#set to I’m that girl teaser intro!

[gael-garcia]

The Many Faces of Gael García Bernal

[little-peril-stories]

The Queen of Lies: Faith and Freedom

Story Intro | Contents [Warnings] | Mood Board | Vibey Song Lyrics | Ao3

Contents: blood, injury, illness, guy whump [all just leftover stuff from the last few chapters :) no new bad stuff]

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Word count: 3650 || Approx reading time: 15 mins

Faith and Freedom

Teaser: “Just give me a minute,” he said, grunting and coughing as he sat up. After a moment, he drew up his knees and rested his forehead there. “Feels like I’m dying.”

The world beyond the prison walls was cloaked in shadow, with thick cloud cover blocking out the stars, leaving only the yellow gas street lamps to illuminate a city that had mostly gone to sleep. Two frantic figures, a boy and a girl—a thief, a prisoner who had been set free, and his rescuer, who had spent four long year being Baden Hatchett’s wife and who no longer knew what she was—stumbled through the streets. He did not speak, nor did she; rather, they fled in silence, letting their ceaseless, hurried footfalls break the peace of the autumn midnight. It was not long, however, before the boy’s strength waned, his steps growing unsteady and his breathing more laboured.

The hand that was still clutched in the girl’s went slack.

And the thief fell.

Fear spread through her, so strong it sent numbness to her toes and fingertips, as the boy hit the ground. “No!” Dropping to her knees, shaking his shoulder as gently and urgently as she could, she breathed, “Please, please, no, no, no, wake up, wake up—”

He groaned, blinking open eyes that in the gloom appeared a much darker hue than the gold-and-green colour she knew them to be. “What?”

She almost collapsed to the cobblestone, too, but not with exhaustion; rather, it was with relief that she’d been able to rouse him. “You…you scared me.”

He glanced around, seeming to perceive that he was on the ground and woozy. With a soft groan, he took a deep breath and let his head fall back against the stone. “Fuck. Just…”

The girl swallowed. “I’m scared you’re…” She wanted to say, too weak to keep going, but how would he react to those words? If she’d ever said such a thing to Baden, he would have slapped her hard enough to leave a bruise for a week.

“Just give me a minute,” he said, grunting and coughing as he sat up. After a moment, he drew up his knees and rested his forehead there. “Feels like I’m dying.”

“You’re not dying.” He couldn’t be; she wouldn’t allow it, not after everything she’d gone through to get him out of that awful prison cell. She glanced around, wishing it weren’t so dark. It had been a blessing as they crept from the prison grounds, but now it served only to make the towering houses and unlit storefronts seem dingy and menacing. “We need to get somewhere safe. It’s only going to get colder, and you need to eat. And drink. And rest.”

“What?” he said, half-heartedly mocking. “Can’t I stay at your house?”

She clenched her jaw and refused to take the bait. It was too cold, and she was kneeling in a puddle, and the wind was picking up into a sinister sort of howl, and she was too frightened to chase down whether the teasing was good-natured or not. “I’ve got an inn room booked, but we need to make it there.”

The secret note for Alice, hidden in the returned copy of The Scarlet Letter—tucked into the last marked page and written in the tiniest hand she could form: As I am unwell and cannot make the arrangements myself, could you please visit the Whitemoor Inn and book a room for my cousin, Lucy Cooper, for one night? I’ve enclosed enough funds to cover her stay.

One night for a young woman named Lucy Cooper to fleetingly exist, and come morning, she would dissolve into the ether, gone forever—as would the girl and the boy who’d occupied her room.

“A room booked?” he repeated, holding his head now. “You—you actually got some kind of plan? Seriously?” His eyes were still hazy with pain, but he was alert, and his gaze had gone wide. “You got money?”

“Yes,” she said, “I do.” She’d had one chance, one, between Baden letting her out of her room and him taking her to the prison to beg for forgiveness—one fleeting blissful moment when no one’s eyes had been on her. She’d taken as much money as she could from the safe in his study, the one he thought she didn’t know about.

That wasn’t all, though. In her coat pocket, sewn into the lining, there hid as much jewelry as she’d dared to take from the box on her dresser—enough to pawn for extra funds, not so much that it would weigh down her clothes or jingle as she walked.

Finally, there was the second half of her entreaty to Alice: if her friend had come through for her and done as she asked, a parcel waited for “Lucy Cooper” at the inn, containing a necklace and a ring, all she could reasonably and surreptitiously fit into Alice’s book. They would fetch a good price somewhere. Of course, the girl had no way of knowing if Alice had acquiesced, but she’d picked that friend over the other for a reason. Marguerite would never have gotten involved, but Alice was sensible and kind, and she knew—she knew. So surely, surely, she’d made the arrangements.

As long as that was true, and as long as the innkeeper didn’t turn them away at the sight of her companion, they would have somewhere warm and safe to sleep for the night.

If only the thief didn’t look like he had just stumbled out of a street brawl.

“Do you think you can keep going?” Her voice slipped out high-pitched and breathy. Too many worries, too few answers to soothe them.

He fixed her with a look of pained, miserable resignation. “Gonna have to.”

She pressed a hand to his face again. Despite the chill of the night, it was still hot. “I’m scared...” She couldn’t finish her thought.

The thief groaned again as he got cautiously to his feet—not pulling away when she held his good arm to steady him—and said, “Scared? Don’t worry. I’ll protect you.”

For a moment, she didn’t even know what to say. Her eyes roamed from his blood-flecked shirt to his black-and-blue skin to the entirely useless arm in Mrs. Bristow’s apron-sling.

They landed on his lips, which were ever so slightly quirked upwards.

“Well, good,” she finally managed. “If—if we are set upon by an army of kittens, I’m very glad you’ll be here to defend me.”

He choked out a laugh, coughed, and took a few wary steps, letting her cling to his arm; he wobbled slightly, but he stayed upright. “Lead the way, princess.”

She was going to have to do something about the name problem.

As they moved through the winding streets, she stuck close to him, partially because she feared he would pass out again, but also because she had never wandered the city at night before, by herself or with anyone else, and the warm presence of his body—beaten and worn-out though it was—gave her a peculiar sense of security. She knew it was probably false.

Still, she clung to it anyway.

“What am I to call you?” she dared to ask after a while. Although she was, indeed, desperate for an answer, she also worried that if she remained too quiet, he’d slip back into unconsciousness. “Am I allowed to know now?”

“Don’t get all uppity about that,” he mumbled. “Can you blame me for being suspicious?”

No, she thought, but she didn’t say it. She merely pointed the way down a nearby street. Almost there. They had to be almost there. “That’s not an answer.”

It was a long while, it seemed, of something happening behind his eyes that she could not decipher, some tug-of-war between giving a real answer and not until he at last told her, “I don’t have a name.”

Another lie, of course; he had a name, but he didn’t trust her with it. What a surprise. Why should he? All she had done was give up her entire life and risk everything to break him out of prison. “Please.”

He bit his lip and again took a long time to answer. “I…I can’t.” His gaze flitted around, as if he expected someone to burst out of the dark and streak towards them. As if he feared they were being followed.

Why should her chest feel so tight? He came from a life of crime—of course he was perpetually suspicious. Surely, he had to be. It had been foolish to hope for he might give a straight answer. “Something. Anything.”

After a moment, after a third agonizingly long pause, he said, “Fox.”

“Fox?”

“Mmm-hmm.”

A phrase she’d heard the day Baden found her in his cell drifted back to mind. “Fox-thief…”

He stiffened. Yanked his hand from her grasp. “Don’t—don’t. Don’t call me that. Please.”

“All right,” she said, horrified. “I won’t.”

When silence fell again, she didn’t chase it away.

He stumbled once more, dropping to his knees but staying conscious, and when she pulled him up, her tears blurred her vision enough that it obscured the strain in his features and the violent shaking of his limbs.

Finally, when the inn loomed before them, she pointed at its dimly lit door. “This one.”

“This one,” he repeated. Voice weaker now, words slightly slurred. He was failing by the second, she realized, perhaps having depleted the frenetic, urgency-fuelled strength that had helped him run once Mrs. Bristow got them beyond the prison gate.

“Let me go in first,” she said. “I’ll settle up if I need to and come get you.” That, she supposed, was the best course of action. The innkeeper might not notice her bruises—but Fox? A superstitious person might take one glance and conclude that he had risen from the very pits of hell.

“Okay,” he said, bracing his good arm against the wall, and she turned on her heel and hurried inside.

The woman who presumably ran the inn was dozing, and no wonder; it was the middle of the night. Her eyes snapped open, however, at the sound of approaching footsteps.

“My name is Lucy Cooper,” said the girl whose name was not Lucy Cooper. “One Mrs. Wright made arrangements for my room a few days ago, I believe?” Too late, she remembered she was wearing trousers. “I—um—please excuse my appearance. I’ve been...um...I’ve been travelling.”

The woman peered down at a piece of paper in front of her, appearing merely drowsy and rather bored. “Just one night?”

Relieved that the woman either hadn’t noticed or did not care what she was wearing, the girl said firmly, “Yes. Only one.” Once Baden learned that she was missing, he would search for her, and at some point, he would speak to Alice, and Alice, not knowing what else to do, would lead him here.

He would find neither Breanna Hatchett nor Lucy Cooper in this inn.

Instead, the boy called Fox and the girl who was called—well, who was called something—would be long gone.

“You’re already settled up for the room.” The woman tapped a list of meals and their fees and turned it towards the girl. “You want to pay for food, too?”

“Yes. I would.” The answer rushed out. “Whatever you have now, if you please, and some breakfast, too, before we depart.”

The woman raised her eyebrows and glanced toward the grandfather clock behind her, which displayed an hour not typically associated with taking a meal. “Now?”

“Yes,” repeated the girl firmly.

The woman frowned. “We might have some broth still,” she said. “It won’t be hot anymore.”

“That’s all right.” She paused. One more inquiry before she paid. “Did Mrs. Wright leave a parcel for me, by any chance?”

With a sigh, the woman turned away to rummage somewhere behind her. After a few moments, she returned with a wrapped box, slightly crumpled but intact. “There you are, Miss Cooper.”

“Thank you.” The girl took it gratefully, promising silently that she would one day find a way to repay Alice for her kindness.

As the innkeeper took the money and filled out the rest of the paperwork, the girl tried to steady her breath, bracing herself against the new fears that rushed in. Never mind the fact that she was renting a room for herself and a strange, half-clothed, terribly battered man who bore only a false name and who was not her husband. Now she had to contend with bringing him inside without drawing attention. What if the woman took one look at his bloody skin and the tattoo on his arm, and threw them out?

“All finished up, Miss Cooper.” The woman handed her a key. It lay cold and heavy in her palm.

At first, she couldn’t find the man in question at all. It took a few moments to realize he had sat down on the ground, back against the wall, slumped and half-conscious.

“Fox,” she whispered, tapping his uninjured shoulder, eliciting a moan. “Wake up.”

His eyelids fluttered open. “Hmm?”

“We can go in now.” He groaned, and she tried again to rouse him. “Do you want to sleep out here in the cold?”

“Not really,” he mumbled, letting her help him to his feet. “I’m so fucking tired. Everything…everything hurts.”

“I know,” she said, her heart cracking open in her chest. “We’ve got our room. Let’s find it.”

In the narrow, lamplit corridor where she located their room, he leaned against the wall, waiting for her to finish struggling with the key in the lock. With his head resting on his good arm, as he breathed heavily from the climb up the stairs, he watched her, or seemed to, although his eyes kept drifting closed.

“Bed. Now,” she said, pointing toward it when they made it inside. His exhausted gaze swept the room, obviously counting.

“Just one. It’s for you,” he mumbled.

“Don’t be absurd.” She pulled him toward the lumpy-looking mattress with its yellowed sheets and woollen quilt. “You’re hurt and sick. Lie down.”

“You gonna sleep on…what? The floor?”

He really thought she would be able to sleep? After everything? “Never mind about me. Get yourself in that bed, now, before I throw you into it.” She resisted the urge to clap a hand to her mouth and backtrack as she realized she had practically shouted at him. “Uh—” Fox was staring at her with a wide-eyed expression she could not read. “I mean…please.”

He laughed. It was weak and riddled with coughs, but it was genuine, and relief swept over her like a warm wind, because…

Because if she’d ever ordered Baden around like that…and threatened him like that…no matter how empty the threat was…

“There should be a meal waiting downstairs,” she said. “I’ll go get it. You can rest, but you must at least drink. If you fall asleep, I’m going to wake you.”

Fox sat heavily on the bed. “You’re the boss, princess.”

By the door, she paused. Princess. The name was silly, and she got the feeling he wasn’t using it to be cruel, but her thoughts on the matter of her name had been boiling over since she gave the innkeeper her false one. The girl closed her eyes, imagining who she would have to be once the light of dawn broke. Someone courageous and clever, someone who faced her fears instead of burying them or running scared. Someone who was bold enough to grasp the life she wanted with both hands.

Hopes and memories flashed in her mind, bringing with them disembodied faces and disjointed pictures—flames, ink, books, blood, and a heavy sunrise filled with promise.

She let her eyes fly open, the answer to the question Who am I? coming to her in a sudden burst.

“You can keep calling me Bree,” she told him, and he raised his eyebrows. “I decided I like it after all. So that’s—that’s my name now. Bree. Bree Scarlett.”

Fox nodded slowly, his eyes on hers, repeating the name to himself, at first under his breath, then a touch louder, as strong as his weak and tattered voice would go. “Bree Scarlett. I…I like it, too.”

Cheeks suddenly blazing hot enough to be unintentionally—and newly—eponymous, Bree Scarlett hurried away, closing the door behind her. As she bounded down the stairs, tempted to take them two at a time like a giddy schoolgirl, she repeated her name to herself, and she found that the very taste of it on her tongue filled her soul with glee.

***

Defying her own prediction, Bree did fall asleep, the siren’s song of slumber suddenly irresistible the moment she let herself rest, and she awoke curled against the wall, which was where she settled after determining that the room’s wooden chair was even less comfortable than the floor. She startled awake with a gasp, trapped for a moment in the dizzying space between the waking and sleeping worlds, wondering where on earth she was and how she had gotten there.

She took one look around, and reality came crashing down: she had run away from her husband, set his prison on fire, and sprung a thief from jail.

Bree waited for the panic to set in, for the bone-breaking terror that, at any moment, Baden would burst through the door and tear her to shreds for her betrayal and her crimes.

It did not come.

Instead, she felt strangely calm, detached from the chaos she had wrought in her pursuit of freedom. Her eyes wandered over the room, with its wood-panelled walls, slightly uneven floors, and inarguably paltry sleeping spaces, trailing her gaze over the door and the window that by some miracle remained silent and unassailed by constables pounding and breaking through. It was a veritable marvel, how unafraid she felt.

As she looked around, her inspection paused upon the boy who called himself Fox.

He was still asleep, lying on his side, looking for all the world serene despite the blood still crusting his skin. Her throat tightened, horror creeping through the short-lived peace she’d just been enjoying as she took in the sorry sight of him again.

How many of those wicked bruises had been dealt by Baden himself?

She forced away the thought. There was little she could do right now about the guilt that stole through her and would not retreat; however, she had a new problem to contend with that she could solve. Fox had fallen asleep so quickly after she brought him water and the inn’s lukewarm broth that he hadn’t even gone under the wool quilt, and now he shivered in the chill of the night air.

Bree searched for something to keep him warm. Ah—there—her jacket, abandoned in a crumpled heap near the door.

How furious, she thought, her fatigue doubling as her husband invaded her thoughts again, Baden would be if he could see how carelessly and messily she’d flung aside her clothes. And how furious he would be if he knew how much she wished she could simply escape the thought of him for even a few minutes.

How furious he would be to see her pausing at the bedside of his foe, gently laying her own clothing over his body and tucking in the sides to keep him warm.

For a moment, it seemed as if her mission to blanket Fox’s shivering form without waking him had been a success, but as she turned away, his fingers curled around her wrist, the unexpected touch sending a jolt through every limb.

“Why?” His voice was rough, thick with sleep and whatever sickness ailed him. But the word was intelligible.

“You’re cold,” she said. “I could see you shivering.”

“No.” When she turned slowly back to him, his eyes were open. Bleary, yes, but he knew her. And he remembered what she had done for him. “Why. Are you. Doing this. Hel… Helping me?”

Good god, what was she supposed to say to that? What explanation was there?

“Because,” she said, failing to banish from her mind the image of him chained and on his knees, horrified at the sight of her for fear that it would bring him more agonizing pain, “you didn’t deserve what he did to you.”

He watched her, still shivering. “I…am. You know.”

“You are, what?”

“A criminal. A thief. In. In…IA.”

The cough that had been so quiet while he slept returned. Bree bit her lip, wondering what to say to quell his anxieties and allow him to rest. “Sleep more,” she said, deciding to ignore what he had mumbled—what he’d told her like she didn’t already know. “I’ll be here.”

“Bree.” He winced, overtaken by some phantom pain whose source she could not discern. “Bree. Don’t…”

He didn’t finish, and for a moment she thought he had fallen asleep mid-sentence. But his eyes were still on her when she looked back down. “I won’t leave.”

“No.” He closed his eyes. “Don’t fuck me over. Please.”

Even now, he feared she would betray him. Bree blinked back tears.

“You won’t, right?”

“I promise I won’t,” she whispered. Gently, she tried to pull her arm away, yet his fingers didn’t let go.

“Thank you,” he mumbled. So quiet, so indistinct, it was difficult to make out. “For saving me.”

Unable to bring herself to speak, and uncertainly unable to give the reply that came to mind, Bree swiped at her face with her free hand, her treacherous tears spilling over despite her efforts to hold them back.

She did not move until his fingers loosened and fell away—until the boy called Fox was asleep once more, perfectly still save for the rise and fall of his bruised, battered chest.

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Taglist (please let me know if you’d like to be added/removed!)

@starlit-hopes-and-dreams

@clairelsonao3

@gala1981

@pleasestaywithmedarling

✨

[innocent-diamond-2090110]

♪ "I’m like... some kind of SUPERNOVA... Watch out" ♪

(⬆️ This line is not part of the singing, but it's in the intro AND all the individual members' eyeball teasers, so don't argue with me!)

People said that "Supernova" sounds like a mix of aespa's various past title tracks (too many to list), but I find it cool that this is both retro & futuristic at the same people. People have also said that the girls in the MV aren't the original girls, but rather the ae-versions entering the real world, hence different superpowers (they're now jokingly called EXO's daughters/descendants):

Karina = superhuman strength & some physics manipulation

Giselle = time control +/- teleportation

Winter = levitation & some wind manipulation

Ningning = mostly fire manipulation

(it's also possible that these girls are their real selves, but recent exposure to some supernova changed their physiology, hence the superpowers.)

I like Giselle the most in this MV because even though she appears the most normal compared to the other 3 girls showing off their abilities, her quiet nature actually keeps her time-control ability hidden. (As seen on television dramas—"It's the quiet ones you have to look out for.") Not only does she have a cast on her right hand, but Karina destroyed her smartphone with the "body bang" flying finger, & Ningning set Gigi's apartment on fire on her birthday! (I haven't found if Winter offended Gigi in this MV yet.) "Ah oh ay" & all the rhyming lines are super catchy!

I couldn't help but make this GIF of vengeful Gigi (no better way to start a villain story):

(The shiny thing on her head is the reflection of light off her party hat, not a unicorn horn or something.)

[whenfatecollides]

honestly I was so emotionally drained a few months back that I didn’t even bother but at this point and seeing how dc are being promoted this cb I genuinely have to wonder what the fuck dcc think they’re accomplishing with all this?

- they literally threw away all the work our fandom had getting them their first win by not having a proper CELEBRATION with KOREAN FANS for it, how fucking hard was it to have a fanmeeting??????? if not an actual concert in KOREA (and I’ll repeat the FANS got them their first win, dcc did nothing for it, no ads, no nothing)

- magazine deals, mc deals, etc, all the stuff you see other groups get when they finally get their first wins, where is all that for dc? it’s not, because they just had to go to european festivals and a usa tour right after their first win (sure it’s great that intl fans got to see them but that’s not the point) how hard would it have been to promote dc a bit better in korea after this?????

-  and speaking of the usa tour, there were sooooooooo many complaints about the venues, that they didn’t have enough capacity in comparison to the demand and there were so many people who didn’t have a chance to see them because of this? again for the stuff that matters dcc keep acting like dc is still a rookie group with no fans

- now we get to october, comeback announced, and they’re still releasing maison content from months ago while vision teasers are dropping, content that should have been released like a week after the event because literally what is the point of watching any of that so much later when you can’t even remember things anymore (you and I era I miss you so much)

- they gave the fandom not even 2 weeks to pre-order the album and immediately announced an eu tour 2 days after pre-orders opened, with no stops in south europe because suddenly europe is just 5 countries, giving european fans 2 days to decide before pre-sale started and a month to organise everything (when usa fans had a lot more time to save money and organise everything)

- dropping merch (I still can’t believe they’re selling a JACKET FOR OVER 100 DOLLARS LMFAO), albums, online concert and eu tour all in the span of 3 weeks because suddenly they’re seeing us as cash cows and for that dc are a big group

- this cb promotion has been just... straight up questionable? again no ads, still relying on fans to put up ads for them, still not doing shit about dc’s digitals when every other company in the industry does it for their groups, mcountdown was just sad to watch, no interview, no intro, no special set for the comeback stage??? we’ve always had a set since fly high era, frankly it was just depressing to watch

- 1st gen insomnias got nearly nothing of benefits in these last 3 years like it’s honestly laughable

- fans have been BEGGING dcc since 2018 to reprint older albums and they still don’t give a shit about it (and no, the albums being from a different distributor from their current one is not an excuse)

- this whole shit show with the halloween concert. splitting the girls’ solo stages between the two days, forcing korean fans to buy both dates if they want to see them BUT ALSO not giving intl fans a chance to see them since they’re only streaming the 2nd day? where is the logic in this? (also 25$ for a ticket of an online concert that won’t even have all the special stages is insane if you ask me)

and I could go on and into more detail but is it even worth it? the disorganization is so palpable that it just genuinely pisses me off. they keep acting like they’re a 2 year old company who doesn’t know what they’re doing and has genuine reason for mistake, but the reality is that at this point they’re an over 10 year old company. there is no excuse for what they’re doing anymore, and personally I’m at my limit as someone who has been supporting dc, doing content, and helping with projects for the past 5 years. for a company that is so dependent on their main group’s fandom they sure act like they could have achieved this all by themselves

[kpopfeeds]

2PM’s Discography

Hottest Time Of The Day: 

Release date: September 4, 2008

Single 

10 Out of 10 

2:00 Time for Change 

Release date: September 23, 2009 

2nd Single

What Time Is It Now

Again & Again 

I Hate You 

Maybe She’ll Come Back 

Again & Again (R&B Mix) 

Again & Again (Instrumental) 

I Hate You (Instrumental) 

Maybe She’ll Come Back (Instrumental) 

1:59PM 

Release date: November 12, 2009

First Album 

My Heart 

Heartbeat 

Tired of Waiting 

I Was Crazy About You 

Gimme the Light 

Back 2 U 

All Night Long 

Heartbeat (Red Light Mix) 

10 Out of 10 

Only You (Acoustic Mix) 

Again & Again 

I Hate You (Lounge Mix) 

Maybe She’ll Come Back (Bossa Nova Mix) 

Thank You (Japan Edition Only) 

Don’t Stop Can’t Stop 

Release date: April 19, 2010 

3rd Single 

Don’t Stop Can’t Stop 

Without U 

Maza 

I Will Give You My Life 

Without U (Explorer Mix) 

Space MAZA 

Still 2:00pm 

Release date: October 14, 2010 

Mini Album 

Still 

I’ll Be Back 

Even If You Leave Me 

I Can’t 

I Know 

Dance2Night 

I’ll Be Back (Club Mix) 

Hands Up

Release date: June 20, 2011 

2nd Album 

Hands Up 

Electricity 

Give It To Me 

Like a Movie 

Don’t You Know 

Hot 

Without U 

I’ll Be Back 

I Can’t 

Hands Up (East4A Mix) 

Electricity (220v Mix) 

Thank You 

Don’t Stop Can’t Stop 

REPUBLIC OF 2PM

Release Date: November 30, 2011 

First Japanese Album 

I’m Your Man 

Ultra Lover 

I’ll Be Back (Japanese Version) 

Stay With Me 

Without U (Japanese Version) 

Crazy In Love 

100th Day Anniversary 

Take Off 

Hands Up (Japanese Version) 

Fate 

Heartbeat (Japanese Version) 

Even Though We’re Apart 

2PM Member’s Selection 

Release date: May 21, 2012 

Best Album 

10 Out of 10 

Only You 

Again & Again 

I Hate You 

Maybe She’ll Come Back 

Heartbeat 

Tired of Waiting 

Gimme the Light 

Alive (Jun.K solo) 

Don’t Stop Can’t Stop 

Without U 

I’ll Be Back 

I Can’t 

Hands Up 

Give It to Me 

Hot 

Thank You 

Move On (Wooyoung and Junho duet) 

Legend of 2pm 

Release date: February 13, 2013 

2nd Japanese Album 

The Legend

Masquerade (Legend of 2PM Version) 

Beautiful

So Bad 

Only One 

Missing You 

Want You Back 

This Is Love 

Kimigaireba 

I’ll Be OK

SOS Man 

Breakthrough 

Forever 

Hanareteitemo (Live Version) 

Grown 

Release date: May 07, 2013 

 3rd Album 

A.D.T.OY. 

Comeback When You Hear This Song

Zero Point 

I’m Sorry 

The First Date 

Dangerous 

One More Day 

Game Over 

Coming Down 

Go Back 

Love Song 

At Times 

GENESIS OF 2PM 

Release date: January 29, 2014 

3rd Japanese Album 

Genesis 

GIVE ME LOVE 

Merry-go-round 

Winter Games 

Elen - Lasting heart 

Step by Step 

Falling In Love 

Best of Love 

Only Girl 

I want you 

Stay Here 

NEXT Generation

Beautiful Day 

Go Crazy 

Release date: September 15, 2014 

4th Album 

Go Crazy 

Like Tonight 

She’s Ma Girl 

Mine 

Awesome 

Rain 

Boyfriend 

Pull&Pull 

Goodbye Trip 

Beautiful (Korean Version) 

I’m Your Man (Korean Version) 

Go Crazy (Grand Edition) 

Release date: September 29, 2014 

4th Album

Superman

Please Come Back

Love is True

the Word, Love

Go Crazy

Go Crazy (BOYTOY Crazy Remix)

Go Crazy (BOYTOY Vibe Remix)

Go Crazy (Djnure VS. Fingazz Remix)

2PM OF 2PM - Repackage 

Release date: May 20, 2015

4th Japanese Album 

Intro 

midaretemina 

Guilty Love 

Sexy Ladies 

Everybody 

Fight 

Through the Fire 

Jam Session 

Slender Man 

Shiny Girl 

365 

Burning Love 

harukaze good bye again 

I know 

NO.5 

Release date: June 15, 2015 

5th Album 

My House 

Nobody Else 

Hallucination 

Not The Only One 

Hotter Than July 

About To Go Insane 

Red 

Wanna Love You Again 

Know Your Mind 

Magic 

Jump 

Good Man 

GALAXY OF 2PM 

Release date: April 27, 2016 

4th Japanese Album 

The Galaxy 

Souzou site mite 

Party Monster 

Talk about Your Love 

My House (Japanese Version) 

Freeze 

Wasurenaide 

HIGHER

TEASER 

Shining Star 

Set Me Free 

Issyoni sugoshita jikan 

Gentlemen’s Game 

Release date: September 13, 2016 

6th Album 

Promise (I’ll Be) 

Uneasy 

Giv u Class 

Make Love 

Without Even Trying 

Never 

Humming 

How About This 

Perfume 

My Last 

Can’t Stop Feeling 

MUST 

Release date: June 28, 2021 

7th Album 

Intro 

Make It 

OK or Not 

On My Way 

Champagne 

The Cafe 

Moon & Back 

Two of Us 

Hold You 

My House (Acoustic Version) 

[absolutebl]

This Week in BL

April 2021 Part 3

Being a highly subjective assessment of one tiny corner of the interwebs. 

Ongoing Series - Thai

Second Chance Ep 3 - this is proper YA, they are dealing with actual high school issues, picking uni, first crushes, online dating, etc... We even got a senior prom trope which almost never happens in Thai stuff (just the freshman uni competition variant). Standard plot pacing means PaperFah’s kiss was too early, might indicate we’re moving to uni in the second half of the series? Tropes included: let me feed you, hand hold, black & white striped shirt, floppy drunk & first kiss. 

Y-Destiny Ep 3 - the first MaxNat ep. Such fun to see them playing different characters. This one is enemies to lovers, tutor/student, but it’s using the “poor little rich kid loose cannon” archetype. Nat is doing his best, but it’s leaving me cold. Lots of tropes tho: boyfriend’s closet, floppy drunk, pillow clutch, the loom & water bottle. 

Lovely Writer Ep 8 - solid installment, good use of many tropes. I really like the leads and I’m glad there isn’t much side dish action, SibGene gave us: punish, touch your face, boyfriend claiming, kissing, sleep cuddling, symmetry, rooftop, cheek kiss, hand hold, and pillow clutch. 

Call It What You Want Ep 3-4 - couldn’t find the subs, don’t really care, will watch if it crosses my radar, otherwise I’m just not into it.  

Brothers Ep 11 - the “everyone wants Chol” show continues (but WHY?), he and Tri are cute together, and now I kinda just want Prab to end up with the twins. I’m confused by the teachers, but Boston showed up (from UWMA), and my boys KhunKaow got together (YES!), so I’m ultimately delighted with the episode. 

Fish Upon The Sky Ep 2 - the makeover happened, and we go from cute with glasses and braces to cute without them. (I’m reminded of those 90′s Pygmalion teen movies where the girl has glasses + ponytail and then *GASP* does not and *GASP* she’s HOT. This was the BL version.) Meanwhile, writers better be careful with Pi, he’s getting too tsundere to like. Did you see they gave AJ a 2gether music intro & pick up line? Well, it’s actually his brother JJ who plays Ohm in 2g. I cackled. GMMTV - you so cheeky. 

Ongoing Series - Not Thai 

HIStory 4: Close To You (Taiwan) Ep 5 - half way point. My poor confused babies. It was a really sweet episode... if what happened before hadn’t happened in the way that it had. Also, these boys have a GREAT friendship but are probably the worst advice givers ever. 

Most Peaceful Place (Vietnam) Ep 3 fin - so cute! Our boys confessed and got together. There was an adorable mutual kiss (I love me a mutual, like Ingredients). Afterwards, they actually seemed to communicate with each other about both sex and their relationship. OMG. How original for BL! This was the last episode, so the series is short, but I still enjoyed it very much. RECOMMENDED. 

My Lascivious Boss (Vietnam) Ep 1-2 - oh boy this one is rough, we started out with homophobia child abuse and moved on to family drama + drunken dub-con one night stand. But production values and subs are better than normal for Vietnam (You Are My Boy levels) + our queer babies are out & proud + it’s higher heat + I’m weak. So I’m watching. 

Word of Honor (China) Ep 25-27 - honestly not much happened, lots of back story. Things are looking dire for the ghosts unless they can turn the Scorpion (I LOVE HIM, he’s my precious deadly baby). Don’t know how they managed to make loosing a battle with an immortal sword god ex-friend cute... but they did. Did some calculations and at 36 eps, mathematically speaking, ep 30 will be the equivalent of a standard BL ep 11. Should I be scared for next week? 

Nobleman Ryu’s Wedding (Korea) Ep 1-2 - it’s so effing adorbs, soft bois do old fashioned tropes like arranged marriage + evil stepsisters meets the more modern fake relationship + secret identity in a surprisingly comfortable mix. It launched with baby is a floppy drunk, forced proximity, performative I saw you feed him, and some fun gay panic. It’s a lot lighter and faster paced than I was expecting, but this is Korea so I don’t know why I’m surprised. 

Stand Alones 

K-pop band OnlyOneOf dropped a new MV that is basically BL bait, using many of the tropes we know and love. I promise I’m not trying to lure anyone into K-pop I just thought it was interesting how consciously they’re yaoi dipping. 

Spin-off We Best Love Fighting Mr. 2nd, Shou Zhen | the Only Love Letter Once Written (SERIOUSLY WITH THE TITLES TAIWAN?) anyway there’s a something or other 25 minutes featuring Pei Shou Yi and his boy that aired Friday. It’s about 10 minutes of reboot footage with 15 min of new content, mostly set in the past. It entirely rests on Chih Tian Shih’s acting, fortunately for us he’s great. However, it doesn’t substantially change or add to these characters’ arcs from the finale of WBL season 2. I don’t know if there will be more or if this was just an extra footage fan service. 

COLOR RUSH GOT ITS MOVIE!!! Okay this is almost the tipping point for me to get Viki Standard. It’s listed at 1:56 minutes long but the original series had only c.120 running time - that is a lot of new content. Although i was disappointed by To My Star’s movie I loved Wish You’s, so I am hoping Color Rush got Wish You level treatment. That said, I feel Color Rush the series is damn near perfect already, hard to improve on perfection. 

Breaking News

Close Friend the series got an updated trailer featuring MaxNat (no subs) so if you like them in Y-Destiny or in Why R U get ready for them to play different characters again, this time for a sports romance segment. Like Y-Destiny, Close Friend looks to be another series of vignettes (Original trailer) coming April 22. 

2gether the movie (Thai trailer) was intended release April 22 but is now postponed due to a surge in C19 cases in Thailand.

Tell the World I Love You, a Thai BL movie that was supposed to release last week, is similarly delayed.  

My Ride has been postponed indefinitely with no airing date. 

The Miracle of Teddy Bear got a teaser vid, no eng subs. 

Gossip

Thai BL actors Nanon (Bad Buddy), Yoon (YYY), and Mark Siwat (LBC, Bite Me) have tested positive for C19. Press releases stated they’re fine, tho filming has paused fore their various projects, obvs. (No word on whether Nanon’s current project was Bad Buddy or not, although it seems likely given his recent Arm Share episode.) 

Next Week Looks Like This:

Some shows may be listed later than actual air date for International accessibility reasons.

Upcoming 2021 BL master post here.

Links to watch are provided when possible, ask in a comment if I missed something.

[glitterandgoldrush]

Have you seen the teaser??? Thoughts??? Headcanons for the show??? I love it so much 😭😭

i actually really enjoyed it!!

cooper and his dad’s relationship is great, it’s built up strong enough that it’s gonna be all the more crushing when it falls down, but we can already see kevin’s sort of strict, pushing tendencies where he’s guilting cooper into making sure he does well. i really hope that they put a lot of time & effort into this storyline bc i think it will play out well. and i must say i was overwhelmingly happy when i saw coop for the first time, chibuikem just has that big, sunshine-worthy grin that i always associated with coop so it was great to see it on screen! also low key thrilled he got the first scene bc my ass was so scared that he would be disregarded for nate&bronwyn and while that still may happen it felt like the universe was going “look ash, calm down there he is” and then we cut straight to addy and i was like oh thank godddd

addy/jake are already being set up so well, too. her insecurity, checking with vanessa, her mum criticising her, and her only relaxing once jake approves? great foundations for her arc in the book. and the scene is strrrraight from the book which i love! however it does lead me into my next point: no ashton. i already knew but it sucksuckssucks because she’s such a great part of the books and her and eli are so fun, i really really hope they introduce her later but i doubt it.

nate’s intro made me lol tho i feel like he’s turned more into like a stud than the real bad boy he was in the books. like i know he hooked up with girls in the books, but it was more like, they came to him, he didn’t really care. whereas here, he’s almost cocky and showing off about the girls he gets which book nate wouldn’t do. too hard to say so early on but it will be interesting to see how the develop that

bronwyn not having an intro! interesting…

also, the pre-detention posts semi-exposing them already…way to put everyone on edge. and certainly answers the question in the book of who would know what secret was coming up and decide to take action

i also really liked having a scene of simon and his influence, as well as janae openly showing her distaste for the other kids. we only get a tiny hint of that in oouil when she talks to addy about jake and her voice warms up to the sort of bitch session she and simon used to have

it’s nice to sort of establish that early bc it contextualises and explains a lot of her actions. like she really hates everyone else, she’s strung along and confused, yes, but she’s very much as guilty as simon here

this is A LOT but it’s all to say that i’m super excited!! it’s gonna be different from the books, by a lot, but i’m deciding to look at it as like, fan fiction! it’s just another fun interpretation of these characters that we all love so much (except our notable missing people, gone but never forgotten 😪😪)

[yourfavewriteress]

right under our noses (part 1) | colton parayko

intro |

Teaser: “Are you guys seriously not going to tell either of us who the other person is?”

“Trust me on this,” Jayne said. “Trust us.”

You looked over at Alex who was seated next to her. “For some reason I trust your word right now more than hers. Do you approve of this person?”

“You know I wouldn’t support setting you up with anyone I didn’t think could put up with you,” He replied.

“Alexander,” You warned him. Jayne groaned, slightly nudging his leg under the table.

“She’s being serious,” She added.

“I trust the guy, yes,” He said finally with a roll of his eyes. “We both wouldn’t set you up to get hurt, you know that already.”

“What if this doesn’t work?” You trusted Alex, and especially Jayne. If they were vouching for this guy, you really had no reason to question it. But, your dating life had not been the best. You were consistently getting caught up with the wrong guys, ones that would play with your feelings just to boost their own egos. You were a strong woman, and always kept your composure. But, you were tired of always being in the background. And maybe this could work. It doesn’t hurt to try, at least, not yet.

“Then we figure something else out,” Jayne shrugged.

You sighed, looking down at your drink.

“What are you worried about?” Jayne asked. You looked at her and shrugged. Jayne didn’t understand why you didn’t see yourself the way she did. To her, you were beautiful, smart, successful (albeit in a terrible job), strong, witty and loving. You were a catch, and she hated that the men in your past made you believe anything different.

Alex loved you like a sister. Ever since Jayne introduced you at one of his team parties, he was extremely impressed at your competitiveness in the ongoing drinking competition and became one of your biggest cheerleaders, even against his own teammates. He also hated hearing about the guys you dated, because although you weren’t actually siblings, he would have loved to knock out some of the guys you had let into your life. And if he could get the chance to size someone up before they got the chance to hurt you, he definitely wasn’t going to turn down the opportunity.

Alex cleared his throat, reading you like a book. “You’re not desperate.”

“Alex!” Jayne said, slapping his shoulder.

“Tell me that’s not what you’re thinking,” He raised his eyebrows at you. Seeing you as his sister, he sometimes knew you better than Jayne did.  “I know you, Y/N. Don’t lie.”

“You have to admit, it’s a little desperate,” You mumbled.

“We all know that Jayne isn’t really giving you an option,” He laughed.

“You know what, why don’t you go upstairs or something?” Jayne suggested. Alex laughed, kissing her before turning back to you.

“Ever since we met, I’ve never lied to you,” He started. “I seriously think you have nothing to worry about. We’ve all been through a lot of shit together, and whether this works or not, we’re always family.”

“And, you’re never ‘lonely,’ no matter who you are, or are not, dating,” Jayne added.

“But, it might be fun to explore some other options that maybe you missed in the past,” He gently nudged your shoulder. “And, with our help, hopefully you won’t have to worry about the guy being an idiot.”

“Fine,” You breathed, sighing. “But, when will I find out who it is for sure?”

“I guess not until you have the balls to bring it up to them,” Jayne smirked.

“Are you serious?”

“No,” Alex said, shaking his head at Jayne. He knew that you might change your mind, “We just want you to get to know each other before we say anything about who’s who. Obviously, if you’re closing in on the wrong person, we’ll warn you.”

“I’m still not understanding how this is going to work,” You crossed your arms over your chest. “How are you guys so certain that we’ll both know who you’re talking about? I’m assuming you’re telling him the same thing.”

“That’s the point,” Jayne said. “It was kind of an epiphany for us, so we hope it’ll be for you guys, too.”

“I told her how much it sounded like a movie,” Alex said. “But, the similarities between you are obvious to us knowing both of you, but clearly not to you guys.”

“Can we just try it for two months and see how we feel?” Jayne added when she noticed your hesitance.

“In two months, you tell me who it is,” You ordered, pointing at both of them clearly.

“Sure,” Alex shrugged, but he smiled as he continued, “That is, if you don’t already figure it out yourself.”

****

“I don’t know, guys,” Colton mumbled to Alex and his wife Jayne. They had just finished their game against the New Jersey Devils and were on their way to their respective cars when the couple decided to update Colton on their plan.

“She already agreed,” Jayne said. “Just waiting on you.”

“Are you guys seriously not going to tell either of us who the other person is?” He asked, keeping his voice down so no one could hear them as they walked through the crowded hallway.

“Nope,” Jayne responded. “It’ll be fun and exciting, trust me.”

“What happens if I meet someone else before we figure it out?” He asked.

“Well, we’re going to hope that you don’t,” Alex responded, giving him a look. “But, we’d probably just call it off.”

“You guys already know each other, all we’re asking is that you just get to know the people around you. And, we’ll do our best to make sure that’s her without you knowing.”

“I find it really hard to believe that this is going to work,” He said once they reached the couple’s car. “But, if you guys are both vouching for this plan and her, I guess it doesn’t hurt to try. It’s not like I’m seeing anyone.”

“Yes!” Jayne exclaimed, hugging Colton. He laughed, hugging her back. “I promise you won’t regret it.”

“You won’t,” Alex said. “If it works.”

“Okay, I’m going to get the car started,” Jayne said, pulling away from Colton to give the guys some time. “Good luck, Parry.”

“Don’t disappoint me.” She shook her head, walking towards the door and leaving the two guys alone.

“What do you know about the girl?” Colton asked. “You have to give me something to go on, man.”

“Let’s just say that you guys have a little history,” He shrugged, smirking at his teammate. “Not enough that would stop something from happening now, but enough that you might remember.”

“What the fuck does that mean?” Colton called when he realized Alex was done giving hints.

“I guess you’ll have to wait to find out.”

****

After agreeing to take part in the plan and allow your best friend and her husband to set you up with someone, you tried your best to continue your normal routine. If they were so certain that this guy was perfect for you and you would be able to see it, you planned on talking to everyone as normal and then paying attention to what happens. To be fair, that was all that you could do.

“Y/N?” You stopped in your tracks, turning on your heels.

“Aaron?” You furrowed your eyebrows. “What are you doing in St. Louis?”

“I’m visiting,” He laughed. “How are you?”

He walked towards you, immediately pulling you into his chest. “I’m great, how are you? Weren’t you just in Minnesota or something?”

“Yeah, for some business meetings,” He pulled away. 

“Wow, I guess you’re a big shot now,” You joked.

He rolled his eyes. “Yeah, I’m such a big shot that I still drive the same old car. I was actually hoping I would bump into you somewhere. Do you maybe want to grab a drink sometime? Catch up?”

“Uh, sure, yeah,” You nodded, slowly. “Just text me and we can set something up.”

“Same number?”

“Yeah, same one,” You replied.

“Okay, then. I guess I’ll see you soon,” He smiled, waving.

You smiled back, returning to your cart. Throwing your bag over into the top part, you pulled out your phone, clicking Jayne’s number almost immediately. 

“Hello?”

“Please tell me the person you’re thinking of is not Aaron Nichols who I met at that freaking parade when the guys won. If it is, abort the mission, now. Over my dead body.”

Jayne laughed, “What? No, it’s not Aaron Nichols. Who the hell is that?”

“Thank god,” You breathed. “Because he just asked me out in the grocery store.”

“Well, our guy isn’t going to be asking you out anytime soon. We promised you a slow burner,” She said.

“Oh please,” You rolled your eyes. “So, have I come across him yet and not realized it?”

“I don’t know, have you?” She threw back.

“How is that helpful at all?”

“We also told you that it’ll be much better if you guys figure this out on your own. No hints, no telling you if or where you’ve seen them.”

“You guys suck,” You responded. “I bet you Alex has given this guy lots of hints.”

“To be fair, I did tell you that it wasn’t Aaron, which I won’t do anymore. You can’t ask us every time you have an encounter with a guy.”

“Well, why not?” You whined. “Am I really just supposed to talk to everyone with the possibility of dating?”

“Exactly.”

“You guys suck,” You repeated. “I have to go, I’m checking out.”

“I’ll call you later.”

****

Colton wasn’t doing much better, either. Agreeing to this plan meant that he had to pay attention to all of his encounters with the women that he knew. And, he knew a lot. Although a gentleman, Colton had had his fair share of partners. But, the plan limited the amount of options to women that Alex and Jayne knew as well, especially Jayne, since Colton picked up on how close Jayne felt to this woman. She was obviously close with Alex, too, who seemed to trust this girl enough.

“Hair color?” Colton breathed, running on the treadmill.

Alex laughed, shaking his head beside him. “Stop.”

“Where do I know her from?” He asked.

“I’m not telling you anything about her,” Alex said.

“Fuck, man,” Colton sighed. “I feel like I shouldn’t have agreed to this.”

“Why?”

“Because, it’s like you guys playing matchmaker for me and this person that I supposedly have a history with. If I have a history with them, maybe there’s a reason why it didn’t work out,” He said.

“People mature,” Alex pointed. 

“Me or her?”

“Both.”

“Well, what’s our history? Did we date?”

“No, you definitely didn’t date.” Alex almost laughed, thinking back to his warning that he was 100% sure Colton respected.

“This feels a little desperate,” Colton admitted. “Like I can’t find someone myself.”

“If it makes you feel any better,” Alex paused his run briefly to lean on the machine, facing Colton. Colton did the same, catching his breath as Alex continued. “She said the exact same thing when we told her. Look, this isn’t some game show trying to pair you up with some stranger that you don’t know. This is, and as much as it literally pains me to say, one of your closest friends helping you find someone that I can genuinely see you having something with. I know what you like, I know what you need, and I guess I care about you being with someone that is going to be good for you.”

“Do you actually know her?”

“Yes, man,” Alex huffed. “She’s a really good friend of ours. She has a job, a life, her own place that she pays for with her own money. Independent, funny, but depending on your humor. Jayne and I both agree that you have the same annoying humor so there’s that. You said something earlier about not wanting someone soft? Trust me, she’s not. But, she has a soft side. You’re not soft, per se, but you have a soft side, too. She likes that. And, I can assure you, even though this is subjective, you’ll definitely be attracted to her. Now, that is the last piece of information you are ever getting out of me about her until time is up. Seriously.”

He let out a breath as he starting the treadmill back up. “Are you done now? Can I finish my workout?”

“That’s all I really needed to know,” Colton said, even though he really wanted to know more. “You just convinced me, not gonna lie.”

“Sounds like your dream girl, huh?”

Colton let out a laugh, “A little, yeah.”

“We thought so, too.”

[you-have-a-type]

Today I start a series I think I’m going to call

“Explain yourself please”

An in depth look at why I have, what might be referred to as these ‘issues’.

So with that in mind here is my first entrance.

Explain yourself please, number one - Johnny Silverhand

Picture it, there is me, a nerdy girl on the cusp of emerging into the grand all consuming pass time of roleplay games. I have been trying out dungeons and dragons and a little bit of Vampire games. Then some one says to me, “hey you ever played cyberpunk?”. Well needless to say I was hooked. The setting was the right kind of cool. The characters were the right kind of sticking it to the man. It was just the game that clicked for me. Then there was a mission at the back of the 2020 core book that talked all about certain characters (spoilers ish for the 2077 game follow) that mission was called never fade away. Go look it up. It’s totally the memory mission Johnny and the games intro to alt. I read all and something just clicked. This rockstar, fighting for what he believed, against the system. It didn’t help he was very 1970s rockstar. My weakness. I held him in a great light, played a lot of rocker boys. Always wanted that silverhand swagger. He was beautiful, punkish and a beautiful bad boy. Sure he was an asshole but look, what rock stars are not.

That was 20 years ago.

Johnny had faded into my “i had a bit of a crush on this dude in my teen life” he still popped up but that beautiful leather clad anarchist just bobbed along happily. Then I saw the teaser trailer for cyberpunk 2077. Well I saw it, my husband heard me shriek within the first few seconds of the trailer about it being cyberpunk. I saw the ad in the background with alt in it. It all came back. My pre order done I pawed over everything cyberpunk. Then the news came. Keanu.

I can see it Johnny is on maybe his third clone body why wouldn’t Alt have tuned it up!

Anyway I started to play my first play through (currently on 3.5 which can be described as my I did this the rocker boy way, I did this the corpo way and the I wanted to bang Kerry way) again spoilers of a kind ahead.

So Johnny eventually turned up and was a huge douche. I put the controller down and looked at my husband, then loudly proclaimed “what have they done to my boy” after being coaxed back, I realised what had happened I was getting the attitude I loved about him, but more directly. The snippy quotes, the impotent rage because he can’t go and be Johnny. My poor boy they took away his claws for plot. In the end I wanted to romance him. Couldn’t. By the Second play through I went full Corp. and it got to me because I was disappointing to him. I cried at the end of that one. With Johnny it’s all emotional. And kudos to CDPR for actually getting the character correct. Because if you don’t feel a connection to Johnny by the end, even if you are a casual fan you are playing the game wrong.

So in summery Johnny is hot. His ass is hot. We all know this, but for me. He turns up in my lists because I’m emotionally invested in the man. Have been for a long time. Long before Keanu. He stands for a lot of things I adore.

Plus he is always my OTP with Kerry!

Explained well enough? Want to question things. Leave a note!

[mrs-hollandstan]

Make Me Love You || Frat Boy!Tom [one]

Pairing: Frat Boy!Tom x Student!Reader

Warnings: language, alcohol consumption, mentions of sex that almost aren't mentions of sex, fuckboy Tom, mentions of domestic issues, a small confrontation

Word Count: 7,299

Author's Note: The teaser did really well for it being a teaser and I am SO glad. If you enjoy, lemme know what you think of it! 

Series Masterlist || Add yourself to one of my taglists

There are drastic differences between Los Angeles and Seattle like the weather, traffic, even the population, but there are also many similarities that make a transition from one city to the next, just the smallest bit easier. They always say that finding friends in Seattle is harder because the non-stop gloom, for a record breaking five months straight makes the locals reclusive. Of course, the heat in LA makes people just as reclusive, but the chance of meeting someone with your interests and mentality in the nearly 4 million population is more likely and easier to obtain compared to Seattle's 742,000. That is of course if you don't have ties already in one of the cities already.

One of the easiest transitioning factors for you, transferring from a community college in Los Angeles to a four year college up north in Seattle was your older brother Cole, who'd seemingly abandoned the half assed family you claimed and the muggy city the both of you had grown up in. It was nothing personal against you and you knew that, but the new person your father had become after the death of your mother shifted the feeling of your once love filled, perfect family, home to hostile and toxic. Your father and Cole hadn't gotten along the few months leading up to Cole leaving for Seattle and as you neared the transfer period for college, it was either tagging along with your dad and his new girlfriend to busy New York, or reunite with Cole after two long years and live in chilly Seattle. Not that either were a bad idea, but it came down to which of the men you grew up around was more tolerable and which school was best for you and your major. The end choice was Cole and Seattle, both of which seemed to invite you with open arms.

The plane ride saw a lot of rain and landing in a cold and dreary Seattle airport to be met with the soft, kind features of your older brother was something that excited and comforted you. His muscular arms encircled you and you squealed as he sighed, holding your body extremely close with a kiss to your temple. After gathering the rest of your belongings that hadn't already been shipped to Cole's house, he leads you out to the same car he drove up in, driving you to the small house you'd only seen in pictures and showing you to what would be your room when you stayed with him and not in your dorm with the roommates you'd already started conversing with. Despite being very protective and loving, Cole was willing to let you take the reigns on your own life and make all the adult decisions needed to get you your degree, whilst also supporting you and providing you the necessities to live if need be. Because he knew what it was like to be pressured and he made damn sure that you would never feel that with him. Which is part of the reason you chose him and Seattle over your father and Manhattan.

                                                        ---

"So you said you've already talked to these girls like via text? They're cool? Because-"

"I have your place if I need it and I can always transfer to a different university if I feel pressured. I know Coleslaw." You complete your older brother's statement, his eyebrows knitting in a line at the nickname as you glance over your shoulder at him. You smile and bump his shoulder as you carry a box up towards your dorm room, navigating the endless, tan hallways of a place you'll be calling a second home for the next two years.

"Yes Cole, I'm in a group chat with the three of them. We're already good friends and I haven't even moved in yet." You explain to him as he hauls two more boxes after you, pausing to bring his knee up and get a more firm grip on the boxes in his hands. Dark curls fall onto his forehead, escapees from the mop atop his head that you've been begging him to cut for two months,

"What are their names? I-I can only remember Scarlett." He asks, hazel eyes trained on the bobbing lid of the top box he holds. You nod,

"Scarlett, Phoebe, and Ivey. Supposedly one of them has a boyfri- oh my god I'm so sorry!" You squeal, bouncing back into your brother who has the wind knocked out of him as you run into the front of a tall, dirty blonde boy, stunning crystalline eyes darting between you and Cole,

"S'alright love, no harm done. To me at least." The boy speaks up in a thick British accent, punctuating the statement with a chuckle as he watches Cole lean your boxes against a wall, supporting them on a knee again. He gives a tight lipped smile to the other boy as you glance between them,

"Sorry... I should really watch where I'm going." You reply through a small laugh. The blonde shakes his head as he looks down, chuckling softly, playfully,

"I'm alright. Came around the corner a little fast. You're all good." You nod and smile, brushing past him. You turn to each other, flashing one more kind smile before he passes Cole with a small greeting and heads down the hall you just came up. Cole nods at the boy before sighing and rolling his eyes,

"If that was your first introduction to college, I'd hate to see what the rest of it consists of." He mumbles. Narrowing your eyes, you cock you head and gesture to the boxes now bowing at his weight,

"I knew I shoulda stacked a third on there for you." You joke. He cocks his head, mockingly laughing along with you before he gestures down the hall and starts to follow again, watching you pause and check a small piece of paper in your hand before knocking at a grey door. It swings open with almost no time in between and a girl about your height with ombre hair that goes from an almost black to auburn and blonde at the tips and down the front of her shoulders, smiles,

"Y/N?" She asks as you set the box you carry on the floor and nod, her smile widening before she steps out into the hallway and pulls you into a hug, rocking you back and forth and squealing,

"Its about time you showed up." She says. Leaning back, she glances over your shoulder at Cole,

"Come on in you guys, your room's the first room on the right." She says as you step aside for Cole and follow him in once you pick up your own abandoned box. He sets the two he carries on the tan carpet, placing his hands on his hips with a sigh,

"Its nice. It's real open." He says as you set your own box beside his. You nod and smile, turning to your roommates as they crowd in the room. The two other girls share their hugs with you as Phoebe introduces herself to Cole now that she's already met you both at the front door. Ivey's skin is tan and the dark brown hair that's cut to rest at her shoulders, frames a beautiful, caked face that sparkles with every move. Scarlett's dark skin is just as shiny and beautiful as Ivey's and her hair is tied up with a bandana wrapped around the crown of her head. They stand back, one of Scarlett's hands in yours, one of Ivey's hands rested on your arm as you have your first, in person interaction with them. The small group shifts to Phoebe and Cole, Ivey and Scarlett introducing themselves to the taller boy. You stand in a small, comfortable circle before Scarlett sighs,

"Well... you're getting your first taste of peer pressure. We're taking you to a frat party tonight. It's like their little intro party before club rush and initiation and all that. This party sort of shows guys what its like before they make the pledge." She explains, watching you nod. Cole scoffs,

"Like she'll need the peer pressure. Can she pledge? She could be there keg king." He jokes, making the other girls in the room laugh as you look at him and mockingly laugh,

"Oh ha ha, wonder where I learned that shit? Got it from my party animal big brother." You say, watching Cole stick his tongue out as you playfully punch his ribs. He chuckles and runs the area before heading for the door,

"Why don't you guys finish getting acquainted and get Y/N comfortable while I get the two other boxes." He says. You nod, as do the other girls before he leaves the room and the three of them turn back to you,

"Are you excited? Finally living on campus and getting into that college life. Its cool right?" Ivey asks. You nod,

"Yeah, it's a little scary being... away from home, but LA isn't even where my dad is living anymore so, home is technically here now. Mostly with Cole but... here too, with the three of you." You nervously explain. They all smile at you as you look between them, already warm and inviting. Phoebe holds her hand out and you take it, letting her pull you through your door and further down the hall. She points to a closed door on the left at the very end of the hallway,

"My room," She says as she opens it to show off an already decorated and beautiful white room, fairy lights lining the roof, "this is where we have movie nights cause I have a projector." She says, her nose crinkling. You nod and smile, spinning on your heels to follow her as she opens the door across from her own,

"Scarlett's room. This is where you'll most likely find hair or makeup products you need. Maybe your own, who knows." She jokes, smiling wider as Scarlett scoffs and you look around the room, nodding at the organized vanity and makeup selection set up strategically in a corner of the room. Leaving that door open as well, Phoebe brushes past you to open the second door down,

"Bathroom. Nothing too special. We kinda all share body washes and toothpastes and stuff. It's a community." Phoebe says with a shrug, closing the door before walking to the room just across from yours,

"And here," She says in a sigh, "is Ivey's room. She's got a boyfriend so... we have to warn you in advance that any howling or screaming you hear isn't a virgin being sacrificed, it's just Ivey and her thing. Also, we have to warn that anything you find that might be disturbing is... grounds for therapy so, we're here for you." She jokes yet again, laying a hand over your shoulder. You giggle as Ivey swipes a hand over her face, mumbling explicits and disgraced words. She crosses her arms with a flat expression,

"We very rarely do anything here and there is nothing that we do that will get us caught by any of you. In the two years we've lived together, I have never been caught." She explains. You, Scarlett, and Phoebe smile and giggle at her before she swallows,

"We haven't been caught here at least. But to be fair, his brothers are nosey and don't knock." She justifies as the other two girls giggle and snicker. You frown,

"Brothers?" You quiz. Ivey nods, moving back and forth from her toes to her heels,

"He's in a frat. The frat party we're going to tonight, it's his frat." She explains. You nod and turn to Scarlett as she starts to speak,

"His brothers are pretty hot but goddamn they're like little boys. Some of them have that whole douchebag thing goin, but for the most part they're all pretty hot." She says with a wink. You nod again as she looks you over, glancing up when Cole returns with two more boxes,

"You don't happen to have a smashing dress to wear in those boxes, do you?" Scarlett asks. You shrug, glancing back at Cole when he emerges from your room before you turn back the the group with a shake of your head,

"Guess not. I have some cute clothes but I don't know if they're frat boy impressing worthy." You say. The girls smile as Cole sighs behind you,

"We're already looking for frat boys to impress?" He asks, somewhat breathless. You shrug,

"Ivey's boyfriend is part of the frat that's throwing the party tonight and the girls all say his brothers are pretty good looking." You explain. He nods, looking between the four of you. Scarlett cocks her head,

“You’re so much more willing and open-minded than most older brothers who hear this kinda stuff talked about with their younger sisters.” She says. His eyes linger on her for a moment before he shrugs,

“I’m living my own life. I don’t have time to live vicariously through her too.” He says. You smile, binding your arms around his waist. He kisses your temple,

“BUT… I will kill someone that hurts her. I will kill a frat guy.” He adds making the girls smile. You glance up at him, crinkling your nose. There’s a moment of silence before Phoebe sighs,

"Well, going back to the outfit thing, if you wanna borrow some of our clothes to piece together a rockin outfit, you're more than welcome. We can take you shopping soon." She says. You smile and nod, thanking the group collectively before Cole reaches up to rub your shoulders,

"Wanna come get your bag from my car, walk me out?" He asks. You nod, turning with him and following him down the same hallways as before until you're standing at the curb, closing the passenger side door after retrieving your duffel and regular backpack. Cole sighs, hands tucked in his pockets,

"So when do I get custody?" He jokes. You smile, playfully leaning in to punch his stomach this time,

"I'll uhh... I'll come back Sunday maybe. I dunno yet. Depends on how I cope with all this new life stuff." You say with a shrug. He nods, chewing the inside of his cheek. He looks up, searching your face for a moment as you think,

"Just have fun tonight if you go. Let loose and make new friends, ya know? Don't think that college is strictly academic. But... just be careful. Don't set your drink down anywhere, anything like that. Ya never know who you're dealin with." He warns. You nod along to him, rolling your eyes,

"Common sense Cole." You say. He nods, pulling you into him, arms wrapped around your shoulders,

"I know, I know, but if you're drugged the first day you're here with me, dad'll most definitely force you up there in New York." He tells you. Holding him with your arms wrapped around his waist, you sigh,

"I'm not gettin drugged. I'll be careful." You reason. He nods again, kissing your temple before he releases you,

"Just do me a favor and text me when you go places if you can remember. Try to remember to text me like... at least five times a day so I know you're alive." You smile up at your mother hen like older brother who holds your hand, dragging out the last few moments you have together, today. You purse your lips,

"Yeah Cole, I will. When dad texts me asking if I'm alive every twenty minutes I'll make sure to shoot you a text." He chuckles softly,

"Alright, good. I love you." You stand on your toes to kiss his cheek,

"Love you too. I'll maybe see you Sunday." You remind. He nods as he let's go of your hand and starts to round the car,

"Maybe Sunday." He repeats before climbing into his car and starting it, driving off as you stand at the curb. Despite the short distance from his house to the college, your heart aches a little. Not just because he's leaving you after only having you in his home for a day and a half, but because after he left California, you two practically never talked. He texted you and called you every once in a while but that older brother that you talked about was all a myth once he came to Seattle and you were fearful of the same thing happening this time around.

Not dwelling on it to long, you make your trip back up to your dorm room with ease, nudging the door open with your shoulder. As you kick the front door closed and head down the hall, Ivey peeks her head out of her room, smiling at you. The rest of her body appears and she sighs,

"We're all just gonna be in our rooms. When you're ready you can come raid our closets. Something cute that shows you're available but still shows that you... mean business." She explains with a shrug. You nod and set your bags just inside the door,

"Cool. Thanks. I uhm... I'm gonna do some unpacking you say, suddenly nervous now that Cole's comfort and protection isn't there. She smiles again, nodding back,

"We're leavin here at six thirty, just be ready, okay?" You give a silent okay back before heading into your own room and unpacking what you can before they bombard you with twenty questions on what you're wearing. Settling on an oversized jean jacket and white tube top from Ivey and an army green suede skirt from Scarlett, the four of you are taking mirror selfies and heading out to Scarlett's car in record time, your heart thumping loudly in pure nerves as you head into the unknown. The second you pull up in front of the Psi Sigma Tau frat house, you seem to get lightheaded as your nerves amp up. Climbing from the car, Ivey rubs your shoulders,

"The boys are gonna love you. And trust us... none of them are... too bad of assholes. Tom is probably the worse but he won't fuck with new blood." Ivey informs. You nod, following Scarlett and Phoebe up to the open front door, watching Scarlett open the screen door and walk inside, the three of them never leaving you as they lead you to the kitchen. A group of boys turn, one of them, the same you and Cole ran into earlier. He smiles as Ivey approaches him, wrapping her in his arms. They share a kiss before he looks up, eyebrows furrowing as he spots you,

"You ran into me earlier." He reminds you, watching a smile cover your face as Ivey looks to you and he chuckles,

"You did?" She asks. You nod, tucking your hands in the pockets of the jean jacket you wear,

"Uhh, yeah, I did. Cole and I were coming around a corner, the same time he was and I bumped into him." You reminisce, your cheeks burning at the thought of always seeing him now that you know one of your roommates is dating him when you made a complete ass of yourself. He chuckles again, draping his arm around Ivey's shoulders as she wraps her arms around his lean torso,

"'S alright. I told you that already. No harm, no foul." He says, smirk never leaving his lips as his frost colored eyes linger on you. You smile and nod as Ivey sighs, reaching up to proudly place her hand over his stomach,

"This is my boyfriend, Harrison. He and his best friend Tom came here together from London." She explains, looking up at him. His eyes pull away from you to look down at her. He purses his lips as he hums, satisfied,

"Got watched by this one in English so I snatched her up. Left Tom as eligible bachelor. He was pretty pissed about that one but," he glances up at you again, "he's a little bit of a ladies man. Decent enough to be the douchebag one night stand guy." He says. You nod to show that you've been listening before Harrison looks you over,

"And… not that he has a particular type or anything, but you fit the curriculum for someone he'd be into." He adds. You shake your head,

"I'm not a one night stand type of girl. If anything, I want a boyfriend. So," you look around the kitchen and living room, "which one is Tom so I know to steer clear?" You ask, letting Phoebe turn you and point through the small crowd that's already started to form in the dark, strobe lit living room. Through it, you can see a perky blonde in a tight dress leaned against a wall, talking to a striking young brunette, tight fitted tee and jeans clinging to every muscular limb that he has to offer, a black cap hanging off his head, backwards, his cute yet prominent ears poking up past the hat. You swallow your tongue at the sight of him. He's gorgeous and you can already tell that it's easier said than done with that one when it comes to steering clear of him. As if he can hear your thoughts, he glances up, spotting you and Phoebe. Your heart stops as a smile crosses his lips and he waves softly, excusing himself from the blonde to head your way. Phoebe hums before releasing you and stepping forward to hug him when he steps into the kitchen. He sets his drink down on the counter, pressing his free hand to her lower back, the two of them talking back and forth, too quiet for you to hear over the music. All you can do is stare at his beautiful face in the new light.

He truly is stunning, cream colored face stealing your breath straight from your lungs. His skin, specifically his somewhat crooked nose and full cheeks are littered with cocoa colored freckles. He practically lacks an upper lip, but his bottom lip is somewhat plump and berry colored, kissable if need be. His nose is perfect despite the bend and cute, but his eyes are what really set you off. He has beautiful dark brown eyes that are accentuated through long, angelic lashes that flutter every few words uttered from his lips or to him from Phoebe's and they almost meet his thick, trimmed eyebrows, the end of one of them tapering up wildly. His forehead is nearly covered by the dark brown hair that is voluminous and fluffy and looks completely inviting despite the snapback he wears.

His eyes cut to you suddenly like he can feel yours on him, a soft, almost demonic, hungry smile crossing his face as his tongue comes out to wet his lips. The shift in focus to you has Phoebe turning to face you, eyes still locked on Tom to gauge his reactions to you. His adam's apple bobs as he swallows, looking you over, the piercing dark eyes he's blessed with making you feel small in that one moment. And then he speaks in a somewhat deep voice enriched with a similar, tranquilizing European accent to Harrison's that makes your knees weak,

"And who do we have here?" You're broken from your thoughts by him. Phoebe turns to you,

"This is Y/N, Tom. It's the roommate Scar, Ivey, and I were talking about coming in today. She's at her first frat party ever." She replies, sultrily as Tom's eyebrows raising,

"Wow, look at you darling. Little daredevil like your roomies. Well... welcome. Your girls are some of the best here, I suppose you won't be any different." He directs to you. You swallow and smile, watching Phoebe cock her head,

"He doesn't bite Y/N." She says, her hand pressed to his stomach similar to the way Ivey did to Harrison. Tom closes his mouth to give a tight lipped smile,

"Unless you want me to." He jokes making Phoebe giggle. You nod and reach up to tuck hair behind your ear,

"Sorry... uhm... yeah, I wasn't gonna not come. I actually... think I need a drink." You say, suddenly flushed. Tom hums, looking over your shoulder,

"Why don't we slam some shots then, yeah?" He poses, pressing his hand to your lower back when you nod and follow, watching him and Phoebe pour out a row of shots. The three of you, Harrison, Scarlett, Ivey and a few other boys raise them. Phoebe sighs,

"To our ever growing group of friends." She says. You all say cheers before clinking the glasses and downing your shots. Most of the group shivers and retches at the sting, but you and Tom are primarily the only ones that don't and you don't catch it, but Tom watches you, his heart skipping a beat when all you do is set the shot glass down and lick your lips to ensure you got all of the alcohol your glass contained. You sigh before looking up wide eyed at Tom when he snaps at you,

"You're my kinda girl, get your pretty little ass over here and let's do a shot together." He demands. You glance around the group that's starting to break out into laughter before snorting,

"What?" The group laughs along with you, Tom's own face turning up into a smile,

"You didn't even flinch when you took that. Most people do. I like when a girl doesn't overreact. So let's take another shot together." He elaborates. After another moment, you nod, switching spots with Phoebe and watching Tom pour two more shots before he hands you one. You take it, only to have him lock arms with you, raising his eyebrows before the both of you throw your shots back, only hissing as it burns your chests. He steps back, tongue darting out to wet his lips before he looks at you again,

"Where the fuck have you been all my life?" He asks. You giggle, taking an opened beer from Scarlett and raising it to your lips,

"California, little British boy." You reply back snarkily, raising your eyebrows as he does, letting him watch you take a swig from the bottle you hold. A beer is offered to Tom, but he shakes his head,

"Nah, I got a game Sunday morning. With my luck I'll still be hungover for it,  won't be able to focus." He explains, his attention shifting to the party in full swing out in the living room. You walk to lean back against the counter beside Ivey, the both of you leaning so she can be the only one to hear you whisper.

"Game? So he's the stereotypical douchebag frat boy that plays football or something?" You pose. She giggles, shaking her head,

"No, he's actually pretty cool, really. He and Haz play golf so they a game Sunday. I should force you to come so we can support them." She replies with a knowing smile. You hum, sipping more from your beer bottle as Phoebe and Scarlett talk Tom up, allowing you to get a better view of him without him knowing you're staring. You swallow, Ivey giggling again as she watches you watch him. You glance at her, searching her face,

"What?" You ask. She shakes her head,

"Nothin. Need a distraction from a cute little British boy?" She asks, raising an eyebrow. You nod quickly, Ivey moving from under Harrison's arm, tugging him after her and headed straight for Scarlett and Phoebe,

"Girl dilemma ladies, its dance time." She informs the two other girls, both of their eyes landing on you before they nod and the group is excused from Tom to the middle of the living room where you find your rhythm with your roommates and Harrison, you holding Scarlett's arms around you as the two of you start to dance together.

Unbeknownst to you, Tom never strayed far. After the group abandoned him, he wandered to lean against the kitchen's doorway, eyes glued to your figure, lost in the music and your roommates. You've forgotten about him temporarily, but his mind is still fixed on you. He can't believe that the one girl that he wants more than anything just based off the concoction of sheer beauty, intelligence, boldness and valor, has just almost brushed him off. Most girls throw themselves at him and he doesn't have to ask for it, but you're different. And that's what attracts Tom the most. You're independent, tenacious and confident. You know what you want and he knows that you're the type to get it, thanks to your dad's own stubbornness you seemed to have inherited. If you were any other girl, he could've had his quick fix and been onto the next, but the way you entice him without even meaning to is what draws him in and keeps him in your clutches.

"Its impolite to stare." Another frat brother, Jeremiah jokes, bumping Tom's shoulder and effectively breaking him from his thoughts. His eyes don't leave you, but he licks his lips, Jeremiah following his eyes to your figure. Jeremiah hums,

"Who's the new girl?"

"Her name's Y/N." Tom replies almost immediately. Jeremiah blinks in surprise at the suddenness, looking Tom over. His eyes sparkle in the rainbow strobe lights that light the living room up as he watches you dance with your roommates. Jeremiah chuckles, Tom finally looking at him,

"What?" He asks. Jeremiah shrugs,

"You're the type to seduce a girl, take her to bed for one night and never talk to her again and here you are starin at this one like a fuckin tiger watchin a gazelle. What's so special about her?" Jeremiah asks. Tom shrugs, crossing his arms,

"She didn't even... care about me. Did two shots together and she didn't even care about how I started to come onto her." He mutters. Jeremiah hums, sipping the concoction in his cup, eyes crinkling at the sting,

"So she's smart. She stays away from you, she doesn't have to deal with the shit." Tom clicks his tongue, frowning as he looks at Jeremiah again,

"I'm not that bad."

"You made Delilah Rhodes cry like a middle schooler two weeks ago because you didn't call her back and she'd given you everything, including her virginity. You told her that you'd always be there for her just to get into her pants and the second you did, you dropped her." Jeremiah recalls, eyes finding you the same Tom's do. You're prettier than some of the girls Tom chooses. But he knows Tom. The second he gets you into his bed, he'll get over you. But it's about getting you there that Tom's obsessed with. Seducing you, knowing he's good enough to get any girl he wants and if he can't have you, his ego is gonna suffer a severe beating. Tom nods after a moment,

"I know, I remember." He replies nonchalantly. Jeremiah scoffs,

"What makes her different than Delilah then? Why couldn'tyou have stayed with her?" He asks. Tom's eyes linger on you for a few moments more before he looks to Jeremiah, eyes sparkling in mischief as he clears his throat,

"She doesn't want me right now like all the other girls, including Delilah did. You get that girl a little tipsy and she's out." He informs. Jeremiah looks his friend over, watching his attention divert to you again before he looks that way, sighing to himself,

"Poor girl isn't gonna know what hit her when you're done." He mutters, finishing off the drink in his hand before turning to the array of bottles behind him to make a new one. Tom is still entranced by you, unable to pull his eyes from your figure in the almost half an hour. A number of his brothers approach him and leave him to his stalking, and eventually Ivey is the first to spot him staring, leaning back to whisper in Harrison's ear. Gis hands wandering her body as he looks at his best friend, giving you a quick look over before he gives a soft chuckle and let's her lean forward into you, Scarlett, and Phoebe,

"Don't all look at once but... there's a creep watching you, Y/N, at your three o'clock." She informs. Glancing to your right, you catch Tom's eye, watching him lick his lips and purse them before looking away, almost as if he's embarassed that he's been caught. Scarlett clears hair from your shoulder,

"So what's the plan here babes? Are you giving him a show or inviting him?" She asks in your ear. You're panting, breathless from dancing. You let Phoebe slip your jacket from your shoulders, letting it hang in your elbows, her eyes locked in yours. The corners of her lips quirk,

"Fuck him... let him gawk." She says. You nod, holding her hands and feeling Scarlett's hands wander your hips. Your heart beats a little faster and you can't tell if it's because of the fact you're being watched by someone like Tom or because of the way you've been dancing since you got out here. One thing is for certain, you need another drink. Pulling Phoebe's hands, you tell her, watching her nod and hold your hand, leading you in Tom's direction. If he'd claimed that his heart didn't skip a beat when you and Phoebe beelined for him, he'd definitely be lying and he was convinced it showed in his face. Phoebe raised an eyebrow as you passed him, Tom's body turning with you, watching you sort through the alcohol on the counter and pour a drink of your choice in your cup. She leans across the counter across from him, crossing her arms and looking him over as he watches you again.

"Its creepy to stare Tom. Especially if it's a girl that doesn't know how you operate. How do you know she wants to be stared at?"

"There's nothing wrong with looking at her." Tom defends himself, eyes cutting back to her and then to you again when you shift to see the both of them. You look between them before throwing back the alcohol in the bottom of your cup before filling it with more and walking forward,

“So what, I’m like another target for you? New concubine because I don’t know who you are?” You ask. His eyebrows knit together before he scoffs and pushes himself off of the cupboard behind him, turning to face you and Phoebe,

"Did I say that? Just cause I'm looking, doesn't mean I wanna fuck you."

"So if I asked you to take me upstairs to your room, you wouldn't and then tomorrow morning, after I leave, you wouldn't completely ditch me?" You ask, standing against the counter full of alcohol. He looks between you before shaking his head softly,

“What makes you think you're my type to take you upstairs in the first place?"

"Oh please, you'd fuck a hole in a wall Holland." Phoebe chastises. Tom scoffs again, crossing his arms defensively,

"You know what, fuck you both.” He bites back before pushing through the crowd and heading upstairs, disappearing down the hall. You and Phoebe look to each other, your roommate giggling softly before she shakes her head in unsaid words. You feel instant remorse, concluding something about a man you’d just met. You were just following the lead of your girls, but it wasn’t right to be teasing him so early on. Especially when you didn’t know what he actually thought of you. Phoebe waits until you set your cup down to reach out,

“Come on. Forget about it, he’ll get over it.” She says, seeming to read your mind. You’re weary, but you take her hand and follow her back out to the dance floor, finding Scarlett, Ivey, and Harrison immediately,

“What was said?” Ivey asks worriedly, gesturing up the stairs. Harrison is just as interested and as you look between them, Phoebe catches on and steps in front of them, dragging your hands up to her shoulders,

“Drop it. He’s a sensitive little pussy and just like everything else, he’ll get over it.” She replies, eyes locked in yours. You focus back on her and Scarlett as she holds your hips again. And for another hour, you’re lost in the fun of a frat party with your new friends. There’s a dozen songs and a dozen drinks that your small group goes through. Phoebe, presenting herself now as the Tom of your small group discovers a guy that seems to take a liking to her, ditching you and Scarlett, not far, for him. Ivey and Harrison whisper back and forth a few times before they sneak off and its the three of you, plus one, tiredness starting to sink in not long after. You, Scarlett, and Phoebe find solace on a couch, sweaty and panting, Phoebe’s dancing partner long gone. She sighs, checking her phone,

“Should go find Ivey and get out of here.” She says, looking to you and Scarlett. You nod, standing,

“I’ll do it. I have to pee anyways.” You mutter, finding your way to the staircase and to a bathroom. Afterwards, you look between the two closed doors that line the hallway. Choosing the closest to the stairs, it clicks open and you push through it just slightly to peek in. Tom sits at a desk, small side lamp on. He looks up at the disturbance, frowning as you stand there, mouth slightly ajar. He surprised that seeing your face doesn't bother him considering your last interaction. But considering the number of fights he and Phoebe have had and they're still friends, he's not too surprised.

“Oh… uhm… sorry, I was looking for Harrison and Ivey.” You start. He hums and nods in understanding. He gestures over his shoulder with his chin,

“Next door. But uhm… I don’t recommend barging in like that. His headboard’s bumped the wall a few times already and trust me... walking in on them is terrifying. It's not like in the movies. They don't hide it.” He informs. You giggle, nodding, hand tightening around the doorknob as you anticipate what to say next as he focuses back at the work before him for a moment. He glances back up when you don’t move from the room. Swiveling in his chair, he faces you with furrowed brows,

“Was there something else?” He asks. Not wanting to push your boundaries too far, you straighten your body out, closing the door a small bit behind you for more privacy from the drunks in the hallway,

“Yeah. Uhm… I wanted to apologize for earlier. I-I thought it’d just be a joke, what I said, but… it was insensitive. I don’t know you and I’m sorry for joking with you and making it so personal.” You smooth out. He leans forward slightly, clasping his hands together. He gives a gentle nod,

“‘S alright. I shouldn’t have been staring. I was bein a creep.”

“No… no, I don’t mind. It’s kind of endearing and I just… I slandered you. My brother would’ve smacked the shit out of me for that one. So… I’m sorry. Hopefully we can… start over and get off on the right foot.” You clarify. He smiles softly, standing and starting towards you as you lean against the wall at your back. He sighs, pausing a few steps away,

“I appreciate it and I accept your apology. I think you and I will be A okay love. Just gotta get a little more socializing behind us.” He says, somewhat quietly. You smile and nod, pivoting on your feet,

“I like the way that sounds. You seem really cool.” You say. You share a smile, standing staring at each other for a moment. He tucks his hands in his pockets, shoulders tensing as he looks at his feet,

"I do want to officially apologize to you and I want you to accept my apology. It was creepy of me to stare and I shouldn't have been. So I'm sorry for that. I promise not to be a creep in our future endeavors." He swears. You smile and nod, reaching up to tuck hair behind your ear,

"Of course I accept your apology. We're starting over." You reassure, letting silence permeate for a few moments after Tom chuckles and nods  before you sigh,

“Well… I’ll uhh… I’ll see you around then. I gotta… get Ivey.” You remind, watching him nod before you turn and open the door, closing it behind you and heading further down the hall. Knocking at the other closed door, you wait a few minutes until Harrison pulls it open, somewhat breathless and shirtless, skin flushed,

“Hey Y/N, what’s up?”

“Hey, uhm… I’m looking for Ivey. The other girls are ready to go home so… I just thought I’d come and see if she was uhh… ready or anything?” You explain, face reddening at how stupid the explaination sounds considering you know what your roommate and her boyfriend are up to and he knows you know. He smiles, glancing over his shoulder, behind the door,

“Uhm… yeah, I think I’ll bring her home later. We’re kinda busy at the moment.” He responds with a soft chuckle. You swallow and nod, cheeks burning in embarrassment,

"Right, yeah, sorry. Uhm... just... tell her I'll see her later and uhh... goodnight to you." You reply kindly, Harrison nodding and coolly reassuring you he will before he closes the door and leaves you to head back into the crowds downstairs, finding Phoebe and Scarlett, jackets back on and leaned against cabinets, waiting for you. When you approach, they both stand up straight,

"So what's up? Did you join them or something? You were gone a while." Phoebe chastises. You click your tongue, shooting her an unamused look as Scarlett giggles softly,

"No, I ran into Tom before I found them. He and I... cleared things up. We're starting over and giving a friendship another go." You say proudly, both girls nodding, impressed,

"Nice. He's a good friend to have but uhh... you better put your hormones back in their box. You end up as more than friends, he could break your heart." Scarlett warns. You nod, pivoting on your feet and soaking the information in. She sighs to break the silence between the three of you,

"Anyways, let's get home. We're takin you shopping tomorrow once Prince Charming drops Ivey off." She says, headed for the door with you and Phoebe in tow.

It was fun letting loose for the night before classes start. Your welcome party was successful and less drunk and destructive as the movies make it out. Though somewhat dramatic with Tom, you enjoyed meeting new people and establishing relationships you wouldn't have if you'd been a hermit. But Scarlett's words weigh on you somewhat. No matter what, you and Tom would have some sort of relationship. Whether you took the bait or not and spiraled into a love affair with the beautiful curly haired boy would change your life completely. It scared you, but the idea of getting in some trouble excites you and who knows, maybe you could establish a friends with benefits type of relationship with him for a little bit of fun without the stress of a strings attached relationship. To focus on school and all of the other life changing things that were being thrusted your way, maybe it would be nice to have someone to fool around with and rant to if need be. And why not make it the pretty little British boy that you know has his eyes on you? There wouldn't be any harm in that, right?

Permanent Taglist: @embrace-themagic @delicioustommy @spiderman-n @winters-beauty @smexylemony @lolabean1998 @musiclover1263 @xxtomxo @chillinjules @sincerelyfan @justkeepdreaminganddreaming @spnobsessedmemes @holland-aisesauce @7x-7x

Series Taglist: @maybemona @spideyyeet @princess-chocolate-drop

[glossiestrawberry]

rating loona’s recent album and its songs :)

this is not hate to loona at all! i love the girls with all of my heart, i am just saying my opinion on the album. also, when i say a song ‘reminds me of’ i’m not saying loona is copying AT ALL i mean that the vibe and aesthetic of the song that i’m feeling is similar to another song.

1. 12:00 (9/10)

Well seeing as it is basically just the teaser for ‘Why Not’, I’m just gonna give it a 9/10 because I liked it. I really liked the extra little voice clips in there (lol idk what it’s called)

2. Why Not? (9/10)

The pre-chorus was so great and it was an AWESOME build-up, I was just disappointed by the ‘beat-drop’. It was alright though, and I’m still pretty happy with the song. 

VIVI CENTRE! I was so over the moon to see ViVi getting some time in the centre! I legit squealed no cap. Bit confused by the aesthetic or vibe they were going for.

First set of teasers were very ‘More&More’ vibes for me, then second set gave me like Michael Jackson or ‘Black or White’ by Dreamcatcher vibes. Third set of teasers gave me ‘Obliviate’ by Lovelyz vibes, so I was kinda confused. The M/V and outfits they wore for the showcase kinda don’t match and the sound of the song and the M/V don’t completely match up either, but all in all, I give it a 9/10.

3. Voice (6/10)

Voice is an alright song, it’s just not my cup of tea. I probably won’t be adding it to my personal playlist, but it’s still okay. It isn’t a ‘loud’ song per se, it’s more on the calm side. It just got a tiny bit boring for me and the choreography in the showcase was a bit boring too. I really liked the intro of the choreo though! The last chorus and bridge was pretty lit for me though so the song isn’t all that bad. I’d give it a 6/10.

4. Fall Again (5/10)

Fall Again, in my opinion, is very boring. I personally just don’t like it all that much. It’s a very like coffee shop or jazz bar vibe to me and I usually don’t like very calm songs for some reason. The vocals are great, obviously, I just don’t like the song very much. It honestly at some points kinda sounds like the outro to a K-Drama or something lmao. The longer it went on, the more it grew on me, but I still just don’t like it all that much. It’s a 5/10 for me.

5. Universe (7/10)

The verses of Universe aren’t something I really like but the pre-chorus and chorus are something I can vibe to. Once again, probably not a song you’d find on my playlist but I wouldn’t be opposed to listening to it from time to time. It’s not bad at all, so I’m gonna give it a 7/10.

6. Hide & Seek (9/10)

I was so surprised by Hide & Seek when it began playing lol. I was not expecting such an upbeat and like videogame-ish / alien vibe song. Like it was so upbeat and I’m loving it so much. The beat drop isn’t even all that disappointing and I’m very pleased! I was not expecting this from LOONA at all so I’d give it a 9/10.

7. OOPS! (10/10)

WOAH OKAY! ONCE AGAIN ANOTHER SURPRISE BANGER! OOPS honestly matches the M/V’s aesthetic and vibe a lot more for me. This song will most definitely end up on my playlist! I love it so much, seriously. From hearing the first couple of songs, I was expecting the rest of the songs to be very chill, but clearly not! Obviously, when I listened to the preview, I was either very tired, not paying attention or just forgot how some of these songs sounded. OOPS was absolutely a 10/10 for me.

8. Star [English Version] (8/10)

I was confused listening to this because I was like ‘hey wait, wasn’t I listening to this a couple of minutes ago?’. Turns out, ‘Star’ is just the English version of ‘Voice’ lmao. If I’m being completely honest, listening to it another time has changed my opinion on the song, but I’m gonna keep my 6/10 on ‘Voice’ so you can see how my opinion has changed in a matter of minutes haha. Now, I’d give it an 8/10.

Final Thoughts (7.8/10)

After completely forgetting what the previews sounded like, I was definitely left surprised at the vibe of some of the songs in this album. Overall, I genuinely liked this album. It was unexpected and not a ‘loud’ ‘head-banging’ album which was nice for a change. 

Overall: 63/80

[littleperilstories]

The Prince of Thieves: Devil Take the Hindmost

Mood Boards | Chapter Titles | Also on A03! | Playlist | Story Intro

Warnings: Fantasy-esque prison setting, aftermath of beating/physical violence/whipping, memory of being threatened with a knife, restraints (shackles), abusive law enforcement, head injury

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Word count: 3473 || Approx reading time: 14 mins

Devil Take the Hindmost

Teaser: I force myself to concentrate on Bree’s voice, because if I don’t, I’m going to drown in the thoughts that are ripping through me, barbed and cutting. I gave in—but I lied—but Hatchett knew. Somehow, he already had Jamie’s name.

Will

As I drifted back into consciousness, I heard Bree Cooper tumble to the floor and burst into sobs, and selfishly, I wanted to keep my eyes closed. I didn’t want to see her pain—didn’t want to see her guilt. I tried so hard to hold onto my pain and my guilt instead—She helped him, she helped Hatchett but I still tried to save her and I gave in and now we’re all doomed—but I couldn’t.

With sleep fading fast, leaving me with the throbbing of fresh bruises and a sharp, twisting knife-pain in my chest, I opened my eyes anyway, and in the wake of Bree’s tears, my anger was washed away.

Now, as she gives her description of the world outside, it’s my eyes that are watering.

She tucks a lock of unruly, uncombed hair away from her face. Her precarious balance on the medic’s stool would be comical—ridiculous—in any other setting. Instead, it’s beautiful and tragic. Lonely and lovely and desperate. “More trees have lost their leaves.” She brushes her fingers against the glass. “Must be pretty cold.”

Soon, then, the snow will begin to fall. Snow turns a quick gait to a trudge, numbs nimble fingers to clumsiness, leaves tracks behind, makes it easier for constables to follow. Please, Jamie. Please be gone.

I force myself to concentrate on Bree’s voice, because if I don’t, I’m going to drown in the thoughts that are ripping through me, barbed and cutting. I gave in—but I lied—but Hatchett knew. Somehow, he already had Jamie’s name.

How?

If I don’t focus on Bree, I will only be able to see Hatchett rustling his papers and scribbling things down. See him waiting to catch me in my lies and to confirm what he somehow already fucking knew.

If I let myself slip into my thoughts, I might remember that Jamie was arrested once and for seven years, I never knew. He didn’t tell me. He kept it a secret. Since Ma was still alive. Did she know? Did he tell her but not me?

If I don’t keep looking at her, I might think of how I crumbled. How Hatchett knows my name and Jamie’s and Geoff’s, and if we’re not careful he might know Colette’s, too. And it’s my fault, because I gave in.

If I let myself sink into my thoughts, then I’ll have to face that if he knows all our names, it’s only a matter of time before he finds the house. And if Jamie is still there…

But looking at Bree displays her stripped-bare back because she’s still wearing a torn, bloodstained dress. Looking at her reveals skin that’s bruised and covered in welts. The blood’s been wiped from her face and arms, but her back is battered.

I have to close my eyes and listen to her words, because if I don’t, I’m going to shatter completely.

“If I knew any constellations…I’d tell you which ones are there. But I don’t.” Her voice is so quiet. So sad.

I fight to respond, to push against the onslaught of nightmarish memories. “Thought you were…some…some fancy, educated rich girl?”

“Fancy rich girls learn how to embroider and play piano, not make pictures in the sky.” I hear a soft wince. “Moon’s out. It’s…” The stool teeters, clattering a little against the floor as she shifts, and I open my eyes again, terrified she’s going to hurt herself even more. She’s craning her neck to see better, and my heart seizes in my chest. “It’s a full moon.”

“Don’t fall,” I say, watching the stool settle again. “If you fall and crack your head open, I’m… I’m stuck here. I can’t help you.”

Not in much of a state to help anyone.

I don’t bother to wipe my tears when she turns back toward me, her brown eyes lit up and yet somehow still full of sorrow. Her tangled hair has slipped from behind her ear again despite her attempt to tame it.

“I won’t.” I don’t know how she’s balancing up there. She must be in so much pain.  “I wish I could see more. Describe it all for you.” She pauses, her pale cheeks reddening. “It’s—it’s mostly—the grass and the wall and…”

In the silence that falls as her words trail off, I’m dragged back to that room, to the flashing knife and the belt and the moment I gave myself up after swearing I never would and Hatchett’s sneering voice and his taunting and—

Instead of running away.

Baden, please.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” A new question, one I only half-want the answer to, distracts me from the memories.

Guilt mars her features. “That I told him you had a brother?” Her voice shakes a little. “You were already so angry with me and I didn’t want—I needed you to let me—”

“No.” I twist a little, try to sit up, and choke at the pain that rolls through every limb. “Fuck. No. That it was Hatchett. Your—that you were—”

It’s so revolting, I can’t even say it.

The moments before she realizes what I mean pass slowly. “Oh. That.” With a cringe, she mumbles, “Would you want to admit it?”

“Is that why he didn’t hang you right away?” A puzzle that always needled at me, a question that never seemed to have an answer.

She swallows. “Maybe. Probably.”

Before I can ask anything else, the door swings open and Gysborne stalks in.

His eyes land on Bree, and to be fair, from his perspective, it can’t look good—she’s still perched on his stool, one hand clutching an iron bar to steady herself. Perfectly poised to try to escape, perhaps, or leap on him in an ambush.

“Get down from there.” This is new—they’ve given Gysborne a baton, now, too. My heart twists. What, exactly, are they so fucking afraid of? I’m useless and, if I’m being honest, between Bree and any of the constables—no matter how much I wish to give a different answer—I think I know who’d win in a fight.

“I was just looking out the window,” she says. The sharpness of her voice, the open dislike between the two of them, makes me wish I could remember any of their interactions from when I was ill. It was probably pretty fucking funny.

“I don’t like your tone, girl.” His eyes constrict to slits. “Get down.”

She glares down at him, eyes wide and red-rimmed but fiery, her chin jutted out. Could this really be the girl who was sobbing on the floor a few minutes ago? Gysborne stares back, one hand still fingering his baton.

She looks at me, sighs, and steps down. As she lands, her wince echoes through the room.

“On your cot. Now.” She obeys, and I can see the war between fear and fury waging inside her. “You two, always trying to piss everyone off. Don’t you want your last days to be free of strife?”

At this, Bree laughs, and though she says nothing, I know what’s going through her head. Free of strife? In this place? What world are you living in?

Gysborne’s face contorts. “And you particularly, girl. Don’t you know what awaits you in the morning?”

His question sucks the very air from the room.

No.

Not me—Hatchett will wait until he’s snared Jamie. But it seems that he’s finally decided that Bree has outlived her usefulness.

Gysborne brandishes a second pair of shackles. He’s going to chain her to the bed, too—lock her up just like me, showing himself to be the goddamn coward I already fucking knew he was.

Bree’s astonished expression twists.

I want to squeeze my eyes shut again—don’t want to see him snatch away her last moments of freedom before she goes to her death.

It happens so fast, I wonder if I imagined it.

As he reaches for her wrist, Bree dodges his grip. His baton is in her hands. She swings. He’s on the floor.

Bleeding.

Out cold.

“Have you lost your goddamn mind?” The manacle bites into my wrist as I shoot up fully, the sharp pain in my chest nothing compared to the fucking panic that’s spilling into me now. “What the fuck, Bree?”

“I…” She stares down at the bleeding medic, her hands shaking violently. Tears are slipping down her cheeks again, but she doesn’t seem to notice them. “He... He has keys. And it’s—it’s night. Most of the constables will be off-duty now. Maybe even h-him. Hatchett.”

“Do you fucking realize what you just did?” I’m dizzy now. “You think the best way out of getting hanged is murdering the medic?”

“Maybe he’s not dead.” She glances nervously at the nasty bump on his head, then at me, her eyes wide. “Will, we can get out of here.”

Not a bloody hint of a plea in her voice. Wise or not, she’s going to run.

“He’ll kill us if he catches us.” Never before have I been the voice of reason. Jamie was always the careful one, jerking me back from sheer edges and holding me back from fights and talking me out of impulsive schemes.

Until now.

Bree fumbles with Gysborne’s key ring, the tremor of her hands not deterring her for even an instant. “I’m unlocking you. Think you can stand?”

If I go with her, I will be nothing but a liability—an unnecessary risk. I can’t even fucking breathe without pain radiating through my chest.

Yet the shackle clicks and then hangs limp, my arm freed.

“Something’s broken somewhere,” I say. “I can’t move fast. I’m only going to slow you down.”

She shakes her head. “Don’t even start with that shit. You’re coming. We just better leave now.”

“Bree—”

She holds out her hand, waiting for me to take it. “I’m not leaving without you. We go together. End of story.”

There’s no way. There’s no way. “Last time I tried this, I…” My mouth has gone dry. “You saw what happened.”

Apparently tired of waiting, she twists her fingers through mine. “You were alone that time. Now you’ve got me.”

I know I should heed the voice in my head that says this is a terrible idea. Instead, I cling to her hand and slide my feet to the floor, closing my eyes as my body erupts in pain.

“It’s all right,” she says, gripping tight. “Come on. You can do it. We can do this.”

I bite my tongue until the worst of it—the shock of standing after everything that happened today—has passed. “Do you know your way out of here?”

She glances around. “I think so. I was here with you, remember? Helping him.” She nods toward Gysborne. “Well, doing everything he didn’t want to do, anyway. I know exactly where we are. Just need to get out from here.”

With a start, she pauses, then gently guides my hand back to the cot and lets go. “Wait for a second. Are you all right?”

Taking stock as best I can, I nod. Everything hurts, but I don’t collapse when I lift my hand and support myself. “As all right as I can be, I guess.”

“Good. Because we’ll have to run.”

I watch in horror as she wrestles Gysborne’s coat and shirt off his torso. “It’s going to be fucking cold out there,” she mumbles, grunting with the effort of flipping him over to pull off his clothes.

“Ugh.” I know it’s the least appropriate time to be making jokes, but this plan is so ridiculous and so utterly doomed to fail that I can’t help myself. “That is not what I needed to see right now. Gysborne’s pasty white chest. Disgusting.”

She giggles shrilly—anxiously. “No. Not the most pleasant sight.” She holds out the white shirt. “Put it on. You can’t go outside like that.”

It fucking hurts to lift my arms enough to shrug into his gross, sweaty shirt, but I force myself through the movements. If we’re really going to do this, if we’re about to run, I need to be able to handle a lot more than putting my arms through some baggy sleeves.

She wrinkles her nose as she pulls on his jacket. It falls to her knees, but it covers her bloody clothes—which Gysborne apparently deemed suitable for her to continue wearing—and most of the cuts on her skin, except for the ones on her face. “This is even more revolting than I thought it would be.”

I nod, my stomach churning. Not just from disgust.

She rolls back the sleeves as best she can, then reaches for my arm again. “Don’t be scared. Please. Don’t…” She gulps. “We can’t be scared.”

Too late, I think. But I say, “All right.”

“Are you ready?”

Of course I’m not. With no other choice, though, I gather what strength I can and squeeze her hand.

“Good,” she whispers. “Let’s go. Before we lose our nerve.”

For a moment, we are still. Clinging to one another and staring. Her breath comes in stutters, maybe leftover terror of what she’s just done and what we are about to do, but when I search her eyes for panic, I see something so much more dangerous.

Hope.

Are we closer than we were a minute ago? Can I better see the flutter of her eyelashes, glittering with tears, as she looks up at me, her cheeks pale, her lips parted to let every frightened breath pass, her hair brushing against her skin in perfect disarray—

The moment slips from my grasp, and Bree pulls away to lead me out of the infirmary, and hopefully spring the both of us from this hell.

Some sort of fucking miracle guides us outside without any constables on our heels, but I know that’s as like as not to be false hope.

But maybe Bree is right. Maybe this will be our only chance to make a break for it. Hatchett isn’t going to let me go free. And if it really is the gallows waiting for her in the morning…

“Are you doing all right?” We’ve managed to make it into a courtyard area, still well within the prison walls. She’s whispering, her gaze flitting wildly around us, and I’m looking around too, trying to spot any shifting light or fast-moving bodies.

“Not at all.” There’s a knife deep in my chest, another in my side. Actually, there are quite a fucking few of them from the feel of it.

She squeezes my hand and murmurs, “You’re doing well.” Her head whips around again. “How much time do you think we have?”

The image of Bree cracking Gysborne over the head comes to mind. “Not sure.” When he wakes up—if he wakes up—he’ll sound the alarm, or if he doesn’t, someone will find him eventually. If Hatchett isn’t on duty overnight… Well, it won’t be long until they summon him. “Let’s move fast.”

That’s rich, coming from you, is what she should say. Instead, she just scans the walls and says, “There must be an opening somewhere.”

“It’ll be guarded.” I shake my head, which is stupid, because now it hurts even more. “Even at night.”

“Can you climb it?”

“Cl—The wall? Are you serious?” She wouldn’t be asking if she knew what my chest felt like right about now. And even if she doesn’t fucking say it, I doubt she can scale any walls right now, either. “No.”

She shrugs. “Then we need to find the gate or some other way out.”

It’s a relief to have settled, but that doesn’t solve the problem of how we’re going to get out, and it’s so damn hard to see in the dark. “Do you think medics get gate keys?”

Bree peers down at the key ring she shoved into Gysborne’s pocket. “Maybe?”

A shrill whistle rings out across the prison grounds.

My suggestion that we follow the wall until we come to a door or gate dies in my throat. “Shit.”

“Time to move.” Bree takes off again, dragging me along with her. Someone’s figured out we’re gone. Gritting my teeth against the pain, I tug my hand from hers to help my balance. Something hot is trickling down face. For fuck’s sake, what’s bleeding now?

“Will, hold my hand. Please.”

“I can run better like this,” I tell her. “I’m here. I’m right here.”

Bree saw hope and fucking grabbed it. She heard Gysborne tell her she was going to her death, and she hurled herself toward her chance at life. Bree Cooper is still clinging to that hope, and it is beautiful.

A crack cuts through the air, and we both cry out. New terror coils around me, accompanied by the smell of sulphur.

They’re firing at us.

“I’m right behind you,” I say. It’s more of a gasp, because my chest still fucking hurts, and it’s only getting worse. Why did I think I could do this? Tears are streaming down my face, from pain, but also from what I know awaits me the moment I stop moving. “I’m right here. Don’t turn back. Keep running.”

Up ahead and behind us, shouts are growing louder. Messy, quivering torchlight spills across the grounds.

“I’m right behind you. I’m—I’m h—”

The gate is up ahead, and yes, constables are tearing across the grounds in every direction. Our only saving grace right now is that they don’t know exactly where we are in the dark. They’re firing, but firing blind.

Don’t turn back. Keep running.

“I’m here.” Can she still hear me over the noise?

Faltering strides slow and stumble. I want to fight. I want to run. I want to be there to live and hope and breathe and love. I don’t want to die.

But.

My knees buckle and hit the ground, a single truth drilling into my mind: It was always going to end this way.

“I’m here.” The words are choking and pained, but I raise my voice till I’m shouting. “I’m here.”

If they’re busy with me, maybe she has a chance to get away.

I wish I could pull Bree Cooper back for just an instant, a single breath, and whisper in her ear. Don’t come back. Keep running. Keep living. And if you find Jamie, tell him to get the hell away from here.

Dust and gravel and chunks of grass kick up around me, stinging my eyes. Maybe I’m in for the beating of my life. Maybe this one will actually kill me. I don’t know. I don’t care. It doesn’t matter anymore.

Run, Bree. Don’t you dare fucking turn back.

I raise my hands into the air; maybe, I think, it’ll prevent the worst of it, though that’s perhaps wishful thinking. As the shadow of Bree Cooper slips away into the darkness and vanishes, I close my eyes, unable to face the judgment of the constables that surround me. And if they catch her, too, I don’t want to see.

“Where the fuck did she go?”

Hours after the interrogation, I am faced with a new question I will not answer. Can’t answer. I don’t have the energy to even look up to meet the gaze of a dishevelled—and enraged—Baden Hatchett. His clothes are thrown haphazardly across his body, half-buttoned and wrinkled. His gaze is poisonous.

“Did you fucking hear me?”

My eyes stays on the ground, unfocused and blank as I can make them, until he yanks my head back. Above us all, the stars are gleaming in a blackening sky.

“I’m so fucking sick of this,” Hatchett snarls. “Aren’t you done with it all? Aren’t you tired of suffering through your pathetic life? Tell me where she went.”

I am done. Exhausted. Spent. Is he going to kill me, at long last? Then we can finally be done with each other.

The stars are beautiful. God, I’m glad I got to see them again. Not a bad last thing to see. Not exactly what I would have picked—there are some faces I’d rather be looking at. But these shimmering stars are sure something to behold. Something to be grateful for.

I let him haul me to my feet and shove me toward the other constables, unable to hold back a shout of pain at the impact of my body against theirs. They grip my arms as if there’s any chance I have the strength or the will to run again. “I’ll find her, you know.” He lands a single punch to my stomach, and I can’t even fall. “And your brother. All of them. And I’ll make sure they all suffer. Every last one.”

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Tagging: @starlit-hopes-and-dreams, @gala1981, @kixngiggles .

[Banner ID: A narrow horizontal, rectangular banner featuring a barred archway. The bars and the stone walls evoke the feeling of a dungeon or prison. There are burning candles on either side of the archway. The title of the story, The Prince of Thieves, appears in white text in the centre of the image. The author's username, abbreviated to LPS from littleperilstories, appears in the bottom right corner in partially transparent text. End ID.]

[peterstanslizzie]

Lizzie Mcguire (2020): My Thoughts On The New Photos

25 OCT 2019: The Lizzie Mcguire fandom has had a field day today. After the release of the B+W Mcguire family dinner photo by Terri Minsky on Instagram a couple of days ago, we are treated once again with a number of photos released by the cast members themselves on their social media handles.

Photo #1: Jake Thomas as Matt Mcguire in the re-creation of the original show’s intro

- Jake confirmed on his Instagram that this photo is ‘official’. By official, I think he means that this shot was taken from the actual opening credits of the new series. 

- His long-sleeved shirt looks almost identical to the one he originally wore when he was 10. There are a couple of differences. One, the tiger print on his shirt looks more orangey-gold as well as the rings that go around both his upper arms. Plus, his shirt is a zip-shirt that seems to layer over a plain, white one. 

- It seems like the producers are trying to re-create the original opening credits or at least modernise it? In the original opening, Matt was busy chasing the red ball away from Lizzie and her friends or trying to steal it from them. In this photo, he is getting hit in the head by the red ball. I wonder what will the rest of them be doing?

Photo #2: The Mcguire Family Photo (in colour)

- This photo shows Hallie Todd (Jo), Jake Thomas (Matt), Hilary Duff (Lizzie) and Robert Carradine (Sam) all standing in the middle of the Mcguires’ living room, that is currently under construction. Given that the end of October marks the start of production of the new show, all the main sets are currently being built at the moment. 

- In the original series, the main sets were the Mcguires’ family home, Hillridge Junior High, Hillridge Elementary and the Digital Bean. I’m curious to find out what the main locations will be for this new series.

- I also wonder if this house of theirs is the same home as the one in the original series or maybe it could be a different home that the Mcguire family had moved into? Whatever it is, the house is gonna look incredible. 

- Also, notice how Hilary is holding a blue document in her left hand? I believe that’s the script for the first episode, episode #101. And if we zoom in, we are able to see that the name of the first episode is: ‘13 Going On 30′. There is no other title perfect for this episode since we already know that Lizzie is celebrating her 30th birthday in the first episode. It’s also an homage paid to the movie of the same title, which starred Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo. 

- I’ve gotten a few comments on my Instagram about Robert Carradine’s hair and they were asking whether or not he is going to cut his hair short. Personally, I don’t have an opinion on how his hair should look. As long as he is in this show, I’m all good. And we also need to remember that Robert is now in his 60s. So, any mean comments about his looks should just go away. 

Photo #3: Hallie’s Todd Ren-Mar Studios ID Pass

- I did some research on Ren-Mar Studios online and it’s actually the same studio in Hollywood where the original Lizzie Mcguire series was filmed and produced. So, the new 2020 show is in good hands in terms of set design and overall production. 

- In comparison, Raven’s Home is produced by ‘It’s a Laugh’ productions and That’s So Raven was produced by ‘Brookwell McNamara Entertainment’, which also produced Hilary’s 2004 movie, Raise Your Voice. I made this comparison because I feel like there is a difference in production quality between That’s So Raven and Raven’s Home. But that could be due to budget allocation and things like that. Anyways, I am really happy the producers of Lizzie Mcguire decided to use the same studio again. 

- Other shows that were filmed here include Ally McBeal, Seinfeld and The Golden Girls. Hilary Duff also had some of her music videos filmed in this particular studio as well!

Photo #4: Last but not least, Lalaine’s teaser of Adam Lamberg

- Lalaine seems to be one of the ones who likes to give us fans discrete clues. First of all, after the announcement of the new revival series in Disney Expo 2019 back in August, she edited her Instagram profile description and changed it to ‘Re-boot(s)’, which indicates that she’s coming back to reprise her role as Miranda Sanchez.

- And now, she posted this screenshot of her phone, which shows a message that was sent to her by Adam Lamberg (Gordo). If this doesn’t tell us that Gordo isn’t coming back, I don’t know what will. I don’t think Lalaine would tease us like that for no reason. 

- I really think that they are saving a photo of Adam Lamberg till later on. I predict that a group photo of Hilary, Adam and Lalaine will surface sooner or later. We gotta keep our eyes peeled for that.

Closing Thoughts

- Basically, production has started and sets are being built for the new 2020 series. Once that is all completed, filming will start henceforth. We still haven’t gotten any sort of official statement from Disney or Disney Plus about the confirmed cast. But, getting info/updates from the cast and writers themselves on social media is good enough for me. That’s the power of being connected through social media. 

- But we can pretty much guarantee that Lizzie’s brother and parents are returning. Miranda and Ethan are both hinted to be coming back as both their actors are currently being followed by Hilary Duff and the writers on Instagram. Of course, with Adam, it’s tricky because he doesn’t have Instagram but judging from the screenshot posted by Lalaine, I am 90% sure he is returning.

- That leaves us with Kate, Larry, Melina and Lanny. I have a feeling they might not be coming back, at least maybe for the first season. But there is always the possibility that they can work out some deal with Disney in the future, where they will get to guest star in later seasons. 

- That’s my take on all of this. Thank you for reading this long post and have a great day ahead!

[comicteaparty]

July 20th-July 26th, 2020 CTP Archive

The archive for the Comic Tea Party week long chat that occurred from July 20th, 2020 to July 26th, 2020.  The chat focused on Ring Spell by Artem Ficta.

Featured Comment:

Chat:

Comic Tea Party

BOOK CLUB START!

Hello and welcome everyone to Comic Tea Party’s Book Club~! This week we’ll be focusing on Ring Spell by Artem Ficta~! (http://ring-spell.com/)

You are free to read and comment about the comic all week at your own pace until July 26th, so stop on by whenever it suits your schedule! Discussions are freeform, but we do offer discussion prompts in the pins for those who’d like to have them. Additionally, remember that while constructive criticism is allowed, our focus is to have fun and appreciate the comic! Whether you finish the comic or can only read a few pages, everyone is welcome to join and chat with us!

DISCUSSION PROMPTS – PART 1

1. What did you like about the beginning of the comic?

2. What has been your favorite moment in the comic (so far)?

3. Who is your favorite character?

4. Which characters do like seeing interact the most?

5. What is something you like about the art? If you have a favorite illustration, please share it!

6. What is a theme you like that the comic explores?

7. What do you like about the comic’s story or overall related content?

8. Overall, what do you think the comic’s strengths are?

Don’t feel inspired by the prompts? Feel free to discuss anything else that interested you!

Feather J. Fern

1. What did you like about the beginning of the comic? I like how it seems lighthearted at first, but knowing Artem it's going to drop the ball on us really soon haha.(edited)

Also I always love how the backgrounds are, they look great.

Artem Ficta (Ring Spell)

Hahah, it's a shame I didn't get one more update up XD Thank you so much, Feather~!

snuffysam (Super Galaxy Knights)

well, the CTP is gonna run for the rest of the week...

Artem Ficta (Ring Spell)

I can't finish the next 8 pages by then XD

My guess is they'll be up the week after next

RebelVampire

For the beginning, I'm with Feather and I like how quickly the comic transitions from just lalala happy school to oh wait there's weird shit going on. I really like stories where the status quo is quickly ripped out from under your feet. My favorite moment in the comic so far is probably the most recent scene when we get to see Lyall's apartment and ya know, Claire starts dropping all these bombshells on us. The scene is the epitome of "Well that escalated quickly" and its just loaded with so much info to unpack. My favorite character right now is Claire. One because she seems the most sensible and mysterious, and two because I love Claire's hair so much and I'm so jealous and want such floof beautiful hair. ;3; As for characters I like see interacting the most, probably Claire and Lyall and they have some really good banter and a relationship, insofar, that's just kind of hilarious in its brutal honesty. A close second for me is Claire and Tasha as it quickly switches from happy smiles to probably most likely to have a catfight in the hallway.

Artem Ficta (Ring Spell)

Catfight in the hallway, lolol. Makes me want to draw them dressed like cat girls XD

RebelVampire

No not that sort of catfight

probably

O_O

Artem Ficta (Ring Spell)

comic turns into a catgirl fetish comic

Artem Ficta (Ring Spell)

1. I like how the first word is Zenchav which was the title of the comic this is a hard reboot of XD 2. My favorite moment was Lyall sticking his hands up Damon's shirt XD I really like how it was drawn and it's the most Lyall thing ever to do. 3. My favorite character overall is Damon, although it's probably Lyall at this point in the story. But I like them all of course XD 4. Damon and anybody, lol. I like when I get to draw him XD 5. I've been trying out a new shading style with this since I almost exclusively just hard shaded before, so it's nice to be branching out a bit and trying some new things. The Intro page is probably my favorite atm.

snuffysam (Super Galaxy Knights)

Theory: Lyall sticking his cold hands up Damon's shirt is how he drains Damon's energy, because secretly he's the witch.

mariah (rainy day dreams)

Oh no! XD that would be a twist!

Artem Ficta (Ring Spell)

Oh snap!

mathtans

Hmmm, so we ship Claire and Tasha then?

Artem Ficta (Ring Spell)

I don't not ship Tasha and Claire >v>

Artem Ficta (Ring Spell)

Drew that picture of them

RebelVampire

We should indeed all suspect Lyall. I mean no parents, lives alone, yet somehow affords everything? That's witchery.

Artem Ficta (Ring Spell)

How does he afford all that stuff

does he sell drugs on the side or something XD it is suspicious

mathtans

1. I'll mostly echo everyone else here in terms of the start seems pretty straightforward and makes one wonder how the teaser page fits into it all. I'll add a remark on the subtle details of world building, like you've got your digital alarm... and dude straight up has a TAIL, and it's like, no comment, that's normal too.

2. Favourite moment was probably recruiting Claire into the cosplay skit. It's like, hello new person, oh you want to associate with us? Then you need the proper accessories, and Claire's all 'Um, I'm not sure... prop weapons? Uh, okay then...' Cosplay is a force to be reckoned with. (nods)

3. Fave character... yeah, may have to echo Rebel here and go with Claire. Possibly because she's the first chapter name, and like the reader is coming into this new situation, so can get behind her trying to figure it out... but also because I'm big on the time/space bureau stuff and that sounds like a cool job to get.

Damon has a cool cane and has the mysterious ailment afflicting his cosplay though, so he's my fave guy at the moment. (Werewolf blood? Moon thing? Dunno.)

4. I honestly do like the Tasha/Claire interactions the most, because each of them seems to have something to hide, and so you're kind of wondering if and when one of them might slip up. The other girl interrupting with the paint was classic, and I felt it helped break tension. The ship picture (which I imagine won't show in the log) is kind of representative of that with the chessboard too, like they're making moves against the other (though I'm not yet convinced that one is a witch, could be a setup).

Of course, I'm very biased towards the yuri, so grain of salt for my opinions and all. And while the ship was a humour comment at first, I think I'm more into it after seeing a "catfight" could play out.

All that said, the Lyall/Damon interactions are equally good. Lyall's perversion sometimes saying the quiet part out loud.

5. I recognize the art style, have read some of the work before (under different name). Always find the hair impressive, like here you get the impression of each individual strand except that's not actually what's drawn... you can still see the neat ears, Claire having some strands that fall in front of her too. The shading is really good too, like definitely shades of grey, not just black and white.

Kind of echoing the author there, but I can see it.

I'm so bad with themes and need to charge computer, will be back later. o.o

Artem Ficta (Ring Spell)

I love all this input Math, thank you ;3;/

RebelVampire

@mathtans You have no idea how happy I am that someone noticed the tail that nobody seemed to comment on.

RebelVampire

What I like about the art is how clean and crisp everything is cause mmmm that sexy lineart you can just paint bucket when needed. <3 I like that the comic explores the idea of having someone you've known your entire life possibly be evil. Cause it opens up a lot of questions. Like should you doubt? Should you trust? And at which point have you hit the point of betrayal? So I'm glad we'll get to see a bit of this tackled as Lyall and Claire look for evidence. As for the overall story, I like that there's just lots of questions going on. It's a theorists dream. But I find the more mysteries a comic has, the more engaging it is. Because even when you know the answer, it's interesting everytime to see the characters reach that answer. As for the comic's strengths, see the above and the art. It's super pretty and clean to look at, has some fantastic emotive faces during the more comedic moments, and there's just lots to theorize and look forward too. ;3;

Now I will proceed to weep as someone who beta read the script and actually can't theorize cause I just know .

mathtans

Others may have noticed but not been sure what to say? (Does the tail turn into the cane?)

6. Ok, themes... could be a theme of belonging in there. Like Claire being accepted into the group, like Lyall wondering if she's only talking to him to get to Damon, that sort of thing? Then there's the idea Rebel raised of thinking you know someone but not necessarily knowing them.

Of course, there's also credibility, like maybe Claire is simply an escaped mental patient with really good hacking skills to get herself in the school and apartment. Because that's quite the tale she spins. (Though Lyall had heard of the organization? Or he's pranking her, bit hard to know for sure.)

7/8. The story's been setting up a number of things in the background, I feel. Which can be a strength, as we're learning more character items first. Though Claire's latest revelation I'm really jazzed about, because the idea of time travel (times when demons weren't supposed to be) and personification (Earth as a female entity) are right up my alley. So that's cool.

Also Lyall apparently has a strange aura to go with Tasha's strange energy? Maybe the witch is jumping bodies. Maybe we should ship Lyall/Tasha.

Artem Ficta (Ring Spell)

Oh my gosh, loving these ideas!

I don't want to give spoilers but I think I'll answer the tail thing cause I never really meant for it to be a mystery It's just tucked into his pants when he's in public is all. That's why he's wearing the track suit for the school and not the standard school uniform, cause the pants are looser.

although it turning into the cane could have been hella cool(edited)

now I'm a little bummed I never thought of that

But the cane has other purposes

mathtans

I didn't really think it was a big mystery, and that explanation makes sense. (So I suppose it could be not normal, only normal for Damon's friends... demon prejudice otherwise?) Ok, so the cane is where he hides his stimulants to keep awake until the full moon.

Comic Tea Party

DISCUSSION PROMPTS – PART 2

9. What are your theories about Damon’s past? Why is he concerned about when the full moon is? Additionally, what do you think was meant about Damon and Xerfonos being the same age but not being twins?

10. Do you think Claire is right that Tasha is the witch Cadence? If so, how will she prove it? If not, who else could it be? Also, what might this all have to do with Tasha’s concern about Claire being the mysterious Draco’s student?

11. What do you think Cadence ultimately wants from Damon? Why would this compel the Earth, and by extension Apus, to protect him? Also, even if the characters find Cadence, can she actually be stopped?

12. Why do you think Lyall reacted so strangely to Claire mentioning Apus, and why do you think he’s so sure Apus wouldn’t care about protecting Damon? Do you think Lyall can trust Claire even for the long term?

Don’t feel inspired by the prompts? Feel free to discuss anything else that interested you!

mathtans

9. I mean, Damon seems to be a demon, but he's cool with being in our world, so... maybe he was born of a human/demon pairing? Or he was adopted by humans when he was a baby and simply given the same birthday as Xerfonos. I'm guessing the full moon has more significance than merely to werewolves (unless Damon needs to bite a werewolf to regain strength idk) and so it would help him.

I will say that initially the "same age" thing didn't phase me because there's more than 9 months in a year, plenty of time for having a second kid born in the same year. But now that I'm debating the adoption angle, maybe there's more to it.

They're not twins... they're TRIPLETS! Dun dun dun. Anyway.

snuffysam (Super Galaxy Knights)

they could also just not be twins due to a date technicality like one was born right before midnight and one was born right after

but yeah the adoption angle would explain a lot

mathtans

10. I don't think she's right about Tasha, or if she's right, not in the way she thinks. Because we've seen some from Tasha's perspective and she didn't seem to be the person in charge of whatever. In terms of proof, I guess she could see if Tasha would cosplay as a witch? And if the shoe fits? But yeah, maybe the witch is jumping between people like I mentioned earlier, or is not actually there yet, like APUS got the date wrong or something. Maybe Tasha's also trying to protect Damon from the witch (hence trying to give him that new name) but it's a rival organization?

I mean, technically still twins in that case, just not having the same birthday. (If Feb 29th enters into it, it gets even weirder.)

Actually, why wouldn't Claire use Damon's given name? Maybe her organization doesn't know everything it thinks it does?

Anyway, just had time for some random thoughts. Back later tonight.

mathtans

11. Cadence may just want him to keep living so that she can keep siphoning off energy. (Thus perhaps APUS wants him dead, it's not about protection?!) Or maybe Cadence wants a sweet cosplay. (Probably not.) Of course, it might be that if she's a free floating witch, she wants his body. Maybe she can't be stopped, but could be redirected?

The Earth aspect is one I haven't really been able to figure out yet. (Are pavonis a type of pasta?) But maybe there's a destiny or something that Damon needs to fulfil first.

12. Lyall could have been pranking, but maybe he knows a different organization like that... or maybe that's the name of some mystery file on his computer that he hasn't been able to open because the Cadence inside him hasn't revealed the password, oooh. I think Lyall can trust Claire (assuming she's not a raving lunatic) and she might even need him to provide better cover (she didn't seem to even know what apartment she was in)... but that's short term. Long term is another question, if she starts getting Apus directives saying to do things he wouldn't agree with.

Artem Ficta (Ring Spell)

This is all so interesting ;3;

Pavonis as a type of pasta, lolol

mathtans

I'm glad it's more interesting than rambly.

Artem Ficta (Ring Spell)

Nah, I love it XD I'm afraid I'd give spoilers if I said anymore lmao

RebelVampire

My theories about Damon's past are that he's a werewolf. And that something about being a werewolf has changed how he ages compared to Xerfonos - thus why they're the same age but not twins. Granted I guess they could also just be half brothers who have a shared father who said, "Man I should knock two girls up at once." But werewolf sounds more interesting. No I think we've established Lyall is clearly the witch. He is too suspicious. Tasha probably is a super secret agent or something, hence the suspicion. Maybe Apus is into some shady shit that Tasha knows about, especially Draco, so she doesn't want them jumping in on everything. As for how proof, she won't. Cadence will reveal she's Lyall when the most damage can be caused and Claire will weep her career as a detective is through. Cadence might just think Damon is hot. Although I think Damon has a grand destiny ahead of him, and Cadence wants to interfere with that destiny while also bulking up on some of that tasty werewolf energy. Also, can Cadence be stopped? Probably. But definitely not by these chumps right now. XD Lyall reacted strangely cause that was the Cadence in him going oh shit and kind of taking over. And sure, Lyall can trust Claire to never figure out its him. Sorry Claire, you hot, but clearly aren't noticing some stuff.

mathtans

I hadn't considered the "same father different mothers" angle. O.o Maybe it was a sperm donation sort of thing though?

As to Claire, maybe Tasha will be nice enough to buy Claire ice cream and give her snuggles once she realizes the error of her ways.

Artem Ficta (Ring Spell)

Tasha and Claire will get to snuggling at some point I'm sure XD

The same father with different mothers sounds most probable

of what's been mentioned at least

mathtans

I mean, time travel could also be involved. What with Apus.

Maybe Claire is Damon's daughter and she's trying to protect her own existence.

Artem Ficta (Ring Spell)

Maybe Claire is Xerfonos' mother

Wait, I don't think that'd work out lmao

Daughter would be way more probable

Comic Tea Party

DISCUSSION PROMPTS – PART 3

13. What are you most looking forward to seeing in regards to the comic?

14. Any final words of encouragement for the comic?

Don’t feel inspired by the prompts? Feel free to discuss anything else that interested you!

Artem Ficta (Ring Spell)

I look forward to getting a bit further into the story XD it's still pretty early on atm and there's a lot of really good scenes later. I don't feel like we've really gotten to know Damon yet either

RebelVampire

I am looking forward to seeing people's theories as the story continues and pieces fall into place. It will be interesting to see the routes people take with the ideas of what the answers are going to be. My final words are just read the comic. O_O

mariah (rainy day dreams)

I didn't end up having any brain power to write responses over the week, but I really enjoyed Ring Spell. Damon and his brother are cuties, Claire seems very capable, and I can't wait to find out what Tasha's motives are. I'm real excited to see how the themes of magical marital vows come to the forefront :3

Artem Ficta (Ring Spell)

Thank you~!

mathtans

Busy weekend was busy. Looking forward to seeing how the Apus thing fits in, like is Claire even from their time period? Will Lyall spill all the secrets? Will the ships happen? I'm so behind in all my reading but I've flagged it to check back when I can.

There was also the bit at the start implying knowing people from other lives, but the time travel possibilities make that weird. And I guess there's also the question of whether a Ring will have a Spell on it. Like, maybe the witch doesn't know she's the witch while she's wearing a ring? Or they have to get her to wear a ring? Here I am guessing again. ^^

14. To conclude, all the best with it, looks like a good setup. I do enjoy the art style too.

Also I guess congrats on being the finale CTP? Nice that you got it in there. Good initiative.

Artem Ficta (Ring Spell)

Thank you so much Math~!

Comic Tea Party

BOOK CLUB END!

Thank you everyone so much for reading and chatting about Ring Spell this week! Please also give a special thank you to Artem Ficta for volunteering the comic and creating it! If you liked Ring Spell, make sure to continue to support it via some of the links below!

Read and Comment: http://ring-spell.com/

Artem Ficta’s Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/artemficta

Artem Ficta’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/ArtemFicta

[aliciagodseyomaha]

After years of dating, you have finally decided to propose to that special lady. Time to settle down and live a long happy life with the woman you love, but first comes the notorious Las Vegas bachelor party to be enjoyed along with your best boys. Ah yes, the time-honored tradition of going out for that one last night of debauchery with the boys before committing to a life of loving only one woman. Now you just have to decide where to spend your time and hard-earned money. Sure, you could go to the local bar or Strip Club and drink at the same booth while staring at the same girls you've watched on countless weekends but why settle for the mundane when you could be celebrating in Las Vegas!? Bachelor party capital of the world! Home to numerous gentleman's clubs, nightlife venues, and exciting activities to keep you busy during the daylight hours. Most men make the mistake of coming to Vegas and only sampling what the city has to offer when the sun goes down. Little do they know Las Vegas provides a myriad of things to do during the day from shooting zombie targets with automatic weapons at the indoor gun range to flying through the desert on your own personal ATV. Most Parties tend to focus their energies on the Nightlife Las Vegas has to offer. Why Not? The town is saturated with nightclubs over 60 of them in all major hotels and more strip clubs than you can count. So what makes for the best Las Vegas Bachelor Party Ideas? Below is a brief list of top services and ideas you should look to hire in Las Vegas.

TOP Las Vegas BACHELOR PARTY Ideas By Alicia Godsey Omaha

1. Nightclubs - best venues for bachelor parties include XS, Marquee, Tryst & 1oak.

2. Strip Clubs - Sapphires and Treasures round out the top 2 with spearmint rhino the preferred venue for small parties

3. Restaurants - Piero's and Del Frisco's best off-strip restaurants Italian and American steakhouse, respectively.

4. Adventures - Dune buggy and Gun Range always great for beating a hangover

5. Transportation - Stretch Vehicles including Big BLUE or Brinks Bank Truck!

6. Pool Party - Great during the Spring and Summer months best pool include Encore Beach Club, Wet Republic, and Rehab.

Las Vegas is also home to a long list of exciting and unique places to eat like the German/Beerfest themed Hofbrauhaus or Dick's Last Resort for the younger, more daring crowd. When planning for your Las Vegas bachelor party it's best to not just go out for one evening, but to make a whole weekend out of this! You only get married once (hopefully) so be sure that your bachelor party is one to be remembered for years to come. A weekend to look back on when you are older so you can think to yourself ""Man, that was one wild party.""

A bachelor package is the best way to enjoy a full weekend of activities at the best prices. The most popular Las Vegas bachelor packages include providing you with VIP Services at a Nightclub for 2 nights in addition to receiving unlimited Strip Club access with transportation plus dinner! Not a bad idea for a weekend. Here are a few popular Bachelor package ideas in Las Vegas:

The Clubber: Includes a party bus, all you can drink on the bus and VIP Hosted Entry into any 3 Las Vegas Nightclubs (e.g. Tryst, Tao, Pure, XS, Marquee, Surrender). Hint: Drink as much as possible on the bus to save money on purchasing drinks inside!

The Teaser: Free Transportation to as many Las Vegas Strip Clubs you can handle (Treasures, Sapphires & Olympic Gardens. Hint: Limos like to provide a free service to you as they sometimes make commissions on what you spend inside!

Dine & Dash: Stuff your gullet full of All You Can Drink and Eat food and Beer (Hofbrahous, Gordon Biersch) then get chauffeured around Las Vegas in a stretched Party Bus!

When booking a bachelor package in Las Vegas you certainly shouldn't come expecting to wake up and find a tiger sleeping in the bathroom of your hotel suite but I can assure you that throwing your bachelor party in Las Vegas will guarantee that you and your guests will have an experience unlike any other. Below are a few tips on how to coordinate a party for a large group. It's always best to speak with a Party Planner or VIP Service as they can give you great ideas to start out with and possibly work with you to help structure the weekend's events!

1. Email - Communication is important and email is the best way to asynchronously keep all the guys in the know.

2. Intro -Introduce yourself as the party planner, why you have been selected and how you will be informing everyone of updates for the coming months.

3. Budget - Attendees spending limits should be the first thing you ask for you cannot plan a Party without knowing how much each guy is willing to spend,

4. Date - Get feedback on which dates most guys are available to attend.

5. Hotel - A hotel is a key ingredient to a good time in Vegas. Spend a little more to be closer to the action.This will save you money on transportation costs and you may even get free comps to the nightlife inside the hotel.

6. Agenda - Do NOT attempt to plan the entire weekend. The ladies will be getting wild and may not show to every event. Keep a designated Day/Night as a Mandatory guys meeting and other times can be left to leisure.

7. Payment - Collect ALL payment upfront do not leave this to chance as you will eventually be left holding the bill. Have everybody Paypal you at least half of the contribution in advance so you can guarantee services or possibly hire a Las Vegas Bachelor party planner to assist with things.

8. Logistics - Make sure every guy has a clear understanding of meeting times, places and obligations. You do not want excuses for guys missing special events.

9. Have Fun!

Now that you are equipped to plan and execute a flawless bachelor party in Las Vegas, starting as early as possible is the key to success. Use this posting as a guide to assist you in coordinating the big event with the boys. If you should start to fall behind always look for some assistance with a local Las Vegas party planner or VIP service as they have special advisors and staff who are available at all hours to assist.

Written By Alicia Godsey Omaha

I am a director at a family-owned daycare. My parents have owned the daycare for 25 years. I plan to it over one day. You can put that I used to live in Las Vegas where I ran a company by the name of Alys babes promotions LLC and BAchelor party babes LLC witch later got changed to Prima Allure LLC. It was an event planning business for large groups of people staying in Vegas. We would accommodate there to stay and plan their events. Now that I’m back home living in Nebraska I work for my parents and help manage their businesses. Not just daycare I’m also an office manager and in charge of keeping paperwork up today

Advertising and marketing for the Midwest area and planing summer parties for Vegas Bachelor events. Also, I deal with Setting up events and promotion work I deal with ordering and recruiting models or entertainers looking to promote or perform at one of our Gigs. "

[muggle-writes]

So I’m still (March 2020) basically on a tumblr hiatus because my phone is staggering along on its last legs and the replacement I want is out of stock so I’m continuing to baby my current phone along and it just can’t keep up with tumblr. Plus I don’t get out my computer nearly often enough to be on much.

But I finally have an original idea, not just fanfiction, that I’m excited about enough to make a real WIP out of it. I need to do some heavy duty character development because I only really understand the main character and the general shape of the plot right now, but maybe I’ll have something to work on for NaNo next November. Also there’s Camp NaNo next month but idk what the focus of that event is. If it’s about world/character building in preparation for “real” NaNo I might have to dive into Camp NaNo.

Anyway it’s as good a time as any to make a WIP post because if people know about it then I can’t just “set it aside” (permanently) the first time I get frustrated.

WIP intro (below the cut)

Placeholder title: The Siren’s Call

Summary: When a familiar, sinister magic rears its head, Andy must remember the danger long enough to protect himself and others

Characters:

Andy: a teenage trans boy who is out to a few friends, but not to his school or his father. He enjoys the escapism of theater, and is often cast in his school’s plays, though he usually turns down the leading female role. He claims he prefers to play the supporting characters and has repeated that often enough that he has nearly convinced himself as well. He is also reasonably skilled at designing and decorating sets, though only the cis guys get invited to help build them. Andy wishes he was more athletic, since sports are such a traditionally masculine pursuit, but he is better at chess and video games, especially strategy games. As far as anyone knows, Andy’s mother disappeared without a word when he was six. There were mutterings and rumors that she deliberately abandoned her husband and child, but her side of the family hasn’t heard from her either. Nowadays, her disappearance is such old news that very few people discuss it anymore, especially not in front of Andy or his father.

Josh: Andy’s friend since childhood, now his best friend. They met in chess club in 2nd grade and though Josh didn’t stick with it, their friendship remained and grew over the years. They still play video games together, but not chess.

Setting: ambiguously modern suburban USA, “hidden fantasy” - where magic and magical creatures hide themselves so well that most people who don’t experience magic would insist that magic is only in stories.

Content (good and bad):

queer characters

misgendering/deadnaming (especially since Andy isn’t out to everyone)

magical mind manipulation

suspicious amnesia (possibly faked, possibly inflicted)

significant childhood memories

magical funhouse (?)

And a small teaser excerpt (that I would put behind a cut because maybe spoilers but this is already below a cut so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ )

“'It's unusual that any female can resist my charms,'” Andy quoted, darkly, “'Maybe she's too young. Run little girl, and hope you never meet me again' Surprise, asshole. I'm a boy.” He punched The Host square in his perfect tiny nose.

“Ouch,” Andy hissed in surprise, shaking the jolting pain out of his wrist. That always worked in action movies, but here and now, The Host looked more startled than incapacitated.