. Everything in him just hurt too much to try and act like she would. Elliot walked back into the apartment and walked into Sam's bedroom and laid down on the bed, still half suited. He laid there in a while in silence, before he pulled out his phone and opened the Tinder app.

Elliot/Mer/Finland: "looks like your shit outta luck then" lina blew a kiss at him, took her bag of tacos and went home

Leah - DJ - Angus: eriwbfjnqdjkla GOD

ria - andie - wes: same

ria - andie - wes: aaaaaand Fin. (the french word not the character)

[knockoutlives]

Whatever they offer you, don’t feed the plants.

Josh: Mom just told me. congrats.

Troi: I am so proud of you Vinny! Congratulations babe! I've never been happier for you, for us!

Spencer: Congratulations Vinny! When Adam gets back from his Medical Retreat we need to go for drinks! Congrats!

Abby: Congrats big brother! I can't wait to come visit and see you on stage!

Amelia: Congratulations! I’ll see you at 2 for lunch and you can tell me all about it! Mak: Congratulations Vinny!

Kevin. MY. GOD. VINCENT ANDREW DEPOLA HOW ON EARTH DID YOU KEEP THIS HIDDEN FROM ME?!?! CONGRATULATIONS ON BEING CAST AS SEYMOUR!

Unknown Number: Congratulations!

V: thanks, who's this?

(718) 565-3489: you know who this is, we met up for drinks the other night in Queens.

(718) 565-3489 : had to get out of Manhattan to make sure your boyfriend didn't hear anything about it.

V: oh ya, thanks.

(718) 565-3489 : that's it? I'll remember that the next time we hook up, and you wanna fuck me.

Vinny sighed and looked from the phone in his gloved hands, to the city street in front of him. Scanning the empty street for anyone he could potentially know. As if even seeing them would allow the other to know who Vinny was messaging. The sender's comments made him recall the night in questions, and the corners of his lips pulled into a smile as he replied.  

V: listen, I've got some things to do today. So I'm going to have to cut this short. But, I expect to see you at my place tonight at 6. He’ll be gone for a few hours.

(718) 565-3489 : fire escape, or front door.

V: fire escape, just so you don't run into him. I don't need that

(718) 565-3489 : Your wish is my command - T

Upon sending his last message Vinny locked his phone and let out an even heavier sigh as he leaned on the concrete wall of the building he had just walked out of prior to the bombardment of Text​ message - well wishes. Pushing off of the wall Vinny began his walk down the street heading towards Times Square, and the subway. There was a slight chill in the air, causing Vinny to wrap his arms around his midsection, and pulling his leather jacket closer to his body to conserve warmth.

A smile began to tug at his lips again as he recounted the morning.

--

The day had already began to speed by, though when one wakes up at six to be out the door by seven the time just begins to fly from the second you actually leave the bed. He had left Troi in the warm blankets that morning, to make his way to the gym to beat the rush. (The treadmill he liked at his gym always seemed to be taken if he was late, even If it was by five minutes.) So arriving precisely at seven fifteen gave him enough time to get his workout, shower, and get dressed into human attire by eight. Today had been no different until he left the gym and his phone began buzzing, like a virgin's vibrator on crack.

“Hello, This is Vincent….”  

“Vinny, it's Camille! Would you be able to stop by the midtown studio space this morning?”

“Of course I can! What time?”

“Now, would be nice”

“I'm on my way, I’ll be there by nine!”

Jumping on the subway almost immediately after the phone call, Vinny had arrived at the rehearsal space to find his agent Camille in the lobby of the building looking as if she had just ran down the stairs of the familiar building from the rehearsal space on the fifth floor.

“Vinny!” The woman said with a grin as she took the boy into her arms. Camille was quite short, so she normally came up to Vinny's shoulder, but in her heels today she was almost at eye level. “I'm so glad you could make it, I have two people who would really like to speak to you. It was last minute but apparently they're on a tight schedule. So they needed to get a hold of you A-S-A-P.” “Oh, alright?” Vinny said confusion clear on his face. “Vinny..” Camille said her grin still growing as she stepped into the elevator and dragging Vinny in with her,  the door closing behind them “...you got the part! You’re Seymour!”

-- 2:30 PM Cilantro - Upper West Side, New York City

“Oh, the second your mom read that Playbill article, it got plastered all over Facebook and you were tagged EVERY TIME. If I didn't get the call from Chrissy, I would have seen at least one of the 25 posts your family made!”

“God Amelia, I'm glad we weren't friends when I made it into Idiot. She went crazy. You would never have let me live it down. I mean I shouldn't complain though. She is my mother, Troi’s is just as bad.”

“I mean I would kill for my mom to be half as excited about a part I get. But that my friend is a totally different story. How was Troi when he found out?”

“Oh, he was happy. He had a bunch of errands to run earlier before he got to the studio earlier. So we haven't talked much just yet.”

Amelia took a sip of her mimosa and smiled across the table at Vinny. She was probably the oldest friend he had in the city, nonetheless​ the only one here who knew almost all of Vinny's past with and without Troi. The pair had met when Vinny was touring with American Idiot, and freshly single. In a different time and place Vinny felt Amelia might have been a perfect girlfriend for him, but with her lack of the desired plumbing and the fact that on one drunken night they may have made out, she held the coveted best friend spot and nothing more. But, of course Vinny never told Prima he might have been replaced. “Im glad things are finally working out between you guys. It was rough for a while on tour there. Until, you and Travis were a thing for a bit. You know he's in the city now, I dunno for how long but he’s got a place in Queens.” “Ya don't say?” Vinny said grabbing his Margarita and taking a large gulp of the drink.

“Ya, but we all know how you feel about taking the W into Queens. Vincent Depola doesn’t leave Manhattan unless it’s for a good reason.”

Almost instantly Vinny placed his drink down with a little too much force, and looked from Amelia to his phone. “Looks like I struck a nerve?” “No, I’m just not really in the mood to deal with any drama. And, you know drama follows him.” “Oh I know, I was living through the times of you guys screwing around AND the months following when y’all were just hating fucking. Thank god thats over” “Amen” Vinny added as he looked down at their empty plates. “So when are you going back on tour? Or, are you looking more for something more stable in the city?” “Well it depends on how the next two weeks go on Raph’s residency. I’ve got a few auditions lined up either way. If he’s leaving the city, I might jump on a tour, but there are also some workshops in and out of the city I could hop into if he stays. Why? Are you already going through withdrawls from me?” Laughing Vinny added “No! Well sort of.. I dunno.” “What’s eating at you?” Amelia responded, her tone switching almost instantly from upbeat to concern. “Nothing really, I mean it’s just weird to finally be tied down…” Sipping at his drink he continued. “...Like literally I went from the tour, to spending time home for a few months, and now I'm with Troi in New York. This isn't little old Trigger, this is the real world. And believe me I have never been happier with Troi but I just, I'm by myself too much. Granted now that I'm in the show I'll be able to rehearse and spend time with other people. But, until then it was just Troi and I, and on occasion Spadam. And you know how it is dating a dancer, or at least someone in a similar field as you. If your schedule don't align sometimes you're lucky to see them at night, again if you're lucky.”

“You sound perfectly normal Vin! It sucks, you know I know it. And that’s why I’m engaged to a doctor now. But, this is just your nerves from being pent up this long without anything really happening. Ya, you had the audition grind going, but until something happens you're on edge waiting to snap. You're in a Broadway Show now, you're going to be fine.”

Sighing, Vinny looked over at Amelia with a smile now. “I am. I'm in a Little Shop of Fucking Horrors. Finally!”

“And that's why this is on me” She added placing a credit card on the check.

--- 4:45 PM

Stepping back into the cold afternoon air the two embraced in front of the store for a moment, and then Vinny began his walk towards Central Park. Though the park wasn't too crowded this time of day, Vinny didn't mind the people that much. And, it was the fastest way to get home even if it did take him almost an hour at his leisurely pace. He enjoyed his time alone, it was something he got a lot of. But, ever since the tour ended and he went back to Trigger, it hadn't felt like he had taken a moment to just breathe, even when he was alone.

One moment he was single, and moving back home, the next he had a date with Troi. A date, that put them back on each other's radars. It took some time before he was even capable to even think about kissing Troi. Then it just happened, and happened, and happened. Numerous times, sometimes multiple at a time. Things just fell back into place, as if it was a four piece puzzle, not the complex thousand piece jigsaw their lives really were. It’s not that the two forgot about their previous qualms, but they spent almost a month just accepting the past was in the past, taking a tip from a popular ice queen and just ‘letting it go’. Most importantly though Blaise Monroe was out of their lives, and one thousand two hundred and eighty four miles away living a poor excuse of a life in Trigger, what a wash-up.

There were some days though that Vinny wondered what would have happened if he was still in Trigger? If the couple hadn’t rekindled and moved back to NYC to share Troi’s loft apartment. Would he be on another tour? Would he just be living the same washed up life, that Blaise Monroe was currently living? Or, would Travis still be in the picture, or at least in more then---

“Watch it man!” a cab driver shouted as Vinny stepped back onto the curb, lost in his thoughts and almost catching the cab’s drivers side mirror. “Damn it” Vinny mumbled under his breathe as he regained his bearings. About Halfway through the park, he could see the back of the Metropolitan Museum of Art on his left, and knew he had to go a bit more south if he wanted to get into his neighborhood without leaving the park. Walking on the streets around the park was almost as bad as Times Square. Why people flocked to this place, not even he knew. It was a beautiful park, but there were other wonders to see in the city. That were not inhabited by homeless people pissing all around, or thirsty gays cruising the bathrooms.  Turning passed the Alice in Wonderland statue, Vinny felt a pair of arms wrap around his waist and Troi’s voice enter his ears.   “Hey there handsome” Leaning back into the other man’s arms Vinny felt his cheeks rise into a smile. Turning around he placed his hands around Troi’s neck and kissed him softly, letting his short beard rub against Troi’s stubble ridden face. “How’s my boyfriend? No excuse me how’s the new Seymour Krelborn in the Little Shop Revival!“ “I’m fine! I’m fine! Still letting it all sink in!” Vinny responded to Troi’s enthusiasm with his own. “Of course you are!” “How’d you know I was here?” Vinny added as he laced his hand into his boyfriends and continued the walk towards their apartment. “ I mean I’m far from complaining at all, I just thought you were going to be at the studio for most of the night teaching” “I was talking to Rhea about finding out you got the part, and she said she’d cover my night class. Under the conditions that I take you out to celebrate.” “ I will never feel bad about getting to spend more time with you babe, but that is entirely your call.” Looking away from his boyfriend and around the street to see where they had exited the park. Stopping for the light Vinny sighed softly, inaudible to anyone but himself,  

“Of course I want to take you out tonight! Do you mind if I take a run to the gym first though?”

Almost immediately Vinny smiled at Troi and nodded his head. “Ya, totally!” Vinny added with a little too much excitement.

“Wow, someone's happy I'm not just at the studio,and actually going out of my way to put a little extra muscle on.”

Vinny couldn't help but laugh at his boyfriend's response as he reached his free hand over to jokingly feel Troi’s abs.

“Not enough yet.”

-- 5:55 PM

(718) 565-3489 : I should be there a little after seven ;)

“Vinny! Have you seen my shaker?”

Quickly locking his phone, Vinny looked up from the couch towards his boyfriend in the bathroom. “Uh, probably in the kitchen, or maybe your gym bag?” He added hopping up from his place on the couch and moving towards the window to unlock it. “Do you need a protein shake today? I mean we are going for dinner afterwards. I don't want to be the one eating a five course meal and then you have a carrot. Those days are long over.”

Emerging from the bathroom Troi was in a pair of joggers and a t-shirt, tugging on a hoodie while almost walking into their kitchen counter. “You're right I guess, I'm only gonna be gone for forty five minutes max.”

“Good! Now go! I'm hungry” Vinny shot back playfully at Troi, as he wrapped his arms around the other and kissed him softly. Biting Troi's lower lip gently, Vinny pulled away and ran his hands over Troi's abdomen once more. “I love you.”

“I love you too!” Troi added with another quick peck, as he gathered his keys and drawstring bag and headed out the door.

As soon as the door shut Vinny practically ran too it to lock both the deadbolt and chain the door, making sure there was no way of potential disruptions. From the door, he made his way to the bathroom to throw some water on his face and check his reflection. He had changed when he had gotten home, from his casual wear to his Grade-A bum attire. Sweat shorts, an oversized hoodie, and his thick framed glasses Because, contacts just hurt after a while.

Staring at himself in the mirror Vinny closed his eyes tightly and ran a hand through his messy hair. Then he heard it, a light rapping on the living room window. The window had opened as he returned to the room to see his guest finishing his window entrance. Brushing himself off and placing his bag on the floor, Vinny’s eyes trailed up the familiar body and he smiled when he reached the man’s face which was covered in shadow from his hood. Not caring about the cold breeze coming through the open window, Vinny stepped closer and placed his lips to the other man’s. Wrapping his arms around him, Vinny broke the kiss to place his head on the others shoulder. The other man did not hesitate to place his stubble ridden mouth onto Vinny’s now exposed neck, tugging lightly on the skin with his teeth. Swatting the back of the man’s head Vinny dragged them down to the couch, where he was straddled by the other male. “No marks!” Reaching around the others waistband, Vinny let his hands wander across the other’s ass and playfully squeezed. Catching the other's mouth in his own Vinny began to remove the others hoodie when --

“Fighting evil by moonlight, winning love by daylight, never running from a real fight. She is the one named Sailor Moon!”

“Fuck, Fuck, Fuck,” The other said un-straddling Vinny as the latter ran his hands up his face and began laughing softly. Standing up and closing the window; the other man leaned on the counter top, one arm on the counter the other rubbing his face.

Laughing still, Vinny bent down and fished out two phones from the bag by the window and brought them over too the counter. Placing his hand on the other’s neck he ran it north towards the man's hair,  and in doing so he pushed down the hood revealing Troi from the shadow.

“Babe, next time you decide to seduce me as a stranger. Turn your old phone’s ringer off ,maybe?”

Grinning at his boyfriend Troi grabbed Vinny's waist to pull him into his side, and kiss the other's forehead while on the balls of his feet. Still biting back laughter Vinny pulled Troi into his chest and kissed the top of the shorter boys head.

“Jeeze, I wish I could say this was the first time I've been cock blocked by Sailor Moon.”

“Hey, it's probably my mother trying to get a hold of you in the first place.”

“Even better! I wish I could say that this was the first time getting cock blocked by your mother.”

Picking up the iPhone in the Sailor Moon case, Vinny saw the missed call was in fact from his future mother in law, and handed the phone back to Troi; before returning to the foreign phone still on the counter.

“So this, is what's finally given you a New York area code.” “Surprise!” Troi added sarcastically as he relocated by hugging the other from behind. Vinny, while toying around with the phone, felt Troi run his hands down his sides and under his hoodie. “ I can give you the entire tour of it, after we take care of something else.” Letting,his hands lower from Vinny’s abs, Troi slipped under the waistband of Vinny’s sweatpants and began searching for his target.

“Oh really now?” Vinny said as he turned (not gracefully) to face his boyfriend, and caught Troi’s lips in his own. Running his own hands across the other’s chest, Vinny straightened himself up and walked Troi backwards to their room. Breaking the kiss, as they crossed the threshold into the dark room Vinny softly pushed Troi onto the bed, and closed the door behind him. “I mean you still need to get a workout in before dinner” “I mean I could use a protein shot.” “Oh ya? Like you needed one the other night at that shady speakeasy in Astoria?” “Hey, that dinner was painful, a little exciting sex in a seedy bathroom livened it up a bit” “God I love you..” Running his hands down Troi’s sides Vinny noticed that in the time it took him to close the door, and make the room completely black Troi had removed his shirt and hoodie. His skin warm, as Vinny felt the smaller boy quiver under his touch. Tracing designs along the other’s chest, his hands teased the soft skin of Troi’s nipples. Where he tweaked the other softly, gaining an audible gasp from the boy under his touch. ‘I thought you weren’t going to follow through with your texts when Rhea let you out early.” Leaning down towards Troi’s left nipple Vinny placed his lips and began teasing the other with his tongue and biting softly on the erect flesh. “And miss out on this? Why did you think I decided to go to the gym? Babe,” Troi gasped and tried to regain his composure. “...today is my off day. I was at the studio all morning. You’re lucky I was able to climb the fire-escape at all.” As Vinny continued to work on Troi’s nipples, and enjoyed the soft sounds of pleasure his boyfriend was making; he began to run his hands up Troi’s muscular arms. Tracing where he knew the other’s key tattoo was, and up his shoulder where his right hand gripped the soft skin that led to Troi’s neck and jawline. Reaching down past Troi’s stomach and into the other’s sweatpants, Vinny squeezed the package that was clad in only a jock-strap. Removing his hand from near Troi’s neck, Vinny leaned up and let his lips mash against Troi’s hungry mouth. Troi wrapped his legs around Vinny’s waist as his boyfriend began to give his neck the same treatment he had previously did on his nipple. Removing his hand from Troi’s sweatpants, Vinny shucked his hoodie off while Troi greedily pulled his muscular boyfriend towards him. Vinny’s skin warming the other’s cold skin under him. While their lips waged war upon each other, their bodies worked together to have Vinny grind on Troi in ways that made the smaller boy moan through their kissing. “And to think, I used to be The Screamer.” Vinny added between panting, as Troi began to suck on his shoulder while his hands need-ily pushed Vinny’s sweat-shorts down. Leaving him exposed to the room, and in position to finish the job the two had set out to do from the beginning. Troi’s sweatpants were next to go as the warmth of their skin on skin began to drive the two wild. Reaching for the lube they kept in the bedside drawer, Vinny’s length pressed up against Troi’s grundle sending the other a bit over the edge. From the touch of Vinny’s length, and the restraint of his jockstrap Troi moaned louder than before, as Vinny silenced him with his lips covering the others. Managing to open the bottle of lube with one hand, and steady Troi with the other, Vinny was about to finish his preparations when --- “Fighting evil by moonlight, winning love by daylight, never running from a real fight. She is the one named Sailor Moon!” Troi let out a groan as he heard his phone go off again, using both of his hands he grabbed Vinny’s waist and looked for the others eyes in the darkness. Feeling Vinny’s nose rub up against the bridge of his own, he looked into where the others eyes were, and pleaded with him. “Forget it, and Fuck me.” Troi all but whispered as he slid his lips once more over his boyfriends.

And Vinny did.