#it’s intermission now. i’ll come back to this after act two

[comfymoth]

and what is stopping me from making a bagi & cellbit frozen au. What is stopping me

[korn-dogz]

Sharing a stage

Summary: you’re in a band opening for Korn when their on tour and sparks start to fly with you and Jonathan

WARNING: drinking, mention of drugs and smoking, smut

This was a request from @niniackerman I hope you enjoy! also this takes place around the time their first album released 

You’ve been playing in this band for a while now, your friends said you were pretty good at guitar but you never thought so. You were good friends with the lead singer Corey, that’s how you got in

It was just a normal day at the recording studio when Corey ran in excitedly “guys! Guess what?!!” He didn’t let anyone answer before he spoke again “Jonathan Davis the lead singer of Korn just called me and asked if we could open for them on their next tour!!” Everyone even you jumped up in excitement, you didn’t believe your band was gonna be this big one day, you couldn’t believe Korn asked your band to open for them!

It had been their US tour so it was gonna be about a month being with Korn, to say you were excited was an understatement, you dreamed about the tour all week, it kept you up thinking of the fun you were gonna have. You practiced hard, you didn’t want the Korn members to think you sucked, you really liked Korn and didn’t want to make a bad impression. When the day came to meet up with the Korn members to rehearse 2 days before their tour; you were so nervous, you forgot how to act, but you pulled yourself together and went to their rehearsal

*cmon, you can do this! Don’t freak out, be normal* you reassured yourself walking into their studio with your bandmates. Corey opened the door and there low and behold was 5 men looking at you guys “hey! Thanks for agreeing to tour with us” Jonathan greeted Corey and you forgot how to speak in that moment, as if he was gonna talk to you “it’s no problem!” Corey said nonchalantly ”this is my guitarist Y/N! My drummer…..” he went on to list everyone but the way Jonathan looked at you when he mentioned your name made your heart skip a beat

Rehearsals went great, you even got to talk to munky and head, they taught you some cool riffs and really got to know them. but the whole time you couldn’t stop thinking about Jonathan, his eyes, the way he twisted his hair in his fingers….your mind lead to a dirty place, but you quickly pushed those thoughts of him away. You entered their studio with the thought of Jonathan and you left the studio with the thought of Jonathan…. You couldn’t stop thinking of Jonathan that enter night, you tossed and turned but the thought of him couldn’t get out your mind

It was finally time to go on tour, Korns manger rented out a huge bus for the two bands to share, you couldn’t believe you get to share a bus with Jonathan, it was a dream come true. Korn was a handful to be around “if you’re gonna tour with us, you gotta learn how to drink” you overheard Reggie say to Corey, it was more then just drinking, smoking, and drugs. You didn’t do drugs but it was a hard thing to refuse when you hung out with them, Jonathan never pressured you though, he was always kind to you, he would ask “how’s your day?” Or “what are you up to?” Simple things like that made you fall for him even harder

On the first day of the tour, your band finished up their set and got off stage, it at intermission at this point so Korn was up in 20 minutes, you walked off stage and one of your staff handed you a water bottle. You sat there, letting your thoughts get the better of you when you feel a tap on your shoulder, you turn around and saw Jonathan standing behind you holding a beer “hey, you did really good out there, I’ve never seen someone play like that before” your face was burning hot “you really think so? I’m flattered… thank you” he smiled warmly as he twisted his hair in his fingers, you two sat there enjoying the moment when you heard his name being called “I have to go, but I’ll see you after my set, bye Y/N” he waved at you and you waved back, you enjoyed his company, even if you two stood im complete silence

Korns set was over and Jonathan came up to you “hey Y/N! How was my set?” He jokingly said, referring back to earlier “it was amazing, you have a truly beautiful singing voice” you wanted to butter him up a bit, just like he did to you, you looked up at him to get a better view and he had a slight tint of red on his face “thank you… it means a lot” he was cute when he was nervous. You two talked for a while until you guys had to go back to the bus for the next city.

That night you spent a lot of time thinking of Jonathan, the way he complimented you, he was so cute…. and yet again you find yourself thinking of him in a different manner, you quickly brushed those thoughts away as you tried to get some sleep. The next morning you were pleasantly woken up to Jonathan nudging you awake, you smiled at him as you spoke with a raspy morning voice “morning Jon” he looked at you and said good morning back “um, you overslept and everyone is outside except for you” you got up quickly and accidentally hit your head on the top of the bunk beds “fuck!” Your hands went up to your forehead to feel the damage, it wasn’t anything you just hit your head “you ok?” Jonathan tilted his head “yeah- I’m just uh a bit clumsy..” you were embarrassed that Jonathan had to see that but you pushed through it and got ready to meet everyone outside

You all had breakfast together, and the whole time you couldn’t stop looking over at Jonathan and thinking about this morning. After that it was time to practice before your show in Iowa started, you practiced some riffs before Brian came up to you “hey Y/N! I was wondering if you are seeing anyone right now. I’m asking for someone else” your mind started to think of who that someone could be “no, I’m not seeing anyone right now, but I’m flattered that one of your friends has taken a liking to me” head nodded and went back to his area. You finished up practicing at deciding to have a little drink, you didn’t have a mini freezer on your side so you had to go to the other side to get a beer. You surprisingly didn’t see anyone on the other side, the guy must have gone off somewhere, you went over to the freezer and took out a can of bud light, you opened the can but then you hear Jonathan voice muffled, you press your ear against the door to have a better listen, there was Jonathan and head talking in the other room

Jonathan: thanks for asking them for me…. I couldn’t do it myself

Head: when did you become such a pussy? And plus you just meet them like a week ago, I don’t know if they feel the same about you dude

Jonathan: I’m not a pussy! I just- i- i got stunned when I first saw them…. I felt like i couldn’t speak

Head: damn dude! You’re really head over heels! Hahaha! I can’t wait to tell the rest of the band about this

Jonathan: Jesus…. Just don’t tell Y/N, or I’ll kill you

You heard them approaching the door so you quickly got out the room before they could see you. You couldn’t believe Jonathan has a crush on you…. You just now had to figure out how to return his feelings. You decided that after the concert ended you were gonna tell him how you felt, you only knew him for a week but it feels like you knew him for years. Your set finished and you went off stage, one of the staff handed you some water and you sat down, thinking of what Jonathan said about you when you see Jonathan coming up to you

“Hey Y/N! Your set was amazing you’re really talented…” he smiled and rubbed the back of his neck “hehe thank you Jon” your voice came off more flirty then you meant it to, but he just melted at your voice. It was time for his set and you hung around the side of the stage to watch him, he noticed you and kept on glancing at you every chance he got. He was truly beautiful, cute even; you wanted to kiss him so badly, and now you’re gonna get the chance to. When he got off the stage he ran off into another room in a hurry, you where confused and slowly walked over to the room he was in, you cautiously opened the door and saw Jonathan curled up in a ball sitting on a tiny brown couch “Jonathan? Are you okay?” You walked into the room fully and closed the door behind you “huh? Oh- hi Y/N…. Sorry you have to see me like this…” he sniffed a little before putting his head back down “can I sit down beside you?” He looked up from his knees and nodded. You gently went over to him and sat down, you titled your head towards him and look at him with worried eyes “when shows end I usually go into a room and don’t come out for 20 minutes, it’s because i want time to think I guess….” He sounded sad, you knew what that poor guy had been though “yesterday, when I came up to you after my show, I wanted to talk to you, instead of going to my room” he wanted to talk to you….. you mentally started freaking out as he looked at you with puppy dog eyes, he was so cute “wow… that means a lot to me Jonathan” you smiled widely and played with your thumbs nervously, you decided to make the first move when he uncurled himself out of his ball “Jonathan?” He looked over at you with those same eyes “yeah?” This was it, it was now of never “um, can I kiss you?” His eyes widened at your words but he quickly softened them “yeah, I’d love that” you put a hand on his leg and slowly inched yourself towards him

Your lips caught his and you closed your eyes at the sensation, his lips were so soft….. he was perfect. He leaned into you more and he put his hand on your cheek as he deepened the kiss. He started to move his other hand up your waist and it gave you shivers which made you release a quiet whimper, you felt him grin against your lips as his hand made its way further up your chest, but before he could do anything he pulled his hand away and brings it back to his own shirt. He lets go of the kiss to take off his shirt, you’ve seen him on stage with his shirt off but nothing compares to his chest up close “you like it?”he said teasingly “yeah, a lot, I’ve always seen you with your shirt of on stage but.. it’s nothing compared to this” you kissed him harder this time, putting your hands on his hairy chest. He pulled you closer to him and ran his hands through your hair, you broke the kiss and started to kiss his neck, the noises he made when you bit on his sweet spot was so hot…

You made your way down his neck and to his chest, you started to gently lick and bite his nipples as he throws his head back. You kiss your way down his chest and made it to his happy trail, which, is that hottest part of the man. You tugged on the waist band of his purple Adidas tracksuit looking for consent, he nodded his head eagerly, and you pulled down his pants, there you could see his needy cock begging for attention through his boxers, you pressed down on his clothed tip as he let a groan “please… stop teasing me..” you giggled as you slowly pulled down his boxers, his hard dick sprung out and was leaking with pre cum “you’re so excited, just from us two making out?” You chuckled as you held him in your hand “ive- I’ve wanted this for a while now haha..” he was getting impatient with his needy cock in yours hands. You decided it was enough teasing and you ran your tongue from the bottom of his dick to his tip, once you got to the tip you sucked on his tip hard; which made him moan and grab into your hair. You like ether reaction you got out of him so you went further down, his pubes tickled your nose a bit as you gagged a bit on his length

“Shit… You’re so pretty when you gag on me” you smiled around his dick, you didn’t know he was a dirty talker…it made things more fun with him. You started to pick up the pace as you feel him twitch in your mouth “oh fuck.. mhh! I’m so close” he had a tighter grip on your hair then before. To speed up the process you used your free hand to play with his neglected balls, he let out a loud moan as his hand flew to cover his mouth; afraid of someone knocking on the door and ruining your moment ”fuck! Fuck! I-I’m cuming!” He shuttered as he pushed your head all the way down his cock as he came into your mouth. You swallowed all of his seed and took your mouth off of him

He caught his breath as he smiled at you “t-thanks” he put his clothes back on as you recovered from swallowing his cum “anything for you Jon~” you giggled as you helped him put his clothes back on

you two sneakily slipped out the room without anyone getting suspicious, and headed backstage “dude Y/N, where have you’ve been? We’ve been waiting for you” you awkwardly laughed “heh, sorry I got….. lost” you quickly came up with an excuse as you saw Jonathan talking to his band members, you two shared a glance and headed into the tour bus

You and Jonathan sat next to each other on the buses small couches, when he thought no one was listening he leaned in “um so, does this mean we’re dating?” You never did tell him how much you liked him, oh well, you’d save it for another time “yes, it does cutie” you kissed him on the cheek as you heard head gasp “OH MY GOD! THEY JUST KISSED!” You jumped as you didn’t realized head was in front of you the whole time “JONATHAN LIKES Y/N!!!” He was obviously drunk but it was funny to see him jump around and point at the two of you. You laughed as you looked over at Jon who was red as a tomato, he was covering his face, you leaned in close and whispered to him “I really really, do like you Jonathan, I just wanted to say that you make my heart flutter every time I look at you, I wanted to say that before we become serious” you kissed hi earlobe and pulled away going to go tell head yo shut up. You left Jonathan a blushing mess



[archivalofsins]

Common Amane Innocent talk because no I won't shut up about her and nobody can fucking make me. Look at all the prisoners wielding weapons in the new minigram that they all have access to within the prison!

Scissors something everyone canonically has access to due to Amane's voice drama.

A fucking icepick?!

Why the hell is this here? Oh, the minigrams aren't canon, some will say. They aren't canon to the timeline we're in currently. However, the prisoners are still the prisoners, and they are still in Milgram. Also, Es has confirmed there is a supply closet with an unknown amount of items in it in Amane's second voice drama. All of these are things that would commonly be found in a supply closet or a toolbox that would also commonly be found in a supply closet. Explaining how they managed to fix the sprinklers and make sandbags when the water malfunctioned in that one minigram.

Literally, everyone here, including Shidou, has access to everyday tools that could be used as weapons. Which is fucking wild considering Mu is shown to kill someone with a box cutter that is shown to be a common everyday school supply she carries in her bag. Like everyone is literally screwed this intermission and voting anyone guilty twice in the hopes of getting them restrained could very well lead to that prisoners death.

It's important to think about both Amane and Mikoto's cases seriously.

Restraint doesn't just mean they can not hurt others but that they can not defend themselves as well. Something that is necessary for both of them as they've both had their safety threatened by Kotoko,

20/06/18

Amane: Thank you very much for teaching me. ……but, though I realise it’s strange me saying this after I asked you, I must admit it’s kind of unexpected. You give off the impression of someone who wouldn’t want to get involved in things like this.

Kotoko: ……well, you’re not wrong. I’m surrounded by people who could all be murderers, so I don’t plan on going out of my way to talk and make friends. I can’t let my guard down. But I like ambitious people like you. If you want to study more, then I’m happy to teach.

Amane: I see…… You look scary at first impression, but I quite like the way you treat everyone equally regardless of whether they’re older or younger than you. You don’t just treat me like a child or anything like that.

Kotoko: Treat you like a child? Hah, you’ve got to be kidding. Back when I was your age, I was already the person I am today. I don’t have any plans to let you get away with something just “because you’re a child.” ……remember that. There, I’ve finished marking. 83%. How do I put it… Even though you act like this, it’s not like you’re super brilliant at studying or anything, huh.

22/12/15 (Kotoko’s Birthday)

Mikoto: Ah, Koto-chan. It’s been a while. Both of us have kinda split off from the group, but how’ve things been? A lot’s happened, but fr now let’s try to get along. I mean, it’s your birthday today, right? I got the feeling nobody else was going to do anything, so I came to celebrate.

Kotoko: ……how carefree. It doesn’t matter, a villain like you won’t be forgiven next time either. And when that time comes, it’ll be the end for you. I’ll make sure of it myself.

Mikoto: Ahh?? Just try and do it, you nutjob. I’ll crush anyone who hurts me…… You’re gonna be totally beaten at your own game……!

[TN: The word “me” here uses first person pronoun “boku”.]

Kotoko: Hm. The border between the two is getting a lot vaguer. Your entire existence is a crime. And I will see you’re punished for it. That is what Milgram, and Es, and I have chosen.

X

And, they are surrounded by multiple people who have been implied to have killed individuals their age. From the beginning of Milgram.

From Shidou saying it's fitting that a child would be the one to judge him in his first voice drama, seeing Haruka's statements on not being good with children Amane's age turning into I'm no longer afraid of children along with being visually shown his victim was a little girl. Combined with his statements regarding Amane in his first voice drama, it is implied that his victim was around or Amane's age. Kotoko jumps a guy who doesn't seem much younger or older than Mikoto and is shown attacking people older than herself. Everyone here has killed, and they all have access to weapons.

So, I find it very interesting to see who's treated as a threat and not by the fandom.

[tranquilspot]

Examine Room.

[This is a rewriting of a post that has been sadly deleted, as such this version will be different and modified since I only recall the broad outlines]

This ‘young man’ is now officially John, and the tags will reflect the name change from now on. Both for convenience and non-spoil policy in case new readers happen to come across this blog.

Aaah~ The all-caps words, it’s been pinned down as a Homestuck thing. I saw a post once from someone who innocently wrote in this format. The Homestucks were on the lookout on that one x) Don’t you love it? For me it’s such a treat for my dyslexic eyes. Why can’t all writers write more like this, it’s not rocket science! Bold, italic, space between paragraphs, colors and quotes to draw the attention to the important parts. So please, no more HUGE BLOCKS OF TEXT. It’s ugly, it’s annoying, you spend 5 minutes on a paragraph cause you were reading in diagonal then went back as you didn’t (mis)understand the whole thing and read several times the same sentence/word until you finally get something. And now your head hurts/you’re irritated. Anyway, back to Homestuck proper.

Who the fuck has cakes in their room, hell SEVERAL CAKES with cream and all dripping on the furniture?! Yes I get it, I too like to bring snacks to eat in front of the computer but dude It’ll attract ants! DAD might be a better guardian than the others, but you can’t deny that behavior and parental choice wise there’s something off about him. Don’t get me started on having a HAMMER AND NAILS just sitting on the floor waiting for an unfortunate fool (tool hehe) to step on it. Well, we’ll get back to safety hazard a bit later.

You like to program computers but you are NOT VERY GOOD AT IT.

One thing that I find interesting and just noticed is that John not being good at programming isn’t really important nor relevant, what is on the other hand is that it introduces two significant elements to the story: data structures, and ~ATH (until death). The former focusing on FETCH MODI and CAPTCHALOGUE CARDS, while the latter on VIRUSES (mobius double reacharound starting in act 5). I highly doubt that it was a foresight on Hussie’s side, taking into account the ~ATH is a Problem Sleuth reference (the symbol on the cover is the face of DEATH) and him incorporating those elements in his, at the time, brand new webcomic was a flex on their computer knowledge and skills. Still I think it’s nice to point it out, as it doubles (triples?) as a soft introduction to concepts that will follow the readers far into the adventure and even pop back in as a Chekhov's gun.

You have a fondness for PARANORMAL LORE

This sentence is awesome and irks me, because paranormal shit is so cool but sadly people tend to overlook it and focus on the shitty movies and magician parts.

Which is so lame! John even gave a speech about ghosts and science in Act 6 Intermission 2 that was interesting and I will definitely talk about it when we get to this conversation.

Though maybe I shouldn’t talk about stuff before they’re actually brought up by the narration? Whatever I’m my own boss, I can still develop before or when it happens. You guys tell me in the notes what you think about it.

You also like to play GAMES sometimes.

Funny how among the group of 4 friends, only John and TT have ‘play games’ mentioned in their introduction. TG plays on Xbox alone or with his Bro, GG as far as I know doesn’t own any game until SBURB came around the corner.

Perhaps it’s because the author already established that those two planned to play together. Or maybe it is pointed out by the narration because it is a relevant piece of information for establishing the plot. Or even maybe it's part of Hussie “I’ve put writing rules then soon after will discard them” hijinks. Or all of the above.

John however does own games in his disk rack, and later in the adventure plays at one of them with two of his friends. But I’ll wait and develop my thoughts on the matter when we get there (for the disk rack, very soon). —>

[garrulousgeologist]

> Kells: Just loose it.

My mental health completely fell apart after I started reading Homestuck.

Not clickbait.

I did not even turn my computer on for the past several days, amongst many other not coping mechanisms. I won’t be reading Homestuck from the website on my phone I'm not an animal.

(That is in fact how I read most of Homestuck as it was actively posted to the mspaintadventures website from the ages of 15-18. Although back then it was on my ipod touch, I didn’t have a smartphone yet).

So, my continued re-read had to wait. For anyone following my journey- I’m a complete mess. If I disappear for long stints just don’t worry about it I always come back. My personal goal is one page of Homestuck every week. That’s it. A goal I (might) be able to reach. This week I managed to get myself to my desk Saturday evening! Right in the nick of time. When will I post this? Only you know that! And me in the future but not the past/present me writing this now (pack it up, Karkat).

Alright fuck even I want to tell me to stfu. Here’s the actual reflection:

ROSE 💜

She’s trying just as hard as I was at her age. She’ll figure it out.

She was definitely my favorite in the past. The Lalondes hold a very special place in my heart, I think they always will. My actual mother is still Mamalonde in my phone to this day and I have no intention of changing that.

Homestuck taught me a lot of vocabulary back when I first read it. I definitely remember still feeling like I was missing information even after googling what I could (words, concepts, the perspective of someone older than 15). I wondered when I started this re-read if I would see any words I had to look up like I did in high school. 

Of course. Of course, who else to bring me to this but Rose Lalonde.

What the fuck is [sic]. I doubt either rose or rox would be using the colloquial ‘sick’ to describe the item. So I googled it.

Now I know. (Also, hi Roxy girl, I can’t wait to get to you ♥ )

[S] John: Take bite of apple. ==> End of Act 1.

Oh. Huh. I guess we get more of Rose later. I thought I remembered way more of her before the end of act 1, but alas, I’ll have to get back to loving everything about her later. 

Now it’s time for..

Oh. We’re back now. So I didn’t forget, I’m just conditioned to think intermissions are long as fuck. Okay then Wayward Vagabond, I’ll have to get back to loving everything about you later. Back to Rose!

Uh. . . .

Yes, right right, I knew that. -ahem-

What’s next? Oh god, the kernel.

Now what in the fresh fluorescent hell does THAT mean (any tips, eidolonyaldaboath?). Again, on the surface I can see with my eyes what happened. The kernel wasn’t one cohesive thing to begin with, it was a..sprite thing, combined with two other things in its environment. And now its split into three again, okay, okay, I can follow that I think. The sprite is transformed once the apple is bitten into, or, once the world is destroyed and the players make it past the meteor shower/are isekai’d into the game, kind of. This I can accept, and the  two kernel halves become catalysts for, uh, whatever they become catalysts for.

Anyway, what is left is still part giant jester plushy. I’m straining my memory so hard to remember where the other parts go. What’s below John’s house?? What’s above?? I can’t remember! So we’re gonna ignore it for now.

In favor of a FLASH GAME!! WOOOO HELL YEAH this is the experience I remember!!!

Eternal thank yous to Alexis ‘Gankro’ Beingessner for programming this recreation, it is outstanding. I truly cannot wait for one of the most memorable experiences I had reading Homestuck originally- walking around the land of wind and shade and playing with the salamanders and hearing their stories. I don’t know if the same person will have programmed it but this initial peek into how true to history the unofficial Homestuck collection experience is has made me soooo hype. 

Welcome Nanasprite!! Hoo hoo!

Surely this won’t become relevant in the future. Speaking of the future, all the text cap commands made me think of Karkat automatically, but now that I’ve seen the wayward vagabond twice already, KK has most definitely not gotten in contact with John yet (from johns so-far linear perspective). It’s the fucking mayor! Big fan of that guy. Anyway I just figured that out lmao.

Alright, let’s talk about the latent racism in Homestuck for a moment. It feels too weird to ignore it, but I kind of also don’t want to focus on it, nor do I want to gloss it over, so I’m giving the concept of 2015 internet latent racism a moment here before we move on:

The human characters in Homestuck are all meant to be blank canvases that you could project any skin tone, ethnicity, and any specific facial or body features onto. They don’t have voices, so accents and languages I feel are also totally up to the audience! This much is pretty widely embraced in the fandom, I think. With this in mind, much of the language used by Dave for example might be easily excused if you decide he is a young black kid.

However, the author is white. And Hussie wrote these things, and some of it definitely feels off. Like “an especially ethnic wedding”. This doesn’t feel like it’s based on respect and experience. All the Obama jokes- many of which are fine and hilarious, many of which are not fine or funny, and some of which are disrespectful and also hilarious- stand out in 2023. While the internet was a different place and language evolves at lightning speed, as someone who read it at a young age while it was being actively written and posted: It felt uncomfortable in 2015, too. 

That’s all I really want to say. I’ll hold space for the uncomfortable feeling some of these lines create, without overshadowing the rest of the story. It sure does make the genius of this webcomic a whole lot more human, though.

Tone shift:

Oh? Interesting. Surely this won’t become relevant in the future.

Remember when I said I’d talk more about the game (SBURB in this case) choosing children to receive copies and attempt a session? When that happens horrorterrors are involved, so I’ll expand on them there, too.

Holy shit! I had no idea the window thing was planted so early! This is the kind of re-read revelation I wanted.

“April is the cruelest month, breeding lilacs out of the dead land, mixing memory and desire, stirring dull roots with spring rain.” -American sports legend, Charles Barkley

[T.S. Elliot said that.]

Also, still topical. Good thing I got back to this before April was completely over.

Yooo, D-O-Double-G!

Wait. Is that long time fan favorite, David Elizabeth Strider?

Yes.

Hell Yes.

Hell Fucking Yes.

tl;dr

Never expect consistency from Kells. Kells very much enjoys Rose <3 but is still learning her level of vocabulary. The secrets of the kernelsprite continue to elude Kells. [Interlude to acknowledge problematic source content]. Many things happen that will surely not be significantly relevant in the future.

[m39]

Doom WADs’ Roulette (2009): Hell Ground

From one, Russian WAD with seven maps to another. But at least this time I had some actual fun.

G1: Hell Ground

Main author(s): Alexander S. (Eternal)

Release date: November 15th, 2009

Version(s) played: ???

Required port compatibility: Boom

Levels: 7

Hell Ground is another Cacoward winner made by Eternal. It was created in around two months and yet it feels like a much higher quality mod than Cheogsh 2, which was for two years in the oven. It feels unreal to me.

But it will be better if I’ll just start talking about this WAD and not waste your time anymore.

Like with his previous Doom maps and WADs, Eternal doesn’t disappoint with how his maps look. In the worst case, they all look good. Warp of Time and Mystery of Hell are the best-looking maps in the WAD; it’s like the author went completely nuts with their design, with MAP04 offering four areas with different color motives, while MAP07 has, among the underground and library areas, monoliths at the end of it that resemble the Citadel from Epic.

Choosing American McGee’s Alice for the WAD’s music tracks was, for the most part, a rather good idea. While I think some of the tracks are too short for the maps that are placed in, stuff like Pool of Tears and Time to Die on the other hand, fit like a glove (these two are also my favorite).

Hell Ground isn’t too complicated. Even on my blind playthrough, I can’t remember getting stuck on any levels aside from probably the library section of the last map.

Now, most of the maps have at least one interesting thing to talk about. Blood Runner, for instance, feels like a homage to Plutonia, specifically, its first map – Congo.

Warp of Time, as I mentioned, is made out of four locations with different color motives each (blue, green, steel/black, and red/pink), plus the hub area with teleporters that will lead you there, cave system before it, and the final area with a small bastion and a well where you have to jump into. The main attraction of the map seems to be inspired by Killer Colours from Alien Vendetta.

Undertaker has the hub area with the big drill (that appears after you deal with the blue key area) that later changes into Hell Revealed’s Descent homage, and later you end up supposedly dead and in Limbo AKA Timeless.

That map is basically an intermission map where you heal yourself up, you do some platforming in Eden along with other puzzles in the main area (which are easier than they look) and you end up in Hell.

Mystery of Hell, asides from the locations I mentioned earlier, has a boss that is, thankfully, not another Icon of Shit. You basically have to shoot him in the eyes, get rid of his guards, and shove rockets into his mouth (you have a moment to do that before the eyes come back). Although I’m gonna be honest with you people, I feel like the boss was bugged, but I’ll get to that later.

I feel in-between about Hell Ground’s difficulty. I don’t think it’s easy; there are some tough moments like the Baron barrage in Warp of Time and the final stretch of Undertaker, but honestly, at this point, after playing so many slaughter maps/WADs, this WAD feels like nothing in comparison. It tends to get cheap, but I feel like I also experienced cheaper crap than what these maps have to offer.

There are two additional obstacles to spice things up. The first is a dark-colored imp that shoots Hell Noble’s fireballs and is around 2.5 times tougher than the regular one, not to mention much faster. Second is the roaming Revenant’s missile that kind of acts like Lost Soul and you can actually destroy it before it attacks you.

Now, I mentioned about the final boss not working properly. I don’t know what happened but I feel like I was unable to shoot the eyes from where I should've done that; like they became non-corporeal or something. It forced me to use cheats to fly up close to them and even then it was around 50% that they would get hit.

Without counting the bugged final boss, Hell Ground is another WAD that is worth checking out. Eternal’s third Cacowards winner in a row, people, and he still slaps… It won’t be the last one.

Now with this review done, I’ll say that the break from reviewing will be indefinite this time. I have uh...

You glance over Hades II and Black Mesa.

...important stuff to do.

chuckling

See ya.

[ramabear]

2023 Writing Update

First of all: Trustfall Update: 

 Acts 1 (Gravity) and Acts 2 (Friction) have been posted! The intermissions are up, and we are officially on Act 3 (Inertia).

If you’ve been following along for a while now you’ll know that I’m posting the firstish weekend of every month since i have a good amount written and beta read and ready to post. 

secondly, here’s the wordcount tracker! o(*°▽°*)o

trustfall act 1: 69k

trustfall first intermission: 29k

trustfall act 2 part 1: 106k

trustfall second intermission: 8k

trustfall act 3 part 1 (ongoing): 101k

check for more general update notes and plans for the year: 

Last year ended with a total of 525k words, which was pretty good considering I really didn’t write much from about August on. I’m going to have a similar goal this year of about 50k a month and I’m excited to see how the data pans out in the end.

(oh! if anyone’s interested in some stats, here: highest month of 2022 was March with 100k and lowest month was October with 2.5k. quite a disparity!)

I went through quite a few fandoms (MCU, NCIS, etc) and stumbled back into fucking HP at the end there (with a new ship, gods help me) and I’m stuck there at the moment. 

As it is, I’m going to be posting more for this month (February) at the very least if not more for the year in general. I’m slowly coming to terms with the fact that I have lots of ideas but not everything gets finished so if I don’t post unfinished things I’ll basically never post. (Two cakes mentality, yall, thats what we’re going for here)

But I also am the kind of author that goes back and finishes something five to six years after I originally post it so like, nothing is abandoned 100% for sure unless I actually go through the effort of labelling it so. This means, yes, I am still working on things like Observer and such that are up and old and haven’t updated in a while. 

My work is constant but my interest in fandom is cyclical so even if I’m not in that fandom now, I’ll probably circle back around sooner or later. 

Thanks for everyone who is following along! The comments also have been lovely and encouraging and help me keep motivated during these long months.

if you have any questions, feel free to ask :)

[gladerwolfstarkimagines]

Imagine the Ember Island Players creating a romance between you and Zuko which hits a little too close to home

You sat beside Katara and noticed how Zuko sat on the other side of her. Aang faltered, obviously wanting to sit there and you smirked as Zuko obliviously missed Aang’s look. Zuko had been with the group a few weeks now but his social skills still weren’t very good and you found it made for some very interesting interactions. His attempt at telling jokes alone made you smile every time you saw him for a full week afterwards and you found Zuko did a lot of things that amused you but apparently not so much the others. “I was going to sit there” Aang whined and Zuko shrugged “so? Just sit next to me”. Aang pouted and you laughed to yourself “here” you said standing up “take my seat Aang” and you moved so he could sit beside Katara. Katara was oblivious and you sat on the other side of Zuko chuckling at Aang’s blush. “What was that all about?” Zuko asked and you smiled “ow nothing you just almost ruined Aang’s evening”. Zuko frowned and went to ask what you meant when the lights dimmed so you knocked his arm shaking your head “i’ll tell you later now shhh”. Zuko folded his arm huffily but stopped talking. The play was wonderfully awful. As you hadn’t joined the gang straight away you knew you had time to just enjoy the first few acts and make fun of the way they portrayed all your friends. Plus what could they do to your character? You didn’t have any old flames like Katara or Sokka and you didn’t have an emotional backstory like Zuko or Aang. So you relaxed arms spread over the back of the bench and waited for *yourself* to make an appearance.

The second your actress walked on stage you knew it wouldn’t be good. They had your character all wrong! Your actress flirted with everyone and acted like a lovesick idiot. You didn’t think it could get much worse and then your character met Zuko’s.

“I’ll save you from the pirates” Zuko’s character purred to yours and you spluttered. “That...that wasn’t even me! That was Katara!” you whispered angrily. You looked to Zuko for confirmation who nodded “yeah I didn’t say that to you...and I certainly didn’t tie you up while staring at you like that”. “And I did not flirt with you like that either”. You both glared as your characters bonded and they actually invented Zuko letting you go voluntarily. As Zuko’s character stared off into the distance and said your name you heard Sokka and Suki wheezing from laughter while you simmered with anger and embarrassment. “I didn’t do that!” Zuko cried and you saw he was blushing vividly. That made you blush too and crossed your arms tightly “they better not stick with this theme”.

Of course they did. By the time act 3 had ended you and Zuko were living a star crossed lovers lifestyle in Ba Sing Sei. They again got you mixed up with Katara and said Azula kidnapped you to lure Zuko to the Earth King’s palace. The act ended with Zuko charging in to save you, offering his own life in exchange for yours, but Azula outmanoeuvred him and arrested him too. As the lights went up for intermission you and Zuko paused before exploding.

“That never even happened!”.

“I knew he was in Ba Sing Sei but we never went on a date”.

“Yeah that was a different girl”.

“And you did not fight with Jet over me”.

“I didn’t even know you knew Jet!” Zuko agreed and you both paused for air.

The gang all looked at each other before bursting into laughter. “What is so funny?” you cried and Sokka smiled. “We all know none of that stuff happened, we were there too remember?”. “Yeah so...can’t we rant?” you asked. “Well yeah but why get so mad about it? Are you trying to convince us or yourselves that the idea the two you flirted is so impossible?”. You and Zuko exploded again at the thought and Sokka and the others burst into laughter again. “All i’m saying is this is a lot of emotion to come from nowhere” Sokka smiled “now i’m going backstage so yell at each other or something” and he disappeared with Suki. Katara and Toph left for snacks and Aang went to the toilet leaving the two of you alone. “But i mean it is ridiculous” you muttered and Zuko nodded “utterly ridiculous”. “Sure we ended up together a few times” you shrugged “but that was completely by chance, it wasn’t like you were hyper-aware of me or vice versa”. “Yeah not at all” Zuko agreed but he wasn’t looking you in the eye for some reason. You stared at him confused and noticed his neck looked slightly red as if he was blushing. “Wait did you?” you asked suddenly “notice me more?”. Zuko looked up and he was indeed blushing deeply “what I....of course not! I never...I mean I did learn your name before anyone else’s but that’s because we spent that time together when I helped the pirates kidnap you and you wouldn’t shut up the whole night”. “Then why are you blushing so much?” you asked and Zuko shrugged “I don’t know I...it’s just them insinuating I like you. I’ve had it a lot”. “You have?” you asked amazed and Zuko nodded “when my uncle heard you’d seen me in Ba Sing Sei and that we’d reached a deal not to tell on one another he had this annoying smirk like i’d done it for any other reason besides the fact it was mutually beneficial. Then when I went back home Azula made it seem like me and you had a thing and Mai got jealous and started asking about you and I had to explain all our interactions and it was very awkward...she wanted me to reassure her by putting you down and making the idea seem impossible but I must have failed because she didn’t believe me. So I guess that’s why it makes me feel weird, everyone keeps telling me I act differently with you and I suppose I do but I have no idea if that’s because everyone keeps saying it or if I always have”. You nodded your head but were unsure what to say. “Well which one do you think it is?” you asked eventually and Zuko paused “what?”. “If you had to guess, would you say you act differently around me because of what people say about us or have you just always acted that way”. Zuko thought, staring at the ground and basically anywhere but at you, “i’m not sure but I guess maybe the second? They must have got it from somewhere I suppose”. “The second?” you asked surprised and Zuko’s blush returned vividly “I’m only guessing, I honestly don’t know”. You nodded your head and went to speak when the others returned which stopped you right in your tracks.  

The second half of the play began of course with you and Zuko reuniting in the prison under Ba Sing Sei. You and Zuko did end up there together but you definitely did less staring at one another. You rolled your eyes as your characters began to passionately speak to one another stepping closer and closer. They finally reached one another and you laughed when your character began yelling at Zuko’s. “Ha maybe they got some things right!” you whispered to Zuko who nodded “you did yell at me a lot”. You smirked and went to apologise when Zuko’s character kissed yours. You and Zuko abruptly shot away from each other. “That is not even close to what happened!” you cried at the others who were all laughing. Zuko nodded “this is just slander! They didn’t even bother to try to get our characters right and anyone with half a brain would realise that!”. Someone shushed Zuko and he glared “shush yourself” he cried before storming from the room. He didn’t return for the rest of the play and honestly you thought that was probably wise. It got worse and worse. They still kept in Zuko’s betrayal of Iroh but changed it making you at the centre of Zuko’s struggle. He chose the crown and they made you react dramatically (even getting a love ballad moment). They then skipped forwards to Zuko at the palace, who got his own song when he realised he’d made the wrong choice. Your characters reunited not long after and promptly confessed their love for one another. Then you were both murdered by Ozai very much in line with the tragic forbidden lovers style.

“I mean I’m just glad she’s dead” you shrugged on your way out “anything to end that romance”. The others smirked when Aang paused “do you think Zuko went back home to the villa?” looking around for the angry fire prince. “No he knows we don’t know this place well, he’s probably just sat outside somewhere” you replied looking around but you couldn’t see him brooding anywhere either. When you walked out the front door and still didn’t spot him Aang frowned “okay everyone split up and look for him, meet back here in five minutes”.

You returned five minutes later to see Katara, Suki, Sokka and Toph all hadn’t found him either. “I wonder where he is” Katara frowned and you shrugged “he’ll be fine, that boy has nine lives”. “He didn’t in that play” Toph commented and you nodded. “True but that play was a mess and there’s one thing I still can’t get over. Zuko said his family and friends thought he liked me that’s where his side of this rumour started but in the play they acted like I encouraged him! Where on earth did they get that idea?”. The group all went quiet and you paused “what?”. “Well...I mean you kinda do encourage him” Sokka frowned and your jaw dropped “I DO NOT! When have I ever...”. “When we got kidnapped by the pirates you teased Zuko constantly and refused to be quiet until he spoke to you” Katara pointed out. “Yes but that was to annoy him not flirt with him!”. “Okay how about when June asked if you were his girlfriend and you replied he wishes instead of no?”. “I was joking” you shrugged and Toph smirked “or how about when I was sneaking out to see Zuko at the Western Air Temple and found you already on your way to see him? What were you popping in to see Zuko for huh y/n? Nice date by the campfire?”. “I was doing the same thing as you! I was going to see if he would tell the truth and given that I knew him best I thought I....”. The gang all erupted and you paused “what?”. “You know him best?” Sokka asked smirking and you nodded “that doesn’t mean anything it’s a fact”. “Ow is it?” Sokka asked and you nodded “It is! Fine if I don’t know him best what was his fake name in Ba Sing Sei?”. Everyone went quiet and you nodded “or how about how long ago he was banished from the fire nation? Better yet just tell me his parent’s names!” you cried. When nobody replied you smirked folding your arms victoriously “told you I know him best”. “Yeah you’ve definitely proved how much you know about Zuko” Suki smirked looking past you. You frowned before you heard someone behind you. You turned to see Aang had found Zuko and by the look on his face he’d heard everything. You blushed and looked down “Zuko we were...”. “Having a competition to see who knows me best?” Zuko asked mildly amused and you paused “well sort of...Sokka started it”. “No I didn’t” Sokka retorted “you declared you knew Zuko the best and when I asked if you were sure you started spouting your favourite facts about him”. “They’re not my favourite facts about him” you snapped and Sokka’s smirk just grew “whatever y/n” and he turned leading the way home. The others all followed and purposefully made it so you and Zuko were at the back. “Why were you talking about me anyway?” Zuko asked and you paused “ow nothing I was just er...trying to work out why the Ember Island Players thought I had a thing for you but the gang was not helpful”. “They couldn’t think of a reason?” Zuko asked innocently and you frowned “no they could actually think of lots of reasons, it appears similar to your family they were also under the impression I held a flame for you as it were”. “Ow really?” Zuko asked. He kept his voice flat but you could swear he was smirking slightly. “Stop enjoying this” you whined pushing him “it’s not funny, it’s embarrassing”. “Liking me is embarrassing?” Zuko asked and you paused “no I didn’t mean that, I just meant having all your friends claim you like someone when you can’t see it”. “You really can’t see where they’re coming from?” Zuko asked and you shook your head “nope not at all”. Zuko looked away and you frowned “I saw that, what did that look mean?”. “Nothing...” Zuko trailed off but you sighed grabbing him by the arm to make him look at you “I’m sick of everyone saying things about me for once just say it to my face!”. Zuko sighed “fine, I just think i’ve been honest with you but you’re not being honest with yourself”. “Not being honest?”. Zuko nodded “Yes, I admitted I could see where my family were coming from and how the rumours started but you’re acting as if they plucked them out of thin air!”. “Well maybe they did! I don’t see how any of our interactions could be interpreted as romantic”. Zuko didn’t look convinced. “You don’t think there’s some truth to what the Ember Island Players said? That maybe there is something here?” Zuko asked gesturing to the small gap between you. “No of course not! Do you?”. “No” Zuko yelled back and you nodded “fine! You are the most infuriating...” you started when Zuko grabbed you kissing you. You initially tensed at the sensation but soon melted into it. Zuko seemed to be trying to prove a point by kissing you passionately and not wanting him to win you kissed him back matching his intensity. Finally Zuko pulled away for air and stared at you “still not want to admit there’s something here?”. You stared at Zuko torn between admitting he was right and your pride. You were annoyed, frustrated, excited and exhilarated all at once. You were breathing rapidly, your cheeks bright red as were Zuko’s and neither of you made to move away. “I...” you started eventually “that was a good kiss”. Zuko nodded, his frustration melting away “it was, I enjoyed it...I’ve been wondering what it would feel like to kiss you for a while now”. “You have?” you asked and Zuko nodded “as annoying as it is to admit my family and friends were right, I like you and I have for a while”. You smiled despite yourself at how adorable Zuko looked all bashful and embarrassed. “I tried ignoring it for a while but then when I joined the group your friends all saw it straight away. Then tonight...the play was bad but I was frustrated that everyone seemed to see it apart from you the person I actually wanted to see it...you”. You looked down wondering how to reply “I’m sorry I bet that was really frustrating”. Zuko nodded “It was and I figured this was just one-sided but that...did you feel it too?”. Zuko looked so unsure and unlike himself it was endearing and gave you confidence. “Yes” you said shakily “after that kiss I can tell you it is definitely not one-sided. I like you too Zuko and probably have since the start”. “Probably?” Zuko asked and you sighed “I’m not good with my emotions, I can be oblivious to them so I can’t with certainty tell you it’s been going on as long as the play made it out to be but I know I like you. Right now in this moment...I hope that’s enough, I know it’s a shit confession and you probably wanted something more solid but I...”. Zuko began laughing and you paused “what’s so funny?”. “Something more solid? Y/n I’m on the run from the Firelord who is my father, my sister is hunting me to kill me and I could very likely be imprisoned for the rest of my life if Aang fails and that’s if i’m lucky...I’m not even sure if I have a future so trust me all I need is the present. To know in this moment right here you like me back” Zuko blushed but he stepped closer and took your hands “that’s more than enough for me”. “It is?” you asked and Zuko nodded “yes and if by some chance it becomes more long-term I’ll be very happy but for now I just want to enjoy this time with you”. You smiled and leant in to kiss Zuko again when someone coughed. “Hey what are you two doing?” Sokka called. Apparently the others had finally realised the two of you were no longer with the group and walked back to find the two of you as you currently were. Luckily it was dark so you moved away from Zuko but still held his hand. “Yeah we thought you’d gotten lost are you okay?” Katara called. Zuko sighed and you smirked at his expression. “We’re fine” you smiled “we were just talking and Zuko’s going to show me this beach he went to a lot as a kid”. Zuko’s eyes shot up to yours and he smiled. “You are?” Aang asked and Zuko nodded “yep, it’s not far from here so we won’t be long. You guys head back to the villa and we’ll meet you there” and with that Zuko tugged you away from the others. You smiled at Zuko and he smiled back at you “quick thinking, I didn’t think we’d get out of there so easily”. “You can thank me later” you replied when you heard Sokka gasp “wait are they holding hands? Y/n are you holding hands?”. “Run!” Zuko cried and you laughed but did as he said. You kept running even after Sokka’s voice trailed off and only stopped when you reached a sandy beach. You both collapsed on the ground and you turned to look at Zuko “did you know this was here or did you get lucky?”. “Totally the former” he smiled and you shook your head “you’re lucky I like you”. “I really am” Zuko agreed and he stared at your face tenderly. His fingers brushed your cheek and you smiled “what are you waiting for?”. “I have no idea” Zuko admitted and he leant in to reclaim the lost kiss from earlier. This time you weren’t interrupted.

[delicrieux]

☆ﾐ 𝚖𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚜𝚊𝚢 “𝚘𝚑”

PART 24: OH...HI

after months and too much longing, you finally meet corpse in person.

─── corpse husband x reader ─── soc. media + written fiction! ─── word count: 3.8k

author’s note: we did it joe.

ultimate masterlist.  ҉  myso masterlist   ҉   previous. ҉   next.

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You woke up. That’s a lie, you didn’t sleep. Too much to plan, too much can go wrong and you’re...Not nervous, no, that’s not quite accurate. Excited. Yes, excited, so excited that two Redbulls and three coffees (so far!) make you jitter around the apartment like a butterfly that can’t find a flower bed to rest on. 

Rae has almost had enough of your...random spurts of energy. So what if you ran a few laps, climbed a few tables, sang karaoke a bit too loud and yet another noise complaint had been issued? It arrived exactly an hour after your concert via your displeased landlord. Rae was, of course, the one to apologize because you were too busy trying on miniskirts. After that ordeal was taken care of, no sooner than Rae shut the front door with an exhausted sigh, you emerged from your room clad in your prettiest outfit. You present it to her with a bright smile and flourish. 

She is not impressed.

“Will you quit it?” She questions, arms crossed over her chest. Your grin does not damper -- you’re used to such harsh treatment, having accepted her backhanded way of showing love long ago. Instead, you flick your wrists, showing off an ungodly amount of rings. You’re not certain of the exact number because you can’t count, “Y/n.” Her voice gains an edge, but you persist. Show off your shoes that have cute lil’ charms that jingle jangle not unlike the spurs on a hot cowgirl’s boots, “Y/n.” Her eyes narrow in displeasure, her stern tone making you falter in your dramatic stride down the imaginary catwalk, “Just stop.”

Okay! So maybe you’re not as used to her coldness as you thought you were. Your expression sours, and you quit the act, even if a part of you - one you barely fight off, goodness, you almost perish in that battle - wants to continue but even more annoying. As if you could somehow block her rationality with manic energy. 

“What?” You ask, trying to keep the mood lighthearted despite her squared shoulders and tight frown, “I’m just having a bit of fun!” You say with a joyous little laugh, reaching for a glass of much needed water.

“No, you’re panicking.” Her words make the glass still, hoovering by your painted lips, but it’s short lived. You take a greedy gulp and it tastes fresh with a pinch of lipstick, “Look, I get it...” She shakes her head softly, “You’re meeting the guy you like for the first time, you jumped the gun straight to dating and now you’re...Anxious. It’s normal, you know.”

“But I’m not anxious.” You persist, and you really do mean it. You don’t like how she looks at you as if you’re the one that’s misunderstanding your own feelings. You set the glass down with a soft clink, heaving your own sigh, “I’m not, I’m really happy actually.” You explain softly, “It’s just...my way of dealing with it. I’m more... Worried about Corpse, to be honest.” You add, a tad quieter, “But, like, it’s all good!” You exclaim, strolling up to her and landing your hands on her shoulders, “I prepared.”

And it’s true! You had spent the night scouring the depths of the internet. Read every WikiHow article on how to deal with someone with extreme anxiety, how to not make things painfully awkward, and how to talk to boys (just in case. The last time you stumbled upon that particular article was way back in middle school when you had a crush on that one guy you saw in your school’s cafeteria every now and then. Naturally, that led you down the rabbit hole, and according to WikiHow’s How To Tell If A Boy Likes You guidebook, you found out that he was absolutely enamored with you because he glanced in your direction, like, two times. Safe to say that love story went nowhere. The point still stands). 

So you forward all of this information to Rae, nestled in her bed whilst she lazily folds her clothes; clarify that you know that nothing much can happen, and that this whole situation is delicate, and that you must tread carefully because you don’t want to overwhelm him. She pauses her actions, glancing behind her to watch you staring idly at the ceiling, so peaceful, so thoughtful. And it’s not the eerie calmness you had displayed during your murderous spree in the last Among Us game, no, it’s just...quiet understanding. 

“I’m actually impressed.” She says. You merely hum, counting the dust slowly descending in the cascading light, “You’re not as clueless as I thought.” Your lips quirk into a shy smile at the compliment- “Or as tactless.” - and turn downward just as quick.

“That implies that I’m always tactless.”

“You are.” She states and you sit up, a soft frown pinching your brows, “Not like, in a terrible way. You just...don’t think about your actions. Or the repercussions. You just know that you can get away with everything.”

“And I can!”

“That doesn’t actually mean you should do something just because you can. You know I’ll always support you. Literally everyone will always support you. But I’m not gonna coddle you. You’re just...a lot. Online and especially in person. But the fact that you’re actually taking this seriously and taking his feelings into consideration is...well, the bare minimum, but still, good job.”

...Much to think about. You don’t like thinking, it makes your head hurt. Though, that could just be the lack of sleep. You cross your legs and plop your head in your hand, tired eyes blinking owlishly, “Do you...think I should change what I’m wearing?”

Prompted by your question, she gives you a careful once over, “I mean, it’s signature you.”

“Signature me is a hoodie and some sweatpants.”

She smiles, “Then go change. Your outfit is a bit distracting for just...Hanging out indoors, no? I’m sure he wouldn’t mind either way, though.”

“I just...” You bite the inside of your cheek, mulling your words over. Truly, the last time you were so attentive was when you went Psycho Mode in Among Us, which, to be fair, wasn’t that long ago. Perhaps there wasn’t a chance to let your mind dull - it’s almost as sharp as your butterfly knife, “I figured that if, like,” You vaguely motion with your hands, “if I be, like, all over the place, and wearing something cute, he’d be, like, distracted? And less anxious? No...awkward silence?”

“First meetings are always awkward, it’s natural.” She chimes, “I mean, if you’re so nervous-”

“I’m not nervous!”

“-then just don’t overthink it. I know it’s easier said than done, but you’re you, and Corpse is Corpse, and he likes you for who you are, and even if it is a bit awkward, I’m sure it’ll, like, blow over in a second. It really doesn’t matter how you look, Y/n.” She grins, “Plus, it’s not like you’re greeting him in your underwear or something.”

You will not admit that that was your plan B, not when you just landed in her good graces. You nod, “...I’ll go change.” 

And so you do. Pick out your cutest hoodie and some sweatpants. Put away your jingle jangle shoes with a broken heart, instead of them donning your fluffiest socks; slip off some rings because they keep falling off of your fingers. It’s almost like all of those transformation scenes in rom-coms that are still popular for some reason, except you’re hot before and after, so there’s really no transformation at all. 

Now you wait. Just wait, all other activities are excluded from this. Rae comes back to find you sitting on the edge of your bed, back straight, hands neatly folded on your lap. She compares you to a Sim’s character and you allow her. After mercilessly mocking you and snapping a few pictures - for blackmail, you assume - she helpfully informs that she is leaving because she doesn’t want to get in the way, but your psychic abilities which you acquired just now tell you that she simply doesn’t want to witness this train wreck. Not that it’ll be a train wreck, it would be if you were nervous, but you aren’t. 

You just aren’t. You fidget with the rings adoring your hand; toy with the hem of your hoodie; bounce your leg up and down. It’s just caffeine, okay?! Fuck this, Twitter time.

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[ADDING A MUSICAL INTERMISSION, LISTEN TO THIS IF YOU WANT (I WROTE THIS CHAPTER WITH IT IN MIND)]

The waiting commences, only now it somehow feels more intense. The sun is setting, and you really want to be one of those cute girls that fill their camera roll with pictures of the sunset and the roseate sky, but your hands are trembling and holding up your phone feels like too much of a hassle. You’d rather just sit there, alone in the apartment, in the pin-drop silence, extremely uncomfy and tense, as if waiting for the end of the world. 

A notification sounds off and your life flashes before your eyes. Hastily, you check it, a sticky mixture of delight and something else, something unpleasant constricting, making your stomach churn. He’s here. Holy shit, it’s happening. You order your anime plushies to stop fucking panicking, they’re like, totally embarrassing you at the moment! You wonder if they have their own little group chat, but instead of Totally Spies it’s called Total Embarrassment. Yikes, okay, that was harsh. After a good scolding, and a heartfelt apology for getting so heated, you smooth down the non-existent wrinkles on your modest outfit, and quickly waddle over to the electronic apartment thingie something something... you unlock the main door, okay!? This is for some reason feeling very not cash money, so you break out in a little dance number.

The doorbell does not sing that shrill, unpleasant tune; rather, there’s a soft knock on the apartment’s door, and you pause your shuffling, your renegade, and perk up at the imposing future hidden behind a slab of wood. Your heart beats a melody all on it’s own, and it’s loud, uncoordinated, like a musician that’s still familiarizing themselves with their instrument. And there’s that knock again, as uncertain as you’re feeling, and your clammy fingers latch onto the lock and turn it and now there is no more hiding - such a possibility is no longer an option; no more sporadic dances or sitting in disheartening silence and letting your thoughts weight you down.

You’re not quite sure what you were thinking about before you saw him in the threshold, head tilted slightly, fluffy dark hair obscuring the bags under his eyes, hunched, one ringed hand clutching onto the strap of his duffel bag, the other frozen mid-air, ready to knock one more time lest you didn’t hear him the first two. No, truly, you can’t, for the life of you, remember what all the fuss was about. 

“...Oh.” It’s a soft sound, so quiet, but not surprised, rather...relieved. Faint shimmers of a smile reach you, hidden behind a black face mask - the panini chic! You must stan a respectful king - but there’s something about the way he looks at you that makes you question it’s sincerity. He fails to return your gaze, rather choosing to stare somewhere over your shoulder. His eyes seem unfocused. Apprehensive. A wild thought occurs to you that he expected you to trick him somehow, and wild thoughts invade the land of your mind often, but never in such a way. You clutch the handle just a bit tighter.

His hand retreats to his side, up to his mask and you think he’s about to unhook it but he stills, and there’s panic there, as if he had been moving unconsciously, as if he hadn’t realized what he’s doing. He plays it off by idly scratching his cheek, muttering an equally quiet, “Hi.” to fill the silence.

Finally, your WikiHow knowledge can come in handy, along with your common sense, “Hey, pretty boy.” You mutter, pulling away from the door, “Make yourself at home!” You slide to the kitchen, your socks acting not unlike ice-skates cutting through the Arctic frost covered ground. You hope that with you occupied and not watching him as closely he’ll feel slightly more at ease. 

You’d like to hug him. Kiss him, definitely. But if he’s so uncomfortable that he can’t bring himself to shed his mask in your presence, then there’s really nothing you can do. 

You hear the door shut and lock behind you as you pull out two glasses from the cupboard, humming a song you can’t quite recall the name of. You ask him if he’d like something to drink - it was a short flight, yet a flight still, and planes always make you thirsty, and there you go talking his ear off. You end abruptly, but smoothly, like a true diplomat; if he notices, you have no way of knowing - he doesn’t provide even a hint. He’s hard to read, and literature was never your best subject. But you’re trying.

He sets his duffel bag down on a nearby chair, “I, uhhh,” His voice is raspy and low, another indication of a pathetic lack of sleep, “I...got you something, uhh, I dunno-dunno if I should...give it now, or?” He sends you a questioning glance, but it doesn’t linger. Your offer of drinks is momentarily forgotten, though you hardly mind. 

You grin, “Sure! I love gifts, gimmie gimmie.” You make grabby hands, and he snorts, and it would’ve sounded endearing if he didn’t sound so fucking tired. He unzips the bag, and you pad your way to him, mindful of personal space (something you, in most social situations, chose to pretend does not exist). You note his hands quivering lightly, just like yours had in the agonizing wait, but he hides it well. You wish you could hold them. You’re afraid to try.

He pulls out a black hoodie and you recognize the custom art on it instantly - it’s his merch. He presents it in awkward flourish, murmuring a “Tadaaaa” under his breath; your heart skips a pleasant beat, and you have to bite down on your lower lip lest you smile appears too big. The fabric is soft under your fingers, and you accept his gift with a dramatic bow, and he turns his head away with another little laugh. You’re chipping away at the ice around him; it’s a slow process, but it’s worth the effort.

Truly, your own hoodie is shabby in comparison - icky, how could you have ever worn such a thing in the first place?! You’ll have to do extensive research in fashion magazines and Printerest so such a slip-up may never happen again. You discard it hastily and put his on instead; it smells like washing detergent with hints of cologne, one you instantly pin point belonging to him, “It’s, uhhh, it’s mine? I hope you, uhh, I didn’t have any spare ones, so-I hope you don’t...mind.”

He’s finally looking at you, but he’s still tense, still hesitant, and you shake your head softly, “No,” You admit, “I like it even more now.” You pull on the hood, toy with the strings and yank them quickly; your face is concealed, save for your nose, “Comfy.” Your commentary is unmatched, best of it’s kind - eloquent and effortless, much like yourself.

Another small laugh reaches your ears, and it sounds a bit livelier than the others had been. Success!

“Stop that.” He says gently, and you see moving shadows; his hands loosen the strings and your face is revealed to him once again. He’s close now, and he doesn’t move away; his hands come to rest on your shoulders, warm even through layers of fabric, “I came all this way to see you, don’t hide your face from me.” 

Your eyes narrow playfully, your finger rapidly tapping away on his clothed cheek, “What’s all this then? Hm? Hm?” Instead of swatting your hand away, which you figured he’d do, he complies and finally tugs that fucking mask off. Your breath catches in the back of your throat and you halt your ministrations - truly, seeing him smiling on screen is nothing compared to him smiling in person. You can’t quite contain yourself any longer - your excitement might burst out in another dance number otherwise - as you throw your arms over his shoulders and pull him flush against you. He’s quick to return the embrace. Maybe it was all the encouragement he needed.

“Wow,” He mumbles, only slightly offended, “so I finally show my face to you, in person, and you just-...you just look away?”

“I’m hugging you, dumbass.”

“...Touche.”

Things fall into place after that, like a dozen puzzle pieces fitting together. He won’t let you go - he doesn’t want to. You put on some music, something easy and indie and that doesn’t require too much effort to listen to, as the two of you contemplate what to eat. Cooking by yourselves was dismissed due to the unstable relationship between yourself and cooking utensils. The stove and you had had a falling out recently, but this feud had started long ago, back in pre-school, with only short intervals of friendship. He listened to your extensive explanation absolutely enraptured and only moderately confused. 

So you settled on ordering pizza from Domino’s. You have no trouble calling or receiving phone calls, because you have no trouble doing anything, and he admitted that he only really calls you because he gets too anxious to do more, so you’re tasked with ordering the food. You accept this mission with pride.

You stand tall, gazing out the window into the wild California domain: massive buildings and towering eucalyptus trees, bleeding skyline and the sun slowly getting swallowed up by the ocean. Corpse looms behind you, with his arms snaked around your waist and his chin resting on your shoulder, looking at you through the corner of his eye. You wait patiently for the underpaid, overworked staff member to pick up, and once they do, you have the audacity to grin brightly and chirp, “Hi! I want pizza.”

Conversations flow smoothly, and you make hot chocolate - because you are hot and you crave chocolate - and he insists he wants one too, because you want one, and you don’t hesitate to overflow his cup with whipped cream and an ungodly amount of miniature marshmallows. A premature heart attack, just for him. Whoever said romance is dead has clearly never met you. When the doorbell chimes, you’re astounded that an hour flew by so quickly.

After the delicious meal, the movie night must commence. So what if you watched 10 Things I hate About You yesterday, you insist that you have already forgotten the plot. You lead him to your room and he tries not to stare, but can’t help himself. Pretty boy in a pretty girl’s room. His eyes linger on the massive posters of Chrollo on your walls, and you sense his displeasure rolling off of him in waves. 

“What?” You huff, fluffing the pillows, “You don’t like my husband?”

He jabs his finger into his chest, into the spot of his heart, “I’m your husband.”

“Side hoe, then-”

“-No.”

You didn’t lie when you said you love to cuddle, or that you’re clingy. It’s a good thing he’s just as clingy as you are, because when he lays down and you latch onto his side. He doesn’t complain, rather wraps his arm around pulls you close. His thumb draws lazy circles on your side; with your head resting on his chest, you feel each rhythmical rise and drop. 

The opening credits play on the projector, the room dark enough for your pile of plushies to look like a whole fucking human just standing in the corner. A ghost! Sucks for it, you’re not scared. You feel safe. Protected. So comfortable in Corpse’s hold that you’re honestly wondering how did you manage to be so long without him. To think all of this started when Sykkuno followed you on Twitter. What a lucky accident.

“Can I ask you something?” Your voice cuts through the bopping 90s soundtrack and Julia Stiles’ voice. He hums. You take it as a yes. Tilting your head upwards, you find his eyes again, a thorn of displeasure picking you as you note that that apprehension you had seen previously is still very much there, “...You really wouldn’t date me if I was a worm?”

His chest rumbles with a laugh and his lips split into a grin, “I would.” He presses your side for emphasis, “I really would.” He repeats, reassuringly. You, however, are not convinced.

“But I’d be a worm.”

“I know. We’d... roll around in the dirt together, or something.”

“But you’d be human.”

He frowns softly, “Why couldn’t I be a worm, too?”

“Those are the rules.”

“What kind of shitty fucking rules are those?”

“I dunno, it’s like the Thanos snap or something. I just turn into a worm. I’m the only one.”

“That’s fine.” He smiles, “I’d take you out on a fishing date or something.”

Shocked, offended, and heartbroken, you hit his chest and pointedly turn away with a pout, which he finds very funny for some reason, but you fail to see the humor anywhere except the movie. Despite the fact that he’d sacrifice you for a fish, you smile shyly and close your eyes. He did say you would take a nap together, and if he really thought you’d stay awake for movie night, well, then he’s just an idiot. You had decided you would fall asleep as soon as he was next to you. It’s a miracle you managed to stay awake for so long.

“...Sleeping already?” You don’t appreciate his teasing tone.

“’m not sleeping...” You murmur, “’m resting my eyes.”

“Sure.”

You’re not quite certain (of anything, really) how much time drifts by, but you’re nearly lost in unconsciousness, in the warm, nice feeling that comes along with him like a cloud. Perhaps he thinks you’re asleep, he has to, else he wouldn’t say anything at all, “You’re stuck with me now, you know.” It’s such a soft admission, riddled with the same notes of anxiety that always prevail in his speech; with the same hopeful sincerity he had been gazing at you the whole evening. 

Moving your lips is such a hassle, but you manage, “’m...stuck...” You mumble, “’m...stuck...what are you doing step-”

“No!” He laughs, and your lips quirk into a lazy smile, “No, no, no. Just no. Do you talk in your sleep?” You fake snore at that, loudly, “You’re like a little dragon.”

“...Fuck you.”

“Fine, a kitten, then.” That’s better. You feel something chapped, but soft, press onto your forehead, “Goodnight, Y/n.”

God, you’re so fucking happy. Does he know how happy you are? How happy he makes you? But you’re too tired for screaming and flailing around, too tired to even crack an eye open. You want him to know all the same, “...like you.” You whisper, but you don’t know if he hears you over the movie, “...I like you.”

His reply is instant, breathless, “I like you too.”

Good, you want to say, and maybe you do - can’t tell anymore. Sleep takes you too quickly.

✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼

tags (in italics is those i couldn’t tag! make sure all’s ok w your settings!) : @littlebabysandboxburritos - @fairywriter-oracle - @tsukishimawh0re - @ofstarsanddreams - @bbecc-a - @annshit - @leahh19 - @letsloveimagines - @bellomi-clarke - @wineandionysus - @guiltydols - @onephootinfrontoftheother - @liamakorn - @thirstyfangirl - @lilysdaydreams - @pan-ini - @mxqicshxp - @tanchosanke - @yoshinorecommends - @flightsandfantasy - @liljennyx3 - @bingusmode - @unknown-and-invisible - @sinister-sleep - @fivedicksinatrenchcoat - @mercury--moon - @peterparkerspjsuit - @unstableye - @simonsbluee - @shinyshimaagain - @ppopty - @siriuslystupid - @crapimahuman - @ofthedewthesunlight - @mythicalamphitrite - @artsyally - @corpsesimpp - @corpsewhitetee - @corpse-husbandsimp - @hyp-oh-critical - @roses-and-grasses - @rhyrhy462 - @sparklylandflaplawyer - @charbkgo - @airwaveee - @creativedogs - @kaitlyn2907 - @loxbbg - @afuckingunicornn - @fleurmoon - @yeolliedokai

more tags are in the comments bcs tumblr only allows me to tag 50 people max 💙

[shoichee]

how would atsushi, akashi and aomine react to haizaki threatening/hitting on their s/o?? (cue that one scene where he was literally taking on himuro, kagami, kise, and alex all at once 😡... basically that, but with their s/o)

ANON…. THOSE 3???? LONG STORY SHORT…. HAIZAKI EXPERIENCES DEATH (OR AT LEAST NEAR-DEATH) 3 SEPARATE TIMES…… BUT HERE’S THE “LONG STORY” THROUGH THESE HCs 

TW: attempt of physical assault, unwanted advancements… asshole Haizaki? cut under this to keep y’all safe JUST IN CASE

[Headcanons]

Aomine Daiki

you went out to look for Aomine after noticing how he hasn’t come back to his seat for too long

this was shortly after Kaijō defeated Fukuda Sōgō, and it was currently intermission before the next match rolled in

your face was met with crisp air as your eyes adjusted to the dark, scanning for any sign of your boyfriend

upon seeing no one, you decided to walk around the perimeter, just in case Aomine decided to nap for a quick moment on a whim and forgot to tell you

maybe you shouldn’t have walked out alone and in the dark of night, but you figured that in such a public event in a public area, you didn’t think anyone had the balls to start anything fishy around the stadium

oh how you were so wrong

you unfortunately bumped into Haizaki right when he was slowly strolling with his basketball shoes over his shoulder, and you immediately stopped in place, praying that he would walk past by you or perhaps not even see you

you knew that he wasn’t good news based from what Aomine told you and from watching that unpleasant game… he was bad, bad news

why did you think he wasn’t gonna see you? his senses are as sharp as a falcon, scrutinizing you before he realizes your identity

“Oh? Now what’s a pretty little thing like you doing out here… all alone?”

“I, um, I was looking for someone, but I realized it’s been getting a little too late… I think they returned back to the stadium, so that’s where I’m heading…”

your voice slowly diminishes to a soft whisper by the end, but judging from his widened eyes from glee, you knew he wasn’t going to walk past by you after this

“That so?” he drawls, licking his thumb. “The stadium ya say?”

something about his gaze turned sharp and dangerous, “the stadium” triggering unadulterated rage and frustration from the game and from his encounter with Aomine

“I… I really gotta leave,” you say in a hurry, quickly backing up. “Th-They’re impatient, so—”

“Huh?” he mocks, leaning closer to you. “I’m kinda of an impatient guy myself, yeah?” but upon even closer inspection, he realizes that he’s seen you somewhere very recently

“Hm?” he muses lowly. “Weren’t ya sitting with Daiki that game?” when you don't answer out of fear, his eyes merely shine with excitement… “Ohhhh… is that how it is?”

. . .

Aomine returns back to his seat after settling a score with Haizaki outside the stadium, but immediately becomes confused when he sees your seat empty

Sakurai immediately apologizes and quickly informs him that you went out to look for him, and Aomine immediately dashes back out… after all, who knows if you got lost in the dark or if you kept being persistent in looking for him?

imagine his visible distress when he sees Haizaki putting an arm around your shoulder while still holding his shoes and you looking absolutely fearful because you knew what he was capable of

this was a very rare moment where Aomine was not so calm and collected

but he tries to, especially when he knows that Haizaki probably relishes in the fact of “getting revenge” for that punch earlier (and probably realized the connection between you and Aomine to do so)

“Hey, asshat,” he calls out, grabbing Haizaki’s attention away from you, but Aomine notices him pulling you slightly closer to his body. “The fuck you think you’re doing with (y/n)?”

“Hehh? So (y/n)’s your name?” Haizaki merely pays attention to you, completely ignoring Aomine

“Back off,” he says lowly, almost to a growl. “I won’t be holding myself back to just a punch this time if you do anything else.”

at his hardened glare, Haizaki does a gleeful mock-surprise expression before putting his arm off of you and says: “Whoaaa there, Daiki. Never pegged you as that typa guy.”

he licks his thumb before walking away casually without a care in the world before calling out, “It ain’t fun here anymore, I’m bouncin’ out.”

by the time he leaves Aomine’s field of vision, he finally releases a pent-up sigh before calling out your name:

“... Come’ere… he didn’t do anythin’ to you right? Sheesh, I leave you alone for one second—alright, alright I guess it was more than a second… fine, it was several minutes… look, I’m sorry… okay, okay quit lecturing me… more importantly, promise me you don’t go out alone like that. It’s dangerous out there, y’know.”

when you finally ask about what he meant by his threat to Haizaki, he smugly replies, “Aw, that? I gave him a hard sock earlier. Went down pretty easily.”

Murasakibara Atsushi

it’s quite rare that Murasakibara would agree to going to Tokyo temporarily over break, let alone leave his house, but here you two are, resting on the park benches in Tokyo

shortly after, you went to the nearest arcade hall, begging and tugging him along with you to try the strength test for the jackpot prize (totally using his physique to nab home prizes and merch LOL)

he only agreed because you looked way too excited for him to turn the plan down

he still enjoyed himself, if he was being honest; it’s just you, him, his snacks, and some games you both are playing together

Murasakibara notices that the arcade also has a mini food court to the side, and he immediately pouts at you to let him go tasting galore on a food binge

and you laugh, telling him to “hurry up” to tease him and letting him know that you were staying here to try to earn more points to exchange for rewards at the end

you entered a coin into the slot and hummed before seeing a START screen, but as soon as it went black into a loading screen you saw someone’s reflection on it

Haizaki was right behind you

“Whaddya know? Would ya look at that?” he says, hands in his pockets while sneering. “If it isn’t (y/n).”

you merely pretended that you didn’t hear him, considering that the arcade was pretty crowded and noisy, and went on to playing the game in front of you

you hoped that by the time you were done with the round, he’d be gone, but his reflection was very much still there on the arcade machine screen, depicting his laid-back posture against the back of another arcade machine, watching you with complete amusement

after spending all the available coins on hand and still sensing him behind you, you promptly turned to your left to head for the coin machine and acted completely casual, but before you got too far ahead, Haizaki easily blocks your path with an outstretched arm, the hand against the arcade machine

“Whoaaa,” he drawls. “That’s pretty fucked up for you to ignore me like that.”

“... You’re blocking the way, so can you please kindly let me pass?” you flatly say, not bothering to look at his face

“What’s with the cold shoulder?” He tilts his head with a crazed look in his eyes that spelled unpredictability. “I just came and stopped by to say hello to an old friend from Teiko. Nothin’ wrong with that, hm?”

“Look,” you sigh. “You’re in the way, and I wish to spend my time here left alone. No, I’m not interested in small talk. No, I’m not in the mood for a bite with you. No, I don’t want to give you my number. Did I address everything?” you finally turned your face to look at Haizaki, but his face contorts to one of a dangerous beast

“Good, good…” he slowly says. “You haven’t changed one bit, haven’t ya? I was wonderin’ where that feisty side of yours went.”

perhaps you shouldn’t have spoken up after all; it only riled him up more

before you can formulate any further thoughts, he grabs your chin and directed it towards him, and you immediately froze up

you tried to dart your eyes around you if anyone noticed, but no one seems to pay attention

“What’s the matter?” he asks. “Cat got ya tongue?” when he looks to where your gaze was at, he chuckles before drawing closer to your face. “No one’s gonna help… not when they think we’re a little thing…”

but he instantly feels a heavy hand on his shoulder, and Haizaki turns around, ready to cuss the perpetrator out, but his eyes widen when he sees a furious Murasakibara

a giant with a very, very hostile aura… even nearby crowds dispersed out of fear for their safety

“Hands off of (y/n)-chin, pest.”

“Oho?” Haizaki releases your face and completely turns around to face him. “Well if it isn’t Atsushi… been a while hasn’t it?” he brings up a hand in a shrugging motion. “While I’d love to chat, I’m busy. Scram.”

“Touch (y/n)-chin again, and I’ll break all of your fingers.”

“Huh?” Haizaki licks his right thumb. “What’s up with ya? It’s non’ya business.”

you took this as an opportunity to run to Murasakibara’s side and seek shelter behind his back, which Haizaki raises a defiant brow

“Hmmm?” he smiles a slow smirk. “Was I really such bad company, (y/n)?”

his smile was completely wiped when he sees Murasakibara’s outstretched hand towards his head, and he deftly dodges his grasp before he walks off with a scoff

“I’m gonna crush him—”

“W-Wait! Just leave him be…” you held onto his torso in a full-attempt to stop him from going too far, and after a few moments, he relaxes with body and finally turns to face you

he doesn’t say anything but darts his eyes all over your figure to make sure there weren’t any injuries on you

he gently holds your hand before he tugs you to follow him to the food court

“Murasakibara…?”

“... You won’t be separated from me if we hold hands, (y/n)-chin.”

“I’m fine, you know.”

he doesn’t say anything more, and when you both settled into your table with your orders, he’s constantly staring at you and giving nonverbal cues that he wants to do PDA with you

becomes very protective and affectionate of you for the rest of the trip

grows very quiet and deep in thought until you reassure him that you were okay because of him stepping in to save you

Akashi Seijuro

it’d be extremely rare for you to ever bump into Haizaki, especially when the only chance you can see him is during the annual Winter Cup

Winter Cup arrives once again with the GoMs being 2nd years this time, and Akashi is still the same Oreshi ever since last Winter Cup

Haizaki definitely had seen you walking with Akashi very closely before the opening ceremony started, and it gave him ideas on how to “get back” against Akashi without directly confronting him

he was gonna mess with you

even after all those years, he still has that grudge against Akashi; the fact that he is one of the few people who has that power over him irritates him to no end

even when Akashi told Haizaki to quit long ago to help him save face, his pride was still heavily bruised

when he was sure Akashi wasn’t with you, he approached you while you were waiting outside the stadium

. . .

Akashi exits out of the locker rooms and carries his duffel bag before he heads to the entrance to greet you, excited in reuniting with you to talk about today’s games and your opinion on Rakuzan’s performance… that is, until what he saw made him beyond furious

“O-Ow…!”

“If ya want someone to blame for,” Haizaki sneers. “Ya can thank Akashi for messin’ with me, yeah? Don’t take it too hard babe, but I’m just returnin’ the favor… by proxy.”

Akashi strides over to the two of you with the intensity of death that would even surprise Bokushi himself

“Haizaki.”

at the sound of his eerily calm voice, Haizaki turns over to Akashi, and his glee is immediately wiped off his face and replaced with one of anger… and hidden fear

he suddenly drops you from his chokehold, and as you hit the ground, coughing to intake air, he turns to Akashi with a vengeful look

after a suffocating staredown between the two, Haizaki tuts and turns to leave in unspoken defeat, knowing full well the consequences from defying against Akashi; it’s something he never did in Teiko and certainly not something he would risk doing now

Akashi immediately drops his cold facade and rushes over to your side, rubbing your back and examining the slight bruises on your neck

his HIGHEST priority at that very moment was your safety, and he decided to take you to a doctor and then to your home, opting to cancelling/rescheduling any plans for today despite your objections

all the while, he coos softly at you and touches you with such care and gentleness that you managed to calm your heartbeat from that sudden attempt of assault

as soon as he feels like you’re safe, mentally and physically (and probably in a safe environment with either a GoM or at your own home), he reveals his true emotions on his face regarding the incident for the first time when he’s alone

being super considerate about your current mental state, he didn’t want to potentially scare you even more with his anger and much more negative emotions

for the first time, he allows his darker thoughts to simmer and stir… it’s one of those rare times where he wishes that Bokushi still existed within him

he eventually finds time to pay a visit to Fukuda Sōgō… to make nice… threats conversation

if you somehow figured out that he was going to do that, only when you convinced him is when he’ll decide to back down

but that’s only IF you figured out about how Akashi really felt about this…

[puckinghell]

Acts Of Service | Elias Pettersson

Summary: When people have different love languages, sometimes it’s hard to understand what the other is trying to say. 4 times Elias shows you he loves you, and the 1 time you tell him.  Words: 7.5k (whoops) Note: This concept was very interesting to explore. Also yes, this entire thing was written because of that one picture of Elias in that blue sweater stepping out of the car like a fucking GQ model. 

----

(Some time ago)

“Didn’t you say there’s an apartment free in your building?” Brock asked as soon as you answered the phone, forgoing the “hello”.

“Hello, Brock, my very good friend, how nice to talk to you! How are you doing?” you deadpanned.

At least he had the decency to sound ashamed. “Ah, yes, hi. Sorry. I’m just in a hurry and it’s important.”

You frowned. “Why? Are you looking to move?”

“No.” Brock laughed. “Stetch would kill me. No, it’s about the rookie. Petey? I told you about him. Swedish, quiet, best fucking hands in the league.”

Yes. Brock had told you about the rookie, although you still thought it dumb to call him that. Brock was basically still a rookie himself.

“What does that have to do with my apartment building?”

“He said no to having a billet family but everyone on the team thinks it’d be good for him to have someone to kinda look out for him a bit. He’s never been to Canada before this, you know, and he’s never lived on his own either. His English isn’t that great and everything is new for him. And since you’re such a caring, loving person, we thought…”

“You thought I could babysit him?” you finished for Brock.

“It’s not babysitting. Just, being friendly if he needs anything. Obviously we’re there for that too, but it’d be nice to have you so close by.”

Close by would be an understatement: the free apartment was across the hall from yours.

You weren’t sure if this sounded like something that you would necessarily want to do, but you did feel a bit sorry for Elias: you’d met him at a team thing earlier that week and he’d looked completely lost in the midst of all the Canadian hockey slang that you barely managed to follow, even after having been friends with Brock for years. He mostly kept to Eagle, spoke in Swedish, and his eyes flickered nervously across the room whenever anyone else approached him.

“Fine,” you sighed, “I’ll talk to my landlord. But you owe me, Blondie.”

Brock was happy enough that he didn’t even call you out on the nickname.

1. 

“Have I told you lately how much of a lifesaver you are?” You lean across your desk, resting your chin in your hands. Elias looks mildly amused as he hands you the papers.

“Nearly every day,” he says, “but then I save your life every day, so that seems fair.”

You grab the papers from his hands.

“You’re a lifesaver and the love of my life, Petey.”

You think back to when Elias just moved into your apartment building, only because Brock thought he needed someone to look after him. You could laugh, now, thinking about how wrong he’d been.

Elias is the most self-sufficient, independent person you know. You don’t think he’s ever needed anything from anyone. Like in hockey, where he can make the play and score the goal all at the same time, Elias has his life together.

Unlike you.

Despite the fact that Elias hadn’t needed much help from you, you had become very fast friends. His quick witted sarcasm always managed to make you laugh and he liked how upfront and honest you were with him about things. It was easy, too, to spend time together. With him living just across the hall, you found yourself wandering to his apartment whenever you were bored, and he showed up at yours often when he didn’t feel like cooking.

Just because he could cook, didn’t mean he always wanted to.

And ever since the two of you had become friends, Elias had your back. When you needed someone to water your plants, or feed your cat Puck – Brock had named him – or, apparently, bring you the important work papers that you forgot at home after having worked on them all weekend.

You groan as you flick through the papers. “I thought I was going to die. Without these I can’t finish my presentation.”

“When is it?” Elias asks, eyes searching behind you. You know he’s looking out for your asshole of a boss, who will use any excuse to yell at you, especially the unannounced visit of a friend.

“Tomorrow. I got all the content in these papers here, but I still have to make the PowerPoint.” You sigh. “It’s still so much work.”

“Oh.” Elias’ face lights up. “Almost forgot. Brought you this.” Triumphantly, he reaches down and comes up with a paper bag from your favorite coffee shop.

The words fall off your lips in a gasp. “You didn’t!”

“Strawberry scone and a large caramel macchiato with soy milk.” Elias grins. “I also got you a chocolate chip cookie for later.”

“Marry me,” you proclaim, as you make grabby hands for the bag. The coffee is precisely what you need and your mouth is already watering at the idea of the food.

“Get me a ring, then,” Elias jokes, as he starts getting up from the chair.

Something tightens in your stomach, so you quickly take a bite of the scone: anything to push those feelings to the side. It works a little, and at the very least it tastes amazing.

You’re just friends. If you were gonna be anything more, Elias would’ve made a move already. Or, if you’d been brave enough, you would’ve: but he’s never said anything to make you think he’s interested and quite frankly, you’re not that brave.

“Thank you,” you say, mouth still full of scone, and Elias wrinkles his nose at that as you knew he would.

“I’m going to the store now,” he says, “anything you want me to pick up for you?”

“Wine?” you ask, hopeful. “I’m gonna need it after today.”

Elias rolls his eyes at you, but when you come home after the most grueling day at work there’s a bottle of rosé sitting in your fridge, next to a bag full of your favorite Thai take out food.

Love you, you quickly text Elias, even though you know he can’t answer because the game is about to start.

You take some time showering and putting on comfortable clothes, then situate yourself on the couch and put on the game. It has already begun, and you know it’s not gonna be an easy one, against the Bruins.

It’s not until the first intermission, when you check your phone, that you see there’s a reply from Elias waiting for you.

It’s just a simple heart emoji, but it makes your heart race anyway.

2.

“This is the worst thing that’s ever happened to me.”

“I can barely hear you.” Fiona’s tone is disapproving, and you pull your mouth away from where you’d pressed it into your arm to scream.

“I said, this is the worst thing that’s ever happened to me!”

She laughs. “It’s just a car, Y/N.”

You don’t necessarily like your job, but Fiona is one of the reasons you’re still putting up with it. She’s not just a colleague anymore, slowly turning into a friend and someone you confide into about everything – even about your Elias problem – and you love her, but sometimes you could murder her.

“It’s not just a car,” you bite. “It’s my only mode of transportation, because you know how much I hate taking the bus, and it’s broken, and I probably can’t even afford to get it fixed. And now I have to walk home, and it’s raining.”

“Well, when you put it like that,” Fiona admits.

After a long day at work, you couldn’t wait to get home and watch The Bachelor until you fell asleep, your cat in your lap. However, when you finally got away from the office and stepped into your car, it was clear the universe had different plans.

It didn’t start.

After trying approximately 15 times, you’d screamed, nearly cried, hit the steering wheel, and then went back inside to scream and cry a little more at Fiona’s desk.

“I just wanna go home, Fi.” You know you sound miserable, but you honestly can’t help it. Taking the bus always heightens your anxiety, so you avoid it at all costs: however, walking home in this pouring rain doesn’t seem like much fun either.

And Fiona can’t even bring you home, because she takes the bus to work like a normal person.

“There’s a simple solution to this, you know,” Fiona says. She starts to organize the papers on her desk, a clear sign that she’s getting ready to leave the office as well. “You could just call…”

“No,” you interrupt her, knowing exactly where she’s going with this. “I can’t call Elias. He’s got the boys over today and I won’t interrupt his fun with my misery. Besides, he does too much for me already, I can’t ask him for more.”

“Right,” Fiona drawls, “but when he hears that you were stuck here and didn’t call him…”

She doesn’t finish her sentence, but she doesn’t have to.

Elias would be furious.

One time, you were on a night out when you got a little too tipsy and didn’t realize your phone had died. By the time you noticed, all your friends had already jumped in their respective Ubers, but you had been too busy chatting with some girl you didn’t know to order yours, and now you couldn’t because you didn’t have a phone. 

You knew you could’ve asked any random person to order you an Uber, or at least to borrow their phone to call Elias – it’s not like you didn’t know his number by heart – but that felt like too much. It had been 3 am and he had a game the next day, so you decided to walk home.

When he found out the next day, he got so mad he didn’t talk to you for 4 days. Eventually, you couldn’t take it anymore and just sat on his couch pouting at him until he spoke to you again.

“Something could’ve happened,” he’d muttered, explaining to you why he got mad in the first place. “And I’m your best friend, and you should know me enough to know that I would much rather you wake me up than you walk home alone.”

You did know that, and he was your best friend, and you’d promised him you’d never do it again.

It’s only that promise, that causes you to reach for your phone.

“I’m texting him, but if he’s busy, I’m walking,” you tell Fiona stubbornly. She ignores you, which is probably fair enough.

Hey, you busy right now? Are the guys still there?

The answer comes right away. What’s wrong?

Damn, he knows you too well. You quickly explain the situation and before you know it, Elias is on his way to come get you, and Fiona is bidding you goodbye after you promise her you’re fine on your own for the twenty minutes it’s gonna take Elias to get there.

You’re just checking your email on your phone when you hear the bell at the front door.

“I’m coming!” you call out. You hurry to grab your bags and then walk quickly to the door, where Elias is standing with his car keys between his fingers.

“So Bella finally gave up, huh?” he asks, a sly little smirk on his face. He always teases you with the fact that you named your car.

“Yes, and I know you told me,” you sigh, and it’s clear that he immediately – and correctly – reads your mood.

Without a word, he opens his arms, and you gratefully fall into them, hugging him tightly to your body. There’s very little in the world that brings you more comfort than one of Elias’ hugs: although being on Elias’ couch wearing one of his old hoodies watching some stupid reality show might come close.

“Let’s go home,” Elias finally mumbles, and he holds out an umbrella when he lets you go.

It’s raining really hard, and you know he has to park his car a little bit away because there’s no parking in front of your office, so you take it.

“You could’ve just called, I would’ve ran out,” you tell him sternly, but he shrugs.

“But then how would you have gotten the umbrella?”

You would tell him you’re not made of sugar, but as soon as you step outside the rain clatters loudly against the fabric of the umbrella and you realize you would’ve really, really hated to not have it, so you stay quiet.

Instead, you walk after him as he runs to his car and opens the passenger door for you. It’s still running, and the heater is on: only then do you realize you’re quite cold.

This morning they said it would be nice outside, so you didn’t bother to take a coat.

It’s quiet in the car for a while, but it’s not uncomfortable. It’s the silence that only comes when two people understand each other, and combined with the soft music that is playing on the radio it lulls you into a false sense of comfort.

Until you realize something.

“Oh God,” you groan, “I’m gonna have to call someone to tow Bella to a mechanic.”

Elias raises an eyebrow. “Well, you could just leave her there.”

Normally you would’ve at least playfully punched his arm for the sarcastic tone in his voice, but right now you’re too busy freaking out.

“And how am I gonna get to work tomorrow? Don’t you dare say you’ll bring me cause I know you’ve got morning practice and it’s super out of your way. Fuck, why did this have to happen to me?”

You let your head fall against the window. The glass is cold against your cheek and it’s enough to stop the spiraling in your brain at least for a second.

“Hey.” Elias’ voice has lost all sarcastic edge. It’s gentle now, and he’s speaking low as if not to startle you. “Don’t worry about it, okay? I’ll call the tow truck and the mechanic and get your car fixed. And Brock lives close enough that he can take me to and from practice and you can just take my car to work.”

It’s… a reasonable solution, but once again something that Elias has to go out of his way for, even just a little bit, and you feel something warm bloom inside your chest.

“Okay,” you answer, the stress already ebbing away. “Thank you. You’re the best.” You reach out and place your hand on his knee, squeezing slightly. “Seriously. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

Elias mumbles something incoherent. You think you see some color on his cheeks, but surely that’s just because the heater is on, because there’s no way he’s blushing over something you said.

You turn off the heater, and let your thoughts wander as Elias drives you home.

3. 

Traveling is fun, but traveling for work is instantly a lot less fun. You really don’t know how Elias does it.

You’re feeling run down and jetlagged when you come back from your work trip, which is ridiculous cause you flew to Toronto, not to freaking Europe. But it’s late at night and the three days you were away were so busy you can barely remember sleeping at all.

Fiona slept on the plane, so she looks a little more alive than you when your feet touch the ground at Vancouver airport.

“Is Elias coming to pick you up?” Fiona asks, as you’re both walking through the gate.

You shake your head. “I’m sure he would’ve insisted if he could, but he’s in California right now. They played the Kings tonight and they’re playing the Sharks the day after tomorrow.”

“I wish I was in California,” Fiona says wistfully. It’s cold and wet in Vancouver and it wasn’t much better in Toronto. The tiredness doesn’t help: it feels as if the cold of the night is slowly creeping into your bones.

“Come on then, I’ll drop you off.” You thank Fiona and follow her to her car. Normally you wouldn’t have minded taking an Uber, but right now you just wanna get to bed as soon as possible.

“If I fall asleep, just let me sleep here,” you mumble, resting your head back against the head rest. Fiona laughs as she starts the car.

“No way, you’ll freeze to death.” She squints outside. “Do you think it’s gonna rain?”

“It always rains,” you say, despite the fact that it’s not raining at the moment.

Fiona turns onto the highway. “So, are you finally gonna put up that bookcase you bought?”

Involuntarily, you groan. “Stop, don’t remind me.”

Your old bookcase is big and ugly, and it has been a thorn in your eye ever since you moved in. The person that lived there before you left it there, and you only kept it because you couldn’t really afford not to.

Four weeks ago, you finally allowed yourself to buy a new, prettier bookcase.

But…

“It’s just so big,” you whine, repeating the excuses you’ve been giving Elias every single time he raises a judgmental eyebrow at the old bookcase still standing in your living room. “It’s gonna take forever to take it apart and then it’s gonna take me even longer to somehow get it all downstairs and get rid of it.”

“And then you have to build the new one,” Fiona nods understandingly. “And you’re not good with furniture.”

“Hey,” you protest, but it’s weak. You’re not good with furniture, which was proven when you tried to help Fiona move in and didn’t manage to help her put together anything at all. Instead she ended up with a table with three legs. 

You even tried to read the manual, but it’s just not your forte.

“I’ll do it,” you add, “I promise you I will. Just, maybe not this weekend…”

Fiona laughs, but she doesn’t call you out on the fact that it probably won’t happen during the week either.

Finally, you arrive at your building. You can’t wait to go to bed, and you thank Fiona multiple times before dragging your luggage upstairs. When you open the door to your apartment, Puck comes running up to you, meowing and weaving between your legs.

“Don’t be dramatic,” you tell the cat sternly. “Petey sent me many pictures of you sleeping in his lap and I know he feeds you chicken when he thinks I won’t notice, so you got spoiled this week.”

You lovingly scratch Puck’s ears, before flicking on the light and kicking the door behind you in the lock.

Instantly, you notice the difference.

Your apartment isn’t big: real estate in Vancouver isn’t cheap and your job isn’t great. You got this place mostly for the location, and you like the big windows in the apartment and how it manages to get in light even during the darkest of winter days.

One corner of your living room, however, was always darker than the others. The bookcase took away the entirety of the white wall, and it created a dim lit, sad looking corner.

Now, it’s open and bright, as your new bookcase stands proudly in its place.

There’s only one person who would’ve done that.

The phone rings a few times, but you know the Kings game ended a while ago so you let it ring. After a while, Elias picks up.

“Sorry for the background noise,” is the first thing he says. “We’re on the plane. Taking off in a few minutes, probably.”

In the background, you hear some yelling. Probably Jake.

“You put up my bookcase,” you blurt out, ignoring Elias’ statement. “You put it up and all the books are in it and the other one is gone.”

Elias sounds a little smug when he answers. “Well, it’s not like you were ever gonna do it.”

“Thank you.” To your own horror, you can feel tears burning behind your eyes. “Elias, seriously…”

“It’s nothing.” You can hear Elias’ smile even over the phone: you know everyone always makes fun of his deadpan tone when he talks to media but with his friends, his voice always betrays everything he’s feeling. “I know you were worried about it, and I know how much you hated that old one.” He laughs. “I get why now, by the way. It took me and Brock like four hours to get that thing out.”

“Brock helped too?”

“He did.” Elias is silent for a while, but in the background you hear another voice. “Brock says to tell you that I forced him. But that’s not entirely true.”

Entirely. You know Elias definitely did force him.

“Tell him thank you too.”

“He says you’re welcome,” Elias says, quick enough that it makes you think Brock didn’t say that at all. “We’re about to take off so I have to put my phone on airplane mode. But call me tomorrow okay? I wanna hear about your work trip.”

“Okay.” For some reason, you can still feel the lump in your throat. You didn’t notice it momentarily, while you were focused on Elias’ and Brock’s bickering, but now it’s back, and with a vengeance.

Fuck. You just…

“I miss you.” You blurt it out before you can stop yourself and if anyone would ask, you would blame the exhaustion and the fact that Elias can’t see how wet your eyes are over the phone.

“I’ll be back soon,” he answers softly, and his voice is gentle in a way that makes you think he knows about the tears, anyway. “And when I am, we’re gonna take a whole night to eat food and stare at that bookcase, because it needs to be appreciated after the effort I had to put in to build it.”

You laugh before quietly saying goodbye to Elias and hanging up the phone.

In the kitchen, Puck sits in front of the fridge. When you open it there’s a pan with chicken.

For Puck the note next to it says, and you send Elias a picture of Puck with his chicken.

“He spoils you,” you tell your cat. You decide to ignore the fact that he kinda spoils you, too.

4. 

When you open the door to your apartment, you’re met with the smell of garlic.

After yet another shitty day at work, you can already feel the lump in your throat building again. You didn’t even tell him, this time. In fact, you carefully avoided his texts because you knew he’d clock that something was wrong.

Fuck. That’s probably where you went wrong in the first place; usually you never ignored Elias’ texts.

“Hello?” you call out into your own apartment.

There’s soft music playing and there’s light coming from the living room, but the amazing smell that tickles your senses is clearly coming from the kitchen, so that’s where you go.

Elias is standing at your kitchen counter, chopping a carrot.

“Hey,” he greets, smiling your way. “I’m making dinner.”

It’s almost too much, how domestic it looks. And how right: like he belongs there in your space, waiting for you to come home.

Suddenly there’s the overwhelming urge to go towards him, so you do. His arm immediately lifts, creating space for you in the crook of his body, and you slip under his arm easily.

“How did you know?” you mumble into the fabric of his worn Canucks hoodie. It smells like him, a scent that reminds you of home as much as your mother’s signature dish.

“You didn’t answer my texts,” Elias hums. His arm tightens around your body. “So I figured you could use some good food and a bath.” His head motions towards the general direction of the bathroom. “I’m running it as we speak.”

God. You love him.

It hits you, then. You knew you had a crush on him, knew you wanted to kiss him and hold his hand and feel his hands on you. But it’s more than that, now.

It’s the realization that you want to share everything with him. The ups and the downs. The bad nights and the bright mornings. You want him in your kitchen, but more than that, you want it to be his kitchen, too.

Fuck. You’re so royally screwed.

Because he does this, and he does so much for you, but he’s never said anything, anything at all, to indicate that he wants that. Or has even considered it, thought about it.

Maybe it’s never even crossed his mind. Maybe he takes care of you like he would take care of a sister.

“Hey.” Elias’ voice is gentle as it pulls you out of your thoughts, back down to earth. “You’re shaking. Go take a bath, and I’ll finish dinner, and then we’ll watch How I Met Your Mother. I wanted to watch the next episode but I waited for you.” His grin is a little lopsided. “Isn’t that chivalrous of me?”

It is, and normally you would tease him for it, but you can’t really think or speak, so you just nod.

“There’s wine in the fridge, if you want a glass,” Elias says. He holds out a wine glass, already waiting for you on the counter.

And who cares that it’s only a Tuesday: you deserve it, damn it, so you open the fridge to find the wine.

You’re met with more than just that.

“You bought groceries?” you ask, your eyes traveling through your fridge. You hadn’t gone grocery shopping in like a week, and when you left for work this morning the fridge was basically empty. Now it’s so full you wonder how you’re gonna close the door.

“How else was I gonna cook anything? You only had cat food left,” Elias tuts. You’re not surprised to find Puck at Elias’ feet, waiting for him to inevitably slip him some human food.

“Did you get…”

“Your coconut yoghurt? Yes.”

He did, and he got basically all your staples, and nothing you wouldn’t buy yourself.

“Honestly,” you say, as you finally reach for the bottle and pull your head out of the fridge. “I don’t know what to say, Petey. Thank you. I had such a sucky day and now it’s already endlessly better.”

This time you know you’re not imagining the flush on Elias’ cheeks.

“It’s fine,” he says. “You should go take that bath before it goes cold.”

You want to say more: to tell him time and time again how amazing he is, how much he means to you, how thankful you are. But you know once you start, you can’t be trusted to not say the one thing you don’t think he wants to hear.

So you say nothing, and simply go to take your bath.

+1

But you think about it.

You think about it all throughout Christmas, where you don’t see Elias at all. You think about it during NYE, when you get a drunk SnapChat from Elias with his brother, right at midnight.

At least, you figure, he’s not kissing any girls.

You’re not kissing any boys, either. You’re at a NYE party with Fiona and it’s fun, it is, but it’s not the same as it would be if Elias wasn’t all the way in Sweden.

You miss him like a limb, and you know it’s not fair because he rarely gets time to go home to Sweden and he deserves that time with his family, but you can’t say you didn’t wish his time off ended already.

When it finally does, it’s not Elias you see first. Troy is throwing a late New Years party, just to welcome everyone back to Vancouver as they get ready to start the season back up, and when you arrive at his house it’s early enough in the evening that there’s only a handful of people there.

“Y/N!” Brock calls out, opening his arms to give you a big hug as you enter. “Missed you!”

You laugh. “Get off of me, you giant. I’m gonna drop the wine.”

“Not the wine,” Troy says dramatically, tearing it out of your hands. His eyes are sparkling when he thanks and hugs you, and then Brock is ushering you into the living room, where Jake is talking with Quinn.

Or talking at Quinn. To be honest, you never really know when Quinn is paying attention.

“Y/N!” Jake exclaims, much like Brock had. “I’m glad you’re here, we need your input on something.”

“Okay?” you ask, curiosity instantly taking over. Whenever Jake and Brock get together, it promises to be an interesting evening.

“We’re trying to decide Brock’s love language.”

It’s sudden enough that you laugh. “His what?”

“Love language,” Jake explains. “Like, how he shows people he loves them. He says it’s quality time, but I think it could be physical touch. He’s always touching people.”

“Jake is deflecting because his love language is physical touch,” Brock scowls. “I think I know my own love language, Tuna.”

“Hold on.” Unfortunately, you have to press the pause button on their discussion. “What options do we have?”

You’ve got no idea where they got this from, but it doesn’t really matter. You’re always down to share your opinion on stupid stuff with your favorite boys.

“There’s gifts, quality time, physical touch, words of affirmation, and…” Brock pauses, and you can nearly see the wheels in his head turning.

“Acts of service,” Quinn offers, which proves that he was actually paying attention.

“Mine is physical touch,” Jake says determinedly. “When I care about someone, I always wanna be touching them, and when I’m in love with someone that’s like twenty times worse.”

“Poor girl,” Quinn mutters, and the conversation gets paused in order for Jake to put Quinn in a headlock.

“I think yours is quality time, actually,” you tell Brock when Jake is done murdering the rookie. “Your ex was always on her phone during your date nights and I remember it drove you crazy.”

“See,” Brock says proudly. “Quality time baby. If I’m there I’m there.”

“What about yours, Huggy?” Jake asks. “Physical touch would make sense, since you’re called Huggy.”

“I’m not called Huggy,” Quinn deadpans. His face is devoid of any emotion, but you know him well enough to recognize the mischievous twinkle in his eyes. He reminds you of Elias, when he does that. “And if we were going by nicknames your love language would be fishing.”

Everyone cracks up on that, and then the doorbell rings and Bo arrives.

The topic gets put on hold, then, because Bo is instantly talking about Gunnar’s first Christmas and Brock is talking about becoming an uncle again and you feel warm and happy on the couch with your wine, squeezed between Brock and Troy.

Until, a little later, you realize someone is missing.

“Where’s Petey?” you ask Troy. “Isn’t he coming?”

Troy shrugs. “Should do. But you never know with Pete.”

It’s not entirely true: if Elias promises he’ll be there, he will be there. But, to be fair, he usually doesn’t promise that to anyone but you, and you hadn’t asked him to come, this time.

You figured he just would.

“What about Petey’s love language?” Brock asks idly, not knowing he’s opening Pandora’s box for you. “Definitely not words of affirmation, huh.”

Troy laughs.

“Nah, Petey’s an acts of service guy. He’s always doing shit for Y/N.”

You would protest if you trusted your voice not to shake. As it is, you stay quiet and hope the flush on your cheeks gets mistaken for a wine flush, and not an Elias flush.

Brock brightens. “Oh, yeah! Getting her car fixed, making dinner, building her stupid bookshelf, feeding her cat… He is a typical acts of service guy.” He bumps against your shoulder playfully. “I hope you appreciate his showing of love, Y/N. He rarely does that shit for me.”

Troy snorts. “That’s cause he’s not in love with you, Boes.”

“He’s not in love with me either!” you squeak, unable to stay quiet any longer. You know if you don’t derail this trail of thought very soon, it’s gonna end badly for you.

Both Troy and Brock look unimpressed, at that statement.

“Yes, he is,” Brock says slowly, as if explaining something to an unruly child. “He drops whatever he has going on to do small things that make your life easier. That’s literally the same as him screaming I’m in love with you from the highest rooftop in Vancouver.”

“He’s not like you,” Troy continues, a little more gentle. “When people have different love languages, they don’t always understand what the other is trying to say. Your love language is words of affirmation. You’re always telling Petey how amazing he is. But he doesn’t see that as a declaration of love, or whatever. He thinks you tell everyone that they’re amazing.”

You do, to be fair, but not as often as you tell Elias. Because he’s…

Well. Amazing would be an understatement, actually. He’s everything to you.  

Things are starting to make sense, like puzzle pieces fitting into place. Suddenly, you start wondering if there’s more to his acts of service than plain friendship, or him being a good guy.

It’s not like he does stuff like that for all his friends. He helps them out, sure, but he always goes above and beyond for you, usually not even needing to be asked.

But he’s not in love with you, surely? He hasn’t said anything…

But maybe words aren’t his thing. Not like they are yours: the way you can’t stop yourself from gushing into Elias’ ear even when you know you should stop.

What if Brock and Troy are right?

You don’t get much time to think it through, because that’s when Elias finally appears in Troy’s living room, looking endlessly cool in his blue sweater, wearing his glasses. He’s sending death glares at Jake, who wolf whistles from the corner, but then his eyes meet yours and they soften.

“Hi there,” he smiles, reaching out to you. You immediately jump up and launch yourself at him, any previous conversation about the two of you momentarily forgotten as you curl your body into his, his arms tightening around your waist.

“Missed you,” you hum into his shoulder, and you’re rewarded with a grin you can feel against the skin of your neck.

“Are you sure hers isn’t physical touch?” you hear Brock ponder, and you would flip him off if you could be bothered.

You can’t. All you can be bothered doing is plastering yourself to Elias’ side and not leaving him alone even for a second, the rest of the night.

It works at least for a while, until he asks: “Do you want another drink?”

“I’ll go with you,” you say, not willing to part with him yet, and you ignore the knowing look Brock shoots you as the two of you find your way to the kitchen.

Elias immediately goes for the wine, because he knows you better than anyone else.

“I asked my dad about the job,” Elias mentions casually, as if it’s not a big deal at all. “He thinks he can get you an interview.”

“Wait, what?”

Suddenly your heart is ticking in your throat. Before he left for Sweden, Elias had mentioned that his dad knows a guy who works for a similar company as you’re working for now: apart from the shitty boss you have or the ridiculous low salary you get paid. It’s your job, but better, and Elias promised you he’d get his dad to ask if there were any open positions.

There were. And you sent in your application not thinking there was gonna come much from it, but now…

Something warm washes through your chest, like your heart grew three sizes. Of course he asked, of course he made it happen. Looking out for you, always and at any time, from any distance.

“It’s not a done deal,” Elias warns, oblivious to your mental breakdown. “But he said he thinks they’ll like you and he’ll put in a good word for you.”

You squeal and throw yourself in his direction once again. Elias laughs as he catches you, fingers curling in your hair where your face is pressed against his chest.

“Thank you,” you mumble.

“It’s about time you get rid of that dumb job.” You can hear the frown in Elias’ voice. “They don’t take good care of you at all, it’s not good for you.” The distaste is obvious and it’s adorable. You pull away.

“I don’t need them to,” you say, carefully. You can still hear Brock’s words in your voice, and you figure it’s worth a try, probably. “Because you’re always there to take care of me.”

Elias’ cheeks darken substantially.

“I mean it when I say I don’t know what I’d do without you, Elias.”

“You’d be fine,” Elias waves away the compliment as you figured he would. But this time you’re not backing down.

“Maybe I would be. But I wouldn’t be as happy.”

They say when you really love a person, you’ve got to show them. But you’ve never really known how to do that, instead you always use your words to tell them. But it seems like Elias isn’t believing you, not even now.

And you’ve got to fix that.

It’s not until you’re in Elias’ car on the way back home that you bring it up again. The party wasn’t really the time and place, but the conversation with Brock and the guys has been nagging in the back of your mind since it happened.

If you didn’t realize Elias’ acts of service meant something, maybe he doesn’t realize your words of affirmation mean something. And even if it doesn’t mean he’s in love with you – you’re really not that sure about that – you need him to at least know how much you appreciate him.

“You know I’m always there for you, right?” you start, carefully breaking the silence in the car. Elias shoots you a glance from behind the steering wheel.

“What?”

“Like, even if I’m maybe not as good as you are at realizing what you need me to do, if there’s ever anything I can do to help make your life a little easier or better I wanna do it. I’d do anything for you.”

It’s too honest, probably, and too much all at the same time. But Elias doesn’t look that surprised. In fact, there’s a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

“You make my life better by just being you, Y/N. You don’t have to do anything for me.”

Butterflies erupt in your stomach and you wonder how you’re gonna get through this conversation. But it’s one that needs to be held, so you press on.

“What is your love language, Elias?”

Now he frowns. “Have you been talking to Brock?”

Of course Brock talked to Elias before he talked to you. The traitor.

You decide to ignore that, for now. You’ll talk to Brock later.

“You know my love language is words of affirmation, right?”

Elias shrugs. “Brock did say that, but I didn’t know what you thought it was.”

“And yours is acts of service,” you hazard a guess. You keep your eyes firmly on Elias’ face, which is the only reason you catch the slight change in his expression.

Like a wall, crossing over his features. He’s trying to protect himself, although you have no idea why. Does he not get where you’re going with this?

“I can tune it down if you want me to,” he says, a little grumpily. He’s staring straight ahead at the road, stubbornly refusing to look your way.

And oh God, he’s truly not getting it, and this is going the exact opposite way you want it to go.

Troy did say that when people’s love languages don’t match, they don’t understand what the other is trying to say. But you honestly don’t know how you can make it any more clear to Elias.

Well, except…

“I love you,” you blurt out. “Like, in love with you love you.”

The words ring loudly in the quiet car. For a second, nothing about Elias’ expression, almost like he didn’t hear you. You can almost feel your heart sink into your stomach.

Then, he pulls over the car.

It comes to a stop at the side of the road, two wheels on the pavement and two still on the road. It is, objectively, not super safe, but it’s also 3am and there’s no other cars to be seen. Very carefully, without looking at you still, Elias turns on the hazard lights.

And then finally, finally, he turns to you and kisses you.

You weren’t expecting it but it doesn’t really matter: it’s like your heart and head both light on fire, and everything outside of the car simply disappears. It’s just you and Elias, and his lips on yours and his hands on your body.

It feels right. Like it was always meant to end up like this.

After what feels like ages, he pulls away. He’s smiling, and his eyes are bright blue in the dark car.

“I thought you said those kinda things to everyone,” he admits, quietly. His thumb is rubbing your side, his eyes fixed on that spot. Almost as if he can’t really believe he’s allowed to do that.

You don’t want him to ever do anything else.

“I thought you did those kinda things for everyone,” you shoot back.

Elias raises one eyebrow. “That bookcase weighed at least 300 pounds.”

You can’t help it: giggles are escaping your lips and suddenly you’re both laughing. The tension in the car dissipates instantly, and suddenly it’s just Elias again, your best friend.

Your best friend that you’re now allowed to kiss. So you lean in and press your lips against his again.

After all, kissing is a love language you think everyone understands.

(+2)

“I’m home!” Elias’ voice sounds through the empty apartment, and you immediately leave your spot behind the kitchen counter to run into the hallway.

With a squeal, you fly towards him, and he catches you easily as you knew he would.

“Hey, babe,” he laughs quietly, pressing a kiss into your hair before returning the hug fully. “Is that my sweater?”

“Maybe,” you admit, as Elias’ hands make their way under his own blue sweater, that you definitely steal from him most evenings. “Missed you. And I’m very proud of you.”

“I missed you too,” he answers. “Watched the game?”

“Obviously.” You roll your eyes, even though you know he can’t see it with your face still buried in his shoulder. “A hat trick, huh? I think that needs to be celebrated.”

“Oh?” Elias pulls away then, one eyebrow raised and a cheeky twinkle in his eyes.

“Not like that,” you scold him, lightly punching his arm. “Or, maybe like that. But first, I made Kalops.”

At the mention of his favorite Swedish food, Elias’ face lights up. A while ago, you asked his mom for her recipe and it’s one of the only Swedish dishes you can make, but you make it well.

“Also,” you continue, as you take his hand and start leading him towards the kitchen, so he can sit at the counter while you cook as he always does, “I called the electrician so the TV is already fixed. I know you could have done it, but I decided I’d much rather use that time to hang out with you. I took Puck to get his shots at the vet and I also used my free afternoon to take your car through the car wash.”

When you reach the kitchen, you twirl around towards Elias and his arms immediately circle around your waist.

“You didn’t have to do all that,” he mutters, taking the opportunity to kiss you once more. “But thank you. I love that you took the time to take care of that for me. And I love you.”

“Look at us,” you tease, lightly tugging at the ends of Elias’ hair. “Speaking each other’s love language like that.”

“Perfect couple,” Elias agrees, and you smile back at him.

Somehow, you and Elias managed to create a language of your own: one that you could speak with nobody else. But luckily, you don’t have to.

Cause he came home to your shared apartment like he always does, and well. That’s the biggest act of service he could do for you.  

[dreamescapeswriting]

BTS Reaction || You’re An Idol And Faint [Request]

[BTS X Gender Neutral Reader]

Seokjin:

Your manager was walking around backstage telling all of your members to get into their starting position,

"Is your boyfriend here?" Your maknae asked coming over to you for help on her zipper, you turned her around while you did the zipper up on her dress.

"Jin and I are just friends." You lied as she turned around to face you once again, everyone knew you were dating but you had to keep up the friends act in front of reporters and fans since it was written within your contract to forbid you from dating for at least another year yet,

"Is he here?" You rolled your eyes at her and pointed out through the small curtain to the front row, Jin was sitting in the centre waiting for you along with the rest of BTS. It was your comeback stage meaning you and your group had been training for months for this and it was finally happening,

"Starting places!" Your manager snapped at everyone she seemed a lot more stressed than you did at the moment considering you were the one running on 3 hours of sleep from the last two days but you were used to the late nights you'd been like this since your trainee years.

"You okay?" The second oldest of your group asked as you stood in front of her ready to start your opening lines, the microphone on your head wobbled as you nodded in an answer to her.

"I'm fine, you guys ready?" The music began and the curtains lifted, you sang your lines as best as you could before moving to the back and continuing the dancing.

Jin watched from the front row with a giant smile on his face, he was always so proud of you and your group for doing what you did, you were one of the best in the industry and he always expressed his love for your music.

"Jin stop dancing," Jimin chuckled, if he gave anymore hints that he knew the brand new choreography it would more than obvious that you were dating.

"Do they look okay to you?" Yoongi asked noticing you as you stumbled a little, you were looking a little confused next and before they knew it you were on the floor at the back of the group, the music cut and the curtain dropped.

"Y/N!" Jin screamed not caring about paparazzi or fans seeing his display, all he cared about was finding out if his partner was okay after going down like that

(X)

He'd rushed backstage to find you being carried into an ambulance and demanded that he got to go with you, he wasn't about to let anyone stop him. He either went in the ambulance or he made it clear he'd find another way there.

"How are you feeling?" Jin asked when you woke up a few hours later, you'd been in and out of it all night since you got to the hospital. It scared the hell out of Jin seeing you collapse the way you did.

"I'm okay, what happened on the stage? Did we finish?" You rushed to sit up in the bed but Jin pushed you to lay back down telling you not to worry about any of that right now,

"You're going to make it up another time, right now you need to rest. Your maknae said you haven't been sleeping." You shook your head trying to pass it off as if it was nothing but it wasn't nothing, it was a huge deal especially in the industry where things could go wrong due to the lack of sleep.

"Why haven't you been sleeping?" You knew Jin would never drop it so you were going to have to talk about it sooner or later,

"I've been stressed, I know it's stupid. I trained for this, I'm the leader of a diverse group of 12 people I should be good at this but-"

"Don't do that, don't blame yourself. You should be getting help with the group, they can't expect you to manage alone." You sighed as he took your hand in yours trying to comfort you in any way that he could,

"I'm sorry, the comeback was coming up quick and I guess I just forgot I had to sleep." He kissed the top of your hand and promised he would do his best to make sure you were getting the rest you deserved from now on.

Yoongi:

This was the first time that you were going to be presenting on the MCountdown show since you debuted, your group were performing later as well so you'd been up to your neck in practice, along with working on your new comeback album. You were presenting alongside Hyunjin today and you were both getting along great backstage and on stage,

"Y/n? These just came for you." Hyunjin said as he held up a card in his hand, you took it from his grasp and opened it to see a message from Yoongi inside.

"Waiting in the usual spot, good luck?" Hyunjin was reading over your shoulder so you playfully jabbed him in the side when your stomach growled loudly. You hadn't eaten a single thing all day thanks to your tightly packed schedule.

"You hungry? They have something back-"

"They're on a diet." Your managed quipped looking up from her phone for the first time in the last two hours of sitting there doing nothing. Hyujin gave her the side-eye before you reassured him that it was fine and you'd just grab something back at your dorm room later. You knew Yoongi was going to be waiting for you backstage in his usual spot, he would stand watching you whenever you had a performance, he'd stand where you could see him and he could see you clearly enough without being spotted.

"On stage please!" The producer called out clapping his hands together taking you and Hyunjin jump up and go towards the main stage. You caught a glimpse of Yoongi in his suit as you went up onto the stage, taking your microphone and plastering the giant fake smile across your face.

"Hi! Welcome back to Mcountdown! Today we have a lot of special performances from Stray Kids, BTS, TXT, and Lovestruck!" You said clapping your hands as you announced your group name.

Yoongi smiled his bright gummy bear smile as he watched you presenting the show but there was something wrong, whenever the camera panned off of you you would hold onto Hyunjin. The lights seemed to be bothering you a lot more than they usually would and you were swaying in place.

"Next up we have TXT with 'Can't You See me." The camera cut away to the boys on the other stage and the second you were free you stumbled into Hyunjin holding onto his arm for dear life as you felt a wave of dizziness hit you out of nowhere.

"Y/n?" His voice seemed distant as you began to fade out of consciousness.

"Y/N!" Yoongi yelled right before you fell down onto the floor, the microphone slipping out of your hand and hitting the floor creating horrible feedback through the audio systems.

(X)

Yoongi held onto the muffin you were picking from as you stared at him, the producers and medics had brought you backstage after you fainted and told you it was the lack of food in your system causing you to pass out.

"It's the new diet, I promise I'm eating enough I just forgot to eat during my time period today." You told Yoongi who was red in the face from anger but it wasn't directed at you, it was to your manager who claimed that the diet was to stick despite this happening to you.

"Y/n is fine the way they are!" You'd heard him yelling when you first woke up on the sofa with Hyunjin by your side.

"I'll have her sued, or fired, anything." He ranted to you as he handed you some more of the muffin, you kissed his cheek thanking him for doing this for you and promising him that everything would be okay, diet or no diet you were going to eat what you needed to prevent this from happening again.

Hoseok:

The company you worked for were making sure that you wore long sleeves to cover up your arms, you had a large tattoo down your left arm and it was against their policy to allow you to show it during concerts - although your fans had seen it plenty of times and adored the tattoos on you your company was just following protocol.

"You look like you're about to drop," Hoseok said as you came off stage for a small intermission, your Maknae and eldest member were both talking on the main stage while you switched into another outfit.

"It's hot out there," You tried to laugh off the fact that you were getting dizzy, you should have been used to this by now. The long shirts were nothing usually but that was in your practice studio not on stage with all of the lights scolding down on you while you worked hard for your fans.

"Take this," He handed you a small fan he was using backstage along with a bottle of water and you headed off to get changed into yet another long sleeve shirt, this was one thicker than the rest, Hobi looked worried when you passed him on the way back to the stage.

"Are you guys ready!?" You yelled talking to fans while the rest of your group went to go and get changed,

"You guys are going to love the next one, it's a sneak peek at the next album." You laughed softly telling them that they were the most spoiled fandom, you glanced over to the Maknae who was rushing back onto the stage with her microphone in hand. It was a slower song, one that you'd dedicated to the fans for being so loyal with you all so it didn't involve any dancing thank goodness but the lights were still making it hard for you to breath.

"3...2...1..." The music began softly in your earpiece and you held the microphone to your lips as you began to sing softly along to the lyrics that you'd all written together.

Fans screamed as you sat back against the floor holding your microphone up to your head as you tried to push through it, some of them thought you'd gotten so sad over the lyrics but everyone else could clearly see you were fighting passing out on the stage, Hoseok stared at the stage managers who were all in a debate about what they were supposed to be doing right now.

"Get them off the stage! They're going to pass out!" He ordered loudly, he knew that he had no control over them but he had control over what happened to you, the love of his life and he wasn't about to let you get hurt or worse on stage.

(X)

"Hobi I'm fine," You whispered as he tried to put a wet cloth on your forehead yet again, you were back at your dorms with the rest of your group putting out a personal statement of apology while your fans were rioting. They were in full rage about you wearing long sleeves and demanding that you got to wear something you wouldn't get too hot in on stage, that it was unfair to single you out the way your company were doing.

"You passed out-"

"Only for a couple of minutes, it was too hot." You mumbled not wanting to be babied anymore than you were but the whole group had done nothing but baby you since you got off stage and were continuing to do so now.

"Hobi please, just get into bed and cuddle me?" He nodded and put the wet cloth away so he could get into the bed behind you and cuddle you to sleep.

Namjoon:

It was no secret that being an idol and being in the public eye had its ups and downs, you were experiencing a lot of the downs lately as you came under fire from tabloids accusing you of taking drugs and performance enhancers on stage to make you seem better. As a soloist it was hard and you were struggling to keep yourself calm most days, if you were in a group it would have shifted onto something else far quicker than it was but you were alone throughout all if it except for your fans and Namjoon - your boyfriend who had done nothing but defend you since the bullshit stories came to light. Your company were in the middle of a battle against some magazines to sue them for slander but it didn't stop since more stories were being made up daily.

"You okay?" You ignored the stylist who was working on your face, you knew it wasn't her fault that all of this was happening but you were angry at everybody around you. Namjoon was standing in the doorway watching as you got up, you were performing for a small show tonight and it was your first show since the stories came out,

"You need to calm down before you go out there," You knew he was right, being angry on stage was not going to fix anything. It would only increase the stories but you couldn't help it, on your way into the venue paparazzi had done nothing but accuse you of taking more drugs, demanding that you hand yourself into the police and just admitted everything you'd been doing...which was nothing.

"I'm fine," You lied faking a smile in his direction and heading over to your stage manager who was telling you all of the details you needed to know for the show. Where to stand, what cameras to look at and where you had to finish in order for everything to go over smoothly.

"Performing their new comeback single Y/n y/l/n!" The audience clapped and you smiled at them going on and introducing yourself before the music started. Namjoon watched closely as you tried to focus on the singing rather than the small row of people in the front yelling abuse at you, they weren't happy that you were there and giving a small performance since they believed the rumours to be true. The song was coming to an end and your heart began to thump as you realised that they were going to keep doing this all of the time, they were going to get angrier and angrier no matter if the stories were true or not.

"Are they okay?" Someone asked out loud, Namjoon watched in horror as your eyes began to roll back and you stumbled towards the exit of the stage without finishing the song.

"Y/n?!" He panicked rushing over to you as you passed out in his arms, he called for someone to get a medic while he tried to get you to wake up.

(X)

The medic sighed as he went over with you what could have happened if you weren't careful,

"I told you not to go on stage angry," You stared at Namjoon daring him to say he told you so again and he shut up.

"The media is going to have a field day." You groaned pulling the blanket over your head as you sat on the sofa in one of the changing rooms backstages. He wrapped his arm around you promising that he would find a way to stop everything from happening but it was impossible. You'd seen the video and if you weren't you, you would think you'd been on drugs as well by the way your eyes rolled back and you stumbled.

"Your company will work it out, they'll spin it around and tell them it was due to the copious amounts of stress you've been under." He was good at this, trying to comfort you when you knew something bad was going to happen. You laid your head on his shoulder as you tried not to think of all the stories that were bound to come out about the performance.

Jimin:

This was your first fan signing back after taking a couple of months away due to your anxiety, all of your fans were supportive of this and were excited to see you back with the rest of your group. Your boyfriend - Jimin - had even come out to see you, he was waiting backstage of course not wanting to make the fan sign all about him,

"Is it true he came out to come and see you?" A fan questioned as you started singing his book, you looked up at him and smiled.

"Yeah he came out this morning, it was such a shock." He took your hand in his and smiled brightly at you, telling you how much you inspired him to keep working towards his goals in life and how seeing you talk about your mental health so openly with the fans inspired him to open up to his family.

"I'm glad I can help, thank you." You whispered watching as he walked over to the next member, you greeted the next fan who was just as happy as the last one that Jimin had come by for moral support,

"We love that you're back, we missed you." You started tearing up as she said it, you wanted to lean across the table and hug every single fan but it was against the company policy to do so, so you held their hands as long as you could before they moved on.

"A small song from our lead vocalist!" The leader of your group said pointing at you, you were wearing a stitch hat on your head and holding onto a dancing flower.

"Sure," You laughed looking around the group asking what song they wanted to hear from you and they all suggested Promise by Jimin since he was the one backstage. You tried to remember your breathing exercises as you waited for some music to start playing, you'd been fine up until this point and it was as if the Maknae could sense what was happening, she took your hand in hers and began singing along with you. But all of the eyes staring back at you was starting to play with your head, you stumbled on the words before your heart began racing.

"Oh no." Jimin whispered watching as he knew what was about to happen,

"Someone go and get them-" It was too late you were stumbling backwards into the fansign table as the anxiety attack started to cause you to pass out. Jimin ignored the managers as he ran out onto the stage to see if you were okay, fans were screaming to get you off the stage and make sure you got some rest.

(X)

Fans had been sending positive messages through twitter and instagram since you got back to your dorms with the group and Jimin - who hadn't left your side since getting you off the stage.

"You were supposed to take it easy," He whispered as he drew circles into the lower part of your back to try and calm you down,

"I thought I was fine, my anxiety was okay but then-"

"All the eyes, the people screaming?" You nodded and let out a small whimper but he just wrapped his arms around you tightly not wanting you to get upset over something like this. It was going to get easier for you but you had to take it easy, you had to take your time and try to go with the flow instead of rushing to make yourself feel better.

"Your fans understand that you need time, just take as much as you need." He whispered as you yawned, the passing out and anxiety attack had made you incredibly tired so you nodded along to what he was saying before laying your head down on his chest to get some sleep.

Taehyung:

You were panting heavily as you rushed off the stage to get changed into the next outfit for the next routine you were doing, it was your final concert of the season and you and your group were going as hard as you could to make this work out great for your fans who seemed more sad than excited. It wasn't as though it was your final ever goodbye, it was just a goodbye for now while you all took a year off to get some well deserved time off. Taehyung was watching front row, he wanted to watch from the fan point of view instead of backstage, everyone knew you were dating anyway. Your company saw no reason to hide the relationship since you had been together for years and it was stable enough to survive something coming at it from the tabloids.

"This is the final song of the night guys," You said sadly as you walked back out onto the stage in shorts, and a black laced sleeved shirt, the crowd booed as you said it and you laughed along with them as you went onto a speech about how it wasn't going to be forever, just for now.

"We wrote to you guys a song to enjoy while we have some time off, we hope you like it. It's a little on the slow side compared to what you're used to but I'm sure you'll love it all the same." The piano began playing softly over the speakers and Taehyung smiled, he'd been with you in the studio when you came up with the lyrics. Each verse, chorus and pre-chorus was devoted to the fandom and how you were always going to be there for them, no matter the time or day. It was the best way you could have connected with them under everything that was going on,

"Y/n hasn't drunk a single thing on stage, I hope they're drinking when they're off stage." Taehyung heard one of the girls behind him say, he'd noticed it as well and usually, he would be the one backstage reminding you to drink before going back on but he wasn't there.

"Maybe they are, I'm sure they're fine." He heard a male voice say back to her but now that it had been pointed out to him Taehyung couldn't unsee it, you looked a little dishevelled as you tried to keep up with the lyrics. You walked back to lean onto a speaker that was on stage and your fans knew instantly that something was wrong, but it was you and Taehyung watched as you powered through the urge to pass out.

(X)

"You're not going back out there." Your manager snapped as you tried to get up to go out for the final goodbye to your fans but no one was going to let you, the rest of your group had already explained why you weren't on stage and that you were taking the right actions to rehydrate yourself and get better,

"When was the last time you drank anything and don't give us any excuses." Taehyung stared at you waiting for an answer, he knew he'd sounded harsh but you had to make sure you were taking care of yourself.

"This morning when I woke up, I had a cup of tea-"

"I told you to always take a bottle of water everywhere you go, and the stage is full of them why didn't you just-"

"I forgot." You cut him off and he sighed taking your hand in his and trying to remind you all of the important reasons why hydrating was important, especially under the giant stage lights and screaming fans. You could have had a serious accident instead of just a small fainting stage.

"I'm sorry, I promise to try harder." You whispered to him as he handed you a cup of water with a metal straw inside of it.

Jungkook:

You'd been training for the move for weeks and it was finally the day you were going to do it on live TV in front of everyone.

"Are you sure you can do this?" Jungkook asked, his voice laced with worry at the thought of you doing something that could seriously hurt you but you'd done it a million times and promised him that it was easy.

"ArE YoU SuRe YoU cAn Do ThIs?" You playfully mocked but stopped once you saw how seriously worried about it he was, it was the ending move for the dance number you were doing and it would be there for every performance of this song you would have to do.

"Sorry baby, yes I'm sure." You reassured him kissing his cheek as you heard your group name being called out, you were due on stage and didn't have time to put his mind at ease anymore than you had already tried to.

"Trust me!" You yelled as you walked away from him going out towards the stage. Jungkook was going to be watching from the side of the stage like he did every other time you performed on the show. He was always there to support you unless he was away on tour and couldn't make it back in time for something.

"This is it!" The choreography said excitedly to Jungkook as they both watched you closely, you were on your back ready to do the kickflip up onto your feet. The beat dropped and you kicked up landing on your feet and stumbling a little, you nailed it though and the music cut as the cameras moved away. As soon as the cameras dropped so did you, your body hit the floor and Jungkook screamed rushing over to you to see what was going on.

(X)

"It was nothing, I got up a little too fast." You said as Jungkook walked into the room, the medic that was on site had just come by to check you over.

"It looked awesome though!" Your maknae yelled but stopped once he saw the death glare that he was getting from a worried-looking Jungkook,

"I thought you could do it-"

"I did do it." You corrected him taking a sip of the water in front of you and staring at him, he didn't look happy that you were trying to get out of having this conversation with him.

"Look. I got up too quick from the kick but I'm fine, the medic said I should take it slower next time and it'll be fine."  You told him but he was still going to worry about it every time you did the move, scared you'd do what you did just then and pass out you could read his facial expressions so easily so you took his hand in yours to reassure him that everything would be fine in the future but it wasn't going to stop him from worrying about it. Nothing would he loved you too much for anything to happen to you.

Tagline: 

@writingdreamsnottragedies​ @snowy-meowl​ @jooniesdarlingdimples​ @lynnthevirgo​ @lyoongx​ @mitzwinchester​ @fan-ati--c​ @callingmyangel​ @rjsmochii​ @kneel-begyourpardon​ @taestannie​ @innersooya​

[blueskrugs]

Just Wanna Be with You | Matthew Tkachuk

surprise! my nolan fic is being mean to me, I’ve had a terrible mental health week, and I’ve been on a childhood nostalgia kick lately. so, uh, if anyone wants to have a disney movie marathon/cuddle session with me...

anyway, have a lil less than 1.2K words of cute Matty

length: 1.2k words

Summer was winding down in St. Louis. At least, that’s what the calendar said, not that it particularly felt like it, with the late August temps still in the 90s and the ridiculous humidity levels. Taryn had begged you to come over for a girls’ night before school got too busy for her and before you and Matt headed back to Calgary for the season. Really, though, it hadn’t taken much convincing on her part. 

You both kicked Matt and Brady out of the basement, with firm orders to leave you alone for the night, and spread out on the couch with large bowls of popcorn and way more candy than was probably healthy. Taryn had most of the Tkachuk family movie collection stacked in front of her. You bickered gently for a while, each vetoing the other’s picks, for increasingly stupid reasons, until Taryn plucked the first High School Musical movie from the pile. Your face lit up.

“High School Musical marathon?” you asked.

“Absolutely,” Taryn said, already getting up to put the DVD in.

She dimmed the lights in the basement before settling in next to you as the movie started. Nostalgia hit you immediately, and it didn’t take long before you were both singing along and quoting every other line. Matthew, clearly still upset at being excluded, wandered downstairs during “Get’cha Head in the Game.” 

“I could do that,” he said.

You and Taryn just snorted. Matt made a noise of protest, but Taryn threw a handful of popcorn at him. He tried valiantly to catch some in his mouth, but most of it bounced off his forehead. When you peered over the back of the couch at him, you were pretty sure a piece was stuck in his curls. Matt pouted at you for a moment, but you gave him a look, and he turned around and went back upstairs. 

He didn’t bother you again for a while. You and Taryn were standing on the couch, singing loudly to “Breaking Free.” Taryn was using a TV remote for a microphone; you had a stray Switch controller. Taryn lost her balance and fell back to the couch cushions, and you landed next to her, both of you laughing breathlessly. 

“What the fuck,” Matt said suddenly, a laugh in his voice.

He must have come downstairs quietly. You wondered how long he’d been watching. You stretched your arm over the back of the couch towards him, and Matt grasped it, bringing it up to his lips for a quick kiss. Taryn pretended to gag; you kicked her under the blankets. 

Matt reached over and stole some of your popcorn then, leaning on the back of the couch to watch the TV. The last song of the movie was playing now. “I could do that, too,” he said, gesturing at the TV where everyone was dancing.

“Oh, yeah?” Taryn said, and Matthew had never been one to back down from a challenge. 

He did okay dancing for about 30 seconds, until he tripped over his own feet and ended up in a heap on the floor. You and Taryn were too busy laughing at him to help him up, but you thought Taryn might have been sneakily recording all of that on her phone.

Matt spent the next five minutes convincing you two that he could be good, and that’s how you ended up with your back pressed to his chest from in between his legs as Taryn switched the DVDs. 

“Y’know, I don’t think I’ve ever seen the second one,” Matt mused, loudly munching popcorn in your ear.

“Shh,” you hissed, reaching around and clapping a hand over his mouth. 

He stayed mostly quiet, though he did jump over the back of the couch to grab a hockey stick and dramatically act out “Bet on It.” Taryn had definitely recorded that one. 

“Never seen this before, eh, Matty?” you teased as he climbed behind you again. His arms tightened around your waist, and he buried his face in your neck as you and Taryn burst out laughing. 

“That video gets out and I’ll kill you,” Matt mumbled.

“Uh-huh,” Taryn said, already busy sending the video out, you were sure.

“Is that Miley Cyrus?” he blurted later. Taryn threw an M&M at him. Matt just plucked it from the couch cushions and ate it with a smirk.

There was an intermission between the second and third movies as you refilled popcorn and drinks, and Taryn complained that her knees were getting stiff. Brady came downstairs, took one look at Matt sitting on the couch with a blanket around his shoulders, and just shook his head before heading back upstairs. 

It was much harder to keep Matt quiet through the third movie. He kept interjecting with comments constantly. Things like:

“Why the fuck is she the only one standing now? So dramatic.” 

“Ooh, a tree house!”

“Why are the clothes in this one so weird?”

“What kind of school has a whole-ass garden on the roof?”

“Oh my God, a powder blue tux! I need one.”

“What the fuck is going on? Why are they fighting a car? How are they fighting a car?”

He jumped up for “Scream,” though, eager to be dramatic all over again. He was halfway perched on the back of the couch when Taryn threw a pillow at him. It hit him in the face, and, surprised, he toppled backwards off the couch. When he popped back up, his curls were askew, and he looked disgruntled.

“If I’m injured for training camp, I’m blaming you,” he complained.

“If you’re injured, it’s because of your terrible dancing ‘skills,’” Taryn said, throwing air quotes around skills with a scoff and a grin. Matt flipped her off.

He pouted in silence for a while, but then, “Wait, wait, wait. The British girl is evil? The fuck?” You and Taryn lost it at that one.

“Aww,” he cooed when Troy announced what school he had chosen. You smacked him in the chest.

He nudged you during the last song. You elbowed him back. “You graduated high school. Was it really like that?”

“Yes.”

Taryn, half-asleep, giggled from her end of the couch. She stretched before getting up. “I’m going to bed. Good night, losers.”

You and Matt sat quietly in the dark for a moment. After the pillow throwing incident, he had ended up sprawled across the couch with his head in your lap. You absently pushed his curls back from his forehead. 

“It was cute, earlier, watching you two sing and dance,” Matt murmured. His eyes shone up at you in the dim lighting. When you made a disbelieving noise, he sat up, nearly knocking your heads together. “No, really. I love that you and Taryn get along so well. I was also thinking about how much I love you, you dork,” he said, pressing a kiss to the tip of your nose. 

You ducked your head, feeling your cheeks heat up, but Matthew grabbed your chin, bringing you in for a sweet kiss. 

“This doesn’t mean you can be invited to our next girls’ night,” you said, but you kissed Matt again anyway.

[latenitetea]

not in kansas anymore - rodrick heffley headcanons(ish)

rodrick may or may not have a crush on a theater kid...

you KNOW that rodrick was definitely forced to go see the spring musical at his high school by his parents because they saw it as “family bonding time”

And he complains about it the whole way there

“come on rodrick, I thought you’re supposed to be the one into music” 

Immediate eye rolls

“not this kind, dork.”

He makes it his mission to zone out for the two hours of misery he’s about to endure

he’s not wrong about the musicals being miserable: the theater department at his school is - poorly funded, to say the least

still, there was enough money to at least put on a budget production of the wizard of oz

he’s staring at the auditorium clock, trying to figure out how long until they can leave

But then he hears your voice

he’s fully taken aback and he immediately looks at the stage to figure out who’s singing.  he can’t believe what he sees.

It’s you, under a single spotlight center stage

Suddenly he realizes that he really loves musical theater

And he’s pretty sure you both have chem class together

He’s so in awe at watching you on stage that he gets snapped out of his trance by a smirking greg at the start of intermission

“theater girls, huh? I didn’t realize that was your type.” “shut up.”

He tries to get you out of his head, but then the curtain rises and he hears your voice again. And he knows he’s done for.

Act II is spent with rodrick trying to muster up courage to ask you out 

Greg has to physically stop him from jumping out of his seat when you bow

After the show, he walks up to you and tries to slyly lean on the lockers.

He trips over his own two feet but recovers with a casual grin

You don’t even realize that he tripped -you’re too busy being shocked that he showed up to the school musical

“rodrick heffley. Shouldn’t you be practicing for your band and skipping chem right now?”

He frowns in defeat, thinking it was your cue for him to back off

But then you smile at him

And the boy is about to MELT

“you know, you should use that pretty voice to sing to me, not to make fun of my hatred for the periodic table.”

It’s your turn to blush this time around

he’s smirking on the outside, but on the inside, he thinks he’s going to explode

“but speaking of my band, we actually have a gig next Friday night, so I was - I was just wondering if you’d want to maybe come see me play?”

He can feel his fake cool starting to dissolve and his palms start sweating

You take his playbill and scribble your phone number next to your name on the cast list.

“text me the address, alright? I’ll see you there, and maybe at chem if you decide to show up.”

You hand him back his playbill with a smirk and walk away

He swears that you winked at him to this day

It’s Greg that has to snap him out of the trance he was stuck in

“well rodrick, doesn’t look like you’re in Kansas anymore, huh?”

[falasta]

I saw Cats in Las Vegas Oct. 15th evening, and Oct. 16 matinee and evening.

Here is my review! (spoilers: I loved it!)

This production is obviously the Broadway Revival, which was based on Gillian Lynn’s choreography, but also adapted by Andy Blankenbuehler. I don’t want to focus on anything negative, so I’ll just get this out of the way: The non-Gillian parts are so blatantly obvious it’s painful. I’m sure Blankenbuehler is a talented choreographer, but he absolutely did not understand “Cats”, or the type of dance, movement, and staging that Gillian Lynne created.

 On the to the good parts!

 I have never seen the stage production because when I was a child in the 80s/90s and Cats was super popular, I was TERRIFIED of the actors! We went to a show once when I was a kid which included the first part of Cats—where they come out into the audience? I remember just hating it, because to me they didn’t look like cats. They looked like creepy clown like people pretending to be cats. They looked scary and weird and didn’t like that they were crawling over the theater. So I never actually got to see the whole production. Thanks, younger me!

 As soon as I understood the characters and the story and watched the dancing, the designs didn’t look so menacing or strange.

 Seeing the show live is SO MUCH FUN‼ The lights go out and all the crazy cat eyes pop up all over the stage and it really looks like actual cats hiding in there and then the overture really gets going and you can feel the music in the floor and it’s absolutely awesome. I was riveted the whole time.

 The first production I was really lucky to score tickets in the 5th row! The second and third performance I was a little farther away. Both were great—sitting close was amazing on so many levels, and you get closer to the cats since they don’t come out into the audience anymore. Sitting further back gave a nice view of the performance as a whole (and I lucked out on this one, because it was an aisle seat, and no one was sitting in front of me to block my view). So I think I got the best of both worlds :)

 This was also the first week the Smith Center was open since Covid, so the audience was just so happy to be there! Part of what was fun about this production is that a lot of the audience had season subscriptions and apparently Cats was automatically included. So you could tell how surprised and happy they were to discover it. Though two of the nights I was there I lost the people sitting next to me after intermission. I had the cutest conversation with a group of elderly people sitting next to me who had never seen Cats and after the first ACT wanted to know which Cat was with so we went through the program together and they were SO impressed with my “expert” knowledge. It was the sweetest! 😊

ACT I

 These people can SING‼ Seriously, I was incredibly impressed with the quality of the vocals both of the individual performers and the chorus. Big credit to the booth singers as well.

 Myla dances a very beautiful and feline solo. Paul swoops in to open the ball and he has a great voice!

 Devon is a very smiley and enthusiastic Munkustrap and projects very well! The “Man over there” part was great because Skimble literally points at a member of the audience and he and Munkustrap are both SO OFFENDED!

 The Gumbi cat’s outfit was amazing and she had sparkly tap shoes which I now covet. It was Gracie Anderson all three nights and she did a lovely job! The tapping is so much fun. The cutest part of the number was watching Misto twining softly around Jenny while she is “sitting and sitting” and very gently waving his paw in front of her face. Paul’s Misto is the sweetest, softest, cutest Misto you could ever imagine. He was all over the stage interacting with everyone during all the numbers. He was so catlike and I adored him.

 OK. Zach Bravo. He really is incredible as Tugger. He has a huge presence on stage (he’s really tall!), and gives 110% every time I saw him. He leaps out of stage large than life and continues to utterly dominate his entire solo. You can tell he’s having an absolute blast the entire time, and goes all out. Whenever he’s on stage, even in the background, he looks like he’s having the time of his life. Lots of hip action, wiggles, shimmies (this Tugger LOVES his shimmies!). I know he’s said that his favorite Tugger is John Partridge and it shows. He makes the part his own, but definitely portrays a sexual energy and it was tons of fun because HE was having so much fun. Shimmies at the sky, the mirror, the Cats, and absolutely the audience. Also he can really dance too (does a fantastic double pirouette) so his movements are quick and fluid.  

 His Tugger just comes across as being so happy. That enormous smile we’ve all seen on his videos is on his face pretty much the entire show. He did really well with the new staging! I know people aren’t thrilled with the mirrors/focus on Tugger’s vanity, but it doesn’t come across that way at all. Zach’s Tugger is just so thrilled to be Tugger and needs no external validation! He does a little dance with pretty much every Queen ... AND Misto!! (You cannot believe how adorable and soft this Misto is). The Tuggoffelees is palpable—in a very sweet, wholesome way. I desperately wish I had a video of his entire number.

 Grizabella. Taylor Harris. I was lucky enough to be really close to the stage the first night and her acting and facial expressions are perfect. She definitely has the strongest makeup of all the cats, and I could see all her facial expressions. She looked completely broken, beaten down—she almost looked beaten up. And then her VOICE! Guys, this woman can SING! She has an exquisite voice, and she knows how to use it—very nuanced and expressive. I enthralled every single time. I’ve heard the recording of Memory on the trailer and somehow it just doesn’t capture what I heard on the stage? Truly, she was magnificent in every way and I think the big highlight of the show. Which is interesting because I’m kind of used to ignoring Grizabella? But you can’t ignore Taylor. She’s too good.

 Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer—Max Craven and Kelly Donah--did a great job! This number impresses me almost more than any other—like how do you sing AND dance AND do acrobatics AND do comedic acting all at the same time?? My only disappointment—NO DOUBLE CARTWHEELS! Why would you take them away???

 Demeter was fantastic—very feline, phenomenal voice. And she had properly spiky, wild hair. And holy cow the chorus moments from “Old Deuteronomy”. Again, this cast can SING!!

 Jellicle Ball—awesome in person. Some changes which severely annoyed me: The Toms were cut from Bomba’s number, they didn’t get their solo, and Tugger didn’t get to lead in his group, which is SUCH a shame because this Tugger can dance! However, the women did a fantastic job and looked amazing! Also no ballet section for my ballet boys! These dancers are so amazing I was sad they didn’t get a chance to show it off. But it was still fun and just listening to the music and watching everyone dance is amazing. HUGE applause when they were done. Stand out dancers were Alonzo, Plato, and Misto.

 There is this beautiful and heartbreaking moment during the Jellicle Ball when everyone is leaning back to soak in the moonlight, and a soft spotlight shines on Grizabella as she leans back too ... and then catches herself as her back gives out.

 Victoria and Plato were beyond adorable. Myla and Aiden Pressel? Are beautiful and talented dancers. They spend some time together during the lead up to the ball and I actually loved it. And this Plato can dance! There’s a part where Plato circles Victoria while she’s posing and gives her a look, and then basically just grabs her and hoists her up and it’s seriously like 👀 . They included the original beautiful lift as well. During the sensuals section no one does anything but lie down and put their arms in the air (they don’t even wave them) and take a 1 sec. nap before Grizabella interrupts.

 Grizabella comes out and tries to dance and then sings Memory and it is amazing (and straight from the original choreo).

 Intermission:

The little old lady (sorry—it’s just that’s the only way I can characterize her—and it’s meant as a compliment because she was awesome) next to me—who was wearing a mask with kittens on it—was  looking at the program with a man who turned out to be her brother, wondering what names belonged to each cat. So I went down the program and explained each one:

“Munkustrap is the silver striped one. “With the wonderful voice?” “Yes! He’s the narrator and protector”

“Bombalurina is the red one. Demeter is the black and yellow one with the spiky hair who you saw in the car headlights. They are going to sing a song together in the next act.”

“Sillabub is the little one with the spiky hair and red” “The one with the wonderful soprano?” “Yes!”

“Cassandra is the one with the slim brown costume” “The athletic one!” “Yes :)”

They REALLY liked The Rum Tum Tugger!!

And so on. There were like four of them pouring over the program with me (each assuring me they were triple vaccinated–which was required for the theater, by the way) and they were SO impressed. Was I a theater person? Did used to be in Cats? How did I possess all this amazing knowledge? Me: um, I just ... really like the show?

One of the women: “You are a Cats junkie then!” And then they all nod enthusiastically like they were so excited and happy to find the right word!

We end up talking about our cats “Are you owned by a cat?” And then my career, Covid, all sorts of things, and then the lady next to me leans over and says “Good for you for coming by yourself! I should do that more often.”

Act II:

 Old Deuteronomy has a lovely voice (and so does Jemima)! An adorable sweetheart of a Jemima. I was sad they changed the way the twins help channel for Jemima (here they do a weird dance and tap her on the shoulder), but the Moments of Happiness and the chorus singing “Memory” is still one of my favorite parts of the play.

When the cats stand up during “Memory” while the music swells—which gives me chills every time—Munkustrap takes this deep breath and gets this beatific look on his face and it is so beautiful! Also Gus looks super happy which makes my heart go 🥺

 I couldn’t remember exactly when but sometime during the show there is this darling moment when Tugger goes to sit next to Old D and Old D starts gently stroking his mane just like you would stroke the hair of a child.

 John Anker Bow, who plays Bustopher and Gus, has a phenomenal and experienced voice. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to him every time. His Gus was fantastic! I saw two Jellyorums: Kayli Jamison and Kellian DeCarlo. They both did such a wonderful job. Exquisite voices and really sweet acting between Gus and Jellyorum. They have Gus narrate Pekes and Pollicles, which annoyed me at first because that is Munkustrap’s Big Moment, but Gus was so fantastic I really enjoyed it. Honestly his acting and singing for Gus and narrator for P&P were very expressive and very well done! The part I missed about Pekes and Pollicles was the utter chaos and Munkustrap just getting so close to Losing It. Also NO BAGPIPES!!?? Travesty. But it was still fun.

 Skimbleshanks! I saw two Skimbles: Brian Craig Nelson and Christopher Salvaggio,  and both were excellent! Pretty much everything is original to the original staging and so much fun in person! I was seriously disappointed no one else in the audience was bopping their heads ... like how could you not? Misto was the light at the head of the train and he was bouncing and bopping with his whole body and it was SO CUTE!!

 ... and then – Macavity!

 So one of my nitpicks was that I wasn’t really feeling a connection between Demeter and Bomba. This was a staging issue—they stay apart during “Remark the cat” and don’t even look at each other. Chelsea Nicole Mitchell as Bomba has deep, sultry, perfect voice. The Macavity number was great (and mostly left alone), except that they changed part of the choreography at the end. Huge applause (well deserved). The little old lady sitting next to me starts whistling and it’s the best thing ever.

 I’m on the fence about revival Macavity—I thought I would like it more than I did? I think part of the problem was that the choreo was so staged—everyone does exactly the same thing and there’s a lot of “matchy-matchy” in his and Munk’s fight. But Macavity himself just looks so feral and terrifying! The moment when shorts out the lights really is terrifying and thrilling in the theater! Aiden Pressel gets major props for being just a spectacular dancer in both his roles.

 This theater is U-shaped with boxes and tiers around all the sides, so having the spotlight go all the way around was fantastic and properly creepy because it highlighted everyone sitting in the boxes. There is a lot of “space” involved while watching this in the theater that was removed from the film (because of the medium). This was one of them.

 Paul did a fantastic job as Misto. The choreography has been completely altered. He actually does sing about half of his own song, and he has a really nice voice! He and Zach had a great connection. BUT—NO EXPLOSIONS! I was so sad! He does his turns, but not 24 all at one time. But the dancing was great and singing was great and it was lots of fun. He and Tugger hug right after he brings back Old Deuteronomy (and after he gets his Old D hugs 🥺) and then Tugger holds his hand when they all come together to do the bows and whether you "ship" them romantically or platonically it's so, so sweet!!

When the spotlight is shining down on Misto at the end of his song he very carefully pats it smaller and smaller, and then leans forward and very gently blows it away. It was gorgeous watching this from the side of the orchestra. One of my absolutely favorite moments (you don’t get to see this on the 1998 film)

 Grizabella comes out and is spectacular during “Memory” (again, both her acting and voice are impeccable), and then my favorite part as everyone starts singing “Up, up, up” and she goes to the Heaviside Layer and it’s so, so beautiful and moving and I almost cry!

 Then we have to sit through Addressing of Cats. Which I DON’T hate. It’s actually lovely and this Deuteronomy does a wonderful job. I think I would be happier if it was cut in half. But the ending is amazing and the audience goes nuts and every performance they get a standing ovation! Big cheers for every single performer. Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer come out with Teazer riding on Jerrie’s back swinging her tail. Tugger take a big leap and slides across the floor and flirts shamelessly with the audience and gets the biggest cheer. The bows end with Zach shimmies before he disappears and it all ends on a happy and upbeat note!

[theclockworkmonk]

Title: Intermission

Summary: During the intermission of "The Boy in the Iceberg," Zuko and Toph are fed up with Aang and Katara's drama.

Fandom: Avatar: The Last Airbender

Read on AO3

Read on FF.net

For Throwback Thursday, thought I'd post the first fanfic I ever wrote, back in August of 2013 (so excuse how...not good it is). The way Katara goes from rejecting Aang to kissing him with zero conversations in between always bothered me, so I wrote this scene that could have been a deleted scene in the episode, and to this day the type of fanfic I'm most drawn to is "missing" scenes that would have improved an aspect of the story. So awkward writing is what sucked me down this rabbit hole.

******

"Ow! What was that for?" Zuko rubbed his arm, suspecting a bruise would probably form.

Toph just smiled innocently. "That's how I show affection," she said as if she had just baked him a cake instead of physically assaulted him.

Zuko was glad Toph hadn't been with Aang, Katara, and Sokka back when he was chasing them on their way to the North Pole. They had given him enough bruises, lacerations, and concussions on their own. If Toph had been there, he'd probably still be eating through a straw.

"So, anyway, do you know where Aang is? I'm starting to worry. I told Sokka that this play wasn't worth the risk."

Toph just frowned, "Why are you asking me? In case you haven't noticed, this whole place is made out of the evil substance known as wood."

"I thought maybe you would know because he told you. Ya know, that's how the rest of us keep track of where people are."

"That sounds like a hassle," Toph said casually with a finger digging in her ear, "Anyway, Twinkle Toes is probably in the same place as Sugar Queen."

Zuko groaned for what seemed like the 12th time tonight. "Good. Maybe with them alone together they'll finally clear the air and allow the rest of us to move on with our lives."

"Hey, at least you just got here. Meathead and I have had to endure this drama for months."

"I honestly don't understand what their thinking is," Zuko sighed with his head in his hands, "At least you have the excuse that Sokka has a girlfriend."

Zuko saw Toph scowl a scowl that would even put Azula to shame. "I'm sure I have no idea what you're talking about, and unless you want a more symmetrical face, you don't either."

Zuko rolled his eyes, "Whatever. I was surprised to find out they weren't official yet by the time I got here. Especially after Katara straight up threatened to kill me if I looked at him wrong."

"Wait, what now? You serious?"

"Yeah, it was the first night I spent at the Air Temple."

"Nah, she was bluffing."

"Toph, I grew up with Azula. I got pretty good at spotting lies. Katara meant every word she said. And it got even worse when I would try to train Aang. He would always make up some excuse about how he needed to practice more waterbending, even though he's been working on that almost a year."

Toph grunted in agreement, "You don't need to tell me. Just as I was about to break through his earthbending block, Her Sweetness comes in all 'Oh, don't worry, it's okay, we can practice waterbending. Come on, let's go splash around in our underwear.'"

"Yeah, I've been thinking that if they just got it out in the open then he could concentrate again. That's why I've been getting closer to Katara. I thought maybe if I piss him off enough he would man up and push me out of the way."

Toph smirked in her very self-satisfied way, "I knew it! Though, you might want to tell Snoozles about that plan. He's been worried that you really were interested in her. I guess that explains the seating arrangements this evening?"

Zuko rubbed the back of his head and smiled guiltily. "Yeah, I made double sure to sit next to Katara, and for a second he actually seemed like he was going to grow a backbone. I was thinking 'Come on, this is driving you crazy, isn't it? Call me out, why don't you want me sitting here?' but he hog-chickened out again. And I've been doing this for a while. After I saved Katara from being crushed at the temple, I made sure to stay on top of her just a little longer than necessary, but that just made her mad at me rather than him."

"And your little field trip?"

"Well, no, that really was just me trying to help her. But me decidedly not inviting anyone else, not even Sokka, to come help find Yon Rha had something to do with my meddling."

"And plus, it certainly seems like the play is helping you," Toph laughed.

Now it was Zuko's turn to scowl. "I actually think I got more than I bargained for with that. I'm just certain that if he finally told her he liked her, they could move forward and not be stuck in this limbo."

Toph looked confused, "Oh, she knows that he likes her. Did no one tell you that? He kissed her on the day of the invasion. Twinkle Toes waited until everyone else was gone, but he apparently forgot that they were standing on a giant metal submarine. He's kind of stupid like that."

Zuko just sat back, re-thinking his efforts, that he apparently had been wasting, "Well….huh. I guess I was wrong. Maybe she doesn't like him that way."

Toph sniggered in the way she always did when people failed to hide things from her, "Oh, she likes him, Sparky. You don't enjoy a kiss that much unless you do."

"You can tell?" Zuko asked in an alarmed voice. Toph's semi-mind-reading abilities still creeped him out.

"Oh yeah, her heartbeat went through the roof and she apparently forgot how to breathe until Meathead reminded her that we had a nation to invade."

Now Zuko was downright angry now. "Well then why the hell are they still dragging this out!?" He asked, probably too loudly.

Toph smirked and raised one eyebrow. "I think the better question is why you care so much. I mean, I find the drama annoying, sure, but you're really going above and beyond." She nudged him in the side and winked, "could it be that our own resident Angsty McEmopants is secretly a hopeless romantic?"

Zuko elbowed her back, "I'll have you know that I care as his firebending teacher. Firebending is fueled by raw emotion and passion," he nervously tried to figure out a euphemism, "and I just, um, thought that if he had a particular something that invokes certain….urges, then it would give him a little boost."

Toph grinned again. "So you're hoping that Sugar Queen makes him hot in more ways than one?"

Zuko groaned. "Well, if you must put it that way, yeah. You've been hanging out with Sokka too much." He stood up, "I'm going to go find them to see if they do something stupid."

And, sure enough…

***************

Katara was a split second away from kissing Aang back when her eyes shot open

NO!

She pushed him away, trying to muster up some anger. "I just said I was confused!"

Aang simply looked down. He had the same look on his face as when she pulled him out of the Avatar state at the Southern Air Temple, and he had no choice but to accept that he was the last airbender.

"I'm going back inside." She had intended to calmly walk back into the theater, but she had to run to keep Aang from seeing her eyes watering. She burst through the doors and stopped a few steps in to try to get ahold of herself. That was when she heard the voice behind her.

"Katara, who exactly do you think you're fooling?"

She whirled around and saw Zuko standing behind the door, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. Had he been listening?

"Yes, Katara, I was listening. So I'll ask you again, who do you think you're fooling?"

She turned around with a scowl on her face, determined not to get roped into this conversation. If she couldn't talk about Aang with Aang, how could she with Zuko? "Mind your own business, Zuko."

"Katara, you're a very gentle soul. You're peaceful, compassionate, understanding, slow to violence. To the point of stubbornness, in fact, which is one reason you two deserve each other. Hell, you didn't even kill the man who murdered your mother in cold blood. And yet even now, I don't doubt that you would have one second's hesitation to end me if you thought I might hurt Aang."

"Don't paint me in that light Zuko," She couldn't help but smirk, "I would totally give you one second's hesitation. Probably."

"So why are you putting up this 'confused' act?"

She put her hands on her hips and scowled, "You don't know how I feel, Zuko! Of course I'm overprotective of Aang, he's my best friend, not to mention that whole only-hope-for-the-world thing."

Zuko raised a skeptical eyebrow, "Your friend, huh? That's funny, because it's not Toph you were homicidally protective of, nor your own brother, who would be a lot easier for me to hurt, need I remind you. And don't think that I didn't notice you getting angry when those actors had you saying that you think of Aang as a brother. That wasn't a look of concern about Aang getting his feelings hurt, that was you pissed because they got something wrong about you."

"Well aren't you just the mind-reader?" she asked with enough sarcasm to upstage her brother.

"No, I'm not. I don't have to be. Newsflash Katara, the entire group knows. Sokka, Suki, Toph, even Duke, Haru, and Teo knew about it. Hell, all it takes is watching a single one of your 'waterbending sessions.'" He said the last two words with air-quotes.

Katara looked away nervously and blushed, "What do you mean by that?"

"Well, to be fair, I'm not a waterbender, but none of my training sessions involved my teachers pressing up against me from behind to correct my stance."

"So, I was making doubly sure he had the proper form, what's your point?"

"My point Katara, that I had the waterbending scroll in my hand as you were doing it, and he was already doing it right. There was no 'correcting' to be done."

"Alright, FINE!" She almost shouted, "Maybe I have some feelings for Aang, but…he can't afford any distractions or confusions right now."

"Katara, don't think that I'm stupid enough to believe that you're stupid enough to believe that. In what way would knowing that the person he loves loves him back and is there for him be a distraction? What is a distraction, however, is this game you're playing. Why do you think I'm here? I don't care about your love life, but this uncertainty is keeping me from doing my job as his teacher. Even after we trained with the dragons, Aang has been too timid, too hesitant. Firebending requires lowered inhibitions and absolute confidence in oneself. Now I know why he's been like that. Because the one time he was completely open and bold in his emotions about the thing most important to him, you left it hanging there untouched for weeks. And now that you've full-on thrown it back in his face, he might get even worse."

Katara couldn't keep her eyes from watering anymore, "Well then he should get over it! Get over me! What's the point, Zuko? It's not like my love for him will protect him! What, is your dad going to be so moved by our love for each other that he decides not to try to kill him?" She slumped against the wall and sat down, hugging her knees as tears streamed down her face, "He died in my arms once already in Ba Sing Se. I can't lose him all over again."

Zuko came over, sat down and put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Before I left to join you, I had a girlfriend back home. Her name's Mai. You've already….become acquainted with her."

"I'm better acquainted with her knives, but whatever."

"When I left, I left a note for her saying that we weren't together anymore. I thought ending our relationship would make her lose her feelings for me, so that if anything happened to me, she wouldn't be hurt. Sokka and I are still alive because I was wrong. Even though we weren't technically together anymore, she still loved me enough to go against Azula and save my life, and I still love her enough for that knowledge that she's rotting in prison eat me alive every single day. Hiding behind words and technicalities about where you stand can't change how you feel. It just adds the weight of things not said if something does go wrong."

He stood up. "I'm going back to the seats. Think about it."

Toph was the only one already back when he got back to the balcony. "Have you seen Suki and Meathead yet?" he asked.

Toph answered with a punch to his gut, "Only I get to call him Meathead. But no. Honestly, Sokka has probably gotten them both thrown out of the theatre for harassing actor-Sokka. Twinkle Toes or Sugar Queen do something stupid?"

"Both did, actually. I think I might have managed to get to through to Katara."

People started shuffling in to retake their seats. "I will say this though, this intermission has definitely been the most dramatic part of the play so far."