#it wasn't even a good 1k if i'm being honest like it was a bad set of words

[thegeminisage]

perpetual chicken and egg question are you not writing fanfiction because you're depressed or are you depressed because you're not writing fanfiction. write fanfiction and find out today

[envirae]

from the start — park jay

pairing: best friend!jay x gn!reader 

genre: fluff 

wc: 1k

warnings: swearing, pining, mentions of jungwon and yunjin from lsf, reader is super dense lol, not proofread! jay's listening to... from the start - laufey

"you're crazy. and i don't mean crazy in a wild and funny way like riki, i mean you're genuinely crazy if you think you'll be okay letting him get away like this." sunoo deadpanned. he was always good at being brutally honest with you, but that doesn't mean his bluntness was always appreciated.

"well what exactly do you expect me to do? we'll both be going off to uni in a month. even if he did feel the same way, long distance would never work out." you sighed. it feels as if you and your brother have this conversation almost weekly.

"you're like a broken record. every time you insist that things between you would never work out, but every time, i see the way you smile at him. i hear your laugh when he tells one of his stupid jokes, which— by the way are not that funny, and i hear you cry in your room every time he goes out on a date with another girl." you remain silent, unsure of what to say. you always hate it when sunoo is right. "i give you a lot of shit for your stupid crush, but you're still my sister, and i don't like seeing you in pain."

your phone buzzes on the bed, and unsurprisingly, it's jay. "i'm outside."

sunoo stares at the notification and gives you a knowing look before you stand up from his bed. "you don't have to do anything you don't want to. but, i don't want you to hold yourself back from doing anything you do want to do, either."

"thanks sunoo. i'll try to keep in mind what you told me." he sends you a soft smile as you walk out.

when jay sees you walk outside, he immediately exits the car and heads to the passenger side to open the door for you. "such a gentleman, aren't you?" you joke, getting into his car.

"well of course, only the best treatment for my best friend" he grins, closing the door after you and quickly returning to the drivers seat.

"where to?" you ask, putting your seatbelt on as he starts the car.

"i was thinking we could head downtown, a new boba place just opened up. we could get drinks and take a walk around the park." he knows that it sounds like your idea of a perfect day, and he doesn't have to look over at you to know there's a big smile on your face right now. though he still does, just because he wants to see your smile.

"you know me so well. i have the best best friend in the world." he hums in agreement and continues driving.

after you pick up your drinks, you leave the car behind and cross the street to go to the park. it's a sunny day, and the two of you walk around the park talking about whatever nonsense comes to mind.

jay's phone begins to ring, but his face turns sour when he checks it. he declines the call and puts it back in his pocket. "who was that?" you ask.

"just jungwon, he's nagging me to finish packing. i told him i'd get around to it."

you nod in understanding. "i thought it was yunjin." yunjin was jay's most recent love interest, and you let out a pained chuckle, not wanting to let jay know just how much you hate the thought of them together.

"oh her? we stopped talking a few weeks ago. she wasn't looking for anything serious, and you know how i am. i wanted more." he sighs.

"that's too bad, i know you really liked her." you attempt to console him, but he doesn't seem too sad about it.

"it's alright. things happen. it just shows that she wasn't meant for me. she tried to use the fact that we're both moving as a scapegoat, but i think it's bullshit. if you really like someone, and you want to be with them, shouldn't you put in the work to be with them? even if it's not easy?" he asks, almost a little frustrated.

the two of you walk in silence for a bit, and your breath catches in your throat as something in your mind says "fuck it. "

"i would." you mumble. you're incredibly quiet, but jay still manages to hear you.

"what?"

you've stopped walking now, and jay is standing directly in front of you. "i would put in the work to be with you, even if it wasn't easy, jay. to tell you the truth, i've been in love with you since we were kids. and i've waited for you this long, but i would a thousand years to be with you if i had to. you're the only person i could ever imagine loving."

you feel like you've just been pushed off a cliff, and you're bracing yourself for impact, unsure if the land beneath you is going to be soft, or hit you like a rock.

he stares at you, speechless. "why did you never tell me?" he asks with a shaky voice.

"i was scared! i knew you didn't feel the same way about me but i just had to tell you before we both leave. i never wanted to lose you but—" you start rambling, but jay cuts you off.

"i'm in love with you too, y/n. and i would also wait a thousand years to be with you if i had to."

now it's your turn to be speechless, but the silence doesn't last long. he pulls you in for a kiss. you feel like you must be dreaming, because there's no way jay has felt the same way as you this whole time.

when you both pull away, he pushes the hair out of your face and smiles at you. "i would wait an eternity to be with you, y/n, because that's how long i've loved you. and that's how long i will continue to love you."

[stxrvel]

gym time

summary: you didn't expect to meet someone like Bucky Barnes when you decided to enter the gym, especially since his looks and words were anything but friendly.

pairing: au!bucky barnes x f!reader

words: +1k

warning: uhm, descriptions of bucky working out? some bad words. also i suck at summaries but what i was trying to say is that bucky is very suggestive here, and there will be suggestive conversations iykwim. this chapter doesn't contain too much of that but still minors do not interact!!!!

note: hi guys! um, i dont know what to say. being honest idk why i wrote this when i dont know if i'll ever be able to continue it, i think it was for the joy or fun in it and maybe trying to test new things? i kind of wrote the draft for a second part but i dont think i want this one to be a series, i wanted to see it like a drabble but i got carried away and now there are too many words. but what i do know now is that i will be pleased to write drabbles in a scenario like this, like in this universe or au. if you guys liked this (which i hope so) would you mind sending me what would you like to see next? only time will tell how good i'm doing but i hope i can at least entertain you a little. anyway, looking forward to your opinions and i really hope you like this one! since it's my first time writing in this kind of genre :'(

You were at the gym. It had been barely a week since you had started with the goal of creating a routine in your life, because work was consuming you from the inside out. Coming home no longer felt like it used to, when you still had the fever of being independent and being able to get yourself everything you wanted. Adult life really was a mud puddle compared to what we always thought as kids.

So… yeah, you decided to join the gym closest to your apartment to try to change your bad procrastination habits a bit. Maybe now that you were paying for it with your own money you'd feel more like going, just for the sake of not making the money go to waste. But, hey, it was something.

During that week everything had been relatively fine. You hadn't had any problems with anyone, no awkward comments and you had gotten some workout partners to take turns lifting weights or running on the treadmills with at the same time.

It was honestly becoming your favorite place to be after work.

And, well, of course, there was him.

The man you shared end-to-end glances with at the gym. He never came close, always kept his space, unless he had to use some machine near where you were.

He looked like a decent man… and definitely sexy. But you didn't dare get close even though it seemed to be the only thing the two of you wanted to do. The furtive glances weren't even accidental anymore, you both sought each other out through the masses of air as if it was second nature to you. And that upset you too much because it hadn't been too many days, how could you feel so passionate and heated just sharing glances with a stranger? Within what you didn't know there might be something you didn't like, even.

Anyway, you had to avert your gaze each time before it became too much, but it always seemed like it wasn't enough for the people around you not to notice.

“Why don't you just go talk to him?” Veronica spoke in front of you, waiting for Erika to leave the press to start her series.

You were on the treadmill finishing your routine that day and that man was on the other side of the gym, lifting weights like they were nothing. You had watched him for so long without embarrassment that you had almost memorized every line of his massive arms. And your partners that day had definitely noticed.

“I don't think it's appropriate,” was all you could think of.

Erika snorted, lowering her legs as she put down the weights. “She's afraid the sexual tension surrounding them will suffocate her.”

“Erika!” you scowled at her. “Stop talking nonsense.”

“I'm of the same opinion as Veronica, you should just go talk to him. If it turns out his personality isn't as sexy as his body, you're not going to lose anything and you're going to gain a lot.”

Veronica, who had already settled into the press after Erika cleaned the chair, nodded animatedly at her partner's words.

You turned your head to look at him again, just as his strong hands released the weight that bounced to the floor. You saw him shake his arms slightly and move his shoulders in circles, releasing the tension a little at a time. Even in the distance you could make out as if he were right beside you the line of his veins running around his arms and the-

“Look at her, she's drooling already.”

You clicked your tongue and Erika only shared a chuckle with Veronica. You decided to focus solely on getting the treadmill over with quickly so you could get through that day.

-

You came out of the shower with an incredible freshness dancing in your body. In the bathrooms the atmosphere was always a little cooler than in the center of the gym, so the time after the bath was one of your favorites. Veronica and Erika had already left, they had said goodbye before you entered the shower. They always left at seven o'clock at night, but you preferred to stay a little longer and enjoy the showers you paid for because you didn't have much to do at home when you got there.

With the towel over your right shoulder you walked towards the lockers to get your training bag and other belongings. You thought for a moment about leaving a few things from your bag since there would be a zumba class early tomorrow morning and maybe you were getting a little interested in going, when you heard some footsteps close to where you were.

There shouldn't have been too many people left in the gym at that time because closing time was at 8:00 p.m., so someone else must have gotten out of the shower to get their belongings just like you.

You decided to leave a few things in the locker for the next day's class, encouraging you a little more to leave the house a little earlier. Anyway, you knew Veronica would be there so you wouldn't be alone.

You pulled out the bag with the things you were going to take with you and closed the locker. You turned around to leave, when you finally realized who else had come in after you.

It was him. It was that man.

You had never met him in the evenings. He always left before seven o'clock so you never had the chance to meet him alone until that moment, when you stopped dead in front of him, your sneakers grinding against the floor as if you had braked violently at fifty kilometers per hour.

Your locker was all the way in the left corner of that room and it looked like his was a few spaces away from yours in the same direction, closer to the door.

His gaze lifted in your direction at the sound of your shoes and you had to squeeze your bag strap tightly over your shoulder, eating your embarrassment fiercely.

“Hey,” he spoke first and his voice was nothing like you had imagined.

It was incredibly better. His baritone tone, somewhat raspy and light, sounded like he didn't have a care in the world. The way he slightly curved his lips sent an electric sensation throughout your body. He had given you that smile before, but at that proximity it was a whole new experience. It seemed like your body began to vibrate on another frequency.

“How did you like the gym?”

“Uh?”

The man turned back to you, closing his locker almost at the same time and leaning his shoulder against it in the most smooth way you'd ever seen, handling his body with a confidence that almost made you feel intimidated.

“You're new here, aren't you?”

“Ah, yes,” you nodded slightly, again feeling that embarrassment make its way from your throat. “I've really liked the gym, I've felt very comfortable thankfully. And the monthly plans are very good, affordable.”

The man nodded attentively at your words, as you tried to keep your composure under his sharp gaze.

“I'm Bucky,” he suddenly introduced himself, stepping a little closer to where you stood.

“I'm Y/N,” you kept your voice steady as you raised your hand to meet his that had just extended in front of you at a safe distance. “A pleasure.”

“The pleasure's all mine,” Bucky gave your hand a good shake, causing things in your body that you were too embarrassed to admit. You didn't know if your cheeks could get flushed, but at that moment you felt like they looked cartoonish, vibrant red and hot. “And I'm glad to hear you're comfortable. I do my best to make my clients happy.”

“Oh…?”

Even though you felt spellbound under the piercing fierceness of those blue eyes, your ears were still working enough to allow your head to process what you'd heard.

“You're the owner?”

Bucky nodded and you wanted to hide your head in a hole for a moment.

So you'd been eye-fucking the owner of the gym? Hell, now that you thought about it more clearly, it could even be that this man was older than you, much older.

Oh no, the things you had to go through for not being a little more prudent. Good thing that embarrassing moment would only be in your head.

“And now that you know, you can drop any complaints or recommendations directly to me, if you want.”

You let out a short laugh, trying to cut through the awkwardness you felt inside as you realized the situation you were in.

“Sure, yeah, anything I need to tell you I'll do it personally.”

“Also if you want me to change something… give you something or do something, you can tell me.”

“Sure,” you nodded quickly, starting to move around him to get closer to the exit. Bucky wouldn't take his eyes off you. “Now I know I'm counting on you for anything…. From the gym, that is.”

Your awkward laugh died under his intense but amused gaze. Was he enjoying it?

“And you can talk to me, if you want too,” Bucky continued speaking as you completely surrounded him and now found yourself in the position he had been before, “not just watching me from afar.”

You were sure the blood had left your face by this time. Your level of embarrassment had gone over the edge and in that instant you didn't know how to do anything but look at him as if he had caught you in the middle of a crime. You tightened the strap of your bag while holding your breath as you noticed him moving a little closer towards you.

“It's not that it bothers me, don't go thinking that. It's just that… I'd like to get to know you a little more if that's possible.”

“Uhm…” you mumbled with a dry mouth, the reflection of the light in his blue eyes much clearer against the short distance between the two of you. You passed saliva with difficulty, shaking your head to answer him, “Yeah, sure. I'd like to know you too.”

You watched out of the corner of your eye as he nodded at your words, not making a move to get any closer. If that five-foot distance alone already felt like you were suffocating, you didn't want to imagine what it would be like to have him standing to the side or behind you explaining how to do some exercise even though you already knew how to do them all…

Shit.

“See you then, doll.”

He walked around you, walking away from that conversation and that tension like it was nothing, like a bomb hadn't just exploded in front of you. You couldn't even say anything goodbye to him, you didn't know in that instant how to move your mouth.

For a moment you felt so foolish for allowing yourself to show yourself in such a vulnerable way in front of a man… but, at the same time, so much had happened since the last time you had actively flirted with one of them (even though what you had done at that moment had been spitting words). You'd barely had a taste to remember what the adrenaline, excitement and anticipation of having a truly fun night was like… that you didn't plan on letting go.

Bucky had thrown you that rope and you were sure you were going to take it.

-

a/n: thank you for reading!! <3

[newfrontierbackstage]

1,000 views Milestone and more

Hello everyone. Today I have come to talk about the most important milestone the fic has ever reached. A little bit ago, New Frontier reached 1k views on Ao3 and it honestly made me so proud, happy and satisfied with seeing such a number, even after months of hiatus and inactivity. The support that this fic has received is... honestly something I never expected.

If I may go off character for a bit, I want to tell you guys a few guys. I created this fic just for myself, for my own sake and to show the fandom some cool stuff, some action and my type of writing that I tend to like and go for. The first version was very much a showcase of inexperience and lack of understanding for a lot of things when it came to writing, but it was still the most fun I had writing the fic.

Then I went to reread what I had created and written... I started to see the cracks, to see that what I had put on the paper just wasn't as amazing as I first thought it was. So with that in mind, I decided to start going back and rewrite previous chapters, as it felt necessary and I felt it could elevate the story to higher levels and although that was pretty fun at first, it started to drain me pretty bad in the lenghtier chapters. It started to feel like a job.

The chapters have absolutely improved and I feel the fic's direction is in a much better spot, but I had to fight myself to get the motivation to keep going. Being honest, I was very much considering the possibility of dropping the fic on its entirety. as it truly felt that draining and boring to write. I wasn't doing new stuff, I was just rewriting older stuff and noticing my many mistakes!

My friends like CharmmyColour and LonelyLittleShips adviced me to write other parts of the story that were more exciting or thrilling. I honestly didn't think that was going to work out and I still tried to write through Chapter's 5 and 6 with a pessimistic and saddened state of mind.

That was until GoldenTulipLynx (my current cowriter) came into my life a year ago. We started to discuss more of the fic and he actively encouraged me more and more to write a few months ago. He told me to do so at least once a week to get some progress done and I did. It wasn't a perfect process, but it definitely led me to write more. Then he suggested me to write something exciting and for the first time, I actually listened to that advice and...

It worked. It gave me my inspiration back somewhat and it made me want to get writing more and more. If it wasn't for his inspiration and also the encouragement from my other friends, I may have cancelled the fic as a whole, so for that I'm truly grateful to them.

What I'm also grateful for is have fans and followers that have been patient, loyal and comprehensive towards the fic's state and progress. This took so long because I wanted to give you guys something worthy of that much of a wait and also have fun while doing so.

I really wanted this message to be special, as I felt the ocassion was the perfect time to do so. Truly, thank you guys. Thank you for still being here and I hope you look forward to what else I have cooking up.

And because I knew this was such a special ocassion/milestone, I also wanted to give you guys something exceptional, so with that in mind... I commissioned some art for New Frontier as a treat for you guys, one that displays Cavendish with his rifle in a wonderful forest, one that's going to be the usual hangout spot for him and Dakota.

This is my gift to you, everyone. Hope you have a good day/afternoon/evening/night and I'll see y'all down the trail!

With love: hypersonicJD

Edit: I have removed the background of this piece as I have found out it was been AI generated. I do not condone anything AI generated and thus, the commissioner's credits have been removed as well and I would like everyone to reblog this new version of this post.

[kazoosandfannypacks]

"Wishing it Wasn't" by kazoosandfannypacks

Chapter 2/18: A Fellow Likes To Be Courted Pairing: CaptainSwan Rating: Teen (for gun usage in later chapters) Word Count: (1K/19.5K) Summary: Season 2 Canon Divergence: When Neal tells Emma he has a fiancée, she claims to have a new boyfriend of her own, and blurts out the first fairytale name she can think of: Captain Hook. Killian agrees to this ruse, but when feelings grow between the two, will the con be more than they can handle? Chapter Summary: Killian Jones has been having a very bad day- until Emma makes him an offer he wouldn't want to refuse. Tags: season 2, canon divergence, gun violence in later chapters, angst with a happy ending, fake dating, mild character death, mildly anti neal Author's notes: I also want to point out that for this fic I attempted to make every chapter (except 18 which is more of an epilogue) at least a thousand words long, so that's pretty exciting! Taglist: @zahara @kmomof4 @jonesfandomfanatic @booksteaandtoomuchtv @jrob64 @tiganasummertree @anmylica @teamhook @undercaffinatednightmare @gingerchangeling @lonelyspectator @caught-in-the-filter @ultraluckycatnd @cs-rylie @pirateprincessofpizza [if you'd like to be added to or removed from this list, hmu in my dms or askbox!]

Also on Ao3!

 Killian wasn't having the greatest day. The Crocodile was back in Storybrooke, protected by his magic, and though the Dark One's adoring girlfriend's memories had been lost, Hook still felt his thirst for revenge wasn't sated. He'd spent his morning brooding at the docks, and was on his way to spend the rest of the afternoon brooding with Cora and Regina at the mayor's office.

 "Hook!" he heard a voice call out behind him. He turned around and was delighted to see Emma had called his name- because although he wasn't in a good mood, he was always in the mood to flirt, and flirting with Emma just felt so natural, like the right thing to say in an attempt to fluster her would come out of his mouth before it he'd even had time to think about it.

 "Ah, Swan. Came to see how I'm doing after our last little visit?" He smiled. "Checking to see if the rest of me's still intact?" He winked at her and awaited her harsh rebuttal.

 But instead of replying with harsh words, she just said, "Actually, I'm here to ask a favor." 

 "Ah." He recalculated his approach- if she was gonna make this easy for him, he'd play a little hard to get- and asked, "and what makes you think I'd help you?"

 "Let's see." Emma said, counting out the reasons on her fingers. "I could've had Anton the Giant kill you, but I didn't. I could've not called an ambulance for you when you got hit by a car at the town lines, but I did. I could've not been your only visitor at the hospital, but I was… and as sheriff, I could arrest you for attempted murder- but I might not."

 "All that decorum just to get me in handcuffs?" He smiled.

 She crossed her arms. "You're making this harder than it needs to be."

 He raised his eyebrows again, higher, and she rolled her eyes and facepalmed- exactly the reaction he was expecting, like she knew exactly where his mind went.

 "Maybe I should just go." Emma said.

 "No, wait." Hook said, not about to let her leave so suddenly. "What did you need?"

 "It's nothing-" she said, "nothing important anyways- honestly it's ridiculous."

 "What is it, love?"

 If he was being honest, there still wasn't a great deal of things she could ask for that he wouldn't do for her. Despite his best attempts, she was still on his mind quite often, and he understood her- unbeknownst to her, much of their histories was shared experiences, and a part of him wanted to see her succeed in whatever it was she was setting out to do.

 But he wouldn't go telling her that. That would ruin the fun.

 "I need you to pretend to go out with me."

 "I-" Killian was pretty sure he understood what that meant, but there was no way she could be asking that. "What?"

 "Like, dating- courting" she wrinkled her brow and shook her head, "I know, it's ridiculous."

 He shook his head and blinked a few times. Sure, he wouldn't mind spending an evening with Emma- or a night for that matter- or any time really, so long as she wasn't trying to kill him.

 Okay, as long as she wasn't trying too hard to kill him.

 He tried to recover from his shock by flashing the most dazzling smile. "Swan, if you wish to court me, you don't have to fake it."

 "I don't." Emma said. "I never should've asked, it's just. My ex is in town, and he told me about his new fianceé, and I might've told him I've moved on and have a boyfriend now… and I might've told him that boyfriend was you."

 It was an unusual circumstance, sure, the kind that only happens in stories- but he was an unusual man, the kind you only meet in stories.

 "Well, I'm flattered, Swan."

 "Don't be." Emma said. "I'm related to everyone else in town. You were my last resort."

 "By default." Killian rolled his eyes. "My favorite way to win."

 "I'm sorry, I shouldn't've…."

 He put his hook on her lips to silence her.

 "Easy, Swan." Hook smiled. "A fellow likes to be courted."

 "Even fake courted?"

 "One date with me and you'll be wishing it wasn't fake."

 Emma rolled her eyes. "I just need you to pretend to be my boyfriend until Neal's out of town."

 "And what do I get out of this arrangement?"

 Emma batted her usually-so-cold eyes at him. "What do you want out of it?"

  "The only thing I've wanted for the last two hundred years." Hook said, trying to see how much he could get out of this already beautiful arrangement. "Revenge. And as nice as a pretty blonde distraction is- I don't think that's gonna sate those desires."

 "Your 'crocodile's' girlfriend doesn't even remember who he is." Emma said. "You made sure of that. And wouldn't it be the best revenge to move on? As if ruining his life was just happenstance, like it didn't even matter to you in the long run?"

 "Like the Crocodile did to me." Killian thought. "I spent centuries plotting my revenge in misery, and he moved on like ruining my life was an average Tuesday. I could work with that."

 "And besides." Emma said. "I could forget this conversation ever happened and just throw you in jail."

 "Excellent point, love." He said. "Sounds like you've got a deal."

 "Almost." Emma said. "If this is gonna work out- fake work out- all cards on the table. My ex, Neal- is Baelfire."

 "Baelfire?" Killian repeated. "Milah's son?"

 "I guess- yeah." Emma said. "Is that going to cause any problems?"

 He almost thought it would, almost thought it would be a disgrace to frustrate the son whom Milah so dearly loved- until he remembered Baelfire on the Jolly Roger, just before he was taken by Pan, and how he'd told Hook he hated him for the choice Milah made.

 "Of course not." Killian said. "If this is a plot that frustrates the Dark One, it would only avenge her death."

 But up until he heard about Baelfire, petty vengeance against the Dark One had been merely a facadé, a motive to hide behind to save face. In reality, he'd taken quite a fancy to Emma and the chance to be with her- even just to pretend to be with her- that would be an adventure indeed.

[samsspambox]

Bittersweet Firsts

(a weird amalgamation of a case study, venting, and romance about dr. richter)

1k words.

"Do you remember your first love, Dr. Richter?" They ask him one day, nudging him with their arm.

No, he wants to tell them, he doesn't and will never care for that person while they're with him. But...

"I do."

It would be a lie, and he hates lying about trivial things.

"Tell me about them?" They ask, nothing but curiosity coloring their words, "Who caught the eyes of the great Dr. Richter before I did?"

He chuckled and pressed a soft kiss to the side of their temple, "They may have captured my heart then, but you have it now. I hope that my heart stays with you for the rest of our lives."

They smile and lean closer to him, humming in contentment, "Me too, but still. Tell me?"

He frowned, "It is... not a nice story."

"It doesn't matter," They tell him, grabbing one of his hands and giving it a quick kiss, "I want to know everything about you. The good and the bad."

"You truly never cease to amaze me, do you know that?" He tells her, his frown turning into a rueful smile.

"Yeah yeah, I'm the pinnacle of perfection and all that. Story?"

He chuckles, "Very well then. I was about 15 when I first met them..."

--

Even as a teenager, Vyn wasn't very well liked. He knew this, being the 'bastard son' of the duke even though he was born within a marriage. The only reason anyone tolerated him was because of his father, and he hated it.

His tutors had instructed his father to let him experience proper schooling after spending most of his elementary and middle school education within the walls of his home. It would benefit him, they would say.

Vyn scowled down at his lunch, stabbing a broccoli with a little too much force. No one would come sit with him, no one would let him sit with them. He was alone.

"What's that broccoli ever do to you?"

Vyn jumped in his seat and turned around. A young girl about his age was standing near him, a tray of food in her grasp.

"What?"

She sat down next to him, "You were stabbing that broccoli like it personally offended you. What did it do, sully your father's honor?"

He wrinkled his nose, "I don't think I'd actually fight anyone talking badly about my father."

"Yikes, I know that one all too well."

He couldn't help it, "Why are you here?"

"Because you looked lonely."

He paused to look at her and found that... she was being completely honest. She didn't look like those people who had sneered behind his back or those others who silently judged him.

"Vilhelm de Haspran."

He extended his hand. She shook it.

"Annabeth O'Connor. Pleasure to meet you."

--

Their friendship was cautionary at first. She was the daughter of a baron, the lowest part of the nobility and he was a child of someone not in the Church of Svart. Outcasts in their own right, but now outcasts together.

Vyn hated the notion of love at first sight. His father was a perfect example of why it would never hold.

But he still believed in love, and over the course of the year he started liking his new friend more and more until those feelings turned romantic. He liked her. He thought he loved her.

Vyn was never one to sit on his feelings. If he wanted something, he would ask. He had always been a person who was good with his hands. He would carve animals out of wood, make origami pieces, play the piano among other things. On a sunny day he made a beautiful paper rose to gift to her, the day he would ask her out.

"Annabeth?"

"Yes, Vilhelm?"

"Would you like to go on a date with me?"

She stilled, "A date?"

"Yes, a date."

"Oh. Uh. Sure?"

"How does Saturday sound?"

--

He had thought the date went alright. They went to a museum and walked around in the gardens, had lunch, the whole nine yards. Why was she avoiding him? Any time she would look at him she would stiffen up and turn in the other direction.

Gone were the days they would be sitting side by side in the library. She would join another group of people for lunch, leaving him alone. He got no response whenever he would text her, and in a last ditch effort he went over to her house only to get yelled at by her parents.

One day she had left a note in his locker, telling him to be patient and wait for her since she couldn't date him. He respected that, waiting patiently for the rest of his time at that school, but she never approached him again. He was alone, like always.

He didn't know what he did wrong. Well, he did. He knew exactly what happened: he fell in love. He made the same mistake his father made. He did the same exact thing, but he vowed that it would be the last time. He wouldn't be like this, like him.

--

"Well, that's not very nice," they told him.

He cracked a smile, "I know. But over time I learned to look at it with a fonder lens."

"How so?"

"It was my first date. While the outcome was not what I wanted, I learned and grew from that experience. It is, as you say, bittersweet."

"Did they ever apologize to you?" They asked, grabbing his hand and playing with his fingers.

"She tried in later years. I did not give them a chance to apologize at the time."

"Why?

"Out of hurt, why else? And I was still a child, I still made mistakes."

They stayed silent for a second, "What would you do now? If they tried to apologize?"

"I would thank them."

"Thank them?"

He smiled, threading his fingers between theirs, "Yes. After all, without those series of events, I would have never met you. In the end, it was for the best."

"Really?"

"Yes, really. Now, would you like to go out to dinner? It is getting late. And, perhaps, you could tell me about your first love as well."

They smiled and playfully squeezed his hand.

Yes, in the end it was for the better.

[joyandthephantoms]

wonder how it'd be to love you

1k, T, Flynn/Nick

flynn nick fake dating!

on ao3

The thing about Nick Danforth-Evans is that Flynn doesn’t talk to him. It’s not out of spite or anything; Flynn’s got nothing against him—well, okay. She has a pretty minimal number of things against him. Julie liked him for years, which means Flynn has been judging him for years, but he’s honestly, like. Fine. Kind of a boring pushover, definitely too good for Carrie and nowhere near good enough for Julie, but the list of gripes ends there. As far as Flynn can tell, he’s not secretly an asshole or anything, he’s just some guy.

Still, though, they’re not friends, they never have been, they’re not even particularly friendly, so it’s weird to find him hovering around her locker before the first bell, and even weirder when he says, “Hey, can I maybe get your help with something?”

Since Flynn is also not an asshole, she doesn’t bring up the established lack of friendship, just says, “What’s up?”

“Um . . .” He tugs at the sleeve of his jacket, looks up and down the hall like he's trying to make sure no one is watching, and then rolls forward and back on the balls of his feet just once before asking, “Would you be willing to go out with me for a little while? Just for like, a month or two.”

She can’t help it: she laughs in his face. “Is that how you ask people out? Holy moly, no wonder you haven’t managed to date anyone but Carrie.”

“No, that’s . . . kind of why I’m asking,” Nick says. “Sorry, I did this in the stupidest way possible, can I just—okay.” He visibly resets, and, okay, it’s a little bit endearing, if only because it reminds Flynn that Julie is the same kind of awkward. "Sorry. I shouldn't have sprung that on you out of nowhere. It's complicated, and I'm not trying to put you in a weird position, I just—"

The bell interrupts him, and he curses. "Can we meet up later? Not a date or anything, just so I can explain better."

"Sure," Flynn says. Her afternoon is wide open, and she's dying to find out what on earth is going on here.

"Cool. Okay. You're the best." He gives her a thumbs up, then changes his mind and goes for finger guns instead, and then he's gone.

“Walk me through the logic here again,” Flynn says eight hours later, sitting cross legged on Nick's bedroom floor. "You want to, what, pretend to date someone Carrie hates to make her mad? Not jealous, though, I got that part, so are we just pissing her off for fun, or what?"

“It’s not like that,” Nick says. “Look, I just—I really need to not get back together with her this time.”

“And you need me for this because . . . ?”

“Because I’m really bad at not dating her,” Nick admits. “Every time we break up, I tell myself I'm going to actually stay away from her for good this time, and then I always get back with her anyway. I need a good reason not to, and I need someone else to hold me to it.”

“Okay,” Flynn says, “But like. You’re not this desperate, right? Like you do realize there are people out there who actually want to date you.”

“I’m not gonna use someone like that,” Nick insists. “It isn’t fair unless they’re in on it.”

It's a low bar, but Flynn can admit that it's nice that Nick isn't willing to string along some poor girl just because he's a spineless idiot about his ex-girlfriend. He's at least being honest about what he's asking for, and she respects that.

And she does get his whole thing with Carrie, really. Julie knew that Carrie wasn't good for her months before things permanently blew up between them, but that didn't mean it was easy for her to break out of patterns of hoping and trying and giving in, and all Flynn could do was be the best friend she could be, try to prove to Julie that it's actually super easy and cool and fun to treat her well. She hated watching her go through all that, but she'd do it a hundred times over if Julie needed her to.

Nick doesn't have anything close to that kind of best friend privilege, but, yeah, the particular predicament he's in does kinda hit close for Flynn. Even if it's dumb, she wants to help him.

"Okay," she says. "Let's talk details."

Nick blinks at her, surprised. “Does that mean you’re in?”

“It means I want details. Terms and conditions first, then I tell you if I agree to them."

"Fair enough," Nick says. "What do you need to know?"

"How long do you need me to do this? Cause I hate to break it to you, but I don't think Carrie's going anywhere any time soon, and I'm not gonna hold your hand all the way through to graduation."

"No, of course not," Nick says, "I wouldn't ask you to. I really do just need a month or two, like I said. Carrie and I have never broken up for more than three weeks, so I think if I can get a little bit past that point, I should be fine."

"Cool," Flynn says. "What do I get out of this?"

Nick cringes. "I know I'm asking for a huge favor here. I'll pay for all our dates and everything, we can go wherever you want, and I can drive, too, whenever you want me to, if that helps."

"Not a bad deal," Flynn decides. "What kind of PDA are you expecting? I assume that's the main point here."

"Whatever you're cool with," Nick says quickly. "Doesn't need to be anything major, as long as you can, you know, act like you like me, let me walk you to class, post a couple dates on your instagram, stuff like that."

"Easy," Flynn says. "Okay. I just need to check on one more thing, give me a second." She pulls out her phone and opens up her text thread with Julie.

hey

so

just curious

you're like

100% sure you're over Nick

right?

Julie immediately responds with a selfie: she's sitting pressed up against Luke, his arm wrapped around her waist and his chin hooked over her shoulder, both of them grinning like heart-eyed idiots.

Positive.

Flynn looks back up at Nick. "I'm in."

[neon-pink-witch]

Q, for the ask

This one is "Have you ever left a fandom"

Yes. I use to be on Twitter and ran a very successful account based around the Marvel symbiote. Scream. At its peek I had around 1k followers and did three episodes of a podcast and an interview with another very popular Venom youtuber. After Scream: Curse Of Carnage got cancelled myself and a few friends decided to make a day in August for "International Scream Symbiote Day" that did extremely well in the Twitter comic community, to this day I wonder if the work we did on that even is what really helped Marvel decided to order a short run for a summer Carnage event. I also got one of my letters to editor published in an issue of Absolute Carnage. Cosplayed as Scream at a convention and got to meet both Donny Cates and Ryan Stegmen.

I ran what was called a "Let's Talk" blog. It kind of had the same vibe as those "fuck yeah" blogs that you'd find on tumblr in the early 2010's. The Let's Talk community started out really good. We had a discord server and it was a nice place.

Until it wasn't.

It started with a few people getting called out for legit bad things. Homophobia, transphobia and I swear one person turned out to be a fucking Nazi. All good reasons to blast someone but it didn't stop with that, pretty soon any tiny misstep could get you blasted.

Soon after I started watching people get ripped apart for honest mistake. I remember at one where someone accidentally misgendered another person. They apologized right away and used the correct pronouns and issued a public apology on their page. They got death threats and left the community. To make it worse I'm pretty sure they were a teenager as not everyone in the community was a legal adult. It got worse. Soon if one person said something another person didn't like, boom. They'd get ripped apart by that person's friends. It turned into this high school click that was a shell of what it was.

I stopped having fun with my page and started feeling like I had to be very careful with what I said or I'd be next. I even changed my name on ao3 because of this because I was worried my Symbrock fics would get found and I'd get attacked by anti-shippers. I started feeling like I was being watched all the time because I knew if I said one thing wrong or made any mistakes at all that I'd be "ruined"

I'm not really sure when I left really. I just slowly stopped posting. It helped that I didn't like what Marvel did with Scream and her host Andi Benton. The Venom comics got to be too much price wise to keep up on(without privating them and jesus if the community found out you were using free comic reading sites). I sat down with myself and decided I didn't want to be around people like that. I didn't want to have to walk on eggshells and worry about getting bullied if I said the wrong thing. So I walked away.

I was already on tumblr and ended up in the homemaking community and good gods jesus christ that's a fucking cult and I don't recommend that either. But that's a totally different tale. After I woke up from that I found myself again through Cyberpunk and help from my family and well, here we are!

[zeevoidlight]

Just finished the Talos Principle 2. I have thoughts on it.

I liked it very much :). Is one of those games that will stay with me for quite a while. I like the world building, the robots, the problems and questions that arise from the story. Just like last game.

SPOILERS My ending was that I unintentionally (because i didn't knew it was a choice) pushed for Byron to become mayor. I actually think it was a good outcome and something I wanted ultimately because the city couldn't possibly survive without him in command for the next election. I liked Byron at first because is almost obvious. But as the story progressed in the game I started to see what the others were talking about when referring to him. I do think he is umm... a bit insane, lol, and later in the game i couldn't but see him as a too rash and unhinged at times, just like the other extreme with Hermanubis. He's clearly a Utopist with big ambitions which wouldn't be so bad if they weren't driven by his own trauma, he cannot see past himself using others necessities to justify and prove his personal point into the extreme. That's why I wanted to side with Alcatraz, which to me feels like the safe option, of not being to rash to take a definitive decision in that moment to completely change reality forever and focus only on the immediate problems at hand. He wasn't opposed to the technology, he was just wary of it, which is perfectly understandable. But... I didn't wanted to admit it but the narrative seems to favor Byron in the very end, even leaving Alcatraz completely out of the picture in all endings, and depicting the "theory of everything" as the only one that gives fruit. maybe, Idk exactly but that's my impression after seeing three endings by myself and the special endings on youtube. Although I still don't know the conditions of the special endings and their variants, and also my impression was a bit different, more balanced when i saw the normal endings by myself. Maybe reddit has a way to skew the truth by deciding to find and choose a "true" ending or "canon" ending, maybe the game is actually biased, idk. The ending i got was, like i was saying before i got sidetracked, I got Byron elected, and I wanted to turn off the machine, not destroy it, to maybe take a bit of time to think about it and study it, and Byron in the meantime could move New Jerusalem out of their stagnation into something better than what they had currently. I was my best outcome because they needed the resources and I think they were absolutely exaggerating by saying that they will destroy the planet if they just basically grow any inch. They were already much better the moment the started making plans for expeditions and gathering resources for their immediate needs, and thinking about creating new things, while at the same time not immediately giving the theory of everything power to them as they were right now because Athena's concerns and Alcatraz concerns where very much real. Is the power to change reality itself! Is Teensy and Tot and the Polyhedron all over again! Don't you see the danger they inherent?! (insert Jeff Goldblum here).

But i feared the game wasn't going to understand me and it was going to give me a bad ending for taking the middle of the road decision, and that's exactly what happened. I took the option to turn off the machine, and apparently that's the worst ending because the mayor is not actually elected, they end up fighting each other, 1K just ends up leaving them to their own and basically exiles himself with Athena and says "fuck this shit I'm out" and leaves them to figure the future out themselves, and the Sphinx tells me that i took a decision that is not a decision. like... *sigh... So, I watched the ending that I think the game wanted me to take in the first place, which is to use the machine to know everything and gain absolute control over reality itself. And i watched it, but to be honest it was still not the good ending, at least for me, even with that Byron super heartfelt dialogue at the end over the scene with 1K creating life in another corner of the universe and the holograms (ghosts? ppl on reddit said it was ghosts) of other AIs and the music and all. I just think that's too much, and as Al and at some point Yaqut said, it felt devoid of meaning, to suddenly have everything and can do anything and know everything, to manipulate life that way. Everything looses purpose. At least that's how i felt.

So, I chose then the other ending where you outright destroy the machine. And I thought the game was going to punish me with something worse than my first ending, complete oblivion. But surprisingly it was the ending i was actually looking for. One where Byron gets elected and he says that he respects my decision without any resentments since he expresses that with respect. I was surprised when he said that! and he was saying in his speech that he was still going to take New Jerusalem to a brighter future worthy of the people that doubt them. It was so much better! And just what i wanted! And then 1K goes into the woods and find a stag, and kneels before it. I don't feel it was in a worshiping way but just in a respectful way. I was just disappointed that I didn't saw Alcatraz in that ending then, because I feel like he would be much more at ease and happy with the results. The only thing he wanted was for Byron to not go crazy, not to stop advancement altogether. But towards the end i feel the narrative started to change Alcatraz into being the opposite of Byron like he was depicted at the very start for you to think that was all his character was. It reverted back into it with little details he says to make you misunderstand what he's saying again...

... I'm happy with that last ending i got being my canon one. Even if it's "the wrong one". Feels like Pathologic all over again. I just cannot win with the choice I thought it was the good one. I hope i'm just tripping and there's actually no bias. But that's why it will stay in the void along with other things as long as the general consensus say there's an actual "canon" ending. At least until the new Talos comes out in a couple of years, if there's another one. Or someone on the team says otherwise. I will have my own canon. And Alcatraz and I can be the forever party poopers.

[sleep3deprived]

Unspoken Words

Pairings: Kuroo Tetsurou x Reader

Warnings: Language, projected daddy issues (I'm sorry), break-up

Genre: Angst

Words: 1K

You: I can’t do this anymore. I’m sorry. I can’t.

Kuroo: C’mon…don’t do this.

You: I’m sorry for the argument, I took it out of hand. But you know we can’t be together.

Kuroo: We’ll work this out, please.

You: I do love you. That’s why I’m sorry.

———

8 years and you’ve been doing good for yourself. I mean, it’s not like you’ve done anything super amazing, like becoming famous, but you’re thriving.

You’re a person in their mid-twenties, who’s exploring life but also just living. You’re doing good…happy you could say. Content.

You look down at your phone screen and check to see how you’re doing on time. ‘30 minutes till I gotta be in the office…not bad.’

Once you approach the coffee shop, you open the door, the light already shining through from the shop windows, the bell giving off a soft chime to alert others of a new visitor entering.

You make your way to the cashier, giving in your order. You head off to the side of the counter, waiting for your name to be called.

It was a pleasant day. You're right on time and in a fairly good mood. Nothing can make this day make you regret waking up- “Y/n?”

…Are you fucking kidding me?

“Omg hey, Kuroo! It’s been a while…” You look at the man who interrupted your thoughts.

Whoa, you understand 8 years is a petty long time, which it is in hindsight, but it’s as if he changed…yet he somehow managed to stay the same?

He definitely got taller, as if he needed any more height. His suit is fit snug onto him, tight enough to show off his healthy physique, yet loose enough to allow him to move around. The suit compliments him, making him appear professional…and attractive even. The hair…yeah that hasn’t really changed at all.

“How have you been doing?” You ask him, trying to make sense of what’s going on right now.

It was a messy breakup, you and any of your mutual friends will admit. And if you’re being honest, he was the first and only man you’ve loved. Not that you couldn’t find anyone else, it’s just that…he was someone that you couldn’t forget. Kuroo left an impression on you, as you have on him.

"I've been good, you know! Works been keeping me busy..." He tells you.

There was obviously some tenseness between the two of you. I mean, you haven't seen each other in 8 years. And when you did, it was a break-up through text. And it wasn't even clean.

Honestly, you didn't want to break up. You have strict parents, and back then in high school, you were on a strict leash, especially with boys. If your father found out about Kuroo, you could only imagine what he'd do, and you didn't want to risk it. So what did you do? The only conclusion you came to.

If you're gonna be totally real, you don't know if that was what you really wanted or if it was just an excuse you've been telling yourself to avoid the fact that Kuroo was getting too close to you, so you thought removing him from your life before he can leave will hurt less.

Whatever it was, it hurt but it was for the better you suppose.

The break-up happened pretty fast and you and Kuroo never really got the chance to ever talk about it. Then life got in the way and you both became a distant memory to each other.

Except for those late nights where you reminisce but doesn't everyone?

"I see you still drink your coffee the same." He says, pointing to the coffee with your name on it, the ice bringing the cup cool to touch.

You chuckle at what he said, surprised he still remembers how you drink it all these years later.

"Actually, I expanded my tastes. But nothing beats the original, right?"

Kuroo knew what you meant, but he also thought it had some underlying meaning. 'I'm probably overthinking.'

Kuroo was analyzing how you look since he spotted you. You've definitely matured, no longer being the simple 17-year-old you once were. It's easy to tell that you're about to head off to work, wearing a simple office-casual outfit, your work ID hanging from one of your pants hoop. Your hair is style simple, yet professional. You're even more beautiful than when he remembers you. But what catches his eye the most is the bright shine that comes from your hand.

You catch Kuroo's eyes, seeing them held onto your ring finger, the diamond being hard to ignore.

"I see you've been keeping busy as well." He jokes to you.

You hesitantly chuckled at what he said, looking down at your ring.

"Heh, yeah. It's pretty stressful, but he makes me happy..." You pause, noticing you've unconsciously started smiling thinking about your fiance.

Kuroo knows that look all too well. After all, you once gave him that look, too.

"What about you? Have anyone special?" You ask him.

He responds sheepishly, "Yeah, a girlfriend. She's nice, been together awhile..." 'but she's not you.'

"That's nice! How's your family doing? Been a while since I last talked to your sister." You asked him.

You were always close to his family. They treated you like their own, extended family and all. And since Kuroo's sister has no other sister, she always treated you like her own. Even with Kuroo's new girlfriend, his sister, or family in general, still have a soft spot for you.

Kuroo laughs, almost forgetting just how close you two actually were, "She's been good, still tormenting me and shit whenever she's visiting..."

You giggle at that, "So she hasn't changed then."

After you two finished sharing a laugh, the tension was eased just a little bit, but a pregnant pause still enveloped you two.

"I'm sorry for how things ended..."

"I know you are. It took me a while to get over you y'know." Kuroo tells you, a little upset.

"I know, I'm sorry. I- I don't know. It was what I thought was the best at the time...what could've been if..."

"I know- I know what you mean."

'What could've been...if we stayed together.'

Kuroo and you stared at each other's eyes. Unspoken words being said. Everything that's needed to be said within those years has been let out. It was the closure that you two needed, whether you two knew it or not.

It's been years. You've only ever been with one person since breaking up with Kuroo. And it took him almost a year or two to get over you, yet even then, it wasn't the same.

If Kuroo is being honest, he knew there was always an underlying reason why you broke up with him. He knew how you risked it all to be with him. So when it happened...out of nowhere...he was heartbroken. Heartbroken that you weren't his anymore.

Even after the breakup, you two prematurely stayed friends, regardless of that not lasting long, it was incredibly obvious you two still love each other. I mean, you did the same things couples would do.

But you didn't want to be with him.

Your father. Oh, of course, he knew that he's the main reason you're not with him now, and he didn't want to do anything that will risk your future. Which is the reason why Kuroo decided it's better to keep you in his life as a friend than you not in it at all.

The irony that it ended up happening anyways is something he finds slightly amusing.

If Kuroo is being real, and you are too...You guys are sure that if you two stayed together back then, you would still be together now. Countless nights have you two thought of each other. Of what the other is up to, or the finger ghosting on the social media profile. It hurts. Or it did. Now it just feels like a pinch.

But alas, you're each other's first love. History will always remain what it will always be...

History.

You missed him once upon a time. But now, you have someone new. You've grown from the 17-year old you once were. You're happy now with where you are. So is Kuroo.

But as you walk out of the coffee shop, and Kuroo waiting back inside, you two can't help but think.

'What if...?'

[jalnandanz]

what he realized. — l.hs.

pairing: heeseung x fem!reader

genre: angst, fluff if you squint, lovers to exes

word count: 1k

warnings: break-ups, mention of dying (but no actual death lol). tell me if there's more.

summary: he was in love with her, he was sure of it. yet why did he never get excited when he was with her and why did he never enjoy their time together? why did he always lie to her?

taglist: @amakumos @ja4hyvn

he hated this.

he hated whatever he was doing to her. the guilt wouldn't stop eating at him, he felt so, so bad. he didn't know why he was like this, he was sure he felt something for her, something different. it was definitely not what someone would feel towards a friend. but he still couldn't understand why he always had to act like the perfect partner, why he couldn't be honest with his feelings, why he just wanted to impress her. he wasn't like that with friends.

maybe he was trying too hard. when he asked his friends about it, they told him his behaviour would not lead to good results in the long run. maybe they were right. maybe he was trying too hard to make it work, maybe he never actually liked her in the first place. maybe he only found her pretty. it was true though. the moment he saw her walk through the doors to the lecture hall, he could not stop staring, she looked like an angel, she was stunning. it was like she was the only person in the room.

those thoughts were consuming him. the mere thought that he had only found her cute and didn't actually love her made him so sick. he felt like he had been lying to her the whole time, that he had faked his entire personality. she would be in despair if she found out what he was actually like, right?

yet for the first few months after he realized his true feelings, he refused to let her go. he refused to let her roam free, be with other people, live her own life. so he pretended. he pretended that he was still in love with her like he used to. but, however much he wanted to make her happy, his inner feelings were threatening to spill out any moment.

but alas, all good things come to an end. he couldn't hide his true feelings any longer. she had noticed his behaviour changing more and more each day. after a while, it felt like he was a new person. he stopped sending her weekly bouquets of flowers. he stopped going to his favourite coffee shop, something he would do every time they passed by. he texted her less and less often, and always seemed to be in a rush to get home. in the end, her curiosity came to the forth.

"heeseung? why are you acting so strangely lately? is something wrong?"

now he had no choice. because of his cowardice, he only had the last and most painful way out.

"let's break up. i'm sorry (name)." he told her everything he felt, how he loved her so much he would die for her, yet how he didn't feel fully comfortable with her. he thanked her for everything and said that he would always treasure their memories together. to her, they may have sounded like empty words, but he was serious about them.

he still remember the day she confessed to him, and how thrilled he had felt. before that, he had always found her cute, yet didn't harbour any of those "butterflies in his stomach" feelings for her. maybe the saying that "when someone confesses, you tend to like them more" is true after all.

to his surprise - and somewhat relief - she didn't seem to be mad.

"thank you for being honest, actually i noticed that a while ago but didn't want to bring it up in fear of losing you, but thank you for telling me. i won't forget what we had." she walked away, trying not to let him see her tears.

— 2 years later.

"heeseung? what are you staring at?" his friend, jungwon, asked.

he had not seen her for 2 whole years, had never contacted her and never checked up on her, even though they had ended things on good terms. he never had the guts to, after he broke her heart like that. she still looked as stunning as before, but there was something different about her. he couldn't quite pinpoint it until someone came up to her. he did not recognise him, yet his heart twinged a little when he saw him take her hand in his. however, he felt happy for her, nonetheless. he was happy that she had found someone who could take care of her properly, unlike him. he was happy that she would be loved for real, something she deserved but couldn't receive in the past.

when she caught his eye, her eyes widened, then she gave him the most heartwarming smile he had ever seen. honestly, he didn't even know if she would recognise him, but she did. she smiled as if she was thanking him for letting her go, letting her love someone else, and letting her learn how it felt to be loved by another person.

"heeseung, is something wrong?" jungwon asked.

"no, i just saw someone i'd wanted to see for a while. i really missed her."

he did not regret anything about their relationship. in fact, he was so thankful for it. he was so thankful that she had wanted to be with him. he learnt so much from her and so much from their relationship. he had realized that finding someone cute did not mean that you had romantic feelings for them. he still felt bad for leading her on, but at least she was happy now. he realized that his whole life, he had just wanted to love someone, and maybe this was why they didn't work out in the end. he also realized that truly liking someone meant that you wouldn't have to go out of your way to be the perfect partner for them. finally - and most importantly - , he realised that letting go of his first relationship was the best decision he had made, because seeing her happy, even if it was because of someone else, was everything he could ever ask for.

[causticsbunny]

Rough Times | Octavio "Octane" Silva

｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆　　 ｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆

content warnings: stressed Reader (school/university)

pairing: Octane x male!Reader

word count: ~1k words

note: Apologies if any of the spanish petnames I used are wrong, I can't speak spanish sorry lmao

｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆　　 ｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆

If someone would have told Octane that at one point in his life he'd try his best to actually understand someone's feelings in order to cheer them up instead of pulling some stupid crap that would make him happy if someone did it for him, he'd have laughed and called them an idiot for thinking something like that.

After all he was Octavio Silva, the daredevil and stim-addict of the Apex games that never could sit still, the one that would always crack jokes even if he knew it wasn't the right time for it...surely someone would find it as funny as he did.

Well, that someone was you.

To be honest, in some ways you were the exact opposite of him - a stressed out student that felt like his life was about to end because of bad grades hailing in, topics you just couldn't get into your head and way too many tests squished into a few weeks. Hell, you weren't even sure if you'd survive this period of time.

Now was the moment when he actually tried to be empathetic, to understand your feelings just to find a way to cheer you up a little, get you to be a little more lively again, to play video games with him and yell at him whenever he demolished you on purpose in Mario Kart, god how he loved pulling those dick moves. But all of this was gone now - ever since you've started performing worse the time you spent with him had been reduced drastically and Octane, being just the guy he is, didn't know what to do against that.

Whenever he cracked a joke you'd show a weak, tired smile, telling him that now wasn't the time for this and that you were busy, apologizing and promising to spend time with him later, though usually this 'later moment' never came since you were exhausted after studying, pulling all nighters and mostly living of Energy Drinks, Coffee and take-out food.

Hell even Octane knew that this wasn't a healthy lifestyle and yet there wasn't much he could do. He knew that there was something he could do but figuring out what - well, that was the hard part of it. Of course, he could just go and maybe ask Ajay or Eliott for tips but he felt too prideful to ask them. Octane wanted to take care of this without the help of others, he kind of wanted to prove to himself that he could help you when you needed it.

And yet, as of right now he was failing miserably at it.

He didn't quite get why this was so hard. Why couldn't you just put those stupid books down and spent time with him? Surely that would cheer you up again!

"Octavio what the fuck!" You yelped as your books were swiped off the table before your chair was pulled back and you were thrown over his shoulder. He surely didn't look like it but damn, that guy was able to carry you around with so much ease, even while you were struggling, hoping he'd drop you by accident. "Fucking let me down, I'm busy."

"Nah, I've decided you've been busy for way too long, cariño" Octane replied, chuckling, throwing you down on his bed and putting down the take-out food he had gotten for you and himself.

"Tavi please, this test is important and I don't understand shit" You whined, trying to get him to let you go back to studying again.

"Mira, I know you're smart but if you don't understand shit now you won't understand shit later so might as well make good use of that time and spend it with me yeah?" God why was this kinda smooth. There was nothing you could say against that and you hated it. He always won discussions like that with just saying the one smart thing he could've saved for another time when it was a lot more necessary. "C'mon, mi cielito, I got your favorite food, just fuck school, watch a movie with me, eat with me, just like in old tomes yeah? I know you need that"

And now you felt like crying. His assumptions were head on just the truth. "Nonono, don't cry now, mi vida please, there's no need for that, c'mon smile, yeah? Yeah that's better~" He chuckled, wiping away some tears as you just smiled at him.

"You're an idiot, Tavi...thanks" You mumbled, pulling him down to press a kiss on his nose.

"Mira, don't you think I deserve more?" He joked which resulted in you gently punching his arm.

"Greedy bastard" You replied, slightly grinning before finally kissing him for real.

Slowly you pulled away, almost not wanting to but knowing you had to. It always surprised you how calm Octane could be if he really wanted it - some would never believe you if you told them. Octane and sitting still for longer than just one second just did not fit together well and you could understand why no one would believe you if you told them anything about these few moments now.

"Let's eat, yeah? Cold food isn't that tasty anymore" You mumbled, receiving a short peck onto your lips from him before he sat down next to him.

God only now you realized how much you did need this in reality - how much you've missed snuggling into his arms and falling asleep like that...hell even getting a decent amount of sleep was something you've been lacking for months now and even if it was just one day in that stressful exam season - you were so grateful for it. Just getting a normal amount of sleep again while being close to him was so much needed.

You just wished every day could be like this.

But maybe it could - Tavi had a point. You really were stressing yourself too much - and if there was something you just couldn't understand there was no need to force yourself to get it into your head. There was plenty of other stuff you understood and that would be more than just enough to save your grades.

All you needed to do was to let it happen - who cared if your parents were disappointed in you because of some dumb grades - if it would go bad you'd just beat yourself up over it again because of how much you studied for those tests you yeah...maybe you really could allow everything to go slightly back to normal again.

｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆　　 ｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆

[callmemeelah]

Stargazing and nightmares

⸙┆Format : Drabble..?

⸙┆Pairing(s): Ut!sans x Gn!reader

⸙┆Warnings [tw/cw] : Mentions of food. Slightly cursing [reader]

⸙┆Creator note(s) : Soo, this is my first FORMAL "fic" in a very long time, so i'm sorry if it's a bit OOC or "lazy" or "rushed". I tried my best, Also, Reader likes the night here. (I suck at puns too.)

⸙┆Word count : 1K+

The night, oh the night. Such a beautiful sight to see when you thought everything was lost. The stars, such beautiful little light that can guide you in your journey.. And the moon. The moon. So beautiful yet so intriguing. With such little light given on the night by her, but still useful somehow, being able to guide you steps, and also bei—

"Hey." You jolt and turn around really fast, you can feel your SOUL racing after hearing the voice, not knowing that him was even there. You looked around a little bit and blinked a few times so your view could get used to the light. When you saw what was there, or more specifically, who was there, you took in a few breaths to calm your SOUL from going out of your chest.

"Hah, God Sans, you really know how to sneak up on people, don't you?" You say, the skeleton lets out a light chuckle before laying with you on the roof, with only one eye socket open as he stared at the stars.

"Heh. Not really, i called your name a few times before getting to close to you, what's going on in your mind [ ]? No offense but you don't look exactly.. Well." He asks, a hint of worry on his tone of voice, tho, he was right. You haven't been feeling well recently thanks to nightmares, waking up in the middle of the night a few times and being a little to shaken up to go back to sleep these past few days.

"Yeah, things aren't going very well recently to be honest. There are a lot of things to do but so little time." You stared at the moon while rubbing your eye, you can't keep doing these type of things, staying up late and when you have to do things feel tired. It's not good for you nor.. you tasks?

"God, do you really have to do that much to do? It all sounds very stressfood."

...

"Stressfood?" U turn to look at Sans with a questioning look on your face, but when you do, you noticed that he had two sandwiches on each of his hands but also a bottle of ketchup and mayonnaise laying on his lap.

"Heh." The skeleton laughed a bit before handing you your sandwich, did he really just made a pun?... a really bad one too..

"Goddamit." You let out a little laugh, yes, the pun wasn't funny, but it was the intention what matters, right? , You grabbed your sandwich and started eating it peacefully while looking at the moon and Sans followed you right after.

"Y'know.." Sans said, raising his... bone brows? , And closes his eye sockets.

"I don't think Paps will be to happy knowing that our breakfast was, well, sandwiches." He takes out his phone from his pants and shows you the hour, 4.58 a.m.

Even tho, you payed more attention to his lockscreen.

It was a selfie of Sans, Papyrus and You when you hanged out together at the park, that photo must be at least a year old..or two? You don't really know how long you've been friends with the Skelebrothers, time flies really fast when you are with loved ones huh? It made you happy internally, knowing that Sans actually kept the photo, he teased you a bit when he took the photo, you were in the middle of eating a sandwich like you're doing right now, except that time your jaw was covered in mayonnaise while Papyrus was giving you a napkin to clean yourself, Sans was with an eye socket closed while doing a low peace sign and grinning like a dork. It seemed like he was having fun that time at least, there was doomfanger in the back too, running around with a but of m9nster food in her mouth, while Edge tried to chase her, and a little bit in th back, you can see red recording everything and laughing, poor guy, the worst part is that he didn't got to eat any of it, thanks to the fact that dommfanger ate it all.

You suddenly felt a little tug on your sleeve, making you snap out of whatever were you thinking "You really are tired aren't ya?" He said, you looked at both of his hands, noticing that he didn't had his sandwich anymore, but you still did.

"..i need urgent sleep, God.." You take another bite out of your sandwich, looking down at your lap. Suddenly, you left a cold hand around your unoccupied hand.

He started to slowly rub his thumb on your hand, when you looked at him with a curious look, he was looking at the moon, and he looked as relaxed as ever. The moonshine hitting him just in the right angle, making him glow like some type of precious stone, a faint blue could be seen on his cheekbones as he smiled and layed down.

"If you'd like to, i could help you with some off your stuff." He said, putting an arm under his skull while grabbing the other hand that was on your, signaling to you to lay with him.

You chuckled a little bit. "Do you promise to not fall asleep in the middle of it?" You said, feeling your eyelids getting a little bit heavier.

"Heh. No promises." The skeleton said, before both of you felt asleep.

...

After some silent minutes, He starts speaking again.

"You really are..something, and i mean that in the nicest way possible, you always help around the house, asked to or not, plus , you treat us all kindly, not as if we were some kind of..monsters..." There was a short, but awkward pause.

"I mean yes wearemonstersbutyoutreatusnicelyand—" The poor boy starts rambling until it all turns into a whisper, when he finishes, he looks at you, only to realize you were asleep this whole time. His whole face goes bright blue out of embarrassment.

"..Haha, oooh my God..You're going to be the death of me." He continues laughing quietly, then , he slowly starts to stand up.

He cautiously grabs your arm, and teletransport both of you to your room.

He turns the nightstand light on, then he proceeds to remove your shoes and quickly tuck you in bed.

He stares over your sleeping form, admiring your facial expressions, and how relaxed you look on your sleep, he quickly snaps out of it, and turns the light off.

But before he left, he cautiously stroked his hand against your cheek, noticing that you were a bit cold thanks to being outside in the night for to long.

He takes his hand away from your face, and starts to quietly walk to the door, before leaving, he quietly said something.

"Goodnight, [ ], rest well."

⸙┆Taglist: No one yet!

⸙┆Creator note(s): WHOOOOO, im so happy of how this turned out! It took me 2 days to make it but ignoring that— This is the longest thing i have ever written! Please tell me if you would like to see a part 2! Anyways, it's time for me to rest. I started this at 4 a.m yesterday and ended it at 2 a.m today yayy, bye bye!

[dumbass-mha-simp]

Elliott x GN!Reader

Your New Playlist

Kinda sad? Ig angst but not actually like, bad angst yk.

1k words

Stardew Valley

Warnings: crying, mentally beating yourself over a crush, self-sacrificing but not in a death kinda way, cussing (I think like one f word), Elliott is a theater kid you can't convince me otherwise,

I wanna do a part two, would anyone be interested? I know how much us Elliott simps want fanfiction. I'm probably gonna start on it anyway lol.

Yes I actually made this playlist smh ikik, you don't have to listen to it ofc but his aesthetic really fits my music taste, at least I feel so. I write my fanfiction as gender neutral as I can but if you ever spot any mistakes I'd love to fix it!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Elliott's POV

My feet took me across the path leading to Leah's house. The gentle cotton clouds stretching their wisps across the blue sky, bright enough to blind me as though it were the sun that it surrounds. The gentle new Spring breeze froze my cheeks lightly as my eyes closed to avoid the same chill from the past winter.

Fresh Spring flowers and hidden vegetables encircled her yard as I made my way to knock against the dark wood door that always seemed thunderingly loud.

Leah peaked through the window by her door before I can see her face light up and reach for the door.

"Hey, c'mon in!" She opens the door wider to let me pass through. "How are you doing?"

"If I'm honest, a little troubled." I sigh looking forlornly to the floor.

"Come sit." Leah pulls me to her table and sits in the accompanying seat. "Tell me what you're thinking."

"Leah, what does it feel like to you before you admit you fancy someone?" I look up into her listening eyes before her face changes into slight shock.

"Hmmm." She brings her hand up to her chin as she ponders. "Well, you miss being around them when they're gone. You constantly find ways to connect anything back to them, like `oh they'd love this`, or `I should check up on them.` You care about their opinion more than others and you want to learn about them, even if it's the uninteresting things."

I slide my arms down onto the table, placing my head on top of them. That sounded exactly like what's happening. I had read about it a million times, falling gently in love with a close friend. Perhaps that interest to become friends was always attraction.

"I can't get enough of Y/N." I muffled through my folded arms sighing once again as I turned my head to finally look back up at Leah, the light stinging my eyes.

"Well maybe I could help you with getting more of them?" Leah smirked as she grabbed her phone from her pocket.

I lifted my head slightly panicked. "What are you doing?" I rushed out.

"Relax, I'm not telling Y/N. But they shared something with me. They have a wide music taste yes?"

I had heard some of their music. While they made us lunch, while they partake in their hobbies, when they hum near silently late at night on the beach. I nodded back thinking of how they never seemed to be signing along to a song similar to the others. Unpredictable, and absolutely captivating.

"Well one of their tastes in music is very folk-y and they mentioned how those songs reminded them of you. So they made a playlist of songs that remind themselves of you." Leah said looking down and scrolling through her phone.

They made a playlist about me. They actively want to remember and listen to things that remind themselves of me. I feel I might faint. Was this something that was common among friends? Was this nothing more than an act of kindness? Or something they decided to do on a whim?

"Here give me your phone I'll send it to you." She holds her hand out expectantly.

I quickly go to pull out the hardly used device. I had never had much use for it but if it could bring me any step closer to Y/N I wouldn't hesitate to learn.

Leah downloaded a music app, laughing at how I had no applications. Before leaving it opened on the playlist. "The Lonely, Ocean-Accompanied, Writer." It read. I reread it a couple times to convince myself it was real. A lovely name, but is that how they see me?

"Chill out, Romeo." Leah giggled. "I can practically see you overthinking everything. Just relax and listen to the songs, maybe they'll tell you something."

I wrapped my arms around her neck, hugging her closely before leaving to listen to the playlist.

~~~

As I shut the door behind me I pressed my back against it. I've never felt so scattered before. I looked for the volume button, turning it up before hitting play.

The songs, quiet but emotional. As though you had just lie down on the grass to cry or relieve tension or reminisce. They felt like a memory I had trouble recalling.

The songs seemed to renew me, before I heard one I distinctly remembered hearing before. From high-school theater club, a time in my life that was fond to me. I do remember Y/N telling me they loved musicals, hearing them hum along to Heathers while I wrote.

A song unlike most others on this list.

"When He Sees Me" from Waitress.

~~~

Y/N's POV

"Oh, Yoba. What if when he sees me, I like him and he knows it? What if he opens up a door, And I can't close it?" I belted out the lyrics as loud as I wanted, the tears streaming down my face unwavering.

The good side to owning your own farm is you could scream along to your songs without people to complain. You had been replaying this part of the song for awhile now. He was all you could seem to think about.

Your head was swarmed with thoughts of Elliott. Some where he reciprocated your feelings and others where he shut you out. Every time you built a daydream where he loved you unconditionally you trampled it with the thoughts of his rejection.

You brought your knees up to your chest, resting your head between them as you cried.

~~~

Elliott's POV

We had had conversations about musicals, perhaps that's why they chose this song? Maybe they thought since my school had a play of Waitress that it'd fit. But I know they liked other Waitress songs, why weren't those added? Only this one.

After that song came another, "I Hear A Symphony" one I've never heard. As the song started all I could see was Y/N. I could hear them singing along, their smile, their eyes averting to mine for the thousandth time.

Y/N was my symphony.

The powerful, breathtaking ocean couldn't compare to the awkward farmer that ran across town just to give me their best sweet pea flowers and be the first thing I saw as I left my quaint cabin.

They brought the motivation and inspiration for 8 hour writing sessions, they brought me food when they knew I'd forgotten to eat between writing the book and planning on what to write next.

They were something I could never dream of losing. I wished to live the rest of my life with their support.

If telling them my feelings means I'd lose them, then I couldn't dream of making such a selfish decision.

~~~

Y/N's POV

I trudged my way into town. After last night's crying session my eyes still felt a bit dry, if I'm honest I cried when I woke up as well. The loneliness felt suffocating in such a lonely little house. But I needed some new seeds. The stone path drawing all my attention as I walked.

As I walked into Pierre's it wasn't hard to tell that people could see something was off. After buying my seeds I felt a hand on my shoulder, turning around to find Elliott.

"Y/N are you feeling alright? You look as though you've been distressed lately." You motion to him to follow you and walks out of the store behind you.

You take a deep breath as you start to tear up a bit more. He reaches for your face as he lifts it up, looking at the pooling tears.

So many things, the things you could have said. But they didn't come up. Instead a vision of his face of discomfort at your confession. You couldn't bear it. You couldn't tell him.

"I've just been stressed. I'm sorry for worrying you, Elliott." You sigh, attempting to put up a fake smile as you wipe your eyes. He retracts his hand as he looks guilty. Fuck does he feel like it's his fault?

"Well I'm willing to listen to your troubles if you ever need." He also puts on a strained smile as you both part ways.

"This is for the best." They both whisper as they leave.

[emometalhead]

All Too Well

Axl/Izzy

Angst. 1K words.

The copy of BURRN magazine sat on the coffee table, staring at him. Axl wasn't sure what bothered him more--the headline reminding him that Izzy was his ex-guitarist or the damn scarf Izzy was wearing on his head.

They were shopping together when Axl bought it. It had been one of their last good days, not that Axl should really call it that. They fought the entire day. Really the only pleasant part of the day was the exchange about the scarf. Axl had initially disregarded it in the shop until Izzy mentioned it reminded him of a pair of Axl's leggings. The sincerity in Izzy's voice when he told Axl the scarf would suit him was enough to convince him to do anything. He put it on as soon as it was paid for.

During their last night together, Axl had stormed out of the room in only his underwear. He'd be damned to return to the room to gather his belongings. The scarf remained on Izzy's hotel room dresser, alongside his own accessories. When Izzy up and left the next day, he took the scarf with him in his haste.

Seeing that scarf on the magazine cover was a betrayal. Axl loved that scarf. It was his. He had it because of Izzy. He had even vowed to himself to never wear it onstage. It was that personal. Izzy clearly didn't hold the same sentiment. Axl wouldn't allow himself to consider the possibility Izzy wore it because he missed him.

Two months after the magazine's casually cruel reminder of the end of his relationship, Axl's birthday approached. He remembered his last birthday. Izzy took him home to Lafayette. They hadn't been dating very long, but this trip felt special. One of his fondest memories of Izzy was a snow day they had as kids. They weren't dating back then. Just two kids, too scared to admit the feelings they were having. In too much danger to allow themselves to show more than fleeting amounts of affection. Yet, when Izzy told Axl it would be fun to hang out at the old playground while it snowed, he agreed despite the frost nipping at his face. Izzy held Axl's hand during the walk over. He claimed it was for 'stability'. You know, "because it's dangerous walking through all the snow. You could trip, and if that happens I'm not pulling you out of the snow, so you might as well hold my hand." They held hands even once they were sitting on the swings. Looking back, that might have been the moment Axl fell in love.

On this trip, Axl was determined to revisit that playground. He had routinely been telling Izzy he loved him since a month into their relationship, and he was certain this circumstance would get Izzy to finally say it back.

It didn't snow during that trip. Axl should've taken it as a bad omen. Izzy, clearly on his own agenda in Lafayette, rejected Axl's idea to return to the playground. Despite it being Axl's damn birthday, Izzy wouldn't budge. He hadn't wanted to mention it, hoping to organically recreate the sentiment of that sacred moment in their youth, but it seemed like the only option.

Axl described the moment to Izzy, whose response hit like a slap to the face. "I don't even know what you're talking about. You hated snow when we were kids, Ax. Plus why would I try to hold your hand back then. That's an easy way to get beat up. You don't need to try to make up some romantic moment so this trip isn't a bust."

Maybe he should've taken the hint at that point. Clearly, they viewed their relationship differently. Axl held much more value in their time, in their memories. He couldn't focus on that though. He was stupidly in love, and trying to make things work. If Izzy was growing distant, it had to be Axl's fault. He couldn't fathom another way. They'd been in each other's lives for so long. Even with two months of distance from the end, hindsight didn't reveal much. Hence why Axl saw no issue in planning an elaborate, impromptu birthday party for himself, so he had an excuse to call Izzy. He felt like goddamn Jay Gatsby.

If he was being honest, Axl wasn't certain Izzy would answer his call. If he did answer, Axl really wasn't certain a conversation would ensue, but it happened. Izzy answered. He agreed to come to the party. Said he'd show up with a present and everything.

Axl set everything up. He arranged catering. He paid a designer to decorate his house for the occasion. He invited his bandmates, the neighbors he could tolerate, and everyone he was calling a friend these days. He even put on the leggings that went with Izzy's scarf. They were a bit musty from the lack of washing and wear. It didn't matter. What was important was that Izzy would be there, and he would see those leggings. Axl knows the power of nostalgia. He felt it every time he remembered snow. He wanted Izzy to feel that rush of love. He may have never called it what it was, but Axl knew Izzy's feelings better than Izzy ever could articulate.

Still waiting on the guest of honor, or at least the one who was in Axl's eyes, the phone rang. It was disregarded by the guests, until a familiar voice echoed out of the scratchy voice-mail. "Hey Axl. Guess you're busy. I had a feeling I was supposed to call you today, but I left my calendar in California, and I'm in Indiana. Uh call me back if you remember what I needed you for. Later."

The shame of a lifetime of devotion to someone that couldn't even show up at his party ached more than anything he could compare it to. Axl could feel the bullet in his heart, and the pool of water around him. The full Gatsby experience.

[mmilkbreadd]

—oh my god, they were roommates—

Masterlist | Next

╰┈➤ looking for a roommate.

╰┈➤ any gender, any age.

╰┈➤ contact tsukishima kei for more info.

[part one]

pairing: tsukishima x roomate!reader

genre: fluff.

word count: 1k

Tsukishima Kei never imagined he would be bankrupt at such a young age. Working in the museum and being a professional player in Sengai Frogs should be enough —or that was what he thought. But now, he found himself posting an ad online looking for a roommate to help him pay his monstrous rent.

Though he first considered his friend Yamaguchi instead of a stranger, he already had a flat of his own. So searching online was the only option left.

Tsukishima had interviewed a couple of applicants before you. However, they were not “ideal enough” to share an apartment with him —he was a perfectionist regarding tidiness and order. Therefore, whoever didn't match those conditions was not considered a viable option.

Still, you were not the exception.

The appointment was in a cafe near Tsukishima's apartment. You arrived ten minutes late because you got lost on the way there. Your hair was a mess, your clothes were soaking wet, and your shoes dirty, all caused by the great storm outside. Kei looked at you from head to toe, wondering how the hell you forgot to bring an umbrella with the awful weather Japan had these last few weeks.

“You're late,” he said. “I don't like tardiness.”

You quickly sped to the table and sat across from him, offering a huge smile —despite his dry words and imposing demeanor, you still hoped he would choose you.

“I'm sorry,” you replied. “I got lost coming here. I'm new to town, and the heavy rain wasn't helping at all!”

Tsukishima sighed, wishing Yamaguchi's flat flooded, so he could just move with him and save him from this agony. That was a rather self-centered thought, to be honest, but he couldn't care less about it.

“You are (L/N), (Y/N), I assume,” he said while glimpsing at some papers. “Your resume seems just fine, but it's not enough. And, I have to say, my first impression of you is not the best.”

You frowned at his words. At first sight, you saw that he wasn't the kindest and gentle, but you thought it was just a facade to scare the creepy applicants. You were not like that, though, so you realized he was always acted like you suspected —or at least that was your initial guess about him.

You could say both first impressions of each other weren't the best.

Tsukishima started questioning you about your life and routines, each question getting sassier and dense. You expected inquiries like “how's your family like?”, “What are your habits? or even “What do you like doing for fun?”. But instead, he asked you if you used the bathroom as slow as you arrive at meetings, if you liked strawberry shortcakes, and if you enjoyed dinosaurs' documentaries... Tsukishima Kei was definitely unique. And your hope had entirely disappeared as well.

The tension between the two of you seemed to increase at every strange question. Tsukishima's serious demeanor never left his face. You thought he looked pretty handsome, considering he hadn't smiled during the entire time you were with him. Yet you still succeed in observing him, concluding that he was indeed beautiful.

Tsukishima pushed his glasses up from time to time, and you noticed his large fingers. Blonde, sarcastic, and a bit of a douche —just your type. His words sounded bold and very blunt. Something about his rude attitude made him appealing as well.

Only imagine how his house looked. You bet it was cleaner than anywhere you've ever been, and really empty too.

When the interview ended, he thanked you for coming and let you go without any word left. Before retiring, you tried analyzing his facial expressions again, yet nothing on his appearance told you what he was thinking at that moment.

“You could be nicer next time, you know,”you said after you put on your coat. Tsukishima raised an eyebrow, looking up from his glasses. “Maybe it'll be easier for you to find a suitable roommate. As you won't scare most of them away.”

Before he could answer, you rushed to the door and left, smiling to yourself. His snarky nature wouldn't tear you down in any way possible. You were strong, confident, and independent. Finding an apartment was easy for you, so a rude guy like him wouldn't ruin your chances nor confidence —even if you were a broke college student on a budget.

Narrowing his eyes as he watched you leave while thinking of a comeback to your words. Although he couldn't find one good enough.

Tsukishima was a little dazzled. None of the other candidates had stood up for themselves before. Maybe, after all, you weren't a bad option to pick. However, he wasn't going to tell you how impressive your response was. He knew you knew what you did. And he hated that, but he still had a few people to interview, so there was a chance someone would be better than you —if that was in any way possible.

Did he find you attractive? Possibly. That was the first question that popped in Tsukishima's mind when you first ran into the place. Even if you were a disaster because of the rain, you looked stunning anyway. You had managed to charm him, though he would never admit it. Your smile confused him, as he wasn't used to people being nice to him —mostly because he wasn't nice to them either.

Tsukishima couldn't take you out of his mind for the entire evening.

As days passed, you still struggled to find a place to stay, and motels weren't the best spot to sleep once you were there for weeks. Your back hurt, your spirit was a bit crushed, and money was slightly running out.

Perhaps it was the Universe, maybe it was the gods above, but a text message changed everything.

Unknown: This is Tsukishima Kei. You can move in this week.

Even on message, he was brief. Though you didn't care, finally, things were coming together for you.

Tsukishima Kei was going to be your roommate.

Crazy, right?