#shout out to the public library computers we love you

[clowninthecoffeehouse]

my ipad broke again so shitty ms paint captain <3

[ijustreallylikepirates]

So for all the people who love disventure camp and think it’s criminally underrated, here is a fanfic of Alenick (Alec x Nick) in Alec’s pov. If you don’t know who the hell these two are or what disventure camp is and you just like enemies to lovers tropes, this is great for you.

A little note before we get started: I wouldn’t say this fanfic is very inappropriate, (SPOILERS) they do make out once and they swear a bit but otherwise there’s nothing too bad. Now I won’t keep you any longer so please enjoy my fanfic and I would really appreciate it if you left a nice comment and liked. Thank you, ily :) <333

I sighed as I pulled into the parking lot of the public library, stopping my car’s engine and staring out the driver’s seat window at the library.

“Just another excruciatingly long day of work.” I yawned and took my glasses off to rub my eyes, then wiped the lenses off and shoved them back on my nose.

I turned my head back to my steering wheel and blinked sleepiness out of my eyes. But that didn’t work. Before I knew it, my eyelids drooped and my forehead dropped down hard onto the wheel. Right onto the horn. The horn let out a painfully loud beep.

I jumped back quickly, my hand over my chest. Now that definitely woke me up. I straightened my glasses and unbuckled my seatbelt. I grabbed my tote bag off the passenger seat, slipped it over my shoulder, and shoved open the car door. I slowly stepped out and took a breath of fresh air. Then I sighed again and pushed the door closed.

But as I tried to walk, something was keeping me back. I looked behind me and saw my bag was stuck inside the car door.

“Aw, great! Just another thing to add to my list of reasons why today is gonna be a bad day.” I pulled on my bag a little, then after it didn’t come out of the car door, I slipped it off my shoulder, grabbed the straps, and pulled with all my might.

The bag immediately flew out of the door, causing me to flop onto the asphalt like I’d been shot. I quickly stood up, grabbed my bag off the ground, and slipped it back over my shoulder. I brushed dirt off my blue vest, then headed towards the library.

As I walked across the parking lot, a blue car came driving right towards me. I quickly turned my head to the car, stopping right in front of it like a deer in headlights.

The driver beeped at me so I stared directly into the windshield. I couldn’t see who the driver was but I stuck up my middle finger at them and shouted, “Fucking moron! Watch where you’re driving!” I walked up the front steps to the library and pushed open the door.

I walked behind the front desk and set my tote bag under the desk, then flopped down in my chair and sighed. I picked my phone out of my pocket and opened up my camera. I flipped it to face me and looked at my exhausted face on the screen. I had large bags under my eyes.

I shoved my phone back in my pocket and leaned down to shuffle around in my bag, then pulled out my current reread, The House In the Cerulean Sea, and flipped it open until I found my bookmark. I set the bookmark on the table, crossed my legs, and started to read.

I was deep into my book when I heard the door open. I paid no attention to it until the door slammed shut and scared me half to death, causing me to drop my book on the floor. As the book toppled, my page was lost. And I don’t even remember what page I was even on!

“Shit,” I mumbled under my breath. “Nothing’s gonna go my way today, huh?” I got out of my chair and onto the floor. I picked up my book and went to stand back up but I banged my head on the table.

I stood back up, rubbing my head. “Fu-” I stopped myself as I saw a woman and a little girl standing at the desk. “-dgesicles. Fudgesicles.” I calmly placed my book on the desk next to the computer and asked the woman, “What can I do for you ladies today?”

“I just wanted to check these books out,” the woman said, placing a copy of The House In the Cerulean Sea on the desk, along with a pile of every Magic Treehouse book.

I took The House In the Cerulean Sea off the desk and scanned it. I smiled at the woman and said, “This is such a good read. I’m currently rereading it for, what, the five-hundredth time?”

The woman laughed and said, “I heard it was really good. Glad to know you liked it.”

My smile grew wider and I started scanning the Magic Treehouse books. “These for you?” I asked the little girl.

She smiled wide and said, “Yeah! I’m really excited to read them!”

The woman giggled and said, “She’s such an avid reader.”

“Just like me when I was a kid. I read the whole Harry Potter series in 1 month when I was 12.”

The woman raised her eyebrows in surprise. “That’s shocking. Not even I could do that.”

“I just can’t go a day without a good book to dive into. I’m so glad that the youth still likes reading. I looked at the little girl with a warm smile on my face. “I’m sure you’ll be a great reader as you get older.”

The little girl just smiled wide and clapped her hands together. I looked back at the woman and asked, “Can I have your card?”

The woman dug around in her coat pocket, then pulled out a red library card and handed it to me. I took it diligently and scanned it for her. I typed something down on my computer, then handed her a date due slip. “Make sure to bring the books back by this date.” I stacked The House In the Cerulean Sea on top of the Magic Treehouse books and pushed the pile to the woman. “Have a nice day.”

The woman took the stack of books off the desk and said, “Thank you. Have a nice day.” The little girl stayed close to her mom’s side as they walked out the door.

I sighed, picked up my book, and tried to find my page. “My day’s already going terrible so that’s off the market.” As I flipped through the pages I couldn’t help but think… that little girl kind of reminded me of…

No. I can’t bring her back to my mind. I just can’t think of Fiore on my already terrible day. We’d had a father-daughter relationship, yet she’d still betrayed me.

I found my page and started reading where I left off. I barely got through a sentence when I heard my boss’s voice behind me, “Alec, take your nose out of that book for a second. I just hired a new guy to help you behind the front desk.”

I put my bookmark in between the pages and said, “I don’t need any help. I can do my job perfectly.” I crossed my legs and turned my chair around. I gasped as I saw the guy standing next to my boss.

He was a face I knew all too well, a face I couldn’t stand to look at. Blonde hair, goatee, cyan eyes, wearing a business casual suit and fedora.

I rolled my eyes. “Ugh. Nick. You’re my new…” I looked Nick up and down. “…partner?”

Nick smirked and crossed his arms. “Alec. Great to finally see you again.”

“Stop with the sarcasm. What are you doing in a library? I didn’t know you could read.”

“Oh, haha. Didn’t know you worked here, otherwise I would’ve picked any other library in the city. Oh, and what was it you called me? A… fucking moron?” Nick laughed seductively. “Right back at you old friend.”

“That was you in that car?” I scowled. “Thanks for trying to run me over. I really appreciate that.” I stared at him and held back a gag. “And don’t call me ‘friend.’”

“What? You don’t like that? Would you rather me call you sexyback?”

I flung out of my chair and stood face to face with Nick. “Don’t call me that either.”

Nick smirked and said, “Okay, sexyback.”

I grumbled and balled up my fists. My boss took Nick by the shoulders and pulled him away from me. “Okay, that’s enough. Nick, why don’t you go look around the library, get to know the place? It’s obvious you two already know each other and don’t get along well.” He slapped Nick on the back and said, “Go on then.”

Nick slowly walked out from behind the front desk and disappeared into the bookshelves, his hands in his pockets. I glared at him at he walked away, then groaned and sat back down in my chair. My boss stood in his place for a while in complete silence.

“So how do you guys know each other?” my boss asked, breaking the silence.

“We met on this show, Disventure Camp. Ever heard of it?”

“Nope.”

“Well, it was this show with two teams where both teams would have to compete in various challenges and whichever team lost would vote out someone on their team. Of course there were days where there was no elimination or when a voted out camper would come back but those weren’t frequent. Nick placed 12th, I placed 4th.”

“Wow. 4th was very close. How did you get to 4th?”

“I was kind of evil. I was teamed up with this little girl, Fiore, and we were like an inseparable evil duo. Even without her I would’ve been able to place 1st, since I’m so smart I could’ve been able to strategize my way through. If only Fiore hadn’t made an agreement with Miriam and Ellie to vote me out so she could get farther in the game.” I balled my fist at the thought of Fiore, how close we were, how she betrayed me and how angry that made me feel.

“Ok… and what about Nick placing 12th? Why didn’t he do as well as you?”

“Well, nobody really liked him. Safe to say I agree with everybody. He was so stuck up and snarky, always boasting about how much money he had. ‘I’ll pay you if you take my suitcase,’ like shut up already!”

My boss stared at me with concern. “Okay. Alec, why don’t you just take a couple deep breaths and focus on your work? Once you finish your shift, you won’t have to deal with Nick anymore until tomorrow. I’ll just try to keep him away from you, okay?”

I took a deep breath, then nodded and turned my chair back around to face my computer.

~

Eventually, Nick had to come back behind the front desk to actually do some work. I avoided speaking to him as much as I could.

When I would walk by Nick, he could turn his chair around and shout at me, “Hey, sexyback!”

I just rolled my eyes and didn’t say anything. I knew that whatever I tried wasn’t going to make him stop calling me that. So I just ignored it.

Today was just a boring day at work, but at least Nick didn’t bother me so much. My boss probably talked to him about that.

A little before my shift ended, I decided I wanted to tease Nick a little. I took a sticky note off my desk picked a pen out of a cup on my desk, and wrote this down:

‘Dear Nick,

I hate you so much. Please fire yourself from this library and never come back.

With hate,

Alec.’

I looked at the note with a smirk on my face, then got up from my chair and stuck the sticky note next to Nick’s keyboard while he was in the bathroom, then headed to the bathroom myself.

As I was walking there, Nick was walking back. We stared at each other blankly for a second, then continued on.

As I walked back to my desk from the bathroom, Nick surprisingly didn’t turn his chair around to call me ‘sexyback’ with that stupid smirk on his face. I knew why as soon as I got back to my desk.

There was a sticky note stuck to my monitor. I groaned and sat down in my chair, then took the sticky note off my computer.

I read it to myself, then rolled my eyes. It read:

‘Dear Alec,

I hate you even more. I hope you decide you hate reading one day and quit your job.

With love,

Nick’

I crumpled it up into a ball and threw it into my trash can. Then I finished up my work on my computer, packed up my stuff, and left the library.

~

When I got home and looked into my work bag, I saw the note from Nick crumpled up in my bag. I guess I had missed the trash can when I threw it.

I groaned and said, “I don’t need a reminder of Nick.” I took the note out of my bag and threw it into my bedside trash.

~

It had officially been 4 days I had been working with Nick. God, he bothers me so bad.

As I was readying myself for bed, I picked up my journal off my nightstand and turned to a free page. My therapist told me to write down what happened every day and to let off my negative emotions into it every night before bed. He said it would help with letting go of my ‘emotional baggage,’ whatever that meant.

But as I picked up a pencil to start writing, I turned back to reread what Nick had done to me in the past days.

Day 2

I was looking for a book in one of the shelves when I took my glasses off to clean them and accidentally dropped them on the floor. But when I went to pick them up, Nick came up behind me and asked me ‘who I was bending over for.’ So immature.

Day 3

I was rearranging the books in the shelves, and Nick was following me around, unorganizing the shelves as I organized them to mess with me. I didn’t even notice he was doing this until the end of his shift when the boss came to find him. Then I had to rearrange them before my shift ended. Every. Single. Shelf.

I scoffed and rolled my eyes. I just can’t stand him. I turned back to my new page and started to write down what had happened today.

Day 4

Nick followed me around all day, talking to me about things I really don’t care about like Star Wars and just calling me sexyback in between every sentence. Eventually I gave out and yelled at him to knock it off. He looked guilty and just walked away. I don’t know why he would look like he was sorry or why he always made an attempt to talk to me every day, or even why he calls me sexyback all the time but it’s a little-

I stopped writing abruptly, then dropped my pencil. I picked up my journal, reread today’s entry, then slammed it shut and got up off my bed. I stormed off to the bathroom and got my toothbrush out of the cabinet.

“No, he can’t like me. That’s weird. We hate each other!” I grabbed my tube of toothpaste and lobbed some on my toothbrush.

“Why would he like me? There’s no way! I don’t even like him! Why should he like me?” I shoved the toothbrush in my mouth, then stared at myself in the mirror blankly.

I let my mind work for a second, then asked myself, “Do I like him?”

I shook my head. “No, I can’t like him! It’s not possible! How would I like him? I mean like, maybe the way he smirks when he calls me sexyback, or like when he follows me around just to talk to me and-”

I looked at myself in the mirror. “God, I do like him!” I finished brushing my teeth and stormed back into my bedroom. I grabbed my book out of my work bag, got in my bed, and pulled the covers over my legs.

But as I opened my book, I couldn’t help but look into the trashcan where Nick’s note was still sitting on the top, completely untouched. I reached down and grabbed it out of the trash.

I uncrumpled it and read it over to myself. To confirm my suspicions of Nick liking me, he did put ‘with love’ on his note while I put ‘with hate.’ Surprisingly I smiled and blushed, then put the note on my bedside table and continued reading.

But as I finished reading, I took that note off the table and traded it out for my bookmark, then shut the book and went to sleep.

~

The next day as soon as I got into work, I rushed behind my desk and pulled a sticky note off the pad, then wrote a quick note to my boss:

‘Boss,

I think I like Nick. Please help.

Confused,

Alec’

I stuck the note on the bulletin board next to his offices and went back to my desk.

Nothing really major happened for the remainder of the morning. It was surprisingly peaceful. The only disturbance was when Nick walked into work and called me sexyback on the way by.

He didn’t bother me for the rest of the morning. Well, until right now.

“Alec.” I jumped as he came up behind me.

I turned my chair around and exclaimed, “You scared me! What do you want now?”

Nick held something up in his hand. Panic rushed through my body. He was holding the sticky note. The one that stated I liked him.

Oh. Shit.

“Did you write this, Alec?”

“Of course not. Someone must’ve staged it.”

“Who would? Nobody else works here besides our boss and he wouldn’t do that. He’s a big sweetheart. So obviously it was you.” Nick paused for a second to walk a little closer to me. “It is true?”

He leaned closer to me.

“Of course it isn’t,” I said, trying not to show the panic on my face.

“Are you sure about that?” Nick asked me, leaning closer to me so that we were face to face.

I stared into his eyes blankly, fear rushing through my body. My face felt so hot, it felt like I was blushing. I could’ve been but there was no way to check right now. There’s no way I was getting out of this, so I gave in. “I really need to work on my poker face, don’t I?” I smirked.

He laughed and said, “A little improvement could work. Otherwise it was pretty solid.”

Before I could say anything, he pressed his lips onto mine. “I knew you’d give into me eventually, sexyback,” Nick said, giving me that stupid smirk of his.

“Oh, shut up, you Brit,” I said, shaking my head.

Nick backed up a little and grabbed my hand. He pulled on my arm and said, “Come on.”

As he pulled me out of my chair I asked him, “Where are you taking me?”

He laughed and said, “Can we make out? Like just for a little bit?”

I raised my eyebrow at him.

“Please, Alec? Just for like 5 minutes?”

I thought about it for a second. “Fine, let’s go.”

Nick laughed and tugged on my arm again. I laughed along with him as he dragged me off to the bathroom.

When we got in the bathroom, he led me into the second stall and locked the door.

I laughed and said, “Why are you acting like someone’s gonna walk in on us?”

“Just in case.”

Before I could say anything, he pushed me against the stall, threw his arms around my neck, and shoved his lips on mine. Honestly, I don’t think I liked kissing anyone more than him.

He pulled away from the kiss and asked, “Do you know why I really came to work here, Alec?”

I shook my head.

“I came to work here because of you.” He poked my chest. “I’ve had feelings for you for a long time and I wanted to see if I could make you feel the same way.”

I chuckled and said, “Well, I guess it worked.”

He laughed, a low attractive laugh.

I blushed, put my hands on his cheeks, and pulled him in for another kiss. He brought one of his hands up my neck and ran his fingers through my hair.

His hands were warm, and his face was utterly cold. He pressed his body up against mine and gripped my neck tighter.

Kissing him was like having an out of body experience. It was so unreal, so astonishing. I just couldn’t believe that it was really Nick I was kissing right now.

I pulled away from Nick. “But Nick, don’t you have a girlfriend?”

He looked off to the side and said, “Yeah, but… I don’t really love her anymore. I love…” He looked up at me.

I blushed and smiled. “You love me?”

Nick nodded slowly, blushing and smirking.

I slowly pulled him in for another kiss and said, “I love you too.”

We continued making out but this little romantic moment would soon end.

Our boss came through the bathroom door shouting, “Alec? Nick? Are you guys in here?”

Nick quickly shoved himself off me, slamming against the other wall of the stall.

The bathroom went silent, then the boss called out, “Hello? Was that you?”

Nick shoved his hands over his mouth to muffle his breathing. I raised an eyebrow at him.

I could see the boss’s feet underneath the stall. I wasn’t panicking at all until the boss stopped dead in his tracks right in front of our stall.

“I can see you two in there! Get out of there!”

Me and Nick stayed as silent as mice. The boss tried to push open the door.

“Alec, open the door please.”

I didn’t say a word. I stared at Nick. He shook his head.

The boss scoffed and said, “Nick?”

I silently pleaded Nick to unlock the door. Nick took his hands off his mouth and mouthed to me ‘Fine.’

He reached out a shaky hand and unlocked the door. The boss gently opened up the door.

He raised an eyebrow and asked, “What were you two doing in here?”

I looked nervously at my feet, blushed, and quickly said, “Nothing.”

At my side, Nick just as quickly said, “Making out.”

I looked up at Nick, blushing even more. “Nick!”

He shrugged and said, “What? I panicked!”

The boss shook his head and said, “And I thought you boys hated each other?”

“It’s a long story,” I said, rubbing my arm.

The boss just shook his head again and said, “Nick, come on. I have something I need you to do for me. Alec, you have work to do.”

The boss started walking away, leaving me and Nick in the stall alone.

Before following the boss, Nick leaned in for one more juicy kiss. “See you later.” He ran off after the boss.

I stood there against the stall, dazed for a second. Then I wiped my mouth and lumbered out of the stall.

As I made my way back to the front desk, the boss was standing there talking to Nick.

As I walked by them, Nick pulled my arm and put a slip of paper in my hand. “Me, you, dinner tonight?”

I unfolded the slip of paper, which had a phone number on it. Nick’s phone number.

I smirked and said, “I’ll call you.”

I walked back to my desk and sat in my chair. I watched as Nick walked off to the other side of the library, his hands in his pockets.

The boss came up behind me and said, “So, Nick, huh?”

“Oh, shut your mouth,” I said, adding Nick’s number onto my phone.

The boss laughed and walked away. And honestly, thinking about all this time I’ve spent with Nick, I really meant it. I did love him.

The End!!!

I hope you enjoyed my fanfic! I enjoyed writing it and I think it turned out really nice. What do you guys think? Drop your thoughts in the comments and if you want, like the fanfic. Thank you pookies!!! <3333

[strawberryya]

king of hearts and nerdy love

mingyu x reader

synopsis: How can valentines at the library be romantic? Was what you asked, stupidly enough, not knowing this would become the ultimate challenge for the hopeless romantic that is your boyfriend. 

word count: 5.6k

genre/contains: fluff, romance, smut, college au, mentions of food and eating, sex in a public place, unprotected sex, degradation and praise, afab!reader, gn!reader, established relationship, ft. study-buddy vernon

rating: 18+

a/n: happy valentine's y'all!! here's my addition to the svthub pink eros collab for the holiday and thank you <3 zeta <3 @multi-kpop-fanfics for reading it over <3

you can find the masterlist for the pink eros collab here!

.・゜✭・..・。.・゜✭・. .・。.・゜✭・..・。.・゜✭・..・。.・゜✭・..・。.・゜✭・.

“Don’t worry about it, I got this,” Mingyu cockily said with a half smirk and a nod that screamed ‘overconfidence’ from miles away, and all you could do was nod with a worried expression. Valentine’s might not be the biggest holiday of the year, but it had always been a cute little day to spend together, just the two of you. However, the nowhere-near-finished essay that was due by the week’s end would wait for no one. This, of course, meant that all the days leading up to the deadline would have to be spent in the library. Sadly this also included Valentine’s.

Your pout as you had told him had disappeared and in its place was an almost frightened look on your face as you wondered what the hell Mingyu was going to do after his casual way of telling you to just relax and let him handle the supposedly most romantic day of the year. 

“Yeah? You don’t mind? Is doing something when I get home enough? I know we usually make it a bit bigger than that…” you asked again, hoping he would slip up and give you a hint of what he planned. 

“I do like spending the entire day with you, but I also know how much you need to get this essay done. Just be in your spot at the library and be a good student for the day, and I will take it from there,” he answered in a very reassuring manner. You weren’t sure you felt that reassured of anything though. 

Was he coming to the library? That wouldn’t exactly be much fun for him since all you would do was read, write, and read, and write some more. Nevertheless, you agreed, and you had done as planned. You had grabbed some breakfast on your way to the library and were already sitting comfortably with all your books and a fully charged computer in front of you at the edge of one of the tables in your favorite library on campus. 

Your study buddy Vernon was as usual in the seat across the table, headphones on and his head bobbing in rhythm to whatever he was playing on presumably rather loud noise into his ears, and with an assignment of his own that needed to be finished. By now, greeting each other was a well-rehearsed quick affair with a wave and a donut the person who got to the library last was obligated to bring. 

It was time to get this damn essay done, you told yourself as you reopened the documents and began searching the page for where you had last left off and what you were to tackle next. 

It wasn't until right around ten when Vernon rose to scurry off to the bathroom that your mind came back into focus. The ding of a message echoed loudly into your earbuds, pulling you back from your fervent writing. 

[10.07] Mingyu puppy Break time! Hope ur in the mood for something sweet :p 

He was surprisingly punctual for once, you thought briefly before you looked around to the exit of the hall you were sitting in only to catch the exact moment your boyfriend came into the large room, half running and, once he saw your face, also shouting “Hey!”, only to receive at least a dozen side eyes and a couple of annoyed glances and groans from stressed out students also sitting in the library on valentines day. Of course, if it wasn’t your puppy-like boyfriend who was running up to you in the calm of the library on this day in particular, you would probably be incredibly annoyed as well. 

However, that wasn’t the case, and your face cracked up as you saw his face plead for forgiveness while he slowed his step for a moment before he set out to get to you once again. 

“Hey,” he wheezed once he got to your area, “Hey,” you wheezed back, giggling a bit as you looked up at him where he was standing, a huge grin on his face, paired with hair that stood everywhere.

“Happy valentines,” he said in a low voice as he bent down to your level, smooching your cheek as you grinned back at him with your whole face. “I brought you snacks,” he boasted and handed over a box covered in tiny pink hearts. 

You couldn't help but gasp when you lifted the lid only to reveal a bunch of fruit, cut in perfect bite-sized hearts, and the whole thing completed with tiny pickets stuck into a couple of the strawberries and mango pieces, spelling out “Be my valentine?” 

“I’d love to,” you whispered, your voice almost failing you because of this little gesture of his. “Did you cut these out yourself?” you suddenly asked as you swung your head back up to look at Mingyu. 

“Sure did. Do you like them?” 

“I love them, thank you, baby,” you said before swallowing a berry you had just put in your mouth. You pulled a little at his jacket, making him bend down his proud face to your level so you could give him a smooch back; your lips sweet from the strawberry you had just eaten. 

When you pulled back and Mingyu rose again you saw him wave to someone behind you, and a “Hey bro,” coming from behind you. 

“Oh, you got more food?” Vernon added as he came back to his seat, eyeing the container filled with sweet fruit hearts. 

“I made them,” Mingyu quickly explained with a smug tone, “want some?” 

“What? But…” you exclaimed, shocked that he would give away some to a random friend of yours. 

“Come on, he can have a bite, you get to have all of me,” he teased, “Let Vernon have some fruit won't you.”

He was right, sadly, and you remembered all the times Vernon had shared whatever he was eating with you and you decided fighting everyone would take too much of your energy. Energy, that you would need if you were to continue writing, you reminded yourself. 

When you got your little gift back a picket with the letter ‘y’ was gone from the container along with a piece of pineapple. You tried to hide the tiny pout on your face as you watched the ‘my’ that had turned into an ‘m’. 

“These are great, thanks,” Vernon declared, halfway through eating his piece, making you reluctantly say your welcome and Mingyu become, if possible, even prouder. 

“Well, I gotta head back to my dorm, I’ll see you at lunch okay?” you heard Mingyu say from beside you, making you look up at him and nod, slightly surprised this wasn’t the end of him coming to visit you, but even more excited that you would be getting to see him at your next break time. Maybe you would be fine sharing this gift with Vernon after all…

With a peck goodbye and a “Good luck!” he was off, seemingly already late for whatever was next on his itinerary making you chuckle to yourself before you put your music back on. Let’s get back to it, you said to yourself as you forced your mind back into the zone, your hand mindlessly picking up yet another of the pretty fruits in the container next to you. 

.・゜✭・..・。.・゜✭・. .・。.・゜✭・..・。.・゜✭・..・。.・゜✭・..・。.・゜✭・.

When lunchtime came around you had finished more of your assignment than you thought you would have, as well as all the fruit, only a couple escaping your own lips and landing in Vernon’s tummy instead. You weren’t yet hungry, but lunchtime was approaching quickly and every so often you couldn’t help but glance over at the clock atop your screen and wonder what time Mingyu meant when he said lunch. 

It was closing in on one O'clock now though, and you were starting to lose focus from having sat there for a couple of hours when you suddenly felt a tiny gust of wind flutter past you at the same time as a blurry piece of something pink flew by in your peripheral. 

A paper plane, you discovered, laying on the floor next to you. 

You looked around but saw no one that seemed to acknowledge the pink plane that had landed by your place, so you picked it up, curious as to who had sent it as well as what it might mean. 

‘Open me’ was written in squiggly letters on the top of the wings, and so you did, revealing even more of the same letters written inside of it. 

“Walk up the stairs and just past the greek mythology section (nordic mythology is too far, so turn around if you get there). There you will find a really, and I mean incredibly, handsome guy(objective opinion) and perhaps something yummy too… //Eros, God of love and everything pink <3”

You chuckled as you read it and looked at the dozens of little wonky hearts and arrows surrounding the message. This was very clearly sent from the one and only Kim Mingyu, you thought, trying to keep the grin that was creeping onto your face from becoming visible, but it was no use. You were smiling like a fool, and your tummy felt like it was filled with a hundred butterflies and so you didn’t even wait for a proper answer from Vernon when you asked if he could watch your stuff for a bit as you began sprinting towards the stairs, missing all the stares you got from the sudden bustle from you getting up. 

Of course, Vernon already had a burrito bowl that he had gotten a while ago while you watched his stuff and just nodded as you scurried off to whatever you had to do and he moved on. 

You powerwalked past the many shelves filled from floor to ceiling with books on every imaginable subject until you got to the far end of the third floor of the library where the books on religion and mythology were all collected together. There, just as the “gods” had promised you, was an incredibly handsome guy waiting for you, leaning against one of the shelves with a smug little grin on his face that told you that he definitely had something in store for you. 

With a tiny shriek, you flung yourself into his arms, happy for the break and that his strong statue was able to catch you without stumbling over too much as you wrapped your arms tightly around him, his laugh vibrating through your body as he chuckled at your excitement. 

“Come on, I’ve got something to show you,” he said with a flick of his head. You followed him back between the aisles until you reached the very corner of the floor. 

When you saw the surprise you couldn’t help but gasp and put your hand up to your mouth so as to not scream in joy and excitement over the perfect little romantic picnic that was splayed out on a pink blanket on the library floor. 

Fruit cut just like before, in tiny little hearts in a similar container as before, pasta with your favorite sauce, bread, grapes, and even some tiny mini cupcakes perfected with pink frosting and heart sprinkles. You were stunned into silence as you watched the setup. Mingyu chuckled beside you before he bent down to pick up a bouquet of at least a dozen roses from the blanket. You could hear your heartbeat in your ears as you tried to hold back the happy tears that wanted to escape your eyes. It was all so, perfect. 

“How did you set all this up? When did you have time to-” 

When you looked at Mingyu he was all sunshine and smiles as he watched your reaction. “That’s for me to know and for you to not think about, because right now all you need to do is accept these flowers and have valentines lunch with me.” 

His tone was that of an order but also so very sweet you couldn’t help but smile back at him with your entire face before nodding and accepting the flowers. “That sounds wonderful Gyu…” 

The entire lunch you ate the freaking amazing food your boyfriend had made, laughed at his bad little jokes and flirty comments whenever you ate a strawberry, and not a single time did you think about the work you still had to finish. 

“If you’re gonna eat the strawberries like that I’m gonna have to retaliate,” Mingyu threatened when you once again ate half of a strawberry while wrapping your lips around the red fruit. 

You chuckled at his tone, “Is that a threat or a promise, huh?” you teased back at him.

He gasped, dramatically looking at you while picking up the grapes, still holding onto its vine, only to smirk before bringing the green bulbs to his mouth in a smooth motion. Holding the vine over his head while he let his tongue find hold of one of the grapes before he wrapped his lips around it and took it into his mouth he looked a lot more like Dionysus than Eros you thought for a split second before his eyes fluttered open and your gaze met his. 

“You’re an idiot,” you chuckled, shaking your head at his antics. 

“And you love me,” he added. 

You sighed. “And I love you…” you corrected yourself, earning a pleased expression from the man laying on his side in front of you. 

.・゜✭・..・。.・゜✭・. .・。.・゜✭・..・。.・゜✭・..・。.・゜✭・..・。.・゜✭・.

When you were finally seated at your spot again, over an hour had passed since you left for your lunch break. It was, once again, time to get your shit done so you could leave the library which felt less fun to be at with every hour you forced yourself to stay. 

Mingyu coming over like this had brightened up your day a whole lot though, you realized. Your heart swelled from thinking about how much effort he had put in to make your day feel special even though you both had other things that craved your attention. 

You would have to do something to give him the same attention back later today. How, you did not yet know. But you were fairly sure you would be able to come up with at least one thing to make sure he felt as loved as he had made you feel all throughout the day. 

As you wrote, your mind began to wander further and further away from your reality. 

The way Mingyus’s lips had wrapped around those grapes earlier had actually gotten to you… Yes, you had laughed it off - but that was then. Now, your mind was replaying it. His pink lips were plush and smooth against the fruit. Not to mention how his large, warm hands had held onto your waist as he kissed you goodbye along with that damn smirk of his. 

You bit on the inside of your lip mindlessly as you stared at your screen, zoned out and mentally everywhere but in the middle of a room filled with other students and old books. In your mind, those big hands that had held your back in a sturdy grip before were already on your body again, holding you up as he filled you up like only he could. 

Too caught up in your own imagination, your legs squeezed themselves together underneath the table. The way his fingertips would dig into your flesh, hard enough to leave marks but the pain only excruciating enough to make it turn into pleasure instead, was so incredibly vivid your entire body was reacting to your thoughts. 

You felt yourself become more aroused by the minute. Your heat craving for the touch of warm fingers, a filthy mouth, or even better; your boyfriend filling you up while he kissed up and down your neck and chest. 

You didn’t even realize that almost forty minutes had passed without you writing more than a paragraph while your mind wandered off to feeling Mingyus’s touch all over your body. Shaking your head to somehow bring yourself back to your work you realized that perhaps you might kill two birds with one stone later tonight. You know exactly how he likes to be treated, and you definitely wouldn’t mind giving him a bit extra off all the things he loves when you do in bed. Maybe it wouldn’t be as sweet as all the things he had done today, but my goodness, you felt a need to give him everything and anything he wanted when you got him alone tonight.  

It was decided, you would give Mingyu the best pussy of his life tonight, and all you needed to do was stop thinking about him filling you up and get to your milestone for the day. 

However, the thoughts were relentless. Never giving you more than ten minutes at a time to think about your essay before the thought of his tongue on your skin popped into your mind, making you dizzy with need. After over an hour of this battle with your own mind, you were about to give in to your lust and leave your work for tomorrow-you to handle when a ping caught your attention. 

[16.42] Mingyu puppy Break time again, u haven’t fallen asleep yet have u?

You had not. Sleepiness was honestly one of the least worries you had right now. Additionally, Mingyus’s deep voice whispering “Hey my little genius,” next to your ear did absolutely everything but help your situation. He had managed to make your entire body shiver with the way his hot breath hit your already sensitive skin and had your mind sprinting away to all the thoughts you had been pushing away for the past hours with that simple phrase. 

You needed him. Now. 

“Mingyu-” you said, in a voice that almost came out as a whimper, shocking you to the point where you interrupted yourself out of embarrassment. Letting Mingyu instead put the little box of something down beside your computer on the table. 

“I got sweets for my sweetheart,” he declared, half embarrassed and half hoping you would love his cheesy presentation of the snack he had brought. You did, of course, you liked both the snack and the way he had presented it, even though the cheesiness level of it was off the charts. 

It didn't even matter though, because you could appreciate his adorable dorkiness some other time. Now you wanted him, and you knew he was up for helping you out whenever, wherever from past experiences. 

“I- I love them, thank you so much…” 

“Yeah? Are you working hard?” Mingyu said, peeking down at your computer, seeing the half-finished sentence you had left while you were last fighting your mind’s incessant chatter about Mingyu’s cock. 

“I am… but, uhm, I kinda need to go get a book.” 

You needed to get him away from people, you needed to get him alone so you could have him all to yourself. 

“A book? What kind of book are we looking for?” he asked, curiously and innocently while looking at the massive pile of books you already had available right next to you. 

“Just, a book, in the basement! Yeah, we need to go get it. In the basement. That’s where the book I need is. Will you go with me?” 

Your words came out stifled and incredibly awkward. Mingyu had an understandably confused look on his face. “Yeah, sure I’ll go with you… are you o-” 

“Let’s go,” you interrupted him as you grabbed his hand in yours and began making your way towards the stairs that would lead you to the lower sections of the building and eventually to the basement where the rarely used books and archives of all things rarely looked at things were. You hadn’t even checked with Vernon if it was ok for you to just up and leave like this while he was stuck with your stuff, but you presumed that he wouldn’t be leaving anytime soon anyways. Since you were currently running on horniness, you didn’t think much more about anything else other than finding a secluded area somewhere. 

“Why are we in such a hurry?? Are you ok for real?” Mingyu huffed out as you opened the door to one of the rooms where you had not once heard a single person have a reason to visit. 

“I’m fine, I’m just- a bit horny…” the last part was barely audible, but suddenly it seemed as though things clicked for Mingyu.  

“Oh! Yeah okay then!” he exclaimed, and as you turned in onto one of the abandoned aisles in the far-off corner of the room you had ended up in it was Mingyu who pushed you up against the shelf stacked with hundreds of old books. 

You couldn’t help but smile at the way he had you wrapped up inside his embrace with dark eyes looking at your lips as if he had an insatiable need to feel them the second you gave the signal. 

“Yeah? You wanna try fucking me in here?” 

“I do, I absolutely do.” 

Your hands landed in his hair, grabbing a fistful of his hair as you kissed him messily. You pressed yourself into his large body, feeling the way he had already started getting excited on the hardness meeting your lower stomach. 

“I can tell,” you giggled, mischievousness seeping through your horniness even now. 

he barely even reacted to your teasing, planting yet another dizzying kiss on your plush lips. It wasn’t long until your hands had traced their way from his hair down teh ridges of his abdomen and you somehow found yourself with your hand wrapped around his hardening dick. Mingyu groaned as you began pumping him while he sucked tiny little marks into your chest, just below the collar so you would be able to hide it later. 

“You know, you made me really happy today,” you breathlessly whispered as his mouth reattached itself to your skin. The humming sound he made in response elicited a moan from you before you continued. “I really didn’t think today could feel that special since I had to be stuck in here all day, and I know you had a busy day as well…” 

You were interrupted by your own moans as he traced his hand against your heat. 

“Liked it?”

“Love it.” 

He only chuckled at how your mind had been so thrown off its train of thought just by a small grace that he couldn’t help but kiss you properly as his hand unzipped your pants so his hand could slip easily into your underwear and give you more

“Go on… tell me what you want, tell me what you liked, tell me what you think sweetheart.”

Mindlessly you let yourself say whatever popped into your mind. “I want your fingers, I liked how you made me feel the entire day, fuck-”

At that, his fingers slipped inside your wet folds. When his fingers slipped right past your entrance, the stretch was delicious. You marveled at the fact that he knows your insides so well that he managed to immediately hit the perfect spot as he curled his fingers and used his thumb to rub tiny circles on your sensitive clit. 

“And I think,” you were gasping, trying to keep your focus on everything at once, your hands rubbing up and down his hard erection, his hands slipping in and out of you with such ease you could hear your own arousal, and his mouth and humming groans in the crook of your neck. “I think, I am absolutely in love with you.”

Mingyu pulled back with a knowing smile. It was endearing and genuine, yet so very cocky, but his thick fingers made it impossible to make any sort of retort in response to his expression. “I love you too, so, so much…” he whispered as he kissed you, swallowing those whines of pleasure you couldn’t help but let slip out. 

“I want you,” you whimpered as his thumb pressed against your clit yet again. 

“You have me…” 

“Want your cock, now,” you begged. 

This was more than he could take, more than any man should have to take ever honestly. Your breathy whines and the way your heat was already squelching around him as you begged for his cock inside you, it was all too much for him to be able to keep his composure. 

Swiftly he pulled down the fabric covering his erection, pulling himself out before he pushed your own pants and underwear out of the way for him to be able to line himself up with your aching hole. 

“Please fuck me,” you panted as you felt the head of his cock teasing your entrance. 

“Of course, baby,” Mingyu smiled softly, only barely covering the heat burning in his eyes as he saw your eyes rolling back along with his thick cock pushing its way into your tight pussy. It felt too good, you were already clamping your hand over your mouth as he began thrusting so as to not scream in pleasure. Only the faintest thought of hoping you were truly alone in the large room seeped through the pleasure that was taking over your brain completely. 

“Such a pretty little thing, taking me so well,” he couldn’t help but gasp out as your walls closed in tightly around him. 

His hands were grappling at your thighs, helping you stay upright as well as helping your legs stay open as they instinctively closed at the intense feeling of him stretching you out. You were moaning with every hard snap of his hips into you, the muffled moans now blending with the low groans Mingyu was making right into your ear and the wet sounds of his cock pumping in and out of you. 

The thoughts that had filled your head and previously distracted you were being fucked out of your mind, leaving only the pornographic sounds of your pussy leaking its juices all over your boyfriend in the quiet library aisles. 

“You’re absolutely drenched, sweetheart… You must’ve been thinking about this before I even got here, didn’t you? Such a dirty little one you are today,” he snickered breathlessly as he kissed up your jaw and down your neck. His tongue skimming across your sensitive skin and the constant knowing you can’t even make all the sounds Mingyu was currently working hard to elicit from your plush lips were driving you completely mad with lust. 

You needed to scream, but you couldn’t, so instead, you whimpered “close, so close,” as you clenched around him. The action made juices spill out of you and down your legs as Mingyu kept thrusting to get you where you needed, spreading your slick all over your legs and making the sounds of your dirty escapades echo through the entire room. 

“God, I love you,” Mingyu whispered into your ear as he sucked on that sensitive spot right below your ear. “You look so gorgeous all fucked out by my cock, loving being stretched out don’t you?”

His words had you clenching around him, walls fluttering like crazy at the low rumble that was his voice soo close to your ear. 

Your back was hitting the shelves behind you, making the books rattle in their places and if you hadn’t been way too caught up in chasing your high you might have worried about the entire place falling down like bricks of dominoes. That wasn’t something you could make yourself think about though, your high making your nerves feel electric as Mingyus’s strokes had the smooth skin of his groin rubbing against your clit and sending your mind to cloud nine instead. 

To keep yourself from howling as the wave of pleasure you had been chasing began crashing down on you, you grabbed Mingyus’s face, kissing him with such fervor there was no way he could deny that you were coming undone on his cock. 

When you started calming down from your high you let go of his lips, enough for him to gasp out what was on his own mind as yours was too fuzzy to make any coherent sentences at all. 

“So good for me, keeping quiet just like you need to, aren’t you being such a good little slut for me sweetheart?” 

You nodded, pleasure still flowing freely through your body as he kept pumping himself in and out of your heat, now slicker than ever with your cum leaking out and running down his heavy balls. “Gyu baby, please Gyu- I want your cum in me,” you whined as you began kissing down his neck in return for his previous actions. You hear him swear in the distance, the way his strokes sped up made the sound seem much further away than it was to your borderline overstimulated self. 

“I’m gonna-,” Mingyu tried before you could feel his hot cum leaking out inside of you and beginning to drip out of your now cumdrenched pussy as his hips continued to stutter from his own pleasure. 

You were still kissing his neck, licking sloppily wherever you saw fit, no longer thinking about the kind of situation you were in until you heard Mingyu’s chuckle as his large hands stroked up and down your sides until he reached the side of your cheek. Your head instinctively followed the warmth of his hand, pulling you away from where you were latched onto his neck and up to face him as he smiled lazily. 

“Is this what you needed? Yeah? Tight little pussy filled with my cum for valentines?” he snickered, knowing that you still felt high on the feeling of him filling you up so good. You smiled a dazed smile back at him, nodding and seeming incredibly pleased with yourself and the whole situation. With a hum he pecked you before he slipped out of you, and quickly pulled up your underwear and pants, leaving the cum inside you to leak out and completely soil your already slick-filled underwear. 

“Alrighty then,” Mingyu said, his entire expression letting you know he felt a bit mischievous as he fully intended to send you back to your assignment with his cum still inside of you. 

“Guy!” you almost shrieked out as you looked at his little half-smirk and glittery eyes, “I can’t just-” 

“Oh c’mon now, I thought this was what you wanted. Is it not?” he teased with the cocky raise of his eyebrow. “Dirty little ones will simply have to deal with being soaked like this until they finish their little assignment, won’t they?”

The smile he flashed you with the complementary wink had you pouting to hide the smile that fought to creep onto your face. 

“You’re evil, mister Eros,” you said before you pulled him in to place a peck on his lips. Before you knew it though, the peck turned into a lingering kiss, making your body react once again and sending your mind racing towards what you would do when you got home as both revenge and thank you for the wonderful day he had prepared. 

As you were leaving the aisles of books and heading for the staircase, Mingyu suddenly stopped for just a second, grabbing the first book he saw before continuing. You gave him an inquisitive look as he handed it to you while you walked up the stairs, before remembering that you had used the book excuse to lure him away from other living beings earlier. 

At least the effort had been made you thought, thankful to your boyfriend for at least trying to cover up what you had just done even though the first thing Vernon had remarked on when you got back was on the book he had chosen. 

“Geology? You don’t study geology, why did you- never mind…” he said, his eyes scanning the state of the both of you before adding, “You should probably fix your hair Mingyu, and your shirt is all fucked up y/n.” 

Your head snapped to your shirt, which previously had been neatly tucked in in your shirt and which was now a messed up half-tuck paired with some sort of half-assed buttoning up. Shit, you thought, before your head snapped up to look at Mingyu’s messy hair, standing in all directions after you had apparently messed that up unbeknownst to you. 

Both of you were already half panicking when you heard Vernon muttering something along with “...these dirty bastards,” under his breath as he went back in to eat the burrito he had ordered for himself as a pick-me-up while he continued on with his assignment. At this, neither of you was able to contain your laughs. The sound of you both all but falling to the floor in a fit of giggles made the few people who were still in the mostly empty room scowl at you along with some groans from the incredibly tired students. 

“Fuck this, let’s go,” you said, gasping to regain your breath from the laughter. Quickly you packed up all your stuff as Mingyu snickered behind you still. And you went, leaving the chocolate Mingyu had brought you for Vernon, as a sort of apology for wherever trauma you two had given him. 

Your plans for the evening could not wait for your assignment to be done you thought as you dragged your boyfriend and your bag out of the library to properly celebrate Valentine’s at home where you could show him just how grateful you were. 

.・゜✭・..・。.・゜✭・. .・。.・゜✭・..・。.・゜✭・..・。.・゜✭・..・。.・゜✭・.

Reblogging and commenting is highly appreciated!! Hearing what you thought is what makes writing and being here overall so much fun! Ty and ily 💕

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[freeworldallahexecutivembaclass]

I can't believe that I'm Keeanu Reeves I remember Killeen Texas in the heart of Texas 1995 my pops box of movies was the movie speed classic I must of watch it so many many times he always washing his car and PT physical training in Fort hood Texas we lived off base man that was my favorite movie for him to be me as Neo in the Matrix series and then John wick in his John Wick series I said wow thank you so much truly with tears in my eyes I cry too much my bad with all I been through in life man thank you man I love it man I feel great give it up for Keeanu Reeves remember him from the movie speed no beard no mustache that's him all of our favorite movie star playing as me in the Matrix series and the John Wick series thank you so much I'm honored I will cherish it for the rest of my life . On another issue somebody control me and is destroying me from now on I promise to not use profanity or disrespect anyone or use any racist slander towards any one people I don't like it and it don't fit me I love the way New York City is multicultural diversity is the best thing ever , I love it , I love people I love the sunlight I love people I love books that is why I have my own library now and hospital soon I will get a children's Mental health hospital in my honor next but in honor of me cleaning my act up on this computer I will give myself a break and chill out for a day and really think about the people that I love that is looking at me like we suppose to be friends you can't carry on conversations like that on a computer like Joyce Meyer I want her to be like she has the task of breaking the curse on me Free World also known as Allen Henry and that I made it through that curse the voodoo on my life and be the first that I know to break that I already accomplished everything else even my best friend Joel Osteen and his wife Victoria they believe in me and believe I could pull through I don't want to be a disaster no more I want to be able to say yeah I may have had a not so sunny start in life but look at all I accomplished without the unnecessary curse words the profanity and disrespecting words about women that just pushes women more away from me and I do love women I love women bro they are fine all of them every man loves all women no matter what but seriously I got people that I love that I want to respect me as a good man a good person I love them I'm going to fall back today and get some rest and back to the outside world tomorrow I apologize and love my brother 50 Cent I love your stuff bro keep going . I'm getting to myself and leaving the Nation of Islam ministers in charge of the black politics and on subjects of that matter the black community isolated issues and their audience that follow that I love your book Nuri Muhammad a well made man I bought it paid for it very good book I love it you guys seem to be the crowd favorite and you get along with people I couldn't so I will leave to your audience so I get to live my life now and walk off in the sunset 🌇 , thanks to the public it has been great and glad I was able to help to help redeem myself from all my mistakes in the past , I love you mom and yes I will be taking my offer from Jay it is a gimmick though a role a script I'm playing as Sir and a whole series from that again I'm getting my rest to calm down and break this spell wish me luck that I pull through to be the first to win against being a target by the media , FBI and NYPD that is what 50 Cent is saying to me in his new movie I caught them building a case against me they got me as a bad force in this world bad energy and shout out to Nas I still got love for the brother my big Brother Nas I love my big brother Nasir Jones that's not gay I'm not gay anyway I'm gone I gotta break this curse on my life like Batman in Dark knight rises I love the ladies only women for me thanks only the ladies and I'm keeping my accomplishments hopefully see you when I'm healthy full functioning properly and individually myself again if I ever was but goodbye and thanks for letting me help the people .

[basicallywhiterice]

countdown (na jaemin)

pairing: na jaemin x reader

genre: fluff. friends to lovers, college!au

summary: The three times you should have made a move, the two times you tried to, and the one time you didn’t need to.

word count: 1.5k

warnings: cussing

a/n: alternatively titled “haechan being both the best and worst wingman to grace the face of the earth”

i. Three times you should have made a move.

“Hey! Jaemin! Over here,” Haechan shouts, waving at a boy clad in an oversized flannel across the dining hall. He turns, lighting up when he waves back, and all but runs over from the dish drop-off section.

“He’s my roommate,” Haechan introduces once Jaemin is in earshot. “Jaemin, this is y/n. Y/n, Jaemin,” Haechan introduces.

He’s cute, you notice immediately, his floppy hair swept to the side messily. Almost as quickly, you dispel the thought and do your best not to stare, extending a hand for him to shake on instinct. “Nice to meet you, Jaemin. So you’re the roommate who keeps losing his AirPods?”

In the second your hand hangs there, empty, you have enough time to go through all five stages of grief. You blundered in front of Haechan’s unfairly attractive roommate you’ll no doubt see again, about his AirPods? You prepare to draw your hand back and smooth it over your hair to relieve the awkwardness of rejected handshake.

Then Jaemin shakes your hand, eyes crinkling up as he beams. If you thought he was cute before, you’re a goner once his smile is directed at you. “Nice to meet you too, y/n. And yeah, that’s me. Were you the one who convinced him to get me the glow-in-the-dark Among Us case? That was honestly the best housewarming gift I’ve ever gotten.”

“Hey, that was all his idea. Besides convincing him to spend an extra dollar on the glow-in-the-dark, I played no part in it.”

“I’m sure. In any case, you have excellent taste. Thank you for picking it out.” He turns to converse with Haechan, but you don’t hear the rest of what he says over the sound of you putting your foot in your mouth.

As soon as he walks away, you collapse into a heap of regret on the table. “Why didn’t you tell me your new roommate was hot before we got the gag gift?” you groan. “God, how am I supposed to flirt with him after that?”

“You just met the guy, relax,” Haechan reassures, taking a bite out of his sandwich. “Stop overreacting,” he mumbles around a mouthful of his BLT.

You raise your head to glare at him for being your voice of reason, and he wiggles his eyebrows.

“You like him already, huh? Don’t worry, he actually thought the case was funny. You’re fine.”

You bury your face in your hands in lieu of responding.

Jaemin is in your Algorithms class, you come to learn, likes useless trinkets more than you do, and vehemently opposes your dislike of coffee.

“Just try it,” he coaxes when he orders his second americano in an hour. “Haechan likes it, and you trust him, right?”

“With my life,” you deadpan as you both glance across the library to observe his attempts to flirt with the junior making his Starbucks order. He drops his straw when he gestures with his right hand, and you both snicker when he bends down to pick it up. “Actually, I think I’ll pass.”

Jaemin shrugs, taking a short sip from his cup before wincing and fanning his tongue. “Maybe you’re right. Anyways, which block did you want me to read?”

You show him, making edits as he comments on your code, and thank him once the block is fixed.

“No problem,” he grins. “Let me know if anything else is confusing. I’m happy to help.”

Just as you open your mouth to start the ritual of asking for his number, Haechan interrupts. “I got their number,” he announces, setting his phone down firmly between you and Jaemin and holding out his hands for a high five.

You sigh and half-heartedly slap his right hand despite your annoyance. At least one of you can be lucky in love, even if it comes at the expense of the other person.

“What’s the most common fear you have?” you ask Jaemin, tracing the outline of a cloud against the pale blue sky with your finger.

“What do you mean?” he asks, turning to lie on his side. You drop your hand to rest on his beige blanket and meet his questioning glance.

“Like spiders, public speaking, dying single… what’re your fears that are common?”

He squints as a strong gust of wind blows his hair into his face. “I think you’re overexaggerating how common the intense fear of dying single is.”

“Why?” you ask, not entirely sure why you’re pressing him about this. “Are you not afraid of it?”

“Hm, I guess I’m a lot more scared of dying alone than dying single. What are your thoughts?”

A fleeting semblance of a pickup line involving the two of you and not being single surfaces in your brain, but it never reaches coherence. Instead, you respond, “Heights, probably.”

And rejection, you sadly add in your head. Definitely rejection.

ii. Two times you tried to make a move.

“Hey, did I spell this right?”

When you lean over to read Jaemin’s meticulously written flashcard, your knee bumps into his. He mumbles an apology but makes no move to shift his leg. You stay like that, reviewing your notes for your last midterm together, until Haechan opens the door to his dorm and you scoot to different places on the couch.

“Hey Jaemin!” Haechan calls when he’s halfway in the bathroom. “Don’t forget about the trash,” he reminds, closing the door.

“Oh shit, one sec!” Jaemin hollers back. You wince at the volume, and he sheepishly turns toward you. “Sorry. Gotta take out the trash once he’s done,” he gestures, hand sweeping outwards before he knocks a couch pillow over.

Before he can fix it, you blurt, “Take me out while you’re at it too,” without missing a beat.

He doesn’t have time to react before you start laughing it off awkwardly. You don’t want to—damn it, why can’t you just be direct—but the fear of rejection overrides your confidence.

“Funny, right? Because of how ‘take out’ has different meanings? I’m hilarious, I know.”

He stares at you for a second too long before letting out a delayed chuckle. Haechan spares you the awkwardness of hearing his reply when he exits the bathroom and sits down between both of you, though, and Jaemin leaves with the trash soon after.

“Nice save, Casanova,” Haechan grins as soon as Jaemin steps out, reclining back into the couch. His Cheshire-Cat-esque smirk only grows when you reach over to smack him with the knocked-over pillow. “Wanna get take out once he gets back?”

You throw the pillow in his face this time. “I’m never coming back here again.”

You find yourself waiting outside their dorm exactly twelve days later when your code won’t run after two hours of debugging and neither of them will answer your texts.

“Asshole,” you shoot at Haechan when he opens the door. “Please help me.”

“Tough luck. I’ve got a date tonight,” he says, smug.

“Why didn’t you tell me? I would’ve helped you pick a better outfit than that,” you critique, glancing at his plain button-up shirt.

“Chill, I haven’t layered anything yet. And Jaemin picked it out, so good luck convincing him to help you debug. And getting a date with him. Coward.”

“You say that like you didn’t interrupt us the first time I was trying to get his number,” you whisper.

“And you act like you would’ve met him without me.”

“Touché.”

“Who’s getting a date with me?” Jaemin calls from his desk, pushing up his glasses and frowning at his computer.

“Me,” you call back, and he glances up, eyes widening when he sees it’s you. Ignoring Haechan’s impressed “damn,” you walk over to the chair next to Jaemin. “I’ll help you debug if you help me?”

“You want me to—help you debug? No way,” he says, and for a moment, you regret your boldness. “How’d you know I was dying over coding too?” he continues, and your worries disappear.

“Just a hunch,” you shrug. Haechan leaves when the two of you are hunched over your laptops, elbows brushing gently enough to make it look like an accident.

iii. One time you didn’t need to make a move.

“Y/n?”

You look up, halting your check of Jaemin’s backpack to make sure he hasn’t forgotten his AirPods again. “Yeah?”

His ears are tinged with pink and he can’t quite meet your eyes, but he looks like he’s trying his best to do so anyways. “Would… you… like to go out with me on Thursday? Maybe for dinner if you have time?”

You blink, holding your breath for three seconds just in case you misheard or he’s joking. Neither seems to be the case. “On a date?”

“Yes.” He nods. “Yes, a date.” He fidgets with the hem of his shirt. You smile, and he stops.

Silently, you count down from three before answering to avoid blurting out your answer, but it comes out with the same level of enthusiasm nonetheless.

“I’d love to.”

[tomtenadia]

My Thursday crush

Rowaelin month - Day 4 - Library or librarians

It was a nice spring day in Orynth and Rowan was slowly walking to work. Headphones on and a book in his hands. He had developed the skill of reading and walking to the point of perfection.

His friends made fun of him but he always replied that if it was socially acceptable for people to walk with their faces in their phones and not paying attention, then a book was surely better. And he never bumped into anyone.

He stopped at the coffee shop around the corner from his job and got his usual order, placed the thermos in the backpack and walked the last stretch.

The library was still closed and it was his job to open it. He had volunteered for the morning shifts since he was a morning person and was happy to open up.

Once he was inside he went through the motions of opening up for day and getting the library ready. Rowan switched on the public computers and then did a walkthrough to make sure everything was looking good. He found a few books abandoned in places where they did not belong and groaned. He loved his job, he loved books. 

He had a degree in library studies and once graduated he applied and got a job at Orynth main public library. The place was huge and he had grown up visit the building a lot. He had started using it thanks to his mum who had passed her love for books to him. That love never left him and growing up he realised he wanted a job where he could spend his day with books. But people? People annoyed him. The way they would just abandon books after using them, or the way they sometimes they would not respect the peace of a library. He was not a people person. 

He grunted again and placed the books back where they belonged. Then he growled savagely when he noticed one abandoned on a chair, upside down, spine broken and a dog ear on one page as bookmark. Some people deserved to have their library card cut to pieces.

At 9am on the dot he opened up and welcomed his morning regulars “Good morning mrs MacLeod.”

“Oh, good morning, Rowan darling. Is my book here?”

He smiled at the woman and went to the shelf where they kept the returns that had been booked by someone else and grabbed her book.

“Yes,” he passed it to her “it was returned yesterday and we set it aside for you.”

The woman gave him a huge smile and he finished the loan procedure “I hope you will like it. It’s a nice story.”

“I am sure I will, darling. You always recommend me good books.”

He helped her to the door and went back to work, preparing the loan requests they had got online. A wide smile spread on his face at the name he saw on the list. He was not a fan of people but there was one person whose presence he had started to enjoy deeply. She was another regular and a bookworm like him. She had told him that she had to get some of her books from the library to avoid going broke on payday. He had laughed at the joke because it was the same for him.

She was a teacher and on Thursdays she was off and would always visit the library to return a book and get a new one. They would talk about what they were reading and he discovered they had the same tastes and he had been reading a lot of her recommendations. She was just obsessed with books as he was. Rowan had started to admit to himself that he was crushing on her. She had stolen his heart when one day she came to the desk and complained, outraged, that the book she wanted to borrow had a coffee stain on a page. They had raged for ten minutes together at the animals and his heart skipped a beat. It did help as well that the woman was stunning. Her hair was a deep gorgeous blonde and she had the most incredible blue eyes with an unusual ring of gold. Yes, he was definitely a fool in love and Thursdays were his favourite day of the week. Since she started visiting he had never had another Thursday off.

***

Aelin had a bad morning already. She had gone to the gym and found it closed for some obscure reason. Then an idiot on his phone bumped into her and made her spill her coffee. She had shouted a large list of expletives at the savage and left. It was Thursday and she could not let anything ruin her favourite day of the week. She was on her way to the library to collect the book she had reserved. But if she was to be honest to herself, she was looking forward to see Rowan. The librarian had become one of his favourite people, although they only meet once a week, her time spent with him talking about books was always precious. 

It did help that the man was hot. As in so unbelievably handsome that he was so out of her league. In the months they had interacted she had developed a crush on him and not just for his unique features. He had short silver hair and the deepest pine green eyes and the days he rolled his sleeves up to his elbows she had spotted a wonderful tattoo in the old language. He had an incredible nice build and tanned skin. He was hotness incarnated. A heart attack on two legs.

Knowing her luck with men, he was happily married, although on a closer inspection she had not spotted a wedding ring. Well, probably a super hot fiancee. She definitely stood no chance with him.

But she had liked him as well because he was smart and loved books just as fiercely she did. He was always ready to suggest some new titles and all his recommendations had been spot on. She had enjoyed every single book. A part of her wished she’d have the courage to ask him out and talk about books perhaps in front of a coffee. Aelin was actually curious to discover what else he liked.

Twenty minutes later she finally reached the public library. She loved that building and her parents had nudged her towards becoming a bookworm. They would read to her and once she was able to read alone, they would gladly buy all the books she wanted. Her childhood home also had a proper library and she would spend hours in there travelling with her imagination. 

She stared at the building and finally walked in. She climbed the marble stairs and reached the adult lending library section. On the lower floor they had an area all dedicated to kids.

She opened the glass doors and her eyes went straight to the desk scanning the area for a head of silver hair. Sadness hit her when she did not see him around. It really was going to be the day from hell. She walked to the fiction section and as she turned the corner around a stack of shelves she crashed into someone. What was with her and crashing into people today?

She was about to apologise when she looked up and noticed who she had bumped into. It was Rowan. Gods, even his name was perfect. That day he was wearing a blue shirt, the sleeves rolled up to the elbows, jeans and a pair of rimless glasses. She had so many improper thoughts.

“Aelin, sorry I didn’t see you…” his voice thick with his accent from Wendlyn. 

“Hi,” she managed, trying to bring her feelings under control “I thought you were off. I came in and you were not around.” Oh she sounded like a lovestruck teenager.

“I was placing some books back on the shelves.” He indicated the pile in his arms.

Aelin spotted one of the titles “that is a great story. I read it about five times already.” Pointing to a specific title.

Rowan had a look at the book and read the blurb “I’ll set it aside.”

“You look good with glasses.” She blurted out and then blushed. She was flirting like a moron.

He gave her a smile that reached his eyes and her heart skipped a beat. Gods, the things she’d do to him…

“I have the book you reserved, by the way,” and he started walking back to the counter and she followed. 

Aelin gave him her card and he processed the loan for her “you know the drill, right?”

“I am going home and spill coffee all over it.” Had it been someone else she knew he would have been horrified but that had become their inside joke. He knew she would never do anything of the sort.

***

Rowan processed her loan and took that moment to think about a good way to ask her out for coffee although he was afraid he was going to get a crushing rejection. She was probably taken already. A woman like her was definitely not single. Plus, she was definitely out of his league. He was about to ask her but froze and decided to leave it.

“I’ll just go and have a look around.” She told him, and he knew she was trying to put some distance between them. How could he even hope she would fall for him? He was the most boring man on earth. That was what Lyria had said when she dumped him. He sighed heavily and went back to his job but his gaze followed Aelin through the bookshelves. In his head he had different conversations he wanted to try. He usually was quite good and in the past he had picked up his share of women in pubs. But with Aelin it was different. He did not want to pass as a pig. All he wanted to tell her was that he found her attractive and fascinating and take her out for a coffee. Then he had an idea.

He walked to a shelf and picked a book that he knew she’d love. He was planning on recommending it to her another time but that was now his tool for his plan.

He scribbled down a note on a post it and placed it in the book, then walked to her “I was meaning to recommend you this one. Loads of angst but it’s a great story, and the female main character is just as badass as you like it. I already checked it out for you.”

The smile she gave him left him breathless “Thank you, Rowan. That’s why you are my favourite librarian.”

Eventually she had to leave and he wished it was Thursday already.

***

It was later in the afternoon when she got home after all her errands. She took her two books from her messenger bag and flipped through the one Rowan had given her until she spotted something bright green through the pages. She reached the post it note and read it.

I think you are perfect and a very fascinating woman. I will eagerly wait for next Thursday. Hopefully you will let me take you out for a coffee. Rowan.

She squealed in delight and texted Lysandra straight away to tell her about the message Rowan had left her. Rowan, the hottest librarian in the whole of Orynth wanted to go out for coffee with her. She could not believe it was happening, and she had to wait until next Thursday. She was off on Saturday but she had no idea if Rowan worked. She could try, she was so impatient to see him again that waiting was not an option.

***

Rowan got home later that night, got changed and crashed on the sofa and noticed the book abandoned there. It was one of the many Aelin had recommended to him. It was a great story, she definitely had great taste. He grabbed the book and thought about Aelin and the message he had left her. He had been so stupid. It was not high school, they were both adults and leaving messages like a lovestruck teenager was beyond pathetic. He should have talked to her like human beings did. He ran a hand through his hair and leaned back against the sofa. He had probably blown every chance with her. Who would ever go out with a guy who couldn’t even ask a girl out?

The following Thursday

Rowan had opened the library as usual but on that day a sense of unease was making him nervous. He still could not think about the stupid move about putting a message in a book for Aelin. He was positive she was going to ignore him the next time, or stop visiting altogether.

The morning had been busy with new applicants, his usual customers and an avalanche of requests to set books aside. Panic caught him when he saw one from Aelin. Which meant she was coming in and he was not ready. What could he say to her? Sorry I am bad at talking to people so I write secret messages like a teenager? He was embarrassed and he was not ready when he spotted her golden mane of hair appear at the main entrance. He tried to hide but she had spotted him and was now walking towards him with a huge grin. His heart started racing. Was just an impression or she was more gorgeous than usual?

Rowan saw her come to the desk and diligently wait for her turn while he finished serving the three people in front of her.

“Hi stranger,” she said to him once it was her turn.

Rowan felt a savage blush rise on his face “Hi you. I assume you are here for your book.”

Aelin nodded and passed him her library card “and for a coffee date.”

Rowan froze halfway to the computer. He cleared his voice “so you saw my message.”

“And I loved the idea. It reminded me of one of the books I read recently where one of the guard is in love with the princess, they are both bookworms and leave each other messages in books because they need to keep their relationship a secret.”

Rowan smiled “You got me. I took the idea from that book.”

The smile she gave him had the power to almost knock the breath out of his lungs.

“I don’t have school on Saturday. Fancy going out for a coffee?”

Rowan nodded “do you know the coffee shop around the corner from here?”

Aelin nodded in assent “I love that place.”

“I am off this Saturday, so if you want we can go then. It would be lovely to know more about my favourite customer.”

She took a step closer to him, only the counter separating them “favourite customer, eh?”

“Well, the one who gets outraged at people mistreating books. The one who understands my pain.”

Aelin cackled and her hand brushed his when she grabbed the card he was returning to her. 

“I have only one condition.” He added softly.

“Hm?”

“You let me pay. You can scoff as many pastries as you want. It’s my treat.”

She leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek “it’s a date.”

When she pulled back she noticed his beautiful green eyes set on her. Maybe she had been too forward?

He grabbed a piece of paper and scribbled something down “my number.”

Aelin grabbed the piece of paper happily and winked at him “Now I have to go. I have loads to do.”

Rowan was sad at the idea “Of course. I will see you Saturday, then?”

“Saturday.” Her heart raced and then walked out of the library thinking that she could not wait two more days before seeing him again.

Rowan followed her with his gaze, happy that she had appreciated and understood the message idea. His hand touched the spot on the cheek that she had kissed and he was positive he was grinning like a lunatic.

They had a coffee date. He could not believe his luck.

But most of all he could not wait for Saturday.

He went to the stacks, looked for a specific book and checked it out under his name, then scribbled a message on a post it and placed it in the book and set it aside.

Ready for Aelin.

She was his Thursday crush.

[sanderssidesfanfiction]

If There’s a Place I Could Be - Chapter Thirty Six

If There’s a Place I Could Be Tag

June 23rd, 1998

“Hey, kid!” a protester yelled rather loudly as Emile was walking by.

Emile paused and turned to the guy. “Can I help you, sir?” he asked.

“You’re too young to be throwing away your life like this! You’re condemning yourself and you can’t be more than what, eighteen?”

“I’m seventeen, and Catholic, and pretty sure I’m going to Heaven no matter what you say,” Emile said.

The man sneered and Emile felt his stomach sink. There were others joining the man, all seeming ready to argue with him. Someone grabbed his arm and he looked over. Faith was guiding him away by the elbow. “C’mon, Emile, those types don’t even deserve the time of day.”

Emile turned to look back at the man, who was glaring at him until some other poor person walked up and he resumed his shouting at them. He winced. “Are there always people like that?” he asked.

“Not by the entrance, usually,” Faith said. “But yeah. One day, though, they’ll be the minority of the situation.”

  June 1st, 2001

Emile was doing the dishes in their apartment with a small smile on his face. Ever since they had gotten back from Emile’s parents, Remy had been acting a lot more animated: getting excited about cooking, going off on tangents about how nice Emile’s parents were, them introducing him to badminton properly, Emile’s mom’s garden and how she grew a few ingredients to use in recipes (and asking if they could translate that to the apartment because then we wouldn’t have to pay for groceries as much, Emile! which Emile was still skeptical about).

It was a Friday, but Emile was officially out of school for the summer, which was very exciting. He could spend more time with Remy because working part time meant they both had a couple times a week where they would have nowhere in particular to be. He paused in washing. It was Friday, but it was also the start of June. Pride month. Emile had been to a pride parade or two, but he doubted that Remy had. And if they were careful, they could go out to one to celebrate!

He grinned. Oh, he’d have to go to the library and get on one of the computers to see if he could find a good pride parade nearby. He definitely wanted to introduce Remy to the joy that was pride parades!

As the last of the dishes in their apartment were drying, Remy walked in with his signature “work was awful” sigh. Emile strode over and gave Remy a light hug. “Hello, my love,” he said. “Would you be willing to go with me to the public library today?”

“I mean, I guess,” Remy sighed. “I’m really tired, though. Would it take long?”

“That depends,” Emile said with a shrug. “I’m not sure how easily I could get access to whichever site the pride parade information might be on.”

“Pride...parade?” Remy asked.

“Yeah, I wanted to take you to one. I figured you’d never gone before, and it’s super fun, and you get to be yourself with no judgement,” Emile said.

Remy’s blank expression had Emile confused. “Emile...what’s a pride parade?” Remy asked.

Emile blinked. “Have you really never heard of a pride parade before?” he asked. “I assumed you would have never gone, but you never even heard of it?”

Remy just continued to stare blankly at Emile.

Emile took a deep breath. “Okay, okay. The short version: a pride parade is where people who are gay or bi or trans or lesbian or whatever can go and celebrate who they are without worrying about what other people will think. If we went to one in a nearby city but not here, it’s unlikely anyone you don’t want to know you’re gay would be there. And they’re super fun! They have all sorts of pretty pride flags, and sometimes they have free buttons or stickers, and you can of course buy some stuff, too, from certain vendors, once the literal parade is over but the celebration is still going on. It’s really cool and I’d love to take you.”

“Emile,” Remy held up a hand. “Information overload.”

Emile pressed his lips together but he was practically vibrating in anticipation. He really wanted Remy to come with him. Remy did that blinking thing he sometimes did as he processed information, then looked at Emile. “And no one would fire us over going to this parade?”

“If we’re careful, no one will know we went to it, and no one who’s part of the parade would ever fire you for being gay,” Emile said with certainty.

“And...there’s like, no drinking or anything involved?”

“Not if you don’t have an ID,” Emile said. “Some vendors won’t sell to you at all until you’re twenty one.”

Remy hummed in thought.

“Would you...want to drink at pride? Rem? If you were able to?” Emile asked.

“I...don’t know. Alcohol is...clearly a depressant for me, and I don’t really want to be depressed at something you find fun,” Remy said with a shrug. “Honestly drinking is...kinda boring. Like, if I had some sort of food to go with it? Maybe. That could complement the food and make the meal taste even better. But drinking on its own is...eh. Not interesting. I’d only do it if I didn’t want to remember the night I drank.”

Emile relaxed at that. He knew that a drunk Remy had plenty of issues both with memories and in whatever situation the two of them found themselves in. If Remy decided he’d rather not drink, that was one less thing that Emile would have to worry about.

Remy frowned. “You’re relieved. Why are you relieved?”

Emile forgot that Remy could read him like an open book at the most inopportune times. “It doesn’t matter, Remy. Let’s just go to the library.”

“It matters to me,” Remy said stubbornly. “Why are you relieved?”

“Remy...” Emile sighed. “This is a conversation that is doomed to be really long and I really want to get to the library before it closes.”

Remy stood his ground, searching Emile’s eyes. Emile resisted the urge to squirm. “Why are you relieved?” Remy pressed.

“I’m relieved because you don’t want to drink,” Emile said.

Remy blinked. “Do you think I’m irresponsible around alcohol?” he asked, jutting his chin out in challenge.

“I think that considering both your past with your family and your identity you’re extremely likely to develop a drinking problem in order to self-medicate. That’s not healthy. Hearing that you don’t want to drink just because is a relief. Sure, hearing that you’d use it to forget a stressful night isn’t great, but you’re not going to become addicted to alcohol because of one bad bender,” Emile said.

“I’m perfectly healthy, Emile. Sure, my life wasn’t the easiest, but I wouldn’t resort to alcoholism.”

Emile ran a hand down his face. “This is why I didn’t want to get into this,” he muttered. He kissed the crown of Remy’s head. “I know you’re smart, honey. I know you know that alcohol isn’t an answer. But that doesn’t mean it can’t look tempting after a particularly bad day.”

Remy crossed his arms and Emile knew that Remy’s stubbornness was in full swing. “You’re dangerously close to controlling territory, Emile,” he growled.

“Controlling would be guilt-tripping you into not drinking. I’m just pointing out what I think about your statements. Not trying to guilt-trip anybody,” Emile placated.

Remy continued to snarl and Emile sighed. “Rem, I’m not your...I’m not your babysitter, I can’t tell you what you can and can’t do. I’m just trying to express my thoughts. It clearly came across wrong. For that, I apologize. But I would never intentionally want to guilt-trip you.”

“You were about to say you’re not my parents,” Remy growled.

“A habit I’m trying to kick,” Emile replied smoothly.

Remy ran his hands through his hair. “I don’t like it when you say that, Emile,” he warned.

“Which is why I’m trying to kick the habit. It won’t leave overnight,” Emile said.

“It should never have taken root in the first place,” Remy accused.

“You know what? You’re right,” Emile said. “It doesn’t do anything other than upset you and try to boost my ego. I shouldn’t have started saying it. But I did. So now the only thing I can do is try and stop it.”

Remy crossed his arms, scrutinizing Emile. Eventually, he sighed. “So, the library?”

“Yeah,” Emile agreed. “I can drive us over, or we could walk. It is a pretty nice day.”

“It’s a little hot to me,” Remy said.

Emile rolled his eyes. “Well, duh, you’re always wearing that leather jacket when you go out. You’re gonna overheat in that thing.”

“It’s a price I’m willing to pay for the aesthetic,” Remy said, face expressionless.

Emile sighed and walked out the door as Remy grinned and followed him. “You worry me, Rem. Like, a lot.”

“Aw, come on, the aesthetic is amazing! It makes me look cool,” Remy said.

“I would argue it makes you look hot, and not in the attractive sense,” Emile argued, even as he kissed Remy’s cheek. “Either learn to drink more water during the summer, or lose the jacket.”

“How much water would I have to drink, exactly?” Remy asked.

“At least eight cups,” Emile said.

Remy tilted his head back and groaned. “That’s so many,” he complained.

“The price to pay for the aesthetic,” Emile teased.

Remy scowled before grabbing Emile’s shoulders and leaping on top of him. Emile squawked and nearly fell over right outside the apartment complex, where two of their more...conservative neighbors were currently walking in. Emile waved to them. “Hey, Grace, Roy! How are you?”

They didn’t reply to him, not that Emile minded. He was a little busy trying to get Remy off him. Remy was laughing maniacally as he had his legs wrapped around Emile’s torso. “Remy, Remy! Re—oof! Remy! Don’t kick there!” Emile protested.

“I wouldn’t have to kick you if you didn’t squirm so much!” Remy argued.

“I am not a jungle gym! Off! Now!” Emile shot back.

Remy sighed and put his legs down. “I didn’t hurt your back, did I?” Remy asked.

“My back? No. My kidneys? Give me three to five business days,” Emile drily replied.

Remy winced. “Sorry.”

Emile waved off his apology. “Let’s just get to the library, okay?”

They got in Emile’s car and drove over, Emile immediately heading to the queue for the computers. When he put his library card on the list, he waited for a computer to open while Remy went to look at books. As soon as he was allowed to get on a computer, he did, waving Remy over. They went online and Emile searched for local pride parades. “There’s this one we could go to, it’s two towns over,” Emile said softly.

“Two towns over still seems kinda close,” Remy murmured.

“Well, there might be protesters around but I don’t know any people out here who would go out of their way to drive over there to wave around a sign about going to Hell,” Emile said. “And we don’t want to go too far away. It would be a one-day thing, it’s not like we have the money to rent a room at a hotel.”

“Okay, that’s a valid point,” Remy muttered. “Do we have to make reservations or anything? RSVP?”

“Nope, all we have to do is show up and not bring anything they don’t allow,” Emile said, grinning. “You’re gonna have a great time, Remy, I already know it.”

Remy shifted where he stood. “I guess I have to take your word on that, because I don’t have a reference point,” he said. “But I’m still not sure.”

Emile sighed and clicked around the site, making note of what the parade did and didn’t allow. “If you don’t want to go I understand,” Emile said. “But it would be way more fun with you, and I promise it’s safe.”

Remy chewed his lip. “I really want to believe you, Emile. It’s just...it’s hard. Not because of you, necessarily. It’s just hard in general.”

“Yeah,” Emile agreed. “I was super nervous my first Pride. A few protesters got close to me, tried to shout me out of going in. But my friends kept me moving, away from them, and I had the time of my life, getting to be myself, loud and out and proud of it for just a couple hours. And I couldn’t wait to go back to it the next year.”

“And you didn’t...?” Remy paused. “You don’t worry that the protesters are right?” He was hugging himself as he softly asked, “You know you won’t go to Hell for it?”

“Honey...” Emile chewed his lip, before standing and hugging Remy tightly. “They’re wrong, they’ve always been wrong and always will be wrong. It doesn’t matter who the protesters are, either. Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, Jewish, or just plain old homophobes without much inclination towards any religion. They aren’t in the right. You won’t go to Hell for loving me or any other man. Okay?”

“Okay,” Remy said softly.

“Okay,” Emile repeated. “Now, are you going to come with me to Pride?”

Remy smiled softly and nodded. “I’ll give it a shot.”

[anikkis-fantasirealities]

“The Banquet Rooms of the Grandeur Campus”

③ Human Interest Story ┊ ʸᵒᵘ ʷʰᵒ ʸᵉᵃʳⁿˢ ᵗᵒ ᵍᵘᶦᵈᵉ ᵗʰᵉ ʸᵒᵘᵗʰ···ᵗᵒ ᵍᵉⁿᵗˡʸ ᵍᵉⁿᵉʳᵃᵗᵉ ʸᵒᵘⁿᵍ ᵍᵉⁿᵘᶦˢᵉˢ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵍʳᵃⁿᵗ ᵍᵉⁿᵉʳᵃᵗᶦᵒⁿˢ ʷᶦᵗʰ ᵍᵒᵒᵈʷᶦˡˡ·

꒰⁺˚₊·₍₍loading...₎₎ ✎...۪۫❁ཻུ۪۪ -ˏˋ 📨 ˊˎ-

༘✶ ㊉ ㈦〘 ⅯⅯ 〙⋆｡˚𓆟 ༉ ║ Posted : ０６/１５/２１° ｡༄ ‧₊˚ ๑ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤ •ଓ.° ｡❍ ㈩ ㊇

- - ——— ꒰ An article by Nicole “Nikki” Elaine S. Chua ꒱

ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ₊·͟͟͟͟͟͟͞͞͞͞͞͞➳❥ ࿐ྂ—͙❬₊° ᶦ ᵃᵐ ᵃ ᵇˡᵒᵍᵍᵉʳ ᵃᶠᵗᵉʳ ᵃˡˡ·“= ‹⸙͎

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┊ ┊ ✯

┊ . ˚ ˚✩

On a scorching afternoon where the shouting of children, chasing each other after classes have concluded, and the chattering adults have started to lock up the messy rooms, there was not one place that was quiet. I, on the other hand, had a quest to fulfill under a time limit! The red ballpen flung onto my chair desk when white sheets of paper were clenced by my thin palms. I ran outside past our broken doorstep to our class, over the pastures, and on top of stone-edged floors. Time is ticking... 4, 3, 2, and those squeaky black dull shoes made it! In opening the slim door to the right side of the room, they were like glorifying gates that screeched wide open—awaiting for my arrival. Well, it wasn’t that dramatic, but I was perspired out of sprinting under the gleaming sun. My short legs wobbling for a tiny second. The beads dripping on my worried face were shaken when I entered the room at around the size of a studio-type residence.

It was normal for me to be an errand girl who assists her class and obey her teachers with respect, no matter what school my identification card is designated to. I grew up with that kind of personality: helpful, caring, kind, diligent, and patient. Hence, these exhausted shoes have travelled to many places across gymnasiums, libraries, storage rooms, and laboratories. Though, sometimes, my mind still can’t get used to such a huge room, like that of the faculty rooms. I still become staggered over the hectic aura of the space, where long tables sat in rows, and people in pink & blue uniforms kindling the noise from the outside within. I would look around to see piles of examination papers, rolls of cartolina squeezed into a box, and scattered gadgets for teaching being charged to full energy. This is an article featuring the 𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙉𝙚𝙬 𝙀𝙧𝙖 𝙐𝙣𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙮: 𝙄𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙎𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙡.

Throughout the years I’ve walked on those narrow corridors, and climbed up stairs to different floors of the vintage buildings, I also meet ways with many generations. One generation was younger than me—that of clumsy children innocently playing in the fields endlessly. The other was of my age, those who exist with me, as they attempt to finish their studies without tilting their heads to nudges of distraction. Then, there was this generation who were much similar to us—like students in a classroom laughing and sharing stories with each other. They had the knowledge of the world in their hands. In their arms, they carry heavier packages to unbox. Though, unlike the previous generations I meet who simply stepped up and down the stairs, the prudent grown-up smiled back to me, walking slowly pass my agitated shoulder.

┏━━━━━━━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━━━━━━━┓

ㅤㅤ ❝ That room that I remember the most, ㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ was under construction before the pandemic began. ❞

┗━━━━━━━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━━━━━━━┛

I had the desire to help them lift their troubles by standing by their side, but they refuse because it is the role they signed up for, and my position had no power to be elevated to their level. Though, through these words, I know I would be able to do something to display their everyday lives behind teaching the New Era youth, giving the best advice, and serving the school with unconditional love. I was given the chance to be closer to the people who inspired me to present the compassionate self with the direction, ambition, and deduction to offer my best contribution to the world I belong to.

At the back of those generalized comforting grins and caring embraces, come their different fairytales that make the generation a community of teachers—young or old, millennial or Gen X, whatever gender and status they may have. They were a social generation, with hundred of stories to unfold and share to the youth. That was one thing I admired about them the most.

Well, I have encountered many teachers in my life since entering school, but the memory that always stick to my mind is my experiences with the teachers of New Era University: Integrated School. For some, they would cover their face when they recognize their teachers riding on a public vehicle rushing to its detination. Others simply ignore their respected educators when they spot them being at school even if the sun has already tucked in for the day.

However, I was one of those students who waves and greets them with my two-front teeth sticking out in happiness—trekking my way to school, riding shiny metallic jeepneys, and walking through scrapped walls that used to be fully painted. The inspiration flows out when I’m with them—a witness of their trials and ever-changing biographies in their very own home, the school, itself. Yes, the school becomes their shelter, figuratively, because that is how passionate they are in the path they’ve chosen to wander upon.

Then, there’s this vague image that I always remember—a banquet room where teachers eat together side-by-side during lunch breaks. The clanging of plates and utensils compliments the happy vibe of the room. The meals packed in transparent plastic bags from the canteen look fancy because of the optimistic mood all throughout the proximity in between me and the busy adults. Oh, and how could I not forget to mention the signature pancakes by New Era University: Integrated School that some teachers indulge in the most?

The giggles never end when I hear their jokes from afar, while I am walking through their room to return the checked papers I’ve finished to my Filipino teacher in Grade 10. Everyone was like workers in a castle of royalty—busy and preoccupied with their own duties, yet working towards one united purpose, that together creates a vibrant mix of emotions in the great hall. The harmonized melody it produces once the sweat and tears has finally been paid off, truly, the lunch breaks are what makes the banquet more lively. It’s a feast to behold!

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ㅤㅤ❝ Whenever I catch my name, I return it, ㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤwith my good-natured, ‘Hi po, Sir and Ma’am!’ ❞

┗━━━━━━━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━━━━━━━┛

On one side were the lockers, where old and new student’s projects filled the barren storage with interesting information. There are multiple brown wooden tables overlapped with colorful designs where groups of teachers sit together. The masters of Science sat at the bench to the wall at the right, while the experts in English stay behind a counter adjacent to the door on the right. People who speak of Filipino, Math, Computer, and MAPEH had benches next to each other in the middle of the bustling hall that was their faculty room. They are not divided, literally, for their workplaces are not distanced from one another. Each part of the table has a customized area per teacher, whose pictures of blood-related family and schedules are inserted under transparent cover—giving them motivation to carry on their sworn responsibility. However, just like BFFs who stick together, some teachers transfer to other tables to enjoy the rest of the day with their close co-faculty members.

They would talk about their personal lives, their interests, and at times, the students & problems they encounter in classes. Some gave glee, but of course, there were also those that gave headaches. That’s why whenever I am presented with a new subject teacher per grade level, I can understand if the they know me well from the narrations of the teachers who’ve handled me. They are aware of my struggles, efforts, and kindness as a pupil of New Era. They are familiarized with this face, the expression, and its body language.

Though, I am still proud that they recognize my batchmates dedication, too. Each teacher imparted values to all their children equally. There was no favoritism, and everyone gets a chance to participate. When we make mistakes, we are still accepted and loved. All this, even though they are humans who are aroused by intense feelings? No matter how impressive, or lowly we are, it is that chance to be better that we are most thankful about in this palace of high education.

All the pictures you’ve seen so far contain significant beings in my life as a student-soon-to-be-adult. That’s the magic of being someone not so known in society or history, but will remain a treasured person in your life—a special connection only you and that person understands, and not everyone else does. Even though I tend to stutter and zip my mouth when I am often in the loud banquet when I do not want to disturb the delightful get-alongs by our educators, eventually I am noticed and asked, “What are you doing here, Nicole Chua?” It’s the admiration that regardless if I was hidden or completely revealing of myself, they help me to speak out and be more confident with the adults. That is something that I also want to influence my classmates with, because these teachers outside lessons and activities are not so intimidating & looming at all!

┏━━━━━━━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━━━━━━━┓

ㅤㅤ ㅤ❝ I can recall the cooked dishes and the grades for judging, and I cherish them knowing you cannot taste them again. ❞

┗━━━━━━━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━━━━━━━┛

They are friendly, approachable, and absolutely considerate of the many kids they manage from Mondays to Fridays. Off campus is a different story that I can’t personally share for the privacy of their lives, though I would say it’s rough. It’s rough to come back home—to take care of your very own children while finishing school records, bringing along the stress from work into their real dwelling. They are not just mothers and fathers of the campus that caters hundreds of beautiful princes and princesses. They are also parents worried of their own children’s future.

The sicknesses, the loans, the quarrels, and the trickling hourglass—all this is what they must face in the cold, dry evenings. They are vulnerable to all these things that makes them a part of reality, and not just some fantasy with no flaws. It didn’t matter if they were in the coordinator’s office, the cookery laboratory, the office in the second floor, or that special place on the fourth floor. I was there to hear their encounters with their rude children, or the sweet marriage they had. If I clean harder, dart quicker, and volunteer even more, I can appreciate them who were not supernatural beings veiled in fiction. They sacrifice for that hope, that they will teach the next generations how to educate those after them, and those before them. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝙥𝙖𝙨𝙨 𝙤𝙣 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙢𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙢𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙤𝙨 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺.

One time, I was holding onto the dream of being a part of the school’s newspaper—it was my “𝗛𝗨𝗗𝗬𝗔𝗧” to fulfill the vision, reflected by that tender link I had with that story. The tension was still on me when I came to the opening. I had no clue why I felt that way, even if I’ve entered too many banquet halls at that point. Though, I was determined to open that door and introduce myself with the passion I had. She was someone I did not know so much back then, but now, I’m writing this article because of her instruction. Her proficient Filipino words, and the lectures she offered to us. There was the excitement, the uplifting compliments, and the will to keep on writing. This may be the last time that we will be coupled for education, but I’m hoping to see our names as staff on the front page. Am I too much, or was that a mysterious ending?

Teachers in general only want the best for their learners, for influencing their lives is the greatest fulfillment. They can be strict or relatable, but together, they spend the rest of the day in the banquet room, merrily toasting for a job well done. In this monumental learning institution, many important people shall rise and do their part in society, away from the fairytales and fictional playtime. Perhaps, next time, if you can also observe your own school’s faculty room, you can hear their stories—the sounds of a feast, and assist them in preparing for the afternoon festivities.

I hope you were able to see the beautiful reality of the teachers of New Era University: Integrated School with my own eyes. Do greet them hello, or help them in your tiny acts the next time you see them, and it will definitely brighten their day. Thank you for reading their ordinary tales! Come back again in another blog where my fantasies become realities! A Nikki reminder: let’s help one another to rise up to success, instead of degrading one another to failure!

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ㅤㅤㅤㅤ ❝ It’s the ultimate desire, and yet I felt so anxious, ㅤㅤ ㅤbut now we’re so close, yet so far between screens. ❞

┗━━━━━━━━━━━━༻❁༺━━━━━━━━━━━━┛

· * ✫ * ⊹ * ˚ . . 　　· ⋆ * . * . . · . · . * · . · · + . ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤ· ** ˚ . . + 　　· ⋆ * . * . . · . · . *

ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ. . + 　· ⋆ * . * . . · . · .˚ ⊹ · * ✧ ⋆ · * . · . · · .. . .

ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤ· + ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ· * ✫ * ⊹ * ˚

ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ · ** ˚ . . + ㅤㅤ　· ⋆ * . * . . · . · .˚ ⊹ · * ✧

ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ⋆ · * . · ㅤㅤ . · · .. . . · + .

ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤ. · + . *

ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤ ⋆ * . * . .

ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤ ㅤ . · ·

ㅤㅤ﹙dedication. ﹚ ୨˚୧ ˚ ༘♡.↳ ₊˚‧

This blog is dedicated to “I am a Teacher,” for her patience, remarks, rainbow scarfs, adorable dogs, and wonderful words given to me. You are My Most Precious Treasure in this writing journey, from blandness to vividness.

ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ﹋﹋﹌﹌﹌「 🧁 」﹌﹌﹌﹋﹋

ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤ ㅤㅤㅤ ┊彡 Credits

➥ Cover Edit

➫ Ma’am JB

ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ

➥ First Blog Divider

➫ Sir Leo

ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ

➥ Second Blog Divider

➫ Ma'am Eva

ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ

➥ Third Blog Divider

➫ Sir Prince

ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ

➥ Fourth Blog Divider

➫ Sir Prince

ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ

➥ Fifth Blog Divider

➫ Teacher Med

ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ

➥ Source of Information

➫ The author’s encounters

➫ Briefly shared stories by her teachers

ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ﹋﹋﹌﹌﹌「 end. 」﹌﹌﹌﹋﹋

ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ⭆ Back to Homepage ⭅

⇦ Previous Blogㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤ Next Blog ⇨

[meanwhilebackinthestacks]

*sigh*

So, we made it almost four months in my public library since reopening without having a patron explode on us about our mask policy.

So we require patrons to wear masks while inside the building, but we do offer minimal contact alternatives for picking up holds, printing, copying, and faxing if they have a medical condition that prevents them from wearing a mask or if they are uncomfortable entering the library. Or as I like to think of it “You can’t linger in the library without a mask.” We even have a stash of different sizes of homemade face masks a staffer made that we can give out to patrons who don’t have one with them, but who still need to use our facilities. So far, our patrons have been lovely and understanding.

This week we had a gentleman come in without a mask who ignored desk staff when we tried to get his attention to let him know about the mask policy. When he came up to get a pass for our public computers, I told him our mask policy and explained that we couldn’t let him on a computer without one, and let him know that we did have masks that we could give him to use while he was here and keep.

This man was not having it. He came right up to the desk and leaned over it (yay for physical intimidation) to tell me it was illegal to ask him to wear a mask, that he has a physical disability (gestured to cane), and that what we were doing was harassment. My desk supervisor senses started tingling and I knew this was probably going to turn into A Thing.

When I tried explaining to this gentleman that we were just following the state orders from the governor in regards to masks and that if he needed anything printed we could do it at the desk for him, he lost it. Long story short, he quickly began shouting about harassment, illegal-ness, and sueing the library (my favorite quote from this spiel, “I wrote the book on COVID 19! I AM COVID 19!”).

At this point I was like nope, this probably isn’t salvageable, and did my “sir, if you don’t back away from the desk and stop yelling I’m going to have to ask you to leave the library,” bit.

Woooooo boy no. This man starts cussing me out personally and threatening to see me get fired. Queue “Sir, I’m going to have to call the Sheriff’s Office if you don’t stop and leave the building” (Our library is right next to the courthouse and the Sheriff’s office is right down the street). This man tells me to go ahead and call the sheriff so he can report the library for harassment. Awesome! I have this patron’s consent to call the police. So, as I call the non-emergency number for the Sheriff’s office and start explaining the situation, the man continues to yell and cuss me out while I’m on the phone (which the deputy I’m talking to can hear in the background).

Finally, after I hang up, this man seems to realize an officer is probably on their way, and begins walking out the doors, all the while cursing my name and the library.

A shout out to all my fellow library staffer who came out front to have my back in case things went really south, and to the couple of patrons who were in the library for this whole scene and came up to the desk afterwards to tell us how awesome we are and how much they appreciate what we do.

Lesson of the story: please don’t be mean to librarians or library staff, or any customer service or retail workers, for enforcing health and safety measures.

We are extremely nice and understanding about everything, and we really are doing our best to make sure we can service our patrons as best we can. We just ask you to be respectful and understanding in return.

[girl-with-cat-eyes]

The Father-In-Law From Hell

Summary: Virgil Spinoza has found the perfect man in Thomas Sanders and is so excited to marry him. But can he survive Roman, his new father-in-law?

A/N: Do I have 2 other chapter fics going? Yes. Should I focus on them? Probably. Did I watch Monster-In-Law and get ideas and write this in once sitting? Absolutely. So here we are. I have too many ideas for thvi rom coms. Tell me what you think and send me a message if you want to be added to the taglist. 

~

    Virgil Spinoza loved watching the sun rise. The world was quiet and he could sit and watch the world wake up and write. That was precisely what he was doing this morning. Writing and drinking his coffee. He loved quiet mornings. 

    “Girl, you would not BELIEVE the cutie I got with last night”, Well scratch that about it being quiet. 

    “Remy, what are you doing here? I need to get ready for work.”, Virgil sighed and turned towards his neighbor and best friend. 

    “Honey, I needed caffeine. I’m all out of coffee. And I got the all the gossip for you.”, the man in question hopped onto his bed, “You should have seen this guy, V. He was exactly your type. I would have set you up but you didn’t come.”

    “You know that clubs aren’t really my thing.”, Virgil began gathering his things as he rushed towards the door, “I need to get to the library.”

    Remy snatched his laptop just Virgil went to grab it, “Is this your new chapter? Let me see it!!”

    Virgil scrambled to grab the laptop away before the other man could read what he wrote, “No no no, you can’t read it yet. It’s not done yet.”

    “Fine, fine. But I want to read it as soon as it’s done.”, He nodded at Remy and began heading towards the door.

    “Ok, I’ve got to head to the library now. But you stay and read my diary.”

    “Can do will do.”, Virgil was halfway out the door when he heard Remy shout, “Hey could you help me and Patton tonight? A server called off”.

    “Sure thing. Just text me the address and the time.”, with that the young man left to start another day. 

~

    Working at a library was usually an easy job. Virgil had been volunteering there since high school. He continued to work there once his books became popular because he liked the regulars. They had known him for years now and tended to be sweet and kind. But just like any job where you work with the public, Virgil saw his fair share of assholes. 

    After being berated for 10 minutes by an old lady because the book she wanted was already checked out, Virgil felt ready to either scream or cry. Instead he did neither, choosing to take a quick break to calm his nerves before shelving returned books. He did his job almost automatically, working through the plot kinks of his latest novel. It was the third book in a series he was writing and he wanted to foreshadow the death of a character. 

    In hindsight it was because of this that Virgil didn’t notice that someone was behind him until he felt a tap on his shoulder. He jumped, turning around to see a man staring at him with a sheepish smile. The one thought that Virgil had was that he was gorgeous. He was only slightly taller than him, with dark brown eyes and a similar shade of hair. 

    “I’m sorry for interrupting you, but do you work here? I saw you shelving books and I’m a little lost.”

    He blinked and tried to gather his thoughts, “Um yeah I do. Sorry I just didn’t see you. What did you need to find?”

    “Well I was looking for where the Young Adult Fiction section is?”

    “Two shelves down and to the right. Near the computers.”

    “Thank you so much.”, the stranger started walking in that direction before turning, “I’m sorry for scaring you by the way.”

    “I-it’s ok. I wasn’t the one paying attention.”

    By the time Virgil was finished shelving books the man was gone. 

~ 

    The party was already in full swing when Virgil got there. He could hear the music and conversation flowing into the kitchen. He ran in and gave Patton and Remy a quick hug before putting on an apron. “I’m so sorry I’m late, I helped close at the library today. And then I almost couldn’t find this place.”

    Patton silenced him with a look, “It’s ok, thank you so much. Aria had to call off sick. She’s pregnant you know and the morning sickness is intense.”

    “So what do you need me to do first?”

    Remy handed him a tray, “We need you to pass out these crostinis.”, Virgil took the tray and began to head out when he saw him. The stranger from the library. He turned around in a panic. 

    “Oh god it’s him!”

    Both of his friends turned around, “Who?”

    Virgil indicated to the man standing out in the middle of the floor, “Him. He came into the library today.”

    Patton gave him a look, “That guy. That’s Thomas Sander’s: this is his welcome home party. He just came back from starring in a Broadway show in New York. Why? Did he do something-”

    “No it’s not that. He just.. really cute.”

    “Oh my god. You have a crush!”, Remy piped up, “It’s about damn time. You haven’t been laid in forever.”

    Virgil rolled his eyes and walked out. Passing out crostinis was easy; the most he had to do was answer questions about allergens, which he understood seeing as he was allergic to nuts. Eventually he made his way over to group Thomas was with, where one of his friends appeared to be recounting a story. 

    “So his castmate completely forget their lines, and Thomas here doesn’t miss a beat. He just improvs the entire scene from scratch.”

    “Joan stop, you’re embarrassing me.”, Virgil stood on the edge of the conversation, listening. He was going to ask if any of them wanted a crostini but he didn’t want to interrupt them. 

    A man with a goatee looked at him, “Is there something you need?”

    He startled and went to leave before the other person who had been speaking- Virgil thought their name was Joan- spoke up, “What are those?”

    “Oh, they’re crostinis. Would you like one.”

    The man with the goatee gave him a glare, “No, I think we’re ok.”

        Virgil went to walk away when Thomas walked after him, “Wait!”, He stopped and turned around, reaching to get one of the crostinis. Thomas stopped him and smiled, “So I know two things about you: you’re a librarian and you also work as a caterer.”

    “Oh no! I’m just a librarian. I’m actually helping my friends out tonight, they own the catering company.”

    “I see. So what’s your name?”

    “Um Virgil. And you are?”

    He smiled, “Thomas.”

    Virgil was beginning to relax, “So what book did you check out? From the library, I mean.”

    “The Ghost of Ordiel Pond. I’ve wanted to read it for a while but I haven’t had the time. I’m a huge fan of the author.”

     Virgil laughed at this. Of course the cute, funny guy he liked would be a fan of his books. Some higher power just really wanted to tease him, “You’re joking right? I wrote that book.”

Thomas blinked, “You’re Virgil Spinoza? I mean you’re named Virgil, I didn’t think about it.”

“Yep, if you look on the back cover you’ll see a picture of me. Tell me what you think when you bring the book back. I love hearing what people think of my books.”

“Or I could give you my number and tell you right after I read it. That way you don’t have to wait for feedback.”

    Virgil contemplated this for a minute before nodding, “Ok”, he took out his phone and gave it to the man in front of him, “Here, I’ll text you after I get off that way you have my number as well.”

    “Alright! Well I don’t want to stop you from working, so I’ll be out of your way. But I’ll let you know what I think of it.”, with that Thomas walked away, leaving a giddy Virgil in his wake. He continued to serve food, so excited for his break. He got Thomas’s number. Maybe once he read Virgil’s book he could ask him out. If his anxiety didn’t convince him to nope out. 

    He was shocked when the goateed man approached him, taking a crostini, “I like your pin”, he indicated to the pride pin on Virgil’s shirt, “It’s always nice to find another gay guy in public.”

    Virgil nodded, “Thanks, it really is nice.”

    He smiled, “Name’s Mike”, he shot out a hand. Virgil took it softly. Mike looked over to where Thomas was talking to his friend, “He’s cute, huh?”

    “I’m sorry. I wasn’t flirting with your boyfriend, he came into my library today and checked out a book I wrote. I was curious about what he thought-”

    “Oh no we aren’t boyfriends. Thomas is straight. I asked him out back in college and he told me he wasn’t into men.”

    “I see.”

    Virgil finished work with a glum look. He didn’t even bother to text Thomas once he got off. 

~

    Virgil was running the circulation desk when Thomas showed up. He had gotten home and went straight to bed, completely forgetting to text the man. He had been so excited to get his number and was crushed to find out he was straight. 

    “Hey there..”, Virgil looked up and saw the man in question standing in front of him, holding the copy of The Ghost of Ordiel Pond, “You’re returning it already?”, Oh god he probably hated it and couldn’t finish it because it was so bad.

    “Yeah I couldn’t put it down. It’s so captivating, you did a great job. I was going to call you but you never texted me. So I figured I’d tell you in person.”

    Virgil blushed, “I’m sorry. I was so tired I just fell asleep afterwards. I should have texted you though. I’m glad you liked the book though.”, he took the book and began to check it back in. 

    “It’s ok. I get it.”, He watched Virgil finish checking in the book, “So I was wondering if you’d like to go out with me sometime?”

    “Like as a date?”

    “Yes, as a date. It’s ok if you don’t want to, I just thought I’d take my chance.”

    Virgil looked at him in shock, “Yes! Yes, I’d love to go out with you. I-I just thought that..”, he trailed off. 

    “Thought what?” 

    “Someone told me that you were straight.”

    Thomas looked almost offended at his words, “Who the hell told you that I was straight? The closest I’ve ever been to liking girls is for roles.”

    Virgil looked sheepish, “Um Mike did. He said he asked you out and you said no.”

    “Mike?! Mike is my ex! He cheated on me so I left him!”

    Virgil couldn’t believe it. The cute guy he liked felt the same! And he was asking him out! Virgil must have died and gone to heaven, “Well I’m sorry I listened to him.”

    “It’s ok. Just let me take you out to make up for it?”

    “I get off in 10 minutes. There’s a really good pizza place near here.”, Just then a phone rang. Thomas looked down, “Is that yours?”

    “Yeah it’s my dad. I’ll tell him that I was at the library and had my ringer off.”

    “You sure? I can wait.”

    “Believe if I pick up he’ll keep me on the phone forever. It’s better if I call him later. So, pizza?”

    “Pizza.”

~

Taglist: 

@forever-forgotten-angel 

[alyseofwonderland]

Alyse Reads The Goldfinch, Part 2

What follows is my best attempt at liveblogging. I had the books as an audiobook in hopes that I could keep it from taking even more of my life from me. This was perhaps a mistake. I think I broke Siri trying to make notes. The notes that are rambly are the ones I dictated.

I entirely blame @rollono​ for my suffering. But I am also aware that it seems to give her joy. 

Every time I reference Tara, I am talking about @wellntruly​ who’s own live blog of the book was the only roadmap I had to follow in this waterlogged wasteland of a novel.

Part 1

I thought Tara was making up the Camel-hair coat bit but APPARENTLY NOT.

Architecture has that much to do with the city and or northern Europe, really? I mean, “whitewash” doesn't everybody do that?

Nina ( @proud-librarian​ ) is going to have a lot to say about their descriptions of the Netherlands and Amsterdam in this book. like oh my God!

Theo Deckard doesn't understand how thermostats work.

This isn't satire? I don't understand we're like three minutes in and it has to be satire. right. right?

Who the hell says my mother and I didn't like my father much? like what.... what is this? what am I reading? what is happening? what.... I don't understand.... okay maybe fine whatever

This feels like it should be... I don't know.... satire is the word I'm looking for again. I don't want to just repeat what Tara, said but Jesus. the start of the story is he is rich enough to have a Doorman but not rich enough to afford the fancy private school, and him and his friends break into vacation homes in the Hamptons. what is this? what is this? I just... just.... just write a Jane Austen or Lord Byron novel if that's what you want to do just do that. do that.

My audiobook app just turned itself off in the middle of a passage because it decided I didn't need to listen to Theo talk about whatever he was talking about.

Curse you, Donna Tartt, for also being in the "all things coconut smell like suntan lotion" club. I did not want to have this in common with you.

I am laughing so hard it turns silent into my steering wheel because the audiobook reader makes Tom Cable sound like a surfer dude from the 70s,  and I. cannot. handle. that.

"I like to think of myself as a perceptive person" is basically the way that I know that Theo has about Harry Potter level skills of observation when it comes to the people around him.

Y'all this book would be so much better if Theo actually thought like a 13-year-old that he is supposed to be in the intro part. That would just be peak comedy, which is really what I'm looking for.

Audrey Decker and the Laura Moon from American gods are now the two people that I have ever known to call men "puppy" which I still find alarming, in both cases. Surprisingly they also both die, so I guess more things they have in common.

The longer this book goes on the more clear it is that I am not bougie enough for its contents. ( timestamp 30 minutes)

(GIF BY @rollono​ BY MY REQUEST FOR EVERY TIME THIS BOOK MAKES ME FEEL POOR)

I just can't suspend my disbelief enough to think that a 13-year-old would know this much about their parent's job and be able to ask questions. I'm trying to think of what my dad was doing when I was 13, and I mean I know where he worked, and I know who his boss was, but if you tried to ask me daily issues or me giving advice... oh my gosh. I just can't. nobody talks like this.

I’m making a face akin to Kermit the frog. 

I threw up in my mouth a little at the description of Pippa walking past in the museum.

Did we just describe a 12-year-old girl's arms as marble? is that what just happened? did I just have to listen to that?

Theo has given me a lot of like “Golden State killer” vibes right now with his desire to poke around through all these people's homes and stuff. like this is clearly the Visalia ransacker's motivation in the 70s. I know too much about true crime, that's what's happening right now.

The true-crime serial killer alarms keep going off in my brain.

I know Tara already mentioned how ridiculous the Murphys bed story is but it really is incredibly ridiculous and breaks the tension of the entire scene that is occurring at the time (laughed uncontrollably to the point that Siri typed nonsense)

I get it, Donna, you know things. You do not have list every fire truck to prove it.

Let's take a child to a dinner at 3 am. Really Donna?

Why does Donna insist on giving me the text of signs around whats going on? Why did I just listen to the smoothie specials while an emotional scene is occurring?

Donna, did you just call Mrs. Barough a weasel?  [afronted gasp]

OI!  (me shouting when Donna says that Andy was weird for being lactose intolerant.)

Pukes in my mouth a little at the term 'high verbal'. I get it, Donna, you think you are smarter than all of us stop being a dick.

Donna Tartt would make it to r/iamverysmart in like a minute if she understood how the internet worked.

WHO TAUGHT HER ABOUT FMA?

Okay, so either Donna Tartt knows someone who lost a parent and basing this off them or like went through it herself because I am white-knuckling through the grief bits trying not to have my own trauma response to the situation. Or she wrote Theo with like the exact grief I had. Her incessant need to list things in a room is the only thing between me and a spiral of remembering my dad's death.

ANDY IS A RAY OF LIGHT AND DOES NOT DESERVE TO BE IN THIS FAMILY OR IN THIS BOOK!

Five whole hours before the first sight of Hobie. Like Jesus.

I miss Terry Pratchett.

Hobie thank you for making this book interesting again.

Hobie is now my main squeeze and I won't hear a word against him.

POE DIDN'T INVENT SCIENCE FICTION FUCKING MARY SHELLY DID. DONNA WHAT THE FUCK.

The Hobie part of the story just makes me more sure that a version of the movie should have been without the Baroughers (sp?) and only included Hobie and Pippa.

Any is a murderino. I love this baby boy.

Aw, I love Hobie so so much.

Donna if you call Andy annoying one more time you are gonna catch my hands. (She just referred to his voice as annoying twice in a conversation and I swear to god I will rip this character out of her snobbish clutches she doesn't deserve him.)

Theo on this we agree, I too enjoy Hobie.

Hobie is the only person who belongs in this novel and he's a god damn delight.

SEVEN HOURS AND THE PAINTING HAS COME UP AGAIN FOR THE FIRST TIME IN LITERAL HOURS.

Theo straight up using Spanish to fuck over his father is just *chef's kiss.

I can see how much contempt Donna has for Xandra is longer and deeper than this book will ever be.

I am going to suplex Larry Decker I swear to god. (i have a very particular trigger to spouses bad-mouthing the dead one due to personal experience.)

Necco wafers are no one's favorite candy Donna. You can't just say shit like that and expect anyone to believe you.

I have just realized that Donna Tartt has never been to a public library. How do I know? Witchcraft books are never on the shelves. Ask any librarian. They are stolen pretty much the moment we buy them.

I am standing dead in the tea aisle at the store because Theo just thought it would be “gay” to tell the doormen he has known almost his whole life he is gonna miss them.  (hours later I realize this is her backtracking in edits going "shit shit shit I have to add the repression in somewhere for those dumb readers that don't understand art" and I hate it more.)

Mrs. B is ready to physically fight Larry and I would pay real money to see it.

WHY DOES DONNA KNOW ABOUT DRAGON BALL Z?!? Step away from the things I love Donna I don't trust you near my media. (Also why she does reference it she clearly has NO concept of what DBZ hair would even look like to expect me to believe any child could achieve it.)

oh my god, Boris. I'm so happy to see you.

I am happy to report the audiobook narrator does not do an Australian accent for Boris. Thank the lord.

I knew I was going to love Boris but like a few minutes in I adore him.

It's interesting to me that Theo and Boris seem to have received similar amounts of attention/affection from non-parent adults, but while Theo finds it uncomfortable Boris soaks it in.

The Australian part of Boris's accent seems impossible.

*sobbing audibly into my keyboard* Popchyck

Boris you sweet like socialist.

Comrade Boris we need you in this election.

I'm sad he (Boris) doesn't get to go to college and like piss off every yuppie and hippie, and just make Philosophy 100 and Government 250 absolute hell for everyone.

Drunk Boris at Thanksgiving is a gift.

Me listening to this book before Boris: half paying attention, fucking around on my computer, doing chores. Me after Boris shows up: staring at the middle distance determined to listen to every fucking word because this prison sentence of a novel is finally interesting.

James: you said the author is a snob and you aren't enjoying the main character.  Me: yeah James: then stop reading it. Me: No, then Donna and her Anna Wintour knock off hair cut will win. James, frowning and backing out of the room: k sweetie.

6:30 am is too early to hear Theo Decker describe his bed as "our bed"

I WAS RIGHT. Boris belongs in college making every American white kid absolutely furious in every Poli-sci.

Larry Decker calling Theo and Boris his "kids" made my heart skip a beat.

So the nurse notices they don't have vitamins and smell but doesn't call child services. I mean I know that I learned that school nurses are less likely to call CFS on white kids than they are on black kids but like god damn.

The sheer salt of Theo refusing to learn the name of Boris’s girlfriend is so hilarious.

Now *this* is gay.

The truth is Theo is ready to cut a bitch.

Fellas is it gay to do shots while your boyfriend talks about his girlfriend?

Theo trying to set up Boris with like a nice polite girl who won't fuck him is fucking hilarious. This poor baby gay.

Theo (and Donna cuz she writes him) have never heard of learning disabilities and I will legit throw down.

LARRY IS A SCORPIO IN CANON?! I thought that was something from the fan fics. omg Ally hates this.

No one wears white sport coats Donna stop trying to make it happen.

Boris totally knows what's going on with Larry and he's just trying to look out for Theo because he loves Theo but oh my gosh Boris why do you make me feel so many feelings!

Please, Donna, I am begging you to stop telling me what the light from the sun looks like at different times of the day. I just can't take it anymore. Every scene of Theo in Xandra's house does not need the qualifier of what type of sunlight he is seeing. Some times fine. But every time?

My entire stomach just dropped when I realized what Boris has done, and I'm just I'm so sad. this is not how I wanna start my commute to work today.

I have just had my first moments of being very proud of Donna's writing, because long long time ago, in the same chapter, she had the bit about how Xandra will say "apparently" when she's being bitchy with Theo and now in a conversation where Theo isn't paying attention to her she says "apparently" to Larry and I just had to stop and say this, this is the writing I'm looking for Donna. This is clever and interesting and I LIKED IT. Stop making lists and do more of this.

Friendship ended with Book Boris, Movie Boris is my best friend now.

I don't understand how the director and the screenwriter of the film could move who said those lines and then not make it gay. Like, commit to your choice.

My mom: You finish that book yet? Me, angrily: No. My mom slightly worried: do you like it? Me: unclear.

NEW CHAPTER!

Theo, I need you calm all the way down when you are looking at Pippa.

Love this lawyer. I want to be his friend.

God poor Pippa. All the shit she goes through and she still has to put up with Theo's weird obsession.

Theo, you slid right back into the serial killer habits in a second and I want you to stop it.

Oh god, I feel that in my soul. Like "no sir you have it wrong I look more like the parent I like best." (also I do look more like my dad. like way more like him)

I am begging someone to get Theo some kind of hobby or help or something so he stops acting like a victorian ghost.

I am gonna have to get the actual book so I can see what weird spelling is going on with the text messages. I just know its weird. The narrator does it in such a weird voice.

We spent so much time dealing with emotional issues and other whatnot that going back to the bit about the painting feels like a huge tonal shift in the book. I'm like staggering around confused.

Literally no one uses strawberry shampoo.

Love that Theo ‘s final plan is the one Andy purposed an eon ago.

Salty that Theo is getting the cool college experience that Boris would have crushed.  I would have paid good money to watch him make the philosophy department cry.

[kermit in the car gif]

Yo! Theo struggling to deal with school is like exactly my semester after my dad died.  

The adults attempting to force him into different living arrangements is so what we dealt with post my dad’s death.

Grisha! (Russians the only people I trust atm)

Tara was right, Andy's death comes off like a joke!

I gotta say, Crime Theo is my favorite Theo so far.

I don't know which serial killer Donna was channeling to write the parts about Theo being obsessed with Pippa, but it is just so intensely a serial killer vibe I cannot even begin to describe the look on my face; the feelings I'm having. I'm just like this man is going to kill someone. he's going to kill a lot of people. not only that it's going to be a lot of women because he doesn't view them as people. that's what I'm getting from this it's. Theo doesn't think women are people.

If Theo was on reddit he would be part of r/niceguys and r/iamverysmart.

If I have to listen to him drone on about his fantasies of Pippa for one more minute I will kill myself in the baking aisle of Aldis.

HES HOARDING HER HAIR?! HER UNWASHED CLOTHES?!? Please someone put him in jail.

[the sound of me throwing up in the frozen food section as Theo describes Kitsey]

Donna don’t try to act like you didn’t add that foreshadowing yourself about Andy. You crack me up you relentlessly snob.

How is Theo just The Worst all the time?

Theo freaking out because two gay guys know what’s up with him is just *chef’s kiss

Me having seen only the movie: Theo and Boris should get redemption and a romance run away. Me now: [ gif of “Ive had enough of this guy” from IASIP]

I mean I understand that John Crawley was a coward in so many of his directorial choices, but the fact that he didn't put the second meeting of Theo and this Lucius guy into a crowded weird restaurant where they're both getting hit by the waiters as they go past is just the weakest move you could've made. because this makes it so much funnier.

I'm with Hobie.

honestly this book should've just been 20 hours of art crime and like to shave off a good 10 hours of LISTS because that's what 10 hours is. give me 20 hours of art crime. I would love to watch each sale happen that would've been riveting to read but instead.... this.

Bish, you like those earrings or I will cut you.

Theo salty, while Kitsey picks out new china, is so fucking hilarious.

him just like "why are we buying new plates when my job is literally to find plates that were made by craftsmen?!?!” but being too fucking repressed in his bullshit to say anything, so he just making some poor sales lady suffer.

my friend Ally: “Theo’s repression makes everyone suffer is a good summary of the book.”

Alternative version of this book that would have been 8 million times better: Theo gets into art crimes but is also a serial killer. We don't know the second bit but it begins to start dawning on us as women seem to disappear from his social circles and weird hints of thoughts about blood and rivers.  Bonus points if it ends with him on the run from the law with his only vaguely criminal (by comparison to serial killer Theo) boyfriend. We are left to wonder if they will be gunned down in the chase or if perhaps there will be one more body to great the river.

Theo's textbook serial killer nonsense is only comparable to the sheer petty gay energy he gives off.

The power trip he gets from being like "hahaha yes I have bagged the ice princess who wanted nothing to do with me when we were kids" is just so gross and hilarious.

Theo realizing he is not the only sociopath in the room is just *chef's kiss.

Boris, did you really send some guy to just watch your ex?

Boris, I am begging you. You have made Grisha so upset.

Donna shying away from describing Boris comes off, if you don't know who we are talking about, as weird and slightly racist.

You have the internet Theo, you can look up when movies are going to start. You are not living on the moors.

HOW IS THIS BOOK NOT A SATIRE OF AMERICAN PYSCHO FOR PEOPLE THAT HAVE BONERS FOR ANTIQUES?!?

Boris returns. I have almost forgiven him for what he put me through.

Maybe "fuck you" can be our always.

*tries not to cry when I realize that Boris' friends have heard about Theo

bless Aneurin for everything he did for this reunion in the movie.

Why is Boris such a slut? Why will I forgive him for anything?

Is it gay to think about the guy you used to jack off as handsome when you meet each other again?

Genetics means those kids can't be Boris' unless his mother was blonde. (Theo kind of agrees.)

My soul has left my body at the concept of Boris having a wife and kids.

I'm not saying I endorse crime, I'm just saying a mobster front with a pun in the name is really on-brand for me.

Knowing what I Know. That Boris thinks Theo is gonna try to kill him when they go for the "surprise" just makes the whole thing so tragic and sad.

Boris and his dog REUNITED AT LAST. I'm not crying. I'm fine.

Interesting that the next story we hear is about Gyuri's dead "brother" right after Boris says that Theo is "blood of his heart, his brother". Like. I might not be the biggest history buff in the world but I know gay code when I see it.

I mean I knew this was gonna happen, but I can't help but feel personally betrayed by Boris once again.

Donna, stay away from stuff about computers. Your attempts to use them make me, a technology expert, cringe.

Boris like "you don't deserve this dog. I deserve this dog."

"Babe I get that you are a WASP at heart but I need you to fight with me like a Russian now." - Boris to his disaster husband

"Did I lie?" "YES" (me laughing so hard I'm practically crying)

why does no one in this book appear to exchange numbers or like airdrop contact info.

Does Donna think that people only have iPhones?

Ally who is CTRL F reading this book "'Every few hundred pages she's like 'oh yeah, it's modern times...they're texting and there's emojis!' Seriously, there was the mention of emoji's and my soul escaped my body for a minute because it had no tether to time or space" @aces-low​

Off the top of my head, the name that Donna is not saying for this Horace to guy is Volkswagen.

Instead of being in the mob Boris should run an animal shelter.

Boris being Bitchy and jelly when Theo is talking to the German guy is just so cute. You two deserve each other with your weird shit.

If Donna wasn't a coward this book would have had Theo just getting eyeballs deep in art crime with Boris and his associates.

Adding a sin for making me listen to whatever that just was.

Things Donna forgot to list in "girl food": chicken wings, bread, rolls, other types of bread, garlic bread, a bit more bread, maybe cookies, eight more cookies, 20 more cookies, every type of chocolate humanly imaginable, jam, and barbecue ribs.

What do ankles have to do with being attractive?!?!?! this isn't the Victorian age! 

(from Ally re this comment: “I'm now convinced that every day Donna sat down to write this book she spun a wheel with different years on it, and that's the year the book was set that day”)

I didn't mind Kitsey cheating on Theo, because he doesn't even really like her. Until just now, when I realized that Mrs. B knows about it and she's keeping it from Theo, and my heart broke into 1 trillion pieces. she is the closest thing he has to a mother and he realized that she kept it from him, and I should not be crying in my car before my special Valentine night dinner.

James just walked in during a part describing Pippa and goes "Men writing women, huh?" and I had to pause the book, turn to him and say "a woman wrote this" and he just looks at me like 0_0

Mrs. B clutching Theo's hand so he won't leave her alone with Smalltalk-old-man is honestly the cutest thing in this entire book.

Hobie being able to be spotted from a distance at all times! I have a friend who is 6'5" and we can find him in crowds so easily!

Perhaps the funniest moment of this book is Theo saying "if girls loved assholes then Pippa would love me". buddy I'm going to post this entire book to r/niceguys

I WANT MORE ART CRIME! Why did you make me listen to 15 hours of boring nonsense when we could have had ART CRIME!

I deeply enjoy Boris's commitment to being a dramatic goofball, falling to his knees just be annoying.

Movie Boris appears in a dramatic way. Book Boris is just like there and also shoving food in his face and walking out of the party still eating all the food he just put in his cheeks like a chipmunk.

Hobie just like "if you want to run off with your gay love i'll cover."

Theodor Decker you get back in there and make sure that thief stays away from Nicole Kidman she has been through enough already!

Theo, I know that you don't actually have brains for anything besides drugs, crimes, being weird about women, and your own ass, but you could at least listen when people speak.

Theo is such a mess. He doesn't belong in modern times. He deserves to be Jack the Ripper.

I know the narrator is saying croissant the "correct" way. But every single time it happens I'm so fucking confused because who just leans into a french accent that hard for a single word?

Theo offers an actual good idea that Boris is going to use later and they all look at him like he's crazy.

I know "my brand" is "man holding gun" but listening to Boris assemble a gun I'm like "oh goodness I need to lay down". *fans self

Theo suddenly "I have made a huge mistake"

It's interesting to me how reluctant Boris is to make Theo a larger part of the heist. Theo reads it as frustrating but I read it like a kind of care and affection. He doesn't want his friend mixed up in something he can't handle, despite the fact that he wants Theo close so he can get him the painting back.

I see now why the heist in the movie was so fucking confusing. You need the Horst stuff and like a bunch of other nonsense that does not translate well to screen unless you re-write all the connections, which John Crowley was not willing to do.

Really love the "women drop their mark the first time" bit.

me: Theo I swear to god stop being high and sick in your room and go get some actual clothes and medication or at least don't make me listen to so much of it

this book is not 30 hours long. its 15 hours of a book and 15 hours of Donna going "gotta get that word count up or people with think I'm weak". Please, Donna. I don't need to hear this one thing happen for so long. It adds nothing to the tone, the themes, the plot, or the ambiance. You are just writing words for words sake.

The first suicide note was so well crafted that I honestly want Theo to kill himself now. If he can manage to write the others pretty okay I will be happy with this ending.

Don’t think I didn’t notice that the ghost of a dead loved one appeared on Christmas Eve.

I'm sorry who doesn't respond to "didn't you get my text?" with "my phone was dead" instantly?

me listening to Theo throw a tantrum at Boris because neither of them is capable of explaining themselves and like speaking as normal humans do: "It would have been better if Theo died"

Why must I be forced to listen to Donna make these scenes longer because these people don't talk like people?

Thud by Terry Pratchett does a much much better job of asking the question "can we trust our hearts and be the person we want to be?" And it honestly gives a better answer. And has you know, clever writing.

I thought it was like Over. I did. I was like "oh this is it wrapping up" ONLY THERE IS 30 MORE MINUTES AND I WANT TO SCREAM!

Me certain the book is over: i mean maybe this is a good ending

Me seeing i still have 30 more minutes: this is the worst book ever

This book held me fucking captive for over a week and all it left me with was like a few good lines, burning hatred for the main character, and the desire to go into Donna's home and rearrange all her stuff. 

also, I now hate antiques. out of spite.

don't read The Goldfinch. it's not worth it y’all.    

[thebulletinhamilton-quotes]

No. 10 for the Hamilton Prompts - Modern Au - Jeffmads

10. “I can’t help it when my crush falls asleep. They’re too perfect.”

A/N: Thank you so much for the request!!! I really do appreciate it @divine-penny !! I think you’ll like this!

...

James Madison and Alexander Hamilton are spending another long night at the library, furiously writing. They have a huge presentation due which includes household names of John Jay, Aaron Burr, Henry Knox, Edmond Randolph and—

Across from them, sleeping on a giarnormous royal purple velvet bean bag is none other than Thomas Jefferson. He’s snoring loudly at the most random of intervals and James can’t help but wander to stare at him.

Thomas Jefferson, who has been James best friend since forever, is a contradiction within a riddle. He’s shy around his friends but to the public he is loud, nasty, and quite slimely. His charms are ruthless and he can take down an opponent without a hair out of place. His only flaw is how he dresses and his fear of public speaking. But James doesn’t mind that about the six foot four inch of a man. He’s—

“You’re staring at him.” An amused but slightly annoyed voice of a frenemy og his shakes him out of his thoughts. Alexander Hamilton hasn’t let his eyes wander from the computer as he types furiously. However, based on his raised brow and smirk, he’s pleased he’s managed to catch him off guard. James huffs at him as Alex’s smirk on grows.

“I can’t help it when my crush falls asleep. He’s too perfect.” James whisper shouts at him, feeling the rise of heat go to his cheeks. Alexander shakes his head as he turns to flip through the history of the treasury. “Maybe you should, I dunno—ask him out.” Alex quips. “At least, so you two can stop the ‘will they or won’t they?’ dance.” Alex adds, sounding a little smug at coming up with such a clever comeback.

James frantically shakes his head, horrified. “We’ve been best friends since the beginning of time. Besides,” James casts a lasting look at Thomas who is now drooling. “He’s Not into me.” James finished, as he grabs a book from their mini pile to violently flip through the History of State Affairs.

James can practically see Alex rolling his eyes before remarking, “If you’re so sure about that, how come he doesn’t have a girlfriend? He could get a girlfriend, though it would be on an unethical basis.” Alexabder remarks as he closes the book. Setting it down, he returns to furiously typing. The blue from the screen only shows James how exhausted Alex must be.

Despite his anger, James shakes his head. “Thomas has his reasons,” he states, like he’s in an emergency situation, and he has to remain calm while the world collapses. “Besides, we have a good thing going. And it’s not that obvious.” He adds, thoughtfully as he thinks on it.

Alexander takes a swig of coffee before shaking his head. He sighs, flipping his dark hair behind me before meeting his eye with a sad smile.

“Whatever you say, Jemmy.”

...

Fin.

...

A/N: I’ve got a big announcement coming up so stay tuned. I love it when you guys give feedback. Thank you again @divine-penny for the request. Special shout out to @general-wheeee for correcting stuff! I appreciate it! Sorry again for the delay, I wasn’t feeling very well and I needed to take a couple days of rest. Thank you again again for the request!!

[cover2covermom]

Goodbye April & hello May!

I can see the light at the end of the tunnel & I’m running toward it…

April seemed to drag on despite the days flying by.  Does that even make sense?  Like I’ve mentioned before, my days are filled with homeschooling, home projects, mask making, and reading.  I’ve been doing my best to fill my hours to ease the COVID-19 anxiety.

I received the notification that I will be returning to work next week, which was welcome news.  I’m ready to get back a little bit of normalcy in my life.  Thankfully, our library system is reopening in phases.  Our first phase will be employees only (3-5 employees in the building at one time) and offering curb-side service to our patrons.  As of now, we will not open our doors to the public until June 1st at the earliest.  At that point in time, we will be limiting the number of patrons allowed in the building.  It is definitely going to be a learning curve to see what my new work normal is going to entail.  I’m looking forward to adapting & rising to the occasion.

» Be Not Far From Me by Mindy McGinnis

As per usual, Mindy McGinnis puts out another harrowing YA book.  I love survival stories, so I enjoyed this story about a girl that has gotten lost in the woods.  Be Not Far From Me was uncomfortable to read at certain points.

» Here in the Real World by Sara Pennypacker

*3.5 Stars*

This was a sweet story about two kids that form a friendship while hanging around an abandoned lot.  The first half of this book didn’t grab me and moved far too slowly.  I enjoyed the second half of this book a lot better than the first half.

» Keeper of Lost Cities (Keeper of the Lost Cities #1) by Shannon Messenger

An awesome MG fantasy!  I cannot wait to continue on with this series.  I’d recommend this to fans of Harry Potter.

» Separation Anxiety by Laura Zigman

*2.75 Stars*

I read this for one of my book clubs.   I think the author was attempting to write a book that would charm readers with eccentric characters & a humorous plotline, but don’t think it delivered.  Instead of being funny, the story felt odd & forced.

» A Wolf Called Wander by Rosanne Parry

I think the author did a tremendous job writing a book from a wolf’s perspective.  You can tell the author did extensive research into wolves & their behaviors.  While I think this animal perspective was very well done, I didn’t think the plotline was all that entertaining.

» The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Oz #1) by L. Frank Baum

I’ve decided to challenge myself to read more children’s classics in 2020.   To kick start this challenge, I started with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.  This was a delightful read!  I was surprised to learn that the slippers were actually silver instead of ruby red… mind blown!

» SHOUT by Laurie Halse Anderson

This is a must read for fans of Laurie Halse Anderson’s Speak.  While you don’t HAVE to read Speak to read SHOUT, I feel like it makes a bigger impact if you read Speak prior to this.  If you didn’t know, SHOUT is Anderson’s memoir told in verse.

» Loveboat, Taipei (Loveboat, Taipei #1) by Abigail Hing Wen

*4.5 Stars*

This is a guilty pleasure type of read.  Actually, it reminded me a bit of Crazy Rich Asians a bit.  It is a tad racy for a YA book… So I’d probably recommend for older YA readers that are 16+

» Exile (Keeper of the Lost Cities #2) by Shannon Messenger

I am LOVING this MG fantasy series.  While these books are a bit chunky, don’t let the page count deter you.  I flew through the first two books in this series this month.  Also, I’m happy to report that this second installment does NOT suffer from “second book syndrome.”

» Nooks & Crannies by Jessica Lawson

Nooks & Crannies is an excellent MG historical mystery.  Some of the elements of this story gave me Matilda mixed with A Series of Unfortunate Events vibes.  The audiobook is well narrated.

» The Penderwicks (The Penderwicks #1) by Jeanne Birdsall

This is the perfect book to pick up during the summer months.  It really gave me modern Little Women crossed with The Secret Garden vibes.  The ending was so heartwarming it almost brought me to tears.

Goodreads Challenge Update: 46 books!

*I know it says 47, but I finished The Last (Endling #1) on May 1st*

March 2020 Reading & Blogging Wrap-Up

April 2020 TBR

Childhood Classics 2020: TBR

Most Anticipated Books of 2020 (May – December)

Mini Book Reviews: April 2020 – Part 1

Mini Book Reviews: April 2020 – Part 2

If you were ever curious what a bookworm’s quarantine stress shopping spree looks like, here you go…

» The Guinevere Deception (Camelot Rising #1) by Kiersten White

There was nothing in the world as magical and terrifying as a girl.

Princess Guinevere has come to Camelot to wed a stranger: the charismatic King Arthur. With magic clawing at the kingdom’s borders, the great wizard Merlin conjured a solution–send in Guinevere to be Arthur’s wife . . . and his protector from those who want to see the young king’s idyllic city fail. The catch? Guinevere’s real name–and her true identity–is a secret. She is a changeling, a girl who has given up everything to protect Camelot.

To keep Arthur safe, Guinevere must navigate a court in which the old–including Arthur’s own family–demand things continue as they have been, and the new–those drawn by the dream of Camelot–fight for a better way to live. And always, in the green hearts of forests and the black depths of lakes, magic lies in wait to reclaim the land. Arthur’s knights believe they are strong enough to face any threat, but Guinevere knows it will take more than swords to keep Camelot free.

Deadly jousts, duplicitous knights, and forbidden romances are nothing compared to the greatest threat of all: the girl with the long black hair, riding on horseback through the dark woods toward Arthur. Because when your whole existence is a lie, how can you trust even yourself?

» Song for a Whale by Lynne Kelly

The story of a deaf girl’s connection to a whale whose song can’t be heard by his species, and the journey she takes to help him.

From fixing the class computer to repairing old radios, twelve-year-old Iris is a tech genius. But she’s the only deaf person in her school, so people often treat her like she’s not very smart. If you’ve ever felt like no one was listening to you, then you know how hard that can be.

When she learns about Blue 55, a real whale who is unable to speak to other whales, Iris understands how he must feel. Then she has an idea: she should invent a way to “sing” to him! But he’s three thousand miles away. How will she play her song for him?

» Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik

Miryem is the daughter and granddaughter of moneylenders, but her father’s inability to collect his debts has left his family on the edge of poverty–until Miryem takes matters into her own hands. Hardening her heart, the young woman sets out to claim what is owed and soon gains a reputation for being able to turn silver into gold.

When an ill-advised boast draws the attention of the king of the Staryk–grim fey creatures who seem more ice than flesh–Miryem’s fate, and that of two kingdoms, will be forever altered. Set an impossible challenge by the nameless king, Miryem unwittingly spins a web that draws in a peasant girl, Wanda, and the unhappy daughter of a local lord who plots to wed his child to the dashing young tsar.

But Tsar Mirnatius is not what he seems. And the secret he hides threatens to consume the lands of humans and Staryk alike. Torn between deadly choices, Miryem and her two unlikely allies embark on a desperate quest that will take them to the limits of sacrifice, power, and love.

Channeling the vibrant heart of myth and fairy tale, Spinning Silver weaves a multilayered, magical tapestry that readers will want to return to again and again.

» Girls Like Us by Randi Pink

Set in the summer of 1972, this moving YA historical novel is narrated by teen girls from different backgrounds with one thing in common: Each girl is dealing with pregnancy. Four teenage girls. Four different stories. What they all have in common is that they’re dealing with unplanned pregnancies.

In rural Georgia, Izella is wise beyond her years, but burdened with the responsibility of her older sister, Ola, who has found out she’s pregnant. Their young neighbor, Missippi, is also pregnant, but doesn’t fully understand the extent of her predicament. When her father sends her to Chicago to give birth, she meets the final narrator, Susan, who is white and the daughter of an anti-choice senator.

Randi Pink masterfully weaves four lives into a larger story – as timely as ever – about a woman’s right to choose her future.

» The Island of the Sea Women by Lisa See

Set on the Korean island of Jeju, The Island of Sea Women follows Mi-ja and Young-sook, two girls from very different backgrounds, as they begin working in the sea with their village’s all-female diving collective. Over many decades—through the Japanese colonialism of the 1930s and 1940s, World War II, the Korean War, and the era of cellphones and wet suits for the women divers—Mi-ja and Young-sook develop the closest of bonds. Nevertheless, their differences are impossible to ignore: Mi-ja is the daughter of a Japanese collaborator, forever marking her, and Young-sook was born into a long line of haenyeo and will inherit her mother’s position leading the divers. After hundreds of dives and years of friendship, forces outside their control will push their relationship to the breaking point.

This beautiful, thoughtful novel illuminates a unique and unforgettable culture, one where the women are in charge, engaging in dangerous physical work, and the men take care of the children. A classic Lisa See story—one of women’s friendships and the larger forces that shape them—The Island of Sea Women introduces readers to the fierce female divers of Jeju Island and the dramatic history that shaped their lives.

» The Weight of Our Sky by Hanna Alkaf

A music-loving teen with OCD does everything she can to find her way back to her mother during the historic race riots in 1969 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in this heart-pounding literary debut.

Melati Ahmad looks like your typical moviegoing, Beatles-obsessed sixteen-year-old. Unlike most other sixteen-year-olds though, Mel also believes that she harbors a djinn inside her, one who threatens her with horrific images of her mother’s death unless she adheres to an elaborate ritual of counting and tapping to keep him satisfied.

But there are things that Melati can’t protect her mother from. On the evening of May 13th, 1969, racial tensions in her home city of Kuala Lumpur boil over. The Chinese and Malays are at war, and Mel and her mother become separated by a city in flames.

With a 24-hour curfew in place and all lines of communication down, it will take the help of a Chinese boy named Vincent and all of the courage and grit in Melati’s arsenal to overcome the violence on the streets, her own prejudices, and her djinn’s surging power to make it back to the one person she can’t risk losing.

» Escape from Aleppo by N.H. Senzai

Nadia’s family is forced to flee their home in Aleppo, Syria, when the Arab Spring sparks a civil war in this timely coming-of-age novel from award-winning author N.H. Senzai.

Silver and gold balloons. A birthday cake covered in pink roses. A new dress.

Nadia stands at the center of attention in her parents’ elegant dining room. This is the best day of my life, she thinks. Everyone is about to sing “Happy Birthday,” when her uncle calls from the living room, “Baba, brothers, you need to see this.” Reluctantly, she follows her family into the other room. On TV, a reporter stands near an overturned vegetable cart on a dusty street. Beside it is a mound of smoldering ashes. The reporter explains that a vegetable vendor in the city of Tunis burned himself alive, protesting corrupt government officials who have been harassing his business. Nadia frowns.

It is December 17, 2010: Nadia’s twelfth birthday and the beginning of the Arab Spring. Soon anti-government protests erupt across the Middle East and, one by one, countries are thrown into turmoil. As civil war flares in Syria and bombs fall across Nadia’s home city of Aleppo, her family decides to flee to safety. Inspired by current events, this novel sheds light on the complicated situation in Syria that has led to an international refugee crisis, and tells the story of one girl’s journey to safety.

» The Two Princesses of Bamarre (The Two Princesses of Bamarre #1) by Gail Carson Levine

Twelve-year-old Addie admires her older sister Meryl, who aspires to rid the kingdom of Bamarre of gryphons, specters, and ogres. Addie, on the other hand, is fearful even of spiders and depends on Meryl for courage and protection. Waving her sword Bloodbiter, the older girl declaims in the garden from the heroic epic of Drualt to a thrilled audience of Addie, their governess, and the young sorcerer Rhys.

But when Meryl falls ill with the dreaded Gray Death, Addie must gather her courage and set off alone on a quest to find the cure and save her beloved sister. Addie takes the seven-league boots and magic spyglass left to her by her mother and the enchanted tablecloth and cloak given to her by Rhys – along with a shy declaration of his love. She prevails in encounters with tricky specters (spiders too) and outwits a wickedly personable dragon in adventures touched with romance and a bittersweet ending.

» The Lost Kingdom of Bamarre (The Two Princesses of Bamarre 0.5) by Gail Carson Levine

In this compelling and thought-provoking fantasy set in the world of The Two Princesses of Bamarre, Newbery Honor-winning author Gail Carson Levine introduces a spirited heroine who must overcome deeply rooted prejudice—including her own—to heal her broken country.

Peregrine strives to be the Latki ideal—and to impress her parents: affectionate Lord Tove, who despises only the Bamarre, and stern Lady Klausine. Perry runs the fastest, speaks her mind, and doesn’t give much thought to the castle’s Bamarre servants, who she knows to be weak and cowardly. The Lakti always wage war, and the battlefield will give her the chance to show her valor.

But just as she’s about to join her father on the front lines, she is visited by the fairy Halina, who reveals that Perry isn’t Latki-born. She is a Bamarre. The fairy issues a daunting challenge: against the Lakti might, free her people from tyranny.

» A Crack in the Sea by H.M. Bouwman

An enchanting historical fantasy adventure perfect for fans of Thanhha Lai’s Newbery Honor-winning Inside Out and Back Again   No one comes to the Second World on purpose. The doorway between worlds opens only when least expected. The Raft King is desperate to change that by finding the doorway that will finally take him and the people of Raftworld back home. To do it, he needs Pip, a young boy with an incredible gift—he can speak to fish; and the Raft King is not above kidnapping to get what he wants. Pip’s sister Kinchen, though, is determined to rescue her brother and foil the Raft King’s plans.   This is but the first of three extraordinary stories that collide on the high seas of the Second World. The second story takes us back to the beginning: Venus and Swimmer are twins captured aboard a slave ship bound for Jamaica in 1781. They save themselves and others from a life of enslavement with a risky, magical plan—one that leads them from the shark-infested waters of the first world to the second. Pip and Kinchen will hear all about them before their own story is said and done. So will Thanh and his sister Sang, who we meet in 1976 on a small boat as they try to escape post-war Vietnam. But after a storm and a pirate attack, they’re not sure they’ll ever see shore again. What brings these three sets of siblings together on an adventure of a lifetime is a little magic, helpful sea monsters and that very special portal, A Crack in the Sea.

» The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin

A bizarre chain of events begins when sixteen unlikely people gather for the reading of Samuel W. Westing’s will. And though no one knows why the eccentric, game-loving millionaire has chosen a virtual stranger—and a possible murderer—to inherit his vast fortune, one thing’s for sure: Sam Westing may be dead … but that won’t stop him from playing one last game!

» Ballet Shoes (Shoes #1) by Noel Streatfeild

Pauline, Petrova and Posy are orphans determined to help out their new family by joining the Children’s Academy of Dancing and Stage Training. But when they vow to make a name for themselves, they have no idea it’s going to be such hard work! They launch themselves into the world of show business, complete with working papers, the glare of the spotlight, and practice, practice, practice! Pauline is destined for the movies. Posy is a born dancer. But practical Petrova finds she’d rather pilot a plane than perform a pirouette. Each girl must find the courage to follow her dream.

» Wishtree by Katherine Applegate

Trees can’t tell jokes, but they can certainly tell stories. . . .

Red is an oak tree who is many rings old. Red is the neighborhood “wishtree”—people write their wishes on pieces of cloth and tie them to Red’s branches. Along with her crow friend Bongo and other animals who seek refuge in Red’s hollows, this “wishtree” watches over the neighborhood.

You might say Red has seen it all. Until a new family moves in. Not everyone is welcoming, and Red’s experiences as a wishtree are more important than ever.

» The Library of Ever (The Library of Ever #1) by Zeno Alexander

With her parents off traveling the globe, Lenora is bored, bored, bored–until she discovers a secret doorway in the library and becomes its newly appointed Fourth Assistant Apprentice Librarian.

In her new job, Lenora finds herself helping future civilizations figure out the date, relocates lost penguins, uncovers the city with the longest name on Earth, and more in a quest to help patrons. But there are sinister forces at work that want to destroy all knowledge. To save the library, Lenora will have to test her limits and uncover secrets hidden among its shelves.

» Chains (Seeds of America #1) by Laurie Halse Anderson

As the Revolutionary War begins, thirteen-year-old Isabel wages her own fight…for freedom. Promised freedom upon the death of their owner, she and her sister, Ruth, in a cruel twist of fate become the property of a malicious New York City couple, the Locktons, who have no sympathy for the American Revolution and even less for Ruth and Isabel. When Isabel meets Curzon, a slave with ties to the Patriots, he encourages her to spy on her owners, who know details of British plans for invasion. She is reluctant at first, but when the unthinkable happens to Ruth, Isabel realizes her loyalty is available to the bidder who can provide her with freedom.

From acclaimed author Laurie Halse Anderson comes this compelling, impeccably researched novel that shows the lengths we can go to cast off our chains, both physical and spiritual.

» The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill

Every year, the people of the Protectorate leave a baby as an offering to the witch who lives in the forest. They hope this sacrifice will keep her from terrorizing their town. But the witch in the forest, Xan, is kind and gentle. She shares her home with a wise Swamp Monster named Glerk and a Perfectly Tiny Dragon, Fyrian. Xan rescues the abandoned children and deliver them to welcoming families on the other side of the forest, nourishing the babies with starlight on the journey.

One year, Xan accidentally feeds a baby moonlight instead of starlight, filling the ordinary child with extraordinary magic. Xan decides she must raise this enmagicked girl, whom she calls Luna, as her own. To keep young Luna safe from her own unwieldy power, Xan locks her magic deep inside her. When Luna approaches her thirteenth birthday, her magic begins to emerge on schedule–but Xan is far away. Meanwhile, a young man from the Protectorate is determined to free his people by killing the witch. Soon, it is up to Luna to protect those who have protected her–even if it means the end of the loving, safe world she’s always known.

The acclaimed author of The Witch’s Boy has created another epic coming-of-age fairy tale destined to become a modern classic. 

Which books did you read in April?

Have you read any of the books I read or hauled this month?  If so, what did you think?

Did you buy any books?  If so, which ones?

Comment below & let me know 🙂

April 2020 Reading & Blogging Wrap-Up + Book Haul #BookBlogger #Bookworm #Bibliophile #BookHaul #Reading #Books #WrapUp Goodbye April & hello May! I can see the light at the end of the tunnel & I'm running toward it...

[ponyponypuddingandpie]

You just can’t help yourself can you? I tell you what, waking up at six am in the morning and wandering over to your computer to look at what New Years art’s been posted to seeing this is quite disappointing. Adding to that my Epic Games Launcher deciding it won’t launch so I can’t play For Honour is also kinda sucky. But hell, why not right? Lemme sit down with my glass of Kefir, and respond to this.

Aight fine, you don’t follow. All the more reason to check before slinging stupid asks. Some of your asks are funny. The recent one to Peach Popsicle? Harmless. And the response was funny. Nothing wrong with an ask like that one. And for god’s sake, stop bringing up the followers and notes will you? Nobody cares.

Again. Not. Funny. Not a Joke. It was creepy. it was kinda fetish-y, and not appropriate for my style of blog. Getting old you using the same argument over and over again. You want to send something like that to someone? Find someone with a weird enough blog. Better yet, send it to one of the ‘thousands’ who find it funny that you know find it funny. Cater to their humour.

I shouldn’t have to plaster a huge warning on my blog telling people to use common sense to check the rules. Do you walk into a library and just start shouting? Do you walk into anything and just assumed everyone’s going to like something you do? Check the damn rules. it’s a Roleplay blog. Of course there’s going to be rules.

The appropriate reaction to someone making a joke yes. But again. This wasn’t a joke. I didn’t see it as a joke. I had no way of knowing it was meant to be a joke. Again, jokes are meant to be funny. If it’s something you didn’t mean, then it’s not a joke, it’s just some bullshit that you spewed out without actually meaning anything and hoped I would find it funny. It’s not.

My initial reaction was me asking ‘what the fuck dude?’ If that constituted attitude to you, fine, but you have a very  different idea of what slinging attitude is. I was referring to your accusations of me being aggressive, the attempted guilt trip, and then calling me rude.

Posting about it on my blog is my way of calling you out on your inappropriate behaviour/asks. If that means being in public to do so then yes, it does count as that. And if you think I wouldn’t do that to someone being a moron, then sorry to disappoint you dude, but I will.

I didn’t publically have an attitude about the ask. I asked you ‘wtf’. You’ve had people’s characters literally calling you a degenerate and you’ve had less of a response. To be real, looking at past responses from others? This does kinda feel like a personal attack.

Never said you were trying to make my self esteem lower. Said you were guilt tripping me. Big Difference. if you’re referring to my comments on you bringing your Thousand odd followers into it, again no. I was inferring you were trying to make yourself sound more important/bigger than me. I have 97 followers, and I appreciate and love every damn one of them. Because without them, this blog would be nothing. I don’t need to lord over someone I have a thousand followers to try to prove I’m funny.

You’re just as hypocritical as I am then. And like I said to someone else, I never claimed the high ground here. Just that I’m standing up and saying that this isn’t how you should be operating. And you did come across as holier than thou. I’m not the only one who thinks so. But no, I will not name them so you can attack them like you did Bex and accuse them of anything.

Lack of honesty. Of course it’s not a joke. It’s an ask. it’s not a joke, because, as you just explained, it wasn’t meant to be funny. You didn’t mean it. Big difference. Also, as I said, using the old ‘It’s just a joke’ excuse after someone calls you out is a third grade excuse. Again, it’s worn very thin, and very old.

Clearly we don’t respond well to attitude. But I was having fun with this yesterday. Now I’m sore, I’m tired, and frankly I just don’t fucking care anymore. This has dragged on long enough.

Therefore, I’m going to accept your apology and assume it’s an apology for every bullshit thing you’ve said over the past 12-15 odd hours. I don’t accept the ‘misinterpretation’ of the mental illness garbage, because frankly that was a deliberate and personal attack using my mental illness, and you should be ashamed of yourself for doing that.

I am going to assume this issue is now finished. Do not contact me again regarding this issue. In fact do yourself a favour, and just don’t contact me again.

I hope you have a good life, a good new year, and an excellent 2020. But fuck off.

[batfamily-trash]

Don’t Need Them To Save You

Summary: Jason and Reader go out on date (Movie, dinner, romantic stuff) when the Riddler decides to kidnap the reader because why not. Instead of going to the Batfam for help he goes solo

Warning: Language I think, blood, being buried alive

Part 1 of 2 

Date nights with Jason were the best nights. All the stress of being a vigilante goes down the drain while you two were together. But particularly tonight, you weren’t in the mood for a date. Bruce had assigned you a case and you were determined to solve it.

Jason tried every single way he knew to bribe you so you could leave whatever you were working on for another night. Tonight he wanted to spend the rest of the day with you. Whether you liked it or not; you needed a break. The case could wait. Jason… not so much.

Eventually, you agreed to go on the date with him. It took a lot of bribing but you finally accepted. As long as it wasn’t something to fancy or public; cause recently you’ve been getting a lot of attention from the paparazzi. A con of being friends with the Wayne family.

After you had gotten ready, Jason took you to the movie theater to see a movie you have been wanting to watch since it was announced. And you had an amazing time!

Once the movie finished you thought the date was over but Jason had something else planned for you.

By the time you and Jason left the movie theater, it was 8 pm. The moon was already up and shining brightly in the night sky. In all your years of living in Gotham, you didn’t take the time to admire it. Gotham could be a beautiful city most of the time.

You took a deep breath of air before putting on your motorcycle helmet and climbing on behind Jason.

“Are you ready princess/prince?” He asked you.

“Yeah,” You said wrapping your arms around him. Jason then revved the motorcycle engine and took down the street.

You enjoyed motorcycle rides with Jason. They were calm and peaceful. Occasionally. Sometimes they were filled with adrenaline and danger. It just depended on the occasion and if you and Jay were late for something. Which was almost always. Distractions were everywhere.

Just as you felt your worries go away you saw a white van with a bright green question mark pulling up next to you guys.

“Shit,” you cursed. Apparently, someone didn’t like you. Jason quickly glanced over his shoulder and sped up once he saw the van. Whoever was driving the van was not going to give up easily.

Everytime you and Jay seemed to be safe the van would just appear out of nowhere. Eventually, Jason lead them off the main streets to lose them quicker. Little did he know that that’s what your pursuers wanted. Just as Jason was taking a turn towards an alley, multiple cars showed up and surrounded you.

Jason pulled out a gun he always kept on him, but before he could unlock the safety someone shot it out of his hand. You turned to look behind you and saw the Riddler himself.

“Well if it isn’t y/n l/n and her boy toy,” Ed said walking towards you. You glared at Ed while Jason somehow pulled you closer to him. He was tense and nervous. So were you. “Loverboy why don’t you let y/n go and go away.”

“Why don’t you and you’re posse go piss off someone else?” Jason retorted. Riddler smirked and signaled for his men. Some guys pulled out guns and aimed them at you and Jason while some tried, keyword tried, to pull you away from him.

“Either you stop struggling and cooperate or we kill you. Your choice,” Riddler said twirling his cane around. You stopped struggling in fear of them shooting Jason and gave him a pleading look when you saw that he wasn’t going to stop. At this point, Ed’s henchmen had taken your helmet off and threw it somewhere.

“Jason! Just stop! Leave him alone!” you shouted. Jason stopped for a second and caught your gaze. You were crying, you were scared. Scared for him; you didn’t want to lose him. And that second was long enough for someone to take a shot at him.

You screamed as they carried you to a van. Jason fell onto the ground. He tried to get up as the van took off but the rest of the henchmen that stayed behind began to beat him up. A minute later someone dropped down on two guys knocking them out while another person approached Jason just as he started to lose consciousness.

“Hey, Jason. Jason stay awak….”

After Riddler had Jason shot, he and his henchmen knocked you out. So you had absolutely no clue where you were. But you kinda got an idea when you woke up in an unclosed wooden box with Edward Nygma looking down at you.

“What the hell?”

“Ah, good afternoon y/n! Now before I finish my magnificent plan answer me this,” Riddler started. “A vivid reality, a naked morality, a place where wishes come true. What am I?”

Seriously? You thought. You sighed and answered, “Is it a dream?”

“So you’re not as stupid as I thought,” he said. You scoffed and propped yourself onto your elbows.

“No shit Sherlock,” you said glaring at him. Ed grinned and shoved you back into the box. “Now-now-now, we can’t have you escaping yet, so do me a favor and stay still for a minute.”

Before you could protest, someone handed Ed his cane which he used to knock you out. Ed took a step back and pulled a video camera out of his pocket and handed it to one of his men. “Put this in there. Make sure it’s on and that it’s facing them. After that put the top on and finish the job,” he said sternly.

“Yes sir,” the henchman said taking the camera. Ed smiled and walked back to his car. This was going to be fun! Now all he had to do was to get ready for the show.

Jason woke up with a start. He frantically scanned the room for your presence, silently praying that the events from earlier that day were just a nightmare. When he saw Duke he calmed down a bit.

“What… where’s y/n?” Jason asked worriedly.

“We’re trying to find them,” Duke answered.

“We?”

“Cass, and Barbara….”

“Wait, where am I?” He asked. He tried to get up but the pain on his side stopped him.

“You’re in my apartment. I figured you wouldn’t want to go to the Batcave,” Barbara said walking into the room. “And don’t get up, you’re going to pull your stitches.”

Jason grumbled something before attempting to get up again. This time he managed to through the pain. “I’m not going to rest until I find y/n.”

Barbara sighed and walked out of the room, Duke following behind her. Jason hissed as he walked out after them. He blamed himself for letting them take you.

Once he got to the living room, Duke told him everything they had figured out while he was knocked out. Which wasn’t much. Riddler had it out for you, but no one knew why. Well, not yet.

“Do you guys have a location for Riddler?” Jason asked.

“No, but I have a program going through every security footage in the city looking for the van they escaped in,” Babs said, barely looking up from her laptop.  Jason sighed and sat down next to Duke who was currently looking for any signs of you and the Riddler on social media.

“Guys turn on the tv,” Duke said. Jason looked at him confused but obliged. The first thing that showed up when he turned the tv on was Edward Nygma himself.

“Good evening ladies and gentlemen! Today’s occasion is the funeralof y/n l/n! That’s right Bruce Wayne’s lovely friend.”

The screen changed from Ed to you panicking in your makeshift coffin. Immediately it changed back to a smiling Riddler.

Jason got up and walked backed to the bedroom in anger. “Jason, what are you doing?” Duke asked.

“I’m going for y/n,” Jason answered retrieving his clothes.

“Jason you are in no condition to go out there!” Barbara exclaimed. Jason knew she was right, but right now nothing mattered but getting you.

“Don’t care.”

“At least let us help,” Duke said.

“No offense Duke but I’d rather do this myself besides isn’t it past your bedtime?” Jason said making his way out of the apartment through the window. Duke and Barbara tried to convince him to stay put but failed.

“What do we do?” Duke asked.

“We inform Bruce and everyone else, and stay out of his way for now,” Barbara answered going back for her computer, “He’ll need our help at some point.”

Jason repeated the riddle multiple times. Until he had it memorized. What has branches and leaves and no bark?

He thought about the answer for a bit before taking off to the Gotham Library. It was a simple riddle really, not hard enough. As a teen, you would go to the library almost every day. That’s where you met Jason, so of course, the Riddler was going to choose the library for a riddle.

Once in the library, Jason began looking for the next riddle. It didn’t take him long to find something that didn’t belong. He crept towards the lonely phone on one of the tables and turned it on.

“Congratulations Mr. Wayne! You’ve completed my first riddle! Now for the second riddle, What won’t run long without winding?” the prerecorded video said, “You only have twenty minutes.

When the video finished Jason shattered the phone and cursed. The riddle was easy considering the Riddler was using riddles that have been used before. The problem was which one? Couldn’t Riddler be more specific considering there are about 7 different rivers in Gotham?

All Jason knew was that the riddles were meant for Bruce and the riddles had something to do with you. The only connection you had with a river was the time you and Jay went Channel Park and Damian had “accidentally” pushed into the East River. That’s where the next riddle would be.

Riddler had given “Bruce” twenty minutes to find the next riddle and Jason had spent five minutes figuring out which river. Now all he had to do was get there in time.

[fanficshiddles]

I’m still breathing, Chapter 45

Over the months, Loki became really fond of their new companion. He loved her as much as Sophie did.

Sophie often found Serenity on Loki’s shoulder while he was doing day to day things, such as working in the lab or cooking food. The sight always melted her heart.

Loki wasn’t the only one who was very fond of her. She became The Avengers mascot. Appearing with them at a few press releases, usually draped around Sophie or Loki’s shoulder. She became very popular with the public, like a good luck charm. People always asked to pet her, which was obliged because she was a very friendly cat.

At the last press conference after a mission, Loki felt that bad shiver down his spine again like the time at the cinema. His eyes roamed over the crowd and he spotted four hooded figures at the back of the crowd. But being spotted, they quickly darted away.

‘Are you alright, Loks? You seem edgy.’ Clint asked when the team all returned with an Indian buffet for dinner.

‘I can’t shake a bad feeling I have… At the cinema a few months ago, and today at the press conference, I’ve seen four hooded figures. Can’t make out their faces, and both times they’ve rushed away.’ He said while opening the Indian containers and placing them out in the middle of the table.

‘Maybe they’re fans but not wanting to be seen.’ Bruce suggested.

‘Perhaps.’ Loki sighed.

Sophie sat down next to him and put her hand on his thigh. ‘This is really getting to you, isn’t it?’ She asked quietly while everyone else started loading food onto their plate.

‘Don’t worry, love. I am probably just being over paranoid.’ He smiled, covering her hand with his he gave her a squeeze.

‘Sometimes you need to trust your instinct. If you feel there’s something not right, maybe we should speak to Fury.’ Sophie didn’t want Loki to think that she wouldn’t take him seriously. But that was twice now he’d felt something wasn’t right.

‘Maybe.’ Loki hummed.

After dinner, Sophie took Loki aside to speak to him privately.

‘Do you want to go speak to Fury?’

‘I don’t know. Maybe I am being over paranoid.’ Loki sighed and slid his arms around her waist.

‘If it’s bothering you though, you should do something about it. You always tell me to go with my instincts.’

‘I know… I’ll speak to him in the morning, see if we can go over the footage from the press conference. Maybe the cameras caught something.’ Loki leaned down and kissed her softly.

In the middle of the night, Loki woke up with a cry from a nightmare. He was sweaty, shaking and terrified. Sophie turned on the lamp quickly and put her arms around him.

‘Loki! It’s ok, it’s ok! It was a nightmare, you’re safe.’ She said and pulled his head against her chest.

He put his arms around her, his breathing heavy and shaky while he tried to calm down. Sophie could feel his entire body shaking so badly.

‘Shhh, shhh.’ Sophie stroked his hair, to try and help soothe him. Once he had calmed down, she went to get something to drink from the kitchen, on her return they both sat up against the headboard to talk.

‘What was it?’

‘Thanos.’ Loki whispered.

Sophie frowned. ‘He can’t hurt you anymore, Loki. He’s dead.’

‘I know… but there are others.’ He whispered, looking Sophie in the eye.

She could see how terrified he was again. Between the nightmare and the hooded figures he saw, he was certainly on edge.

‘Is this because of the hooded group?’ Sophie rubbed his arm.

He nodded.

Serenity jumped up onto the bed using her mini stairs that Loki made for her, since she wasn’t quite fully grown yet she struggled to jump up from the floor, but she was getting there. She started purring as she walked up between the two and rubbed against them both in turn, then she crawled onto Loki’s lap and curled up while still purring away happily.

Loki let out a breath and petted her softly. She was always comforting, just like Sophie was.

‘Thanos has many followers. But the ones I am… concerned, about… are known as The Black Order. Four of his closest followers. Corvus Glaive, Proxima Midnight, Black Dwarf and Ebony Maw.’ Loki’s jaw clenched as he thought back to when he had met them.

‘What stupid names.’ Sophie scoffed, making Loki smirk. ‘Well, if it is them that are stalking us, we will kick their ass. They can’t be more powerful than Thanos, surely?’

Loki loved her optimism, he reached out to stroke her hair behind her ear. ‘Not singularly. But together they are a rather formidable force. I hope it is just my mind playing tricks on me, but I shall speak to Fury first thing in the morning.’

‘It’ll be ok.’ Sophie smiled.

‘I certainly hope so.’

The next morning, Loki and Sophie were up early. They grabbed something to eat for breakfast then went to see Fury.

‘Pinch me I must be dreaming.’ The director said when the two entered the room. ‘Never thought you two would be coming to me.’

Loki rolled his eyes. ‘That, and much more, can be arranged.’ He growled. He still wasn’t entirely keen on the man.

‘What can I do for you?’ Fury perched on the table in the middle of the room.

Sophie and Loki shared a look with one another. Then Loki spoke. ‘We’d like to go over all footage, including security cameras from the press conference yesterday.’

‘Why?’

‘I have reason to believe that some of Thanos’ minions are stalking me.’ He said, squeezing Sophie’s hand.

Fury’s eye narrowed. ‘What makes you believe that? Who are these minions?’

‘The Black Order. Four powerful beings. A month or so ago, I saw four suspicious hooded figures at the cinema. The same again yesterday at the conference. I am… gravely concerned.’

Fury sighed. ‘I can’t do anything for you just feeling edgy around some punk ass kids. No doubt fans that don’t want to show their face!’ Fury said, pissed off. He stood up and stormed to the door.

‘Director, come on. You said yourself, it’s unlikely we would come to you for help. Loki wouldn’t just make up something like this if he wasn’t genuinely worried. Can’t we at least go over the footage?’ Sophie begged.

‘What good would it do?’ He folded his arms over his chest.

‘It would make me feel better to view it all.’ Loki snarled, trying to keep his cool.

‘Loki has helped you out so fucking much. The least you can do is help us out!’ Sophie snapped.

Fury pinched the bridge of his nose. ‘Alright. Fine. I will send the tapes through to Starks computer for you to view.’ He grumbled.

‘Thanks.’ Loki muttered as he and Sophie passed by him to leave.

On returning to base, they went straight to find Stark. He was in the lab with everyone else huddled around the computer.

‘Come on kids. We have the footage over from Fury. What is it we are looking for, exactly?’ Tony asked as he pressed play.

‘Anything suspicious. Hooded figures.’ Loki muttered, barging through the group with Sophie so they had the best view.

The footage played through the whole conference and there was no sign of any hooded figures or suspicious people.

‘This can’t be right. They were right there!’ Loki rewound the footage over and over, looking directly at where he’d seen them but there was nothing there.

‘Loks, maybe you need to take a break. Perhaps your mind is just playing tricks on you.’ Steve said, patting his shoulder.

Loki shrugged him off with a glare. ‘Do not patronise me, I am not going crazy. I know what I saw.’ He hissed.

‘No one has had access to these, there is no way it has been fiddled with.’ Said Bruce, feeling slightly sorry for the God. Even though he didn’t entirely believe him.

Loki was furious. He stormed off in a rage, blasting a hole in the wall with his Seidr instead of using the door.

‘FUCK SAKE, LOKI! YOU’RE PAYING FOR THAT!’ Stark shouted after him angrily. He then looked at Sophie. ‘Keep your boyfriend under control before he does something stupid!’

‘Maybe you lot should treat him like a proper team member instead of taking the piss! Why would he lie about something like this? You can be such assholes!’ She spat angrily at Stark especially, then she rushed off after Loki.

Sophie found him in the library after searching high and low, he was sulking on the chair by the window. She went over and plopped herself on his lap and slipped her arms around his neck. She leaned in and kissed his jaw.

‘I believe you, love. We will get to the bottom of it. I promise.’

Loki smiled half-heartedly. ‘Thank you, darling. You’re the only one who does believe me by the looks of it.’ He sighed.

‘Not the only one.’ Said a voice.

The couple looked up to see Clint, Natasha and Wanda walking in, with Clint’s iPad.

‘I stole the footage onto here, to take a better look. It looked slightly, distorted here.’ Clint leaned down by them and pointed directly at the place where Loki saw the figures.

‘That is where I saw them.’ Loki frowned. ‘Someone has tampered with this!’

‘I don’t think so.’ Wanda said. ‘Clint came to me with it. I’ve seen it before with certain magic or energy. It can be used to shroud ones view from cameras or certain people if the wielder of said magic is strong enough.’

‘Of course. I’ve been so stupid. They will be wanting only me to see them. They wouldn’t expose themselves to the cameras.’ Loki’s face lit up, he was relieved that he wasn’t alone in this.

‘So… What do we do to find them?’ Clint asked.

‘You want to help?’ Loki looked at them, slightly shocked.

‘Of course. We’re all a team. One person’s troubles is all of our troubles.’ Natasha said, putting her hand on Loki’s shoulder.

He looked to Sophie and smiled, then back up at the three. ‘Thank you. I appreciate it. But there won’t be an easy way to lure them out. They are obviously plotting something, but what, I am not sure… I think we need to up security and train harder.’

‘Well, let’s get started then.’ Said Clint, rolling his shoulders with a grin.