#it barely rose 😭 i swear this never happens to me...

[bigolbadblog]

complete devastation: this cake did not come out looking good

[connieluvsr]

ONE OF THE GIRLS | part 1

pairing: (electric) guitarist!jungkook x singer!reader(f)

genre: band au, enemies to lovers, fluff, angst

summary: when your main guitarist gets sick and can’t perform at your show, you get help from someone unexpected.

warnings: swearing and some making out, hot jk:)), drinking, mention of drugs, smoking, slight smut.

a/n: my first story!! hope you’ll enjoy it, i thought of it while listening to one of the girls by the weeknd, jennie, lily rose depp and i was like hmm i think i have an idea)) anyways i have some more works but i dont really have ideas for what to happen next in them😭 enjoy!! Also part 2 is gonna be CRAZY and much better, please wait a bit!!

_________________________________________

“i’m so so so so sorry.” ander sighs and falls back on the couch. “i feel like im disappointing you.”

you shrug, placing your hands into your scalp and gently pulling your hair. “it’s not your fault, i just…” you pause for a bit. “don’t know what i’ll do, it’s over.”

ander gets up and rubs your shoulder. “hey don’t say that, it’s not! you still have time to find someone who can replace me.”

you touch his hand and smile, you knew he really is sorry, but you can’t just try acting fine when you’re not. you dreamed of this since forever, having people come somewhere just to hear you sing. you were the duo everyone knew, he was your guitarist and you were the singer, that’s it, no one else.

you thought you’d find someone to replace him, and you did, actually, but they’re not good enough.

“i’ll just go, it’s getting late, take care hm?” i say while taking my jacket from the hanger.

“bri.. come on, don’t be like that.” he goes after you and takes your arm.

“like what?” you ask with a curious face, thinking what could he possibly say.

he hesitates for a moment before speaking, his eyes searching yours for understanding. “Like you’re giving up! Like… Like you don’t even care anymore. There has to be someone who can help us.. i mean help you.”

you sigh, feeling the weight of the world on your shoulders. “who? we’ve already contacted many musicians and they all sucked. none of them clicked. our sound was perfect, and that’s all”

Ander’s gaze softens, his voice gentle as he speaks “what about… zac’s friend?” he suddenly jumps. “he plays electric guitar right? maybe he could step in.”

you raise an eyebrow, intrigued but skeptical. “yeah i know him. even if he does, he’s Zac’s friend, we barely know him. Also he’s a total ass, he would never agree.” you’re both silent for a moment. “wait! didn’t he fucked up our first show? remember! he wanted to play in our place and his rich mommy made us move dates.” you scoff loudly. “that fucker, no, never, i won’t sing with him.”

ander listens carefully to your frustrations, his expression thoughtful. he understands your reluctance, having experienced the turmoil caused by Zac's friend firsthand. after a moment of silence, Ander speaks, his voice steady, "I get it, Bri. I really do. But people can change. Maybe he's realized his mistakes, and this could be a chance for redemption. Plus, desperate times call for desperate measures. It's just one show, and if he doesn't come through, we'll find another way. But what if he surprises us?"

you're hesitant, the memories of past encounters with Zac's friend clouding your judgment. Ander continues, his tone encouraging, "We won't know unless we try, right? Let's meet him, talk to him, see if he's willing to help. If he shows even a hint of sincerity, we can consider it. And if not, well, at least we'll know we explored all options."

after another hour of talking with ander, reluctantly, you agree to meet with Zac's friend, still skeptical but open to the possibility of him proving you wrong. Deep down, you hope he has indeed changed, but you wont ever forgive him.

“how do we do that? call zac.” i say.

“its late, go get some sleep and we’ll talk tomorrow, ok?” he hugs you tightly before leading you to the door. you say your goodbyes and leave.

“god its 12 am already.” you sigh and call an uber, smartass couldn’t even do it. you take off your mask, thinking of someone. you dial the person and they respond right back

“bri! hi!”

“hi! you still at work?” i ask hoping for a negative answer

“just leaving, what’s up?”

“can you pick me up from ander’s house?”

“what were you- ok we’ll talk in the car, i’ll be there soon, k?”

“thank you”

you waited for your friend to come, and she did finally, after you froze yourself outside. but it’s better than paying that expensive fucking uber.

“hi. thank you again.”

“no prob, now tell me why are you leaving ander’s house at 12 am?”

“you act like we never do music together” you giggle and look at her

“yeah but it’s late tho” she raises an eyebrow she has a point.

“we talked about someone to replace him since he’s got some flu i don’t know and he’s not feeling well.” you take a look on the window

your friend's eyes widen in understanding, her expression softening. "Oh, that sucks. Is he going to be okay?"

you nod, sighing with relief that she didn't press further. "Yeah, he'll be fine. but we're kind of in a tight spot for the upcoming show. we tried finding replacements, but it's been a disaster. Ander suggested Zac's friend, the one who messed up our first show ages ago. I'm not thrilled about it, but we're open for it.”

she raises an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. "Zac's friend? Seriously? After what he did last time? You sure about this?"

You let out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through your hair. "I'm not sure about anything at this point, but we're desperate. If he's changed, even a little, and he can play bass guitar, we might have a chance."

Your friend nods slowly, understanding the gravity of the situation. "Well, I hope for your sake that he's gotten his act together. And if he hasn't, you'll figure something out. You always do."

Her words offer a sliver of comfort in the midst of your uncertainty. As you drive home together, you can't help but feel a mix of anxiety and determination.

“um… should i talk with zac for you?”

“what do you mean? you’re friends? since when?” you ask with a lot of curiosity

“well… we kinda.. hooked up…” she smiles as if she remembers every single detail

“WHAT??” your jaw drops in disbelief, shocked by the revelation. "you hooked up with Zac? When did this happen?"

she chuckles nervously, avoiding your gaze. "It was a while ago, he came to my club and tipped a lot, then asked for a blowjob, i said only if you give me head too and he actually did it” she laughs a bit seeing your shocked expression. “but if it helps you, I can talk to him and see if he can convince his friend to help you out."

you're torn between feeling surprised, betrayed, and oddly hopeful. "i don't know how I feel about this, but if you think he'd listen to you, maybe it's worth a shot. Just... be careful, okay? I don't want any more drama."

she nods, her expression serious. "I promise I'll handle it delicately. I'll talk to Zac and gauge his friend's interest in helping you. We'll see how it goes."

as she drives you home, you can't shake off the mix of emotions swirling inside you. you hope for the best and that he’ll agree and maybe be actually down to earth. you can’t lie you’re not nervous.

————————————————————————

next day you wake up totally in a sweat, the dream of being booed off the stage didn’t help your concerns at all, you felt like you need to talk to him as soon as possible, and hope for the best

taking your time to actually think about how to approach him to agree, but you thought he won’t ever do this for a random stranger, so you thought about avery and zac, she knew she’s make zac convince him.

“i talked to zac”

“and!?” you jump off your bed

“he said y’all should meet beforehand and he’ll see if he wants to, he wants to hear you sing too, but he doesn’t know what’s in for him, so i told zac to tell him… popularity? he’ll be on stage and be known so yeah.”

“AMAZING. GREAT.” you hug her tightly “love you, you’re the best. now where and when should we meet?”

“he said you should go at his studio later tonight. seems cool”

“sounds good to me, now what should i wear?” you look for some clothes

“you seriously think about what to wear? you don’t even know if he’s gonna agree.”

“true, true, but i have to make a good impression , i cant go in adidas sweats.

“yeah, yeah, now should i tell you i have a date with zac?”

“no way!! i’m glad, really!.”

“maybe one day even a double date with… what’s his name? jungkook?” she giggles at your expression.

“with that fucker? no. one show and its over, i get ander to sing with me and that’s all.” you shift in your place and think about ander, you gotta tell him everything.

feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness, you spend the day preparing mentally and emotionally for your meeting with Zac's friend. The thought of finally finding a solution to your musical dilemma fills you with hope, but the fear of rejection lingers in the back of your mind.

“we’re here” says avery and gives you a comforting smile as you head inside.

as you step into the professional studio, a wave of inspiration washes over you. the air is thick with creativity, and the walls are adorned with soundproof panels, the room is dimly lit, the glow from the mixing console casting a warm ambiance over the space. cables snake along the floor, connecting various instruments to the mixing desk, creating a web of musical potential.

the room is a dark gray and a little black, you look around mesmerized, like you never went into a studio, you did, but not like one of those. i wonder how much he spent on all of this, or his family. you correct yourself.

in the corner of the studio, you notice a boy sitting on a stool, his fingers expertly gliding over the strings of a bass guitar. the bass guitar itself is a work of art, its body carved from rich mahogany, the natural wood grain accentuated by a glossy finish.

your thoughts are interrupted by a loud zac “hello girls, finally in jk’s crib!” he smiles widely then takes avery by her hand then places a soft kiss on her jawline, she totally blushes and i can see with the corner of my eyes how unamused jungkook is.

“hi brianna, nice to meet you.” he gives you his hand and smiles.

“you too! you shake his hand but your attention goes to the dark haired boy as he makes a sound to make us all look at him.

“you must be brianna.” he gets up and his hands fall in his huge hoodie pockets.

“yes, i am, and i’ve heard you’re jungkook?”

“you’re chinese?” avery suddenly blurtes.

“avery what the hell?” i ask embarrassed and look at his face, to see his reaction, nothing. “i’m so-“

“korean, if you really wanna know.”

avery realized her mistake and mouthed a sorry, to end the awkwardness i try to say something but he’s faster.

“so, you wanted to replace your guitarist hm?” he asks as he sits down and offers us to do the same, i sit down and take my strands of hair out of my face and fix my skirt.

Jungkook's gaze meets yours, his eyes a shade of deep brown that seems to hold a world of experiences. his tone is casual, yet there's an underlying intensity as he speaks, "yeah, I heard about your situation. mind if I give it a try?"

you nod, appreciating his straightforwardness. "absolutely.”

he picks up the bass guitar, his fingers caressing the strings with a practiced ease. As he starts playing, the studio fills with the low, resonant tones of the instrument. his skills are undeniable, and you can't help but be impressed by the way he effortlessly navigates the fretboard, creating a melody that resonates with the very soul of the song.

Avery and Zac watch in awe, clearly captivated by his performance. you find yourself drawn into the music, feeling the vibrations of the bass reverberate through the room. despite the initial awkwardness, there's a growing sense of excitement. maybe, just maybe, you've found the missing piece to your musical puzzle.

When Jungkook finishes playing, he looks at you, his expression earnest. before you can say how amazing that was, you get "now your turn.”

“i.. ok, what should i sing?” you awkwardly get up.

“you’re asking me?” he says with a confused look, sitting down where your place was.

“n-no just, ok i’ll start.” you nervously laugh and avery gives you a thumbs up making you smile.

“I’ve been posing with red skies,” you begin singing ‘Feet don’t fail me now’ by Joy Crookes, your voice shaky at first but gaining confidence as you delve deeper into the lyrics. with each word, you pour your emotions into the song, your voice resonating with the passion that fuels your music.

as you sing, Jungkook’s intense gaze never leaves you. his eyes reflect the understanding of the emotions you’re trying to convey, and it feels like he’s not just hearing the lyrics but also feeling the soul of the song. Avery and Zac, too, are entranced by your performance, nodding in appreciation as your voice weaves a story through the air.

the studio seems to fade away, leaving only the melody and the raw emotions you’re sharing. Your voice rises and falls, carrying the weight of the lyrics and the hope of a new beginning. In that moment, you’re not just singing; you’re baring your soul, connecting with the very essence of the music.

you finish and get applauses from everyone but jungkook.

“that was amazing” zac says, but don’t want his opinion, you want his friend’s. you wait, and you wait. and he opens his mouth suddenly. “cool.”

you give a confused look “cool?”

“yeah, we might work, rehearsals when i tell you i’m free and at your place.”

you’re taken aback by Jungkook's nonchalant response, but his words sink in. "sure, rehearsals at my place. we’ll work out the schedule," you reply, trying to hide your surprise.

Avery nudges you subtly, her eyes filled with excitement. after the initial tension and uncertainty, it seems like Jungkook is on board, even if his demeanor is more reserved than enthusiastic. you decide not to dwell on his reaction, choosing to focus on the opportunity ahead.

"thank you, Jungkook. we appreciate you giving us a chance," you say, mustering a smile.

he simply nods, his expression unreadable. despite the lack of exuberance, you can sense his commitment to the collaboration. with the pieces falling into place, you're eager to start rehearsals and see how this unexpected partnership will unfold.

Zac and jungkook watch you leave and zac places a hand on his shoulder

“what was that bro? you don’t know how to flirt, at least you were cool with the “at your place”

“you dumb fuck, i don’t want to flirt, i just need more recognition, that’s why i’m doing that, and i can’t here since dad comes with his artists you forgot?”

Zac raises an eyebrow, his surprise evident. "recognition ? buy you're incredibly talented, Jungkook. you’re practically a musical genius. ehh do you need more recognition? you forget your dad can put you all over the city’s billboards?”

Jungkook's gaze flickers, a mix of frustration and determination in his eyes. "it’s not about money, zac . it’s about proving myself, making my own mark without relying on my family's name. i want people to see me for who I am, not just as someone's son. and helping brianna, it's a step towards that."

Zac's expression softens, understanding dawning in his eyes. "i get it, man. we all have our struggles. just remember, we believe in you, not because of your last name, but because of your music."

Jungkook nods, appreciating zac’s support. "thanks, Zac. just hope I can live up to your expectations."

"You will," Zac says, clapping Jungkook on the back.

————————————————————————

your phone buzzes with an unknown number, and curiosity piques your interest as you answer the call. "hello? who’s this?" you inquire, your voice laced with suspicion.

"jungkook," comes the curt response from the other end of the line. shocked and unprepared, you hold back the exasperation that bubbles up within you. you didn't miss his arrogant tone, but deep down, you knew you needed him.

"yeah, Jungkook?" you reply, your voice dripping with sarcasm, emphasizing the unnecessary delay in his introduction.

"meeting tonight. gotta talk about some stuff and all," he states, his tone bored, as if discussing your collaboration is a mundane chore for him.

"aren’t you gonna ask if I'm free?" you retort, refusing to let his dismissive attitude go unchallenged.

"don’t try to act busy," he says, his words carrying a mocking tone. you can practically hear the smirk in his voice, and it infuriates you. He's clearly relishing this power play.

"i’m pretty busy, actually, but tonight I'm free. Come around 7 pm," you inform him, trying to assert a semblance of control over the situation.

"9? Okay," he counters, his response catching you off guard.

"what—" you begin to protest, but he ends the call abruptly, leaving you fuming with frustration. The audacity of the man infuriates you.

puzzled and slightly unnerved, you find yourself questioning how Jungkook got hold of your number. the mystery gnaws at your thoughts, prompting you to dial Avery's number, seeking clarification.

"hey Ave, you gave Jungkook my phone number?" you ask, your voice tinged with confusion and concern.

"hey, babe, no, why?" Avery responds, her confusion mirroring your own.

"he called me about meeting tonight. Are you sure? Maybe you gave it to Zac, and Zac gave it to him?" you suggest, trying to understand.

"damrn, no, i haven't," Avery replies, her voice filled with genuine surprise. There's a brief pause before she continues, her tone taking on a mischievous edge, "That's quite weird. Oh, also..." She bursts into giggles, and you can't help but sigh in exasperation.

"tonight at yours, huh?" she teases, her laughter spilling through the phone.

"gosh, stop, I'm hanging up," you grumble, rolling your eyes at her antics.

"no, wait! But something important!" she insists, her tone turning serious for a moment.

"what?" you ask, unable to resist the curiosity despite your annoyance.

"wear protection!" she says, her laughter bubbling up again, and you can't help but groan at her audacity.

"bye," you retort, deciding it's best to end the call before she can come up with any more embarrassing suggestions. Hanging up, you're left with a mix of confusion, irritation, and a reluctant smile at Avery's playful antics. As you prepare for the evening's meeting, you can't shake the feeling that dealing with Jungkook will be far more complicated than you initially anticipated.

——-

a/n : part 1!! i cant believe i finally posted this. i wanted to make it as one part but it was sooo long.

i hope you enjoyed it! also if you might find grammar errors its because english isnt my first language!

(any recs and tips are gladly taken since im new to tumblr!)

[hannahhasafact]

Kumoricon 2023 recap for myself just because (yes I know it’s been a week now):

Barely finished my Imelda cosplay in time (like think the day of) which felt wild because I spent so much goddamn time on it and truly thought I was going to finish it earlier 😭

This was the first time I can remember that I’ve ever had a cosplay where I was told I looked beautiful? Like I’ve gotten “Oh you’re adorable!” a lot but I got a few “You look beautiful” and that’s just wild

Like a lot of people didn’t know what my cosplay was and I still got compliments, which never happens if they don’t know what my cosplay is. So that’s wild!

Also people were just super nice??? And that was nice

I am frustrated with myself though because I got superglue on the middle of the dress coat towards the end of the day (a fellow ballroom staff person stepped on my skirt when I went to the bathroom and I tried to quick fix it… superglue never works for me I s2g it doesn’t matter how long I hold the thing on for) Also the escalator scratched a big ol scratch in my heels which sucks but like ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I was so worn down by ballroom staff stuff??? Which feels weird because a lot of it was not physical (for me) but I still got tired? Which feels lame on my part because like I know I helped in ways but I feel like I wasn’t helpful enough 🫠 but who knows ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ (I helped by having a baby look at a picture of a cat on my phone lol)

I absolutely could not wear my heels on day two oh my GOD I forgot how much my Handler/Sophie Bikes shoes hurt. I wore flats p much all day on day two which doesn’t fit the cosplay but listen I am old and a lot of those floors are cement and terrible in the convention center

People were also very nice about my Sylvia cosplay (but also seemed nervous to interact with me? lol)

I’m annoyed with myself because I didn’t look at the schedule at ALL and I ended up not planning my time well ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ the only two panels I wanted to go to clashed with work/having to be a responsible adult and take care of my kitty 😭 and look obviously Bijou above me having a silly time at a con but also man what a bummer. Next year gotta actually take a look at the schedule and plan. (Though tbh I’m annoyed that the panels I wanted to go to were all in the evening like wtf man who starts a panel at 5:30PM)

Having my bike this year was a godsend oh my GOD it was so nice to be able to bike to the convention center and back most of the weekend 🚲 like obviously I couldn’t bike in my Imelda cosplay but the rest of the weekend? Easy to bike back and forth. So extremely helpful. I’m sure it was very funny to see me in a SpyXFamily cosplay biking to the convention center (a parking guy said he liked my hat as I biked by lol)

Wore my Yuuri Katsuki cosplay for the last day of con which always makes me laugh because I just look like… a kind of sloppy guy but clearly SOMETHING is going on because it’s very obvious I’m wearing a wig 😆 but holy heck I swear this is the most recognition I’ve gotten for my Yuuri cosplay ever???

For reference: a very tired nerd lol

I spent way more at con than I was expecting? But then again I did buy two manga which definitely upped my “money spent at con” amount and I had a little bit of money saved up specifically for con. Also I’m so obsessed with the fact that more and more cons/markets are selling wax melts???? I use wax melts a lot and I got some from Mizu Crafts that smell SO GOOD. I’ve been melting the Kiss Kiss Fall in Love one and my apartment smells like a bouquet of roses it’s so nice (also if they’re on tumblr and see this for some reason I’m so sorry I was kind of a mess and knocked something over I was really tired and I know you were nice about it but I still felt bad)

Right after con I had to go home and get ready for a murder mystery dinner party wedding reception for my cousin and proceeded to drink too much wine and eat really good food (I’m sure the exhaustion did not help)

I didn’t catch covid but oof I think I did get some con crud for sure. I would also say it was probably the combo of not sleeping enough/not eating well/wearing bad support and carrying stuff all weekend but oh my god my body has been recuperating this week. All I did on Thursday was play video games and yesterday I cleaned my apartment and wow wow wow did I need that. (Though playing video games all day Thursday did not help my sore back lol)

I’m probably going to move out of this apartment this year because reasons but like… god it’s so convenient to be so close to the convention center. (And no way will I be able to afford a place in such a good location if I move but here we are). It’s just like… I wish I was rich so I didn’t have to worry about my housing stuff all the time.

But yeah! That was con. I’m still tired but that’s more because last night I went to bed after midnight and still woke up at 7:30AM lol

[eeblouissant]

hi, I normally make obnoxious reading-threads on Twitter when I read (mostly my mutuals) fics, but I just have to ramble here for this one - so I hope you don’t mind a long reblog op 😅. I normally just write down whatever I’m thinking or feeling, or about lines I particularly liked. (I can never keep the happiness to myself lol) Enjoy!

I chose to listen to How To Disappear by Lana del rey while reading and let me tell you, it was the correct choice.

Okay, rambles under the cut :)

I’m already obsessed with how you’ve established roses feelings towards Dorothy’s dismissal (and their general teasing) here, but underlined her understanding of it at the same time. “Rose shrinks away a little in her seat […] but it hurts, sometimes” oh rose. Shrinking away in her seat I will SOB and I’ve only just started reading 😭 and then blanches reassurance?! Of course rose knows what dorothy was doing, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t still hurt by it!! Blanche knows!!! my heart!!!!!! & Sophia… not the time girl, not the time. lmao 😭

Dorothy DOROTHY oh god nooooo dorothy don’t talk like that 😭😭 oh my god I know all of their hearts were breaking into pieces dorothy please … way to break my heart op, this has already been an emotional rollercoaster and I’m barely started. Isolated within the confines of the walls she’s built :’))) okay :’) it’s fine I don’t need my heart in one piece or anything :’)))))

I laughed out loud at “vertically, blanche would have her add, because they had the horizontal bit sorted out by now” 😂😂 oh my GOD

oh my god rose gets it!!! The Disney princess that did grow up to be a queen!!! My heart once again cannot handle this I’m actually bursting at the seams!!!!!! Ohhhh that description :’) “all the softness of a girl, combined with her natural, regal elegance.” If you look closely you can see me head in my hands sobbing I. The corner.

BLANCHE AHHHHH AHHHH oh my GOD AHHHH okay. I can be normal I swear THAT WAS SO SWEET oh my god I need to be sedated immediately - OF COURSE SHE’LL DANCE WITH YOU!!! I am melting into a puddle on the floor oh blanche was so gentle with her oh mygod. AND LOVE IS HEAR TO STAY???? Oh op… you must know I’m on the floor right now.

Oh don’t even get me started… “but it’s moments like these, the ones where she almost seems to wonder whether she landed in one big joke”. AND THEN THE !!! that line … you know exactly what I’m talking about. oh dorothy oh my god why did they hurt you I will find all the people who have been so horrible to you and it will not be pretty (it chips a piece off my heart too, rose)

You’ve done everything to deserve it dorothy 😭 everything everything everything, everything and nothing at all.

blanche :’))))) oh my god half is this is going to be me kicking my feet and giggling over the way blanche is so sweet to her isn’t it (op, you write blanche so well)

ITS HAPPENING!!! EVERYONE STAY CALM ITS HAPPENING

okay. I got so absorbed that I forgot I was writing down my thoughts and ended up reading till the end - before I say anything about the dip, I adored that little thought rose got lost in 😂 I know the girls heard that story the same night. I really loved the way you paid attention to rose here.

the dip. I don’t even think I can articulate my thoughts properly - I melted I just melted oh my god, Dorothy’s reaction, her silence and their knowing. THE KISS!!!

“It seems like sadness is inextricably a part of Dorothy’s happiness. By now, rose has come to realize that Dorothy’s smile wouldn’t mean nearly as much, or be nearly as special, if it didn’t carry some long-unshed tears behind it-“ I just about pasted the entire line but. Op. Oh my god. Yes that touch of bitterness does mean they got close to her heart, touched it even - AT LAST!!!!! OUCCCCCHHHHHHHH 😭😭😭😭 PLEASE spare me… oh my god oh my god. I’m never going to stop thinking about that. Not ever. That “at last” felt like a sigh of relief though the screen. Oh my god that was gorgeous, I have no words.

Im struggling to express myself here actually, because I feel like I’d copy and paste the entire fic if I wrote out all of my thoughts 😭 the mention of their husbands, being the first to really love dorothy, that kiss between rose and dorothy healed something in me :’)))) that ending :’)))))))) (I agree, dorothy!!! But also, someone’s gotta dip Blanche soon I think)

did I finally manage to write a brand new fic? I sure did!! with many, many thanks to the lovely @eeblouissant for inspiring me with these beautiful drawings of Blanche dipping Dorothy (and the incredibly sweet follow-up with Rose playing the piano, after our chat about this scene!!) I hope I managed to do it justice ;)

Summary

When Dorothy mentions she’s never been dipped before, Blanche and Rose decide to take matters in their own hands.

[elysianluv]

content warning/s: julius has the nerve to interrupt your beauty sleep, you guys are a disaster couple, the kitchen staff is this close to committing regicide, not proofread yet 😭

summary: night time is usually reserved for resting, though your husband doesn't seem to share that belief 💔

12:45AM —

you've long since known julius always intends to take you out with the intention of leaving you in complete awe — his presence is exhilarating in itself, embodying the unexpected, all in a sense that reminds you of the sharp sheen of new jewellery, the deep, ardent churning of the ocean.

but perhaps that is why it's so odd seeing him like this — cool fingertips ghosting over your bare shoulder, a delicate touch stealing you away from your dreams and your eyes opening to catch a familiar amethyst gaze.

there's the hint of an excited, almost teasing grin dancing beneath his lips as he asks, gently as to not jolt you too much, "do you happen to be hungry, darling?"

the question makes you blink awake — in all truthfulness, falling asleep as you waited for him to wrap up his paperwork for the night..."i may be," you raise a tentative eyebrow, rubbing the sleep from your eyes, "why do you ask?"

his answer comes in the form of a strong arm sliding underneath your knees, and another carefully placed under your neck as your figure is lifted off your bed with startling ease. your fingers curl into his robe in your surprise, and julius lets out a small laugh at your yelp. "you'll sleep better with a full stomach," he promises you.

he must've been guilty for having you wait long enough to doze off on his couch, you suppose. "will you cook me something?"

"hm?" the subtle grin returns as he announces, "oh, darling, tonight — tonight, we bake."

or maybe not.

xx

through the large windows of the palace's kitchen, you can see the moon, full and bright, hang low in the sky not unlike a chandelier. leaves belonging to the rose bushes outside shudder in the no doubt chilled gust of wind passing through the gardens — inside though, it is warm. comfortable.

julius holds a recipe book in his hands, confidence oozing from his boyish grin. you snort. "you've never entered the kitchens before, have you?"

a mock offended look crosses his face before he retorts, "i don't recall you frequenting them, either, darling. besides, you can ask asta, my expertise in–"

"–mention your shady grilled snakes as experience and i swear i'll go back to bed," you warn, though letting your eyes soften when he huffs indignantly. your finger reaches out to boop his nose and you swipe the book from julius' hands, reading over the recipe he's chosen. "...fancy cookies from the heart kingdom, right? i mean, sure we can give it a try — how hard can it be?"

one entire burnt batch of cookies later, you conclude that it can, in fact, be quite hard. there's flour decorating your apron, the counter, and some that's definitely gotten into your hair, if your husband's expression is anything to go by.

sighing heavily, julius slides off of the counter smoothly to examine the baking tray, before patting your head sympathetically. embodying confidence itself, he reaches for a second apron to don before gathering the ingredients once more.

"...and what are you doing, jules?"

he reads through the book, raising an eyebrow at the instructions before discarding the entire recipe. "showing you how it's done, my dear."

"ah," you nod in amusement, assuming his place on the counter as you watch him dump ingredients into the bowl. "you might want to mix slower, though, love, or at least keep the bowl on the counter."

"see, if i were an amateur, i would, but there isn't any need for you to worr–"

having lost its balance in his arms, the bowl falls to the ground. silence echoes through the kitchen.

julius whimpers at his foot.

not even pretending to conceal your delight, you reach for the first-aid box behind you in between fits of laughter. "would you like a bandaid, love?"

"...yes, please."

your heart swells at the embarrassed flush adorning his cheekbones as he limps dramatically to stand between your legs — you raise a hand to ruffle his hair before running your hands through it. you offer him a heart-covered bandaid that he brightens at the sight of slightly. "do you know why that happened, jules?"

he looks at you questioningly.

"because everything has a process," you explain, "and you've missed one crucial step." sporting a cheeky grin, you gesture towards his 'kiss the cook' apron.

the words bring a boyish grin to julius' face and he watches you hang your arms over his shoulders before you lean in, unable to stop smiling against your lips.

"i think it'll work now," you murmur, letting your nose bump against his.

"so we can start once more?" he gives you another kiss for 'insurance', and a third, until you tickle him away.

you nod, excited at the prospect of finally getting your cookies. "wanna start again, together?"

he offers a hand to help you off the counter, and you accept, revelling in the almost childishly mischievous glint in his eyes. "of course, your majesty. your wish is my command."

you flush, flinging bits of flour at him.

your process seems to have merit to it, because within the hour you're pulling out your second batch of heavenly smelling cookies in the wreckage of a kitchen.

"you should be the magic queen," julius grumbles, sitting on the island counter with ice pressed to his hand.

"aw, come on, love," you coo, attempting to swipe a cookie off the tray only to drop it with a hiss, heat searing through your fingertips, "you did an excellent job with the icing, didn't you?"

"yeah, you almost ruined my entire apron trying to make it. it was a simple recipe too, (y/n)."

"hey!"

he shrugs, reaching out for a cookie. you slap his hand away, not wanting it to be burnt like yours almost had earlier. "they came out looking pretty good. i think next time–"

"–next time you wake me up to bake at midnight," you interrupt, "i will end you."

"yes, ma'am," he mock salutes, moving his seat across from yours as you slump into your chair with a stifled yawn. "i really did keep you up too late, hm?"

you nod sleepily, reaching over the counter table to take his hand in yours. julius raises your hands, pressing his lips to your fingers. "wouldn't wanna be anywhere else, though," you assure him with a drowsy smile.

"they must be cold enough by now," he murmurs, gaze flickering to the cookies before he reaches to try out the fruit of your hard work. "we should save some for marx, now that i think about it. the kitchen always sends him chocolate, but i'm sure he doesn't enjoy coconut very much, so the other batch without the coconut icing should be good, what do you think, darling? oh, wow, these are actually quite good, (y/n), here try s–"

julius pauses mid-sentence, finally turning to look at you. his breath hitches, a soft smile playing on his lips as he watches you, your head tucked into your elbow as you slowly drift off. deciding not to keep you from comfort any longer, he slips from his seat once your breathing fully evens out. as he had done earlier the same night, julius takes you in his arms easily, keeping his steps as even as humanely possible. ah, well — he could always teleport you back to your shared room, but...chances like this didn't come everyday, did they?

he bits back a smile as you nuzzle deeper into his chest — you've always said it was lonely sleeping without him, thus your insistence to always wait until he finished up, and it isn't as if he didn't feel the same — that very fear of neglecting you is what had inspired this little nighttime venture, after all. he's already written to your squad for a leave of absence tomorrow so you can recover any hours of sleep lost, though he thinks he may hold off on telling you that in favour of seeing your panicked expression relax into a pretty smile tomorrow.

he reaches your room far too soon, and julius reluctantly lowers you into your bed, tucking you under your covers before he presses a kiss to your forehead. a whine sounds from your lips the moment you leave his arms, and his palm is quick to rest against your cheek. letting out an intelligible mumble, you turn to julius' side of the bed, soothed — heat rushes to his cheeks in pride and he lets out a small, breathless chuckle.

"i'm right here, love. right here for you."